Your Hometown Magazine
SearcyLiving.com
Your Hometown Magazine
Issue № 3 j 2010
Contents
Features Design Tips On A Budget
18
Walk A Mile Without Shoes
26
Pioneer Village
30
Keeping Her Light Alive
32
Time Travel & The Brass Ring
36
The Greatest Secret In Life
38
Great Strides For A Great Cause
38
Sharing Life
39
From Cuba To Fine Cuisine
40
Art On The Square
44
Downtown Mural
50
Art Impressions
52
The 65 Roses Tour In Searcy
60
Amateur Photo Contest
66
Living The Dream
68
44
Departments Publisher’s Note
7
Out & About
8
All American Citizens
10
Dinner & A Magazine
12
Got To Have
13
Living In Searcy
14
We The People
22
Financial Focus
28
Fashion Fun
62
Health
70
72
Games & Puzzles On the Cover Painting by Garrett Johnson
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 65 Roses tour. For more on this story see page 58.
58
photo by Rhonda Roberts
SearcyLiving.com
Publisher Christine Walker Business Manager Paul Parker Art Director & Webmaster Garrett Johnson Graphic Assistant Ikey Ray Customer Service Stephanie McInturff Editorial Assistant Cherie Sewell Makeover Coordinator Christine Locke Contributing Independent Photographers Maggie Hendrix (501) 388-3256 Homan Photography (501) 268-2844 Kimberly Brackins (501) 279-1515 George Dillin (501) 268-9304 Contributing Writers Cecelia Wilson Daniel Torres Ashton Reely Zach Welch
Searcy Living is Locally Owned and Operated 812 South Main Street Searcy, AR 72143 searcyliving@yahoo.com (501) 368-0095 SearcyLiving.com For subscription information go to SearcyLiving.com
Copyright 2010 Shark Promotions LLC. Searcy Living, Cabot Living, and Your Hometown Magazine are trademarks of Shark Promotions. All rights reserved. Ownership, rights, and logos are property of their respected businesses. No part may be reproduced without written permission. Shark Promotions LLC is not responsible for claims, misprints, discrepancies, advice of any kind, or content in advertisements or editorials, but will rectify errors in forthcoming issues. December 2009 - January 2010
CopyrightŠ 2010 Shark Promotions LLC
Searcy Living Magazine is a subsidiary of Shark Promotions LLC.
Your Hometown Magazine
Publisher’s Note
Purple Pigs and Magazines I have a confession to make. I put off writing every publishers note until the last minute. My excuse (this time) was that I really don’t know much about art besides knowing what pictures I like or don’t like. I can’t draw much more than a stick figure and I can NOT paint a picture. I like looking at art. I like meeting artists. I love the stories that are in this issue. But, what in the world makes me any kind of expert on the subject? And then I remembered the purple pig. When I was in 8th grade, I was shy (believe it or not) and completely without confidence. My mom signed me up for a 4-H ceramics class, which I agreed to, but I can’t say I was very excited about it. I agreed because we had moved to a new town and I thought it would help me meet new friends, but, because I was shy, I really did not connect with the other kids. However, my teacher, Mrs. Reeder, always took time to visit with me and encouraged creativity. My first project was a giant piggy bank with a ridiculous bow around its neck. When I picked up that paint brush in ceramics class, I did not think about the other girls giggling and having a good time while I felt totally left out. I was suddenly in a different world that was stress free and void of social pressures. At that moment, my only concern in the entire world was what color to paint the pig. I chose to paint the pig a bright purple. It was a happy pig, a bright pig, a really purple pig. I took ceramics classes almost all through the rest of my childhood years. I developed a great friendship with my ceramics teacher and even came back to adult ceramics classes in my early twenties, as a way to relieve stress and just take a break - to not have to worry about anything except what color of paint to choose! Mrs. Reeder passed away from cancer many years ago, but I will always cherish her encouragement, friendship and the life lessons I learned from the first time I painted that pig and every project thereafter. Is there a connection between painting a pig purple and publishing a magazine? Read this issue and you decide.
Yesterday’s endings are seeds for today’s beginnings. ~Lew Losoncy
Keeping Her Light Alive
She was good without being “self-righteous. Open to learning and growing, but always grounded in faith and love. Page 32
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Time Travel and the Brass Ring
The carrousel traces its origins back to the Middle Ages when the most primitive of wooden horses were used as training devices for young men learning to carry armor, use weaponry and dream of becoming knights. Page 36
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All American Citizens
It touched her to be able to see how a patient and his wife still connected after 75 years of marriage. ‘That couple definitely had some marriage and life lessons that others can learn from.’ Page 10
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SearcyLiving.com
OUT&ABOUT
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~Gandhi
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Your Hometown Magazine
-Morrow
Smile!
Show your support for life and help raise money at the same time! Purchase an Official Choose Life Arkansas License Plate for the rear of your car. You can obtain one through direct purchase from the Department of Finance and Administration. Let’s make the readership of Searcy Living the BIGGEST supporters for life in the state!
Find more OUT&ABOUT on SearcyLiving.com! SearcyLiving.com
All American Citizens
O
by Rebecca Pearrow • Photo by Virginia Bradley
Volunteers: The Heart of Hospice
One of the most difficult burdens to bear alone is grief. Hospice Home Care of Searcy provides end of life care for patients with terminal illnesses. Their mission is to add life to days, when days can no longer be added to life. Local volunteers are an integral part of providing support and care for patients and their caregivers in the last phases of incurable disease, so they can live as fully and comfortably as possible. These volunteers come from across varying stages and all walks of life; from retired persons and stay at home moms, to full time workers and students. Their desire is to be a bloom in someone’s garden of life. Betty Summar is one such volunteer. She has been on both the receiving and giving ends of hospice care. In May of 2008, her husband, Ed, became a patient of Hospice Home Care. “I thought hospice was the end of the road. It took me a long time to call for help, because I didn’t want to give up, and I was afraid that it would make him quit fighting to live. It wasn’t until he got so sick that I couldn’t get him to the doctor that I realized I needed support. Jeannie Barnett, RN for Hospice Home Care, explained that the goal of hospice is to help us through the illness when she came to visit us. He definitely needed help with medication.” Even though Betty had family and friends to help through this very difficult time in her life, she explains that the support of the nurses was invaluable. She needed the reassurance and guidance that she was administering his medication correctly and they eased her qualms about morphine use. Ed passed away on August 3, 2008. “Jeanie was one of the first ones to show up at the funeral home, and she checked on me again the next week.” It was through this kind of compassion that she realized how much that meant to grieving people in the bereavement process. She knew she wanted to give to others by volunteering for hospice, but she had to wait until she was emotionally ready herself, before she could help others with their grief. Since she is retired and now has firsthand experience with end of life care, she felt ready in October of 2009 to start helping bear others’ burdens. She went through the volunteer training and went straight to work. She began immediately helping out in the office and making bereavement phone calls, while waiting on the background check and TB test requirements. Once she was all clear for patient contact, she accepted her first placement. This particular patient and caregiver’s needs were for the volunteer to sit with the patient a few hours at a time, a couple of days a week. This allowed the wife to go to work without worrying about the patient being left alone. It was a huge weight of worry lifted off her shoulders. “Although the patient didn’t feel he needed a volunteer at first, we are now fast friends and spend several hours a week visiting. I had to slowly build a relationship of trust and companionship with him by sending cards and calling him on the phone for a few weeks until he was ready. I just let him know I would be there when he needed me.” She also provides respite care for a second patient, as needed, to allow his
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(L to R) Front Row: Judy Rivera, Armando Rivera, Betty Summar Back Row: Virginia Bradley, Rebecca Pearrow, Melanie Sallee
paid caregiver the opportunity to run errands. She even stayed with this patient on Christmas Eve so that the caregiver could leave to spend time with her own family. Betty says to anyone considering volunteering for hospice, “Just try in some capacity, even if it’s just phone calls or cards, if you feel like you can’t handle direct patient visits. It’s very rewarding to simply let a patient talk to you and be there to listen. You can be a sounding board where they can say things they may not want to share with close family members for fear of hurting them. Volunteers provide a more neutral or distant outlet.” She prays daily that her service can just be a help to others. “God says, ‘What you do to the least of them, you do to me.’ By serving others, we also serve God. I also wanted to give back to hospice for the good care they provided for my husband during his final time here on earth.” There are some people in our community who are full-time volunteers. Armando and Judy Rivera moved from New Hampshire to Searcy in 2006, with full intentions of being full-time volunteers. “God has been so good to us. The Bible tells us, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ We are fully retired at a young age. Not a lot of people have this kind of opportunity, so it is time to give back.” The Riveras began volunteering four days a week delivering Meals on Wheels and helping at the Lightle House Senior Center. Their daughter, who worked for Hospice Home Care, encouraged them to become hospice volunteers. “She told us, ‘You have one more day a week free. You might as well fill that day also.’” So, in 2007, they did, and have been ever since. They focus the majority of their efforts in the nursing homes. They feel it is easier emotionally and mentally to deal with dying patients in these settings, rather than in personal homes. They used
to visit in the former hospital inpatient unit frequently. One of these patients had a wife who wouldn’t leave his side, but she had many financial and household errands she needed to take care of. So they encouraged her to let them know and they would sit by his side whenever she needed to go take care of business. “Understandably, she just did not want to leave him alone. It made her feel comfortable knowing that we were right there beside him providing watchful care in her place. This allowed her to get some of that day to day business done. These sorts of things, unfortunately, still need attention even during times of critical or end of life illness.” Another patient they visited enjoyed talking to them about his military and war history. Since Armando is a retired military man, this helps them have something in common with World War II era patients. Of course, there can be some more emotionally trying situations. “We went into one gentleman’s room one time, introduced ourselves, and asked him if there was anything we could do for him. He stated, ‘Yeah, if you could just convince my wife that it is okay that I’m dying.’ He was very verbal to us about his family not accepting the reality and being somewhat in denial. This was something that he was worrying about, and we just allowed him to vent to us about it. It let him get that worry off his chest.” Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” The Riveras feel they have received back as much as they have given. “Initially, we thought we would just go make visits and make people feel better. It turned out to be much more. Patients have so much to share. They are from all walks of life and different parts of the country, and they share stories of their own lives. Every experience we have had, we have walked away having learned something. These hospice patients help us as much as we help them.” Melanie Sallee, who is a senior at Harding University in the pre-physician’s assistant program, agrees with the Riveras. She has had much the same experience. “I didn’t start out trying to get personal benefits or gains from being a hospice volunteer, but it has turned out to be an unexpected blessing to me. I went to serve and left being served.” She sees that it has been especially beneficial to her, as a young person, to interact with elderly patients. Because of their age and wisdom, she is able to learn and grow from the things they share with her. She heard about volunteering with hospice through an informational meeting at the Health Sciences department. It fits well with her career plan and gives her experience working with patients. She also had experienced the loss of her own great-grandmother and had the blessing of helping her at the end. One of her best experiences has actually focused more on the caregiver, than the patient. Hospice volunteers frequently follow through with the caregivers after the death of the patient to help them through the bereavement and grief process. Melanie had built up a relationship with the patient’s wife while visiting the patient in the nursing home. She would help feed the patient or other simple helping tasks, and got to know his wife. After his death, she made a phone call to the wife to check on her. They had a good conversation and the wife related loneliness to her, so they arranged for her to go visit her in her home. They had a good time visiting and got along really well, so Melanie has returned to visit and calls her on the phone one or two times a week. This is just an extension of our local community helping one another through grief. She also visits a hospice patient at Harding Place. “Sometimes I bake him goodies and take to him. He loves that!”
Even people holding down full-time jobs find time to volunteer in this wonderful community of ours. As the saying goes, if you really want something done, ask the busiest person you know. When she learned about hospice volunteers from a booth at a Harding University expo, Virginia Bradley’s first thought was, “I am too busy.” She works full-time at the Harding post office, has a photography sideline, is very active in her church, and has family obligations. Yet, she has somehow found a way to be a hospice volunteer for the past four years. “I just felt led to do it. I thought it [was] something I should be doing anyway for my fellow man. It is a reward. Like the song says, I want the Lord to make me a blessing so I can bless someone else today. I try to be a blessing to someone every day. God has given me a gift, and I need to share it.” She has done in-home visits, but really enjoys nursing home work more. She feels like she can touch more people at a time that way, visiting up and down the halls and room to room. The most challenging patients for her are those that can’t communicate or are unresponsive. “It’s difficult to know if what you’re doing is beneficial to them or not, except through eye contact and facial expressions.” Sometimes she reads to them or plays music CDs for these types of patients. She feels it is a blessing even to be able to assist patients with feeding. Like the other volunteers shared, she also feels like she has learned a lot of wisdom from patients herself. It touched her to be able to see how a patient and his wife still connected after 75 years of marriage. “That couple definitely had some marriage and life lessons that others can learn from.” Our community must have thousands of behind-the-scenes volunteers such as these people who quietly serve day after day. From retired people, to students, to career people, and stay-athome moms, these individuals better our community by helping to bear one another’s burdens. But as you can see, they simply feel like they cast their bread upon the waters, and it will definitely return to them. Remember to thank our community volunteers for all they do. For more information about being a hospice volunteer, contact:
Rebecca Pearrow Volunteer Coordinator Hospice Home Care 106 S. Spring St. Searcy, AR 72143 501-279-7955
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d nner
& A Magazine
Strawberry Shortcake Like No Other Around these parts of Arkansas, people drive from far and near to go to Bald Knob to the Bulldog restaurant for strawberry shortcake. They are famous for it. After all, they’re in the town that’s the strawberry capital of Arkansas. I’m here to tell you, I’ll go up against the Bulldog ANY day with this strawberry shortcake. I don’t care how full you are, you WILL make room for this for dessert. You can easily use thawed, previously frozen, strawberries in this recipe, but it SURE is good with fresh ones during the summer! Make sure you chill your whipping cream bowl and the beaters before beginning the recipe!
filling: 2 quarts fresh strawberries ½ c. sugar topping: 1 c. whipping cream 2 Tbsp sugar ¼ tsp vanilla
shortcake: 2 ¾ c. unbleached all purpose flour ¼ c. sugar 4 tsp baking powder (without aluminum) ¾ c. cold butter, cut up 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 c. sour cream Recipe submitted by Tanya Leckie 1 tsp vanilla DIRECTIONS: In a medium bowl, combine the washed, hulled, sliced strawberries with the ½ c. sugar, cover with cellophane wrap or a clean “saved from the hotel” plastic shower cap and set aside for 2 hours. In a medium DEEP bowl (so it stays in the bowl and not on your kitchen wall) that has been chilled well, combine the whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla and beat with chilled beaters until stiff peaks form. Chill until ready to serve. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, and baking powder. Add butter and cut in with a fork or pastry blender just until it looks like chunky oatmeal. In a small bowl whisk together eggs, sour cream, and vanilla and add it to the flour mixture, stirring just until it sticks together and forms a dough. Now, butter your hands well (or you can use coconut oil) and scoop up about 1/3 cup-sized scoops and form a ball with it. Drop them onto a lightly buttered, shiny metal cookie sheet and flatten, only slightly. You should have 8 shortcakes. Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes. To assemble, place shortcake on plate, spit in half horizontally, spoon strawberries onto it and top strawberries with whipped cream. Place shortcake top back on and place a dollop of whipped cream on it. BEAUTIFUL!!! But, like a really great sunset... it won’t last long. These are so delicious!
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ot 2 ! ghave
Interior Creations Bald Knob Flower Shop Sweet, salty, and savory. Spice up your party or shower with our new selection of Wind & Willow dips. 2604 Hwy 367 • Bald Knob 501-724-3452
The latest in fabric trends and traditional favorites. Custom drapes, accessories, and more! (behind Simmons First on Beebe-Capps) 1621 W. Beebe-Capps • Searcy 501-268-7575
SearcyLiving.com 13
WRITTEN BY Cecelia Wilson • PHOTOGRAPHY BY
a New Chapter and A Few New Pennies
F
or forty-one years, Anne Gardner had lived in the Williamsburg-style house she had shared with her husband in Searcy. They had raised their children there; it was home. But, when Dr. Jack Gardner passed away in April 2009, Anne began to take stock of the two acres of lovely, manicured gardens surrounding her home and realized it might be too much for her to maintain on her own. Unsure what her children’s reaction would be to thoughts of her moving from the home in which they had lived throughout their childhood, Anne broached the subject with her grown son and daughter. To her surprise, they were both more than open to the idea. It seems their memories were enough to sustain them and those memories were not reliant on the house itself. With their approval, Anne made a decision to begin a new chapter in her life in a totally different direction. She looked at a model home under construction in The Dominion and knew it should be hers the minute she stepped in the door. “It felt comfortable,” Anne remembers about first seeing the house while it was in the drywall phase. “I knew I was home.” The long, slender, brick home Anne purchased is certainly stylish outwardly, but it is the inside that makes one pause. Opening the front door of her garden home, a guest is immediately stopped by the “Wow!” factor. The open-floor concept is apparent from the foyer. Stuccoed walls, 10 ft. ceilings and umber-colored, acid stained concrete floors lend a relaxed, yet elegant Tuscan flavor to the dining/living room. While Anne did some downsizing in the amount of furniture she would take with her when she moved, the pieces she has selected to remain in her new home add an eclectic mix of both old world charm and modernism. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the dining and living rooms. A painting of her great-great-grandmother, her namesake, peers down over the dining room table, an antique table passed down from her mother. While its golden-brown 14 Your Hometown Magazine
in Searcy wood blends in with the hue of the etched concrete floors, the chairs are an ultra-modern Lucite collection. In the living room, a traditional sofa and armchairs are anchored by a contemporary brass and glass coffee table. The wood burning fireplace is flanked on both sides by matching antiqued floorto-ceiling shelving, and a single column graces the separation between the first rooms and the kitchen. Looking through her living room windows, a covered patio beckons with another uncovered patio beyond, both areas an ideal place to lounge in either sun or shade, depending on your mood. From her backyard, her lot abuts a common park and is situated within a short distance to the sight and restful sounds of the park’s fountain. A baby grand piano is one of the primary focal points of the main living area inside the house. Electing to forego the open space’s plans for a breakfast area before exiting to the patio, Anne decided instead to position her husband’s piano to be prominent in the room. Though a beautiful piece of furniture on its own, the piano has sentimental value to Anne and her family as well. It once belonged to her motherin-law, who died giving birth to Dr. Gardner. He grew up with the musical instrument as a constant reminder of and homage to his departed mother and, though Anne does not play it herself, it graces her living room as another piece of art with an emotional attachment. The kitchen adds another dimension to the open living space, anchoring one wall as it oversees visitors. Brown and beige granite countertops grace the surface of the cabinets while a solid dark chocolate quartz countertop and a trio of sleek pendant lights drop down over the angled island. Stainless appliances and a tiled backsplash make for one 21st century food preparation space. A neutral shade of putty draws the eye to the foyer, leading into a sumptuous master bedroom banked on every wall with large windows, with a view to the patios and backyard. Large
enough to accommodate a seating area, the tray ceiling and cove lighting continue the relaxed feeling felt elsewhere in the house. The bedroom also boasts a separate office with custom, full-length shelves on either side of one of the office’s two windows. The master bath is a study in state-ofthe-art appointments with a dark slate, tiled walk-in shower and an enormous soaking tub complete with jets. A custom built walk-in closet with storage cabinets and shelving sits just off the bathroom. For guests, Anne has ample room with two guest bedrooms divided by a full size bathroom. The unique 2,600 sq. ft. house is completed with a two-car garage, utility room, ample closet space, and another half bath. All in all, the house has every modern convenience, a great flow and immaculate architecture in a modern floor plan. “I don’t feel as if I’m living in the middle of the city,” she comments. She has a view of horses nearby and her dog has even spotted a fox and deer. The developer has also added to that “feel” by adding tasteful, well-maintained landscaping, and there is a service available for upkeep of the front yards for Dominion residents. Anne is also delighted that she has enough room on her lot to grow herbs and her favorite flowers. The locale is ideally situated near the Searcy Country Club, new grocery and retail stores and near downtown. “I [used to] live on a dead-end street, so friends didn’t just drive by. Here they can just drop in.” As for security, besides the house’s own electronic security system, the gated community adds additional protection with gates closing each night from 5:00 in the afternoon until 9:00 the following morning. Guests that arrive when the gates are locked can simply use an electronic system to highlight the resident they wish to visit and, once that resident has been alerted, they are buzzed in to the residential community. AnnE laughs and says the move was made that much easier by choosing to purchase her house at the stage of construction she did. In the dry, sheetrock was on the walls, and more less-than-exciting choices had already been made for the floor plan. The more “fun” choices of paint color, cabinet hardware and countertops had yet to be made when Anne had made her decision to move. She credits Jackie Stevens, her builder, for making the choices that much easier. “My children had suggested I have an uncovered patio beyond the covered patio behind my house,” Anne said. When she mentioned that suggestion to Jackie, he smiled and pointed to the house plans – the patio she and her children had envisioned was already in the blueprints. She did make a few minor changes to the plans – she chose to eliminate a second column in the living room and an additional cabinet that was planned for the kitchen was nixed when she felt it would mean the area would be even more open without it. But, paint color and many decorating decisions were aided by Jackie’s wife, Angie Stevens. “What do we have planned for this wall?” Anne would ask Angie as construction progressed. Angie would show Anne her opinions on paint or hardware or pendant lighting and Anne would nod her head in agreement. Though the color palette is a complete change from what Anne had in her house of 41 years, she agrees that the warm neutrals make the artwork her husband had collected during his lifetime pop on every wall. Once she began moving in, Terri Milligan helped Anne arrange her furniture in the space, place artwork on the walls and organize books, mementos and picture frames within the shelving units throughout the house.
5 A baby grand piano is one of the primary focal points of the main living area inside the house.
5The living area opens to a relaxed, yet elegant Tuscan dining room.
SearcyLiving.com 15
The move to The Dominion was a big decision for Anne and one that she didn’t take lightly. Her initial reluctance was focused on what her son and daughter might think. She heard her children’s assent, but there was, of course, no way to know how her husband would have felt about her move to a new house. She believes, though, that it is quite possible that she received his approval in the form of a penny.
Libby Thompson, Dr. Gardner’s partner, had sent a poem about pennies to Anne after his death. After an accident in which Anne cut three fingers, Libby stitched up her patient in the ER and then went to lunch. When she and others rose to leave, a penny was found on the table. No one knew where the penny had come from, but Libby felt sure it was a sign – a penny from Jack thanking her for taking care of Anne. A few days after Libby shared that story with Anne, the patio was being cleaned as construction was coming to a close at Ann’s new house. The spotless patio was completely clean, but after further inspection Anne could hardly believe her eyes. Looking down, one penny sat on the otherwise clean concrete surface. Was it a sign?
On the first quiet night after Anne had moved into her new residence, she lay in bed thinking over the hectic, stress-filled move she had just completed. Doubt entered her mind: “Have I done the right thing?” Unable to sleep, Anne got up from bed and wandered into the living room. Glancing at her sofa table, something caught her eye. Another penny, with equally unexplained origins, sat staring up at her from the floor. Coincidence? If you look very closely, underneath her home’s address, nestled between the brick, you’ll see a penny embedded in the mortar beside Ann Gardner’s front door. It is that first penny that was found at the house on the patio. The copper coin is only visible when you are about to enter her new garden home in The Dominion, but it holds a prominent place in Anne’s heart. Not really one for superstition, Anne has come to admit that there must be something to the pennies that seem to have come to her in recent months. Perhaps her husband is looking down, smiling, and letting her know that he likes her choices and wholeheartedly approves of her beautiful new home. And, it appears, he does so in the form of pennies from heaven.
5 The wood burning fireplace is flanked on both sides by matching antiqued floor-to-ceiling shelving. A special thank you to Anne and Sandie and all of the families who have opened their homes to us through the years, at the REQUEST of Searcy Living, to bring you decorating ideas. Go to SearcyLiving.com for more photos of this home. Photography by Homan Photo.
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Online Extra Go to SearcyLiving.com to see more home galleries!
While Anne did some downsizing in the amount of furniture she would take with her when she moved, the pieces she has selected to remain in her new home add an eclectic mix of both old world charm and modernism.
5
5 The master bath is a study in state-of-the-
art appointments with a dark slate, tiled walk-in shower and an enormous soaking tub complete with jets. SearcyLiving.com 17
Design Tips on a Budget With Beth Davis Interiors Freshen up a room with fabrics, paint and fresh cuttings from your yard.
Fabrics
Use fabrics to drape over a table to get a new look or seasonal look. Take a cut piece of fabric and tie it around an existing throw pillow to change the coloring and look. The edges of fabrics can be embellished with trims or ribbons.
Paint
Paint a piece of furniture you are tired of - maybe it was a handme-down. Do this yourself and save more money, or let a professional furniture painter do it for you. Add a crackle or rubbed finish for more effect. Create your own artwork. Get a canvas from the hobby store and paint the background a solid color. Then in broad brush strokes just add colors that you like. You could even use some leftover wall paint from a room in your house.
Fresh Cuttings
You don’t have to buy fresh flowers to have something alive and beautiful in your home. When we do remixes, we often go out into the homeowner’s yard and choose something to cut and bring in. This just adds a natural dimension to the room that is so important. You can change this out weekly, and it’s FREE! If you compost the cuttings at week’s end, you’re also saving money in fertilizer and being environmentally friendly.
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SearcyLiving.com 19
We the People
Community Helpers
State Trooper Mike McNeill visited with Mrs. Amy Wood’s class during the kindergarteners Community Helpers week. His son, Ian, is in Wood’s class. The class got to listen to Trooper McNeill, ask questions, and then go through the police car!
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We the People
A Chance To Help Each year, one of our parents at Sunshine School makes a quilt for the school to auction off for donations. Donations are $1.00 per chance and our students and their parents work diligently to get as many donations as possible. This money goes into our general fund that is used to purchase supplies for educational purposes. We are very thankful for the parent that works so hard each year to make the quilt and to each person that participates in the auctioning of the quilt. The auction is in conjunction with our yearly flea market, with those proceeds also going into our general fund. Wal-Mart gives us a $2,000.00 match each year, making our grand total this year of quilt monies, flea market and match totalling $9,143.00.
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Sidney Deener Elementary School congratulates Tahj Franklin for being our April “Student Artist.” Tahj is a 4th grader in Mrs. Jennifer Taylor’s classroom.
Sidney Deener Elementary School congratulates Brayden Zamparelli for being selected as our March “Student Artist.” Brayden is a 2nd grader in Mrs. Amber Jones’ classroom.
JACOB’S PLACE RECEIVES DONATION The Searcy Board of Realtor’s recently raised $2500 for Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission by holding a reverse raffle. Shown are Joel Hoggard of Re/Max; Stephanie Dalrymple of Dalrymple Residential; Rebecca Frankford, President of Jacob’s Place; and Rodger Cargile of Re/Max. For information on Jacob’s Place, call 501-380-8283.
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We the People
<<<
A Thousand Words
Four year old Emma-Rae Reynolds on a Sunday afternoon while she, her brother, sister and father were spending the afternoon together. A picture is truly worth a thousand words. ~Submitted by Raymond Reynolds
Thank you to Wally Jarratt for the photos shared over the years with Searcy Living. WallyJarratt.com
Foster Care Boutique
Thank you to First Christian Church for the donation of clothing to the Searcy Living Foster Care Boutique.
Wes Keith, Pastor 1st Christian Church Thank you to Milton Stewart, a student at Harding University who has been a dedicated volunteer at the Searcy Living Foster Care Boutique. Milton and other volunteers spend hours sorting through clothing donations and organizing them so that foster parents and case workers can find what they need for the foster children. Go to SearcyLiving.com for more information on the Foster Care Boutique.
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Good Luck Mrs. Amy Wood’s Kindergarten Class recently made Good Luck cards for the SHS Lady Lions basketball team before they left for the State Championship game in Hot Springs. One of the Lady Lions, Elliott Scarbrough, visits Wood’s class on Thursdays with her Spanish group and teaches the kindergarteners Spanish! Wood’s class was very proud of the Lady Lions this year!
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by Mary Beth Barden and Shelby Roberts 7th grade students When we think of doing a good deed, we often think of the big things such as sponsoring a child in a foreign country or hosting a big fundraiser that gives thousands of dollars to a good cause. Those things are great, but what makes a difference too are the little efforts that add up when we all work together. One of these efforts took place here in Searcy at CrossPointe Preparatory School. (In an effort to help others but to have fun while doing it, CrossPointe paired with Searcy Living’s Foster Care Boutique and instituted the Sock Drive!) Since the Foster Care Boutique didn’t have any socks, we decided we could best help them by bringing new socks to give them for the foster children. To help the younger kids better understand why we were doing this, on the morning of March 30th we didn’t wear any shoes or socks, only sandals, flip-flops, or bare
feet at school, as a reminder that not everyone has socks or shoes. At CrossPointe, we believe it is important to make the most of what we do, and to glorify God while we do it (and also to make it fun whenever possible!). So, we made a little competition out of it. The class that brought the most socks per student would be able to go barefoot an extra day at school. With 37.25 pairs of socks per student and only four students in the class, the kindergarten class won! Our grand total was 669 pairs of socks, an average of 20 pairs of socks per person! Although not everyone won the contest, we all had a reason to rejoice, because the Sock Drive’s efforts would go to the Searcy Living Foster Care Boutique to help the foster children in need. It was not only a day to be barefoot, but also a day to bless.
Children at the CrossPointe Preparatory School give socks to the Searcy Living Foster Care Boutique.
Tammy Dawson CrossPointe Preparatory Administrator
Go to SearcyLiving.com for more information on donating to the Searcy Living Foster Care Boutique. 26 Your Hometown Magazine
SearcyLiving.com 27
Financial Focus
with Jeff Kernodle
Concentrated Stock
How To Manage Company Stock When It Becomes Too Much Of A Good Thing Many people find that a significant portion of their assets can accumulate in one particular stock. If you have a long career working for the same company or perhaps have acquired stock through inheritance, it is easy to reach the point where this single holding is sizable enough that you want to evaluate your situation and consider a range of strategies around the stock. There are several alternatives for managing concentrated stock positions; however, such recommendations really depend on your individual circumstances and the particulars of your financial and tax situation. Another variable is whether you are an employee or a corporate insider. If you are a corporate insider - if in doubt, contact your corporate counsel -- you may be subject to certain legal and company considerations for disposing of your company stock. You and your financial advisor should work with your legal and tax professionals to help evaluate possible strategies.1 The list of tools or alternatives for managing a concentrated equity position may include gradually selling and repositioning; hedging alternatives for managing risk; estate planning and charitable techniques; or borrowing against your stock.2 Often a combination of strategies is an optimal solution. You can earmark a certain portion to sell, to hedge and to meet your tax and philanthropic goals. Sometimes the simplest solution is best. You can gradually sell shares and reinvest the proceeds into other investments. Selling over time lets you spread your gain or loss over time as well as the attendant tax impacts and diversify and better control your financial situation. Other strategies, such as hedging or establishing a charitable remainder trust3, can be combined with this strategy, and your financial advisor can help you evaluate the variations of this approach. Certain hedging strategies let you control your exposure to any one stock and help you control downside risk. With a substantial position in one stock, you may look for strategies that will help reduce your overall income and estate tax liabilities and help you achieve your philanthropic goals. There are charitable giving strategies that can provide you with a current income tax deduction, create a continuing source of income for you or possibly your heirs, and provide a way to avoid paying current capital gains tax on appreciated assets. A simple tax-efficient way to benefit the charitable organizations you support is to consider making your annual
28 Your Hometown Magazine
charitable gifts or pledges with appreciated stock instead of cash. You will conserve your cash while avoiding the taxable gains you would create by selling the stock. Determining which of these solutions is appropriate for your circumstances requires an in-depth evaluation of the stock you own, any restrictions you may be subject to, your financial position and your objectives. Consult with your financial advisor, who can consult the team of professionals at his or her firm to help evaluate your situation and provide you with a range of strategies to consider in view of your financial goals. Wells Fargo Advisors does not render legal, accounting, or tax advice Be sure to consult with your own tax and legal advisors before taking any action that may have tax consequences. 2 Margin borrowing may not be suitable for all investors. When you use margin, you are subject to a huge degree of risk. 3 Trust services available through banking and trust affiliates in addition to nonaffiliated companies of Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors and its affiliates do not provide legal or tax advice. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state. 1
This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Jeff Kernodle, Senior Financial Advisor in Searcy at 279-0101. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Kernodle Investment Management is a separate entity from WFAFN.
About the Writer Jeff Kernodle is a Senior Financial Advisor with Kernodle Investment Management in Searcy located at 707 W. Beebe-Capps Expy. Tune in to News Talk 99.1 every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. to hear Jeff discuss investments and the economy. For more information on this and other articles, please call Jeff at 501-279-0101.
SearcyLiving.com 29
Pioneer Village by Marilyn Sims
Pioneer Village is a museum consisting of several buildings with furnishings from the late 1800s, showing how people in rural White County lived at that time. First, there is the Gordon house, a log home built in 1884 in the Providence community, now Judsonia, by the Ten Mile Creek. It is completely furnished. The jail was built in Pangburn in 1909 and used until 1950 for minor offense prisoners, with the major
30 Your Hometown Magazine
prisoners being taken to Searcy. The Little Red Schoolhouse was built in approximately 1885 and used until 1945, when the Little Red School District consolidated with Pangburn. The train depot was built at Garner for the Iron Mtn. Railroad. We have installed a gift shop inside the front of the depot. The Little Red store, established in the Little Red Community, seven miles East of Pangburn, is also completely furnished,
are going to have several â&#x20AC;&#x153;ofWe our White County Historical
Society members dressed in period dress for the field trips.
â&#x20AC;?
and includes a post office inside. It was purchased in 1914, from the community of West Point. There is also a tool shed, blacksmith shop, salt kettle shed, and several other outbuildings, including an outhouse and a magnificent wind mill. All of the buildings have many furnishings and there is a lot of farm equipment. The grounds have been planted and are maintained by the White County Master Gardeners, and all is surrounded by a new fence, purchased with a donation from the Devore Family. School trips will be during the middle of the day, with the children bringing a sack lunch and eating on the grounds on old quilts. We are going to have several of our White County Historical Society members dressed in period dress for the field trips. We are trying to encourage people to come visit, walk through and see the beautiful plants, and bring their cameras and take pictures. We have had a couple families have professional photographers take their family pictures there. You can call Marilyn Sims at 501-278-7489 for more information. Go to SearcyLiving.com for more photos of Pioneer Village and a map of how to get there.
SearcyLiving.com 31
Keeping her
light
aliνe By Cecelia Wilson
Drawing by Thea
32 Your Hometown Magazine
Revive Confidence
B
eautiful, creative, and loving, Thea Kay Leopoulos was an artist, actress, writer and athlete looking forward to attending Arkansas Girls’ State during the summer leading into her Senior year at North Little Rock High’s West Campus. The Student Council member had just blossomed during the past two semesters with a renewed sense of selfassurance. Her grades reflected that newfound confidence; her poetry ebbed and flowed with eloquent self-expression. She was an advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and had volunteered at church camp where she believed it had been her calling to be there to help counsel others who had problems in their lives. As a Senior, she was going to be busy as the Art Editor of her school’s newspaper and as a member of Senior Studio, an advanced Seniors art class. At 17, she was excited to be finding her way in life. But, on May 28, 2001, her hopes and aspirations ended abruptly when she was killed in an auto accident in Little Rock.
A year before her untimely death, Thea was contemplating the courses she would be taking as a Junior. The otherwise happy young lady was like many other teenagers, lacking confidence in her skills to face the “hard courses” of math and science. She agreed with her father to take Trigonometry in order to complete her math requirements with one caveat: she would take no more of those classes during her final year of high school. With her second math class looming ahead of her, Thea loaded her schedule with those classes she did love: art, dancing, and competitive speech. Her father, Paul, remembers questioning that decision at the time, “but I didn’t say anything to her.” That decision would prove to be providential. As the school year progressed, Paul and his wife, Linda, began to notice a distinct change in their daughter. As Thea delved deeper into each of those classes she loved most, she began to flourish. With each accomplishment in writing, painting, and drama, her confidence increased and she began to believe it possible she could do anything. That included thriving in her least favorite class, Trig. Not only did the Leopoulos’ learn that Thea had an “A” in that class, they were also told Thea had, unbelievably, signed up for Calculus and Physics for her Senior year. “There had been a monumental change in her to get her to that point,” Paul says of his late daughter’s scholastic turnaround. Though they didn’t quite understand what had happened, they believed it had a lot to do with the confidence Thea had obtained by excelling in her arts studies. After all, just as student athletes who excel on the playing field are more motivated to stay in school and apply themselves harder in the core courses, so, too, can the same be said of those students who find themselves excelling in the arts playing field. From the profoundly devastating loss of Thea, a non-profit public foundation was born that not only kept her memory alive, but worked to foster that same self-confidence in students each year by encouraging their participation in the arts. The Foundation’s Mission Statement is straightforward: “…to advocate the importance of the arts in the development of our youth through educational and promotional activities and to encourage individual participation in art through scholarship, partnership, and other programs.” But, the scholarship portion of the THEA Foundation isn’t limited to art majors. Its focus is to introduce students, teachers and parents to the rewards that can be gleaned by involvement in those fields of study that, while having almost always been on the back burner, can actually bring students to an awareness of their gifts and an empowering sense of ability to achieve in all areas of education. Scholarships are provided regardless of the student’s eventual major and regardless of their standing in school. Young adults with GEDs, home schoolers, needy: the list of recipients is as varied as the students’ field of interest.
Thea Leopoulos
τell me and I’ll “ forget. Show me, and
I may not remember. Involve me, and I’ll understand.
”
SearcyLiving.com 33
“ [Art brings students] an empowering sense of ability to achieve in all areas... ”
Paul Leopoulos
Business and Family Partnership scholarship donations are matched or enhanced by Educational Partnerships that range from numerous in-state Universities (the University of Arkansas, UALR and UCA to name a few) to out-of-state Universities (University of Kentucky, University of Oklahoma – Norman, etc.). With the assistance of these partnerships, there have been 143 scholarships awarded since the foundation’s inception amounting to $1.2 million and covering three categories: Visual Arts, Performing Arts and (partnered with the Arkansas Educational Television Network – AETN) a scholarship for Short Films. The THEA Foundation also inspires children of all ages through THEA’s Art Closet – a program in place that supplements the art supplies not currently budgeted in school systems. Through grants and corporate donations, numerous schools throughout Arkansas have benefited from the project. In fact, Chesapeake Energy recently donated $29,000 to support arts in education in the counties where Chesapeake does business. To date, 175 K-12 schools across the State have also enjoyed the passive learning experience the Foundation encourages by the installation of visual art. The beautification of each school provides the staff and students the chance to “live” with art, promoting greater art appreciation and education. Thea’s life continues to reverberate. Just four months after she passed, she was posthumously awarded the National Youth Advocate Award by the National Organization of MADD. In 2003, just two short years after the THEA Foundation’s inception, Paul Leopoulos, the foundation’s co-founder, quit his job and began devoting all his time as the foundation’s Executive Director. The growth of the foundation has been inspirational for the entire Leopoulos family which includes Thea’s older and younger brothers, Thaddeus and Nicholas. Keeping her light alive and seeing that light make a difference in other lives has brought a measure of purpose and inspiration to all involved. The Board of Directors includes long-time family friend, President Bill Clinton, who spoke at Thea’s funeral. He summed up her young life well: “She was good without being selfrighteous. Open to learning and growing, but always grounded in faith and love. So, even though she was beautifully young, she had a wise old soul which you could see in those beautiful brown eyes…So full of gifts, talents that she developed and then shared with other people.” It can be said, too, that the foundation that shares her name is an extension of that openness to learning and growth, that sharing of developed talents from one young Arkansan to so many others. To learn more details on scholarships, workshops and all opportunities available through the THEA Foundation, visit their website: http://theafoundation.org or link to it from SearcyLiving.com
34 Your Hometown Magazine
Infusing the Arts into All Curriculum Elementary School Example Hugh Goodwin Elementary in El Dorado
Huge Goodwin Elementary School - El Dorado Arkansas Hugh Infusing the arts means teaching all curriculum - math, science, history, social studies, using art, drama and music to enhance the learning process. These techniques are easy to learn and they work, making learning accessible to ALL students in the classroom. By using these teaching processes, students, parents and teachers are happier because most students, no matter what their background, place in life, or attitude, find they can learn. In 2005, the year implementation began at Hugh Goodwin, fourth grade literacy and math test scores were in the 20ʼs and 30ʼs. In just three years those scores moved into the high 70ʼs. At the same time discipline problems at the school improved significantly from 80 students expelled in 2005 to zero students expelled in 2008. The question must be, why donʼt all schools adopt this curriculum delivery method. One reason is the stereotype most observers have when they see the word “art” in the school name: Hugh Goodwin Arts Focus Elementary School. Most canʼt imagine the importance the arts play in the general education process. The Arts designation simply means there are extra arts experiences offered there, but should not cloud the issue that ALL schools should teach using all of the arts to enhance their instruction. As you can see on the bottom of the chart, in 2008 Hugh Goodwin had higher math test scores than the math focus school in the same school district. Their students excelled in the science fair as well. Using the arts to make curriculum more understandable to ALL students is a better way to teach math, science, history and all other subjects. Teaching the whole child opens up their whole world by instilling self-confidence.
4 0 1 Ma i n S t r e e t , S u i te 1 0 0
No r t h L i t t l e Ro c k , A R 7 2 1 1 4
T: 5 0 1 - 3 7 9 - 9 5 1 2
F: 5 0 1 - 3 7 9 - 9 5 1 3
W: w w w. t h e a f o u n d a t i o n . o r g
SearcyLiving.com 35
A Merry-Go-Round Genealogy about the Armitage-Herschell-Spillman Companies by D.P. (Don) Diffine, Ph.D. It has been said that if tombstones told the truth, most of us would wish to be buried at sea. Not necessarily. The economic historian in me loves a good story which personalizes our collective biography. This is a narrative of the very human experience of some of my ancestors, raising families, making a living, launching an enterprise, and helping to build a country along the way, too. Read on. My great grandfather, Charles Diffine, Sr. (born 1858), of AlsaceLorraine, France, was the son of Frederick Diffine, an artist who designed and manufactured stained glass cathedral windows. Charles Diffine, Sr., married Josephine Borius (born 1859), whose father served in the French army as a veterinarian. Charles Diffine, Sr., became a taxidermist and later a shoe manufacturer and retailer. He and Josephine Diffine emigrated to America in 1881. Specifically, they departed France by steam ship, were processed at Battery Park (near the present World Trade Center site), and traveled up the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Buffalo, New York. This was five years before the Statue of Liberty was erected in New York Harbor (1886) and 11 years before Ellis Island (1892) was opened to immigrants. At the time of the 1881 transAtlantic voyage, Josephine Diffine was pregnant with the fourth of what would be 12 children. Only eight would live to adulthood. Their second oldest child was Charles Diffine, Jr. (born in France, 1879), who was destined to be my grandfather. Earlier, in 1856, in Manchester, England, manufacturer James Wilson (1834-1921) married Mary Armitage (1832-1902). James and Mary Armitage Wilson sailed to America in 1857. Mary Armitage Wilson’s machinist father, James, and her uncle, Isaac Armitage, moved to America and Buffalo, NY, with their families in 1864, as the American Civil War was concluding. Mary Armitage Wilson’s younger brother, James, became the first President of the Armitage-Herschell Company in North Tonawanda, NY, in 1872. On July 20, 1882 in a double ring ceremony, James and Mary Armitage Wilson’s son, David Wilson (1857-1889), married Cora Turck. That same day, David Wilson’s youngest sister, Charlotte, married George C. Herschell, co-founder of the above mentioned Armitage-Herschell Company. Over the next century, the Armitage-Hershell Company and its successor enterprises (Herschell-Spillman, Spillman Engineering and the Allen Herschell Company) operated on a three acre, eight building site in North Tonwanda, NY. They manufactured and shipped around the globe the following: steam engines; carrousels (merry-go-rounds) which were initially steam powered; a V-8 engine for the Austin Climber automobile; Liberty engines for World War I aircraft; and a variety of advanced amusement park rides. Along the way, the company acquired select assets for the
36 Your Hometown Magazine
“Diffine rescued this Carrousel horse from a flea market and, with the help of Glenn Pollard, restored it.”
carrousel pipe organs, the paper band music rolls from the Wurlitzer Company, formerly headquartered in Buffalo. But I digress. In 1901, Mary Edna Wilson, granddaughter of Mary Armitage Wilson and older daughter of David and Cora Wilson’s four children, married Charles Diffine, Jr., in North Tonawanda, NY (15 miles from Niagara Falls). Charles and Mary Edna Diffine had three children: Everett Willard Diffine, 1903-1989; Leonard Diffine, 1907-1987 (childless); and Marion Diffine, 1913-1995 (childless). Aunt Marion once spoke of being a small child and that she used to “...visit and walk by this nifty plant and see them carving and painting the figures.” Everett W. Diffine married Lucille Rose Cory in North Tonawanda, NY (1924). They had six children: twins Mary Lou (1927-2001) and Betty Ann (1927-); Charles Jerry III (1934-); Marian Susie (19372001); Everett, Jr. (1938-); Donald Paul (1942-) The Everett W. Diffine family migrated from North Tonawanda, NY to Long Beach, California, in 1933 for the duration. I, Don, grew up regularly riding the Carrousel at the Long Beach, California, Nu-Pike and prized that occasional brass ring. Quite recently, I learned of the Allen Herschell-Spillman Company (the Spillmans were Herschell’s in-laws) and the Allen Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, as a result of a March 28, 2006, feature article, “THE FINAL STRETCH” in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and also through www.carrouselmuseum.org). The article described a near-hundred year old carrousel, with 40 horses and four chariots built in North Tonawanda, NY. It was being renovated for a museum in Little Rock; some of the refurbished horses were to be displayed at the Clinton Library in April, 2006. A former Allen Herschell Company curator, Elizabeth Brick, penned the following: The history of the carrousel is the history of the first amusement ride the public experienced and the first ride manufactured in large quantities. The carrousel traces its origins back to the Middle Ages when the most primitive of wooden horses were used as training devices for young men learning to carry armor, use weaponry and dream of becoming knights. Over time the carrousel’s purpose changed. First seen in the United States after the American Civil War, by the 1880s it was on its way to becoming a recreational device – the first thrill ride. Initially intended only for adults, it was considered a dangerous and reckless diversion, an amazing mechanical wonder that traveled at the astounding rate of 8-10 miles per hour (an outrageous speed at the time). There were public pleas from clergy and local officials as carrousels passed through their towns, asking residents not to ride because they were endangering their health and possibly corrupting their morals. On the weekend of October 12-13, 2007, and at my own expense, after attending the 2007 Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) World Cup Competition in New York City, I took a side trip to Buffalo, and North Tonawanda. There, I met with an Allen Herschell Factory/Museum Board Member, their Director, and their Curator. Touring and exchanging documents, we discussed the ArmitageHerschell Company’s founders, my great, great, great uncles. Responding to the issue of strategic planning, I provided my new trifold “50 Valuable Actions You Can Take Right Now to Make your Enterprise Leaner, Stronger, and More Successful than the Competition.” Ride ‘em, cowboy! Time travel rocks.
D.P. (Don) Diffine, Ph.D.
SearcyLiving.com 37
The Greatest Secret in Life quote by ~Corrie Ten Boom
I once visited a weaver’s school, where the students were making beautiful patterns. I asked, “When you make a mistake, do you have to cut it out and start from the beginning?” A student replied, “No. Our teacher is such a great artist that when we make a mistake, he uses it to improve the beauty of the pattern.” That is what the Lord does with our mistakes. He is the greatest artist, but we must SURRENDER. Surrender your blunders to
the Lord. He can use them to make the pattern of your life more beautiful. The Secret is to Surrender. Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War Il. In 1970, Ten Boom co-wrote her autobiography, The Hiding Place, released in 1971, which was made into a movie (of the same name) two years later.
Great Strides Great Cause
for a
submitted by Amy Coleman
Over 200 walkers hit the streets of downtown Searcy for Great Strides in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis. Searcy’s Great Strides was presented by the Arkansas Wildlife Officers Association. Great Strides is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraiser, raising over $35 million in 2009 to support vital CF research. Locally, ten teams participated this year and a total of $27,250 was raised for Searcy’s Great Strides.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 children and adults
38 Your Hometown Magazine
in the United States (70,000 worldwide). In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is one of the most efficient organizations of its kind. It has received a four-star rating for sound fiscal management from Charity Navigator, the largest independent charity evaluator in the United States and is an accredited charity of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. The Foundation’s business model has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health and by publications such as Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek. To learn more about the Cystic Fiborisis Foundation please visit www.cff.org. Go to page 60 and read about the 65 Roses Tour that benefited this cause also.
Photo by George Dillin
One year ago, Letty Fuller, a local Realtor®, shared with Searcy Living readers how she had been wonderfully blessed with two new grandchildren. Her two daughters were pregnant at the same time but had not anticipated sharing the maternity ward together at White County Medical Center. As time would have it, the two sisters delivered their babies less than 24 hours apart! Following the births of Sawyer Anne Covington and Kort Fuller Evans, Letty and her husband Kenny spent the next few weeks fixing bottles, changing diapers and rocking babies. Don’t misunderstand... they didn’t do this during the day, because they both had full time jobs. They pulled the graveyard shift.
As time would have it, the two sisters delivered their babies less than 24 hours apart.
and so it has gone throughout the year. They also began taking them to George Dillin Photography to have their photos made together when they were four months old. Family and friends recently came together to celebrate Sawyer and Kort’s first birthday, with much cake and fun enjoyed by all. The family has watched them go from bottles to sippy cups and from crawling to walking. They are excited to see what they will learn to do next. Sawyer is the daughter of Reagan and Ticia Covington and the little sister of Ellie Covington. Kort is the son of Asa and Kim Evans. Letty would like to thank Searcy Living Magazine for allowing her to share her memories with their readers, saying she believes that is what sets this magazine apart from others. Also, a special thanks to George Dillin for the photo.
Letty says that when her daughters read this article they will probably disagree with her on that fact. However, the truth is that if they were not at one house, they were at the other one. Kenny and Letty both agree that they were worn out for the first few weeks, but they truly enjoyed the time they spent with the babies. The mothers of the babies decided that since they had shared the delivery experience together, they would add a few more memories to the box. They chose to use the same pediatrician and the same day care, scheduled their two-week check-ups together,
SearcyLiving.com 39
Background Photo by José Porras
by Zach Welch
to here are many fascinating and interesting people who live in Searcy. They all have different stories, different backgrounds, and different reasons for coming here. However, it could easily be said that Searcy Country Club general manager Miguel Espina is in a class entirely on his own. His journey started in Cuba and ends in Searcy, Arkansas. How he came here, the places he has been, the people he has met, and the things he has accomplished is truly both a fascinating and intriguing story every step of the way. Espina was born into a prominent family in Havana, Cuba in 1944, and was the oldest of three boys. His paternal grandparents were Italian immigrants who opened up a very successful chain of drug stores in Cuba. Espina’s maternal grandfather was also a high ranking Cuban government official acting as the Secretary of Treasury and his father was a successful businessman who owned a B.F. Goodrich franchise. This success allowed Espina’s father to send his sons to a private Catholic school. While his life was pleasant as a child, little did Espina know that his life was about to drastically change as 1960 became a very trying time for Cubans. With Fidel Castro’s take over just a year earlier, the government quickly began to nationalize and take over all personal 40 Your Hometown Magazine
Fine Cuisine
property and wealth. “Castro was a communist,” said Espina. “Government officials showed up at my father’s office one day and told him the business was now nationalized. They took over our house, our cars; everything we owned was no longer ours.” Because of his political ties to former governments, Espina’s grandfather was soon put under island arrest and not allowed to leave the country. While only 17 years old at the time, Espina’s frustration quickly turned into action as he became involved in underground movements that protested the new communist government. It was his involvement in this movement that led to his arrest by military intelligence. After being questioned and even tortured for about a week, Espina’s grandfather was able to use his political connections to arrange for his release. Shortly after his release, Espina’s family flew him to Miami, Florida to live with an aunt in hopes that he would stay out of trouble. “I was very scared,” Espina said of his capture. “But I was young and idealistic; if I got away once then I could do it again.” This is exactly why Espina resumed his political activism stateside. While his cause was still the same, this time Espina began to realize the stakes were much higher. Soon after Espina arrived
in Florida, the CIA sent officers to Miami to recruit Cuban exiles. The U.S. government then helped train and equip Cuban exiles in their intent to overthrow the Cuban government. Originally called Operation Pluto by the CIA, the plan developed into what would go down in history as the Bay of Pigs Invasion which took place on April 16, 1961. While the attack was planned to take place from the south side of the island, Espina was with a group that attempted to create a diversion from the northern side of the island. The intention of this plan was to divert the attention of Castro’s troops away from the intended target. “It didn’t work,” said Espina. “We quite simply got blown out of the water by the Cuban Navy.” While Espina survived the defense attack, he was taken captive by Cuban forces and placed in San Severino military prison where conditions were not pleasant. Espina said the prison housed both political prisoners and common criminals which led to many fights. “We were fed only once a day,” said Espina. “The only time we received a proper meal was before they executed prisoners.” With the exception of a few visits from his mother, Espina didn’t see his family for nearly two years because, as he explained it, it was unsafe for any others to visit the prison. After being held
captive for those two years, Espina’s grandfather once again came to the rescue and arranged for his escape from prison. After being granted diplomatic immunity in the Venezuelan embassy, Espina once again ventured to Miami with only $200 to his name. “At this point I was done,” said Espina. “I broke all political ties and became a working stiff.” found a job as a dishwasher at the Hollywood Beach Hotel in Miami Beach. Just a short time later, he began working as a line cook under the direction of Chef Louie Susey. While Espina said he loved to help the family cook prepare traditional Cuban meals growing up, he had no formal culinary experience. With Susey’s help, Espina went to culinary school while he was at the Hollywood. Espina spent the next 10 years in Miami, where he became the executive sous-chef. During this time he would migrate to Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, during the summer where he was the head chef at the employee cafeteria that serviced more than 600 people. During this period, Espina also managed to complete his college education at the University of Miami. After gaining years of experience in the culinary business, Espina moved to New Orleans in 1970, where he married and had three children. It is here where Espina opened his first restaurant, called La Provencale; a fine dining establishment that served Mediterranean style food with a Cajun influence. Espina also opened a bistro and a Spanish night club. “I was experiencing the American dream,” said Espina. “I had the background and experience and there were also a lot
of Cubans in New Orleans.” It was also in New Orleans where Espina realized he couldn’t stay away from politics forever. This time, however, the circumstances were slightly different. In 1972, Espina agreed to become the campaign manager for Bob Livingston’s congressional campaign for the Hispanic community. While Espina enjoyed much success and prestige in New Orleans, business would dry up fast as a major oil crisis hit the south as the ’70s came to a close. “While I loved New Orleans, the oil companies comprised much of my business,” said Espina. “I sold my businesses and looked for new opportunities.” In 1979, Espina took a job in Houston as the director of catering for Marriott. This was the start of a long career in culinary operations for the Marriott franchise, which would quite literally take him around the world. After a brief pit stop in Marco Island, Florida, Espina traveled to help open the Jeddah Marriot located on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Espina’s specialty soon became short stints in exotic locations, bringing fresh ideas and improving efficiency at various Marriott locations. Espina spent several years touring Europe and spent time in Paris, London, and Madrid, to name a few. “My time traveling abroad brought a lot of differing influences to my cooking,” said Espina. “I became well versed in European and Arabic cooking styles.” After his time in Europe, Espina left Marriott and returned to Texas to help reopen the Sheraton Hotel in Dallas in the late 1980s. Shortly after his arrival, the building of the Morton H. Myerson Symphony was completed just a few blocks down
USA
Miguel’s mother Esther in 1949
Miguel’s grandmother Tata, Miguel and (cousin) Cachita in 1951
Havana
Miguel’s cousin Orlando, grandmother Tata and cousin Orlando in 1950
CUBA
Miguel with (cousin) Orlando and (cousin) Eric at a carnival in 1956 SearcyLiving.com 41
the road. The symphony was built to house the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, among others. The Sheraton landed a contract to meet the catering needs for events at the symphony soon after its completion. While Espina headed major culinary tasks for the symphony, he also met the private needs of Texas businessman and two time presidential candidate, Ross Perot, who was a major donor for the symphony. “Besides Mr. Perot, I was the only person that had a key to his private box,” said Espina. “He was a very small man, but he was also very straight forward. His aide would call whenever Mr. Perot was coming and tell me how many people would be accompanying him.”
i’m always up for a
Challenge. – Miguel Espina
From dallas Espina traveled south to Galveston, Texas, to reunite with Marriot, taking the position of food and beverage director at the Hotel Galvez. Soon after his arrival, the hotel was bought by the Woodlands, a large private resort and country club serving a very high clientele. After a short period of time, Espina traveled north to take the same position at the Woodlands in 1992. It was here where Espina directed food and beverage operations for the PGA Shell Houston Open and witnessed Payne Stewart’s infamous playoff to win the event in 1995. “I had the privilege of seeing a lot of great golfers,” said Espina. “I got to see Tiger Woods win his first U.S. Amateur.” But Espina’s food and beverage responsibilities were not limited to the Woodlands’ four golf courses. Espina tackled the task of catering the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, a performing arts center seating 5,000 people. Over a period of three years, Espina managed catering for events hosting such acts as Liza Minnelli, the Three Tenors, and Frank Sinatra. On top of this, Espina also had to find time to cater to the Woodlands Country Club membership which consisted of almost 2,000. Espina helped develop the club’s restaurant into a national award winning, fine dining experience. In back-to-back years, the restaurant received an award from the National Academy of Restaurant Sciences for excellence in food and service, placing them in the top 10 dining establishments in the nation. After several more management positions around the U.S., Espina spent a short time at the Radisson in Slavjanskaya, Moscow. It is here where he met his companion, Olga Kuprasavili. Olga followed Espina on his hospitality journey back to the states and they have been together ever since. In 2007, Espina decided to take the position of general manager at the Searcy Country Club. Espina says he is grateful for the opportunities and the wonderful experiences, as well as the people he has met, in his colorful career in the hospitality industry. One of the ways Espina enjoys sharing his experiences is through fine dinners, which he hosts at the country club. While Espina started his dinners in Galveston, Texas, he was certain they would be enjoyed in Searcy as well; he was right. Each month Espina chooses a theme and a region for his dinner. With the help of his chef and staff, he then creates a magnificent fine dining atmosphere and captivates his audience as he narrates each serving. “I wanted a nice, quiet place to retire,” Espina said of his new home in Searcy. “I like the slower pace and have met many interesting people here. It has been a nice place to settle.” From Cuba to Arkansas, and all the stops along the way, Espina has definitely made his impression on the world. He has survived the Bay of Pigs Invasion; he has received many awards in the culinary industry; he has helped run political campaigns; and he has met numerous celebrities. When asked if there was anything left for him to do, Espina just smiled and said “I’m always up for a challenge.” 42 Your Hometown Magazine
Cuban Black Beans
This is a recipe that my grandmother, Tata, used just about every day, since in Cuba we had black beans with just about every meal. The black beans were served usually over white rice. – Miguel
INGREDIENTS Black Beans, 4 cans Yellow Onions, small dice, 1 Green Bell Peppers, small dice, 1 Fresh Garlic cloves, minced, 4 Olive Oil, ½ cup Chicken Stock, ½ cup White Wine, ½ cup Red Wine Vinegar, ¼ cup Salt, 1 tsp White Pepper, ½ tsp Sugar, ½ TBS Tabasco, ½ tsp Green Olives, sliced in half lengthwise, ¼ cup Cumin, ground, 1 tsp Oregano, ground, 1 tsp Bay Leaves, whole, 3
PROCEDURES In a large sauce pan, place the beans (do not drain the beans), chicken stock, white wine, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano and the bay leaves. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring every five minutes; then simmer over a low heat, until the beans begin to break apart and are very soft, about 2 hours. Do not cover the pot, as we want the liquids to evaporate. In a separate skillet, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions, green peppers and garlic until soft and translucent. Do not brown. Add the olives and deglaze the pan with the red wine vinegar. Add the skillet contents to the bean pot. Add the sugar and the Tabasco, and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and serve over white rice. Yield: 8 large portions
SearcyLiving.com 43
Awaken Your Soul
ART
on the SQUARE
Downtown districts are what give a town its character; they are a quiet reminder of where it has been and a stable anchor for where it is headed. From an early age, downtown Searcy has carried a certain kind of magic for me. I remember, as a child, going shopping with my grandmother on the square. Not being from here originally, these special trips with Mimi were memorable and meaningful. Before our journey into “The Toy Box,” I would always be sure to make sure the bases were covered. “Mimi,” I would ask, “did you bring your pocketbook?” She would smile lovingly, nod her head, and I knew it was time to blissfully enter the ultimate childhood dream store. When it came time for lunch, there was no question as to where we would eat. “I want to go to the place with the cookies!” I would exclaim. That was all it took and we were on our way to “The Cookie Basket.” I remember feeling so grown up as I sat at a quaint two-person table by the window, watching people leisurely dart in and out of buildings downtown. Years later, the downtown area still continues to be a place of inspiration and bustling activity. Movements like Main Street Searcy have cropped up in the past few years to bring more attention to the downtown area, and the implementation of more fine arts has the potential to reap countless benefits for the community as a whole. American photographer and filmmaker Paul Strand best exemplifies art’s effect on a 44 Your Hometown Magazine
Display at Everett in downtown Searcy
by Ashton Reely
society when he says: “The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” As I journeyed through the downtown area recently, I was amazed at the fine arts that were offered in a community of this size. With stores and studios springing up everywhere, it is becoming apparent that the downtown area is becoming that doorstep to creativity and exploration. Stepping foot into “Second Saturday Studio” was like venturing into an art studio right out of New York City. Behind the backdrop of modern paint colors and brick walls, artwork— of all shapes, sizes and colors—adorns almost every square inch of the shop. Kelly Van Hook and Micah Holden were the two frontrunners in the studio’s formation. What Kelly called an “Art Co-op,” the studio features the work of 20 local artists who all have a hand and voice in the operation. As I browsed around the studio, I was amazed at the amount of local talent there is in this area. With artwork coming in from places like Conway, Searcy, and the surrounding communities, it is becoming apparent that gifted Arkansans are rising up to showcase their talents. Like Kelly, many individuals use art for personal expression or to relieve stress in their lives. Downtown districts that welcome fine arts naturally beckon creativity and liveliness, and its citizens are able to use their aptitudes to bless the lives of those around them. Micah is optimistic and excited about watching their
fine arts “hasMore the potential to reap countless benefits for the community as a whole.
”
idea take off: “We are very excited to see where the future will take us. It has quickly become obvious that this community is ready for this unique type of shopping. We will be adding new and fresh artwork each opening. We’ll look to the community to decide in what ways our business will grow. The sky’s the limit!” I am convinced that Searcy really is ready for this type of venture and that the sky truly is the limit when it comes to its success. Once fine arts are embraced, the floodgates of talent will open wide and artists will come out of the shadows into the small town spotlight. I remember feeling a sense of pride when I would come home and see my artwork posted on the refrigerator. Whether it was a stick figure or a finger painting, my mother would proudly display it for all to see. She would put my name and age on the bottom, documenting my journey through artistic expression. Time brings with it many changes, and priorities at one point in time are pushed to the back-burner when other events arise. It seems that the present focus is on raising standardized testing scores and organizing classroom remediation. With this focal point, comes the neglect of fine arts. Many schools have greatly reduced their fine arts programs or have eliminated them altogether. Because of this, unique shops like “Glass from the Past” are becoming even more vital in the growth and development of children. Though its name refers to one of its main specialties, learning to create stained glass with teacher Susan Nolte, it does not come close to encompassing the opportunities available at Glass from the Past. Classes are also offered in mosaics, fused glass, pottery, drawing, painting, Batik® and jewelry making. Susan stressed the importance of fine arts in the education of children. With its extraction from school curriculum comes the responsibility to find it elsewhere. Taking part in an art class provides children with the chance to develop a talent that could bring them joy for years to come. That’s why Susan sees the necessity of offering after school classes, home school classes and a summer camp for children. For Susan, it’s about finding the niche that touches your heart: “Some people aren’t good ballerinas, some can’t sing; some may have stage fright; this is just another art form. I think the downtown area—having Quattlebaum’s for music, KidStage for acting, Irby’s for the dancers a few doors down—is just perfect. I hope that people can see we have all this on the square for them.”
Local artist Nicholas Peirce has art in the Second Saturday Studio. Nicholas also painted the mural in Froyo Factory Self Serve Frozen Yogurt after meeting the owners (of Froyo) at the Studio’s grand opening. (Froyo Factory is located in The Shoppes At River Chase, next to Beth Davis Interiors.)
Article continued on page 46...
Micah Holden and Kelly VanHook, owners of the Second Saturday Studio. Is it possible that the arts have helped to revive our downtown area?
Pottery and paintings on display and available in downtown Searcy. Pottery by Burt Weinstein.
SearcyLiving.com 45
Art really is limitless. It resides in our hearts; it personifies itself in our need to “ express ourselves. It is truly right at our doorstep. It is up to us, however, to seize the moment, step up to the door, and knock. ” – Ashton Reely
Other stores located downtown are an integral part of the town’s history and make-up. Quattlebaum Music, which opened its doors about 60 years ago, just received a plaque from the National Trade Association honoring its 50-year membership. Those that have been in the area a long time have seen the store’s transformation firsthand. “Back in the day, we used to sell 45 RPM records,” owner Greg Geroy said. “You can talk to any of the older gentlemen around here. Saturday afternoons, it was all about going to the drug store and then coming here to listen to 45s.” Greg went on to set the scene of times past, and it was evident that this was a memorable and magical place for everyone in the area. I could just picture it being where everyone gathered after school and work to enjoy each other’s company and experience the enchantment of music. I have heard music described as an outburst of our soul and an audible display of our feelings. Greg said he wants Quattlebaum’s to be a place where people can get a jump-start on incorporating music into their lives; he wants to offer a wide selection of products to choose from so that people can find the instrument or product that best fits their needs. By expanding the lesson program, he hopes more people will become involved in music because of its soothing effect on the mind and soul: “They talk about music and brain development. Studies were done 10 or 15
46 Your Hometown Magazine
years ago, and they have all come back and said that music does help with brain development. People are getting degrees in music therapy because it helps in healing. Music soothes the savage beast in all of us. Everyone needs to have music as a part of their lives.” “The Cookie Basket” is slowly branching out into the fine arts aspect of the downtown area as well. Owner Catherine Malnar, who is also an artist, decided she wanted to change the décor of the restaurant and give it a more colorful flair. She hung up some of her own artwork around the restaurant, but also wanted to display the talents of others in the community and feature their work. When Jessica Smith, a former Harding student, needed help raising money for her two-year commitment to do mission work in Florence, Italy, Catherine gave her the chance to sell her artwork in the restaurant to help raise money for the trip. The artwork has only been on the walls for three weeks, but the two are hopeful that its appearance in the community will aid in financing Jessica’s trip and allow her to follow both sets of dreams: her dreams as an artist and as a difference maker for good. Catherine said the restaurant hopes to become more involved in the fine arts by hosting events in the community that involve music and art. As an artist, she has seen the effects it has on individuals who take part: “I know for me it’s very relaxing and it’s nice to see something you have created,” Catherine said. “I feel like, for children especially, it builds self-esteem and is just a great thing to be involved in. It is something you can do for the rest of your life. [Art] is a lifelong thing.”
A fine arts teacher at Searcy High School for many years, Lana Hallmark made the decision in 1999 to extend the opportunity to participate in theater to the Searcy community as a whole, by creating “Center on the Square,” a program designed to extend acting opportunities to adults and children—while also providing entertainment to those in the area who support the arts. KidStage is an acting workshop for children in which they perform a play at the end of each learning semester. Lana said the educational experience gained from KidStage far exceeds that of just acting skills: “We teach a lot more here than just theater skills. We teach life skills. It has been proven that involvement in theater increases school skills and helps raise grades. Being in theater also teaches kids reliability, working with a partner, memorization and just life skills in general.” I can say from personal experience that what “Center on the Stage” offers is an absolute gift to this community. I still, on occasion, pop in the home video of my 4th grade debut in the school Christmas play. Even at such a young age, I had spirit and spouted my lines like a pro. The confidence I gained from that experience has definitely served me well in adulthood as well. Like with the other fine arts offered in the area, the dinner theater opens plenty of doors for those who love to act and are interested in getting involved. Lana said they are always looking for new talent. Recent renovation of the former Robins-Sanford Mercantile by Dalrymple Commercial [it is now the Robins-Sanford Grand Hall] will be a huge asset to the downtown revitalization effort. Naming the Grand Hall after the former mercantile continues honor and tradition while moving forward to the future. I have heard fine arts referred to as the point at which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together. It enables us to express emotion and is an avenue by which to escape from the mundane happenings that make up our lives. It takes a leap of faith and a little bit of courage, but sometimes a life-long joy is just an inquiry away. Luckily for Searcy citizens, this city is a metropolis of talent and opportunity. The downtown area is the backbone and history of a town; the addition of fine arts breathes new life into its lungs and revitalizes it for the years to come. Art really is limitless. It resides in our hearts; it personifies itself in our need to express ourselves. It is truly right at our doorstep. It is up to us, however, to seize the moment, step up to the door, and knock.
SearcyLiving.com 47
Marianne from The Boutique shows Searcy Living her favorite background in blue.
The Craftons from Crafton’s Furniture show us one of their favorite pieces of art on display.
Gregg and Terri Addington in their home studio, the background being a mural Terri painted years ago. “Since Gregg and I began working in glass fusion together, it has not only ignited a fresh passion for my long time love of art, but it has also served to strengthen our 32 years of marriage. Another reason we so enjoy our glass fusing together is that it’s given us great opportunity to meet and encourage other people.” Graceful Glass.
Nancy Hatfield of Sowell’s Furniture stands by a contemporary piece available in the store.
Although the art community has seemed to be a large part of our downtown revitalization, it has also brought new life to the entire community. Banks, beauty salons and restaurants alike have been supporting the artists’ dreams and missions, displaying local art in their establishments, adding an extra hometown touch to our community. At Searcy Living we know that there is so much to this subject and many talents out there still to feature. We look forward to continuing this ongoing journey in future issues.
48 Your Hometown Magazine
Carol Hendon, owner of Everett’s, shows art that would compliment any child’s room. She also carries the artwork of local artist Leaf Moore.
Photographer John Baker shows us a fairy princess that he photographed.
Betsy Ridout, with a piece she painted that is displayed at the Second Saturday Studio Susan Cofer Fell gives photography a whole new meaning as she displays her art creatively at the Second Saturday Studio.
A visit to The Cookie Basket shows an art gallery in itself.
Nancy Showalter from Stott’s Drug shows us a book called Making Memories - A Celebration of the Life of Anne Pressly.
Terri Milligan with her recent work displayed downtown.
Owner of Second Helping, Allison Justus, lives by the motto “Feed Your Family. Serve the World.” When you buy a meal at Second Helping, a portion of the proceeds is donated to domestic and international agencies that are addressing the nutritional needs of children around the world. Photos of some of the children Allison has met and served on mission trips are displayed artistically in the store.
SearcyLiving.com 49
by Amy Burton The Harding University Department of Art and Design recently completed a mural on the west side of the White County Tax Assessor’s office in historic downtown Searcy. Students Ryan Baker, Katherine Kilpatrick, Carrie Goslin, Jonathan Alexander, and instructor Daniel Adams spent Saturday, March 20, sketching and painting the first in a series of murals to be completed on the west wall of the County-owned building. The first mural depicts an industrial scene representative of White County. Over the next few years, the department plans to complete murals on all of the wall panels. Adams said, “Because of the nature of our team, we are only able to complete two panels per year, so keep coming back. In four years the wall will look fantastic!” Each mural will feature a different color scheme and show a scene that is significant to the commercial development and history of White County. The second panel will be painted this month and will showcase the area’s health care field. Artists taking part in the mural project are Harding University representatives leaving for a mission trip to Africa on May 25, 2010, to paint murals on the school campus of The Village of Hope. More than 150 orphaned students live and attend school at The Village of Hope, located in Accra, the capital of the African nation of Ghana. The students accompanying Adams will be making the trip to use art skills as a way of charitable outreach for a community in need. The trip is arranged through Global Outreach, an organization that plans charitable and mission projects around the world. Adams said, “God has given us the gift of art and we want to share it with those less fortunate in other parts of the world and also with those we live and work with on a daily basis. Searcy is a great place to live and get an education– this is a great way to say thank you from our students. This is the third trip the Harding University group has made in 4 years.
50 Your Hometown Magazine
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Tom Killough, Barry Hoffmann, Glenn Pollard, and Shirley Baugh.
52 Your Hometown Magazine
Thomas Killough, president of the Searcy Arts Council, said that the council has fostered an interest in art locally for nearly 20 years. “We present shows every two months in the historic Black House,” he said. The Black House has been the home of the Searcy Art Gallery since 1999. “We are lucky for a town of our size to have an art gallery,” Killough said. The Black House, which was built as a two-room structure in 1858 and later enlarged, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been provided on loan to the city by Carole and Porter Rodgers, Jr. They are now in the process of donating the house and land to Searcy for the Searcy Art Gallery, according to Killough. Shirley Baugh, director of the Searcy Art Gallery, said that art activities are having an economic impact on Searcy. In addition to displaying the fine arts of painting, drawing, and sculpture at the gallery, she encourages the creative work of artisans who use textiles, wood, iron and other materials to make items such as quilts, clothing, furniture, fireplace tools and household items. She enjoys meeting the artists who show their work at the Black House and welcoming the visitors who come to view the art. Terry Williams, one of five local artists who were interviewed for this article, is known for his oil paintings of ducks. He has created three major paintings for Ducks Unlimited, an international wetlands conservation organization. Prints have been produced from the paintings and distributed widely. In 2000, he began carving “a scene in the woods” on the stocks of shotguns. Although he had begun painting in the mid-1960s and had taken art classes at Harding University in 1968-71, he now prefers carving. “I took to it (carving) like a duck to water,” he said. To get started in carving gun stocks, he went to Wisconsin for a three-day workshop. He starts the carving process by visualizing the scene he plans to carve. Then he does a sketch, making sure that the carved design will fit the chosen gun stock. “Then I transfer the sketch and go to carving,” he said. “And then I start removing wood.” Williams also does artwork for duck calls. Marcy Mercer does some of her artwork for local businesses in the form of murals. She also does customized work in the homes of her clients, including murals for children’s rooms. For these projects, she often uses the clients’ names to personalize the work. She also enjoys painting on canvas, for which she uses acrylics. When Marcy was in high school, she first enjoyed drawing little pencil portraits, then she advanced to painting. She likes assignments that call for a high level of client input and the challenge of fitting the artwork to a particular space. Terry Addington has been painting for about 25 years. She began with landscapes that she rendered in oils. About two years ago, her husband, Greg, introduced her to glass fusion painting, and now she is using the technique to paint on glass. The process involves fusing glass onto glass at 1500 degrees, she said. For her earlier traditional paintings, she had the benefit of art classes at Harding. But for the fusion painting, she’s had to do her own research. She continues to work with Greg on these works. Terry, who has three children and three grandchildren, said that she likes to reach people through her art. She describes it as “impressionistic.”
Jodi Peace stands in front of the 100 ft. mural she painted at Cruise Planners
Terry Williams is known for his painting of ducks. This picture, “Cautious Crossing,” shows his skill in painting deer.
Lori Sanson, Stephanie Carr and Mel Sanson pose with a beautiful piece of art by Glenn Pollard presented to Mrs. Carr at a United Way luncheon.
SearcyLiving.com 53
Glenn Pollard, a member of the Searcy Arts Council, said that he enjoys being on the council and working with the other members. He is also an artist who paints and draws. When he paints, he prefers working in acrylics. He does portraits, landscapes, and contemporary art with abstract shapes. He also does custom framing for clients who have artwork and photos to frame.
Jodi Peace said that she has always painted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My father drew when I was a kid, and in the winters he did oil paintings of animals,â&#x20AC;? she said. Besides learning from him, she took some portrait classes that helped her to refine her drawing techniques. She uses oils and acrylics in her paintings, sometimes using an abstract approach. Airplanes and propellers are favorite subjects for her art. She has done propeller art from World War I through the Vietnam War. She also painted a plane for the Spooky Squadron in Mountain View. Jodiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest piece of artwork may be the mural on a concrete wall at Cruise Planners on South Main Street in Searcy. It is approximately 100 feet long and depicts a number of travel destinations. She rendered the colorful mural in the summer of 2006.
54 Your Hometown Magazine
Local artists display art at restaurants and salons throughout Searcy. Above, a couple enjoys lunch at Frozen Delite with photographic art by Homan Photo.
Searcy Art Council members discuss a work by Rembrandt. Go to SearcyLiving.com to find our how to join the Searcy Arts Council.
Online Extra
Find more about the arts on SearcyLiving.com! SearcyLiving.com 55
56 Your Hometown Magazine
SearcyLiving.com 57
This Cover Kid Contest is a fund raiser for the American Cancer Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Relay For Life in White County.
Go to one of the sponsoring websites and download the entry form. Entry fee is $20.00 per child. ALL proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
This is an online voting contest (on relayforlife.org/whitear) for the opportunity to raise money for the American Cancer Society. How many votes and donations can you raise for your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entry?
The entrant raising the most money for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life in White County will be featured on the cover of the September issue of Searcy Living.
Go to SearcyLiving.com for complete rules and more details and links to the sponsoring entities. This contest is a part of the White County Relay For Life. 58 Your Hometown Magazine
SearcyLiving.com 59
Story and Photos by Tisha Black • As Told on CrAzYWorkingMom.com
S E S R 5 6 The
TOUSeRarcy in
As a mother of three healthy children, I count my blessings daily. children (well, we baked cookies while the children played!) to For the entire nine months I carried the three of them, I remember the constant worry that there would be something wrong when they were born. After they arrived, I would wake countless times in the night just to hear their sweet, contented breaths and watch their chest rise and fall. Even now, with my three children at the ages of 7, 4, and 1 1/2, I still do the same thing. I cannot imagine the pain that a parent faces when finding out that their child is facing a lifetime of treatments due to an illness, or even worse. Cystic Fibrosis is one of those illnesses. You may be like I was, having heard of Cystic Fibrosis but never really knowing exactly what it was. Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited, chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene, and its protein product, causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; obstructing the pancreas and stopping natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. “65 Roses” is what some children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) call their disease, because the words are much easier for them to pronounce. 65 Roses® is a registered trademark of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year, in my hometown of Searcy, Arkansas, through the efforts of some awesome people, the first 65 Roses Bike Tour was established. When my husband and I heard of this awesome event, we knew that we wanted to be a part of it! If you have read the story of sweet little Aven, you will feel the same way. I was fortunate enough to meet her on Saturday and I must say it was such a blessing to see such a beautiful, energetic girl singing and dancing. What a blessing to know that this was organized to help to find a cure for this debilitating disease that affects this beautiful gift from God. You see, had I not known Aven was sick with CF, I would have never known that she wasn’t a healthy, vibrant girl like all of the other little girls at the park that she played and danced with. She’s beautiful, kind, and not a bad dancer either! Since I am by no means a cyclist, I knew that my efforts would have to be in the form of volunteering. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who was also willing to do his part. My wonderful sister, Mandy Boone, and I got together with our friend April Odom, who has “adopted” us as sisters. We had a fun night of playing Betty Crocker. We baked cookies with our
60 Your Hometown Magazine
hand out at the family fun stop (½ way point) on the Family Fun Ride. We baked 13 dozen cookies and most of them made it to the family fun stop. Of course, there were some set aside for samples and the dough had to be tested as well. We had the extreme pleasure of handing out cookies and water to the cyclists on the Family Fun Ride. I was so excited to capture a few shots of the riders entering and exiting the stop, as well as posing with friends in front of the “We Took The Challenge” sign. It was great fun and such an amazing experience to know that everyone there was in their own way helping to fight this disease. The weather threatened to be dreadful for the bicycle tour, but I believe that prayers were answered because the rain held off until the festivities were over. I would just like to say a special thanks to an old friend, Brittany Emery (Aven’s Mommy) for being such a strong person and always keeping a positive attitude. That is something that I always loved about you. Your smile was always so beautiful and still remains so after all these years. Amber Carson (Aven’s Auntie), you are such an inspiration! I am so proud to call you a friend. Your efforts for this fund raiser were so phenomenal! Even though you had almost no sleep, you were running at full speed for this event. It was orchestrated like a well oiled machine. You worked so hard to accomplish such an awe inspiring event and you did it!!! I am so proud of you. I know that your brother is also proud of you, as we are all proud of HIM for completing this bike tour in honor of his beautiful daughter, Aven. I am also proud to call Searcy my hometown. I did not grow up here, but am proud to say that I am so glad that my children are. Thank you, Searcy, for coming out to support such a worthy cause!
Aven
Aven and her father Pat (Photo by Jamie Edwards Wyatt)
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Wearing her new outfit from Hays with a co-ordinating clutch and jewelry from Unique Boutique, Sedella posed for lovely spring portraits with George Dillin Photography. The Cosmetic Studio brought fresh spring color to Sedellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s makeup, and Holden & Co. styled her hair. Thanks to all our generous sponsors for giving Sedella a great day!
62 Your Hometown Magazine
3005 E. Race St. • Searcy (501) 268-0800
1211 E. Race St. • Searcy (501) 268-1700
1407 E. Moore Ave. • Searcy (501) 268-9304
In the Heart & Soul Plaza 1623 E. Beebe-Capps • Searcy (501) 279-2526
200 E. Park Ave. • Searcy (501) 279-9592
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64 Your Hometown Magazine
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Examples of the Judges’ Work
Photographer: Homan Photo
Photographer: Kimberly Brackins
Photographer: Zoë Portrait Art
Photographer: George Dillin
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Photos need to be 5x7 or 8x10. Name of photographer and photographer’s phone number must be on back of printed photo. All people in all photos must be wearing full attire - no swim suit photos. This includes baby photos. No Shirt - No Entry. Amateur photos only. This is defined by this contest as photographers who do not seek or receive compensation for their photos. Photo submissions must be original work (and property) of the contest entrant. Photo must have been taken within the last 6 months. Photos submitted must be unpublished previously. Photo submissions become the property of Searcy Living. Photos will not be returned. Winning photos will be published in future issue of Searcy Living. Non-winning photos may (or may not) be used in the future by Searcy Living. Failure to put name and phone number on the back of photo is automatic disqualification. Contest entrants must adhere to and agree with all terms and deadline for entry of contest as outlined on SearcyLiving.com
Kimberly Brackins Creative Portraiture Kimberly Brackins has a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas. She worked in advertising/public relations for several years before becoming a full time mom. She began Kimberly Brackins Creative Portraiture in 2003. Kimberly’s passion is to create portraits that will be treasured for generations. Her favorite compliment from a client is when they say, “You know that portrait you did? -- I still love it!” Having been in business several years now, Kimberly considers it a blessing to have the privilege of photographing the babies of former brides or shooting the wedding of a past high school (or college) senior client. When not behind the camera, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her husband, son and daughter. “My happy place is a late afternoon on the beach with my family.”
Robert Homan
Zoë Portrait Art
A successful and accomplished photographer, Robert Homan operated a commercial studio in the South Jersey area for over forty years. Although he still does some photography for advertising and marketing, he now concentrates most of his creative efforts on photographing lighthouses, landscapes and other scenic wonders. Bob is an avid kayaker, hiker and mountain climber who loves to capture beautiful, off-the-beatenpath places and scenes with his camera.
Cheryl Weaver and Maggie Hendrix met in Searcy, Arkansas, eight years ago and became fast friends through another creative industry that uses photographs and stories to document life. In 2005, opportunities took Cheryl and her family to Cincinnati, Ohio, yet she and Maggie’s friendship continued, and their interests in photography developed into a passion to master the art. After years of education and encouragement from one another, they each began their independent photography businesses in early 2007. As their businesses grew in their respective states, they jokingly entertained the notion of one day working together. Those notions unexpectedly became a reality in 2009, as Cheryl’s family returned to Searcy. Now, Maggie Hendrix Photography and Cheryl Weaver Photography have merged to become Zoë Portrait Art. Zoë Portrait Art is a modern lifestyle studio specializing in the photographic documentation of life. Their team approach provides their clients with the best of two professionals. Whether they are working together to photograph a wedding, collaborating during post session processing or brainstorming ideas to keep their business fresh and exciting, both Maggie and Cheryl will tell you their partnership has been a blessing, creating new opportunities for growth as photographers and artists.
Sandra Homan Business Manager & Photoshop Specialist Sandy Homan has been involved in professional photography since 1994. After a 26-year finance and strategic planning career, she became more involved in the studio’s affairs when the need to adopt digital photography and darkroom techniques became apparent. With Bob behind the camera and Sandy behind the computer, the couple have created many beautiful prints, posters, calendars, greeting cards, and advertising images.
George Dillin Photography George started his career in 1972 working for local photographer Herman West. After working for a year in Little Rock for the commercial photography firm of Rodney Dungan and Willie Allen, George returned to Searcy to open a photography studio with Herman West. George bought Mr. West’s half of the business in 1984 to become George Dillin Photography. George has studied at the Winona International School of Photography, the Texas School of Photography and under many well known artists and photographers over the years. Although George is primarily a photographer of people, he also photographs commercial assignments, still lifes, pets and sports.
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Living the Dream
L
earning about other cultures can enrich your life. That is why the Searcy Rotary Club recently hosted a GSE (Group Study Exchange) Team from District 2090 in central Italy. The Rotarian Team Leader, Jack Minelli is a member of the Rotary Club of Gubbio, Italy. Members of the team are: Incornata (Conny) Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Amico, who works in the family cheese business; Sara Sabbatini, who works with textiles in the clothing industry; Cesare Di Michele, an environmental engineer; and Damiano Brue, a screenwriter. They were hosted by Rotarians Walter Moore and Irene Gray with Lynn Tranum working as Chairman of the GSE Committee. Rotarians Paul Ford and Blake Hendrix entertained them in their home and many businesses and the Mayor gave them an overview of the business life of Searcy.
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Sara Sabbatini checks out a copy of Searcy Living while touring the Searcy area. Searcy Living and other privately owned businesses and media have been valuable tools for promoting this community.
Rotarian Lynn Tranum and wife Carrie.
Rotarians Jack Minelli and Irene Gray visit.
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Health
with Dr. Tim Kamerman
Key Ingredients to Good Health Dr. Timothy R. Kamerman, DC
Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees?” In 22 years of clinical practice as a natural healer, that is what I many times find in health conditions. We search for the complicated answers to help, and yet the obvious may be right under our nose. An example would be a patient named Pete. He states for 25 years his lab values never changed. His blood test always had something high or low in one area or another. That all changed after about four weeks of drinking a substance called water. That’s right, water. But it was no ordinary water. It’s water that I have written about before, called Kangen water. The average human body is 70% water. When we are born, we are approximately 90% water and by the time we are adults this has dwindled down to about 70%. As we age, this can reach about 50%. If our body is comprised of that much water and we withhold it from the body, doesn’t it stand to reason that the body is going to suffer in one form or fashion? It has been said that approximately 75% of Americans are dehydrated. That means 3 out of 4 people walking around do not have sufficient levels of water to function at optimum. Now granted, it may not be to the level that you have to be hospitalized with a tube to replenish those fluids, but dehydration is
About the Writer
Dr. Tim Kamerman is the founder of The Chiropractic Care Clinic at 2924 Hawkins Drive in Searcy. If you have any questions, comments, or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kamerman, please call (501) 268-2273. 70 Your Hometown Magazine
there none the less. A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water. Many of my patients state that they drink coffee, tea, and soft drinks that contain water. However, while this may supply a small amount, it actually can have a dehydrating effect on the body and worsen the health. It has been shown today that a 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short term memory and give trouble with basic math. It has been shown that drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease the risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, and bladder cancer. Studies done by Fereydoon Batmangheliej, M.D., show that many patients suffering from gastritis, asthma, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure were corrected by drinking adequate amounts of water. So, while this may not be the only factor necessary to restore your health, it would certainly behoove us to be wise and start drinking the water that was placed on the earth for our benefit. For more information regarding the magnificent healing capabilities of Kangen water, go to my website www.searcychiropractor.com and click on Kangen Water.
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Games & Puzzles ACROSS 3. A special day at Crosspointe Prep School was a day to be and a day to bless. 4. Cuban Black Beans 6. When government takes away all your possessions 7. Inspires children of all ages through an art closet 9. American Cancer Society Relay For Life contest 10. Historic downtown Searcy
DOWN 1. In 1979, Espina was director of catering for this company 2. An amazing mechanical wonder 5. A village showing life in the late 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 8. The theme of this magazine
STUMPED? Get the answers, play games, download wallpaper and tons more online at SearcyLiving.com!
www.SearcyLiving.com
Riddles
Online Extra You can find more recipes on SearcyLiving.com! 72 Your Hometown Magazine
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