We’re taking peace of mind to a whole new dimension. This revolutionary, FDA approved screening and diagnostic breast ima imaging tool will soon be available at Glenwood Breast Health Center. Unlike mammography 3D technology takes multiple images to create a more precise 3D picture. traditional mammography, The enhanced 3D images improve the ability to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, especially in women with dense breast tissue. It also reduces the number of call-backs, sparing women the anxiety, inconvenience and expense of coming back for further imaging. Join us at our 9th Annual Think Pink Tea on Friday, October 20th to learn more.
RE
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A
CC
D I T E D FA C I L
All screening mammograms require a physician’s order. To schedule, call 329-8585 or schedule a screening mammogram online at GlenwoodMammo.com. Walk-ins are welcome.
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CONTENTS
September
Tailgating in the Delta Features 22................................................................................................Best of the Delta 30 ................................................................................Food, Friends, & Football 44 ...........................................................DOGUE: Getting chic for our shelter 54 ....................................................................................................5 loaves, 2 fish 60.........................................................Pat Moore: From Humble Beginnings 66 ...SURVIVORS: Honorary Komen Survivors model the latest fashions 76 .............................................................................Trend Alert: Sculpted Nails
In Every Issue 11...........................................................................................Community Chatter 14 ..............................................................................................................Calendar 15-19 .................................................................................................Social Scenes 40 ................................................................................................Delta Memories 82 ............................................................................................Delta Destinations 90 .................................................................................Tara’s Taste of the Town 91 ..................................................................................................Delta Outdoors
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TrinityDiamondsDirect.com 318.329.3949 201 Blanchard St. West Monroe, LA
MN-1000654624
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For most working women, balancing a career and home life can be a struggle. There will be times of great satisfaction and overwhelming guilt of missing out on your children’s lives or event. On missed classroom meeting or tardiness to a ball game can be catastrophic in a sweet child’s eyes. September, I think, is the busiest, most gruesome month to endure that struggle, but also the most exciting and rewarding month of the year. There is nothing like seeing your kid’s eyes light up after they score that first touchdown or after that landing their cheer stunts successfully. To those working moms out there, I hear you. I am you. I had to be reminded lately by my friend, Miranda that you are ENOUGH. So, to those moms, lift your heads up, kick back, watch some FOOTBALL, have a drink and enjoy your life and children. You are doing a great job and you deserve it!
On the Cover: Tailgating in the Delta
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MN-1000664197
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ARE YOU SINGLE AND READY TO MINGLE? SWITCH presents Lucky in Love 2 -- A Speed Dating Event. Join 40 local singles, 20 Women, and 20 Men on Thursday, Sept 21, 2017, at Enoch's Irish Pub from 7-9PM. For more info, follow the event on Facebook.
DELTA
LOCAL GIRL BRINGS HOME GOLD Rileigh Parent, age 7 from West Monroe, Louisiana, has brought home the gold from the 2017 Miami Beach Modeling Convention. Congratulations Rileigh!
CALLING ALL ADVENTURE SEEKERS! Do you love to paddle? The second annual River Rat Paddle Challenge on the Ouachita River will be held on September 23, 2017. Proceeds will benefit Horse Assisted Therapy Services of North Louisiana. The race will be about 6 and a half miles long and will include divisions for paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks (multiple lengths/styles) for men, women, and children. For more information, visit riverratpaddlechallenge.com
NEW GENERATOR DONATED TO HELP SUSTAIN LOCAL BLOOD SUPPLY Officials from Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), Ouachita Parish Police Jury, and the City of Monroe joined LifeShare Blood Center to announce the installation of a new 125kw diesel generator. The new generator has the capacity to supply electricity to the entire facility, which is vitally important during times of prolonged outages, which typically occur after of damaging storms.
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4075 Sterlington Rd | Unit 2 | Monroe, LA 71203 | United States
318-366-7329
dotdotsboutique.wixsite.com/dotdotsboutique Follow us on
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5:00-9:00pm @ West Monroe Convention Center
September 8 Otonana Trio and All But Brave - 9:00PM-2:00AM @Sal’s Saloon
Rock the Railroad – Bulldog and Brews - 5:30-7:30PM @ 101 East Park Avenue in Ruston
September 9 The Parlor House presents DOGUE: A runway show benefitting S.O.S. Pets of Ouachita - 9PM @Live Oaks Bar & Ballroom Driven Desires Car, Truck & Bike Show - 9:00AM -4:00PM @ Monroe Civic Center Downtown Donut Dash - 8:30AM - @ Downtown RiverMarket in Monroe Landry Vineyards presents: Code Blue - 4:00-7:00PM @ Landry Vineyards
September 14 Creed & Creed presents 2017 Best of the Delta 6:30PM @ West Monroe Convention Center Tickets at www.deltastylemag.com
September 15 2017 Southern Nationals Indoor Off-Road Race 8:00AM-7:00PM@ Ike Hamilton Expo Center
September 16 2017 Southern Nationals Indoor Off-Road Race8:00AM-7:00PM @ Ike Hamilton Expo Center The Black & White Ball - 7:00PM-12:00AM @ Bayou DeSiard Country Club 25th Annual Piney Hills Classic Mountain Bike Race @ 211 Lincoln Parish Park Road, Ruston
NELA Race for the Cure - 8:00AM @ Forsythe Park
September 17 2017 Southern Nationals Indoor Off-Road Race - 8:00AM -7:00PM @ Ike Hamilton Expo Center
25th Annual Piney Hills Classic Mountain Bike Race @ 211 Lincoln Parish Park Road, Ruston
September 21 Rock ‘n’ Box Volunteer Night with Josh Madden Band - 6:00-8:00PM @ Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana SWITCH presents "Lucky in Love 2" A Speed dating event 6:30PM @ Enoch's Irish Pub
September 23 KTVE/KARD presents Ladies Day Out - 9-6PM @ Ike Hamilton Expo Center Landry Vineyards presents: Mike McKenzie Band - 3:30-7:00PM @ Landry Vineyards 2017 River Rat Paddle Challenge - 10:00AM-2:00PM @ Bayou D’arbonne Boat Ramp Deep Ruston – A Women’s Bible Study Conference 9:00AM-4:00PM @ Temple Baptist in Ruston
September 28 Louisiana North Deer Camp - 6:00-10:00PM @ Bayou Landing Painting with a Purpose for the Food Bank 7:00PM-9:00PM @ Painting with a Twist
September 29 Rock the Railroad – Makers Night 5:30-7:30PM @ 101 East Park Ave, Ruston
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PLAY LOCAL
The Hawkins Boys and the Hawkins Family Concert -
SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 2
LANDRY VINEYARDS GRAPE STOMP FEST WITH PAUL AMY & THE PIROGUE BOYS AUGUST 12 · LANDRY VINEYARD’S
Jeff & Libby Landry, Amber Bryant, Kay Carroll, Erin Huckabay, Sherry Love
Kim McTurner, Jeff Albright, Mary Honeycutt
Linda Beth & Tim Neustifter
Kim McTurner
Herdera Brice, Daryl Whaley, Melissa Thaxton, Sophie Brice
Raegan Trusty, Morgan Morris, Carol Anne Barnes, Jennifer Russell, Amber Belaire, April Clemens
Jeff & Libby Landry
A Lucy look-a-like stomping grapes
The Lucys
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10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT THE DOWNTOWN GALLERY CRAWL & BEST OF THE DELTA VOTING KICK-OFF AUGUST 3 · DOWNTOWN MONROE
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GOVERNOR’S SAN CRISTOBAL CIGAR EVENT AUGUST 11 · GOVERNOR’S CIGAR & PIPE
TWIN CITIES MAYORS' COMMITTEE ON DISABILITIES AWARDS DINNER JULY 19 · THE MONROE CIVIC CENTER
Dr. Sandra Cannon Scott and Company entertain the crowd.
Lonesha Elizabeth Tyson receives a scholarship
Carissa Sawyer receives a scholarship Mayor Mayo addresses the Twin Cities Mayors' Committee on Disabilities Awards Dinner.
Kara Martin Avara receives a scholarship from Betty Futch.
Hannah Baldwin accepts the Media Award from Sherry Foy & Chris Mayfield.
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PARAMOUNT HEALTHCARE CONSULTANT’S SENIOR OLYMPIC GAMES JULY 28 MONROE CIVIC CENTER
Anthony McCrary, Robin Mears
Ra ndee Mann, Dawne Pelt Smith, Meagan Parker
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Finding the house to call home,
and choosing the best mortgage loan. Whether you’d like to purchase, remodel, or build your home, it’s easier when you start with a free quote, and pre-qualifying for your loan lets you know how to shop. Our Mortgage Lenders work with you to determine the best choice for your needs among available home mortgage options.
One More Reason. Try the advantage of our personal service with our local lending team. Contact Ginger Holton | (318) 651-5043 | gholton@progressivebank.com Or apply online at ProgressiveBank.com
RESIDENTIAL LENDING SERVICES
Monroe | West Monroe | Winnsboro | Bossier City | Shreveport All residential mortgage loans subject to normal credit approval requirements. Mortgage loan rates are subject to change without notice. G. Holton NMLS #464560. 20 | SE P TE M B E R 2 017 | D E LTA S T Y LE MAGA Z I NE
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FINALIST BEAUTY
Best Stylist/Colorist Blake Mason Katie Anzalone Ashley Chapman Shea Emery Ashley Ales Best Esthetician Wendy Newsom Jennifer Brown Heather Terral Michelle Masters Breanna Dean Best Spa Spa Bella Spa Nouvelle Healing Waters Bath & Spa My Spa Rain Best Makeup Artist Taylor Menefee Victoria Alexander Brittany Dye RaeLynn Moore Hobie Landon Waits Best Massage Therapist Emily Harris Ana Hale Candi Brooks Amber Zambie Jennifer Malambri Best Nail Salon Glamorous Nails TC Nails Dynasty Nails Pampered & Polished Art Nails Best Personal Trainer Bonnie Farmer Hay Cesar Camacho Larry Rivers David Welch Collin Ellis Best Salon Salon Couture Rain The Parlor House Meraki Studios Salon 7twenty3 Best Tanning Salon Hot Spot Tanning Key West Tanning Sun Tan City Tropical Tan & Travel Southern Glow
DINING
Best Asian Food Raw Peking Tokyo Steak House RawZ Ronin Hibachi Best Bakery & Sweet Treats
Bakery Boutique Smallcakes Mrs. Kay's Sweet Shop Social Bites Albritton's Cake Shop Best Barbeque Podnuhs BBQ West Danken Trail BBQ Pit Hot Rod's Best Boiled Crawfish Crawfish City Cormier's Ben Christmas Riverside Coney Island Catfish Charlie's Best Breakfast Latin Foods Lea's of LeCompte Daily Press Coffee Bean Ole' South Diner Best Caterer Chef Pat Nolan Thurman's Food Factory Heritage Catering Keith McFarland/GiGi's Country Kitchen Creative Catering Best Chef Eric Johnson Pat Nolan Michael Garriga Cory Bahr Katy Aker Best Bartender Justin Harvard - Brass Monkey Joe Summerscales - Neat Safeer Moten - Paradise Adam Finklea - Live Oaks Lance Zeigler - Braiz'n Bar & Grill Best Coffee House CC's Coffee House Corner Coffee House Starbucks RoeLa Roaster Coffee Bean Best Food Truck Rhoda Brown's Hogwash Caboose 2 Dude's Catering The Cookout Faye's Fatburger Caster & Chickory Best Fried Chicken Raising Cane's Southern Classic Magic Grill Chicken Mel's Fried Chicken Big Momma's Fine Foods Best Fried Fish Catfish Charlie's Catfish Cabin The Fish House
Scott's Seafood David Bread's Catfish King Best Frozen Dessert Southern Shiver's Orange Leaf Eskamoe's Debbie's Snowballs Smallcakes Best Gumbo Trapp's Ponchatoulas Warehouse No.1 Restaurant Mohawk Tavern Waterfront Grill Best Hamburger Enoch's Irish Pub The Burger Grind The Creamery Melvyn's The Fieldhouse Best Italian Food Cascio's Genusa's Geno's Roma's Italian Restaurant Lil Pizzoli's Best Kid's Meal Newk's Eatery Magic Grill Chicken Chick-Fil-A CheeBurger CheeBurger Catfish Charlie's Best Lunch Spot Sundown Tavern Newk's Eatery SQ's on the Ouachita Portico Braiz'n Bar & Grill Best Mexican Food El Jarrito Avocado's Iron Cactus Don Tomas El Sombrero Best Outdoor Dining Trapp's Copeland's of New Orleans Warehouse No.1 Restaurant Sundown Tavern SQ's on the Ouachita Best Overall Restaurant Trapp's Waterfront Grill SQ's on the Ouachita Warehouse No.1 Restaurant Doe's Eat Place Best Pizza Pie Works Johnny's Pizza House Roma's Italian Restaurant Newk's Eatery Tony's New York Style Pizza Best Place for a Romantic Dinner Genusa's Italian Restaurant Restaurant Cotton Warehouse No.1 Restaurant
SQ's on the Ouachita Doe's Eat Place Best Po-Boy Trapp's Not Just Pie Magic Grill West Monroe Ray's PeGe Ponchatoulas Best Restaurant Service SQ's on the Ouachita Chick-Fil-A Warehouse No.1 Restaurant Doe's Eat Place Iron Cactus Best Salad Portico Restaurant Sage Cascio's Newk's Eatery Daq's Best Specialty Cakes Allbritton's Cake Shop Thurman's Food Factory Bakery Boutique Uptown Downtown Social Bites Best Steak Restaurant Sage Warehouse No.1 Restaurant Doe's Eat Place Beau Vines Waterfront Grill Best Sushi Rawz Samurai One Raw Ronin Hibachi Tokyo Steak House Best Bloody Mary Copeland's of New Orleans Sundown Tavern SQ's on the Ouachita Portico Brass Monkey Pub & Patio Best Margarita El Jarrito Iron Cactus Avocado's SQ's on the Ouachita Taco Bandido Best Beer Selection (Restaurant) Enoch's Irish Pub The Pickle Barrel Portico Flying Tiger Brewery SQ's on the Ouachita Best Wine Selection (Restaurant) Genusa's Roma's Italian Restaurant Sage Doe's Eat Place Warehouse No.1 Restaurant
ENTERTAINMENT
Best Local Cover Band/ Musician Mike McKenzie Band The Bad Monkey Brass Band Josh Madden Band Jordan Sheppard/Roses & Revolvers Josh Love Band Best Local Original Band/ Musician All but Brave Jig the Alien David Gore Supernaturals Stonerpop Best Bar Live Oaks Bar & Ballroom Enoch's Irish Pub Brass Monkey Pub & Patio Corner Bar Pepper's Best Local Attraction Landry Vineyard's Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo Flying Tiger Brewery Smiles Park/Kiroli Park Antique Alley Best Venue to Have an Event The Norton Building Landry Vineyard's Vantage State Building Ballroom Bayou Landing Live Oak's Best Place for Singles to Mingle Brass Monkey Pub & Patio Flying Tiger Brewery SQ's on the Ouachita Enoch's Irish Pub Live Oak's Bar & Ballroom Best Place to Take a First Date Warehouse No.1 Restaurant Genusa's Cascio's Doe's Eat Place SQ's on the Ouachita Best Place to Take the Kids The Children's Museum Altitude Excalibur Smiles Park/Kiroli Park Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo
HOME
Best Local Furniture Store Burney's Furniture Ivan Smith Sleepy Hollow
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FINALIST Paul Michaels Woodstock Furniture Revival Best Garden Store/Nursery Sonny Panzico's Sammy's Plant World O'Neal's Farm & Garden Thomas Nursery Hemphill's Best Flooring Store Dupuy's Flooring Teresa's Flooring Kim's Floor Décor Holton's Flooring and Interiors Floorworks Best Home Builder Flannigan Builders Blue Heron Holyfield Construction Rafael Lara Lance Bickham Best Home Décor Paul Michaels Lauren Roeback Designs The Rustique Gator Beehive Outlet Walsworth & Company Best Custom Cabinets & Countertop Home Hardware Center Home Improvement Outlet Tom Sander's Building Mart Builder's Supply in Ruston Russell-Moore Lumber Best Custom Home Supply Store Builder's Supply in Ruston P & M Hardware Pearce Lumber Russell-Moore Lumber Tom Sander's Building Mart Best HVAC (Heating/AC) Service Lindsay Enterprises Air Service Professionals Albritton's Service Company Bell's Heating and Air Gilley's Heating and Cooling Best Landscaper NorthPro Lawn Green Horizons David Roach Northeast Lawn Service Miletello Landscaping Best Lawn Service Salters Lawn Care Midsouth Lawn Service Northeast Lawn Service Diggaman Lawn Care Yates Lawn Services Best Home Security Provider CenturyLink United Automation Central Security of Northeast Louisiana
Security Control Equipment Protection 1 Security Solutions Best Pest Control American Exterminating Best Exterminators Bullseye Exterminating Redd Pest Control Pruitt Pest Control Best Plumbing Company Kelly Plumbing All Plumbing Mark Johnson Plumbing Meaux Plumbing Bruce Plumbing Best Pool Builders & Service Azure Pools and Spas Dolphin Pools Ouachita Pools The Pool Place River City Pools Best Outdoor Living Supplies Lauren Roeback Designs Lincoln Outdoor Liviing The Patio Place Sleepy Hollow Geaux Hammock Best Roofing Company Pylant & Son Roofing Allied Roofing, LLC Hay's Roofing and Maintenance Integrity Roof Systems LLC Raintight Roofing Best Tree Service B & B Tree Service Cajun Tree Service Foxx Tree Service Kirkland Kutters Munholland Tree Service
MEDIA
Best Local Radio DJ DJ Worm Sheila K John Renoylds BJ Bell Jeremiah Beck Best Local Radio Morning Show John & Toby O Jeremiah & Sheryl Mike & Sheila K Big Jim & Griffin Scott Rickey Smiley Best Radio Station 88.7 The Cross K-104 Sunny 98.3 100.1 The Beat Rock 106 Best Meteorologist Don Wheeler Dylan Robichaud
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Jerrod Floyd Tom Pierson Best News Anchor Chris Brown Evan Johnson Lacy Sharp Tammi Arender Jennifer Andrews
RETAIL
Best Appliance Store Bestway Choudrant Appliance Daniel Appliance Skent – N – Dent Trenton Appliance Co. Best Auto Dealer (New) Hixson Ford Jim Taylor Auto Group Ryan Chevrolet Sparks Nissan/Kia Van Trow Toyota Best Auto Dealer (PreOwned) Car King Car Town Redline Motor Cars Ryan Chevrolet Sparks Nissan Best Auto Mechanic Shop Autoplex Automotive Culps Automotive Frank Nettles Automotive Mark’s Automotive Scott’s Auto and Boat Best Auto Body Shop Antley’s Collision Center Auto Body Specialists Bradshaw’s Body Shop Ken’s Body Shop Parker Auto Body Best Bank Centric Federal Credit Union Chase Bank Origin Bank Ouachita Valley Federal Credit Union Progressive Bank Best Car Wash Car Wash West Rocket Fast Dream Wash Express Happy Days Rocket Lube Best Local Children's Shop Hot Tots Once Upon A Child The Children’s Shoppe The Mother Hen The Stork’s Nest Best Day Care Assembly Kidz Care Claiborne Christian Preschool Mom’s Helper Day Care and Preschool Ready, Set, Go Child Devel-
opment Center Small World Day Care Best Dry Cleaner Cleaners of Ruston D & D Cleaners Lapels Dry Cleaners Thurmanize Dry Cleaners Weil Cleaners Best Florist Dean of Flowers Fine Folks Rebecca’s Floral Designs Vee’s Flowers West Side Florist Best Gift Store Beehive Outlet Debbie’s Hallmark The Muffin Tin Sparrow’s The Trenton House Best Health Food Store 5 Star Nutrition Fiesta Nutrition For His Temple Gibson’s Natural Grocery Heavy Supplements Best Hotel Hilton Garden Inn Hampton Inn Courtyard Marriott Holiday Inn TownePlace Suites Best Jewelry Store Hollis & Co. Randy Smith Jewelers Flair Jewelers National Jewelry Trinity Diamonds Direct Best Locally Owned Business Chef Taxi Cara’s Boutique Mr. P’s Tees Governor’s Cigar and Pipe Pelican State Clothing Best New Business (Opened Last 12 Months) Steffany’s Sweat – N – Stiletto’s Reign Beard Care C’est La Vie Boutique Braiz’n Bar and Grill SQ’s on the Ouachita Best Local Men's Clothing Jos A. Bank Patton’s Western Wear River Outfitters Ron Alexander The Toggery Best Outdoor Recreation/ Marine Store The Honey Hole B & L Marine Letsinger Marine T.P. Outdoors Wood Marine Best Optical Shop
Dillingham Optical Family Eye Care Haik Humble Jan’s Optical Moss Eye Care Best Pet Store Aquatic Solutions The Animal House Pick of the Litter Best Pharmacy Aron’s Pharmacy Bernice Pharmacy Community Pharmacy St. John’s Pharmacy Ruston Apothecary Best Prom Dress Shop Anitra’s Attic The Twisted Peacock David’s Bridal King of Hearts Hemline Best Local Shoe Store Avenue Shoes Beehive Cara’s Boutique Fleet Fleet Sports The Nude Nomad Best Sporting Goods H. Mickel T.P. Outdoors Simmons Sporting Goods Spotted Dog The Honey Hole Best Stationary & Invitations Bayou Brush Lettering Debbie’s Hallmark Sue Paperie The Paper Market Sir Speedy Best Wedding Registry Southern Creations The Trenton House The Muffin Tin Townsend House Walsworth & Company Best Western Wear Cavender’s Western Wear Croswell Tack & Western Wear Patton’s Western Wear J & H Boots & Jeans S & J Farm & Feed Best Wine & Spirits Shop Tonore’s Wine Cellar Devine Wines & Spirits The Keg Package Store Washington Wine & Spirit Tiger Market Best Local Women's Clothing Cara’s Boutique HerringStone’s The Fleurty Ginger Boutique Hemline The Nude Nomad
FINALIST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Best Addiction Recovery Center Fresh Start Ministries New Day Recovery Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center Rayville Recovery Teen Challenge Best Accountant Dale Soignier Debbie Takewell George Griggs Jeff Maxwell Tashia Hines Best Architecture Firm Architecture Associates Architecture Plus Larry James Designs Michael Walpole TBA Studios Best Artist Caroline Youngblood Brooke Foy Ian Blaylock K'Shana Hall-Davis Andrea May Hinton Leah Reitzell Michael Kasey Best Carpet Cleaning Service Carpet Care Cleaning and Restoration Charlie's Carpet Cleaning Dowdy Carpet Care Klean King Stanley Steamer Best Chiropractic Clinic Colman Chiropractor Clinic Holt Chiropractic Mayfield Chiropractic Shell Chiropractic The Joint Best Cleaning Service Holbrook's Cleaning Services Kelsey Klean Lindsay's Cleaning Service Maid4Queens Southern Cleaning, LLC Best Counseling Center Family Solutions Counseling First West Counseling Center Strategic Counseling Solutions The Center for Children and Families The Wellspring Best Dental Clinic Apple Dental Arrow Dental Center Bayou Dental Group NELA Dental Peach Tree Dental Best Dog Trainer
4 on the Floor Training Center Delta K9 Solutions Petco/Hail Harvey Sherry Meeks Ouachita Valley Dog Training Center Best Physician's Clinic Affinity Health Community Care Clinic Green Clinic Sanson's Family Medicine West Monroe Family Clinic Best Financial Advisor/ Investments Darren Oglesby Jordan Smith Trent Crawford Lucas Vascocu Karl Davis Best Hearing Center Acadian Hearing and Balance Center Audibel Green Clinic Audiology Miracle Ear West Monroe Hearing Center Best Home Health Provider Haven Home Health Serenity Care Providers Stat Home Health True Care Home Health United Home Care Best Hospice Provider Ascend Hospice Care, LLC Heart of Hospice Hospice Compassus Premier Hospice St. Joseph's Hospice Best Hospital Glenwood Medical Center P & S Surgical Hospital St. Francis Medical Center Union General Hospital University Health Best Insurance Agent Blake Wheelis Brad Bell Peggy Sullivan Derek Kennedy Greg Manley Jr. Best Lawyer Christian Creed Jeff Guerrierio Robert Knight Daniel Cummins Amy Sawyer Best Limo Service Anytime Limo Arrive in Style J & T Limousine and Party Bus, LLC JPS Transportation Limousines Unlimited Best Medical Supply Company
AOSS Medical Supply, Inc. Lincare Medical Supply Luffey's Medical and Surgical Supply Marie's Medical Supply Midsouth Medical, Inc. Best Non-Profit Organization Best Nursing Home Arbor Lake Skilled Nursing and Rehab Princeton Place Ridge Crest Nursing Home St. Joseph's Nursing Home West Monroe Guest House Best Assisted Living Facility Arbor Rose Assisted Living Azalea Estates St. Joseph's Assisted Living Facility Rosemont Assisted Liviing Savannah Grand Assisted Living Best Orthodontic Clinic Caples and Robinson Dr. Glen Hummel Turpin Orthodontics Williams Orthodontics Dr. Chad Gardner Best Pet Groomer Canine Couture Doggie Style Happy Tails Sarah's Pooch Parlor Yuppy Puppy Best Pet Lodging/Boarding Delta K9 Solutions Gone to the Dogs Happy Hound Hotel, LLC Happy Tails Petite Paws Pet Hotel Best Photographer Angela Groce-Unveiled Radiance Desirae Gooding Trappey Savannah Kate Bridges Staci Albritton Missy M. Emory Best Physical Therapy Clinic Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center Glory Therapy Lakewood Physical Therapy Melanie Massey Physical Therapy NELA Rehabilitation Best Private School Ouachita Christian Claiborne Christian St. Fredrick's High School River Oaks Cedar Creek School Grace Episcopal School Best Public School
Claiborne Elementary Neville High School Sterlington High School West Monroe High School West Ouachita High School Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlor Cold Desert Tattoo Inked on the Bayou Lucky 7 Tattoo Studio The Chapel University Ink Best Tattoo Artist Adam Bethea Joseph "Hobbit" Wells Jeremy Lucky Joey Bagwell Kenneth Pippen Reid Barnhill Best Place to Work CenturyLink Vantage Center for Children & Families NELA Rehabilitation University Health Conway Best Real Estate Agency Better Homes & Garden Realty Keller Wiliams ReMax Coldwell Banker RiverStone Realty Vanguard Realty Best Realtor Mark Sisk Shane Wooten Melanie Soignier Harrison Lily Denise Antis Best Rehabilitation Hospital Cornerstone Hospital Riverbend Rehabilitation Hospital Sterlington Rehabilitation Hospital St. Francis Rehabilitation Hospital Glenwood Rehabilitation Best Rural Hospital Delhi Hospital Morehouse General Hospital Reeves Memorial Medical Center Richardson Medical Clinic Union General Hospital Best Staffing Agency Advantage Resourcing Diversity One Staffing Manpower Spherion Staffing Express Employment Best Surgical Hospital Green Clinic Surgical Hospital Monroe Surgical Hospital P & S Surgical Hospital
Advanvanced Surgery Center Surgical Center of West Monroe Best Travel Agency Monroe Travel The Travel Company Tropical Tans and Travel Tiggerific Travel Monroe Travel Services, Inc. Best Veterinary Clinic Animal Hospital of West Monroe Lefebrve Veterinary Clinic Lindsay Veterinary Clinic McClendon Veterinary Clinic Cooper Veterinary Clinic
SPORTS & RECREATION
Best Art Gallery Arender Gallery Frank Kelley Jr. Art Gallery Masur Museum of Art Sugar Gallery Upstairs Gallery Best Dance School A Time to Dance DBK Dance Linda Lavender’s School of Dance Missy Crain Dance Studios LG Dance Studio Best Golf Course Bayou DeSiard Country Club Black Bear Golf Club Calvert Crossing Squire Creek Country Club Frenchman's Bend Best Health Club/Exercise Facility Anytime Fitness Monroe Athletic Club Infinity Fitness CrossFit Chivalry The Wellness Center Best Place to Learn Gymnastics Bayou Gymnastics LA Chaos Athletics PowerHouse Tumble & Cheer Totally Tumbling Xtreme Athletics Cheer & Tumbling Best Martial Arts Studio Action Martial Arts Bob Allen Dojo Gorilla Fitness/KRON GRACIE JIU-JITSU Mossey Academy of Martial Arts Tiger Rock Martial Arts
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Thursday, September 14th
- 9PM -
LIVE MUSIC BY ROSES & REVOLVERS DRINK SPECIALS
209 Walnut Street - Monroe, LA WWW.DELTASTYLEMAG.COM
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FLASHBACK 5
F
lashback5 is a 4 member classic rock/cover band from north Louisiana. For the last 7 years, Flashback5 has had a passion for reinventing the musical sounds and styles from 5 decades, including today's hits. The band features Melissa Haisty on the keys/vocals, Brian Moore on drums/vocals, Kevin Sisson on lead/rhythm guitar/ vocals, and Ron Haisty on bass guitar/vocals. Ron and Melissa are not only band mates, but have been married for 27 years. They sang in West Monroe’s Rebel choir while dating in High School. “We know that music was always something that we both enjoyed and playing live togeth-
er is a highlight for us,” Melissa said. “We play about those classics that we grew up on and love, you can see the audience light up when they hear something they enjoyed years ago. There is a special connection that music can create and it's contagious.” Whether it is a wedding reception, a small private party or a large corporate event, Flashback5 can play the songs that will please the most diverse crowd. You can hear 3 part harmony as you slow dance or see drumsticks flying thru the air during a fast dance song! Flashback5 has it covered! Melissa went on to say that she feels very blessed to be able to play music not only with her husband, but also with two of the
areas most talented musicians, Kevin Sisson and Brian Moore. “I just can’t say enough of how incredibly talented they are, we are a unique musical family” she added. “I was brand new to being in a band and they were very patient and helpful….well most of the time.” she laughed. Flashback5 is building a great reputation in this area that they plan to continue. “We have so many opportunities to make life better here and to celebrate special times together! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with live music.” Ron said. To learn more and/or contact Flashback5, search for them on Facebook and go visit their website at www.flashback5.net. DELTA STYL E MAGA Z I NE | S EPT EM BER 2017 | 27
On a scale from 1-10, how bad do you need an INTERVENTIONAL SPINE AND PAIN CARE With our compassionate, patient-focused People in pain need specialized care. For expert care that can effectively relieve pain approach and advanced minimally invasive and return patients to an active life, look to interventional techniques, we are uniquely qualified to address the range of conditions that Louisiana Pain Care. The physicians at cause people to feel pain. We don’t just treat Louisiana Pain Care have over 80 years of symptoms – we get to the source of the pain. combined experience in spine care and Our fellowship-trained physicians dedicate their interventional pain management. entire practice to the relief of pain, so you know you are getting the best. Louisiana Pain Care - the in Our experts carefully evaluate each patient non-surgical spine care and pain management. through clinical evaluation and diagnostic testing to determine the source of the pain and then tailor a non-surgical treatment. If patients do not respond to the non-surgical treatment or if a surgical evaluation is warranted, the experts at Louisiana Pain Care can refer patients to the surgeon of their choice.
318-323-6405 LAPainCare.com
John L. Ledbetter, M.D.
Vincent R. Forte, M.D.
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J. Hardy Gordon, M.D.
Ronald L. Ellis, M.D.
Northeast Louisiana’s Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics Monroe
West Monroe
Ruston
Bastrop
Mangham
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FOOD, FRIENDS, &
FOOTBALL This is how we tailgate in the Delta. Katie Burke
H
osting the ultimate game-day tailgate takes planning and necessities. No matter what team you root for, every tailgate has things in common: great people, die-hard fans, and, of course, killer food.
Top 15 Essentials » Cooler with wheels and plenty of ice » Portable Fan & sunscreen – Louisiana sun and humidity can be a game day downer » Grill » Pop-Up tent for shade » Favorite food and drinks » Plenty of tables and chairs » Paper towels or napkins » Cooking utensils » Disposable plates and serving supplies » Trash bags » Music – good music is vital to gameday fun » Condiments – bring a variety to appeal to all guests » Games – cards, cornhole, etc. » Anti-bacterial soap or wipes for the people who want to cook AND participate in games » Ziploc bags – you never know what you will need to save or store
Bring your pets to tailgate with you
EMERALD HARRIS
Tailgating at ULM
Gameday Tips » Dress in your team’s colors/jersey. Team spirit will breathe life into any tailgating party » Prep the day before – Pack your bags & check your lists » Marinate your meats the day before for that extra flavor » Packing double duty items – A flat top cooler can act as a surface to place food on. » LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Get to your location with plenty of time to set up – research location if not familiar with the grounds » Bring a variety of foods that will appeal to everyone.
Southern Tailgating Favorite Bacon-wrapped Jalapenos » 15 whole jalapenos » 8oz cream cheese » 1⁄2 cup cheddar cheese » 1 tsp. minced garlic » Salt & pepper » 1 lb. Italian sausage » 30 slices of bacon Slice whole jalapenos in half, clean out the seeds and soak halves in water. In a separate bowl mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, minced garlic, and cooked ground Italian sausage. Once mixed, stuff jalapeno halves and wrap in bacon. Chill overnight. Grill for atleast 20 minutes, until bacon is crispy and enjoy!
Wagging Tail-gaters Don’t forget about your 4-legged friends this tailgating season. Tailgating with your pet can be great, but remember these simple tips to make it enjoyable for everyone. » Keep your pet on a leash at all times » Bring plenty of water and “poop bags” for easy clean up » Be cautious of children and other animals
TAILGATING IN THE GROVE AT ULM U
LM is starting their football season off with a bang unveiling their new university logo and new uniforms. The new uniforms were unveiled in a meeting on August 14th. The P-40 alternate uniforms will be worn on Military Day on September 16th against Southern Miss. War hawks will also be wearing throwback, special tribute uniforms to honor the 30th anniversary of the 1987 national championship. The uniforms will boast a maroon jersey with gold stripes and the new ULM logo on the helmets. ULM L CLUB TAILGATING Comprised of former athletes, coaches, spirit group members and team managers, they tailgate in Malone Stadium’s Touchdown Terrace located under the scoreboard in the South End zone. It is a one-of-a-kind location with open areas for old friends to mix and mingle while their children play and includes downhome, tailgate cooking and, of course, a full bar. Memories are made and remembered at the L-Club’s Touchdown Terrace before each of ULM’s home football games.
New ULM Logo
2017 ULM Football Uniforms
ULM VIP Alumni Tailgating
ULM VIP Alumni Tailgating
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ULM VIP Alumni Tailgating
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Let The Pewter Company in Ruston prepare you for Bulldog Football this Fall with custom printed jerseys, shirts, and more!
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Be the envy of all your friends in this Game Day ensemble from Cara’s Boutique! Features a super comfy Mule bootie, lace-up tunic, trendy jewelry, skinnies and a fab hat.
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Make sure your ride is Tailgate ready this season, just like this 2018 Lincoln Navigator from Jay Mallard Ford Lincoln!
Stadium regulations can’t keep you from being stylish! Rock this clear bag from The Nude Nomad all season long.
Gear up for cooler Game Days in this cozy Cardi and striped dress from Dot Dot’s Boutique!
Newk’s Eatery has all your food needs covered this season with a variety of Catering Trays sure to please everyone in attendance!
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BULLDOG TAILGATING
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ouisiana Tech KD traditions: Before a game we all go to Hideaway Park which is right next to our football stadium. While we are there we pretty much just visit with friends and take pictures. Everyone dresses in their cutest red and blue outfits and makes sure to wear their "KD hearts the Dawgs" button. We also have stickers that say the same thing that we usually pass out to any guys that want to wear them. Once it is almost game time we all walk over to Joe Aillet Stadium and sit together in the student section.
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DELTA
The “Treasures” of Delta Lives have saved throughout her life. Looking through and reading hat is it that makes us these, I thought about wonderful keep certain things “for- memories of her growing up, her ever” and yet joyfully thoughtfulness, and the love that toss others without a our family shares. second thought? I startSome were handmade cards ed thinking about that not too that she had no doubt made in long ago when I was supposed to Sunday School or in kindergarbe clearing out some ten. Others were from outdated materials later phases in her life, from long-neglected including priceless filing cabinet drawletters from her years ers. I confess that I at Ole Miss. One in spent much more which she writes time looking over the about her recent things there than I Thanksgiving visit did in actually throwhome and says how ing anything away. much she is looking The papers were forward to the ChristCOURTESY predictable – outdat- Georgiann Potts mas holidays with us ed insurance certifiis especially dear becates, no longer apcause it includes a litplicable records of business tle “extra” note from Kate (then transactions, and correspon- Miss Gunby, now Mrs. Yancy dence that was no longer rele- Porter), one of Leigh’s roomvant. Those things did not slow mates. me down. Into the shredder they We keep many “treasures” in went! What distracted me were our homes, little reminders of the “treasures”. times past and of experiences In a folder marked simply shared. Those are the things that “Leigh” I found a collection of make the best Delta memories . . cards and notes from her that I . GP GEORGIANN POTTS
GEORGIANN POTTS
The ouside of a cherished Mother's Day card made by Georgiann's daughter, Leigh
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GEORGIANN POTTS
A cherished Mother’s Day card created for her mother by Leigh Grace (now Grainger).
Clutter. It can seem overwhelming at times. Papers accumulate. Drawers become crowded with “things” that soon overpower their capacity and force us to push extra hard to get them to close. We all have them. Most of us refer to them as “the junk drawer” but we somehow never get around to cleaning them out. It should be easy to rid ourselves of clutter, but it is not. Whole companies have been formed designed to help us “organize and streamline” our homes and by extension, I suppose, our lives. Somehow these just don’t work all that well in the Delta. One reason is that Delta folk love their “things” --- not so much for their material value as for their “heart” value. There might be an exquisite multithousand-dollar piece of furniture in a Delta home, but truly priceless are the handmade notes and cards that a child has made for a parent. Those are the “things” that Delta folk love the most. Notes and Cards . . . It is true --- much of our clut-
ter comes from things that our children make through the years. Our daughter, Leigh, now has children of her own who also make things. I was amused the other day when she told me that she had “decluttered” her daughters’ rooms while they were at school. She was hoping that they wouldn’t notice. To compensate, she had replaced the “old stuff” with new artwork from the summer. Happily, they didn’t notice the missing things. Even though she got rid of an impressive amount of paper that day, I am certain that she saved a piece or two that she just couldn’t bear to part with. And that’s how it starts --- the acquisition of “heart” treasures. One of my favorite treasures is a Mother’s Day card that Leigh made for me when she was just learning to write in cursive. Following the outline already on the card, she colored a perky baby chick for the cover, carefully coloring over the greeting lines that her teacher had included on the cover. Inside she again carefully colored over the pre-printed message (“You are the greatest! Happy Moth-
er’s Day!”). It is her signature, though, that makes me smile. Here she has taken a pen and printed her own greeting and has signed her name, complete with a heart embellishment. Another treasure is a prayer that she has carefully written in her own print. It is dated May 13, 1984, when she was 8 years old. She has given her prayer a title (“My Own Prayer for Mom”) and carefully lists her perception of our relationship. She also thoughtfully includes the Lord in her final parenthetical comment, giving him due credit. Leigh’s thoughtful notes did not end when she moved away from home for the very first time. As a student at Ole Miss, she continued to delight us with notes periodically that showed clearly that she was very happy, but that she also missed home. One of those that is especially precious is one that she wrote right after she had returned to Oxford following Thanksgiving break. It is dated December 5, 1995. Clearly she had enjoyed being home, and clearly she is looking forward to returning soon for Christmas. She mentions things that made her happy (Jim’s famous cornbread dressing was clearly a highlight), and her roommate, Kate Gunby (now Porter), adds her own sweet note. In it, Kate references some food that we had sent back to their apartment with Leigh. It was our habit to load up
an ice chest with frozen foods that I had made ahead that the girls would be able to thaw and eat for occasional hot meals. We hoped that these would offer some nutritional balance to their usual fare. What has been especially dear to me is that Leigh is teaching her own children the art --and importance --- of writing thank-you notes. Teaching them the importance of showing their gratitude for expressions of love is one of the most important life lessons that she can give them. When the girls were too young to write for themselves, Leigh had cards printed for them that she filled in as they told her what to say. On the reverse, they put their “mark” --usually a handprint or later on a printed first name. These are treasures, indeed. Photographs that tell stories . . . Another category of “things” that often accumulate to the point of getting entirely out of hand is photographs. In times past before electronic “cloud” storage, we had to depend on photo albums. Invariably, the photos would outnumber the spaces allowed in the albums and those “leftovers” would end up tossed in a drawer. Special photos, however, tended to end up in frames. One framed photo that brings back a special memory for me shows a very young teacher (me) interviewing the late Loui-
GEORGIANN POTTS
A treasured photograph of Georgiann Potts when she was teaching English 309: Louisiana Life and Literature at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana University). She is pictured here talking with the late Louisiana folk artist, Clementine Hunter, during a field trip to Natchitoches with her students.
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GEORGIANN POTTS
GEORGIANN POTTS
An heirloom “mourning bonnet” that belonged to either Georgiann Potts’ great-aunt or great-grandmother. It is approximately 175 years old and has been passed down in the family through Georgiann’s material line.
A prayer written by Leigh Grace (now Grainger) in 1984.
siana folk artist, Clementine Hunter. This was taken by one of the students in my English 301: Louisiana Life and Literature class at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana University). I developed this course with the idea that learning about Louisiana’s culture would enrich the study of Louisiana authors. Because of her standing in the art community, it was only natural to include a visit to Clementine’s home while our group was on a field trip to Natchitoches. Hunter was always very gracious, but also had some “absolutes”. One of those was that she would not accept a direct question from my students. That, she perceived, would be disrespectful to her. Instead, a student would ask a question, and then I would repeat it to Clementine. I learned quickly that the best way that I could also show her respect was to sit at her feet the way her children and grandchildren did when they came to visit. This relaxed her, and meant that we all enjoyed the time to-
shield, hiding the nape of the lady’s neck from others’ sight. Mother had been told that the bonnet was the only thing of her mother’s family that her mother, my Mom Moore, had. It was said to have been Mom Moore’s aunt’s mourning bonnet. It was explained that the reason it was in such good condition was that it had only been worn infrequently --- to funerals or wakes. I have researched this style of bonnet, and it appears from the style and size to be from the period between 1830 and 1890. This would be consistent with the story of its origin. What remains unclear is exactly whom it belonged to originally. Recent genealogy research into the Binnier line shows that there is at least the possibility that it actually belonged to Mom Moore’s mother instead of her aunt. If that is true, it belonged to my great-grandmother. Either way, it is a “heart” treasure indeed! The bonnet is safely housed in a shadow box that preserves it from dust. I keep it in a hallway that is well away from direct or
gether. This photograph captures a moment in time that was very precious to me. I loved teaching. I loved teaching that class. And I loved learning right along with my students. Mourning Bonnet . . . There are treasures that are not made of paper, of course. Some of these hardly count as “clutter”. Instead, they are very much “one of a kind” treasures that we preserve generation to generation. When I was in my late teens, my mother gave me one of her very precious “treasures” --- a bonnet that her mother had left to her. This bonnet is all black, and is clearly handmade. The stitches on it are tiny and perfect, the sign that a gifted seamstress had crafted it. It has a demure ruffle trim around the front that is repeated around the crown. A bow holds the bonnet firmly in place to the side just below the chin, and a full “skirt” falls from the base of the crown to just touching the shoulder. This served as a “modesty”
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even much indirect light. One day, I will pass it along to Leigh for her safekeeping. Treasures of the Heart . . . There are “heart” treasures lying quietly in homes all across the Delta. Some will be discovered as mine were when homemakers decide to “declutter” and discover them tucked away in a drawer or file folder. Others, sadly, will be found much later by heirs who find them and have no idea what their story is or how they came to be. Cards and notes once lovingly saved by busy mothers will be tossed into the trash without a second thought. Photographs without dates and people/events named on the back become merely fading images of unknown folks. These will meet the same fate. Even heirlooms like nearly 200-year-old bonnets might one day be sold in a garage sale by someone with no clue about its provenance. That would be tragic.
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Santhi orphans with their new books
Local artist making a difference in the lives of Indian orphans EMMA SAGER
W
e hear the word “orphan” on a regular basis, but rarely consider what it truly means. An orphan is a person who has lost their parents. However, there are many ways for one to become an orphan like the death of a parent or the abandonment of the child all together. There is also more to the meaning of the word “orphan.” They are those children who are lacking love in their lives. Not only that, but the necessities that are required for one to grow and prosper. There are approximately 140 million orphans living in the world today. Most or-
phans live in poverty since they do not have anyone to take care of them. They are left by their parents, either by choice or fate, to fend for themselves and are defenseless, scared, hungry, and alone. India has the highest rate of starvation in the entire world and 30 million of that population are orphans. Twenty percent of the world’s orphans live in just India alone. Many of these orphans are defenseless in the slums without food or protection from anyone. These orphans are in slop that consists of sewage and human waste. They are standing in this slop, playing in it and even eating from it. Some of them are fortunate enough to be
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taken in by an institutionalized orphanage, often overcrowded and in a state of despair. Not only are there orphans in these populations, but there are also widows living there that try to raise the orphans as best they can in the conditions they are living in. The fatherless orphans are very common in India. Many fathers abandon their children and families because they have no resources to provide a living for their families. The fathers may not even be capable of taking care of themselves. The women in the orphanages might not be widows, but rather, women with children whose fathers abandoned them instead of fighting to give them a chance at
life. These orphanages provide housing for the orphans and women, but not the care, education and food they need to survive. Abuse and neglect is also common in these orphanages. When a child is living in an institutionalized orphanage, that does not imply any safety, food or care, but rather, shelter from the dangers of living in the streets. These orphanages can only ensure physical shelter, and nothing else. Thousands of children in India die each day from starvation living inside or outside of the orphanages. One man from Monroe recognized the need to help these orphans grow and prosper, and he decided to make a difference.
He often is inspired by Nehemiah from the Bible. The Bible does not tell us much about Nehemiah’s past, but he was a career man and the king’s cup bearer. When he heard the Lord’s Holy city was in ruins, it broke him to pieces. He mourned and fasted. He likely beat his face on the ground and ripped his clothes and shouted in pain. "Lord, let me HELP," Nehemiah said. The Lord sent him and the king sent officers with him to help. The Jews were helpless and leaderless; probably feeling sorry for themselves. Nehemiah showed up. He did not ask permission or go it on his own. He surveyed the situation, made a plan, then motivated the people and put them to work. He took charge of a leaderless situation and rebuilt the walls in 52 days with opposition on all sides of him. Michael Kasey, like Nehemiah, seeks to render a hopeless situation for the orphans in India by reconstructing the livelihood they are accustomed to living. Orphan Corks is a non-profit that was established to create a constant flow of income to a small institutionalized orphanage in Kakinada City in southern India. Michael Kasey, local artist and founder of Orphan Corks, paired up with the Santhi Orphanage Home to help the many orphans that live in the city’s population. This is just one orphanage in southern India, but he found that it was the right place to start improving the lives of as many orphans as possible. It is a small start to help a big problem, but Kasey is determined to change the lives of these orphans one cork necklace at a time. ART & FAITH Kasey was born in Dallas, TX, and he spent much of his life moving all over the country. He spent most of his summers and holidays in Monroe visiting his mother and attended West Monroe High School for two years. He volunteered to be in the United States Army Special Forces the moment he qualified for it. He protected our country for over seven years and two of those years were spent in Afghanistan. After serving, he attended the University of Hawaii. He took summer courses to
Orphan Cork Necklaces
study geology with the goal of becoming an engineer. He believed he could have a positive influence on the world by helping in energy solutions. However, the Department of Veteran Affairs left him in debt, so he became homeless. He would shower on the beach, find locations to stash his few belongings, and only ate canned food. He had no books, no internet, but maintained perfect grades. His debt made it impossible for him to continue his education during the standard school year. During his time on the street in Hawaii, Kasey met a man that goes by Dr. 711. Kasey explained that Dr. 711 was the wizard behind the curtain for him as his mentor. He was a missionary in China and India, and Dr. 711 became Kasey’s mentor by taking him under his wing. Dr. 711 proposed that Kasey should consider artistry and see if it intrigued him. Kasey started making art with spray paint and moved on to collage and acrylics. Today, he focuses on using oils, but he also feels that any sort of street art will always be his go to. “I found that art was therapeutic for me, and I’m motivated by it,” Kasey said. “I was not
Michael Kasey
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Pastor Sekhar Babu Mandha and the Santhi Orphanage Home
very good at it at first, but I enjoyed it.” Not only did Dr. 711 guide him to become an artist, but he also helped him to find the calling of God to become a Christian, and changed his life. Despite the tough trials that he had faced over the years, he was still able to believe the Lord had a plan for him in store. On September 11, 2014, Kasey was baptized by the Holy Spirit. He was baptized the following year in water by Dr. 711 in Kailua, HI on his own request. Then, this past year, he reaffirmed that covenant with water baptism at Christ Church in West Monroe by Pastor Tom Lowe. “I was not praying or seeking Jesus, but He filled me anyway and opened my eyes,” Kasey said. “I was sold out on the spot, and I knew Him instantly.” AN ENTERPRENEUER IS BORN While he was still on the streets in Hawaii, Kasey spontaneously wrote the words “rough neck” on a wall without the vowels. It was spelt “RGHNCK.” This phrase became the name of his first clothing line. He worked in a print shop for free where he had access to a screen printer to create his first
RGHNCK T-Shirts. “I did not understand fashion, and I never had style,” Kasey said. “I was artistic, but I did not know how to put it all together.” Kasey believes that if one seeks the Kingdom first, all other things will be added to him. After establishing RGHNCK, he went on to create another clothing line with the purpose of making the perfect T-Shirt. GhostTactical was founded in 2004, the t-shirts are 100% made in America by Americans. The goal is to make the most comfortable, naturally treated antimicrobial shirt that is completely made of cotton. The Dr. 711 was the genius behind the treated shirt that is made without plastic or chemicals helps to regulate body temperature and boost performance, and D.J. Fortenberry is Kasey’s business partner. With every T-Shirt bought from Ghost-Tactical, a homeless person will be given a brand-new Ghost-Tactical TShirt and a clean shower. Since these shirts are made naturally, they are free of odor and does not need to be washed often. This trait allows one to have less need to run a washing machine, thus saving clean drinking wa-
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ter that a person in need can have instead. Ghost-Tactical also has the goal that if people are using less water, it can help create a more supportable food sources by having extra clean water. “It starts with actually caring,” Kasey said. “If you put your heart there, God will provide a way.” CALLED TO A CAUSE Kasey being an artist and cofounder of two clothing lines, he still felt the need to help others as part of his effort to walk in the Lord’s light. He developed a friendship with Pastor Sekhar Babu Mandha, head of the Santhi Orphanage Home on social media. Pastor Sekhar grew up in the orphanage in Kakinada City, India, and now works there to help the orphans today and teaches them English. The Santhi Orphanage Home sheltered 27 children and educated 400 children at the time Kasey became friends with the orphanage’s pastor. Kasey’s first move to help the orphans was in June by purchasing 1,600 school books for the children. “I started following for a while and watching the orphanage from afar,” Kasey said. “There are lots of scams out there and people us-
ing slave children to make money, and this orphanage was not like that.” After that, Kasey pondered on how he could use his artistic skills to benefit these children in southern India. He is a strong believer in the benefits that come using essential oils. While on a long road trip, he was having difficulty staying awake and did not have an essential oil necklace diffuser on him to try to energize himself. He recalled that his mother claimed a cork could potentially work as a diffuser. Kasey grabbed a cork, put the essential oil on it and used it the rest of the time he was driving. It was a simple solution, and it worked perfectly. He used his artistic abilities to create cork necklaces that represent God’s work to help the orphans. This is how Kasey became the founder and President of Orphan Corks. “When I am trying something new, I try not to research it,” Kasey said. “An artist is an artist, and you can figure it out.” Each piece of the cork necklace has a very specific meaning. Kasey started with corks that he had collected over time, but local restaurants such as Doe’s Eat Place, Landry Vine-
yards and SQ’s on the Ouachita donate their corks to help orphan cork necklaces to be made. The pieces on the necklaces are from Hobby Lobby. The baby elephant on the bottom of each cork represents the orphan, because each cork is going to be totally unique, just like the orphan. The crown on the top of the cork stands for the Crown of Life. In the book of James in the Bible, James explains that the Crown of Life is for those who love God. The last piece of the orphan cork necklace is the red lanyard. This lanyard signifies the blood of Jesus Christ when he died for our sins. Each piece of the orphan cork necklace has carefully been placed together to show each person that wears it how important God’s love is for all of us and the love we need to give to the orphans of southern India. “In our lives, God is most important, and love is that feeling of slight emotion that is uplifting,” Joshua Mahmoodian, Treasurer of Orphan Corks, said. “Once you get that feeling, you should chase it.” Mahmoodian joined the Orphan Corks team as the new treasurer. His desire to help children is apparent in his work for the students as a teacher at Neville High School and the orphans in the Santhi Orphanage Home. Kasey explained that Mahnoodian was sent by God to this mission, and that he is a man of full integrity and has a heart for the orphans. They quickly became best friends and confidants. Together, Kasey and Mahmoodian are the perfect duo to work hard to help the children in southern India. They both believe that there is no way an individual can feed 30 million orphans, so they are seeking the help of the people in the community to help the cause. “The mission right now is to feed 30 million orphans, and I could have a trillion dollars, but I am still just one man,” Kasey said. “One person can make a difference, but a whole group of people can do more.” Mahmoodian emphasized that the goal of Orphan Corks is not to just support the children in the orphanage, but rather build a self-sustaining community. It is an idea of creating fam-
ily units and educated people. This principle is why Kasey wanted to get 1,600 school books to the orphans as quickly as possible. The orphans need to be fed and sheltered, but they must also be raised in an educated society. When Kasey began his mission to help the orphanage, there were 27 children living there. With the help and aide of Orphan Corks, the number has increased to caring for 40 orphans. “If they are not raised to make good decisions, if you do not educate them, you are going to have another generation of uneducated, poor people who make another generation of uneducated, poor people,” Kasey said. “There is nothing they can contribute.” At the orphanage, previously, when a child was sick, the only form of treatment available for the child was praying for the best outcome the Lord could provide. Recently, Kasey was contacted by an Indian woman who will be providing the medical funding the orphanage needs to ensure all the children are healthy with the help of Orphan Corks. Doctors will be sent to treat them immediately if any of the orphans are sick or injured. With the use of GoFundMe.com, Orphan Corks is raising money to secure a larger building for the orphans to live in. The fundraising goal is to double the capacity of children since they are currently crammed into a small room sleeping at the foot of each other and share one toilet. Eventually, Orphan Corks wants to provide land to build a large permanent residence for all the children to live in. “All of our strength, all of our resources, all of our information, and the people we are connecting with all lead back to Jesus,” Kasey said. “It is our walk.” The American dollar goes much further in India than it does in the United States. One dollar is the equivalent of 64 Indian rupees. Each orphan cork necklace made by hand from Kasey is $25. With one necklace, you can provide an orphan with 1,600 Indian rupees. Imagine how much food and education that $25 can provide one home-
Pastor Sekhar Babu Mandha with a child in India
less child. Kasey explained that when you set your heart on other people and other people’s needs, your own needs and desires go away. “Seek to comfort rather than seek to be comforted.” In Kasey’s opinion, entertainment is a primary factor in America that disrupts the community’s desire to help others. He refers to this as the “American Bubble.” The technology we use in our computers and cell phones every day distract us from the hungry and suffering people all over the world. These devices are programmed to show us what we want to see, what keeps us happy, what to keep us stimulated, but they are not programmed to show us hungry, homeless orphans. Those kinds of posts make people uneasy, and with the touch of a button, those images can immediately be removed. Thus, creating a bubble where all suffering does not exist. “I do not miss anything because I am always paying attention,” Kasey said. “I do not have a television or Wi-Fi because being tuned in to the important things in life is key.” There are many ways to contribute to the Santhi Orphanage Home donation fund. Orphan Cork necklace purchases and donations to the non-profit is easy. To contact Michael Kasey directly, email your information to orphancorks@gmail.com or look on Facebook and Instagram
for @orphancorks. Another way to make a donation is by going to www.gofundme.com/orphancorks-buildingmedical-fund and clicking on the “donate now” button. The story of Five Loaves and Two Fish as told by Michael Kasey: Once, on the far side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was teaching a multitude of people. Five thousand men plus women and children. He tasked His disciples to feed them, but their faith was weak, and they decided they could not. So, he said bring me what you HAVE. All they had were five loaves of bread and two fish. Not enough, or so they thought. They arranged the people into groups of fifty and Jesus lifted the basket to Heaven and blessed it. Then He told His disciples to distribute the food. As they shared what little they had, it began to multiply. Their faith was strengthened as they moved along, and by the end of the meal, everyone had eaten their full and TWELVE FULL BASKETS came back to them. So, not only did they grow in faith, but they used what little they had to bless a great multitude and an abundance came back to them; more than they had before or even expected. Jesus tells us to use what we have. With a true faith, nothing is impossible to Jesus (found in the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel).
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From Humble
BEGINNINGS ... PAT MOORE LEADS FROM HER HEART GEORGIANN POTTS
Writer’s Note: I have no idea when I first met Pat Moore. It was several decades ago, and quite possibly the introduction came through her husband, Duffie, and my husband, Jim. They worked on a project for the City fire department back then. In later years our paths crossed occasionally, and my impression of her was always the same. Pat was worth knowing. Pat is an elegant woman who seems ageless. She is youthful in looks and in actions, having an enviable deep well of energy that allows her to accomplish more in one day than many her age accomplish in one week. But her elegance goes well beyond mere physical appearance. Her spirit is just as engaging. In many ways --- all of them good --- Pat Moore is on a mission. Her entire life has been a life of service --- a study in finding ways to help others. With wonderful mentors encouraging her and a faith that was tested but did not fail, she has matured into a force for good both in our community and well beyond. GP
P
atricia Ann Thomas Moore was born in 1958 during a time of tremendous change in America. Poverty, segregation, discrimination, racial inequality --- all of these issues were beginning to be addressed at the national level, and all of these issues impacted Moore’s childhood. For some in her generation, they were life altering, leading to despair and wasted lives. Not so with Pat. Strong women in her family and neighborhood became the examples that she needed to see that through hard work and perseverance, a better life was possible, even for her.
Childhood Role Models . . . The first of these role models was Victoria Thomas, Moore’s great-grandmother, who reared her until Pat was 14 years old. Ms. Thomas was a steadfast mentor for her great-granddaughter, and helped Pat to understand and appreciate those spiritual things that she felt were more important than material ones. “I remember her always wanting to help others in the community,” Pat says. “She could not give me material things, but she gave me lots of love.” Ms. Thomas had been born on a plantation in Alto, Louisiana, and understood firsthand
Moore explained the importance of beautification and litter abatement projects being supported by the Ouachita Business Alliance through Ouachita Green to ULM staff and faculty at a meeting on the ULM campus in October 2016.
the hardships that her greatgranddaughter would face if Pat didn’t find a way to lift herself up. Because she only had a sixth-grade education, Ms. Thomas knew how important a good education would be for Pat. Among Pat’s earliest memories are of her greatgrandmother telling her that a college education would make all the difference for Pat’s life and urging her to work toward that goal. “She was always encouraging me to do my very best in school,” Pat remembers. “And she was always asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. She wanted me to dream --- to reach for the stars.” A second role model was Essie Mae Thomas Runnels, Pat’s grandmother. She, too,
had been reared on the plantation and understood firsthand the hardships there. After Ms. Runnels’ husband abandoned the family, she had to work two --- and sometimes three --- jobs a week in order to care for the eight children. When Pat’s great-grandmother Thomas passed away, a third role model stepped forward --- her biological mother, Lucille Thomas Little. Pat went to live with her and two younger sisters and two younger brothers in public housing. Her stepfather had abandoned the family, so it was left to Pat’s mother to take care of the children. She hadn’t finished high school and had only limited job skills so times were very hard.
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Earning an Education. . . Of the five siblings growing up together, only Pat finished high school. She became the second person on her maternal side to earn a high school diploma. The struggles against poverty, the absence of a father, and the unique stresses that accompany living in public housing became too much for her sisters and brothers. In later life, after many hardships, they created families of their own and are doing their best to raise their children and grandchildren. An ordinary English assignment in the 8th grade at Lee Junior High School served as a major turning point in Pat’s thinking. She and her classmates were asked to write about what they had done on their summer vacations. “I listened to my classmates talk about their family summer vacations --- the places they had visited, and I realized that I never went anywhere during the summer,” she explains. “I swore then that I would make sure that my children would have summer vacations and would never have to lie about places that they had never visited. I have kept that promise.” In spite of having to help her mother take care of the younger children, Pat still managed to participate in some high school extracurricular activities. She became the very first Wossman High School Golden Girl who lived in public housing. A neighborhood schoolteacher, Ms. Betty Blue, and a successful business family in the neighborhood, the Hill’s, were mentors to her. “Without them,” she explains, “I would have been just another statistic.” Pat focused on business courses while at Wossman, taking typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping classes throughout her high school years. Her career goal was to become an executive secretary in the White House. At 16, she had met an Afri-
“When you have been brought up in poverty, it is hard to dream outside of your environment, I was no exception.” PAT MOORE
can American lady who lived in Washington DC and worked in the White House. The lady was visiting her family in Monroe and that’s how Pat got to meet her. Although working in the White House was not to be her destiny, Pat would still find her way to a career in public service decades later. In 1976, Pat enrolled in the University of Louisiana at Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana University) in the College of Education. She hoped to become a teacher so that she might help other children facing many of the same challenges that she had faced including a lack of exposure to career options. “When you have been brought up in poverty, it is hard to dream outside of your environment,” she explains. “I was no exception.” Plans Change . . . Two years later in 1978, Pat dropped out of ULM and went to work for State Farm Insurance Company in Monroe because she needed to help her family financially. After working for several years, she realized that her great-grandmother Thomas had been right: she needed as much education as she could get. She reenrolled at ULM, this time setting her sights on a Bachelors degree in the College of Business. The lessons learned from watching her role models kicked in. Pat worked a fulltime job and attended the university at night while still caring for her family, her mother, and her brothers and sisters.
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Her determination paid off, and in December 1985 she graduated with that degree. She was the first member of her family to graduate from a university. Two professors, Betty Cooper and Mignon Riley, had a tremendous influence on Pat’s life during her university years although they did not know it at the time. “Their example of compassion for all people made a difference in my life,” Pat recalls. Pat’s favorite classes were the government and law courses. Ironically, they would provide the educational underpinning that she would draw from later in life when she found herself called to run for public office. Establishing a Career . . . While she attended ULM, Pat worked in the library and at Sears. It was at Sears that she discovered her talent in sales. She worked at the call center there selling maintenance and renewal agreements. “Helping people understand why they needed to purchase a product was more important to me than just selling the product,” she says. She worked several places early on, but her career with State Farm Insurance lasted 27 years. Establishing a Cause . . . When by chance Pat volunteered to participate in a community cleanup effort, she focused for the first time on the amount of litter and trash that was strewn around the neighborhoods. She got her children
involved so that they could see for themselves the importance of a clean community and to take pride in where they lived. Over the years, this focus on litter abatement and beautification led Pat to become involved with a number of community initiatives that address these. Just over three years ago, she was asked to join the Ouachita Business Alliance and to co-chair that group’s beautification committee. She accepted, and together with a large group of volunteers has made a tangible difference in the way the neighborhoods are kept. Out of their work, Ouachita Green was formed, coordinating the efforts of the Cities of Monroe and West Monroe, the Ouachita Parish Police Jury, and the Keep America Beautiful programs locally, statewide, and nationally. Breaking a Barrier . . . In 2008, Pat became the first African American woman to be elected to the Ouachita Parish Police Jury. This marked the first time in the organization’s 200+ year existence that such a thing had happened. No other member of her family had ever been elected to office. As with everything else in her life, Pat committed herself to be of service to the people in District F. Without hesitation, she immediately went to work learning everything that she could about what the people she represented needed and seeking out ways that those needs might be met. This election was the culmination of a lifetime spent serving her community. Pat has served on the Ouachita Business Alliance, the Work Force Investment Board, the YMCA/ Ouachita Well Advisory Council, the Ouachita Parish Library Board, the United Way of Northeast Louisiana Board, the 4th Judicial District Youth Services Planning Board, Community Outreach of Oua-
GARY GUINIGUNDO
Pat Moore and staff from the Monroe Housing Authority
chita Inc. founder and CEO, the Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitors Tourism Board, the Junior League of Monroe Endowment Committee, and the Learning Source/ Summit School Advisory Board. “Each of these experiences serving on these committees has made me a better person,” she says, “and has increased my knowledge about our community.” Family Matters . . . In 1987, Pat married Duffie Moore, Jr., a fireman for the City of Monroe. Both had children from previous marriages. “All together Duffie and I have eight children --Tammy, James, Marklin, Victoria, Nicki, Duffie Jr., David, and Lottie --- and seventeen grandchildren,” Pat explains. “They all grew up more or less
like the Brady Bunch, loving and caring for each other.” In 2010, Pat and Duffie faced the biggest crisis in their marriage, the death of their daughter, Victoria, in an automobile accident. This young woman had been an instructor and counselor at LSU for two years prior to her passing. Pat remembers the Saturday before that accident when she spent the day with Victoria, talking about church programs, future plans, and her husband and their first child. She wishes that there had been more such conversations, but that was not to be. Faith sustained Duffie and Pat then, and it sustains them now. They are both enjoying working in their church (WFR University Church of Christ) and are active in several min-
istries. Not surprisingly, one of those --- the “Community House Church/Community Group” --- provides an opportunity to reach out to the people in the neighborhood and give them hope. Dreams for the Future . . . When asked what she would like to see accomplished over the next decade, Pat’s responses are predictable. As always, she is thinking of others. Just like her great-grandmother Thomas, she remains optimistic that the future will be better than the past, and that those children facing many of the challenges that she did will also find hope. Pat envisions a clean and litter-free community parishwide where all of the residents take pride in their surroundings. She sees once neglected
neighborhoods crippled by deterioration restored to a new level better than before. She imagines children of all races excelling in schools filled with encouragement and motivation. She sees poverty retreating as new businesses develop and jobs are created. But her greatest dream of them all is for non-violence to become the norm in the African American community so that the promise of young lives will no longer be cut short. Her dreams are perhaps more sophisticated than those of her great-grandmother, but that is because Pat has lived a life quite different from that of Ms. Thomas. You see, Pat’s life has been the stuff that Ms.Thomas dreamt of.
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Kadie Frost, MD
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Presented by
September 16 Forysthe Park Monroe Purchase a spot on the Wall of Hope to display a photo and name in honor or in memory of a loved one who is currently fighting or has fought breast cancer.
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Register today at KomenNorthLouisiana.org DELTA STYL E MAGA Z I NE | SEPT EM BER 2017 | 71
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SPECIALIZATION: • Comprehensive Eye Care • Cataract Surgery • iLASIK Laser Vision Correction • Glaucoma • Diabetic Eye Conditions • Drooping Eye Lid • Corneal Disorders • Retina Conditions
Drew Thomas, MD Ophthalmologist
There’s a reason Haik Humble Eye Center has been voted “Best” for the last 10 years. It’s our commitment to bringing only the best to Northeast Louisiana. So we’re pleased Dr. Drew Thomas, West Monroe native and graduate of West Monroe High School and Louisiana Tech University, returned to our area and chose to practice with us.
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ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Dr. Thomas brings the latest techniques and experience from LSU-Shreveport, where he completed his internship and residency training in Ophthalmology. Dr. Thomas is excited to be back in West Monroe and practice alongside a group of doctors that have shown their commitment to providing the highest quality of eye care possible.
CALL 318-325-2610 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
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MONROE | WEST MONROE | RAYVILLE (318) 325-2610 • (800) 247-5878 www.haikhumble.com
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TREND ALERT
Sculptured Nails KATIE BURKE
A
s someone who has gotten my nails done often from a young age, I was interested in the type of nails that Brittany does. I have never had acrylic nails where a plastic tip wasn’t applied. Britney is a nail technician that has a certification that is unique to this area. She specializes in Tammy Taylor sculptured nails, nail art, shellac polish, along with refills and manicures. She also does dip powder - the manicure that lasts longer! Recently, I had the chance to sit down and talk with Brittany on her unique methods. Tell me a little about yourself. How did you get into the nail business? I grew up in a small town in southeast
Oklahoma. I graduated cosmetology school in 2012 and began training under my Aunt in Oklahoma doing Tammy Taylor nails, I have been doing them now for 6 years. I moved here two years ago when I married someone from Northeast Louisiana, and now my son and I are happy to call it home. I've absolutely fell in love with Louisiana! The people, the culture, the food, everything! How is your technique of doing nails different from others? The main difference is there is no glue on your nails, no plastic tips. I use a form and I build a customized nail for each client to fit their individual nails. There are also no drills involved. Who is Tammy Taylor and why did you start using her products? Tammy Taylor is from California and a
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leader in the nail industry. She invented her own product line in 1983 when she was only 18 years old on a $400 budget. Within 2 years, she had expanded into a large, fullservice salon offering her own nail line and taught people how to build their own business. She is such an inspiration, and her products are phenomenal. Tell me about the color that you put on nails. I use a colored dip acrylic powder so the color never fades or chips. I can also do some very creative nail art and shellac polish. Where can people find you? I work at the Parlor House from Wednesday – Friday, you can book your session on their website: www.parlorhouse.com
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Special Events:
Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series every Wednesday in September Free to the public Noon to 1 p.m. at the Pavilion at 7th Square in West Monroe
Sunday in Kiroli Park: An Afternoon Concert Series Every Sunday afternoon in Kiroli Park in West Monroe Concerts are free to the public. Admission required to enter Kiroli Park. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Band Stand located within Kiroli Park Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival Saturday, October 7 Kiroli Park The festival is free to the public. Admission required to enter Kiroli Park.
Ribbon Cuttings:
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JOSH FUSELIER STATE FARM
THE MOTHER HEN
LEGACY PEDIATRICS
2013 N. 7TH STREET, WEST MONROE
308 TRENTON STREET IN WEST MONROE
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2204 N. 7TH STREET, WEST MONROE
107 CONTEMPO DRIVE IN WEST MONROE
FREE HEALTH EDUCATION SEMINAR
Glenwood Medical Mall Community Room 102 Thomas Rd. - West Monroe To register, call
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River Oaks School
Striving for Excellence in Academics, the Arts and Athletics Call or come by today for a tour of our campus
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OGLESBY FINANCIAL GROUP Investors Need to Understand Their Risk
Darren Oglesby, Registered Financial Consultant
Understanding your risk tolerance is complex, and the standard questionnaire provided by financial planners may not capture an accurate picture. One reason is they sometimes combine different aspects of the risk profile that should be assessed separately. Words such as “tolerance” and “capacity” are often used interchangeably. In fact, they are quite different. Risk capacity is a measure of your financial ability to sustain risk. In a practical financial planning context, risk capacity is measured in terms of an individual’s asset base, withdrawal, liquidity needs, and time horizon. For example, if you need to fund retirement withdrawals of $20,000 a year from an asset base of $1 million starting
10 years from now, you would have a very high capacity for risk. You will still have ample means to sustain your retirement goals even if you experience several years of portfolio underperformance.
in the first place. Risk tolerance measures your ability to handle risk emotionally. It evaluates your willingness to take on the risk of receiving lower returns in exchange for the possibility of earning higher ones. This pure aspect of an individual’s However, if you need to fund retirement withdrawals risk tolerance has nothing to do immediately at $40,000 a year from with risk capacity. an asset base of $500,000, you have a much smaller capacity for risk. Advisors, therefore, must be Your plan will fail with anything less than strong portfolio returns cautious about not leading their from the very start. Therefore, you clients to particular decisions would have very little capacity to by imprinting their own risk tolerance onto the client, through take risks. how they ask questions, frame the discussion, or communicate nonRisk capacity is all about the verbally. financial aspects of your ability to sustain a market decline without suffering an unacceptable loss of The combination of your financial lifestyle or quality of life now or risk capacity and emotional risk in the future. While risk capacity tolerance creates the foundation is about your financial ability on which an overall portfolio to sustain underperformance can be created to determine in pursuit of higher returns, appropriate investment solutions. risk tolerance measures your Do you fully understand what risk willingness to enter such a tradeoff means to you?
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PARROT CAY
A PIRATE'S PARADISE Discovering hidden tresures of the Carribbean JENNIFER SCHMEER
H Pirate Anne Bonny
ave you heard of Anne Bonny? We were determined to find out more about this Anne Bonny and the best place to start is COMO Parrott Cay. Parrott Cay is just 35 minutes by boat from Providenciales in the northern Caribbean and one of the most secluded and exclusive resort islands. Parrott Cay holds over a thousand of acres of white-sand beaches and lush tropical landscapes and did I mention, a private island. Fortunately for us, Jay with Island Paradise car service was there to take us to
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our next designation and he knows the Leeward Marina where COMO’s Welcome Center and private dock resides. As soon as I step into the allglass building, champagne arrives in my hand with a warm welcome. The glass walls give way to the beautiful Caribbean waters. My daughter enjoys the island’s locally produced banana cake while my eyes absorb the bright colors that surround me. Within minutes, a perfect sized boat glides into the private dock. Someone quickly delivers our bags aboard the boat while we are gently guided to our seats. Sips of my champagne
are not missed as the boat heads out into the Caribbean. We are the only passengers aboard for this luxurious ride to a private island; passing by secluded islands while Egrets fly above. I feel like we are in for a special treat. COMO style. The ocean breeze and bright Caribbean colors reminds you that you are alive and just how colorful this planet can be. Arriving at the dock at Parrott Cay, our driver and golf cart await. Small white-sandy road amongst overgrown plants and palm trees line both sides of the road with a bike trial around the island. The real world feels a million miles away. Driving past
the island’s coconut and banana plantations, our driver reminds us to try the banana French toast for breakfast fresh from the island’s plantation. I felt it was my duty at this point to experience the banana French toast and it was divine, but I am getting ahead of myself. Glimpses of the turquoise Caribbean ocean to my left in between the palm trees and plantations to my right, this has been the best golf ride of my life so far. Bringing us to the main entrance with its bright, white walls, Spanish-tiled roof and grand staircase entrance; we are greeted by Claudia, the Duty Manager from Miami. She is new to the island, but has plenty of knowledge about the resort and its pirate history. Claudia looks like she could easily walk in the fashion shows in Miami, yet you will find her driving a Kawasaki around the island sharing information with new guests such as how the resort partners with groups such as the local high school in Provo by utilizing the island’s plantations as a way to raise money for charity for these groups. Guests can make donations by planting and adopting trees with proceeds making its way back to the local high school or other charities. Guests paint their family name or name the tree as a fun activity for the family while giving back to those in need in the Caribbean. Genius. Claudia guides us to our ocean-facing suite with its white walls, black and white photographs decorate the modern suite, and a four-poster bed with diaphanous white voile draping. The suite opens up onto a private verandah that overlooks the landscaped gardens and ocean. The refrigerator is stocked with impressive assortments of snacks and drinks which delight my teenage traveler. I sample the fresh water the resort creates through reverse osmoses converting saltwater into freshwater while taking in the view and the stillness. No cars on the island. No other resorts on this island. There are so many benefits in taking a
JENNIFER SCHMEER
holiday on a private island. Not to mention the bottle of the island made rum that sits in the corner of the suite with a note from the General Manager welcoming us to the island. The best rum drink I have ever indulged. My teenager promptly scans the room service menu and orders Buttermilk fried chicken, sushi maki rolls and I order a shrimp cocktail for myself. The shrimp broke a record for its size and freshness. After we relax and settle comfortably in our suite, we head to the private beach. The stroll over is lovely with no crowds with only the sound of the birds and the ocean. You feel like you are the only ones on this island and to me, it feels like a miracle. Someone is standing at the entrance of the beach to hand us
JENNIFER SCHMEER
Pirate, Anne Boony's House
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COURTESY PRIVE YACHTS
Prive
coconuts with straws cut fresh from the plantation and white, fluffy towels. The cute attendant walks us down the secluded beach and preps two loungers for our arrival. I head straight to the water and being the only one in the water on this side of the island makes it feel a little bit more special. Peaceful. The beach is beautiful and you will not find boats pulling paragliders or any other poweredmotor type activities. It is calm waters with the volume put down to two. Relaxing on the private beach while the Caribbean water glistens in the sun, life feels perfect. Tasting my chilled coconut water, I thoroughly enjoy the calmness and beauty of it all. LOTUS... Later that evening, we venture out under the perfect, night sky. A lighted, white-stoned path takes us to the Lotus, the resort’s restaurant by the infinity pool overlooking the ocean. The lighting is low and you can just see the outline of the infinity pool creating a sexy backdrop for evening dining. Our gregarious waiter, James from Toronto will bring us some unique dumplings for starters and makes us feel welcomed immediately. I will dine on fresh salmon while my daughter enjoys the organic tacos. Our meal was wonderful and finished with a glass of bubbly champagne.
The views bring instant visual contentment while Lotus serves contemporary Thai and Japanese inspired Asian dishes. James’ service was refreshing and made us feel we were amongst friends. Walking back to our suite in the evening was exciting for me. Something about being on a private island, the stars seem more luminous. The air seems more exciting. Being able to run wild on a private island at night under the Caribbean stars seems perfect to me. I thought about how much fun Anne Bonny must have had on this island. Even the mosquitoes were kept away with a natural blend of an extract of chrysanthemum as a natural means of mosquito control. Environmentally safe fogging is something everyone should be doing including in the United States. My home town still has the truck that drives around in the evening spraying for mosquitoes and could use some natural tips. Back in our suite, we relax with no televisions on and one chocolate cake delivered to our private veranda. The quite evening is priceless. Pirate Homage... The next morning, we design our breakfast to our specific dreams which will include banana French toast, buttermilk pancakes and fresh fruit delivered to our suite to be enjoyed on our private veranda. Feeling
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JENNIFER SCHMEER
Banana and coconut plantation
the ocean breeze, breakfast on the veranda is one of the highlights of the trip. A simple pleasure. The lush landscape and no one in sight reminds you that you are on a private island. The attentive service reminds you that this is part of the COMO brand. Claudia will pick us up in a four-wheel Kawasaki for a tour of the island; bringing us to Anne Bonny, one of the first female pirates from the 1700’s; who just happened to have spent time on Parrot Cay.
The Irish pirate spent time here with her lover, Calico Jack Rackman, a famous English pirate who patrolled the Caribbean Sea. Anne has a house that is still standing on Parrott Cay and I found it fascinating to tour. I wondered what kind of life she had on this island and felt that she had good taste in picking places to live. Claudia informed me about the book, Sea Star that shares Anne’s story which I am now reading. After our pirate excursion, we headed to the plantations to get up close to banana and coco-
nut trees. It is exciting to see a resort utilize its own products to raise awareness through charity. COMO Parrott Cay also has a couple of private homes that are available to rent that includes butler service and the perfect ultimate escape on the beach. It is now time for an afternoon swim in the infinity pool overlooking the ocean. A summer for the books! Lunch will consist of teriyaki skewers and the new holiday favorite, COMO’s Spring Rolls by the pool, and a Pina Colada for me. PRIVE’ Later on that afternoon, I arranged a tour of Prive’s 80-foot, Italian designed and built, Azimut luxury fly bridge motor yacht. A simple golf cart ride to the dock where Prive’ is there to pick us up in a 80-foot Intrepid sports yacht. The crew will deliver us to another yacht in waiting at a nearby marina. There I will find Garin Bescoby, coowner of Prive’, who will give us an exclusive tour of his crown jewel. Prive’ offers customized packages for all types of excursions from big game fishing, snorkeling, and world-class diving while floating in luxury with a stellar crew. It was exciting to explore this 80-foot yacht that also holds two jet skis in the stern while hearing about Garin’s business ventures which includes a new yacht being delivered very soon to add to his fleet. The luxurious features of this yacht from above to below deck makes you want to spend more time on this gorgeous sea creature. It felt great to be out on the water this afternoon and enlightened in the yachting world. Prive’ offers excursions for COMO Parrott Cay’s guests which add to any holiday. Eager to return to our private island in the Caribbean, we are gently returned to the dock where a driver with a golf cart awaits. A day out on the water reminds you that you are alive and that the oceans are magnificent. Terrace... For the evening, we stroll up the walkway as the lights hang-
PARROT CAY
COMO Parrot Cay Resort
ing from the trees guides us towards Terrace restaurant. The Terrace serves modern Mediterranean inspired dishes with a focus on Italian cuisine. Also on the menu is COMO Shambhala Cuisine which incorporates organic ingredients including living enzymes, vitamins and sea minerals. The Terrace also offers live music on Tuesday nights and serves inspired cuisines from Italy, France, Greece, and Spain. Small gatherings, intriguing dishes and the perfect ocean breeze makes for an elegant night at the Terrace. We will spend our evening reminiscing on our good times under the candlelight with the requested macaroon desert. COMO Shambhala Retreat... The next day after another wonderful breakfast on our private veranda, we meet our driver who takes us via golf cart down the white path passing the luminous water on our left. Arriving at the COMO Shambhala Retreat overlooking the bright, turquoise waterway; the natural beauty is breathtaking. This Retreat offers holistic, Asian-inspired treatments and has several spa amenities such as individual steam rooms, private garden Jacuzzi, fully equipped Pilates Studio, a stunning yoga
studio and a Boutique. Known world-wide and holding prestige’s awards such as World Spa Award, 2016, Turks and Caicos’ Best Resort Spa, Oyster Editor’s Choice Awards to name a few. My daughter and I take in the views while sipping green tea. I will be escorted to my private room with another wall of glass to bring in the view. The next 60 minutes were of pure bliss as I experienced their newest treatment, the Lulur, which is a beauty ritual from the royal palaces of central Java. This gentle exfoliating treatment begins with an Indonesian massage followed by a body scrub with aromatic mixed spices proceeds with an application of cooling yoghurt and a relaxing bath. The COMO Shambhala Retreat is really a Caribbean sanctuary of wellness for the body and mind. On-site specialists are ready to assist you with stress management, diet and therapeutic needs. To say that I feel restored after my treatment is an understatement. Curious to see how my teenage sidekick is doing, I venture to the outside sitting area overlooking the Caribbean. I find my teenager resting on the lounger with shiny, healthy nails after her mani pedi treatment.
While feeling grateful, our driver arrives promptly to whisk us back to our suite to relax after our spa day. Walking up the grand staircase, we cross paths with Claudia, who is walking the island’s dog, Max, a white Labrador with a lot of love to share. The staff arranges for a VIP Expedite Service Check Out which will make things effortless in regards to the details of returning back to the real world. The boat and car transfers will all be arranged in time for our departing flight with snacks for the journey. I do not want to leave Parrot Cay, and I can see why pirate Anne Bonny decided to build a life here. It’s a gem in the Caribbean. And there are rumors that Anne buried treasure somewhere on this island, but the real treasure is the island itself in its natural beauty. COMO Parrot Cay is a place I hope to return one day to bring family and friends as it is something truly special. I already miss running around on this private island in the Caribbean. For information on how to visit this pirate’s paradise, visit: comohotels.com, prive-yachts.com or islandparadisetaxiandtours@gmail.
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DREAMING OF DISNEY A Disney Cruise is a great choice when planning travel during school breaks. DIANNE NEWCOMER
Y
AY!!!!!!!!!! The kids are back in school, so, mom, you know what that means, right? It is TIME TO START PLANNING YOUR THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, MARTIN LUTHER KING BIRTHDAY, SPRING BREAK and/or your SUMMER VACATION ESCAPES. Don't put it off! It is important to do it now, because, at MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE, we already Dianne Newcomer have folks grabbing up all the good schedules and cheap airfare tickets! So, get in the game. We all know you are not going to just sit back while everyone else in your kids' classes head out for fun on the ski slopes, Caribbean cruising, New York City sightseeing, playing in Disneyworld, or relaxing in Hawaii, Mexico, or the Caribbean. Of course, I realize it is not your job to think about it, but here's the deal. From Monroe, we only have little 50 passenger jets feeding into larger gateway cities, so, right off the bat, you should assume there will not be very many seats offered in the cheapest inventory and these will go fast. Furthermore, to compound the problem, you need to remember that schools
Family photo on Disney Cruise
across the country get out for the holiday, spring break, and summer at basically the same exact time as we do and since these very same travelers from all over the USA are going to have to pass through the same gateway cities as you to get to the fun, the competition for good seats is serious business. Yes, my friends, it is true you have to go through Atlanta to get to heaven—or, for the purpose of my analogy, to the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, Mexico, or eastern seaboard. --so keep that in mind! In short, if you will allow me to borrow a famous line from dear old William Shakespeare, I might suggest "there is the rub!" Everyone wants to go at the
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same time and in the cheap seats, which is why you need to call MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE at 323-3465 or email us at info@monroetravel.com. We need to get started if your family vacation is” to be or not to be!” We sell family vacations every day and know how important it is to steal time away, connect as a family and make lifetime memories. It is not always necessary to go far—although, of course, I highly recommend it—but you just need to go. Get away from the business of the everyday—the things that steal a little of your soul bit by bit by constantly tugging for our attention. Just going—escaping from
the daily routine and demands— is so worth the investment and effort to make it happen. In fact, if you don't believe me, ask Steven and Shannon May of Columbia, who, along with their kids and grandchildren, are ready to go somewhere else after their fun family vacation on Disney Cruise Line’s beautiful new DREAM in July. To make sure their 3-night cruise on the DREAM happened exactly the way she wanted it to turn out, Shannon made her reservations with Lori Thompson at MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE a year in advance to make sure their party of 12 got the right balcony cabins at the best price for their 3 night cruise to the Bahamas!
Pirate's night at dinner
“It was just magical,” said Shannon, “the added cost of a Disney cruise was worth the awesomeness. Just to see the expressions on our grandchildren's faces at the shows, when meeting the characters, playing on the sports deck, participating in the kids' program, or just eating ice cream was priceless. DISNEY DOES IT RIGHT!” That comment alone is probably what we hear most about a Disney cruise, and why a Disney cruise and/or Disneyworld adventure is one of the most popular family vacations we sell at Monroe Travel Service. Like Shannon, it is easy to be blown away by all the “magic” and the Broadway style shows every night. The DREAM has three main shows: Villains Tonight, Believe, and the Golden Mickeys. Personally, I would put “Believe” and the “Golden
Mickeys” right up there with any production I have ever seen. The actors are fantastic; the music is wonderful; the emotions seem as real as the tears that flowed!! These are the kind of shows you get there early to get a good seat, but here's the thing: on the DREAM, the entertainment does not just happen in the showroom! “Every evening was an event!” added Shannon. “The restaurants were also entertaining and this gave us as a family an excuse to participate and enjoy each other so much more. In fact, they even allowed the kids to scribble all over the tabletops every evening, and I must say Animator's Palate Restaurant was just too cool to even talk about. Disney's technology is mind blowing. You cannot begin to tell you how much fun it was
Meeting Captain Mickey
Shannon and her husband on the beach
to see my kids—and the grandkids-- interact. Plus, the food and staff were excellent, too!” There is so much to do on the Disney DREAM that you sometimes run out of time to experience it all. The famous and very popular Aquaduck water coaster grabs everyone's attention, but there is a sports deck that caters to all age groups by offering mini golf, shuffleboard, Nemo's Reef, and even a jogging track if you are interested. The children's area on the DREAM is at least ten times the size of that on most other ships I have seen, and the special locator bracelets as well as the wave phones allow everyone to stay in touch while on board or on Castaway Cay.are extremely popular. Now, as I am sure Shannon would agree, I must point out, there are tons of children on the
DISNEY DREAM. Yet, there are places where adults can escape. The DREAM does offer late night shows, an adults-only bar and beach area on Castaway Cay, a beautiful full service spa, a special adult only pool area, and a not-to-be missed fine dining experience at Palo's Restaurant. One very interesting thing about this Disney cruise is they do allow you to bring your own alcohol on board, so, ladies, plan to bring on the wine and get ready for a good time on a vacation where you can do as much or as little as you desire. Right now, is when you should be calling MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE at 323 3465 to reserve your next family vacation. It's time to dream a little and make some great memories!
Let us help you "LEI" out your Hawaiian vacation!!! 331818 3323 23 33465 23 465
1908 Glenmar St.
Info@ monroetravel.com
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DELTA
Nachos at Monterrey Grill
Owner, Mario Mata
Mario Mata opens Monterrey Grill, his third restaurant in the Delta.
RESTAURANT VISIONARY TARA AMBROSE
T
here is most certainly a new generation of restaurant owners coming up in the area in this day and age, and while some of those relating with the new generation may have been brought up “old school”, the values are much more open and interested in the success of the new as well as old. This is most certainly the motto of the Mata family. “I was raised around the restaurant communi-
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ty, my parents are the owners of El Chili Verde, so it has been something that has been in my blood since I was young,” Mata elaborates. Opened on July 25, 2017, Monterrey Grill is the newest edition to the Monroe area; however, owner Mario Mata is certainly no stranger to the restaurant industry with roots that run deep. “Monterrey is actually a city in the free and sovereign state of Nuevo León in Mexico”, Mata elaborates and educates me in
the rich cultural history that his family has a part of all of his life. Mata came to this area with a vision, the first of which was “Avocado’s”, located on North 18th Street in Monroe, Louisiana. “I wanted a name that anyone could say and that everyone could relate to,” Mata states, “…so it didn’t limit me solely to just Mexican style cuisine.” At only 31 years of age, Mario Mata certainly has shown that he has what it takes to make a business thrive in this community not
GARY GUINIGUNDO PHOTOGRAPHY
only through his personality, but through his strong work ethic in both locations of Avocado’s, as well as his latest edition – Monterrey Grill. “My concept has been trying to provide the people of Monroe and West Monroe with the freshest concept and a different presentation than what they are typically accustomed to,” Mata states. “I have a vision for Monterrey Grill that includes board games, ladies’ night, events for the whole family, live music with a focus on personal interaction with all of our patrons,” and the sincerity is most certainly there in each word spoken. As each location has a different style and vision, each location has a different menu and provides guests with diversely delectable dishes that are certain to entertain a palatable party of epic proportions. While diners at Avocado’s prefer dishes such as the stuffed avocados, Baja chicken and rice and the carnita burger, those who opt to sink their teeth in entrées at Monterrey Grill may opt to enjoy such fanciful items as their visually stunning “trash can nachos” which are piled high with house made brisket, jalapenos, pulled pork, pinto beans, lettuce, tomatoes, nacho cheese and adorned with Monterrey’s own pickled onions, but the menu certainly doesn’t stop there. Mata has also gone to lengths to impress his pint-sized patrons so that they can indulge
GARY GUINIGUNDO PHOTOGRAPHY
Avocado’s – Monroe 905 N. 18th Street Monroe, LA 71201 Telephone: (318) 600-6629 Hours: Sunday through Thursday- 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday- 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Website: www.avocadosfresh.com Avocado’s – West Monroe 205 Constitution Drive West Monroe, LA 71292 Telephone: (318) 570 5045 Hours: Monday through Saturday11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday - 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monterrey Grill 3610 DeSiard Street Monroe, LA 71201 Telephone: (318) 343-0974 Hours: Monday through Thursday11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday- 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Sunday - CLOSED
in the visually intriguing tabletop s’mores with their family and friends. As my culinary crusade came to a close, I know that I will most certainly go back and visit both locations of Avocado’s, as well as making Monterrey Grill one of my new favorite stops on the weekly stops. Follow Tara’s Taste of the Town on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TarasTasteOfTheTown for more foodie photos of these fabulous locations and many more.
GARY GUINIGUNDO PHOTOGRAPHY
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We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Jamie McCullars! She has joined the SHC team full-time after 4 successful years as a principal chiropractor for another local clinic. This addition enables us to better customize care and co-treat patients. Together, we are introducing and implementing several of the latest cutting-edge, evidence-based methods for analysis and treatment available in physical medicine. We have the most phenomenal team we’ve ever assembled in 16 years of practice. They each offer multiple years of experience in their positions and have all completed advanced training in the past year to better take care of your Spinal Health needs! We can’t wait to see you soon and share with you what the buzz is all about!!
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GAMEDAY DRINKS LOOK NO FURTHER FOR THE SWEET SIDEKICK YOU NEED TO ACCOMPANY YOU WHILE WATCHING THE BIG GAME. FROM A SWEET SHANDY TO A TAILGATE TEA, THERE IS SURE TO BE A CONCOCTION TO PLEASE EVERY TASTE BUD IN ATTENDANCE.
HONEY BEER SHANDY 3 tablespoons water 1 1/2 tablespoons honey 4.5 oz. vodka 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Ice 1 -12 oz. Wheat beer Garnish with orange and lemon slices Combine water and honey, stirring well. Pour honey mixture, vodka, orange juice, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake vigorously. Strain into a small pitcher; add beer. Serve over ice; garnish each drink with an orange slice, if desired. LOUISIANA TAILGATING TEA 2 oz. whiskey 2 oz. sweet & sour 2 oz. triple sec Fill the rest with Coca-Cola ice (fill glass) Combine all ingredient, garnish with lemon and pour over ice in a mason jar PRIMETIME PUNCH 8 oz bourbon 8 oz white vermouth 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup local honey plus lemon slices for garnish 12 ounces chilled ginger beer In a pitcher or punch bowl, combine the bourbon, vermouth, lemon juice and honey. Add the ginger beer and lemon slices and serve over ice.
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2017
Contact Darren Burgess 318-237-4840 herbalharvest@stpaschalchurch.org
Saturday, October 21, 2017 9:00AM -3:00 PM St. Paschal Catholic Church 711 N. 7th St. West Monroe, LA 71291
Vendor Inquiries Welcome -Accepting Applications Now Herbal Harvest Original Arts and Crafts Festival FREE event which will host more than 60 vendors selling original artisan
arts and crafts. St. Paschal will be selling herb plants and foods prepared by our church members. Delicious Herbed Chicken Salad, Taco Soup, Grilled Sausage, freshly baked Breads, Cakes, Cookies and Sweets, Almond Tea and Cold Drinks will be available for purchase. Bring the entire family for a fun time. This is the 26th year for this event.
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www.stpaschalchurch.org
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Courtney on a all girls turkey hunt last season
LIVE FOR THE HUNT I
Local females tell their stories about their love for the outdoors.
KRYSTLE MAHONEY
CO-FOUNDER OF WHITETAIL WIDOW MAKERS
remember my first experience in the woods. I had been trying to figure out why my fiancé would be missing between October 1st and January 31st. I was finally curious enough to brave the cold, and follow him into the woods to see what all the hype was about. It was lifechanging, and I haven’t been the same since. I was fortunate enough to harvest my first deer that night. My fiance,Taylor and I were rifle hunting in a nice box stand on his father’s property. It was right before sunset when a
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big doe stepped out into the lane, and I made a perfect shot. I remember being so excited and proud of myself because the shot placement was impeccable! That was a moment I will never forget. On the ride home that night, even in all my excitement I looked over at Taylor and said There’s got to be more to it than that though." He just smiled and said, Sounds like it’s time we buy you a bow and that’s exactly what we did. Since that day, my gun has done nothing but collect dust and I’ve poured my heart and soul into bow hunting, learning everything I can about the great outdoors. When the next hunting season rolled around I made sure
Krystle holding a PSE bow after winning a medal at the Lousiana State Games in 3D archery.
I was a part of it all. Everything from scouting for hunting spots, clearing lanes to shoot, and planting food plots all the way to climbing up the tree to learn how to hang my very own tree stand! There was no aspect of hunting that I wasn’t going to learn how to do myself. I’ve always been extremely self-sufficient and curious by nature, so if it was something that needed to be done, I was going to learn to do it myself. Luckily for me, Taylor was a very knowledgeable and patient teacher. When I finally harvested my first deer with a bow is when I truly realized and understood why Taylor came up missing between October and January. I had never experienced such a rush before then and the chase has been on ever since! One of my favorite hunts to date is chasing turkeys in Kansas earlier this year. I didn’t harvest a single bird there, but it wasn’t for lack of trying! We tried every method under the sun, but to no avail. Even with no harvest, lessons were learned and life-long memories were made. The biggest lesson learned is that experience can be our greatest teacher! Now, before I hunt, I check my surroundings and look for every shot possible and prepare accordingly. I will also make sure the safety on my shot gun is always functioning properly and I will also check the chamber once I get to where I’m going to make sure nothing has bumped it open causing the firing pin to lock up. These are valuable lessons that I can teach my son and other hunters. A few successful things did happen on that trip, my soon to be stepmother-in-law was hunting with us and managed to tag out with two incredible birds and Taylor finally landed his first Tom. Overall, I’d say the trip was a tremendous success! Hunting and the outdoors has now become our way of life. From the way we spend our time and money, to the people we choose to surround ourselves with. Everything seems to revolve around the outdoors, and for that, I am truly grateful. Because of this lifestyle, I’ve been able to accomplish so much in the last four years: working trade shows, hunting different species in different states, creating marketing campaigns, prod-
uct development, walking red carpets, creating a clothing line, modeling, becoming a columnist, starring in commercials, teaching my son to bow hunt, being a part of a hunting show, starting a marketing company with my fiancé, shooting in competitive archery competitions as a family, meeting some of most good hearted people you can imagine, and the list goes on and on. I had no idea what stepping into the woods and pouring my heart into something that I knew nothing about would accomplish in my life. This has been about so much more than just hunting to me. It’s been a journey into finding myself and learning more about what untapped potential I could reach. It’s been about finding a hobby that I had no idea I could do, let alone would end up loving, teaching my son good, wholesome values and life lessons while giving him a healthy outlet and hobby that one day he can pass down to his children, if he chooses. It’s been about memories made, lifelong friendships and legacies that will last forever. These next three ladies embody everything that we believe make a person the best hunter, man or woman. It is an honor to call them our friends and so special to know that we all come from this part of the wonderful state of Louisiana. Courtney Ogden: I'm 26-years-old and I'm from northeast LA. I work at a Community Health Center doing Outreach and Enrollment. My husband, Tyler, and I mostly hunt here in northeast Louisiana we also like to travel to other states such as Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri to hunt. Tyler is the one that first introduced me to the hunting world when we started dating in the fall of 2009. I never had the opportunity to go when I was growing up and I was always interested in it so when he started to bring me along, my interest grew more and more each time. Over the next few years, I fell in love with it, especially turkey hunting. I believe my favorite part of hunting is being able to disconnect from the rest of the world and enjoy being able to admire nature and all it entails. I believe, in order to be a successful hunter one needs to be educated, patient, self-persever-
Courtney using her turkey call
ant, and respectful all at the same time. Learning as much as possible about hunting a specific animal will help you tremendously. The more you know, the better your chances of being successful are. Be patient if something doesn’t quite work out the way it was supposed to or the way you want it to. Being able to handle and continue when crossing those difficult paths takes dedication and perseverance, and I believe every hunter needs to have this characteristic. Not only does a successful hunter need all these things, but he or she also needs to be respectful of the animal taken and to others that may not understand the hunting lifestyle. I have learned so much from Tyler, but I also love getting thoughts and opinions from other female hunters. I am currently involved with two female hunting/outdoor organizations, Huntress View and Sportswomen United. These groups provide support for each other and their followers through previous experiences, tips and advice, product and outfitter reviews, wild game recipes, etc. Hunting may have been considered a man’s world in the past, but women are constantly gaining interest. Groups such as Huntress View and Sportswomen United are there for your resources and education so I hope that women will use them to their advantage. I’m so glad I got involved with them because I have
met some amazing ladies that I would’ve never been able to meet otherwise. These girls are some of the most kind-hearted, passionate and supportive women I’ve ever met. My advice to ladies looking to get involved is to utilize as many resources as possible and keep doing what you love. Lee Ann McQuillin: I am 29-years-old and currently reside in Calhoun, LA with my husband, Timothy McQuillin and our four fur babies. I work at my family business, Armstrong Cricket Farm and Tackle, the world’s largest and original cricket farm. I typically hunt in northeast Louisiana where I am in a club in Farmerville, LA and hunt on private land in Calhoun as well. My preferred animals to hunt are whitetail deer, turkeys, waterfowls and doves. My absolute favorite is turkey hunting. They have very keen eyesight and you are going against nature while hunting them. Normally the tom will strut and gobble while the hen runs to him. While hunting, you are pretending to be a hen and trying to get the tom to come to you. Getting to communicate with them and hearing that tom communicate back will keep you coming back for more. My dad is the reason for my getting involved in hunting. Growing up, my mom and I’s connection was dancing. I wanted to have something that me and my dad could do together and talk about. When I was little I couldn't
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Lee Ann McQuillin aiming her bow in her wedding dress
Farrar Poleman showing off her white perch catch
wait for my dad to come home on Sundays to see what he got, and listen to his stories. He told me that I had to wait until I was twelve-years-old and if I still wanted to go hunting then he would take me. Once I turned 12, I quickly reminded him of his rule. He took me to take the hunter's safety course, taught me how to shoot a gun, and my passion for hunting began. There are a few key things that I believe have made me a successful hunter. They are having great mentors, practicing a lot, and having a passion for the sport. I think passion is my big key to being successful. Hunting is not always easy. You spend many hours preparing for the season just to sit in a stand for hours and possibly never see an animal. Passion will keep that fuel burning and all the hard work will eventually pay off in the end. In the future, I hope to promote positivity, encourage others to get outdoors, and continue the traditions with my family. We now live in a world where people are glued to their phones and computers while being hateful to one another. Even hunters are being hateful to other hunters. With social media, the antihunters are becoming more vicious and we need to all stick together and show why we love hunting. You will always have the girls who will make fun of you and the guys who think women
hunting all over northwest Louisiana and in southeast Mississippi. My absolute favorite thing about being in the outdoors is spending time with God and enjoying his amazing creations! Being in the outdoors is not only my way to escape reality, but my way to harvest my own food as well. I also enjoy spending time working in the woods when it is not hunting season. Putting hard work in makes the satisfaction of the harvest even more surreal. I grew up with my dad being a big turkey and squirrel hunter. He was the person who hooked me into the outdoor addiction. My dad passed away when I was a senior in high school due to cancer. I resented anything that reminded me of him for a couple of years, until I was reintroduced, and it was all over after that! This past hunting season I was blessed with an opportunity to go on an all-girls duck hunt out of Baffin Bay in south Texas. We had such a great time! I also got to go back to my family land in southeast Mississippi this year to turkey hunt with some great people. Although I longed for my dad to be there with us, I enjoyed every second as the memories of where my addiction started suddenly came back to me. This hunt helped me appreciate being in the outdoors even more. In the future, I hope to accomplish a lifelong passion full of adventure. I hope to broaden my ho-
do not belong in the hunting world. Don't let that keep you from getting into the outdoors. Right now, it is the perfect time for a woman to get into the outdoors. More companies are starting to cater to women and make products for women. When I first started hunting, there wasn't a single clothing line for women, and I did not have a friend that was a girl who hunted. I also wanted a Mossy Oak camo prom dress and I couldn't find one anywhere. My mom made one for me one and it was perfect. Some people thought I was weird and made fun of me, but it never bothered me because I was doing what I loved. Never let negativity keep you from doing something you love. You don't necessarily have to hunt to enjoy the outdoors. Farrar Polman: I am 28-years-old and currently just relocated to Haughton, LA from Sterlington, LA. I was born in Bossier City, LA, but lived most my life in Piedmont, SC. If I am not in my classroom teaching, you can find me in the woods or on the water. After I graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2011, I decided to plant my roots in the delta. Although teaching is my life purpose, hunting and being in the outdoors is my life’s passion. The past few years I have hunted in Lincoln and Caldwell Parishes. With my new move, I will typically be
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rizons by being able to start traveling to different states to hunt. Most of all, I hope to spread my passion and way of life to many other women and young girls. I pray that I make a positive impact on the female hunting industry, and that I educate and pass on this amazing lifestyle to many generations to come. Everyone has their own way of life and enjoys spending their free time in different ways. Just because you are a girl or woman does not mean that you cannot enjoy spending time in the outdoors hunting or fishing. Successful hunters to me are lifelong learners and love to pass on the tradition with those they love. As a female hunter, this journey can be a tough one full of constantly having to prove yourself and having to work to defeat negative stereotypes formed about women in the outdoors. We tend to be thought of as needing supervision, slowing down other hunters, but, this is not true. Like in everyday life, if you focus on the negative, that is all you will see and it will cause your path and views to be a negative one. But if we focus on the positive, seek out a positive path, then we will find people to associate ourselves, and our sport, with that are the best. Until next time, Krystle
Southern Grace & charm
Our Mission: To extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ INALIS
Foundation oF Faith
Spiritual & phySical health
Serene natural habitat
Thank You For Nominating Us Assisted Living Community
Units AvAilAble for leAsing!
• Safe & Secure •Carefree Living & Financial Freedom •Companionship • Fine Dining • Beautiful 1,2 BR Apartment Units • Free Transportation • Beautiful, Natural Outdoor Setting
318-325-9459 • 2299 Sterlington Rd, Monroe, LA 71203
We go the extra mile to enhance your childs smile!
3809 Whites Ferry Rd West Monroe, LA 71291
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Since 2010, the WHS Class of 1973 has participated continuously as a unified group in the homecoming tailgating fundraiser activities.
TAILGATING
FOR A CAUSE
Wildcats Alumni tailgate to improve school landscaping ROSE YOUNG-LEE
A
NELA MASTER GARDENER
In fall 2016, Rose and Ronald Lee enjoyed homecoming activities with WHS Class of 1973 at their annual tailgating spot around the football field.
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s fall approaches, the changes in weather conditions and environmental scenery motivate us to get outside. In the South, after a long, hot and humid summer, we eagerly anticipate the upcoming season and all that it entails – cooler weather, fall fashions, colorful fall foliage, football, and, of course, tailgating. Although tailgating and gardening are not typically thought of in the same vein, now is an opportune time to highlight
these two pastimes, as both are common practices during this time of year. The landscaping and tailgating fundraiser efforts of a local school’s alumni association provide an excellent example of how such activities can be combined to benefit a school and a community. Undertaken several years ago as a major project to improve the appearance of the school’s courtyard, the Wossman Wildcats Alumni Association (WWAA) has been implementing a variety of projects to raise funds for the WHS courtyard landscaping project. While payment for the purchase of
personalized bricks, crape myrtle trees and benches – often in memory of deceased alumni – have been beneficial to the overall progress of this ambitious project, funds from the annual homecoming tailgating activities have also contributed immensely to its completion. As we welcome fall, a new school year, football and tailgating, the following steps are offered to encourage others to undertake school landscaping projects. Hopefully, parents, alumni and community members of other schools will be motivated to work on projects that will enhance their children’s outdoor school environment. » Organize a planning committee and select a chairperson to oversee the project » Talk to school administrators and staff, including custodians, to get approval and input regarding the overall vision for the school’s landscape » Visit the school and tour the grounds to determine the exact location and type(s) of
landscaping project(s) to be developed (flower beds, shrubbery, container gardens, etc.) » Enlist the services of a reputable landscaping contractor (especially for major projects), master gardeners, or other knowledgeable individuals to draft a landscape plan and provide an estimate of associated costs » Raise funds by soliciting donations and implementing fundraising projects to finance the renovations » Recruit parent and booster groups, alumni members, school organizations and other volunteers to complete the tasks associated with completing and maintaining the project (clearing and preparing the selected spots; planting, watering and fertilizing the greenery; periodic weeding and other regular maintenance, etc.) » Hold a celebration or dedication event to recognize all individuals who contributed to the project’s development and completion
The WWAA implemented a variety of projects, including payment for homecoming tailgating spots, to raise funds for the WHS courtyard landscaping project.
Christus St. Joseph Nursing Home
Continuing a 72-year legacy of caring for the families of Northeast Louisiana and Extending The Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ.
Thank You For Nominating Us
SpaciouS Luxury comfortabLe, enjoyabLe Dining room
founDation of faith beautifuL, perSonaL
atmoSphere INALIS
Nursing Home Individualized care, tailored to the healthcare needs of each resident. Levels of Care and Services include: • Long-Term Resident Care • Medicare Skilled Care • State of the art therapy department
• Secure atmosphere, utilizing the wander-guard system • Caring compassionate staff • Transportation • Thirteen acre scenic, bayou side property
St. Joseph’s Home is the only Faith Based Long Term Care Facility in NELA that has been continuously owned and operated from its inception by a religious sponsor.
(318) 323-3426 • 2301 Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA 71203 DELTA STYL E MAGA Z I NE | SEPT EM BER 2017 | 103
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5 Tips for Dating with Hearing Loss Dating is already complicated. You have to pick a restaurant, an outfit, and you have to plan what do if you don’t like your date. And if you have hearing loss, chances are you are planning other things too. Making sure the restaurant has enough lighting. How you’re going to talk about your hearing loss with a new person. What to do if the person speaks softly or covers his or her mouth when talking. Thus, with all that in mind, here are five helpful dating tips to keep in mind! 1. Plan your location carefully! Take the time to scope out potential spots ahead of time with lighting, background noise and overall ambience as main considerations. And, even if it’s a first date, don’t be afraid to recommend something besides a restaurant or to take control of choosing the location. 2. Make up a fun, creative date. With gorgeous summer weather, there are an abundance of outside summer date ideas. Have a picnic in the park or go see a baseball game. If you live somewhere where the weather is too hot, grab your favorite films and snacks and have a movie marathon! 3. Early arrival at a restaurant means better choices. When you get to the location early, you have a better chance at choosing a spot in the restaurant that you know you’ll enjoy. 4. Do I have to tell them I have hearing loss? It’s up to you! While hearing loss is nothing to be ashamed, we totally understand that it’s a personal decision. Often times though, being upfront about it from the start leads to a better date because your partner knows how he or she can best help you keep the conversation flowing and not miss out on any of the fun! 5. Communicate between date nights! We live in a digital age where smartphones and tablets are all the rage. Take advantage of technology by texting, emailing, or using things like Skype or FaceTime to chat when you’re not physically with each other. This keeps your relationship growing and offers you a way to communicate easier! Additional questions? We’d love to help out! Contact us today!
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318.325.2363 318.251.1272 2200 Justice street 1221 FArMerviLLe Hwy Monroe, LA ruston, LA
MN-1000663350
www.AudibeLMonroe.coM
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MN-1000667234
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212 WALNUT STREET MONROE, LA 71201 (318) 323-3461 WWW.MONROE.ORG Find us on Facebook!
Young Professionals hear from Scott Martinez, NLEP
Leadership Ouachita meets at CenturyLink
Senator Cassidy speaks to Monroe Chamber
Beautiful Business of the
Month
Ouachita Christian School
WAITR
The Pilates Room
The Well Woman Center of Louisiana
Monroe Coca-Cola Bottling Co. UNITED
Lady Bugs Crafts & Creation
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Moss Eyecare
Ouachita Valley FCU
ULM Brown Stadium
MN-1000667245
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Direct Superior Approach - Total Hip Replacement An Innovative Approach to Hip Replacement So, you have always been moderately active, you play golf or tennis 1-2 times a week, walk or jog daily, but recently you have started to experience Steven Atchison, MD joint pain… particularly in your hip. Your fairly regular exercise regime is falling short on your list of daily, even weekly activities due to increasing hip pain. In your mind, you think I am too young to have hip pain and way too young and busy to be a candidate for hip replacement surgery. Well, until a proper evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon, you can’t know, but if you do undergo a proper assessment and it is determined that you are a candidate for total hip replacement surgery, you have a new and amazing option that allows for a quicker and more viable recovery… the Direct Superior Approach Total Hip Replacement. Total Joint Replacement Surgery is constantly evolving, and new technologies are making total hip replacement surgery a safe, viable option for patients seeking relief from hip pain. A little over a year ago, I was excited to offer patients a new and exciting option- The Direct Superior Approach- Hip. This procedure incorporates state of the art technology and minimally-invasive surgical techniques resulting in remarkably high record of successful outcomes. Since March of 2015, I have performed over two hundred procedures and the results have been exceptional. You may ask, what makes the Direct Superior Approach- Hip different? Easily answered- it is a muscle and bone sparing procedure. For the Direct Superior Approach-Total Hip
Replacement, I make a single incision on the outside of the hip in the buttock region, which will allow adequate exposure to perform the surgery accurately and with very little soft tissue damage. I work through the small incision and diligently work to preserve the muscles around the hip joint, in order to place the hip implant with the least amount of soft tissue trauma as possible. After securely placing the implant, I will repair the hip capsule and skin to facilitate proper healing and prevent dislocation of the hip. The surgery will take me about 50- 90 minutes and patients will typically be up walking 2-3 hours following their surgery. The majority of my patients will go home the morning following surgery and resume an exercise and walking program at home.
The Direct Superior Approach-Hip offers numerous benefits:
The Direct Superior Approach has resulted in much shorter recovery times. As a result, instead of being in the hospital for four to five days, most of my patients are in the hospital for 24-36 hours, spending one night and being discharged the morning following their surgery. Instead of being able to drive in a month, they’re usually able to drive in half the time. Instead of being off of work for three months, they are able to return in much less time. The short recovery time makes the surgery accessible for more patients who might not be able to take three months off work. Additionally, most DSA patients do not have to assume an outpatient physically therapy program, but can immediately begin a walking program to increase strength and improve gait. Many people who would benefit from hip or knee replacement surgery never get the operation and instead live with the pain and reduced function because they fear a long recovery time. The Direct Superior Approach-Hip replacement patients typically have a much more rapid recovery. Most of my patients are back to golfing, yoga and other activities within two to three weeks.
• More comfortable recovery period, with minimized pain medication requirements
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• Reduced post-procedural occurrence of hip dislocation • Earlier ambulation minimizes complications commonly seen with traditional hip replacement (i.e. blood clots and muscle fatigue) • No hip precautions after surgery-many patients resume normal activities much earlier than expected and the whole recovery process is much faster and less painful than with traditional techniques • Requires only one small incision in the hip, leaving muscles and tendons undamaged and preserving the hip’s natural alignment • Less leg manipulation and less soft tissue damage allows for earlier return of function, less pain, and greater stability after hip replacement • Accurate implant positioning is achieved, which allows for longevity of the hip replacement • Surgery may be performed on an outpatient basis (or a one night hospital stay)
• Minimization of blood loss (compared to traditional hip replacement techniques) • Fewer incidences of complications during and after surgery.
There currently are a hand full of orthopedic surgeons in the country utilizing the Direct Superior ApproachHip technique. Currently, I am Stryker educator/ consultant for the Direct Superior Approach-Hip and am working on the technology to utilize this approach using MAKOplasty, making the surgery even more precise and less invasive. I have had the privilege to teach this technique to orthopedic total joint replacement fellows around the country, as well as, introduce several practicing orthopedic surgeons from around the globe to this amazing procedure. If you suffer from hip or knee pain, I encourage you to talk to your family physician or be evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon… the strides in joint replacement surgery are vast and all geared towards getting you back to a healthy, active lifestyle more quickly and safely.
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