THE GIFT OF NEW BEGINNINGS

EDITOR’S LETTER

In 1999, a group of 80 young men from Adelaide, South Australia decided to grow moustaches to raise money for charity throughout the month of November, coining the term “Movember.” Their idea has since become a worldwide phenomenon. It has evolved over the years from just moustaches to full grown beards, creating what is now known as “No Shave November.”

Men around the world participate in this “masculine” tradition for many reasons, including raising awareness of men’s health issues, to help keep warm during the early transitions of winter, to prove their manliness, or possibly out of sheer laziness. For the past nine years, I too have shared in this time-honored tradition. As I write this, I am currently sitting at Day 14 of my razor strike, growing more brutish by the minute.

Even though the month of November gets a lot of the credit for overgrown facial hair, the beard’s history goes much farther back than 1990. In the Victorian era, doctors prescribed beards as a way to prevent illness. Back in those days, doctors believed that a thick beard could act as a filter that would help to trap harmful particles before entering the body through the mouth. In these crazy COVID days, if I don’t have my mask, at least I have my beard for protection. The Russian Tsar, Peter the Great didn’t like beards, so he placed a tax on them. Russian noblemen who still chose to rock beards during his reign had to pay a hefty price just to carry around a beard license. I get it! I know firsthand that my beard acts as a homing beacon, attracting the jealousy and admiration of the beardless.

It might seem impossible to come up with a more popular bearded man than Santa Claus, especially this time of year! This portly, red-suit-wearing, white-bearded, jolly fellow brings smiles to the faces of children all over the world as he arrives with his bag full of toys. I’m no Kris Kringle, and I may or may not have a red suit somewhere—but I am a jolly, bearded magazine publisher who finds happiness in bringing the people of Saline County “good tidings of great joy” from our community each year.

Saline County Lifestyles is proud to continue to be a part of your holiday season, with our 13thAnnual Christmas Edition. On behalf of everyone who contributed to this issue, let me wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Your town. Your life. Your magazine.

JOSH ELROD Publisher & Editor

2020 Volume 13, Issue 5

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Josh Elrod jelrod@ignite-mediagroup.com

ART DIRECTOR

Krystal Neuhofel krystal@salinecountylifestyles.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Contributing Writers Carrie Amox Dennia Beard Carolyn Buckner Cody Calhoun Charles Crowson Brent Davis Justin Elrod Jillian Jacuzzi Ashley Leopoulos Marietta McClure Dr. Richard Nelson, MD Dr. Sam Taggart

IDEAS/COMMENTS

If you have a story idea or comment, please email us at: feedback@salinecountylifestyles.com

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Saline County Lifestyles is published by: Ignite Media Group P.O. Box 861 Bryant, AR 72089 www.salinecountylifestyles.com

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A NEW Farmers Bank & Trust Branch

SERVING BENTON & BRYANT OPENING EARLY 2021 ON HWY 5

+MyFarmers iTeller ITM with expanded weekday and Saturday hours.

CONTENTS THE GIFT OF NEW BEGINNINGS 04 NOTES FROM DR SAM FITNESS TIPS HEALTH UPDATE 07 12 10

BAKER’S JEWLERY......................16 BLUSH BOUTIQUE.......................18 STATED APPAREL........................22 BRYANT FAMILY PHARMACY.......24 SOCO BOUTIQUE........................ 26 THIS LITTLE PIGGY........................30 TANTRUMS..............................32 WILD BOUTIQUE.........................34

INSURANCE INSIGHT 38 FAITH FOCUS 40 TIME TO MOVE FORWARD 42 Saline County Lifestyles • Holiday Edition • 3

At some point in life, everyone needs a fresh start—a clean slate, a doover, a new beginning. Myself, I love to benefit from the wisdom of others. One way I do this is by considering quotes like this one from Harvard graduate and author Ralph Blum: “Nothing is predestined. The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings,” and, “If

anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, and new is here,” written by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Saline County is blessed to have an organization that specializes in second chances and the gift of real life change.

New Beginnings Pregnancy Center, located on Conrad Street in Benton, started in 2003 by a group of volunteers from the Central Baptist Association who were passionate about helping new and expectant mothers. The mission of New Beginnings is to promote the value of life through education and mentoring young families with biblical teaching and sharing God’s love.

Presently, six part-time employees and four board members continue the work started in 2003, managing about 230 client visits per month. Over the years, New Beginnings has helped thousands of mothers and babies. “Clients come to have pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. Others come for parenting classes, Bible studies, and to “shop” for baby items, such as diapers, wipes, baby clothing and formula,” says Janet Dixon, New Beginnings Executive Director. The Center also offers the “Baby Bucks” program, which allows clients to earn rewards to spend on supplies by participating in various activities like visiting the doctor,

going to work or school, or attending a Bible study or church service.

There is no other organization in Saline County offering the services New Beginnings provides. “Although pregnancy tests are inexpensive and available in stores, young women need someone to process with. Many times, family members or friends pressure women to make a decision about their pregnancies. We offer a non-judgmental place to explore all the options of pregnancy: parenting, adoption and abortion. We don’t offer abortions or referrals for abortions, but we can educate about the procedure and empower a woman to make a decision that she feels comfortable with,” Janet says.

New Beginnings also provides pregnancy confirmation necessary to register for pregnancy Medicaid and WIC, which is a governmentsponsored program designed to ensure that women and their children get the nutrition they need. “The health department offers pregnancy tests, but they have been very busy with COVID, and have referred many people to us during the pandemic. This helps clients get services they need, such as obstetric care, faster and at no additional cost to the public,” adds Janet.

The new beginnings that this non-profit offers extend beyond obstetric and pediatric services. “We also point young families to other services, such as food pantries, CADC, and employment assistance. Of course, we encourage them to find a local church for support.”

Janet says that some people would say that helping a pregnant woman to “choose life” is the ultimate goal, meaning that she chooses to continue her pregnancy instead of having an abortion. While that is one of the goals, the most desirable outcome is seeing young women (and men) choosing to follow Jesus Christ. “We believe that by allowing God to equip them, they will be better parents and

empowered to make good, healthy choices. One young mom recently said that by coming to New Beginnings, she realized she was ‘worthy’ of being a mother. This perspective gives her the energy and emotional stamina to strive to be a good mom to her little one.”

Many clients who come for pregnancy confirmation are using drugs. Often pregnancy is the encouragement a woman needs to get out of a bad living situation and start living a sober lifestyle. The trained staff at New Beginnings listens to each person’s struggles related to addiction and abuse and encourages the client to seek help. “When they do see that they can have a fresh start and be the kind of parent they want to be, that is a great

‘new beginning.’ We see ourselves as cheerleaders and mentors, communicating to young women that they have the ability to change the trajectory of their family and make a better way for their children.”

New Beginnings is a non-profit, and as such relies on the support and generosity of the community. “We always need larger size diapers and wipes. Our families often need strollers that are in good shape, including double strollers. We also need new items to be given to new moms right after delivery such as bath sets, thermometers and first aid kits.” As a safety precaution, car seats and cribs are not accepted.

A tax-deductible financial contribution is the best way to help New Beginnings. A one-time tribute in honor or in memory of someone, or sending monthly donations, is the perfect way to show support for the building of healthy families in Saline County through the gift of a new beginning.

For more information about New Beginnings Pregnancy Center, visit nbpregnancy.com, or Facebook at New Beginnings Pregnancy Center.  Carolyn Buckner

SCAN TO DONATE Crazy4Life Virtual Fundriaser

Your financial gifts help us continue our mission of serving women with unplanned pregnancies. Gifts may be given online at nbpregnancy.com.

Good Day, I hope this note finds you well. At the bottom of our stairs is a small closet that we use for storage. On the top shelf in that closet is an old Stetson hat book; my father always wore Stetson Hats. That box is full of photos of the life of my family; for me it is the source of all variety of magical memories. Magical memories are the stories and tales you “remember” though there was no way you could have been there, or you were too young to possibly remember; but, you’ve heard the stories so many times, you just know you remember them. There is one photo of my Grandfather Taggart holding me as an infant. In the picture, I am screaming bloody murder and Grandpa has a strained look on his face. He died within months of when the picture was taken. Once when we were going through her picture albums, Mom laughed and said I had just messed in my diapers and Grandpa Jim was not the least bit happy with the smell. Something in me remembers that event. Holidays, and especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter were big events for the women of the family. But not so the men—if there was work to be done, my father and his brothers went to work. Their one concession was the lunch meal on the three holidays. Aside from my mother, the women of the Taggart and McAlexander families were skilled cooks. (Don’t get me wrong: my mother was a wonderful, loving human and a devoted caregiver, but she was not a good cook.) There are several groups of photos in my stash of images that were clearly taken on Christmas. One depicts us at the home of Grandma and Grandpa McAlexander. They have the look of having been taken by a professional photographer. In one picture I am no more than three or four years old and dressed in a cowboy outfit; it was apparently a Christmas gift. True or not, I remember my mother’s warning that we were to have our pictures made and not to get my clothes dirty. It is clear from the picture that I had not achieved that goal. This would have been one of the times I would have heard my middle name. “Sammy Dale, what did I tell you about getting dirty?” Another set of photos, this time created at my Grandmother Taggart’s house, shows us all in formal poses on the front steps of her house. Dad and Uncle John are dressed in work clothes and, per the usual, my father and his brother are horsing around. In one of the photos Uncle John has pulled a Bowie knife and has it aimed at my father’s mid-section. I can remember my Aunt Forrestine’s saying, “John Ed, put that up; you are going to scare the children.” Except for my sister and I, all of those dear people are now gone. But they live on in my magical memories. Have a good journey, and make as many magical memories as you can. Sam

Dr. Sam Taggart is a retired doctor/ writer/ marathon runner in practice in Benton for the last 35 years. He recently published The Public’s Health: A narrative history of health and disease in Arkansas, published by the Arkansas Times. His two other books, With a Heavy Heart and We All Hear Voices are available at your local booksellers or online at Amazon.com.