Oxford Magazine May/June 2023

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Joey Brent, Photographer

Joey Brent is a local photographer in Oxford, Mississippi.

EDITORIAL

Jake Davis

CONTRIBUTORS

Davis Coen

Angela Cutrer

Joey Brent

Jim Dees

Bruce Newman

Lyn Roberts

DESIGN

Allison Dale

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Amelia Miller Ott

MARKETING

Clifton Clements Odom

Mike Haskins

ADMINISTRATION

Rebecca Alexander, Publisher

Emily Presley, Audience Development

Julie Mabus, Contributor

Julie Mabus is the author of “Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen” and resides in Oxford.

Angela Cutrer, Contributor

Angela H. Cutrer is a Louisiana-born, Mississippi-raised freelance writer based in Jayess. She’s a graduate of Southwest Mississippi Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned a master’s degree in communication. She has two daughters, seven grandchildren, a dog and too many cats.

Davis Coen, Writer

Davis Coen is a freelance writer and newspaper reporter from Oxford by way of South Carolina. He’s had stories published in various local publications including Oxford Eagle, Oxford Citizen and Daily Journal. He also maintains a music career with over a dozen tours of Europe and regular airplay on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

TThe latest census shows what an outlier Oxford is, in the South and the state of Mississippi. While most Mississippi counties lost population, Oxford and Lafayette County grew by double digital. And judging by the traffic, and new housing developments, that growth is not slowing down. Word is getting out – oxford is a top spot in the southeast for quality of life. There is a vibrancy here in the arts, culture and our small town lifestyle with education and recreation playing a huge role.

Met any Oxford newcomers lately? Some are moving from big cities like my new neighbors from Atlanta and Nashville. Others have moved their whole family here while their kids pursue bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees. Some come for opportunity and they see Oxford as a great place to start a business.

Where are they coming from? Some are moving from the nearby Delta as job opportunities and the Oxford lifestyle. Oxford’s charm has a magnetic pull on Memphians and Jacksonians escaping big city life.

More newcomers mean we need more places for them to live. Oxford Magazine this month is all about buying, owning, maintaining a home. It’s all about real estate. We hope you enjoy the insights of real estate professionals who help us design and maintain our homes.

And, at presstime Southern Living just named Oxford one of the Top Small Towns in the country, ranking us as number 22!

We round out this issue with the last word from Jim Dees and photos from Joey Brent in Out and About.

Rebecca Alexander Publisher

Allyson Duckworth, Pearly Peacock

Photo submitted Design by Allison Dale

WHAT TO DO IN OXFORD

MAY 10 3 Blind Wines

The Powerhouse Oxford, MS 6-8 pm.

Spring themed 3 Blind Wines - bring your favorite white or rose. Wine tasting and vote for your favorites.

MAY 11 Yoga at the Lyric 5:30 – 6:30 p.m Free event, sponsored by Gypsy Waltz

MAY 20

Destination Oxford Car Show Downtown Square Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS

Chancery Court lot, lot behind Something Southern and portions of North Lamar.

SAT, MAY 20, Velvet Ditch Gran Fondo

20, 45 and 70 mile bike race in Oxford and surrounding areas. Race starts at Oxford Middle School, 222 Bramlett Blvd.

JUNE 3

Community Yard & Craft Sale

8 a.m..-.2 p.m. Lafayette County Arena

JUNE 10

Build Your Buisness with Tero Roberts Hampton Inn Oxford/ Conference Center

10 a.m..- 2 p.m.

Join us as we welcome Millionaire Team Member Tero Roberts to Oxford Ms as he delivers us a powerful message. Tero will dig in as he teaches us how to have a reputable business and earn income part-time or full time.

JUNE 17

Black Girl Therapy - Stage Play

The Powerhouse 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

May/June 2023

MAY 26- 28

Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival

University of Mississippi Music Building - Nutt Auditorium

Every year over Memorial Day weekend the World Championship

Old-Time Piano Playing Contest is held to provide an opportunity for pianists to compete and learn in a stimulating atmosphere, and to educate people about old-time piano music written prior to 1940. A variety of other activities include workshops, guest artist performances, silent movies, an old-time sing-along, a guided tour of UM’s Blues Archive, and after-hours events every night at the Oxford Armory Pavilion. This is a weekend packed with Ragtime, Tin Pan Alley and Standard tunes played by amazing piano players. You don’t have to play piano to enjoy music that will have your toes tapping.

JUNE 23- 24

The 2023 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic

Betty Davis Bar-B-Que

3359 Old Oxford Road, Old Mississippi 7, Waterford, MS

The 2023 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is a music festival. 2023 bands include regional bands and performers from Mississippi and beyond. Kenny Burnside, Duwayne Burnside, Eric Deaton, Charlie Musselwhite, R.L. Boyce, Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band, Kudzu Kings, Rocket 88 and more. Visit https://nmshillcountrypicnic.com/ for more information

ARTS & CULTURE

The Soul of a

Sculptor

BY JULIE MABUS

PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN

II’ve known Walter Neill for over fifty years. We grew up in the same town and went to the same high school. Walter was a good-looking kid and played high school football. Therefore, he had all the “correct” social trappings for a northeast Jackson boy. Both his parents were physicians--Walter, Sr., one of the first neurosurgeons in the state, and Karleen, an internist. On the surface, Walter was slated for normalcy in a traditional Southern family. That was not to be his path.

Signs of Walter’s nonconformity probably showed up at an early age, but in all likelihood, his parents missed it. They were managing two highstress medical careers and four very precocious children. “I remember Mother always wanted me to play with the other little boys on the peewee football

team. I was big and plenty fast for my age, but I just wasn’t interested. “

Walter’s older brother Cooper crept into his conversation as he spoke of his childhood. I don’t think I ever got into trouble, but Cooper would often lead me into his misadventures, and somehow I always got the blame.” Walter smiled as he added, I think that’s why my parents sent me off to Christchurch School in Virginia for my ninth grade.”

Walter was absolutely miserable being away from home that year. “I remember making a bargain with Mother. I told her if she let me come home, I would play football in the tenth grade. It worked.”

To play football at Murrah High School in the 1960s, a working knowledge of head coach Jack Carlyle was essential. “From the beginning, Coach

Carlyle didn’t like me.” Walter had never played football, and when he showed up for his first practice before tenth grade, he was wearing Sperry Topsiders. “Carlyle asked me what position I played. I had no idea and told him so.” Walter started laughing. “And when he asked me, ‘Offense or defense?’ I shrugged my shoulders. Carlyle dismissed me by pointing to the guys playing defense. I didn’t even know which way to run on the field.”

Ironically, the longer Walter played, the stronger and faster he got. “I became the fastest lineman in Mississippi. In the eleventh or twelfth grade, Alabama Coach Bear Bryant invited me and four other team members to Tuscaloosa to watch a game. Walter didn’t go. Coach Carlyle was furious. “Neill, why aren’t you going to Alabama with the other boys?”

“Coach, I wanna go squirrel hunting with Bubba Nause.”

Walter shook his head at me. “That was not one of my better decisions. I really wish I had gone. They flew over in a King Air and sat on the sidelines watching a Crimson Tide football game; then they got to go in the locker room at halftime to listen to Bear Bryant.”

“Carlyle pulled me into his office on my last day of high school. “Boy, I gotta say I’m proud of you. You are the only person I ever tried to get rid of who wouldn’t quit.” Walter nodded his head at me and smiled.

During those high school years, Walter followed Cooper in his fascination with photography. “Cooper was probably the smartest person I’ve ever known. “As long as we weren’t getting into trouble, our parents

encouraged the project. The boys built a complete darkroom in their garage at home.

College and Walter were not steady companions. After two years at Ole Miss and a year at Mississippi State, he dropped out. “I was interested in many things, but a formal education was not one of them.”

Like so many things in Walter’s life, he literally pounded his way into his artistic life--sideways. But that life would take a while to fully emerge. After Walter left college, his parents opened the door, and the young man was on his own. He was solid and determined, and a job in construction made sense to him. But the broad brush of sawing and hammering was less attractive than the exactitude of building the tools that built the

machines that built the structures.

In 1974, before the days of CNC (computerized numerical control), machines and tools were built without pre-programmed software and code. Walter took a job with a Ridgeland, Mississippi company, Precision Machines. He cut his teeth on the very simple task of sharpening drill bits, but the exercise awakened in him the power of exactness. Precision Machines was owned by a man

named Hamp Singleton. “It was a tool and die shop. Hamp was phenomenal, a real inventor. He made things for things.” Walter paused, putting himself back in that day and time. “He took me under his wing and gave me a great appreciation for the art and function of this discipline.

As Walter and I walked through his vast workshop, he pointed out huge, flat metal pieces lying in a wooden crate. A magnificent

sculpture stood next to the crate, some seven or eight feet in height, created from the flotsam of another man’s industrial dies. “I buy these stainless steel remnants from a metal shop out in the county.”

“That work with Hamp somehow prepared me for my next journey.” Serendipitously, a local heating and plumbing contractor asked Walter to help him on a large construction project. Walter took it, having no idea where it would lead. “I didn’t love the work, but I gained an appreciation of the scope and scale of a vast commercial construction job.”

After several years as a journeyman, he obtained his master plumbing license and eventually started his own

plumbing business, Neill Plumbing. Our lives intersected again, as I was living in Jackson in a pre-war cottage that always needed a little plumbing TLC. It was clear Walter operated in his own creative world. Our conversations often meandered into esoteric topics; he could quote things I had never heard of.

When I asked him how he had liked the business, “You know, I liked it because I could figure things out that nobody else could.”

Before he sold the business in 1994, Walter bought a welder “just to piddle around.” He and his buddy, Jimmy Pigott, went to a blacksmith shop in Meridian, and he hand-forged his first tool--a pair of scrolling tongs. “So cool, it was made out of two short pieces of half-inch coil spring from a car. That grabbed me. I bought a building on Mill Street in the Millsaps Arts District and started making metal things, sculptures, furniture, fireplace screens, bottle openers.”

In the late 1990s, Vivian Pigott entered Walter’s life--a beautiful woman and a painter in her own right, and Jimmy Pigott’s sister.

They moved to Oxford. “We bought this land, and I built my shop down the driveway and this building as an art studio for Vivian.

fresh eggs with those golden yellow yokes.

“Leaving Jackson was great for me. I believe everybody thought of me as ‘that plumber.’ You know, I loved plumbing. It gave me an appreciation for metal and how elements come together.” But Walter knew there was more.

“Listen to this.” Walter started gesticulating.” You can take a piece of metal and turn it into plastic. At 1900 degrees Fahrenheit, metal is malleable like clay. But clay, it’s like plastic in its natural, unheated state, and when you put it in a kiln to about 2000 degrees, it turns hard like steel. Man, that’s primal.”

“You do ceramics too?” I had no idea.

“After several years of forging and creating metal sculptures, with the sanding and the rust, something happened to my lungs. The doctors called it occupational asthma. So, I had to quit. That was when I started studying ceramics. I found Matt Long.”

Matt is an incredible ceramicist and an art instructor at Ole Miss. “For three years, I studied under him. Between the semesters, Matt and I went to St. Petersburg for the winter session. It was surreal.”

During those winter retreats, Walter stayed in a house with some of the great ceramic artists in the country. “John Balistrerie, best known for his large-scale ceramic pieces, was right there. Don Reitz, one of the greatest potters, was there too. And Chris Gustin, he builds with clay, using the human form as a model. These guys worked with me and critiqued my work. They transformed my life. It was like living

with and being taught by Picasso or Degas.”

Three years and a million life experiences later, Walter was drawn back to metal sculpting. “I finally finished my big shop and have not had one problem with my lungs since then.”

On our walk from the gallery to his shop, he pointed out this misshapen sphere, about five feet in diameter, with red and yellow panels crushed together to make the shape. “Those panels were taken from the colosseum in Jackson.” Oh my gosh, he was right. The memories from the 1962 structure came flooding back.

Walter is as humble as he was in high school for all his artistic accomplishments. Everywhere I turned on his property, fabulous metal sculptures punctuated the landscape. In the gallery, some of his smaller objects sit quietly on display. I asked the meaning of this one or that. “There is a lot of pain in the world right now. I read a lot, and I absorb it. I guess they are manifestations of that pain. That said, when I sculpt them, the pain is replaced with the joy of creation.”

I had no idea of the scope of his work. “Let me see. I’m in the Mississippi Museum of Art permanent collection and private collections in California, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Arizona, Texas, and Mississippi. There may be more.”

And I haven’t even mentioned his fifty years of serious cycling--races, long distant competition. “Routinely, I ride 100 miles a week.”

Yes, there’s more. So much more. The soul of a sculptor.

ARTS & CULTURE Big win

BY DAVIS COEN PHOTOS SUBMITTED

for

local music

SAlthough Water Valley, Mississippi isn’t particularly regarded as a destination place for seeing live music - at least, as much as nearby Oxford - the city now can claim a venue that’s so unique that it resembles nothing else in the entire area.

Voyager’s Rest is located on Main Street in Water Valley, south of the Casey Jones Museum, and is connected to a popular restaurant, Crawdad Hole, which opened its doors in 2011 and is known to regularly draw folks from a radius of a hundred miles around, for its outstanding crawfish, shrimp, crab legs and various accompaniments.

The building was once an abandoned filling station before being converted, although it still somewhat resembles an updated active one - enough where a confused traveler may approach, expecting to fill up their vehicle with petrol from one of the vintage gas pumps visible near the front entrance.

Owner Justin Showah, a lifelong musician and live performer, aside from his passion for food service and the culinary crafts, felt he also wanted to return something to the music community and its staunch local supporters.

“We had this empty garage that used to be for extra (restaurant) seating, but since covid happened it’s been sitting vacant,” said Showah, who originates from Jackson, MS, and partnered with his wife Lu, and her son Baxter Arender on this venture, which is now a couple of years in the making.

“We just felt like music has given us so much throughout our lives, that it was time to give back in some way.”

Similar to Crawdad Hole, Voyager’s Rest is a friendly, fun, nofrills, no-nonsense, straight-to-the-chase, barebones establishment, with comforting decor and a pleasing setting for both younger and older patrons to enjoy the high quality product being served up.

The venue itself, attached to one of the best destinations in north Mississippi for authentic cajun cuisine, can already stand on its own merit. In turn, there’s a timelapse in business hours before the restaurant closes at 9 p.m. and the first set begins, and customers approaching closing hour have ample time to enjoy their food to live music next door.

Although the main menu isn’t available after regular hours, Voyager’s Rest always provides late night eats, along with a selection of cold beer.

The after hours munchies made available will vary, sometimes depending on the time of year and what might happen to be in season. Showah expects that having big batches of beans & rice on hand and offered free with admission throughout the shows may become a mainstay - with hopes of sharpening the judgment of customers who might indulge in an adult beverage before heading home.

He also anticipates other possible future munchies in rotation to be po’ boys, gumbo, oysters, and other “one-offs” of that nature. The debut live concert at Voyager’s Rest was on February 25, with local favorites, garage rock-infused Tyler Keith & the Apostles, who recently celebrated the release of an album, “Hell To Pay,” recorded five minutes down the road at Dial Back Sound studio.

Other notable performers have included leaders in hill country blues, Eric Deaton Trio; Guelel Kumba, who hails from Senegal, West Africa, and is also a member of the group Afrissippi; Memphis punk veteran, Alicja Trout; Mississippi songwriter extraordinaire Cary Hudson; country soul and blues duo Davis Coen & Kinney Kimbrough; and pianist/ songwriter Tate Moore of the Kudzu Kings.

With regard to the youth involvement at Voyager’s Rest, Roxford University, an Oxford music school which develops kids’ interest and passion through lessons as well as by grouping them together in real rock bands that perform shows at live music venues, holds an end of the semester concert at the venue.

Although the young venue has mainly booked local artists since opening in latewinter, another goal Showah maintains is that it should become something of a “springboard” for out of town acts touring throughout the region.

One example is singer-songwriter/guitarist, David Dondero, who is out of Pensacola, FL but is able to support other Mid-South dates with a show at Voyager’s Rest: including one at

Blue Canoe in Tupelo, an appearance on Thacker Mountain Radio Hour, and others in Memphis and Jackson.

“We’ve got good sound, and backline, and good food,” said Showah, “so we’re hoping to take care of everybody.”

With regards to the thought process behind the expansion of his business venture, Showah said, “we had this space and this opportunity, and wanted to somehow show the appreciation back to the people who have given us so much. That being the musicians, and also the audiences.”

The owner acknowledges that increasing attendance will take time, but feels that the high bar which he and his partners set for quality should lead many to expect that the show will be good, regardless of whether or not they’re familiar with the artist.

“Right now we’re booking people that we like to hear, and are hoping that others will like it too,” said Showah, who likens his establishment to departed beloved Oxford venues such as the Hoka, and Two Stick - and also currently popular and very active, Proud Larry’s - in that there is a certain rare

combination of quality food and music, along with great service.

Understanding the uphill battle of seeking community support - and also from surrounding communities - Showah remains very optimistic. “Right now we have everything in place, but attendance,” he joked.

“Oxford has (many) things, but I don’t think it has anything exactly like this. “In fact, in all of my playing and traveling I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a place quite like this. So that’s what kind of makes it unique and stand out,” said Showah, of his cozy new venue. “I mean the capacity is 50 people, so if you get 30 people in there, it’s a party.”

Some upcoming acts include Pop Saw, an experimental jazz group out of Jackson, MS with support from the Baxter Arender Quartet (described as ‘avant garden’ jazz) on June 3, and Memphis rock band James and the Ultrasounds on June 23.

Eric Deaton Trio will return on July 14, and also Tyler Keith the following evening, with accompaniment, The Revelations, and support from Jeremy and the Drip Edges, also out of Memphis.

AAs the temperature rises and the sun beats down on Oxford, Mississippi, there’s no better way to cool off and satisfy your sweet tooth than with a scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt. Oxford has a variety of shops, stands, and restaurants that serve up delicious frozen treats, each with its own unique flavors and personality. From Dairy Queen’s classic softserve to the exotic flavors of YaYa’s, there’s something for everyone. Join us as we explore the best ice cream and frozen yogurt places in Oxford, MS.

YAYA’S FROZEN YOGURT: A COOL OASIS

You can’t talk about ice cream and frozen yogurt in Oxford without mentioning YaYa’s. Located on the Square, this self-

serve frozen yogurt bar won Best of Oxford in 2022 for best frozen dessert and best place to grab dessert. Yaya’s offers a wide variety of flavors and toppings that cater to any taste or dietary requirement.

Yaya’s is especially popular with students, and families who stop in on a trip to the Square.

SNOW BIZ: A SWEET SNOW CONE

If you’re looking for something unique and refreshing, head to Snow Biz on North Lamar Boulevard. This tiny stand has been serving up snow cones for over 30 years, offering a dizzying array of flavors and combinations. Customers can choose from classic flavors like cherry, grape, and blue raspberry, or go for more exotic options like Tiger’s Blood or Wedding Cake. And the best part? Each snow cone can be topped off with a dollop of soft-serve vanilla ice cream.

Snow Biz also serves up other refreshing snacks, including popcorn, lemonade and soda. Snow Biz is a classic Oxford summer staple.

THE CREAMERY: A TIMELESS TRADITION

For anyone who wants to step back in time and experience a true traditional ice cream parlor, Oxford Creamery is the place. Located on North Lamar Boulevard, just north of the Square, The Creamery has been serving up homemade ice cream to Oxford residents and students for years, using only the freshest, highestquality ingredients.

“From farm to cone, we put quality above everything else and partner with local farmers and businesses to source the freshest and most delicious ingredients that this region has to offer,” said owner Hudson McGee. “In addition to the creamiest signature and seasonal flavors around, we offer vegan and dairy-free options as well.”

Q&A

Tim Phillips Broker Associate, Creye-Leike Oxford Real Estate

Q: What is attracting out-oftowners to invest in a home in Oxford, and where are they coming from?

Visitors who come to Oxford fall in love with the town’s true charm. The southern kindness from the residents, unbelievable restaurants, music, arts, sporting events, theater and everything that the University offers is a huge reason Oxford is so appealing. People seem to be coming to Oxford from everywhere, as is evident from the enrollment increase at Ole Miss, Oxford City Schools, Lafayette County Schools and Regents School of Oxford. All these things are such a draw for out-oftown visitors, along with a first-class medical community. Our low crime rate and excellent law enforcement provides people with a peace of mind to enjoy the community. Ole Miss sports continues to be our community’s largest draw, as SEC football is “King” in the south. I love watching people experience their first time in the “Grove” and the greatest tailgate in all of football.

Q: What advice do you give when people are comparing Oxford to bigger cities?

Oxford has the feel of a big city while maintaining the quaintness of a small town. From Square Books to our many retail shops and restaurants, people are able to enjoy all the amazing attributes

of Oxford. So many retirees choose Oxford to experience everything the University has to offer, as well as events like the Morgan Wallen concert and the Double Decker Arts Festival. People feel safe in Oxford and know that when they send their children to Ole Miss they are safe to walk around and enjoy all our town has to provide. People have a chance to participate in so many things like the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Gertrude Ford Center and the Oxford Film Festival. Many visitors travel to Oxford to visit Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home. Oxford is fortunate to have so many talented writers amongst our midst. Retirees love all the amenities that we offer because there are always numerous events.

Q: What’s the single biggest challenge in the current housing market?

The number one issue we have presently is a lack of inventory and pricing. People love Oxford but also want to find a home they can afford. The condo market is very

much in-demand. Many parents now realize that with the rate of the cost of rent increasing, they can purchase a condo and have their children reside there while building equity in their property. Providing affordable housing for residents of Oxford is still one of the main concerns for many of our longtime Oxford residents.

Q: What do you wish people knew more about when they buy a home?

Most first-time homebuyers are overwhelmed with the process of purchasing a home. So many clients are not prepared for the process of obtaining a loan or mortgage. Getting pre-qualified is one of the most important things that I can suggest to someone, as it helps with an offer regarding the tight inventory we’re seeing in Oxford. Getting a home inspection is one of the most important things a person can do after they have an accepted contract. Dealing with a local mortgage company or bank is also a plus to expedite the process. Also, select a Realtor that will

represent you like you would want to be represented. A good Realtor, an excellent banker/mortgage company, and a good closing attorney can help make the entire process easier as you navigate

Pittman, living in Oxford again after working in Washington, D.C. and Memphis. I wish my step-daughter lived closer, but she is thriving in graduate school at Arizona State. Oxford has so much to offer and there’s always something entertaining to do. Watching the Rebs win the National Baseball Championship last year in Omaha with family members has to be one of the best weeks ever being a lifelong Ole Miss fan.

Most first-time homebuyers are overwhelmed with the process of purchasing a home. So many clients are not prepared for the process of obtaining a loan or mortgage. Getting pre-qualified is one of the most important things that I can suggest to someone, as it helps with an offer regarding the tight inventory we’re seeing in Oxford. Getting a home inspection is one of the most important things a person can do after they have an accepted contract. Dealing with a local mortgage company or bank is also a plus to expedite the process. Also, select a Realtor that will represent you like you would want to be represented.

BY ANGELA CUTRER

PHOTOS BY ALIYAH HEROD

SSalon owner Tammy Herod has been in business for more than three decades, but she’s only been a “business person” for about 20.

In 1994 came her first real lesson about business, occurring on a “day that my life changed,” she said. It was at Dudley Cosmetology University in North Carolina that Herod learned that as a person who “does hair,” she is the only person allowed to touch another person’s body, except for a doctor.

“I learned that ‘doing hair’ is much broader than just the hair on a person’s head,” she said. “It’s much deeper. A dentist couldn’t have a nail tech in his office - it would be odd. But I can have someone doing nails in my salon, as well as working with hair waxing, eyebrow

arching, giving a massage or fitting a wig.”

With that ability, Herod felt great responsibility to her clients. She took those lessons about offering services and nourished her dream of running a successful salon with a large clientele. “I’ve built my business on customer service; it is my desire to satisfy everyone who comes into my salon,” she said. “I want you to get what you came for.”

Herod said she’s not sure that today’s upcoming stylists have the same thoughts about their craft, but hers has never changed. Whether you are in her salon, Tammy’s Hair Gallery, for relaxers, waves, eyebrows, eyelashes, weaves or wigs, Herod wants you to leave satisfied. If you aren’t, she’ll redo it all until you are. After all, the salon’s motto is

“Looking good is understood.”

The lessons from the university helped her to become the best hairdresser she could be, but she wanted more. Herod has since branched out her business after a much smaller start. After working with another hair professional, Herod opened her own shop, but the work grew so fast, she had to move to another building, which she hoped to buy one day.

“I don’t know what I was doing,” she admitted. “I didn’t know anything about owning a property, financing, having a personal bank account and a separate business account, the insurance needed, how to get a loan or any of that stuff.”

However, after a quite a few small business

development sessions at Ole Miss, she learned. That was almost 20 years ago.

After a suggestion to call her local banker to see if she could get a loan to buy her own building, she did. She said she was surprised he said over the phone that whatever she wanted to do, the bank would support her. “I don’t think hometown bankers do that anymore,” she said with a laugh. “But he told me he knew me, that I was a wonderful client of theirs and he would support me. That meant a lot.”

Since then, she bought her building on University Avenue and built up her clientele even further. “I have people who come from Memphis, from Calhoun City, from New Albany, and they love that I’m right off the highway so they can zip in and zip out,” she said.

In November, it will be 19 years she’s been “in business” at the current location.

However, these days Herod is downsizing. Her original business may be booming, but she has other irons in the fire. In 2018, she earned her bachelor’s in marketing at Ole Miss, the same year she

earned her real estate license. She hopes to construct that into another booming business of buying and selling. She already owns rental properties and wants to own more.

Her future plans are to become a broker and possibly own her own organization. “I would love to create new possibilities for families in my community,” she said. “Many families do not believe they can become homeowners. My desire is not to just sell them a home, but also help become aware of everything that could be available to them.

“I would like to build my own community with some property that I already own for those who do not meet income requirements to purchase a home. When I started my first business, my mother taught that if I was committed to helping people first, I would always be compensated for my time. She said to be dependable and trustworthy to every person I came in contact with.

“I have learned over the years that teamwork makes the dream work. I am a team player with MCG Real Estate LLC

and look forward to making more real estate connections. I have learned making the connections not just with preceptive clients, but also with knowledgeable realtors are very important to my success.

Herod said her advice to others wanting to get into business is to continue their education, find a good mentor and be a student of their craft. Without these three things, it’s hard to succeed. said her advice to others wanting to get into business is to continue their education, find a good mentor and be a student of their craft. Without these three things, it’s hard to succeed.

“Many people know their craft, but not their business,” she explained. “[The education I received] made a difference in knowing how to run a business properly.”

These days, through a nonprofit organization, Herod mentors girls about business. She helps them learn how to succeed - and how to do things so they aren’t “paying someone else’s mortgage.” She said she’s been helped along her way and she wants to do that for others.

We Are A Haunting

By Tyriek White

BOOKS FOR Summer

Recommendations from LYN ROBERTS General

Manager,

Square Books

A recent graduate from the MFA program at the Univeristy of Mississippi, Tyriek White's debut novel has been called astonishing by Kiese Laymon.

A poignant debut for readers of Jesmyn Ward and Jamel Brinkley, We Are a Haunting follows three generations of a working class family and their inherited ghosts: a story of hope and transformation.

A supernatural family saga, a searing social critique, and a lyrical and potent account of displaced lives, We Are a Haunting unravels the threads connecting the past, present, and future, and depicts the palpable, breathing essence of the neglected corridors of a pulsing city with pathos and poise.

The World: A Family History Of Humanity

By Simon Sebag Montefiore

A magisterial world history unlike any other that tells the story of humanity through the one thing we all have in common: families

• From the New York Times best-selling author of The Romanovs

Around 950,000 years ago, a family of five walked along the beach and left behind the oldest family footprints ever discovered. For award-winning historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, these poignant, familiar fossils serve as an inspiration for a new kind of world history, one that is genuinely global, spans all eras and all continents, and focuses on the family ties that connect every one of us.

You: The Story: A Writer's Guide To Craft Through Memory

Ruta Sepetys is known for creating vivid characters and harrowing plots. After five award-winning works of historical fiction and countless hours of meticulous research, she can affirm that the secret to strong writing is embedded within your life experience.

You: The Story is a powerful how-to book for aspiring writers that encourages you to look inward and excavate your own memories in order to discover the authentic voices and compelling details that are waiting to be put on the page. Masterfully weaving in humorous and heartfelt stories from her own life that illustrate an aspect of the craft of writing (such as plot, character development, or dialogue), Sepetys then inspires readers with a series of writing prompts and exercises.

Code Of The Hills

By Chris Offutt

In this blistering return to Chris Offutt's acclaimed crime series, Mick Hardin is tested like never before as familial allegiances and old wounds collide, threatening to destroy everything he loves. Master storyteller and award-winning author Chris Offutt's latest book, Code of the Hills, is a dark, witty, and propulsive thriller of murder and secrets in a town where little is as it seems. Code of the Hills is a harrowing novel of family--of what we're willing to do to protect and avenge the ones we love.

Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last

By Wright Thompson

In time for Father's Day, Wiright Thompson's Pappyland is available in paperback. More than a story of a famed bourbon, Pappyland is the story of how Julian Van Winkle III, the caretaker of the most coveted cult Kentucky Bourbon whiskey in the world, fought to protect his family's heritage and preserve the taste of his forebears, in a world where authenticity, like his product, is in very short supply. In writing this story Wright learned not only about great bourbon but about complicated legacies and the rewards of honoring your people and your craft—lessons that he couldn’t help but apply to his own work and life.

Nature's Messenger: Mark Catesby and His Adventures in a New World

By Patrick Dean

A dynamic and fresh exploration of the naturalist Mark Catesby—who predated John James Audubon by nearly a century— and his influence on how we understand American wildlife..

In Nature’s Messenger, acclaimed writer Patrick Dean follows Catesby from his youth as a landed gentleman in rural England to his early work as a naturalist and his adventurous travels. A pioneer in many ways, Catesby’s careful attention to the knowledge of non-Europeans in America—the enslaved Africans and Native Americans who had their own sources of food and medicine from nature—set him apart from others of his time.

Intensively researched and thrillingly told, Nature’s Messenger will thrill fans of exploration and early American history as well as appealing to birdwatchers, botanists, and anyone fascinated by the natural world.

with making him feel welcome from the jump.

“I think at the beginning of the year last year I was still the new guy and then as we kind of moved further in the year I kind of took more of a leadership role along with the seniors from last year,” he said. “I’m super thankful for [head coach Cade] Hoggard and the amount of trust he put into me… him leading me and me leading his other guys has been really cool.”

That leadership role came naturally to Smithwick, a born leader who fell in love with the sport at an early age thanks to the influence of his father

The elder Smithwick, a talented catcher in his own right who played Division I baseball at Western Carolina, instilled that love for the sport in his son

and taught him the intricacies of the catcher position.

“I mean he’s been my coach forever really, I’ve never had a better coach,” the younger Smithwick said of his father. “I can’t say enough good things about everything he’s taught me and how much he’s meant to me as a dad, but also a coach. He’s my best friend, he’s done everything for me — just having that relationship with him has really played a big part in [my development] as a person and also as a baseball player.”

The talented backstop added that Hoggard has also been instrumental to his development as a leader, helping him hone his leadership skills and demonstrating alternative ways to control a locker room.

“I never got to see Coach Hoggard as a player but I could tell that he was more of the quiet leader himself, so just seeing the way he coaches our team — that’s the way that I want to lead.”

Smithwick, who is one of the top catching prospects in the class of 2023 and will likely hear his name called somewhere in the middle rounds of the MLB Draft, said he has leaned on both Hoggard and his father for advice as he

continues to get more and more national attention.

He said the most important piece of advice they’ve given him is to simply ignore the chatter and focus on enjoying the moment as he finishes out his senior year of high school.

“I just kind of stay focused on what’s happening in front of me and being where my feet are, just staying locked in to the season and trying to win as many games as possible,” Smithwick said. “All I am is someone else’s opinion in that regard so I just try to play as well as I can no matter what — and not for any specific person or to impress

anybody, but just because I love the game and I want to play the best I can.”

When he steps onto the Ole Miss campus this fall Campbell Smithwick will be not only one of the most talented freshmen on the diamond, but also one of the most polished and mature athletes in the entire school thanks to the hard work and dedication of several mentors who helped guide him to this point.

And perhaps more importantly, he’ll be a local kid ready to make a mark on an historic program because for Smithwick, Oxford is home.

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate in Oxford is red hot. We have tips from professionals who can help buyers and home owners make the most living here.

Oxford Living Designing YOU!

BY ALLYSON DUCKWORTH PEARLY PEACOCK DESIGN PRINCIPLE DESIGNER

TThere is a designer in all of us. Creating spaces that reflect the individual is most rewarding. I often hear people say,” I am not creative.” I beg to differ, I believe there is a creative spirit in all of us. The medium may be different but we are all creative in the right environment.

To me, design is reflection. What makes design so difficult is its simplicity. Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep. Much of my design is inspired by travel. When I am able to experience foreign places and recognize elements that move me and influence my eye, that is when I’m most inspired. Many times my clients have all of the right choices; they just need an editor to help pull the final look to completion. Navigate their vision.

One way to start with designing a space is to find something that

is important and meaningful to you. A picture, a rug, a piece of furniture, or beloved artwork. Something that has meaning to you begins the journey. Use this element as the inspiration and centerpiece, the theme of your design. This begins the journey. Always remember to LIVE with what you LOVE. Always remember your space should be a reflection of you.

When designing a space, a word that is used often by my clients is “overwhelming”. Designing is making a lot of decisions. Often my clients feel frustrated because they can not make a decision. They feel it’s so permanent and they will make a mistake. One thing to remember is that nothing is permanent. Designing is a three dimensional puzzle. Always anchor your space with something and begin building from your anchor. Each layer has importance and is what leads to the next layer of decision

making. To prevent being overwhelmed, break up your spaces. Complete one space at a time. In the end it will all mesh if you are true to your style.

The second misconception of designing is the affordability of a designer. I often here

“I can’t afford you” before they know my rate even before I know

the scope of work in inquiry. No job is too small. Often a one-hour consultation is all a client needs to move forward. Never underestimate the advice and direction that can be gained in a simple one-hour meeting. Some of the best advice I give to a client is to leave a space empty until your budget is available to do it the right way. Don’t waste your budget with a “make do” element. The best is always worth waiting for!

Details are important. It is true that the “devil is in the details.” The details are what make the

design. They are what differentiates a good space from a great space! Also know there are no mistakes. Sometimes mistakes are the portals to discovery. The mistake can be the journey to the fabulous finished product. When designing your space make sure it is a reflection of you! When being true to your style you will never be unhappy with the space you design. Reflecting on you! In that your Design is magnificent. For more photos, go to www. Pearlypeacockdesign.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram @pearlypeacockdesign.

SSince he built his first drafting table at the age of 15, Corey Alger has always loved design and drawing. Now facing 60 (July is fast approaching), what would he say about his legacy?

“As I surpass my 25th anniversary, a few things come to mind: How fortunate I have been all of my life and how grateful I am to the literally hundreds of clients I have worked with,” he said. “And how proud I am of the work.”

Back in 1995, Tom Howorth and Alger were working together at Howorth’s office in Jackson when the former decided to move home to Oxford and invited the latter to join him.

Flash forward three years and Alger, looking for a greater ownership stake, gathered round his friends and family to develop a business plan. That led to Alger eventually opening

an office in March 1998 on the square.

So began Alger Design Studio

P.A.’s reputation as a full-service architectural design firm specializing in commercial and residential property planning and development.

After several moves within the city, what is it about Oxford that keeps Alger in the area? “An amazing component of working in Oxford is the number of smart and generous people who have a commitment to creating a better quality of life through the built environment,” he said. “My involvement with my very good friend and client, Mike Overstreet, was a catalyst in my business’ evolution.”

Alger’s first commercial project was for Larry McAlexander in building the Etheridge Professional Building that houses the United States Attorneys office building.

“When Mr. Overstreet and I completed the design and construction of Oxford Square North, I moved from the square into a larger office at the rear of that development, where I remained for 10 years or so. After Mr. Overstreet and I completed the design and construction of The Ice House development, we both decided to move our offices there and it remains where I am located today.”

Caroline Felker Hayden Baker Mary Rogers

The Thompson Team

Nicole Wright Polina Wheeler Sean Hettinger

Merisa Baker Chanda Cossitt Whitney McNutt Sue Golmon Kevin Knight Michelle McAuley

Amanda Miller Tina O’Quinn

Monte Smith Will Troxler

Jessica Harris Tommy Morgan

“That project gave me an initial opportunity to show my capabilities,” Alger said.

“When Mr. Overstreet and I completed the design and construction of Oxford Square North, I moved from the square into a larger office at the rear of that development, where I remained for 10 years or so. After Mr. Overstreet and I completed the design and construction of The Ice House development, we both decided to move our offices there and it remains where I am located today.”

It is then when Alger sadly mentions that this past March 1 made five years since Mike Overstreet passed away.

Alger’s one employee, Cliff Haskins, has been with Alger for more than 20 years “and is a critical and integral part of the business,” Alger said of their successes. “I had extensive experience working in the commercial design field and was fortunate to cultivate relationships with several developers in the area. My focus was initially - and continues to be - on private property development, both commercial and residential.”

Now celebrating his 25th anniversary, Alger said he’s been blessed. “I feel very fortunate to have gone to a very good architecture school at Mississippi State University, and after being mentored by a group of talented designers and technicians, our focus has always been on solving design problems, whether it be residential or commercial property development. We have been fortunate to have a wide variety of both.”

Alger said he has never owned an alarm clock to wake up and go to work. “Doing the work has always created the energy and drive,” he said. “And several times over the years, it’s even been seven days a week.”

Alger adds that he is reticent to offer advice to anyone on anything, “much less business. However, as I have said to several younger people looking to find their way, find your passion and focus on creating an environment for it to flourish in. Think empirically. (I have never been a theorist.)”

In the past five years or so, Alger has transitioned his

focus on designing buildings for himself and his partners.

“I’m a very good client!” he said, laughing. From Blue Mountain Beach on 30A in Florida to their latest venture, a new office park at Grand Oaks, Alger and his partners continue the work of creating

beauty, functionality and lasting purpose in the buildings they design and construct.

“I have no intention of ever retiring, as I am having too much fun,” Alger said. “Perhaps my gray hair provides some gravitas!

Professionals Guide Home Buyers through the Buying Process

BY ANGELA CUTRER

MMortgage, liability, terms, fixed rate - all terms most of us know little about. That’s why when it comes to buying, or even selling, a house, the professionalsespecially local ones - can show you how all the puzzle pieces fit.

Jake Ott of the Bank of England explains how having a “good lender” can help buyers and sellers sift through the jargon, paperwork and communication necessary in real estate transactions.

“Finding the ideal mortgage clients’ needs is my No. 1 goal,” he said. “I look for the very best for my clients - after all, it’s my reputation on the line.”

Reputation is everything in the real estate business because in towns and cities, all of the parties know each other and know the way the other does business.

“We have to communicate with all of them for our clients,” Ott said. “That involves the insurance people, the title people, the county tax assessor, the appraiser and the Realtors.”

Someone has to stay in contact with them all through the process and that’s why buying or selling using locals can be vital.

“We are all friends here in this business and we communicate often,” Ott said. “It makes the process so much easier. A lot of realtors will advise their clients not to use online offers because, frankly, the people working there don't care. They are not

closely related to the other parties and want to do a good job for the clients. They want to make money, and since they don’t live here, have to deal with the local real estate professionals or the clients closely, they have no skin in the game.”

Ott said the professionals in the Oxford real estate market certainly do have skin in the game - they live here, work here and have reputations to maintain.

“My reputation is very important to me,” Ott said. “Without it, I’d be in trouble. People would not come to me if they couldn’t trust me. We have to stay on top of it all as our reputations are gained in drops and lost in buckets. I am invested in the game and that provides a lot of motivation.”

For example, many buyers have no idea what an apprasier actually does. A home appraisal provides an independent assessment of the value of the property.

Apprasier Brad Feltenstein of Appraisers Associated of Oxford, Inc., explains that the most common use for an appraisal is when purchasing a property. “It's critical for buyers and consumers to have an unbiased, experienced third party valuing your property to ensure you have an accurate value to protect your investment," he said.

"It's an important step in the mortgage process, but there are actually many reasons to get an appraisal done. Besides purchasing a home, other uses include

estate planning, taxes, creating a financial statement, divorce documentation and other legal matter.”

However, most home buyers, especially those first-time buyers, have no idea who they must speak with, who they must document with and which activity goes first - if any go first.

Ott explained that “a good, local lender is a liaison between several parties.” Because they forge relationships with realtors, usually two per transaction; appraisers, who are involved in every transaction; insurance agents and companies; title attorneys and their paralegals;

and sometimes accountants, financial advisors, they help guide a buyer through the maze that seems so confusing to lay people.

“We are debt advisers, essentially, which is about as important as managing assets,” Ott said. “We communicate and coordinate with all necessary parties seamlessly throughout every transaction. This is a massive value-add that only local lenders can do.”

When moving, buying a house, selling a house, working a job and dealing with their families, buyers and sellers find such help priceless to have someone manage the real

estate communications for you, Ott added.

And Ott’s first suggestion for a new home buyer? Get pre-approved before going under contract. He said that’s what should come first because it lets everyone know what’s what, right from the start.

“This means we get all pertinent information before finding a house, which makes for as stress-free an experience as possible,” he said. “It’s very important not to have to have all that going on while gathering documents for me.”

Once that’s done, your “good lender” partner is ready to jump in the fray for you.

BRAD FELTENSTIEN

JAKE OTT

JORDAN CARTER

Neighborhood

trends

BY ANGELA CUTRER

IIn April, Realtor.com reported that the median listing home price in Oxford was $380,000 during the month of March, “trending up 46.2 percent year-over-year.” The median listing home price per square foot was $205.

Good news for sellers, but not so bad for buyers, either. The market is tight right now because inventory is low, so buyers are warned they must make quick decisions on houses that interest them.

Alison Alger of Cannon Cleary McGraw reports in her most recent market watch that the Oxford condo market is very active, a situation that can be attributed to rising rents pushing buyers toward purchasing. Her report said that though the student population is still very strong and bringing in more condo buyers, February saw a “massive jump from its current record of 49 condos sold in March, compared to 43 sold in February,” and that this previous February had been the most active February on record.

“The Oxford market is still filled with buyers and although there are some properties that are sitting on the market longer than normal, the good ones are still going quickly,” Alger said.

Her last market report said there were 151 condos under contract. “As of March 14, it increased to 169 condos under contract, still showing stronger than normal activity,” she said. “Condo inventory went up from 41 active for sale in February to 50 for sale as of March 14.

“However, with the strong increase in condo sales in the month of February, Oxford buyers absorbed many of the listings, actually tightening the relative supply. There [were] approximately six to seven weeks of inventory last month and currently it is down to four weeks, increasing the already strong sellers market.”

Alger suggested potential buyers should not hesitate. “Have your pre-qualification letter or proof of funds letter ready to go because the first thing most sellers want to know is ‘if they take your strong offer, can you perform?’” she suggested.

Last year, 39 homes sold in February. This year, 37 in that same month. This year, 110 condos were under contract as of March 14, which was down from 113 on Feb. 13. The following shows how strong the home market in Oxford as been in that month:

February 2022: 39 Sold

February 2021: 24 Sold

February 2020: 34 Sold

February 2019: 36 Sold

February 2018: 30 Sold

February 2017: 26 Sold

February 2016: 24 Sold

February 2015: 27 Sold

February 2014: 32 Sold

February 2013: 27 Sold

There are 69 active homes on the market. “We are seeing more homes come on the market, but buyers are still facing stiff competition on the homes that are fairly priced,” she said.

The average list price was $467,673, while the average sold price was $452,708. The average number of days on the market was 84.

As of March 14, there were only 69 active homes on the MLS. No home under $150,000 sold during that same time period and only two homes between $150,000 and $200,000 sold. Eight homes sold between $200,000-$250,000, while another eight were between $250,000$300,000. The rest were above $300,000.

The market has gone from a three-month supply to just under a two-month supply, Alger said, with the same amount of inventory yet higher sales volume. This is with interest rates that have come down to the 6 percent range.

Andrew and Heather Richardson of Remax agreed that the market is tight and buyers need to have all their ducks in a row when bidding on a house. “It’s a tight inventory, which creates all kinds of stress,” Andrew said. “Some buyers are doing what we really don’t want them to do, which is to remove contingencies as part of the buying process.”

He further said higher interest rates were delaying a lot of moves, with some sellers wanting to cash out and move on. “We’ve seen some home searches that don’t last an hour,” he said of the process. “You have to be ready.”

Richardson said that the Oxford region remains a strong market because of its locality, arts and education, but also because of the lifestyle afforded by living in a “small” town.

“The Oxford market is hot, that’s for sure,” he said. “People want to move here. The home prices seem cheap compared to the cities they’re moving from, and they’ve heard about Oxford, Ole Miss, and the lifestyle here. They

want in on it.

“And I think the market will remain healthy,” he added. “As long as Oxford stays small we think the area won’t slow down in its growth. It feels like a community here. I think having the same zip code has something to do with it. From one end to the other, wherever you go, you’re still in your ‘neighborhood’.

“From affordable housing to high-end condos, the market will continue to do well. The positive things about Oxford right now are going to just get better in the future. It’s a positive, growing place with a lot to do for everyone.”

ALISON ALGER ANDREW AND HEATHER RICHARDSON

BY ANGELA CUTRER

RRemember the first time you saw the house you ended up buying? Was the lawn maintained and mowed? Or was the grass overgrown and weedy?

Was the paint pristine or chipped? Were there bright, clean spaces near the door or spider webs barring entrance?

The answers you give might tell a lot about what you paid for that house and how things went afterward.

Did it make a difference on how you approached buying that home? We're thinking “yes, it did.” With the former, you felt you saw the house, itself, as wellmaintained and loved, which equaled in the mind a home needing little work which the family can just move right into.

Or, on the other hand, you thought that long grass and cobwebs everywhere meant this home needs some care for comfort, which equals potential problems that could end up being expensive. And relaxation? That won't happen any time soon. However, it might mean the sellers would have to take a lower price than they were asking.

Whether selling your home or looking to buy, it's always a good idea to take care of things before they become a problem. Buyers have a lot - a LOT - of competition in today's real estate market, but sellers are facing the same.

Realtors in the Oxford area say that inventory is severely limited, so buyers are having to act fast. But act too fast, and you might end up with a money pit that doesn't make that house feel like home.

Realtors regularly advise both sellers and buyers to make sure to be on their Ps and Qs, which means have an idea of what you want and another of what you are willing to do afterward. The mantra is still "location, location,

location," but so is attractiveness, cleanliness and affordability. Many buyers these days want to be in the right neighborhood, but they also want a house they can be proud of.

Here are five things to keep in mind when owning - or attempting to own - a home.

No. 1: "A potential buyer doesn't want to see roaches or termite damage," said Jordan Carter of Pest Marshal. As someone who has been in the business for seven years, Carter had several suggestions for both buyers and sellers. "Termite control is always a good idea whether you are buying or selling," he added. "We use a layered effect with treating all the way to the wall board and dusting on a long pole for spiders, piping around pipes to cut off any potential pathways for insects to enter a home. You always need to work to limit ways for them to get inside."

He also suggested keeping trees trimmed, as bugs use the branches as

a gateway into a home. Also, "treat crawl spaces to make sure there are no moisture problems," he said. "Vapor barrier benefits include allowing the air to breathe in that space and keeping out moisture, which bugs and other pests love."

No. 2: Potential buyers should have a home inspection to protect their investment. A poor inspection doesn't mean losing the house; it could just mean that there are issues that can easily be enacted to satisfy the bank - and a buyer's conscience.

No. 3: Remember that maintenance is cheaper than replacement. Whether it's a yearly inspection to ensure the HVAC is working properly or one that ensures pipes are secured against inclement weather, maintenance is worth every penny.

No. 4: Trying to keep up with the Joneses will get you nowhere. Plan purposefully, with an open mind. Adding a new wood-burning fireplace sounds lovely, but you must consider

how much it will actually cost, including labor and materials. Plus, consider asking your home insurance representative how that kind of addition will affect your bottom line.

No. 5: Be honest and sincere with yourself. If you've done all you can to make your house shine for potential buyers, discuss with your Realtor any updates or changes that might help. Then relax for a while and let the right buyer find you. Realtors want you to get top dollar and will be more than happy to help make that happen. As for buyers, whatever is not there will already cost you money. Remember to consider researching, for example, how much a fence or pool will cost to install and all the ramifications that might come about because of their existence.

Professionals in real estate, banking and insurance can be your best friends for advice.

It's also important to keep outside looking good; after all, it's the first

thing your potential buyers will see. With the last few winters being so tough, many homeowners are finding their plants and trees looking a bit tired.

Andy McCowen of The Barn Trading Company in Oxford said they've been very busy this spring with customers who want

replacements of plants, bushes and trees. "A lot of them don't want to wait to see if their plants will come back," he said. "They consider them an eyesore and want new ones. Some are wanting something totally different, as well. We've been selling a lot of azaleas, gardenias and holly ligustrum, to name a few."

McCown suggested homeowners scrap a plant's trunk to see if any green becomes visible; if so, there is a good chance the plant will make a return. This doesn't include trees, though, he warned.

"Otherwise, people will just have to be patient to see if their plants and trees rebound," he added."

COUNTRIBUTING EDITOR JIM DEES

is

FEEL YOUR SOIL!

TThose who are blessed with gardening prowess are said to have a “green thumb,” but what about those of us who are adept at watering plants but can’t grow a weed?

A wet thumb? Hose handy? Water whisperer?

These days in May and June are critical for the hose handy everywhere. It is during these crucial months of late spring and early summer when watering can make the difference between color and beauty and shriveled and withering.

Being well-versed in both shriveling and withering, (I’ll even throw in “fading”) I certainly want to avoid those conditions outside my house.

This year is different from most other springs because in late December of 2022, Lafayette County suffered a sudden and debilitating freeze. Temps plunged so quickly that shrubs, ornamentals and perennials were caught with their plants down.

On December 23 of last year, temperatures when from 45 to 25 in less than an hour before plunging all the way down to one degree. We endured 45 mph wind gusts and a light dusting of snow. Trash pick-up was interrupted as was Oxford Transit Service.

At Kroger, those who could get to the store, performed the usual run on toilet paper and milk and we thank them for their service.

For most of us, it was hunker down time and wait out the freeze.

When citizens finally emerged like dazed prairie dogs from underground bunkers, we were amazed to see the scorched leaves left behind. As spring 2023 began, azaleas, hydrangeas, and gardenias all shared a bombed out brown appearance.

Some of this damage is due to a condition the scientists call, “longitudinal bark split” but what us down-home hose handlers know by the colloquial, “frost crack.” It’s like a stock market crash for shrubbery – they get shrunk and burned.

The good news is, frost crack, despite the severity of its name, is not always fatal. The experts (OK, Google) say show some patience, don’t prune the dead leaves just yet and watch for new green growth.

Sure enough, ole Farmer Google was right. As we rolled into May, plants I thought were goners showed some surviving green amidst the foreboding brown.

As noted gardener, jazz pianist and pretty good dancer, Jeff Goldblum, intoned ever so cooly in

Jurassic Park: “Life breaks free. Life expands. Painfully, perhaps even dangerously. But life finds a way.”

Which brings us back to water. When is happy hour for the natural world? When do we reward these hardy soil survivors with a cool drink from the outside faucet?

Unfortunately, the consensus is that early in the morning is the best time to water plants, especially on hot days – and this time of year, is there any other kind?

My ritual on watering days is to drink just enough coffee to make sure I’m alive before stepping out. I have a beloved old rubber hose on a rotting wheel crank that looks like it invented frost crack.

When I sought to replace it, I was assured the new “pocket hose” was the way to go. These are lightweight hoses that coil into themselves, somehow snake-like, as the water is shut off. I fished my old rubber hose out of the garbage after using the pocket variety a time or two.

It just seems like a lesser hose – and who knew one could develop opinions about such things. We’ve all had the feeling among tools, implements – even potato chips – that the product has shrunk while the price has increased. Less hose, chips and bang for your buck.

I began to feel, much like my rubber hose, like an old crank myself. “New and improved” often means cheaper to produce and performing at a reduced level. In navigating bold new worlds, it is helpful to keep an open mind while holding on to the tried and true. Give new methods their due but as former actor/statesman Ronald Reagan so coolly intoned, “Trust but verify.”

On the hot-getting-hotter days ahead, I shall keep the old cranker at the ready. I’ll monitor all plants with eye and thumb. (Feel you soil, the experts tell us). Over-watering can be worse than not enough water.

Don’t let the bloggers and experts push you around. I’ve gained my insights thanks to lots of error and error. Your plants will tell you their needs if you can develop the ear to hear.

In the early morning hours before the sun has a chance to get up to no good, let there be water (and coffee) for man, beast and all life that finds a way.

And in the meantime, that’s right, you can get off my lawn.

a writer and longtime host of Thacker Mountain Radio. He is the author of The Statue and the Fury - A Year of Art, Race, Music and Cocktails.

READS, BEATS AND EATS

1. Julie and Matt Glasco

2. Sarah and Brian Hopkins

3. Wendy Traylor and Rebecca Simmons

4. Alison Kenney, Ashton Logan and Rachel Wiygul

5. Sharron and Jeff Hawkins

6. Robert Saarnio and Andi Bedsworth

7. Emily Riser and Diana Cissell

8. Dale Riser and Drew Mauldin

9. Mary Kelleher and Coco McDonnell

10. John and Sarah Francis Hardy with Jim and Francis Zook

PHOTOS BY Joey Brent Lafayette County Literacy Council The Green at Harrison’s May 4, 2023

2023 DOUBLE DECKER ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

PHOTOS BY Joey Brent

April 28th & 29th, 2023 Oxford MS

1. Todd, Mallory, Avery and Amy Thorpe

2. Alex Paton and Rick Mize

3. Payton Roberson and Katie Littlejohn

4. Lillis Ann Dunsworth, Pamela Devore and Kaylee Hill

5. Laney Etheridge and Tozie Goulet

6. Jole Lovelace with Caroline and Ginger Owen

7. Finney and Peter Couhig

8. Katherine Palmer and Ella Boyd

9. front row - Taylor Rankin, Emma Weeks, Olivia Moore and Lilli Smith back rowCarter Furrow, Lily Martin, Alexandra Mask, MC Sharpe and Olivia Bacon

10. Mark and Cyndi Wasunyk

11. Kinney Ferris, Emma Allen and Lee Ann Stubbs

12. Chuck and Isabella Strassel with Ashton Shepherd and Kristen Strassel

13. Joey and Rosemary Pierson with Dillan Gran and Zach Fulton

14. Addison Phelps and Shelby Phillips

15. Bayley Herring and Gabrielle Evans

16. Emma Autenreith and Emmy Evans

17. Grace, Frank and Phillip Schmidt

18. lana Grace Green and Chris Green

19. Michael and Kinney Ferris

20. Caitlyn Klauser, Summer Thomas, Kate Russell Snopek, Keely Smith, McCully Allen and Lydia Snopek

21. Allie and Ray Lockard with Richard Whitley

5-Star Cleaning Services: Free Quotes!

•Move-in/move-out

•Residential, Commercial and New Construction

•Organization Call Linda Brandemuhl (920)858-1348

WE ARE HIRING! • QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER • PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR • MANUFACTURING ENGINEER • ACCOUNTING ANALYST

•QUALITY ENGINEER VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO: LENNOX INTERNATIONAL.COM/ CAREERS QUALITY. FLEXIBILITY.SOLUTIONS adpnow.com

Affordable Metal Buildings Free Estimates Delivered In 2 Weeks Or Less (Depending on weather) Phillip Martin, Owner Phone: 662-2744845

B & B Concrete. Est. 1949. 70 years experience. Delivering quality ready-mix concrete since 1949. 662234-7088

Lay up treasures in Heaven by texting your family and friends to go to romanroadbibleministry. com Better built portable buildings for better prices! (662) 417-1256

Alterations, Custom Curtains, Blinds, Shades, Bedding, Cushions, Dorm Decoration! Design Gallery 1529 University Ave. Oxford, MS. 38655. Designer/ Julie Coleman. 662-6550500

Oaks of East Jackson WALKING DISTANCE TO OXFORD’S HISTORIC SQUARE 8,624 square foot, build-ready lot 1740 East Jackson Ave 972-983-2205

H&L Underbrush, Yard Work & Much More. 662714-0132

HAWKINS HANDYMAN

Lawn & Tree Removal.

24/7. Bonded & Insured. Plumbing, Electric, Excavating, Bush Hogging, Lawn Care, Leaf Removal, Dozer Work, Gravel/ Dirt Hauling, Welding Service, Trailer Repair. For your home & outdoor needs. Oxford, MS. 662473-8139

JANI KING CLEANING SERVICES LOOKING FOR PT WORKERS, EVENING TIME AFTER 5PM. CONTACT RAY WADE CLEANING AT 601.573.1049.

Lafayette Ready Mix of Oxford, MS is hiring a Batch/Dispatch Person The successful candidate will possess: •Excellent verbal and written communication skills •Excellent customer service •Ability to multitask •Proficient in basic math •Proficient in basic computer skills including email, word processing, and excel •Some supervisory experience. We offer competitive compensation and benefits including paid health insurance, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, and paid holidays.Email resume to: Justin Scott, Plant Manager jscott@ lafayettereadymix.com

NO TELEPHONE CALLS OR WALK-IN INQUIRES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DRIVERS WANTED Experienced CDL Class A Drivers Home Daily (Containers, Dump Trucks and Local 53 Foot) Call Jesse 662-607-3599

Office Space for Lease 1250 sq. ft. In Old Town Court behind Oby’s Restaurant Call: (662)234-2522

Oxford Housing Authority The Oxford Housing Authority is currently accepting resumes for the following position: Occupancy Specialist Information regarding job description, salary and benefits can be picked up at the offices of the Oxford Housing Authority, 900 Molly Barr Road Oxford, MS. Applications or resumes will be accepted at this address as well or can be mailed to P.O. Box 488 Oxford, MS 38655 until 5:00 P.M. Friday, December 9, 2022.

LOCAL BANK NOW HIRING Local bank is currently accepting resumes for the following positions:

Tell/Customer Service, Part-Time or Full Time

Competitive pay & benefit package that includes healthcare and retirement. Send resumes to: PO Box 866 Oxford, MS 38655 or email resume6340@gmail.com

Professional Office Suites Off Square, 426 S. Lamar Anchorage Building Utilities, janitorial, parking included, furnished $500/ mth lease (662)816-5315

Precious Angels Home Care. Private Duty, Nonmedical, In-home care. Caregivers, homemakers & sitters. Does your loved one need care at home? Contact us today. 662-821-6787. email: wecare@preciousangels homecare.org

REM Mississippi is Hiring!

REM Mississippi is seeking full-time and part-time employees, all shifts. Great benefit package for full-time employees. For more information, please visit http://www.rem-ms.com/ or call 601.939.0394

TRAILER WORLD

Goosenecks, Equipment, Stock & Enclosed Trailers. Mid-South’s Largest Selection. SOUTHLAND CO. Batesville, MS 662563-9428

SUPER 8 OXFORD 2201 JACKSON AVE LOOKING FOR HOUSEKEEPERS!!! PLEASE APPLY IN PERSON.

Awesome Downtown Townhouse - 1298 Fillmore Avenue Oxford, MS 38655. 3 BR, 3.5 BA, 3400 sq. ft. Available now! Oxford school district. Fenced in yard. Walking distance to campus and square. Huge garage and basement. $1,195,000 Call 662-619-0277

WELLS AND HANDYMAN SERVICE

Anything from basic maintenance to waterwell services! Locally Owned From Senatobia to Grenada! 40+ Year Experience Call Today for Free Estimates! 901-3555633