August 2013

Page 1

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 10

TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

BACK TO SCHOOL ISSUE

AUGUST 2013


Enhancing Your Natural Beauty...

Kala White, CFNP

Bethany R. Hairston, M.D.

321 University Drive 路 Starkville, Mississippi 662-323-5377 路 www.vitality-skin.com

10

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Photography by Kelly Hayes Photography


Table of

Contents On the Cover

AUGUST 2013

FEATURES 12 40th Anniversary OCH 32 Reed’s Grocery to a Family Heirloom HOME AND GARDEN 20 Practical Designs 24 DIY with Amy Taylor 26 The Local Trend: Modern Homesteading 30 Gardeing with Russell Hamlton

Katie, just one of many who attended Mariah Smith’s fabulous Pre-K tea party fit for any sweet-summer afternoon before the school year begins. Photography by Laura Daniels.

TASTE AND TOAST 36 Thinking Outside the Box 39 Time-Saving Meals 42 Tea Party for the Pre-K

HEALTH AND BEAUTY IN EVERY ISSUE 46 Makeup in a Flash 5 Staff 7 Letter From the Editor LIFE AND STYLE 71 Literature 48 Where the Wind Blows 74 T&G Wish List 52 Points of Pride 75 Events 54 Hail to the Cowbell 80 Calendar 58 Meet the Students 82 Advertisers 60 Accessories Make all the Difference 67 Kids and Their Hair 72 A Cup of Lindsay Jo

AUGUST

2013 |

11


40 T

O

W

N

&

G

O

FEATURE

W

N

th

Anniversary

OCH

MS-STA12 TownGown3.5x4.75.indd 1

6/12/13 11:07 AM

By Ric helle Putnam Pho t og r aph y Submitt ed

It

is night when the nurse calls Keena Kaiser, RN, Nurse Educator, Trauma Program Manager and a Relief House manager at OCH Regional Medical Center (OCH), requesting to clock out for a few minutes to run to Wal-Mart. Because the floor where the nurse is working is calm and stable, Nurse Kaiser grants her permission to run the errand. After all, nights like this are few and far between. “A patient had been admitted to her floor that had come in empty-handed and the clothing she had on was worn out and soiled,” said Keena. The Wal-Mart run had been so the nurse could purchase clothing, toiletries and undergarments for the patient. “I was extremely touched by her act of kindness.” In her role at OCH, Keena has observed many acts of kindness that the staff exhibited toward patients and families, such as collecting money for a taxi to take a patient home because there was no family to transport them. “I have seen staff buy food for a family member that didn’t appear to have any money or means to get food,” she said. 12

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


h

““

OCH staff and volunteers have great compassion for the community.

AUGUST

2013 |

13


This year, OCH Regional Medical Center celebrates 40 years of service to Oktibbeha County and its surrounding areas. Since the move in January 1973 from Felix Long Memorial Hospital to its small facility in Oktibbeha County, OCH staff and volunteers have tended the physical, mental and emotional needs of their patients. The Center, now a 96-bed facility offering 19 specialties, employs over 600 people, making it the second largest employer in the county. Each year, OCH meets the needs of 30,000 outpatient visitors and 26,000 emergency room patients with the latest technology and a medical staff that is re-credentialed every two years through continuing education hours. Locally owned, OCH invests its resources back into the community. In 2012, OCH provided over $2.5 million in charity care to the region and much needed services, screenings and education to residents. Employing close to 390 people outside the hospital, its economic impact reaches approximately $64 million annually. “I think the fact that we are county owned makes us uniquely different from hospitals that are owned by large corporations,” said Keena. “Even though we are growing in size and strive to offer more services, we are still deeply imbedded in the community with a lot of community influence.” Richard Hilton, CEO, has been involved with OCH Regional Medical Center since March 1983, when he served as the Associate Administrator /CFO until February 29, 2011. He then became the Administrator/CEO after Arthur C. Kelly retired. Richard is involved in the leadership role for operational performance to fulfill the Hospital's mission for providing quality health care.


august

2013 |

15


“The Hospital comes together in a team concept with the Board of Trustees, Medical Staff, Administration, Department Managers and all of our line employees of clinical care givers and administrative support,” he said, “ to assist our doctors while managing patients and delivering quality health care.” Each year the OCH employees and Medical Staff participate in the "Adopt a Family" program at Christmas time. “This past year the Medical Staff and our employees raised approximately $2,000.00 that made Christmas a special time for two families with young children.” In March 1972, Gloria Larry, RN, started her career at the Felix Long Memorial Hospital as a ward clerk, later earning her position as head staff nurse at OCH in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). She said, “It is important for OCH to be involved in community events to show that we are concerned about the community’s total well being, including all ages, while increasing awareness of steps they can take to promote a healthier lifestyle.” Keena believes OCH is more than just a large healthcare 16

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

facility. “We are healthcare providers interested in our community’s health and well being and want to promote healthy lifestyles.” Providing basic screenings like blood pressure checks and glucose checks, said Keena, may alert some patients to pre or developing conditions that they can take to their physicians for follow-up care. As the Nurse Educator, part of Keena’s responsibility is making sure the OCH staff stays competent in their roles. “Every employee that is hired in nursing service goes through nursing orientation. Throughout the year, we offer educational in-services, training on new equipment and provide various classes that are required to maintain staff competencies,” she said, adding that by having a trained and competent staff, OCH better provides quality care to its patients. “As the Trauma Program Manager, we critique every trauma chart. Our goal is to provide care according to the standards set by the American College of Surgeons and the Mississippi Trauma Regulations.” By adhering to this, the OCH staff provides superior trauma care to the patients it serves.


Over 35 years ago, OCH’s Chief Nursing officer (CNO) Martha Fulcher began as a floor nurse. “Our patient care is customized according to each patient’s needs and values,” she said. “Plus, a holistic approach is utilized for that care.” Martha assisted with a successful accreditation survey where OCH obtained its ISO certification, a culmination of three years work. She described how OCH initiated several programs to improve the care of expecting mothers, infants and families. These programs included breastfeeding classes, a maternal-child gift shop, grand-parenting classes and a newborn follow-up clinic. “Nursing is very instrumental in preparing for the annual DNV survey and the numerous support groups that educate our constituents.” Annually, OCH offers over 100 programs and services that benefit the Oktibbeha Community. “Many of these programs and services do not make a profit,” said Richard. “The bottom line for these services is not just about money.” In short, OCH is about health and healing and taking care of those in need. “OCH staff and volunteers have great compassion for the community,” said Gloria. “This shows in their hard work; they often go beyond the call of duty to ensure a level of care that promotes the well-being of their patients.” With Starkville being host to MSU, OCH often employs personnel on a temporary basis while a spouse attends school or is stationed at the Columbus Air Force Base. In fact, people from all over the country come to work for OCH, bringing with them new ideas and new energy to the hospital. According to Richard, MSU's presence attracts well qualified physicians and employees to the Oktibbeha area. OCH’s innovative health care includes a strong Women's program with seven OB-GYN

OCH Programs and Services * Center for Diabetes Management * Arthritis, Stroke & Diabetes Support Groups * Asthma Education Programs * CPR & First-Aid Training * Athletic Trainer Coverage * Smoking Cessation Services * Diet & Nutrition Counseling * Annual Flu Vaccine Clinic * Kids Fitness Camps * Lunch & Learn Community Education Programs

physicians. OCH also boasts of a large number of long-time employees who have worked there for years, said Keena. “I like to think of that group as the bedrock of the hospital that provides stability to OCH.” But what stands out most to Martha is the family environment at OCH. “Many of our patients are our neighbors, church family and are on our children’s little league teams.” In January 2013, OCH became the first medical facility in North Mississippi to offer single-site surgery using the da Vinci Si Surgical System. Healthgrades, the leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital, gave OCH Regional Medical Center a 5-star rating for the quality of its orthopedic care. This recognition is part of new findings released in American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation. The study evaluated the performance of approximately

4,500 hospitals nationwide. For forty years, the OCH motto has been: “Advanced Medicine, Compassionate Care.” And forty-year OCH employee Gloria Larry helped carry this motto through. “I have had the opportunity to see this hospital start at the beginning and grow into a successful and community oriented facility. I’m grateful to be a part of this process.” Looking ahead to the next forty years, Martha sees OCH still providing excellent care that is safe, reliable and responsive to the AUGUST

2013 |

17


OCH Trivia “OCH faces many changes with the new healthcare laws,” said Keena. “The population is growing older and the baby boomers have already started utilizing the healthcare system.” Like other hospitals in Mississippi, OCH must chart its course within the many regulations and rules under ongoing healthcare reform and respond to the changes from Washington and the State Legislature, said Richard. “We will have to figure out how to do more with less reimbursement while trying to control and reduce costs as needed programs and services are provided to our community.” Regardless of the coming challenges, OCH continues to reach out to the Oktibbeha Community. During the weeks of July 8-11 and July 29-August 1 from 8 a.m. to noon, the OCH HealthPlex Wellness Connection facility has plenty of activities planned for its Summer Kids’ Camp for children 8-to-13-yearsold. “There are many challenges ahead for OCH,” said Keena, “but I feel certain that we will rise to the occasion and continue to serve our community and provide the highest quality of patient care possible.” Happy 40th Anniversary, OCH Regional Medical Center! 18

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

“Felix Long Memorial Hospital” was the name of the original OCH. In 1969, ground was broken to start construction on Oktibbeha County Hospital. OCH was built on land donated by the families of J.T. Garrard and Curby Steadman. Indian bones were discovered when OCH was being built. It was snowing in January 1973 the day the move was made from Felix Long to OCH. OCH originally only had two operating rooms, but now has six! OCH was originally licensed as 60-beds. The ICU was once located at the end of the hall on the second floor. Administration, accounting nursing administration, social services, infection control and marketing were once located in trailers outside of the hospital. The original lab was located where the current snack bar/eating area is. Wellness Connection and cardiac rehab were once located in the unfinished basement. The original ER was located in the current ITS department and parts of medical records. Chief Nursing Officer Martha Fulcher started at OCH 35 years ago as a floor nurse in L&D. OCH once had a rose garden and fresh flowers were cut daily and delivered to patients. Up until the late ‘80s, there were no ER doctors. Nurses ran the ER and family practitioners were on call. OCH CEO Richard Hilton appeared in the movie “Shame” with William Shatner when he was in the 4th grade. Richard Hilton started an orphanage in Honduras and has seven children of his own! Richard Hilton’s breakfast of champions includes nabs and a coke over ice. OCH COO Mike Andrews started the employee picnic several years ago to honor employees during National Hospital Week. Eva Smith, Gloria Larry, Joe Larry, Julia Self and Pat Kelly came from Felix Long Memorial Hospital to OCH. Henry Boyd was the administrator from the day OCH opened until Arthur “Sonny” Kelly came in May 1974 and retired in February 2011.


AUGUST

2013 |

19


2

| townandgownmagazine.com


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

N

HOME AND GARDEN

Practical Designs Pho t og r aph y b y Lor en Gambr ell and Submitt ed

20

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


M

â–˛

ore than likely, your dorm room, first apartment, or starter home will be much smaller that you have anticipated to live in. The amenities you grew up with are probably not available in you new living quarters, and you may begin to feel that you really won't love your new home. Though it seems that your niche has very little potential, the key elements that change a small space from feeling cramped to being inspirational and attractive are really a matter of implementing the theories of design and practicality.

Left: A Double deluxe room in Hurst Hall. Right: Standard double room in Hurst Hall. Hurst Hall is a premium style residence hall at Mississippi State University and is located in Zacharias Village.

1.

3. 1. Alameda Rug (available in various colors.) 2. Pouf seat and ottoman. 3. Hydrangea stem. 4. Pouline Lamp. 5. Hugo Paneled Room Divider. 6. Cylinder Trio wall cubbies. 7. Decorative paint colors.

2.

Sania Funt, a Starkville native and graduate of Mississippi State's Interior Design program, has had the opportunity of working with local businesses in north Mississippi that have taught her the skills allowing her to attain the interior design position with Sprout Home Garden Baby. Their interior design department, is in it launching stages, look forward to meeting the requests of their loyal clientele, and are currently making appointments instore or in-home.

5. 6.

4.

7.

AUGUAT

2013 |

21


Utilize the Secret Square Footage 1. One thing most people don't consider is that most rooms have almost double the surface area of their floorplan in just walls and ceilings, and often times this space is not used effectively. A simple way to activate the height of a room is to frame your windows with lightweight floor-to-ceiling drapery panels. Similarly, some rooms in your apartment could be visually divided by tall wooden partitions or sheer panels to create a sense of intimacy in each area. Another way to relieve a bottom-heavy appearance is to install pendant lighting in place of table lamps and floor lamps; you will be surprised how much it will alleviate clutter and also help your room take on an elegant look. At times, artwork will just not do the job in dead spaces over your furniture or in a corner; don't let this extra space go unused, as it is still perfect for installing box cubbies and shelving to store supplies, books, and other goodies. Extremely small rooms may need even more help in appearing larger, so don't hesitate to use the oldest trick in the book: get a tall mirror and lean it against a corner.

1. Lizzie storage bench. 2 Avery Island with casters and storage. 3. Wall-mount bar caddy.

2.

Go with Multi-purpose A major key to practical living is to invest in furniture and products that can double up on utility and functionality. When shopping to furnish a small home, a major factor is to determine how many functions can be incorporated into one beautiful product. If you reg larly have guests overnight and not enough bedrooms to sleep them, find a great sleeper-sofa that is both compact in size and slipcovered for easy maintenance. When magazines stack up, or its too hot for blankets, a storage bench is a great choice to tuck away some things you would rather not have out. 22

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

3. There are plenty of options for storage that you would love to place at the foot of your bed. Game nights always wind up around the kitchen table, but maybe you want to keep it in the living room; get a collection of colorful pouf seats that can be easily arranged around the cocktail table, or stacked away in a corner when not in use. Some kitchens need more countertop, but are not spacious enough to keep a stationary island. This is a perfect situation for a rollaway island cart with casters. As a general rule, casters are your friend if you have spaces that shift often.


Color Strategy When it comes down to it, the way you use color may have the largest impact in the way you perceive space. As a bendable rule, walls are best used as a simple canvas for the furnishings and decor you employ to the space. A white-neutral paint pallette for the walls is a great choice for multiple reasons. Light colors certainly mitigate the heaviness in a room from lacking sunlight, and they also allow other items of interest to take the stage. Needless to say, they will often stay classic. For those of you that enjoy a bold element, go crazy on one wall with a small-to-medium scale wallpaper, or a solid color in medium contrast, so as not to alienate that section entirely. If you really love color, save it for small bursts in the room, such as throw pillows, draperies, rugs, vases, art, or a small chair. Keeping your accents moderate allow them to really stand forward without competition. A personal favorite of mine is to bring in elements of greenery and colorful florals for that spark of freshness and life. Plants are a particularly calming element in any room, and will even change a hard industrial room into a more comfortable atmosphere. As you can see, even though small spaces can sometimes appear to be oppressing and inhibiting, they really don't have to be that way. In reality, some of the best places in our lives are small, intimate spaces where we are comfortable and productive. These are places where we solve problems, get rejuvenating sleep, cook new recipes, daydream, read great stories, or master our study. The great thing is that when you make your humble abode a place you love to be, you increase the odds of doing these rewarding activities. AUGUST

2013 |

23


g

DIY

with Amy Taylor

Book Organizers

24

| townandgownmagazine.com

With the busy lifestyles we live today, it’s easy for our text books, note pads, cookbooks and other items to get misplaced. However, these easy, affordable organizers provide a great way to store books and notepads for everyone in the household!


g

Step 1

g Materials:

Cereal or cracker boxes School glue thinned with water Scissors Fabric of your choice

Step 2

Taylor, a Petal native and Starkville resident, is a Southern Mississippi graduate where she earned a Bachelor degree in broadcast journalism and obtained a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Extension Education from Mississippi State University. She is an avid do-it-yourself crafter, artist and has a passion for home design and projects.

Instructions: 1. Cut the box diagonally, as shown in the photo. 2. Brush the thinned glue onto the fabric and attach it to all sides of the box, folding the edges like you’re wrapping a gift. If you have trouble folding the edges, an easier way could be to lay the box on the fabric, trace each side with a pen/ pencil, cut the fabric, then glue each piece onto the box. You can also cover the inside with fabric for a more tailored look. 3. When the glue dries, add your own finishing touches. Use a paint pen to write names on each organizer! Now you have a unique, customized place for books, notepads and other items. These can be made to look as fancy or simple as you wish!

Step 3

g

g

g


The Local Trend: Modern Homesteading

By Ric helle Putnam Pho t og r aph y Submitt ed

Are you willing to take living to the next level? Mission:

Recover Fading Traditions, Discover Meaningful Living 26

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Sign up for classes for Fall, rental services, and what the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center is all about at www.msmodernhomestead.com


A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where we came from or what we have been about.

In

Woodrow Wilson, (1911)

this era of technology, we are urged to leave the past and forge ahead into the future, where technology changes by the minute, whether it’s our cell phone, smart tablet, laptop, televisions, vehicles, whatever. We consistently abandon new technology for newer technology and anxiously await the newest technology! While we wait, our knowledge and abilities of surviving without all this technology are dying out like the outdated cell phones buried in our drawers at home. The word “progress” is consistently found in speeches, advertisements and debates and is often partnered with another word: “promise.” The promise to make life easier; the promise of faster service, the promise of better service, and so on. But is progress really about faster and easier and letting a machine do everything we are fully capable of doing? Dr. Mike and Alison Buehler, owners of Mississippi Modern Homestead, realize progress is not always looking to the future for answers, but looking to the past, going back to the basics, where food comes from, where heritage comes from, and what really takes care of you.

AUGUST

2013 |

27


A Sense of Place Storytelling Festival September 13-15 Homestead Fair Weekend October 11-13

“I think we've gotten away from that,” said Alison. We don't know how to grow; we don’t know how to cook; we don’t know how to build. Two generations back everyone had chickens, said Alison, and everyone knew how to grow a garden, make their own clothes, and how to preserve foods from the garden and meat from the pasture. Since turning their former home and acreage into Mississippi Modern Homestead in December 2012, the Buehlers have held many workshops and events to teach and preserve traditional life skills and folk arts, adhering to their mission of reviving and saving tradition and re-discovering meaningful living. Two events coming up this 28

| townandgownmagazine.com

fall are: “A Sense of Place Storytelling Festival,” and “Homestead Fair Weekend.” Alison developed an early love for stories, not only from books, but from storytelling when each year, her librarian mom attended the National Storytellers Festival in Tennessee, one of the largest storytelling festivals in the Country. “Storytelling is so rich in Mississippi,” she said, “as are our heritage and characters, even though we are portrayed as such a poverty-stricken state.” When you look at Mississippi stories, she explained, we are very wealthy. The headliner at the Storytelling Festival will be Joan M. McLemore, a

professional storyteller who bases her stories on family history and historic Natchez, Mississippi, where she is from. “Friday night will be a family night of spooky stories around a fire,” said Alison. Though anyone can tell a story, certain individuals will share ghost stories around the roaring campfire. Saturday includes workshops with facilitators covering the different aspects of storytelling, folklore and ghost stories, tips on how to incorporate storytelling into the classroom, and how to craft your own tale. There will also be memoir and puppet making workshops. Storyteller Joan McLemore performs Saturday evening. Workshops are open to all ages.


Preserving family and local and regional stories is important because people learn where they come from and discover value in their own place, said Alison. “A lot of youth are trying to get out of Mississippi. I think Mississippi is a fabulous place to be and we need to share those stories with them.” The Homestead Fair introduces skills that have been lost and are no longer utilized in everyday living. The Fair includes workshops in simple artisan skills like knitting and crocheting and basically showing people how to create things on their own, whether it's their own artwork, cooking or design. Friday night begins the Fair with a Homegrown Hoedown for the family. Saturday provides hands-on demonstrations of skills like blacksmithing, beekeeping, homebrewing, tanning, spinning, herbal medicine, woodworking, fruit wine making, fermenting and canning, small livestock care, making homemade soaps, and more. Ty Thames, local restaurant owner, will also have a food demonstration. At first, finding workshop facilitators for Homestead events was difficult. Alison had to dig for information on the right people. “Then it became word of mouth,” said Alison, adding that she will be flying someone in from Washington state for the hog butchering demonstration at her Homescale Small Animal Processing event in October. Still, in this technological world where kids crave technology, how will the Buehlers convince our youth to put down their cell phones and electronic tablets and join Homestead in going back in time to churn butter, can vegetables, plant gardens and make clothes?

"They love it and they want it,” said Alison. Earlier in the summer, she had an event called Unplugged because she felt that we were losing kids to technology, to texting, to Facebook, to Google and other places on the Internet. “But they do that because we let them,” she said. “The parents have done that, not the kids.” Alison believes that preservation should be a part of our child’s education. “We are not trying to go back in time and we are not trying to get rid of technology,” she said. “But we are living in a time when you can get the best of both worlds.” By combining skills from yesterday with current technology, marrying our past with our present, according to Alison, we build the economy because we learn how to create and build our own things and not rely on others to create or build those things for us. “Think of all the specialists needed when something goes wrong in the home, whether it’s carpentry, plumbing, painting or building cabinets.” We have grown complacent in our comfort to the point that we don't know how to do anything on our own,” said Alison, “and we are helpless when it comes to building or fixing things that go wrong in our lives. “When these skills are learned within the home, you not only save money, you become self-reliant,” said Alison. In other words, when you build the skills needed to sustain everyday life, you regain control and stability in an unpredictable world. Plus, Homestead’s skill-building, life-enhancement events benefit the community by giving the entire family something unique to do in Starkville and the surrounding areas. “I would like to see people come out and enjoy learning new things, while actually learning old things,” said Alison. “Or maybe that's learning things that never grow old.” See website for more details about events through Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center at www.msmodernhomestead.com

Progress, development, – those are modern words. The modern idea is to leave the past and press onward to something new. But what is progress going to do with the past, and with the present? How is it going to treat them?”

Woodrow Wilson, 1913 AUGUST

2013 |

29


august

2013 |

3


A B C

Kids Gardening T

he myth exists that gardening is hard, that only “green thumbs” can do it. Just like a lot of myths I have heard, this one is totally FALSE! I believe everyone can grow something, and most can grow anything. It’s not just about producing some fruit or vegetable. It’s not just about making the yard and the house look good. It’s also about all the little things you learn and experience along the way. Video games, TV, and the Internet seem to occupy a majority of a child’s free time nowadays. I think that is such a waste. It used to be people had no choice, it was garden or starve. Times have changed, but I think it is important to get back out in the yard. Get the kids out there and dig in the dirt. Let them learn about how their food gets to the table. Let them learn how to grow vegetables and fruits and then reap the rewards by eating what they helped produce. The lessons and experiences they will learn are so much more valuable than what is on TV. This month all the kids head back to school and the challenge I present to you is to add gardening to the curriculum.

30

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


A B C

Russell Hamilton Russell has been the Nursery Manager for Oktibbeha County Coop for 17 years since graduating from Mississippi State University with a major in horticulture. Email: rhamilton@oktcoop.com

Howtogetstarted:

1.Research is good but be warned. There is a plethora of information out there on the internet. Don’t get overwhelmed by it and don’t be afraid to question what you read. Use sources that have information about gardening for your area. One of my favorite resources is www.msucares.com. Start slow and grow. If you decide to turn the entire back yard into a garden from scratch you are asking for trouble. I’m not saying it can’t be done but it is better to master small plots at a time. Even container gardening might be the easiest method to get the kids growing something. 2.Don’t get stressed out. Gardening with kids can be a little messy. Things can get a little hectic and crazy. That is ok. Plants are more resilient than you think. Let the kids have fun with it and they will be more than anxious for next season’s crop. 3. Don’t forget about the educational opportunities while starting your garden. Explain why you water the plants every day or why you fertilize them. Explain why the bees are flying in and out of flowers. Teach them about roots and what they do. And if they stump you with a question, go together and find out the answer. 4. Pick the proper plants for the proper spot. If your gardening project involves an area that gets a lot of afternoon sun then choose plants that can tolerate or prefer full sun. On the other hand if the location for your project requires mostly shade then pick plants that are more shade tolerant. Also, check the condition of the soil in your project area. Does it have a lot of clay in it? In this area it probably does. Will the plants you have chosen tolerate a high clay soil? If not either amend the soil or choose different plants. If you are unsure bring a sample in to us or your local garden center and they can help you find out. 5. Overwatering can look a lot like too little water. The easy fix for this is to always check to see if a bed or pot needs to be watered before you water. If the soil is wet three inches down then the plants probably do not need water. I get asked a lot “How often should I water this plant?” I always respond “As often as it needs it. Check to make sure it is dry before you water.” The tips listed above will surely get you pointed in the right direction. Get the kids involved in the process of choosing which plants, vegetables, flowers, or fruit to grow. You can do this outside your class room in a plot or in pots on your back patio. Kids love to watch things grow and change. They also love the harvest or the beautiful finished project. They will feel proud of what they have learned and they will gain a sense of accomplishment at the same time. And I bet they may just teach you a thing or two as well! For more info and how to get a project started at your house or school please shoot and email rhamilton@oktcoop.com and we can get you started right. AUGUST

2013 |

31


REED’S GROCERY TO A

FAMILY HEIRLOOM By Joe Lee Pho t og r aph y b y Divian Conne r

32

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Reed’s Grocery

was a popular place in the Bell Schoolhouse area of Oktibbeha County for many years in the late 20th century. Owned and operated by the late Cora Reed after the death of her husband, Curtis, in 1969, the little store (and a smaller companion store on the property, no bigger than a shed) sold untold soft drinks, canned goods, cartons of milk, flour, and items like kerosene oil. Cora’s daughter, Hilda Hamlin of West Point, remembers it as a meeting place for lots of folks who lived in the area. “Our mail carrier, Jimmy Josey, stopped Monday through Friday to have his lunch there, which he’d bring with a thermos of coffee,” Hamlin said. “There was a group of about five older men in the neighborhood who would come in and smoke cigars and dip snuff and visit around the wood-burning stove my mother fired up each morning. One of them was Mr. Wilburn Sudduth, and he brought copies of The Sporting News with him. I’ve been a lifelong fan of Mississippi State baseball, and that’s how I got into the sport.” The store was closed in 2001 when Mrs. Reed’s health began to fail, and the property became Hamlin’s at her death in 2008. But Hamlin, living in West Point by then (and with her own children grown and living elsewhere), wasn’t interested in keeping the building. When Denny Daniels of Starkville, whose parents Buddy and Ann had been friends with the Reed’s for generations, said he wanted the 540-square-foot structure, Hamlin simply gave it to him.


august

2013 |

33


“Mrs. Hamlin didn’t want to maintain the store but wanted to clean up the property to sell it,” Denny Daniels said. “No one in my family wanted to see the store bulldozed. We all agreed that we could put it to good use. We offered to move the store and clean up behind it if Hilda would let us have it. She agreed. We weren’t sure at first what we were going to do with it but we knew we didn’t want to see it destroyed.” “My relatives built the house that became the grocery in 1850 or so,” said Ann Daniels, the daughter of the same Wilburn Sudduth who introduced Hilda Hamlin to baseball. “The Reed’s purchased the property and opened the store just before 1950. I remember people coming by the basics: sardines, crackers, soft drinks and bologna. Cora put in a refrigerator and sold milk and ice cream.” “My parents were good friends with Mrs. Reed before I was born,” Denny Daniels said. “We would go visit several times a week as I was growing up and would often stop in for a snack. My favorite was to get freshly-sliced bologna and cheese along with some crackers. She would cut the bologna or cheese as thick as you wanted from large loaves. “Dad and I would always get a couple of drinks from the antique Coca Cola cooler. She had the oldfashioned glass bottles, and they were cold! After the bologna, I’d raid the ice cream freezer for an orange sherbet ‘Push Up’ or an ice cream sandwich. During hunting season, we always stopped by on our way home. Mrs. Reed had an old cast-iron wood stove in the store and kept a warm fire burning all winter. I

34

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

loved the smell of the fire and the warmth walking into the store. We would sit around and visit for hours.” A team of house movers was hired in 2010 to relocate the main store less than a mile to the Daniels’ property, where it stands now. It’s a place where family and friends gather for holiday fun and other special occasions, although the old grocery was in need of quite a bit of restoration at the time it was moved. “There was no bathroom in the store, and we added a tiny one (when we remodeled),” Ann Daniels said. “There was one knife inside, one counter, and one light bulb hanging down. We were able to keep the walls and the wide, old floorboards.


The windows had to be replaced, and it needed insulation. The side shed (the old store) was rotted out, and the roof needed redoing. But the house mover had no problem moving it and putting it on a concrete slab.” “I’ve been over there several times,” Hamlin said. “They kept it intact and did a wonderful job with it. The Reed’s Grocery sign is still on the front. I think Mother would be happy.” “We use it each Thanksgiving and Christmas for large family gatherings,” Denny Daniels said. “Most are pot luck meals where everyone brings a dish. We use the original shelves in the store as a buffet-style serving line. I’ve got some fantastic cooks in the family so meals are always a treat. It’s great to have a place big enough to get the whole family together for holidays and just for fun. “I’ve tried to talk my mother into opening it as a store again, mainly just to give neighbors a place to come visit again as it once was, but she has no interest. Maybe I will one day.”

My favorite was to get freshly-sliced bologna and cheese along with some crackers. AUGUST

2013 |

35


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

N

TASTE AND TOAST

Thinking Outside the Box: Bento Box

Lunches for By Lisa LaFont aine Bynum

As

36

|

Kids

summer slowly creeps to a close, the start of another school year hangs in the distance. It’s time to start thinking about new clothes, school supplies, new teachers . . . and packing lunches. If your child is a picky eater, just uttering those last two words is enough to make a parent shutter. How do you pack a lunch for your child that is not only healthy, but that they will actually eat? Bento boxes are nothing new. The Japanese have been using these home-packed meals for centuries. However, they have taken on a new life here in the States, morphing into the latest and greatest trend since brown bag lunches. There are several benefits to packing a lunch bento-style. First, when food is presented in a visually appealing way, picky eaters may be more tempted to eat it. This doesn’t mean you have to spend hours cutting out little roses made from radishes, but it’s more appealing that a sandwich wrapped in plastic wrap. Second, because Bentos are reusable, it’s environmentally friendly. The average elementary school student’s lunch generates 67 pounds of trash per year. Bento boxes reduce the need for lunch waste such as plastic baggies and disposable containers, and allow you to pack a wider variety of food. Third, they save money. While school districts try to do their best to keep the price of their meal programs down, budget cuts and pressure to provide more healthy options have forced many to increase their prices. In addition, the cost of a prepackaged meal – which can run on average between $3-5 - can quickly add up as well. Finally, prepackaged meals are not only pricey, they are loaded with salt and preservatives. Bento boxes allow you to pack a variety of fresh, healthy foods. Bento box lunches can get pretty elaborate, some almost resembling works of art. If you don’t have the time, money, or feel you lack the creativity, don’t let that discourage you. You don’t have to go overboard to pack a healthy lunch.


GoodofSource Vitamins of Vitamins

It’s important to use a wide variety of colors when packing a bento box. This cute sandwich topped with cheese and an olive slice are paired with broccoli and cauliflower florets, Annie’s organic cheddar bunny crackers, and fresh blackberries.

Say Cheese! Round out this bento with leafy green lettuce, cherry tomatoes and baby carrots, and apple slices. Rub the apple slices with a little lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown.

Ymmm Ymmm! Silicon baking cups keep loose items – like the strawberries – in their place. Ants on a log (celery with peanut butter and raisins), sliced cheese and crackers, and grapes round out this healthy lunch.

AUGUST

2013 |

37


Smiley Face Sandwiches You don’t have to go all out to create a cute lunch that your child will enjoy eating. Here we cute whole wheat bread using a 3-1/4-inch round cookie cutter for the face and a slice of cheddar cheese with a 1-1/3 inch round cookie cutter for the eyes. The slice of baby carrot and celery make the perfect nose and mouth, while two olive slices complete the eyes.

Food Picks Fun plastic food picks can be used to pick up small items like grapes and are easier for small children to wield than regular utensils.

Some tools and tips that might be helpful:

1.Use silicon baking cups to keep smaller items such as peas, grapes, or raisins and juicy items like fruit or items with sauce from moving around or leaking all over the other stuff. 2. Pack the box very tightly and to fill it up to the top rim. That keeps the different items in place because there’s no empty space for them to move into. 3. Cookie cutters in assorted shapes and sizes are a quick and easy way to add visual interest to an otherwise boring lunch. 4. Reusable plastic food picks add some fun and might be easier to wield by small children than traditional utensils. 5. Keep it colorful. Try to incorporate at least three different colors for visual interest.

Turkey and Carrot Wrap Wraps are a simple way to branch out from the traditional sandwich. Spread a layer of herbed cheese on a low carb, whole wheat wrap. Top with a layer of turkey lunchmeat. Now is a good time to add a few veggies, like a sprinkling of shredded carrots.

1.

Carefully roll the wrap jellyroll style, tucking in any loose food as you go.

2.

Cookie Cutters Remove the edges of the wrap with a sharp knife and discard. Then cut the wrap into 1-1 ½ inch pieces.

3. A few cookie cutters in various shapes and sizes quickly and easily add visual interest.


2 1

TimeSaving Meals

By Chr is tinia L ucas Pho t og r aph y b y Divian Conner

B

ack to school means busy schedules, homework, and hungry students. That makes using a crockpot a smart idea for time saving, wholesome meals. Plus, if you plan it right, you can have leftovers ready for the next day's lunch. These are some of my favorite crockpot dishes; I hope you love them too. For more recipes, follow me on Pinterest at pinterest.com/christinalucas

1

â–˛

Recipe continued on page 40.

3

1

5

6

Serves 6 to 8 1lb. ground lean turkey 1 28 oz. can Bush's Baked Beans (any variety you enjoy) 1 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained 1 small onion, diced 1 cup barbeque sauce hamburger buns.

8

1

Crockpot Sloppy Joe’s

4

10 9

d p

7

s

2


4

| townandgownmagazine.com


8 Edito

1

Choice

5

Crockpot Recipe Contest

Choice

r’s

10

Crockpot Fajitas

r’s

Edito

3

1

6

Place the turkey meat in crockpot, gently break up the meat, do not over stir. Add, Bush's Baked Beans, pinto beans, onion, and barbeque sauce. Gently stir to combine. Set crockpot on low. Cook for 6-8 hours on low. Serve on hamburger buns.

7

Crockpot Sloppy Joe’s continued:

2

KYVAN BBQ Crockpot Spaghetti Recipe 1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey 1 smoke sausage link (cut in circular pieces) (pork or turkey) 30 slices of pepperoni 1 pack of spaghetti noodles 3 (16 oz.) jars of KYVAN Mild Salsa 1 cup KYVAN Sweet BBQ sauce 2 (15 oz.) cans tomato sauce 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard 2 Tbsp. parsley 1 tsp. minced garlic 1 tsp. basil 1/4 tsp. black pepper Boil spaghetti until noodles are soft and drain. Cook ground beef and sausage links until done and drain excess. Mix salsa, sauces and seasonings together in a bowl. Combine 7-8 cups of sauce mixture, noodles, pepperoni, and other meats in a crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. If needed, add extra sauce while cooking. Enjoy!

40

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Serves 4 1 1/2 lb. flat iron steak 1 onion, cut in strips 1 green bell pepper, cut in strips 1 orange bell pepper, cut in strips cumin chili powder black pepper thyme garlic powder salt (optional)

Place onion and bell pepper slices in crockpot. Add flat iron steak, sprinkle both sides with cumin, chili powder, black pepper, thyme, garlic powder, and salt. Set crockpot on low. Cook for 8 hours. You can serve this a variety of ways - on tortillas, over lettuce, or over rice. Add your favorite toppings and have Tex-Mex night on a school night.


t

Crockpot Red Beans and Rice Soak beans overnight and then rinse thoroughly and drain. Add beans to crock pot. Add optional sausage and low sodium chicken broth. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Add oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper. If you want a spicy batch add cayenne pepper. Set crockpot to low and cook for 6 to 8 hours. Serve in bowls over cooked white or brown rice. Great with cornbread!

5

41

3

8

1

7

6

Serves 6 1 lb. bag dried small red beans (soak overnight) 3 cups low sodium chicken broth 14 oz. sausage, sliced 1/2 inch 1 onion, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 1 tsp. oregano 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp. thyme 2 bay leaves 1 tsp. black pepper salt to taste cayenne pepper (optional)

2

august

2013 |

41

10


Tea Party For The Pre-K Pho t og r aph y b y Laur a Daniels

A

whimsical tea party for a CrossPoint Baptist Church preschool class was an ideal way to create memories and help children learn many of the social skills needed when the first day of kindergarten arrives. The BibleBug preschool class recently held a tea party for family and friends at the home of their teacher, Mariah Smith. “When hosting a tea party for preschoolers, a fun way to help the children understand and get excited about the upcoming event is to mail invitations,” Smith said. “When you are little, very few things come in the mail for you. Parents were able to talk about the event and help the child build a sense of anticipation.” Young children have great imaginations and setting the stage with décor can add to the sense of wonder when they arrive. For this tea party, the Biblebugs were greeted by their animal friends who dressed very stylishly for the occasion. Geoffrey the Giraffe dressed up in a shirt and tie while the class puppets sported their Sunday best. Everything was at eye-level for small children, including tables, chairs and activities.

42

| townandgownmagazine.com


august

2013 |

43


The tea party featured real china but instead of adult-size tea cups the children used Gracie China Rose Chintz Expresso cup and saucer, which was easier for small fingers to grasp. “Expresso or demitasse cups are a better fit for small children,” Smith said. “The china cups were a much debated risks for the party, but they really helped to make the tea memorable. To our surprise, every piece of china survived the party intact.” Smith said one challenge was that some little girls wanted to take the tea cups home with them. The tea cups served double duty as some of them were used to hold floral arrangements on the tables. Festive banners were made from scrapbook paper and paper lace doilies and draped on trees and fences around the tables to make a nice backdrop. To dress up the small chairs for the party, organizers draped them in white fabric and tied them with a burlap ribbon, accented with a blue bow. As with any Southern function, food is critical, especially for these young children. “They needed to know the menu before committing to dress up. Instead of hot tea, which children would not enjoy, we served a chilled mixture of two parts apple juice and one part ginger ale in the tea pots,” she said. “The kids thought it was yummy, and it had the look of real tea.” In addition to tea, pink lemonade was served in Mason jars with straws for the littlest guest who might have trouble sipping from the tea cups. “While we had the traditional petit fours, we skipped the cucumber sandwiches. After noting our Biblebugs allergies to peanuts and strawberries, we knew peanut butter and jelly sandwiches would also not be an option,” she said. Instead, organizers opted for marshmallow crème and bananas on white bread for the first sandwich choice and lightly toasted buttered bread dipped in cinnamon sugar for the second choice. Bite-size brownies and thumbprint cookies rounded out the sweets. No BibleBug event is complete without Goldfish crackers so organizers made sure to have those on hand as well. Elsie Dixon of Starkville provided the petit fours, polka dot cookies, and fruit and cheese kabobs for the tea party. Smith said hosting a tea party for 3 and 4 year-olds is slightly different from normal social engagements. 44

| townandgownmagazine.com

Yummy


Remember to:

Keep length of party short. Have hands-on activities. Have great helpers. Hire a photographer. Be flexible. Create memories.

Smith said the BibleBugs are very fortunate to have made friends of the young professional small group at CrossPoint. These young professionals spent nights and weekends getting ready, making centerpieces, and hauling chairs and tables for the tea party. The day of the event, they showed up in their Sunday best. The guys even wore suits and ties, in the heat, on a Saturday afternoon. Then family members can help out and create memories together by taking wooden tea trays and adding their child’s handprints and decorate with painted flowers and teacups. Then, add a cute verse such as, “Today is a very special day All my friends are here to play After play, it’s time for Tea Dolly, Teddy, mommy, and me.” Don’t expect your tea party to go exactly as planned, be flexible and realize that these children are just beginning to learn the social skills that will guide them for the rest of their lives. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s creating memories with your child that will last a life time and be something you both look back on with fondness. august

2013 |

45


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

N

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Makeup In a Flash Christine Tibbett Christine Tibbett, Starkville resident, is an MSU graduate with a Bachelors degree in Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising. She studied makeup artistry at the Atlanta Makeup Academy, and she is a licensed Esthetician (skin care specialist). Tibbett also owns Christine’s Couture, and in her spare time, she loves spending time outdoors, exercising, and has a passion for helping others look and feel their best.

With school back in session, there is so much to do! Your schedule is probably packed with to-do lists, dorm room decorating, and a full class schedule. It may feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day, but with this quick routine, you’ll be on time for class blemish-free and looking your best!

e g A e g le l o C d n a s n e e ForT “ I love to wear light makeup like tinted moisteriser and a couple of swipes of mascara for going to class. ” - Model, McKenzie Jones

Prep Your Skin Before Bed Cleanse twice (Borrow this tip from the pros…during any spa facial, cleansing the face twice is standard). Take off your makeup with a wipe, and then deep clean your pores with a power brush or scrub. Mask. Wear one once a week for deep cleaning and treatment-you will have a whole new complexion. Let it sit on your skin for 10-15 minutes while doing homework. Try a clay mask for oily or acne prone skin or one containing cucumber for dry skin. Moisturize your skin with an oil-free product. Your skin will produce excess amounts of oil when it experiences a lack of moisture, so moisturize daily even if you have oily or acne-prone skin.

4. 5.

1. 3.

2.

6.

1. Neutrogena Deep Clean Oil-Free Makeup Remover Wipes, $7 Drug Stores. 2. Clarisonic Mia, $119, Vitality Skin Spa. 3. St. Ives Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub, $3.29 Drug Stores. 4. Merle Norman Clarifying Clay Mask, $21, Merle Norman and Luna Bella. 5. Willa Girl Cucumber Face Mask, $1.75 Target. 6. Arbonne FC5 Oil-Absorbing Day Lotion with SPF 20, $40, Find you local Arbonne representative at arbonne.com. 46

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


5 Minute Morning Makeover

Step 1: Using your ring finger, dot concealer under your eyes and blend.

Use this handy chart to select the perfect concealer:

Skin Type

Step 2:

Concealer Color

Fair

Apply oil-free tinted moisturizer to your entire face and powder your T-zone. Using a large brush, apply bronzer to your cheekbones, forehead, nose, and neck and tap a little pink blush to the apples of your cheeks. Outline lips with a liner that is one shade darker than your natural lip and top with a shimmery lip gloss.

Peach Undertones

Olive

Yellow Undertones

African American

Apricot Undertones

1

Step 3:

2.

1.

or’s Ch dit

e

E

e oic

2

3

! d e h Finis

oic

E

4.

Swipe a bronze eye shadow onto your entire eyelid and a pearly white shade on your brow bone and inner corners. Apply a brown eyeliner across the top lid and 1/3 of the outer bottom lid. Smudge with a Q-tip for a natural look and then apply a coat of volumizing mascara.

or’s Ch d it

3. 1. Merle Norman Sheer Defense Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, $29 Merle Norman and Luna Bella. 2. Amy Head Bronze Radiance, $29 Vitality Skin Spa. 3. Rimmel Special Eyes Precision Eye Liner Pencil Rich Brown, $3.67 Drug Stores. 4. Bare Minerals Lash Domination, $18 Ulta.

4 AUGUST

2013 |

47


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

N

WHERE THE WIND BLOWS

Forrest Blackbourn is a Lecturer of Spanish at Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. Candidate in Romance Languages at The University of Alabama. His critical, creative, and journalistic works have appeared in The Coastal Review, Vision 2011: Paying It Forward, and Divergencias: Revista de estudios linguísticos y literarios.

Ambiance of Tradition

and Nouveauté: A Paradox of

Fellowship and Warmth Pho t og r aph y b y Lor en Gambr ell

F

or those of you who have not yet had the chance to check out Nine-twentynine Coffee Bar on Main Street in Downtown Starkville, you should definitely do so as soon as possible. As you walk through the door, the aroma of rich espresso strikes your olfactory senses, and you know immediately that you have entered an independent coffee shop; an institution that is sadly a rarity of our time. You probably know the name of the very successful, corporate coffee shop that has in many ways cornered the market for one of the most sought-after, legal drugs. This corporation has made deals with others whose principal products are food or books.

48

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Although these food-service establishments and bookstores continue to serve their previously principal products, a partnership (not a merger) ensures that they become associate dealers of the products of the afore mentioned (and in this case unmentionable) coffee corporation. I will never forget when I received my first text message on my Nokia phone that was very popular at the beginning of the 21st century and, over a decade later, is now perceived as rather Zack-Morris-esque. I realize that some of you may not know who Zack Morris is, and this is precisely my point. The unknown often tends to be looked upon unfavorably or at least less favorably than the in

stitutions and behaviors with which we are comfortable. My response to the first text message that I ever received was, “This is stupid. Just call me.” Little did I know that the woman who sent the text message was a Pablo Picasso or Frida Kahlo of sorts; a vanguardist who was painting on the other side of the canvas that would one day become more normative than anyone would have ever anticipated.


I became a slave to this convention without even realizing that I would be trapped forever in a world where each generation’s thumbs move faster than the previous one. Retrospectively, I wonder if I ever had a choice. I must confess, however, that I write almost exclusively on a laptop. I am not merely a slave to the machine but a slave to hypocrisy. Generally speaking, corporations function in the same way. Regardless of the size of the investment or the product, you get what you pay for. If the coffee is bad, people will go somewhere else or switch to an alternative eye-opening beverage. Demand goes down, the price goes down, and the profits reduce depending upon stability or fluctuations in the overhead.

A business concerns itself with creating a quality product for its consumers. Nine-twentynine is an emerging business in Starkville that provides patrons with a quality product in terms of beverages, pastries, sandwiches, and environment. In interviewing owners Carrie, Havilah, Joe, and Neil Couvillion in reference to the development of the establishment’s vision, they indicated that “[t]he seed had been planted quite some time ago because there has always been a desire to start an innovative business with culinary roots. Coffee was the right option because not only do you get a culinary experience when you walk in the doors, but you are feeding a daily ritual.” The owners’ opening Ninetwentynine required a great deal of meticulousness in addition to passion for and commitment to both patrons’ desires and the ideology in which the owners envisioned that the business should be run. In reference to this commitment, the owners continued by emphasizing “the integrity of [their] own shop.” They furthermore affirmed “that paying utmost attention to the details of everything we do is crucial to the stability of the business. We want to be excellent, ethical, and strive to deliver high quality each and every time anyone comes in our shop.” However, this passion for excellence is not limited to friendly and precise service.

Try our favs! Havilah: Cappuccino and a Vegetarian Quiche

Neil:

Cold Brew and a Chocolate Cupcake

Carrie: Lavender Latte (to be released soon) and Carne Quiche

Joe:

Cup of our signature El Diablo and a Sausage Cheddar Muffin


A PRODUCT OF HORIZON OF MISSISSIPPI P.O. Box 1068 | Starkville, MS 39760 www.townandgownmagazine.com

{

STAFF

}

DON NORMAN | PUBLISHER - sdnpub@starkvilledailynews.com CLAIRE MASSEY | EDITOR - claire@townandgownmagazine.com

{

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE}

CHELSEA CURE - chelsea@ townandgownmagazine.com

{

INTERNS

}

LOREN GAMBRELL NATALLIE PHILLIPS LIZZIE SMITH CATHERINE STUKENBORG SYRETHA TERRY

{

CONTRIBUTORS

}

LISA LAFONTAINE BYNUM SANINA FUNTES ABBY HATHORN RUSSELL HAMILTON CHRISTINA LUCAS MARIAH SMITH AMY TAYLOR CHRISTINE TIBBETT LINDSAY JO WILKINSON

{

WRITERS

}

FORREST BLACKBOURN JOE LEE SUSAN O’BYRAN RICHELLE PUTNAM

{

PHOTOGRAPHERS

}

DIVIAN CONNER ASHLEY COVIN LAURA DANIELS

{

ADVERTISING DESIGN

}

CHRIS MCMILLEN

{

PAGE DESIGN

}

CLAIRE MASSEY SYRETHA TERRY

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.

AUGUST

2013 |

5


“In a day and age where we are growing more disconnected, our desire is to create a community that binds us together.”

929coffee.com The Couvillions also express their commitment to the origins of the coffee that they provide to customers; a commitment that led them to Intelligentsia. They said that they “chose Intelligentsia for various reasons. Sustainability has become an en vogue concept here in the United States. People are curious and care where things come from and how they were made.” Intelligentsia values both quality and ethical acquisition of the coffee that they purchase. According to the owners of Ninetwentynine, the direct trade between coffee farmers and buyers conducted by Intelligentsia “nullifies the corruption within the coffee market and validates that farmers are being paid what they deserve.” This melding of quality coffee and fair trade allows the community of Nine-twentynine to be confident that it is being a responsible intermediary as the product moves from one end of the market to the other. As the smell of fresh espresso beckons you to enter this cool, hip, urban space that happens to be quaintly juxtaposed in the small town of Starkville, you will find two walls with aging brick and mortar, a rustic, wooden floor and ceiling, and a back wall adorned with stained and weathered baking sheets. The top floor is very inviting with its dramatically high ceilings. This ambiance is a result of the owners’ desire to maintain the character of the existing space. In addition to a bar that can function as a place of discussion among friends, colleagues, lovers, or even 50

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

strangers, it is also a great place of solitude to write and reflect. If you need to focus on an important project, the bottom floor provides far more privacy and intimacy. The furniture in the shop is very simple, yet c’est la vie of a struggling, urban artist. With wooden tables taken from a 1960 chemistry lab, there is plenty of space to work, and the long, padded benches in the front of the establishment create a space to catch up on magazines and newspapers or just to hang out. In regard to beverage choices, there is an extensive menu for the coffee aficionado, the experimenter of coffee, and even those that hate coffee. Personally, I have often enjoyed a macchiato or delicious glass of cold brew at Nine-twentynine. Among espresso served in a demi-tasse, regular brewed coffee, a Chai, and even an espresso beer float dubbed “El luchador”—Spanish for “The Fighter”— Nine-twentynine prides itself in a menu designed to satisfy a variety of tastes.


Nine-twentynine’s website states, “In a day and age where we are growing more disconnected, our desire is to create a community that binds us together.” Sometimes change can really take a hold of us. We can often look unfavorably upon the new that we ourselves cast in a shadow in the name of familiarity and tradition. At Nine-twentynine, however, the new is the old and the old is the new.

JULY

2013 |

51


Points of Pride

1.

By Mississippi S t at e Univ er sity Pho t og r aph y b y Lor en Gambr ell

Mississippi State is classified as a “Very High Research Activity” university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This designation represents the highest level of research activity for doctorate-granting universities in the U.S. Mississippi State is the only school in the state with the distinction, and one of only 108 nationwide. MSU’s research expenditures totaled $233 million in 2012.

2.

MSU is designated as the site of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, becoming one of only five universities in the U.S. to house a presidential library.

3.

Mississippi State’s Diamond Dogs made school history in the 2013 College World Series by making it to the championship finals for the first time. It was the ninth time Mississippi State has played in the College World Series, with the most recent being the 2007 season.

4.

MSU Bulldogs defeated eventual national basketball champion Kentucky in the 1996 SEC Tournament title game, then won four straight NCAA Tournament games, knocking off UConn and Cincinnati in the Sweet 16 to reach the Final Four.

5.

Mississippi State has a top 10 placement in agri cultural sciences research among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation.

52

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


6.

11

7.

12

Mississippi State’s student-led alternative vehicle design team was named year-one winners of EcoCAR 2: Plugging into the Future in 2012. The advanced automotive competitions, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors, among others, have challenged North American engineering majors to “re-engineer” a GM-donated vehicle to minimize fuel consumption and emissions, while maintaining its utility, safety and performance.

The Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is a national honor which recognizes Mississippi State’s support of “dynamic and noteworthy” outreach and service learning activities.

8.

MSU is one of only 14 institutions named a Presidential Award Finalist on the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

9.

Mississippi State is ranked among the top 20 best colleges and universities in the U.S. for military personnel and veterans. Military Times EDGE, a career and education supplement published with the Military Times newsweeklies, evaluated 10,000 colleges and universities for the ranking.

10.

John C. Stennis, a 1923 MSU alumnus, served in the U.S. Senate nearly 42 years, the second-longest tenure in the nation’s history. From his election to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1928, to his retirement as President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate in 1989, he served under eight different presidents, from President Harry Truman through President Ronald Reagan. For his consistent support of a strong naval force, the senator earned the reputation as the “Father of America’s Modern Navy.”

.G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, a 1943 MSU alumnus, served for more than 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Mississippi’s Third District in Congress. He served with seven presidents and also introduced and shepherded the passage of the Montgomery G. I. Bill. He was known as one of the nation’s leading champions of a strong defense and the foremost advocate for veterans’ rights. On Capitol Hill and around the country, Sonny Montgomery was known as “Mr. Veteran.”

.Mississippi State is a Fulbright top-pro ducing institution, with one administrator also named a Fulbright Scholars Alumni Ambassador. MSU’s Fall 2012 enrollment was 20,365.

13.

The 1962-63 State basketball team won the Southeastern Conference and then defied state government to fly to East Lansing, Mich., to play “The Game of Change” versus eventual national champion Loyola of Chicago in the NCAA Tournament. Babe McCarthy’s State teams had been invited to three NCAA tournaments before, but had been expected to comply with the “unwritten rule” that prevailed in the South for universities not to play integrated teams.

14.

The grounds of the university comprise approximately 4,200 acres, including farms, pastures, and woodlands of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. The net investment of the buildings and grounds is approximately $450 million.

15.

This year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Mississippi State University has the best return on investment of any Mississippi university. The WSJ reported a 7.8 percent return on investment for MSU, compared with 6.7 percent for the next highest university in the state. According to the WSJ, MSU students have the highest average starting salaries - at $41,200 - and the highest average mid-career salaries - $72,700 among Mississippi university graduates.

AUGUST

2013 |

53


Hail to the Cowbell S t or y b y Joe Lee Pho t og r aph y b y Clair e Masse y and Lor en Gambr ell Decor at ed co wbells pr o vided b y r eader s. Plain co wbells pr o vided b y The Book Mar t. Double Ring er pr o vided b y Chale t.

54

| townandgownmagazine.com


Legend has it that many years ago, a jersey cow wandered onto the playing field during what we now know as the Egg Bowl. The game was in Starkville that year, and as the Bulldogs were putting a hurting on the Rebels, it became clear to at least a few MSU students that bringing a cow to home football games would serve as a good luck charm. The cows were eventually left behind, but the cowbell itself soon became a fixture. Carolyn Brown Abadie manages The Book Mart and said that as many as 30-50 cowbells a week are sold during football season. Those numbers dwarf the sales totals from a generation ago, when Abadie was in high

The DOUBLE RINGER

school and her mother, Jimmye Brown, managed the store. (Brown said the only cowbells the family sold back then were at their Campus Book Mart location on East Lee Boulevard.) “We sell six-inch models in pink, blue, white, and maroon as gifts for when babies are born,” Abadie said. “The standard ten-inch, medium-sized cowbell (in maroon) includes the handle. The jumbo size is twelve inches, and we sell plenty of those. We saw lots of them at the College World Series.” Abadie, who has lived in Starkville since 1970, recalls older people around town owning real cowbells that were approximately eight inches tall and had no handle. Pam Jones of Starkville remembers “his and hers” cowbells at MSU football games. “The cowbell was an integral part of our social life, since our social life revolved completely around MSU sports,” Jones said. “In high school, I remember how loud they were when I came to football games, and how everyone had decals on them. The Ole Miss games were the most memorable cowbell moments since they made so much noise. Their fans hated them, so we rang louder.” Mark Wood patented and now sells what he calls the Double Ringer at The Chalet of Starkville. His model has a handle in the middle that’s counterweighted with a bell on each end. august

2013 |

55


“About four and a half years ago, I decided that we needed a cowbell that was louder than the bells on the market at the time,” Wood said. “We wanted it to feel good and comfortable and lightweight, and we wanted it to ‘ring’ and not ‘clunk.’ After two and a half years of blood, sweat, and tears, (and working with the patent office) we got our bell into the hands of consumers.” “The bell is special because it has some very nice features. We were able to partner with Head to get a very comfortable grip, adding ease to ringing the bell for long periods of time. Due to the design, it is actually louder than simply ringing two bells. It is available in three sizes and several colors, and with its two heads there are four sides to decorate. Our motto is ‘Twice the Noise. Twice the Fan,’” Mark said. As veteran fans remember, the Southeastern Conference declared in 1974 that the cowbell was a disruption and banned it, along with all artificial noisemakers, at football

WIN

A Cowbell with Town and Gown! 56

| townandgownmagazine.com

#COWBELL Tag us @townandgownmag1and use the hashtag above to enter to win.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Begins 8/1/13, at 12:00 noon ET, and ends 8/16/13, at 11:59 p.m. ET; open only to legal residents of any age, except employees of Town and Gown Magazine and their family members, and persons residing in the same household.

Edit o

and basketball games. In 2010, however, the SEC decided to allow MSU fans to ring cowbells during pregame festivities, timeouts, halftimes, and after plays. Fans are asked to “respect the bell” and “ring responsibly.” (Visit www.respectthebell.com to learn more about the SEC guidelines.) Jones’s daughter, Michelle, lives in Orlando, FL, but grew up in Starkville and comes home periodically for MSU football games. She attended the school’s Gator Bowl win over Michigan on New Year’s Day 2011 and was impressed by the sound of the cowbells at the game. “I didn’t have my own as a child, but I vividly remember Daddy’s cowbell,” Michelle said. “It was maroon with a white MSU emblem on it. I loved that cowbell and remember that it got much use at many football games.” “I remember going to a game and hearing the deafening roar during the huddles and thinking what a great defense they were. I don’t know how old I was when I realized this, but I can really understand why other schools would want them banned. MSU fans are notorious in their support for the Dawgs so it’s okay, in my opinion, to restrict when cowbells can be played.” Greg Fuller of Starkville makes and distributes cowbells and does a thriving business in the area. He met Hardy Tingle while at Starkville High School a generation ago and bought Tingle’s business, Bully Bells, from him in 2003, renaming the company Wel-D-Bell. Fuller was taught to weld by former MSU professor Ralph Reeves, who—along with colleague Earl Terrell—welded a handle onto a cowbell for the first time in the 1960s. “You begin with a raw steel stamped cowbell,” Fuller said. “The top shoulder and sides are reinforced with a weld. The top clip (the part that the collar would pass through) is cut out to make way for the handle tube. The tube is welded at the point it contacts the clip and at the base of the tube where it contacts the bell shoulder. “The handle is then de-burred, and the bell is cleaned. The bell then gets a coat of metal primer and two coats of paint. When the paint is dry, the vinyl grip is installed. Each bell is individually wrapped and then boxed for delivery. The welding is done in batches of 30, and the painting is done in batches of 120. From start to finish it takes three days,” he said.


Edit o

Choice Edito

r’s

r’s

Decorated Cowbell Contest Winner

Choice

Congratulations to Vicki Burnett! Vicki creates cowbell masterpieces with her creative scenes of MSU symbols, buildings and mascots painted delicatly with a true Bulldog-fan touch.

Find her work on Facebook at

Burnett Art, Cowbells, and Calligraphy.

Available in small, medium, and large! vickiburnett@hotmail.com 662-418-1820

Possibly the most unique route to cowbell ownership belongs to James Duke Denton of Pontotoc County. An MSU graduate who grew up in Starkville, Denton has two cowbells in his possession. They weren’t passed on by family members, nor did he purchase them at a Starkville-area retail outlet. “This was at the Egg Bowl in 2010,” Denton said. “The game was in Oxford, and I was part of the security detail. The fan I took them from was a middle-aged MSU supporter. His cowbells had paw prints on them. All the Ole Miss fans were pointing him out, of course—the MSU fans were booing when they saw what I was doing—but the SEC has a rule against artificial noisemakers during the games, and I told them I was just doing my job. I turned them in to the Ole Miss athletic office and was told I could take them if I wanted to.” The tradition of the cowbell, if MSU graduate and published author Leslie Penn Petro has anything to do with it, will continue for many years. Her coffee-table book, Cowbell Tales (Mascot Press, 2012), is a beautifully-produced pictorial of cowbells through the years and the stories of folks who own and cherish them. “My mother and father gave me a ton of advice as I headed off to college,” Petro said in the foreword of her book. “If I lost or damaged (the cowbell) in any way, I would not

be allowed back home. They were not allowed in SEC games when I was in college so it didn’t get a ton of use. But when it did, boy, did I ring it with pride. At the Music City Bowl (in Nashville, TN, on December 30, 2011), cowbells were in full force at the stadium with a victory in sight. I saw thousands and, like snowflakes, not one was the same.” “Hardy Tingle kept the bells going,” Fuller said. “When he began making them, the tradition was waning, and the MSU administration wasn’t very supportive. But (MSU President) Dr. Mark Keenum and (MSU athletic director) Scott Stricklin put their heart and soul into getting the (SEC) ban lifted, and of course our Bulldogs give us so much to ring for.”

The cowbell was an integral part of our social life...

AUGUST

2013 |

57


Meet the Students... Sagen Gunnoe S t or y b y Lizzie Smit h Pho t og r aph y b y Kr is ty Belc her (pag e 58) and Blak e McCollum (pag e 59)

D

Donate

online at www.sagengunnoe.com under the "Sponsorship Opportunities" tab. Sponsors will be listed in the Mrs. American Program book and Sagen will post shoot-outs to her sponsors on Facebook and Twitter! Sagen says she is always glad to make an appearances at events her sponsors host.

Vote

to automatically advance Sagen to the top 15 (each vote is $1) at www.mrsamerica.com and see Sagen’s profile at www.mrsamerica.com.

58

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

awning her favorite color, hot pink, for her evening gown, Sagen Gunnoe was astonished when she won the Mrs. Mississippi crown on Nov. 11 at the Goldstrike Casino Resort in Tunica. Gunnoe, 25, a 3rd year Veterinary student at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine working towards getting her doctorate, entered the pageant to simply participate and with the support of her husband of six years, Major Lacy Gunnoe. Gunnoe said that Lacy is “her biggest cheerleader” and constantly believes in her and keeps her encouraged when she starts to lose faith in herself and in the competition. “He does an amazing job keeping me encouraged and uplifted all the time, but especially during pageant prep. He makes sure to remind me that being beautiful inside and honoring God is what really matters (but he thinks I'm the most beautiful on the outside too!). Looks will fade, but what we stand for will last forever.” His faith in her is what allowed her to enter the pageant in the first place. It was also a chance for her to share her story. At 11 years old, Gunnoe was screened at her school for Scoliosis at which she was promptly diagnosed as having. She had an S-shaped curve and wore a brace for 20 hours a day to help straighten her back. But because of being so young, she was constantly growing and therefore having to get fitted for a different brace and starting the painful process all over again.


.

Gunnoe was around 13 when she had surgery that left the majority of her spine fused. While this surgery lasted nine hours, it took over six months of recovery in a hospital bed in her parents’ living room where she had to learn how to walk, eat and hold her head up again. She eventually recovered and went back to school but still had the taunting of bullies invading her mind. She would enter beauty pageants in high school purely for the validation of being beautiful. On the way to feeling the euphoria however, she began having self-esteem issues and developed an eating disorder that continued until her college years. With the help of her husband and finally recognizing her own selfworth, she realized that what made her different was those experiences she went through and being unique is what makes her beautiful. So when she entered the pageant on Nov. 11, she wasn’t expected a title but instead, wanting to enjoy the experience of participating rather than her own competitiveness she felt in high school. She even did her own hair and makeup while others had an entire entourage.

Now that she is on her way to the Mrs. America pageant held in Tuscan, Ariz. on Aug. 28 alongside 50 other delegates all competing for the coveted title, Gunnoe says that while she is nervous and excited at the same time, she mostly wants to remember her faith and her experiences that got her here.

Animal Lover!

“I’ve been praying a lot over it and I just want to make sure that I keep true to myself.” She will definitely have to remember that considering what lies ahead. Shaun Marshall, Vice President of Communications at the Mrs. America pageant, said that the future winner of Mrs. America must be the total package. “The winner is the total woman who can carry home, career and still have time to achieve on her own and still look good. Home, family, career and self simultaneously.” He also went on to state that all 51 remarkable ladies achieved success in their own states and prevailed in their own competitions and that whoever wins will be whoever the jury selects will be as he says “beauty in the eye of their beholder.” Gunnoe says she will do her best to properly represent all the southern women and gentlemen of the great state of Mississippi and that she is so grateful for everything that has happened to her. “I'm so incredibly humbled to be representing Mississippi at the Mrs. America pageant in August. What an amazing opportunity to share my story and encourage others! I'm so thankful the Lord has given me experiences that allow me to relate to people. I am absolutely blessed beyond measure.”


6

| townandgownmagazine.com


Accessories

Make All The Difference S ty led b y A bb y Smit h Pho t og r aph y b y Divian Conner Clo t hes pr o vided b y L.A . Gr een Boutiq ue

When choosing accessories to take an ensemble to the next level, deciding where to make the statement is key. Embellish a casual, coffee run outfit with an assortment of bangles and bracelets. Elevate a simple dress by layering on a variety of chunky and colorful necklaces. Transform a work day look with classy pearls or add a punch of color with a super stylish bag. In the end, accessories make all the difference.

Brides on a Wire black drop-crystal necklace, $36.99; Grandmother’s Buttons antique necklace, $84; and Dena umbrella, $21.99. Merle Norman and Luna Bella Blue Pepper light pink sleeveles top, $42. L.A. Green Boutique 60

| townandgownmagazine.com


Julio Designs wrap cross bracelet, $32. Denim and Lace Lucca Culture floral dress with cutouts, $82. L.A. Green Boutique august

2013 |

61


Anitque pearl necklaces, $30-40. Beards Antiquities on 5th, Columbus, Miss. Locally Made light blue tank, $38. L.A. Green Boutique

62

| townandgownmagazine.com


Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer sunglasses, $130 and Reed’s jewelry, $12-18. Reed’s HuntingBird white and pink high-waisted shorts, $59.95 and L. Space fringe bathing suit top, $79.95. L.A. Green Boutique

august

2013 |

63


Deep South Pout necklace, $35.95; chevron bracelet, $19.95; and teal bracelet, $24.95. Deep South Pout THML black tribal strapless dress, $64. L.A. Green Boutique

64

| townandgownmagazine.com


Earth’s Grace bracelets, $49-50 and LoLeigh’s bracelets, $42-46. Purple Elephant Blu Pepper coral long-sleeve top, $58. L.A. Green Boutique august

2013 |

65


Love leather bracelet, $14; black infinity bracelet, $14, and rings, $12-18. The Style Loft. Lavand dress, $32. L.A. Green Boutique

66

| townandgownmagazine.com


Denim shorts, $48; Locally Made light blue tank, $19.95; Molly Gee floral headband, $44; Backpack, $62; Catherine Popesco teal bracelet $32; and L. A. Green Boutique jewelry, $32. L.A. Green Boutique august

2013 |

67


Kids and Their

HAIR Hair Design b y Salon 28 Pho t og r aph y b y Laur a Daniels

68

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


q The Flip

q Braided Tails

$10

Kids Back-to-school Haircuts available at

q

Salon 28

Spiked

500 Russell St. Ste. 28 662-324-6900 AUGUST

2013 |

69


emember signing the Alice Cooper lyrics “Schools out for summer”? The best time of the year when I was younger was when the school year ended, and the summer began. Now, my favorite time of the year is August - MSU football starts, students fill the town making Starkville complete, and everything seems to Fall into place. With this issue, I wanted to not only bring a touch of history with OCH’s feature on their 40th anniversary and a story on the Davis family preserving the old Reed’s Grocery Store in the Bell Schoolhouse Community, but also new events and places that will inspire children, and the older generations to get out and experience what Starkville is all about. Check out the events through the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center this fall and our newest column on a coffee shop on Mainstreet called 929 by Forrest Blackbourn. When the school year used to come around faster than I wanted, I would make a list of everything that needed to be marked off before the first day. I wanted our readers to have a go-to back-to-school book including: How to decorate an apartment or dorm room according to Sania Funtes from Sprout Home Garden Baby, healthy bento box lunches with Lisa LaFontiane Bynum, time-saving crockpot meals with Christina Lucas, and DIY cereal box book organizers with Amy Taylor. You can also turn to our Health and Beauty section for a 5-minute makeup routine with Christine Tibbett. Fashion might be the last on the list when school is right around the corner and casual attire and uniforms are the demand for most students, but Abby Hathorn has brought accessories, cute for any young lady, that will spruce up those khakis uniforms or Nike shorts and Chacos. Then turn to see the latest trendy hair styles for school, all thanks to the staff at Salon 28. Look for this within the magazine for my favorite products, recipes, and contest winners and don’t forget to turn to page 56 of our newest giveaway just in time for football season!

r’s

Choice

Edito

r’s

Choice

Edit o

Editor

Letter from the

“R

Claire Massey Editor

AUGUST

2013 |

7


q Curly-Q

qq Fuax-Mo

Side Ponny

q Bubble Bun

70

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

WISH LIST

N

Pho t og r aph y b y Lizzie Smit h and Lor en Gambr ell

2. 1.

3.

2.

1. Sullivans Office Supply:

6. Reed’s: Vera Bradley compact

Colorful binders, $6.99, sullivansoffice.com.

mirror, $14, 662-323-2684. (Also available at Giggleswick.)

2. Sullivans Office Supply:

7. Purple Elephant:

Pencil grips, 99 cents, sullivansoffice.com. 3. Giggleswick: Vera Bradley lapdesk, $28, gigglewick.com. (Also available at Reed’s) 4. Reed’s: Patagonia backpack, $89, 662-323-2684. 5. Reed’s: Natural Life phone wristlet, $26, 662-323-2684.

The Royal Standard Collection pencil holders, $8, 662-324-4008.

8. Purple Elephant: Ocassionally Made iphone covers, $15, 662-324-4008. 9. Giggleswick: Vera Bradley highlighters, gigglewick.com. (Also available at Reed’s)

5.

4.

6.

9. 7.

8. 8.

AUGUST

2013 |

71


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

N

A CUP OF LINSAY JO Pho t og r aph y b y Lor en Gambr ell and Submitt ed

Bid Day Bliss Rush week is so hectic and stressful. After a week of parties, skits, and philanthropies, every rusheelooks forward to pledging on Bid Day. While most sororities put together their own gift baskets for their new members, families and friends often arrange their own sorority gift baskets for a new pledge they know. Sorority jewelry is a perfect keepsake for a new pledge - it is something they can keep forever and perhaps pass on to their own daughter one day. T-shirts and tank tops are also a perfect gift as a new pledge hasn't yet accumulated drawers of social shirts yet. Framed prints are great to decorate dorm rooms too. Some brands, such as Lilly Pulitzer and Vera Bradley, carry their own specific sorority prints and produce items such as phone covers, totes, wipe boards, and tumblers. In case you didn't know, each sorority designates their own flower. Sending a vase filled with a new pledge's sorority's flower also makes a great gift!

Lindsay is an online lifestyle blogger. Her blog, www.acupoflindsayjo.com, has a primary focus on fashion. Lindsay is a member of the Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB) and attends various conferences and workshops with other fashion bloggers regularly.

1.

3. 4.

2.

72

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


1. Floral bouquets - The University Florist 2.. Sorority buckets - The Purple Elephant 3. Lily Pulitzer sorority print tumblers - L.A. Green Boutique 4. Alex and Ani sorority bracelets - Giggleswick 5. Lily Pulitzer sorority iphone cases - L.A. Green Boutique

6.. Fraternity (Frat) Collection t-shirts - Giggleswick. 7. Waxing Poetic bracelets and charms - The Purple Elephant 8. L.A. Green jewelry - L.A. Green Boutique 9. Genealogie sorority tanks - L.A. Green 10. Lady Michelle sorority prints - L.A. Green

5.

6.

8. 7.

9.

10. AUGUST

2013 |

73


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

N

LITERATURE

Book R e vie w b y Susan O’Br y an

A

collection of stories by former Mississippian Sophie Hudson is about as southern as you can get. A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet: Southern Stories of Faith, Family and 15 Pounds is sweet as iced tea, comforting as warm cobbler and lively as a college tailgate party. Hudson doesn’t need violence, sex or dirty words to make her point that life is good if you have family, faith and favorite foods. What counts is the day-to-day experience, whether it’s a marathon bacon-frying adventure or taking a child to his first college football game. “ … in a world where we sometimes know more about the Kardashians than we do about the people sleeping right down the hall, it’s easy to forget that walking through life with our family offers all sorts of joy wrapped up in the seemingly mundane,” she writes. “And since time’sa-wastin’, we need to be careful that we don’t take our people - and their stories - for granted.” Hudson, who now hails from Alabama, shares stories about her close-knit relatives, life in a Mississippi town and her family’s love for Mississippi State University. (See if you can guess where she’s from. It begins with a M.) At the heart of her stories is a strong Christian faith, one that is presented as affirming without being overpowering. She writes in the same manner in which she lives, with a southern drawl and a down-home sense of humor. “I write some stuff about some things. And I say ‘yall’ way too much,” according to her Facebook status. Hudson has honed her storytelling skills with her hilarious blog at BooMama.net, a hobby-turned-passion she’s kept up for more than a decade. “This is huge, really, because prior to blogging I had pretty much only stuck with two other hobbies: 1) sleeping and 2) eating. You may think those two things are necessities, but I find that they can also be quite recreational,” she says about herself. 74

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

“And since I’m Southern, I would almost always advise that the celebrating should involve a table where both the fried chicken and the laughter are abundant,” she writes, addressing her readers like neighbors. “But as wonderful as family life can be, it can also be complicated. Family can get under your skin like nobody’s business. “No matter what, though, I love my people to pieces. I imagine you feel the same way about your family. And while food may be what brings us to the table when we get together, it’s the people who provide the real nourishment. As we join hands and bow heads and break bread, God faithfully teaches us deep, lasting lessons about loyalty. About love. About Him.” Her recollections hit hard at the heart, leaving readers to image their mothers or grandmothers saying or doing the same things that Hudson recounts. Most are funny while a few are sad, and some are just plain-ole quirky, just like some of the loveable members of any extended family. A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet is a feel-good collection of family memories along with some of her favorite recipes. And when you turn the last of its 200-plus pages, you’ll feel inclined to do the neighborly thing – pass it on to someone special.

Visit Sophie’s blog at boomama.net for book details, author bio, and ready made sweets.

Author Sophie Hudson


Starkville Business After Hours The Starkville Business After Hours was held on Thursday, June 20 at the new Beer Garden located at Hotel Chester on Main Street in Starkville. Photography by Lizzie Smith

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

1.Danny Holland, Rick Underwood, and Lamar Benson 2. Tyler Bryant and Kelly Atwood 3. Christina Bastow, Holly Giles, Sharon Shearer and Sukie Mollendor 4. Rick and Wanda Underwood and Sanina Fuentes 5.Ravi Perry, Staci Zavattaro and Chris Taylor 6. Ruth and Keith Remy 7. Adrian Austin and Ricky Biship AUGUST

2013 |

75


MSU Welcome Party Mississippi State University Athletic Department invited fans to wclcome back the MSU Baseball team as the 2013 NCAA College World Series National Finalist to the Dudy Noble Field on Thursday, June 27. Photography submitted.

76

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


Reclaimed Project On Saturday, July 13 the Reclaimed Project held their first fundraiser at First Baptist Church featuring Korie Robertson from the A&E Network Show Duck Dynasty. Photography by Laura Daniels.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1. Shannon Stoker, Nicole Oswalt, Emily Lesley and Brian Lesley (Reclaimed Project Leadership) 2. Chip and Sandra Stevens (Pastor and wife from First Baptist Church) 3. Angie and Bryan Templeton 4. Abby Johnson and Heidi Grace Phelps 5. Kelsey Megginson and Cameron Treadwell AUGUST

2013 |

77


82 Challenge The 82 Challenge USSSA Baseball Tournament was held at the Starkville Sportsplex on Thursday, June 20 through Sunday June 23 that brought teams throughout the state to Starkville, Miss. Photography by Laura Daniels.

1

2

3

4

5

6 1.Jeff Foreman and Jim Turner 2. Eldarius Roby and Alec Thompson 3. Mary Kimble Price and Mary Landrum Love 4. Debbie Wardlaw and Candie Blansett 5. Ty Roberson, Parker Blansett, Dylan Dwinham and Clay Matthews 6. Land Gebhart, Wenton Walker, Chandler Poole, Dalton Stevens, Alex Brunini and Coldan Carter 78

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM


Inaugural Mayor’s Gala The Inaugural Gala for Starkville’s Mayor Parker Wiseman was held at Hotel Chester where the community and supporters congratulated the Mayor and the new board. Photography by Laura Daniels.

1

2 3

4

5

6

7

1. Parker and Lindsey Wiseman 2. Helen Sue and Bill Parrish 3. Natalie Jolly, Kathleen Gifford, Lindsey Wiseman and Phoenix Adams 4. Front row: Phoenix Adams, Lindsey Wiseman, Kathleen Gafford and Kayla Gilmore Back row: Taylor Adams, Parker Wiseman and Jim Gafford 5. Donald and Vanessa Shaffer, Parker and Lindsey Wiseman, Laleta Stone and Joseph Stone 6. Jennifer Roberson, Verna Dawson and Monikia Hollingshed 7. Parker and Lindsey Wiseman AUGUST

2013 |

79


8

| townandgownmagazine.com


OSERVS The lush backyard of Kitty Henry’s Oakmont home in Starkville was the setting for the third annual Oktibbeha Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Service (OSERVS) garden party fundraiser on Friday, June 21. Photography submitted.

T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

2

3

4

N

CALENDAR

Aug. 3

Aug. 6

The Junior Auxiliary of Starkville Mississippi is helping the kids and schools in Okitbehha County by coming together with the community to provide them with much needed school supplies. The event starts at 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Walmart on Highway 12. For more information contact Hannah Stewart at 662-323-6971.

The MSU Alumni Association: Oktibehha County Chapter will host Minutes with MSU at the Starkville Hilton Garden Inn beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Roy Rudy and Sid Salter will be giving a “look back” and “look forward” presentation that will be accompanied by networking and social time.

Annual JA Stuff the Bus

Aug. 5

Volunteer Starkville

James Barnes with the MSU Extension Service will be speaking at The Greater Starkville Development Partnership in Starkville from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information or to register, email Jamey@volunteerstarkville.org, call 662268-2865 or register online at www.ctinyurl.com.

80

1

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM

Minutes With MSU

Aug. 8

Mitchell Distributing Blood Drive

The Mitchell Distributing is partnering with the United Blood Services to host a blood drive in Tupelo at the MDCTupelo office on 545 Commerce St. The drive will be between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

N

CALENDAR

Aug. 9

Aug. 23

Join The Friends of the Museum in their 2nd annual benefit for the Oktibehha County Heritage Museum starting at 6p.m. at the Shrine Club. For tickets contact 662-323-1180 or 662-324-2842.

Join us at the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center starting at 5 p.m to learn about food preservation: canning, drying, freezing, blanching, and fermenting. Registration is $175/nonmembers and $150/members.

Denim & Diamonds

Aug. 15

Business After Hours

Starkville Business After Hours will be held from 5:507:30 p.m. For location and other information visit starkvilleyp.blogspot.com.

Aug. 17

Gluten Free Living

Join the Mississippi Modern Homesteading Center to share recipes, stories, science, and successes that lie beneath a gluten free lifestyle at the Gluteen Free Living. It will last from 9 a.m - noon ending with a meal.

Aug. 22

Mississippi Film “Headrush” Premiere

This red-carpet event hosted at Starkville’s Hollywood Premiere Cinemas will be featuring Johnson Thomasson representing his latest short film “Headrush.” After the screening, a question and answer time will be permitted. Don’t be late for the red carpet...it starts at 7 p.m.

Aug. 22

Volunteer Starkville

James Barnes will be explaining the basic responsibilities for maximizing board performance according to best practices for organizational and social structures at The Greater Starkville Development Partnership at “Better Boards, Better Communities” from 6-8 p.m.. For more information or to register, email Jamey@volunteerstarkville.org, call 662-268-2865 or register at www. tinyurl.com.

Putting by the Harvest

Aug. 30

18th Annual Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival

Come with friends and family and enjoy blues musicians at the Mary Homes College in West Point. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the first act goes on at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information contact Richard Ramsey: rramsey@wpms.net or 662-605-0770.

Aug. 30

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Please join us at the ribbon cutting celebrating the Cake Sweet Couture Boutique that will be opening in the shopping center besides Walgreens. The ribbon cutting will be at 3 p.m.

Aug. 31

MSU vs. Oklahoma State

It’s that time of year...get your opening MSU football ticket! MSU plays Oklahoma State away. Get your tickets from the Mississippi State Athletic Office and support our bulldogs.

Aug. 31

35th Annual Prairie Arts Festival

Come join us at the 35th Annual Prairie Arts Festival where there will be four stages with live music, local food, a 5K run, children’s art show, Kid’s Town, and so much more! The Historic Downtown has plenty of shops, and there is also a park n’ ride convenience. The fun starts at 9 a.m. and continues through 4 p.m.

AUGUST

2013 |

81


T

O

W

N

&

G

O

W

N

ADVERTISERS B ulldog Club B r yan Athletic Admin. B uilding P.O. B ox BT, MS State, MS 39762 P. 662-325-3074

MSU Foundation 100 Hunter Henr y B lvd. MS State, MS 39762 P. 662-325-7000 ms ufoundation.com

S ullivan’s O ffice S upply 204 E . Main Street Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-5222 sullivansoffice.com

D eep S outh Pout 329 Universit y D r. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-324-6055 deepsouthpout.com

MSU Relations MS State, MS 39762 662-325-5753 ms state.edu

The G rowth Alliance of West Point 510 E B road St. West Point, MS 3973 P. 662-494-5121 westpointms.org

D esigner ’s G aller y 201 Highway 12 E . Starkville, MS 39759 P. (662) 324-3224 G iggleswick 200 HWY 12 E . Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-4438 G reater Starkville D evelopment Par tnership 200 E . Main Street Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-3322 starkville.org D enim and Lace 220 E . Main Street Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-320-8081 Hometown Healt hc are 101 D oc tors Park Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-324-8338 L.A. G reen 500 Russell St. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-324-6280 lagreenjewelr y.com Mar tin OMS & Maxillofacial S urger y 976 HWY 12 E Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-3801 mar tinoms.com Merle Norman and Luna B ella 202 Washington St. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-5255

Newk ’s Express Cafe 132 HWY 12 Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-6395 OCH Regional Medic al Center 400 Hospital Rd. Starkville, MS 39759 P. (662) 323-9355 och.org Phillips Financial 104 W Lampkin St. Starkville, MS 39759 P. (662) 324-2889 Purple Elephant 401B E . Lampkin Street Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-324-4008 Reed ’s 302 Universit y D r. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-2684 2013 U.S. 45 Columbus, MS 39705 P. 662-327-2684 reedsms.com

The Jewel Shoppe 215 W. Main Street Louisville, MS 39339 P. 662-773-3320 thejewelshoppe.com The St yle Lof t 221 E . Main St. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-324-5004 The Universit y Florist M ini Mall on Lee B lvd. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-325-3585 theuniversit yflorist.com Thyme 402 Lampkin St. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-5979 Vitalit y Skin and S pa 321 Universit y D r. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-5577 vitalit y-skin.com

S alon 28 500 Russell St., S uite 28 Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-324-6900

Waldrop Chiroprac tic 100 Starr Ave. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-546-4400 waldropchriroprac tic.com

S imply Home 306 Lampkin Street Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-4323

Walker Estate S ales 805 Elm D r. Macon, MS 39341 P. 662-361-2496

Starkville Proper ties 100 Russell St., Ste. 19 Starkville, MS 39759 P.662-324-0037 starkvilleproper tiesms.com

Wesley Furguson 405 Ac ademy Rd. Starkville, MS 39759 P. 662-323-2876 wesleyferguson.com

To Adver tise: Town & G own Magazine . P. 662-323-1642 . F. 662-323-6586 . townandgownmagazine.com 82

| TOWNANDGOWNMAGAZINE.COM



Your Health Right at Your Fingertips

OCH Regional Medical Center is proud to launch a

brand new look for our website in keeping with our commitment to bring state-of-the-art healthcare to our community. We’ve designed OCH.org to better serve the people of Starkville and the surrounding areas with user-friendly technology that will enable us to bring you up-to-date information on our many programs and services. The new site offers easier navigation, a new and searchable physicians directory, a comprehensive calendar of events, videos and downloadable resources and much, much more.

Visit OCH.org today!


AUGUST

2013 |

9


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.