August Back to School by Town & Gown Magazine

own own T &G AUGUST 2017 SEPTEMBER 2017

Remember the Dude:

celebrating 50 Years of Dudy Noble

Journey OF A working mother & entrepreneur

The new Old Main Academic Building

In this Issue

Home, Garden and Lifestyle around Mississippi 10

Calendar of Events

Wishlist

14 28

Story of Bill Buckley

32 Old Main Legacy: The new academic building at MSU

Health & FItness: Back to School. Back to Routine.

August Reading List

Made in Mississippi: Musee Bath Bombs

Taste & Toast: Easy recipes for back to school routine

16 The story behind Oktibbeha County Barn Quilts.

Remember the Dude: Year of the Cowbell’s dedication to Dudy Nobel

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George Mary’s

DIY Decorate Your Locker

George Mary’s: Learn the story of the working mother & entreprenuer, Alesia Lucas

Children’s Fashion

Events

TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE .COM HOME . GARDEN . LIFE . STYLE . FOOD . HEALTH . FITNESS

Ever wondered about these abstract pieces around Oktibbeha county? Turn to page 16 to learn more! Follow us on Instagram for sneakpeaks, giveaways, recipes & so much more! @townandgown

on the cover.. On the The new academic building at

MSU was architechtually inCover spired by the historic Old Main dorm. Check out the story on page 32!

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@townandgownmag August 2017 | 5

For our Readers Subscribe Get Town and Gown Magazine delivered right to your doorstep! Subscribe for $48 a year, $26 for six months or $6 for one time. To order call 662-323-1642 or email info@ townandgownmagazine.com. Announce your engagement or wedding with us! January is our Bridal issue! Wedding and engagement announcement pricing is listed at townandgownmagazine.com. Submit 15-20 wedding photos to info@ townandgownmagazine.com for review to be featured in Town and Gown Magazine. Events Town and Gown Magazine would love to be at your next event. If your organization or business is having an event please email info@townandgownmagazine.com a month before event date. We cannot promise we will be at all events, but we will try! If we missed out Send us your event photos with names from left to right (if available) and a brief description of event to info@townandgownmagazine.com or mail or drop off a disc to 304 Lampkin St., Starkville, MS 39759. Give a Town and Gown! Town and Gown Magazine offers gift cards for subscriptions. Call us at 662-323-1642 to order. Pricing listed above under subscription. Previous Issues Miss an issue? We can ship a copy of any previous issue to you for only $6. Call us at 662-323-1642.

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A Product of Horizon of Mississippi P.O. Box 1068 | Starkville, MS 39760 www.townandgownmagazine.com

{ s taf f } Don Norman | publisher - sdnpub@starkvilledailynews.com Courtney Cox| editor - editor@townandgownmagazine.com { acco un t exe c u ti ve s } Hanna Mathis -hanna@townandgownmagazine.com

cont ributors {writ ers} Joe Lee Richelle Putanam Amy Meyers Clint Kimberling Karen Gerard Sasha Steinberg Terry Word Pullen {photographers} Margaret Mcmullen Brittney Dowell Letty Weeks Anna Barker Rachel Bowman {fashion spread} Divian Conner - photographer Cromatix Salon - hair Wig Twizzle-Clothing {page design} Courtney Cox {adver t ising design} Chris Mcmillen Reproductions in whole or in part,without written permission,is strictly prohibited. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited manuscripts, articles or photographs. We reserve the right to edit submissions before publication. Town & Gown is a free magazine published monthly and distributed in and around Starkville and the Golden Triangle area. Subscriptions are available for mail customers. For subscriptions or inquiries,write Town & Gown Magazine, P.O. Box 1068, Starkville, MS, 39760, or call 662.323.1642.

EARN YOUR DEGREE

ONLINE distance.msstate.edu/town

August 2017 | 7

Letter from the Editor As a mother of two, August has snuck up on us quickly! The back to school routine, traffic and all-around-busyness are just a few days away. For most, this means the impending reality of waking up earlier everyday, busier afternoons and the necessity of a more formulated schedule. However, I am personally so ready for my kids to get back to school; start making new friends and getting into a normal routine of life following the chaos of our recent move. In our family, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about preparation and organization going into it...then faith and Chick-fil-a to fall back on when those fail us! How ever you are feeling going into this school year, I hope you find helpful tips and inspiring stories in this issue to get your school year started off right!

Courtney Cox

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August 2017 | 9

First day of school: Starkville Oktibbeha County schools

“Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune”

15 Shades of Starkville Drill Field 10am

@ State Theatre 3pm

First day of school: Starkvill Academy

16 First day of class @MSU

“Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune” @ State Theatre 3pm

Next Stage Theatre Company presents: “Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune” @ State Theatre 8pm

“Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune” @ State Theatre 8pm

Move-in day @ MSU “Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune” @ State Theatre 8pm

“Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune”

@ State Theatre 8pm @ State Theatre 8pm @ State Theatre 8pm

August 2017 | 13

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Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail inspires community-wide creativity & collaboration Written by Sasha Steinberg • Photos by Letty Weeks It takes teamwork to make the dream work. For Starkville Area Arts Council member Vicki Burnett, the Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail is one of those dreams. A self-employed painter and owner of Burnett Art Studio and Custom Cowbells, Burnett has played an integral role over the past few years with organizing the Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail, a collaborative effort between the Starkville Area Arts Council, members of the local community, and students and faculty in Mississippi State University’s Department of Art. Back in 2001, the barn quilt movement began in Adams County, Ohio, and quickly became a trend across the U.S. According to www.barnquiltinfo.com, the very first barn quilts were painted directly on the surface of barns. Over

time, painters began creating quilt blocks on wood, which were then mounted on barns. Typically, a full-sized barn quilt is eight-by-eight feet, which requires two full sheets of plywood, mounted side by side. When complete, the barn quilt can be mounted on a barn or other structure. A collection of barn quilts in one county or area constitutes a barn quilt trail. Burnett said she first learned about barn quilts while taking a painting class with Starkville artist Jackie Tisdale. “Jackie was doing a painting and in the painting, she had a barn with a barn quilt painted on it. I thought it was fabric, but Jackie explained to me that a barn quilt is actually a painted square featuring a single-quilt block design,” Burnett recalled. “I liked the idea of combining

the art of painting with that of quilting, so I did research on barn quilts to learn more.” As Burnett started reading about barn quilts, she discovered that there were trails in Mississippi, but there was not one in Oktibbeha County. She proposed the idea to the Starkville Area Arts Council, which later formed a partnership with MSU’s art department. Together, they worked to put Starkville’s home county on the national Barn Quilt Trail map. “MSU art professor Neil Callander’s Design II students were learning about color, color theory, shapes and designs. He wanted to find a way for his students to apply what they were learning outside of the classroom, so we formed a partnership in 2014,” Burnett said. Every spring semester for the past three years now, Callander’s students have designed barn quilts for the Oktibbeha County trail as part of their final Design II class project. Burnett said students taught by MSU graphic design professor Suzanne Powney also have lent their talents to the Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail. “Suzanne’s class has been wonderful, too. They created a quilt for the Habitat for Humanity resale warehouse, and another semester, her class designed a logo and brochure for

August 2017 | 17

us,” Burnett said. “We’ve just been wonderfully blessed. The participation from Mississippi State has been great.” Along with MSU students, Burnett said the Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail has benefitted immensely from the efforts of several individuals, businesses and community organizations. “Friends of the Noxubee Refuge painted five barn quilts that are on display around the Refuge, and the Oktoc Community Club painted one for their community club,” Burnett said. “Dixie Massey of Masseyville Pottery in Starkville created a barn quilt that she has hanging on her pottery studio, and I have a barn quilt on my art studio as well.” Burnett said Boy Scout Troop 14 built several barn quilt frames and hung the quilt at the Oktibbeha County District 5 Volunteer Fire Department. Two barn quilts also were sponsored by quilting groups here in Starkville. Three homeschool students wanted to get involved, so they too made a barn quilt that is hung on the front of the Starkville Public Library on University Drive. “It’s just been a neat collaboration of all kinds of folks from different ages and backgrounds,” 18 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Burnett said of the participation that the Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail has received from the local community. While a barn quilt square can be made from sanded and primed plywood or metal, Burnett recommends use of a professional sign board called medium density overlay, or MDO, which has a smooth surface that is resistant to water, weather and wear. “There are couple of ways to do it,” Burnett said of barn quilt creation. “You can draw your design on paper, divide it into grids and then draw the same kind of grids on your board. Another option is to use an overhead projector and project your image on your base.” “I have instructions on how to make a barn quilt, so if someone wants to make one, I can certainly send them information about the materials to use and a good way to go about it,” she added. Burnett appreciates barn quilts that are traditional in nature, but she especially enjoys seeing designs that offer a unique take on traditional patterns. “I love the quilts at the Refuge because they have traditional quilt patterns. One of the barn

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quilt squares features canoes, which is very fitting because canoeing is available at the Refuge,” she said. When creating the barn quilt square that can be found on the corner of Main and Jackson streets, Mississippi State students used the “flying geese” design as inspiration and put their own spin on it, Burnett explained. “It’s exciting to see a new generation come along and use an age-old pattern as a springboard to come up with a new design,” she said. A detailed listing of Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail locations is available online at http://www.starkvillearts.net/ barn-quilt-trail-map.html. Among them are the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Habitat for Humanity resale warehouse, and Mississippi Horse Park. “Our barn quilt trail is a fun way for people to go on a scavenger hunt and see interesting locations around our beautiful county,” Burnett said. “My favorite barn quilt is located on the old Little Building Studio on Lafayette Street in Starkville, and it’s the first one we actually had painted directly on a building. The art students from Mississippi State painted the design on the brick, and the colors and patterns they used are really nice.” Burnett is pleased with the growth that the Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail has experienced since its inception. Moving forward, she is hoping to inspire others to help with adding more eye-catching creations to the trail. “To have 30 barn quilts in three years is pretty impressive, and there’s been a lot of collaboration to make that happen,” Burnett emphasized. “Over the next three years, it would be cool if we could double the number of quilts. It really depends on our community members and what they want to do. Making barn quilts is a fun process, so I want to encourage people to participate.”

For more information on the Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail, contact the Starkville Area Arts Council at 662-324-3080. Applications for becoming a part of the Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail also may be obtained by contacting Vicki Burnett at 662-418-1820 or vickiburnett@hotmail.com.

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August 2017 | 21

REMEMBER THE

DUDE

Year of the Cowbell Written by Clint Kimberling

Chuck Lovern still remembers attending his first Mississippi State ballgame. But don’t ask him the score or even who was playing for the Bulldogs that day. He only remembers the cowbells and how loud they were. “It left a mark on me,” he recalls now. “I left the stadium with my ears ringing.” Lovern’s memory is a familiar one. The cowbell, ubiquitous at all outdoor MSU sporting events, is one of the more distinguishing symbols for the university. And it’s rather fitting that it’s now Lovern’s job to make those very same cowbells. In fact, at his company, Year of the Cowbell, his job title is Head Ringer. Year of the Cowbell took off a few years ago during the 2014 football season. Fans will remember that as the season the Bulldogs won the first 9 games of the season and were the top ranked team in the nation for 4 weeks. Lovern and his colleagues saw an opportunity in the marketplace to provide fans with high quality products. “The name kind of stuck and we built a brand around it,” he says. At first Year of the Cowbell worked with a small local company to manufacture the bells. It quickly became apparent that de22 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

mand was outgrowing their capability. In response, they created their own facility, increased their output and began signing agreements with several companies. And most recently, they inked a deal with Mississippi State Athletics and Learfield's MSU Bulldog Sports Properties to become the official cowbell of MSU Athletics. Lovern says it’s a partnership that everyone benefits from. “We love being closely branded with the cowbell tradition, and we’ve worked really hard to protect what we’ve been given,” he tells me. And it’s a tradition that the entire company knows well. Every employee at Year of the Cowbell is an MSU alum. He goes on, saying, “We’re excited about being the official cowbell, but it’s something we take seriously, too. We strive to be good stewards of one of MSU’s biggest traditions.

We want to make sure that the cowbell is always going to be heard.” Another tradition that Year of the Cowbell honored this year was the fifty-year anniversary Dudy Noble Field. To commemorate the occasion of fifty years of MSU baseball, Year of the Cowbell commissioned a limited edition and individually numbered stainless steel bell that salutes the history of the baseball stadium. Lovern says, “It’s a high quality bell, welded by hand and serves as a beautiful reminder of our past and great way to look forward as well.” Year of the Cowbell bells are made with solid steel, not cheap tin. This produces a strong and deep CLANGA-CLANGA noise. Or as Chuck puts it, “the way it should sound.” All bells are finished with a smooth powder coating to protect the bell and provide years of durability. Of course, all bells carry a lifetime guarantee. Lovern says any damaged bells will be repaired and replaced, no questions asked. “I understand that it can get heated during the games,” he says explaining that sometimes overzealous ringing can end up breaking the bells. But Lovern and his colleagues have a strong commitment to customer service. “Ringing a bell makes you part of the family, and we’ll take care of you.” Year of the Cowbell offers over 90 styles of bells. And as an official supplier they can offer customers all university spirit marks including logos, mascots, and stadium designs. The most popular bell is a maroon bell with either a MSU or Hail State logo. They can even handle custom jobs and specialty bells as well. “Now we have customers who are buying bells for their kids or grandkids, it’s great to see it carry on. We ship all over the country, too,” Lovern adds. “It’s amazing to me what parts of the country people are buying cowbells in.” Year of the Cowbell has even branched out into some cowbell-adjacent products that include an old-fashioned doorbell pull, wind chimes and trailer hitches. “We like to provide new products for our customers, to

give them a variety of options. We’re constantly updating designs, and introducing new products.” But when it comes down to making noise, Lovern wants fans to know, “There’s no wrong way to ring the bell.” He stops and corrects himself, saying, “There are just wrong times. It’s important to watch the board and respect the rules.” At the end of the day, Lovern says, “We’re just trying to make the world a louder place.”

www.yearofthecowbell.com

Photos provided by Mississippi State Athletics & Year of the Cowbell August 2017 | 23

Journey of a dedicated mother & entrepreneur Alesia Lucas • George Mary’s

Written by Richelle Putnam • Photography by Brittney Dowell When Town & Gown interviewed Alesia Lucas about her online/pop-up shop, GeorgeMary’s, a multi-brand men’s, women’s and home goods online store, her goal was to have a brick and mortar store. One afternoon, when she was driving in downtown Starkville, there it was…the perfect space. “It just popped up. It had the character I always wanted, decorative molding and an old doorway and the exposed brick on the wall,” said Alesia. “It was the right size for a low cost and low effort to move in.” Alesia brightened the space with paint and opened in November 2016. George and Mary are names of family members who inspired Alesia’s creative spirit. Her grandmother was almost an extension of her sew-

ing machine and Alesia, surrounded by assorted fabrics, gathered sewing pins for her grandmother as she sewed. Since opening the store, it has been a slow organic growth, which is what Alesia expected and wanted. Her loyal following remain loyal and many new customers are stepping into that category as well. “I have my customers who have been with me from the start. They are at every show they can be,” she said. “My online customers have also been consistent with purchasing.” Though her brick and mortar business has picked up, Alesia still does her pop-up shops. She also works fulltime as an administrative assistant for the Office of Compliance and Integrity at MSU, which handles ADA, EEOC,

and Title 9 policies. Neither this nor being a mom to a busy two-year-old keeps Alesia from running her business. “You make time for the things you want to do. It is challenging to balance home life, work and a business on the side, but I have gotten to the point where I can hire help.” On her lunch break, Alesia often runs up to the shop to take care of store activities or duties or to meet customers. Because of George-Mary’s odd hours (open Thursday—Saturday), Alesia makes appointments by phone to make the products available to customers at their convenience, especially if they just need to run up to the store. “It’s like a private shopping experience until I can get more steady business hours.” To promote her business and products, Alesia books shows and special events to keep the exposure going, especially for new markets and new people. “Since I started out online primarily, I concentrate a lot to keep that up and going because many of my customers are not in the local demographic area.” People who shop George-Mary’s are looking for the type of aesthetic that aren’t native to Starkville, explained Alesia. “It’s a little bit more forward and modern and edgy as opposed the Southern traditional look. I wanted to bring that to Starkville to the younger crowd and the movers and shakers that are looking for a change and something a little bit different.” Staying true to the George-Mary’s online appeal, the brick and mortar store also carries home products to coordinate with the Urban Ancestor shopping section on the website. All products embody the same idea of loving what is old and loving what is new at the same time, the perfect

mix of nostalgic with a modern industrial, minimalistic style in both apparel and home goods. Alesia’s slogan for her home goods is, “loving the tried and the true, the old and the new.” And her suppliers fall into these categories. “My vendors are very detailed in the descriptions of their products and the fabric content and the make of it. I seek out vendors and fabrics that I know people will be comfortable in. and that I know that are tried and true and easy to wear, something that I would wear myself.” Alesia looks at her online competitors and what they carry that correspond with her fashion forward trends in home and apparel and have a practical, functional feel with clean lines, something a bit primitive in nature reflecting an idea of intentional simple living.

These are the concepts Alesia looks for in her products. “I want it to be something you use, but something that’s beautiful, as opposed to just running to the store down the street and grabbing something.” Probably the most popular George-Mary’s item is its exclusive, signature selfie t-shirt, which has “Mississippi” spelled backwards on the front. An original creation, the t-shirt in the process of being trademarked and is already being sold across the country. Alesia is working with other stores and boutiques to carry this signature product. The t-shirt will be available in the Fondren district in Jackson. Shops interested in carrying the t-shirt can contract Alesia through her website or Facebook page. George-Mary’s 113 B South Lafayette Street Starkville, MS http://www.shopgeorgemarys.com/ Upcoming Event: Shades of Starkville – Drill Field - August 15. 26 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Bill Buckley: Paying it Forward

Written by Joe Lee In late summer 1974, Eric Clapton’s “I Shot the Sheriff” was racing up the pop music charts, movie lovers were flocking to see Jack Nicholson in “Chinatown”, Gerald Ford was sworn in as the thirty-eighth President of the United States, and a rookie wide receiver named Bill Buckley was cut by the NFL’s New York Jets at the end of training camp. Buckley, a Starkville native and a Mississippi State (MSU) standout from 1971-1973, has spent the last two decades-plus with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and was named the organization’s statewide executive director earlier this year. The new responsibilities mean that Buckley, 66, and his wife of 44 years, Mary, are relocating to Jackson, and that his days as MSU football chaplain are over. But the man who wore 24 in his college playing days will continue to follow his faith, and impart that faith — as well as some significant life lessons — to our state’s young athletes. 28 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Photos courtesy Mississipi State Athletics

Save the Date Together with its loyal readers Town and Gown Magazine invites you to be a part of the annual Bridal Registry

Announce your buddle of joy with Town & Gown Magazine for only $50 for a 1/4 Page. Includes one photo and birth information. Call 662.323.1642 or email info@townandgownmagazine.com

Submission deadline: December 5, 2017 Now offering 1/3 page, 1/2, Full-page and Two-page announcements! For more information and prices contact Courtney Cox at editor@townandgownmagazine.com

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“I came out of an environment at MSU where people really cared for me, in Starkville and out at MSU,” Buckley said. “Great coaches (who) took the time to make it family. You were a rookie and a number in New York. You had to gain traction exceedingly fast or you were done. I was not taking care of myself, not focused on what I was about. “I didn’t get into the big party scene in New York. I was already married — Mary lived in a hotel while I was in training camp with the Jets — but I was in the drug world already, primarily marijuana. But it’s the NFL that swallows you up, not New York. ‘This is big business. We’re here to win, and if you can’t help us, you can move down the road.’ I had not built relationships that were transformational, that were going to help me get where I wanted to go.” Buckley, after his playing days were over, hung sheetrock in the Mississippi Delta for a living before working for a disaster clean-up company. Raised in Starkville by stable parents who took him to church and taught him right from wrong, it nonetheless took time before he found himself and rediscovered his faith. He and Mary returned to Mississippi in 1989, and he coached football for several years before joining FCA. He knows that there are many young people out there who are full of goodness and athletic potential — but who may lack focus, discipline, self-esteem and a firm faith foundation. While it isn’t easy to reach their hearts and minds, his approach has a strong track record. “It’s easy to get frustrated or offended by the 30 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

way young people are, but if I’m sure of my own identity and confident of who I am, I don’t have to be offended,” Buckley said. “I can be what I’m called to be among them, and that’s a father. Many don’t have good relationships with their fathers, if at all. That’s how I love them. I think that’s important.” “I think you need access, a doorway to connect with young people,” Mary Buckley said. “I think FCA is great for that. You’re not just coming in and preaching to them about life – you can relate to them through sports. An FCA person can sometimes do that even more easily than a youth pastor at a church. Bill has always been a strong person, and a competitive person. He’s also a loving and gentle person, and I think it’s showing up in his ministry.” A fixture in schools and with coaches for many years, Buckley now spends the majority of his time with his FCA staff and travels the state. He makes sure the right people are in the schools to reach coaches and athletes, and that the FCA donor base continues to grow. Thanks to his years as MSU football chaplain, he’ll be in demand as a speaker for the foreseeable future. “We Christians feel like it’s our duty to correct the world,” Buckley said. “I don’t think it’s our responsibility — it’s our responsibility to do what Jesus did, and that’s to love the world. He met people in their hearts, not their sins. I think that’s very powerful. My goal with every one of these kids is to find the treasure in them, the gold in them, and call out that gold, that greatness. Every human being has greatness. That’s what I try to go after.”

August 2017 | 31

Historic Old Main Inspires MSU’s New Academic Center Written by Joe Lee here are plenty of Mississippi State T (MSU) graduates around who lived for a time in Old Main dormitory before it was destroyed by fire on January 22, 1959. Among them is Roy Ruby, MSU Vice President Emeritus for Student Affairs, who spent his freshman year there. “It opened in 1879 and was believed at the time of the fire to be the biggest dorm in the country,” Ruby said in an interview with Town and Gown Magazine in 2011. “One student died, and he didn’t have to – he went back inside for his stereo and didn’t make it out.” There were approximately 1,100 students in the dorm when an electrical or appliance fire took hold in the attic, and survivors continue to share stories of the disaster today. Books have even been written, including a novel by MSU graduate and Vicksburg native Joe Woods called Old Main Burning and a coffee-table volume by Roy Vernon Scott and

Charles D. Lowery entitled Old Main: Images of a Legend. And now, some 58 years after the fire, the 2017 fall semester marks the opening of Old Main Academic Center, which is three-plus years in the making and will stand just a few yards from the original dorm and incorporates hallmarks from the initial design. “(It’s) located in a previously un-built area just to the north of the historic core of campus, behind the YMCA building,” said Stephanie Stewart, Studio Director/Project Manager with Belinda Stewart Architects, P.A. “The new facility was programmed to include visitor parking and undedicated classroom space. The classroom spaces were designed with much study and interaction from MSU faculty to meet multiple pedagogical learning types and with an emphasis on future proofing for new learning environments.”

Photos courtesy of University Archives, Special Collections, Mississippi State University Libraries August 2017 | 33

The new facility includes two levels of parking as well as three floors of classroom and learning space. It meets energy efficiency standards set forth by MSU President Mark Keenum and is handicap-accessible throughout. And folks like Ruby will enjoy the window treatments and brick detailing that echo the original structure, just as the salvaged bricks that went into the design of the Chapel of Memories evoke memories of Old Main. “This project initially focused on providing parking to the center of campus, but evolved to also include a focus on classrooms because of the significant student growth over the last few years,” said Belinda Stewart, FAIA, Principal. “The goal has always been to provide a beautiful building … that reflects the historic character of the university and reminds you of Old Main.” TAILGATE

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Back to School. Back to Routine. Article and photo by Terry Word Pullen

t is time for a new school year, and whether you are a teacher, student, or the parent of a student, the beginning of a new school year means your life is about to get very busy again! Now is the best time to start getting back into a daily routine, so that you can have a little normalcy during a very hectic time of the year. Here are a few tips to help you create and stick to your routine so that you never have an excuse to skip a workout or eat take out every night of the week. (Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be honest, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all been guilty of both of these on occasion!) If you get nothing else out of this article, just remember to have a plan! Having a plan for every month, week, and day will help you feel accomplished and help you stick to your fitness goals. So, here are my tips to getting you back into a routine and to make your fitness goals a priority! 36 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

1. Schedule your workouts

Set a time each day you can commit to a 30-45 minute workout. If you truly do not have time in your normal day, then wake up 30-45 minutes earlier. You will still have plenty of rest, trust me, and you will feel great starting each day with a workout!

2. Have a plan for your workout

If you are going to the gym, know exactly what you are going to do and how long it will take you to complete the workout. It’s best to have different workout routines that you rotate throughout the week. One way to take the thinking out of working out, and save time, is to find a great at-home workout you can do. There are so many great programs out there, all at very reasonable prices, that you can complete an intense workout at home in less time, and sometimes with less money than if you went to the gym.

3. Plan out your meals

Having a plan for what you want to eat each week will make your life so much easier! If you have a “menu” for the week, and you only buy groceries for the food on your menu, then figuring out what to eat for dinner each night will be a breeze. You will also be much less likely to order takeout for dinner if you have a plan.

4. Meal Prep

If you really want to get crazy, prep your lunches for the upcoming week ahead of time. I typically do this on Sundays. I clean and cut all of my fruits and veggies, and if there is something I need to cook for lunch I go ahead and do that on Sundays as well. Try this for one week and you will be amazed at how much time it saves you each day.

5. Plan out your week

Pick a night at the beginning of each week to sit down and plan out your goals for the week, what you need to accomplish, and any events you might have going on. Once you figure out what you have going on, you can then figure out what the best time will be for you to exercise each day. You can then also plan your menu around any special events. You might want to make something ahead of time that you can freeze or put in your fridge and then pull out on a busy night. Knowing ahead of time what you and your family have going on will help you to plan around it, and be prepared, so it does not mess up your routine too much and prevent you from taking care of yourself! A new school year can be tough and hectic, but it is also a great time to start getting back into a routine and working towards your fitness goals. Making a plan for the week helps you to focus on priorities and get the most out of your time. I hope these tips help you build an amazing and productive routine each week!

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t s i L g n i d a e R t s Augu Written by Clint Kimberling

The Mississippi Encyclopedia The perfect way to celebrate state’s bicentennial year is with this monumental text that covers in detail every aspect of Mississippi’s rich history, culture, and people. 1600 pages of entries on every county, every governor, and the numerous musicians, writers, artists, and activists from the state. More than just alphabetic entries, The Mississippi Encyclopedia also features long essays on agriculture, archaeology, the civil rights movement, the Civil War, drama, education, the environment, ethnicity, fiction, folklife, foodways, geography, industry and industrial workers, law, medicine, music, myths and representations, Native Americans, nonfiction, poetry, politics and government, the press, religion, social and economic history, sports, and visual art.

Mockingbird Songs: My Friendship with Harper Lee By Wayne Flynt Alabama historian and author Wayne Flynt (Poor but Proud) was a close friend of Harper Lee’s for the last twenty-five year of her life. His latest book is a collection of letters between himself and Lee. Flynt and Lee formed over a common interest in the history and literature of their home state of Alabama. They traded letters between 1992 until Lee’s death in February of last years. It seems they were kindred souls of a sort and grew to be close friends. A book of correspondence may sound dry and boring, but readers are treated to an intimate portrait of one of the most famous American authors. The letters between Flynt and Harper reveals the famously private writer as never before seen. Flynt provides plenty context to their letters and for fans of Harper Lee this is a must read. 38 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

The Answers

by Catherine Lacey Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Lacey is a native of Tupelo and for her second novel she has crafted an inventive and surreal plot, showcasing her creativity. The main character, Mary Parsons, is at the end of her rope financially and in need of a change. Eventually she signs up to serve as Emotional Girlfriend in the “Girlfriend Experiment.” Mary is one of several women cast to solve the problem of how to build and maintain the perfect romantic relationship. Other characters include Maternal Girlfriend who folds his laundry, an Anger Girlfriend who fights with him, a Mundanity Girlfriend who just hangs around his loft, and a whole team of girlfriends to take care of Intimacy. The Answers is a poignant look at relationships and raises a lot of interesting questions about love and intimacy.

Eveningland: Stories

by Michael Knight Atlantic Monthly Eveningland is a collection of six short stories and a closing novella that explore the inter-connected lives of characters living in and around Mobile, Alabama. The stories take place in the years preceding the destruction wrought by a fictional hurricane. Knight has been called a master of the short story form and it is on full display here. His action is well-paced and suspenseful throughout. The centerpiece of the book is "Landfall," the novella that closes the collection. It’s a striking and heartbreaking portrait of a family trying to stay together as the hurricane is finally upon them. August 2017 | 39

Made in Mississippi

It happened in a closet and ended up in the bathtub Written by Richelle Putnam

It happened in a closet and ended up in the bathtub. No, it’s not the first line to a horror novel. It’s the first line to a “novel” invention and its evolution. Kaylie Mitchell, then a student at Mississippi State University, was working on a project in her Graphics Design class when she came up with the idea of “glo,” a product that could be placed into tea to create “glowing” results. “It was beautiful and it came out really well. I got an A on the project and one of my teachers really pushed me to go to the Entrepreneurial Cen40 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

ters at Mississippi State campus,” said Kaylie. There they decided that for this product to reach as many people as possible, it needed to be applicable to more things than tea. “The easiest way to do that was to make it liquid activated, so it could go in tea, it could go in water, soda, and… a bathtub.” Hagan Walker, a brilliant electrical engineer, and Kaylie had worked together and she brought him in to help her figure out how to turn a light on under water. “It had never been done before in the market we were trying to reach.”

The two spent a few hours in Hagan’s walk-in closet soldering things on the floor and using a rough, ugly prototype made from a melted-down travel toothbrush case. “We dropped it in a glass of water and the light came on,” said Kaylie. “We were ecstatic.” Hagan and Kaylie, both graduates from MSU, co-founded the company Glo. The product “Glo” uses patented technology to detect liquid and lights drinks quickly and cleanly eliminating the need for buttons and switches. But Kaylie wanted more. That’s where the bathtub

Photography by Amanda Jones & Blake McCullom

comes in. “We knew there was a potential to do something with pools or bathwater or showers, but we didn’t know how to apply that. One day it dawned on us that if we put glo into a bath bomb, it would be the perfect marriage.” That marriage was between two Mississippi companies, Musee Bath and Glo. Musee, a cottage business that started in Madison County, Miss., hand presses bath balms made with natural and essential oils. Kaylie approached Musee about putting Glo into a bath bomb and Musee loved the idea. They named the bath bomb This Little Light of Mine. “You drop a bath bomb into your bath water. It diffuses, turns the water this beautiful blue, and then Glo pops out and illuminates the bathtub,” said Kaylie. It’s a totally new market for Glo and one that is a good fit. “It’s fun being two Mississippi companies working on something that’s so novel. Nobody has ever mixed electronics with any bath product ever, much less one that goes into the water.” All Musee bath bombs are named after songs,

Glo Drinks http://www.glodrinks.com/ Musee Bath https://museebath.com/

such as the Lucy in the Sky bomb, in which a tiny inserted diamond pops out into the water. In every Musee bath bomb is a little treasure that goes along with the name. Kaylie now works for Musee in the marketing and research programs where she does testing and brainstorms on new creations and new treasures to bomb. Still, she remains an integral part of Glo, which Hagan runs in Starkville. Upcoming Musee bath bombs are a Halloween ball called Thriller, which has glow-in-the-dark slime. Next spring will be the Dancing Queen, a bomb totally covered in silver glitter to look like a disco ball. The glo inside creates a kind of like Disco in your bathtub. “We are also researching some new technologies and coming up with different prototypes,” said Kaylie. “We find one we like, take it to production and ask them if it’s feasible on a large scale. If they say no, we go back and figure it out until production says they can do it.” And they usually do. August 2017 | 41

Taste & Toast A r t i c l e a n d p h oto g ra p h y b y Ka re n G e ra rd Yields 12 bars These yummy chewy bars come together so fast you almost wouldn’t believe it. Bake them for breakfast the next day, have them as a sweet after school snack with a cold glass of milk, or take them to school and impress at the bake sale.

Chewy Cin n Cookie Baamon rs

• 8 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature 1 cup packed light brown sugar • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 2 large eggs • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract • 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder • 1/4 teaspooan salt • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9×9" baking pan. 2. Beat the butter and sugars until combined. Then beat in the eggs and vanilla until airy and fluffy. 3. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon directly into the butter mixture. Mix just until combined and no dry ingredients are left. 4. Spread the batter evenly into the pan and bake for 25 mins, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for at least 1 hour before slicing. Cut into squares just before serving. The pan of bars will keep longer if you leave them uncut. Cover and store at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the refrigerator up to 8 days. 42 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Your Peeps for keeping little BULLDOGS healthy!

#5 Professional Plaza Starkville, MS 39759 662.323.0999

StarkvillePediatricClinic.com

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ONE PAN SOUTHWEST CHICKEN MEAL PREP Yields 4 servings One pan is all you’ll need to cook this easy and tasty meal prep. I like to prep a few different meals on Sunday nights to be ready for the week ahead. Chicken and vegetables: • 1 small or medium sweet potato • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed • 1 3/4 cup assorted bell peppers, chopped • 2 heads of broccoli, cut into small stalks • 6 cups of cooked rice or quinoa • Seasoning: • 5 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp chili powder • 1 tsp paprika • 1 tsp granulated sugar • 1/2 tsp onion powder • 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 425 F and prepare a large sheet pan with nonstick spray or parchment paper. 2. Pierce sweet potato in several places with a fork and microwave on each side for 2.5 minutes. Let cool and then peel the skin and chop into half inch cubes. 3. Whisk together the oil and seasonings in a large bowl and add in the chicken and vegetables. Toss to coat and then spread in an even layer on sheet pan. 4. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the pan from the oven, flip chicken and vegetables, and then rearrange in an even layer. 5. Return pan to oven and bake for 10 more minutes. 6. Prepare four meal prep containers with 1 1/2 cups of rice or quinoa and spoon chicken and veggies over top. Consume within 5 days.

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I L O C C O R B D N A N E CHICK CASSEROLE Yields 6-8 servings This updated chicken divan uses creamy jarred alfredo sauce and sharp and smoky cheeses instead of canned soup for its base. There’s nothing more comforting on a busy weeknight than a cheesy, bubbly casserole that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but came together in thirty minutes or less. • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cubed 2 cups rotini or cellantani • 1 large head or 1 10-12oz package of broccoli • 1 jar of alfredo sauce • 1/2 cup milk • 8 oz gouda or smoked cheddar, shredded 8 oz sharp cheddar, shredded • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1/3 cup breadcrumbs or crushed butter crackers • 2 tbsp butter, melted

1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan and preheat oven to 350F. 2. If using fresh broccoli: Cut into stalks and steam or simmer until tender. If using packaged broccoli: Steam in microwave according to package directions. Roughly chop broccoli into bitesize pieces and transfer to a large bowl. 3. Prepare pasta according to package directions and strain. Add the pasta to the broccoli in the bowl. 4. Heat alfredo sauce and milk in a medium sized pot over low. Add cheeses and stir until melted. 5. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium- high heat and season chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan and cook 5-7 minutes, flipping to brown evenly all sides. Transfer cooked chicken to bowl of pasta and broccoli. 6. Pour cheese sauce over chicken, pasta, and broccoli and mix to coat. Season and pour into prepared baking pan and top with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers and drizzle with melted butter. 7. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and cook under broiler for 5 min. Serve hot. August 2017 | 45

DIy Design Your Locker Article and photos by Amy Myers

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Materials: Locker wallpaper (You can also try regular wallpaper, or even fabric!) Scissors Locker stackable shelf Dry erase boards Heavy duty double stick tape (I use this to apply the wallpaper, as it’s less messy than wetting the paper to apply) Additional items, if desired: Colored duck-tape Small box for holding items Magnet clock Craft magnets Super duty glue Battery-operated mini chandelier or light

$Dollar-Saving Tips$

If you don’t want to spring for the fancy light or chandelier, the battery-operated string lights are a great alternative, and look just as nice! 46 | TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Myers Originals

Step 1: Cut the paper to fit onto each locker wall. Before applying, try folding the edges back, for a clean edge.

Step 2: The items shown are magnetic. Arrange to your desire!

Step3: Create your own container out of a used cardboard box, cover with decorative tape, and attach a strong craft magnet to the back, using super duty glue. These are great for storing pencils, glasses, pens, etc. August 2017 | 47

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Children’s Fashion

Clothes provided by Wig Twizzle • Hair styled by Chromatix on Main Photography by Divian Conner

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Great Southern Tomato Tasting Photos by Margaret McMullen

Sounds of Summer Concert Photos by Rachel Bowman

UnWine Downtown Photos by Anna Barker

SEPTEMBER 1

7:00-9:00pm FI RE STAT ION PA R K

unique indy vendors • pop-up shops • artisans food & beverage tastings • live music

starkvillenightmarket.org /mscollegetown

IG: @starkvillems

OLDER | WISER

HEALTHIER Many seniors live active and healthy lives, but there’s no getting around the fact that as we age, our bodies change. There are things you can do to stay healthy as you age, including maintaining a balanced diet, staying active, and preventing falls — and most importantly, getting regular check ups. www.och.org

We offer the programs and services you need to address senior health issues and enjoy a long, healthy, happy life!

At OCH Regional Medical Center, we’re committed to health and healing— to taking care of those in need at all stages of life.