®
HARVEST
OCTOBER 2019 DoSouthMagazine.com
02
october
Contents 04 08
Pet Adoption:
Almost Home Rescue
11 12 14
Publisher’s Letter
Community Cares Health: Hereditary Cancer Risks Shop Local
{ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT}
06 07 10
October Events
46
The Tea
{PEOPLE}
16 20 24 28 32
Get Bookish
42
Arkie Travels:
Fall in The Natural State
45
State Park: Hobbs State Park
Methodist Village
{SPECIAL FEATURE}
La Dolce Vita
52
Home, Sweet Home Moms are the Glue
{TASTE}
40 41
{ T R AV E L }
Twirl On
5 Live Events
{ FA I T H }
36
{FICTION}
Peanut Butter Bread Pudding Big Batch Bloody Marys
A Girl’s Best Friend
DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
Women’s Guide
COVER IMAGE Kerstin Wrba
04
Letter from Catherine
October Country I adore this time of year. Time to settle in with a good book, a comfy blanket and a warm drink. Our son just finished reading Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury for his pre-AP English class. He’s not a huge fan of science fiction, so he was less than thrilled, but little does he know that Ray Bradbury’s October Country quote is one of my all-time favorites and describes my favorite time of year perfectly. October Country words Ray Bradbury . . . that country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilights linger, and mid-nights stay. That country composed in the main of cellars, sub-cellars, coal-bins, closets, attics, and pantries faced away from the sun. That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain. . . . If you’ve never read Bradbury’s book October Country, I highly recommend it – it’s the perfect read for October, filled with a handful of short-stories, which all revolve around the theme of fall, Halloween, fright, and the supernatural. This month we have many wonderful stories of the amazing people and businesses in our community as well as delicious recipes and travel suggestions. We’re also celebrating and striving to educate women in our community about the businesses and services available to make their lives easier in our annual Women’s Guide. Enjoy, my friends, and I’ll see you in November!
Catherine Frederick
Owner/Publisher/Editor
catherine@dosouthmagazine.com
October 2019 OWNER - PUBLISHER - EDITOR Catherine Frederick COPY EDITING Charity Chambers GRAPHIC DESIGN Artifex 323 – Jessica Meadors CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Jade Graves CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Battles, Catherine Frederick, Dwain Hebda, Sarah & Paul Heer, Sarah Phillips, Sara Putnam, Liesel Schmidt, Jessica Sowards, Stoney Stamper ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick I 479.782.1500 catherine@dosouthmagazine.com Amy Adams | 479.926.1234 amy@dosouthmagazine.com ©2019 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions contained in Do South® are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to Do South® or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893
FOLLOW US Annual subscriptions are $36 (12 months), within the contiguous United States. Subscribe at DoSouthMagazine.com or mail check to 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903. Single issues are available upon request. Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.
To reserve this free space for your charitable non-profit organization, email: catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.
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calendar
Fan Mail
The Calendar
Send comments and suggestions to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.
AMAZING PUBLICATION Relationship Solutions is featured this month in Do South®! We're so honored and excited to occupy space in this magazine. Do South® has a long reputation for smart design and tasteful writing so this is a pretty big deal. Pick up this month's issue and read about our
October 2019 October 5 More Than Pink River Valley Walk University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith, Arkansas
practice and how we can help you avoid relational and personal crises. Copies are available throughout the River Valley. Thanks, Do South®, for featuring us in a few pages of your amazing publication!
Contests
Greenwood Fall Festival Bell Park Greenwood, Arkansas
(Deadline is October 15) Go to dosouthmagazine.com, click on our “Contests” button at the top of the page. All who enter will be subscribed to our mailing list. Please see rules and policies on our Contests page! RAW BEAUTY SALON & SPA
Let our friends at Raw Beauty provide the nontoxic, organic beauty experience you deserve, from brows & lashes, facials & spray tans, to hair care and makeup! Enter to win a $30 gift card at DoSouthMagazine.com. CODE: RAW BOOKISH: AN INDIE SHOP FOR FOLKS WHO READ
Cozy up to a good book from our good friends at Bookish, Fort Smith’s only independent bookstore. Jump on over to DoSouthMagazine.com and enter to win a $25 gift card! CODE: BOOKISH
Congrats Congrats to our contest winner from September! Calico County Gift Card: Allene Lux
October 5 9th Annual World Cheese Dip Championship Clinton Presidential Center Little Rock, Arkansas
40th Annual Frontier Day Festival Downtown Paris Square Paris, Arkansas 56th Annual Wiederkehr Village Wine Fest Swiss Family Drive Wiederkehr Village, Arkansas 132nd Annual St. Boniface Lawn Social St. Boniface Catholic School Fort Smith, Arkansas October 10 Chonda Pierce Let’s Sit and Talk Tour Hot Springs Convention Center Hot Springs, Arkansas October 11 Fest of Ale Majestic Downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas October 18 28th Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa Hot Springs, Arkansas
Sodie’s Wine & Spirits Gift Card: Cindy House DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
October 18-19
Poteau Balloon Fest
LeFlore County Fair Grounds Poteau, Arkansas October 17-19 Johnny Cash Heritage Festival Dyess Colony Dyess, Arkansas October 25-26 Farm and Ranch Expo Kay Rodgers Park Fort Smith, Arkansas October 26 Arkansas Cornbread Festival South Main Street Little Rock, Arkansas October 31 Rocky Horror Picture Show Walton Arts Center Fayetteville, Arkansas
Submit your events to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.
L ive ! 5
calendar
Don’t-Miss October Concerts
1
OCTOBER 2
The Temptations and the Four Tops On the heels of the 60th Anniversary of Motown Records, two of the greatest R&B groups of all time perform on stage at Robinson Performance Hall. The success of a new hit Broadway musical has sparked renewed interest in the R&B supergroup. Robinson Center Little Rock, Arkansas
3
OCTOBER 9-12
King Biscuit Blues Festival Featuring blues legends and up-andcoming acts, this iconic festival continues to preserve and promote the music of the Delta. Taking its name from “King Biscuit Time,” the longest-running radio show in history, the festival brings together people who appreciate blues culture. Banks of the Mississippi River Helena, Arkansas
2
OCTOBER 4
Lyle Lovett and His Acoustic Group A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett shows not only the breadth of his talents, but also the diversity of his many influences, making Lovett one of the most compelling and captivating musicians in popular music today. Don't miss this show! Walton Arts Center Fayetteville, Arkansas
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OCTOBER 10
Trout Fishing in America Four-time Grammy nominated Trout Fishing in America celebrates their 40th year as a duo! Their music defies genre, providing audiences with their signature mixture of rock and roll, blues, funk, jazzy swing, bluegrass and even polka. Always a fun time, Trout Fishing shows are not to be missed. ACCALive! Fort Smith, Arkansas
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OCTOBER 25
Zac Brown Band The Owl Tour with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Zac Brown Band’s success can largely be attributed to Brown’s interest in pushing creative boundaries by collaborating with top artists including Avicii, Chris Cornell, Jimmy Buffett, Foo Fighters, Sher yl Crow, Sara Bareilles, and Jason Mraz. Walmart Amp Rogers, Arkansas
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pets
Your Best Friend is Waiting M
M
F
Chet
Parker
M
M
Hula
F
F
Johnny & June
Sherlock
Vivian
Almost Home Shelter and Rescue 3390 Pointer Trail East - Van Buren, AR | Tom Hill 479.414.3781 | Almost Home Shelter and Rescue is a 501C-3 Non-Profit all volunteer staffed facility. They work in partnership with Van Buren Animal Control to find loving, forever homes for the dogs in their care. All dogs will be spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccines when adopted. Please consider adopting or fostering one of their sweet pets. Each month, Do SouthÂŽ donates this page to local and regional non-profit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email editors@dosouthmagazine.com.
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entertainment
Get
BOOKISH Recommendations and Image courtesy Bookish
Five must-read book recommendations from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently owned book store.
The Reckless Oath We Made
by Bryn Greenwood The summary of this book reads like the stereotypical romance. Two people who are exact opposites are forced together in the face of adversity. However, this book is so much more. With the joined forces of Zee, a six-foot-tall with a redhead’s temper, and Gentry, and actual knight, Greenwood’s whimsical and profound story is nothing shor t of heroic.
Frankly in Love
Talking to Strangers
by David Yoon The perfect YA romantic comedy for the season. Readers will follow Frank Li in an emotional journey that mirrors every teenage experience. The diverse blend of friends and classmates adds richness to this YA rom com that is often missing. Frank’s parents are extremely strict about whom he is allowed to date, and in an effor t to outsmar t them, he finds himself in the unlikeliest of places.
by Malcolm Gladwell Even if you think you know how to talk to strangers, Gladwell argues the way we communicate and understand others is wrong. The argument begins and ends with circumstances surrounding the death of Sandra Bland, and Gladwell argues his point through the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, the suicide of Sylvia Plath, and more. Everything you thought you knew about these stories will be questioned.
The Chestnut Man
by Soren Sveistrup October is the perfect time to read the perfect thriller. In Sveistrup’s (creator and writer of The Killing ) novel, a psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen. In order to save lives, two detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the gruesome clues left behind by the Chestnut Man. No one is safe.
DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
The Last Kids on Earth and the Midnight Blade
by Max Brallier This is the fifth book in the middle grade series that is now a Netflix series. Jack and the gang have to fight the undead, strange viney things that are coming out of the ear th, and try to figure out why their friend, Dirk, is acting so weird. In another action-packed story, Brallier continues to highlight the things that matter even when we aren’t faced with a zombie apocalypse: friendship, family, and a healthy dose of video gaming.
community
Our Community Cares
DS: We understand you support the critical needs of children through family-centered programs, tell us more.
words Catherine Frederick with Susan Pruitt, Development Coordinator, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma, Inc.
meal nightly.
RMHC: It’s imperative that parents are able to rest and recharge in order to make informed decisions with their child’s medical team. We provide a home-awayfrom-home – so families can stay close – with sleeping suites to accommodate rest during the day as well as overnight stays. We also provide a fully stocked kitchen, dining room, entertainment smart theater, laundry facilities, and a hot
DS: Who is eligible to stay at the Ronald McDonald Family Room? RMHC: It is open to families of children 21 years or younger undergoing treatment at the hospital. We’re open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and do not charge for our services.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma strives to benefit Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma through four core programs: Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at Mercy Hospital NWA in Rogers and at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, a Ronald McDonald House at Washington Regional in Fayetteville, and a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. Do South® reached out to Susan Pruitt, Development Coordinator, to learn more.
DS: If our readers wish to volunteer, what options are available? How can they sign up? RMHC: Our volunteers do everything from checking in on families, baking desserts, restocking rooms, light housekeeping, answering phones, assisting with mailings, data entry and more. You can also volunteer to prepare a Share a Meal, fill a Wish List, or with a third-party fundraiser.
DS: How does your “Share a Meal” program work? RMHC: Share a Meal is an opportunity for you (or your club, team, class, church, work, etc.) to prepare a family-style meal on the day of your choice. If you are interested please call the Family Room at 479-314-8030.
DS: Do you accept financial and/or product donations? If so, how can our readers help?
Ronald McDonald House
RMHC: All donations made to the Ronald McDonald Family Room in Fort
Charities of Arkoma, Inc.
Smith stay in Fort Smith. We gladly accept financial and in-kind donations.
7301 Rogers Avenue
Find all the information on our website at rmhcofarkoma.org. Your donation
4th Floor of Mercy Hospital
is tax deductible!
Fort Smith, Arkansas 479-314-8030 rmhcofarkoma.org
DS: Is there a special event or fundraiser coming up our readers should know about? RMHC: Every year we host the Red Shoe Shindig, one of Fort Smith’s premier fundraising events and our major fundraising event of the year. This year’s event on November 16 is at the Fort Smith Marshals Museum. Our theme is a “Night
Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy charity in our area free of charge. If you have a non-profit you’d like to see recognized, email us at catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.
at the Museum” where we will highlight the history of Fort Smith. All proceeds support the work of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma in the River Valley, through the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy Fort Smith. Last year, over $250,000 was raised for this vital program that has served over 3,300 area children and families in almost 9 years. Tickets are on sale at rmhcofarkoma.org. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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health
Cindy Smith with her sisters
Understanding Hereditary Cancer Risks WORds and images courtesy Alicia Agent, Director Marketing Communications Baptist Health – Fort Smith
For Cindy Smith, a registered radiologic technologist and
important for women to discuss their family history and
sonographer at Baptist Health Breast Center-Fort Smith,
genetic risk factors with their physicians.
discovering her risk of cancer was important. Thanks to “Hereditary breast cancer, which is associated with BRCA
genetic testing it was easy.
1 or 2, is linked fairly closely with ovarian cancer. In Lynch Cindy’s mother died of breast cancer at the age of forty-
Syndrome, a genetic condition which makes someone
five in the late 1990’s and as a healthcare professional
more likely to develop cancer, we can see increased risk
she knew this increased the risk of cancer not only for
for colon cancer, endometrial cancer, and other cancers
herself but her two sisters. But it wasn’t until a visit with a
associated with the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract.
gynecologist nearly ten years later that the topic of genetic
In these cases, it’s important to take a detailed family
testing for hereditary cancer came up.
history,” Dr. Bowes said.
“We decided I would get the test and if I was positive,
“When my mom was diagnosed, there wasn’t a lot of
then my sisters would also be screened,” Smith said.
education or discussion about cancer or genetic testing,” Cindy said. “Public knowledge of women’s health, genetics
Smith tested positive for BRCA2, a gene that puts her at
and testing options have improved so much over the last
a higher risk of breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer, as
twenty years. It’s incredible.”
well as melanoma. Her sisters tested positive, too, leaving the women to decide what preventative measures, if any,
Cindy and Dr. Bowes agree it’s important for women to
would be taken.
keep the conversation going. Health care providers and advocates across the country turn their attention to ovarian
Anne Bowes, D.O., an obstetrician and gynecologist
and breast cancers each fall with activities surrounding
with Baptist Health Women’s Clinic-Fort Smith, says it’s
national health observation months.
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health
Baptist Health works with many physicians and local
If a gene mutation is found, individuals with hereditary
organizations to raise awareness about symptoms for
cancer risk or familiar cancer risk – a combination of
diseases and ways women can understand their own risks.
genetic and environmental factors – can work with genetic counselors and physicians to personalize a prevention plan
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecological
that may include increased surveillance, risk-reducing
malignancy and the most common cause of gynecological
medications or surgery and treatment options.
cancer death in the United States – usually due to its late detection, according to Dr. Bowes.
Cindy says she understands why some might be nervous or reluctant about going through with genetic testing
“Most early stage ovarian cancers, unfortunately, will
because of fear of the results. But she says it’s important
escape even the best physical exam because the ovaries
to prepare yourself emotionally.
anatomically lie deep within the pelvis,” Dr. Bowes said. “They are often difficult to palpate. By the time the ovary
“It could be a bother, or it could be blessing. It’s up to
grows large enough to be plainly felt or cause a problem
you to decide how you react to the information and how
for the patient, if cancer is involved, it is often at a more
you use it,” she said. “For me, I saw the information as
advanced stage and may carry a worse prognosis.”
a tool, something I could use. I make sure to get regular check-ups and mammograms, whatever is recommended
Some of the symptoms of possible ovarian cancer include:
for a woman like myself with certain risk factors such as a
• Bloating
family history of cancer.”
• Pelvic pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms, such as the frequent
or sudden urge “As women I don’t think we don’t think enough of ourselves to go and talk to someone about our bodies and our health, but we should,” Dr. Bowes said. “If a woman
Anne Bowes, D.O., Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baptist Health Women’s Clinic-Fort Smith
begins to develop any persistent symptoms that are different from their ‘normal’ feelings, then she should talk to her gynecologist.” While there’s not a good process in place for screening for ovarian cancer, Dr. Bowes says genetic counseling can play a huge role in helping a woman make informed decisions about her health. Cindy and her coworkers at Baptist Health Breast CenterFort Smith work closely with Myriad Genetic Laboratories to offer Myriad myRisk® Hereditary Cancer tests and education at the center. Myriad myRisk ® Hereditary Cancer tests help detect mutations in multiple genes associated with an increased risk for eight different cancers. It all starts with a video and a phone call with a genetic
For more information on genetic testing, breast cancer
counselor. Blood is drawn in the center and sent off for
assessment, 3D digital mammography or other services provided
testing if the patient decides they wish to learn more
at Baptist Health Breast Center-Fort Smith, call (479) 709-1913.
about their genetic risk of cancer.
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shop
Have a Howling Good Time! words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors
Oticon Opn Special Edition Pink Hearing Aid
CENTER FOR HEARING 479.785.3277
Full Circle® Reusable Sandwich Bags and To-Go Ware® Reusable Bamboo Utensils
OLDE FASHIONED FOODS 479.782.6183 / 479.649.8200
Samuel Adams Octoberfest, Shiner Oktoberfest, Freakshow 2017 Zinfandel, Coop Oktoberfest, Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest Marzen Lager, Lost Forty Brewing The Hunter Oktoberfest
SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS
Hayley Paige for Hearts On Fire Collection, Harley Wrap Power Band, 18kt Gold, Pink Sapphire and Diamond Band
JOHN MAYS JEWELERS
479.783.8013
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479.452.2140
shop
Don’t be scared, we promise no tricks when you shop local this fall! Pay a visit to our favorite shops and discover the treats they have in store for you. Be sure and tell them Do South® sent you!
Lymphatic and Vein Formula Dietary Supplements to Support Healthy Lymphatic Functions and Healthy Veins
Journeyman Distillery™ Organic Spirits: Silver Cross™ Whiskey, Corsets, Whips, and Whiskey™, Featherbone™ Bourbon Whiskey, Last Feather Rye™ Whiskey, and Old Country Goodness Apple Cider Liqueur
IN GOOD SPIRITS 479.434.6604
ARKANSAS VEIN CLINIC AND SKIN CARE 479.484.7100
Gorgeous Seasonal Home Décor
JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP BAPTIST HEALTH-FORT SMITH 479.441.4221
Face a Face Sunglasses
DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020
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people
TWIRL ON words Liesel Schmidt imageS courtesy The Udouj Family
Melissa and Isabella Udouj
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people
For most people, the term “baton twirling” conjures images
Admittedly, when Isabella picked up her first baton, she didn’t
of an energetic girl clad in shiny tights and a spangled, sequin
have the foresight to understand what becoming a high-level
covered uniform marching around with a toothpaste-ad smile,
majorette would involve; but somewhere along the way, her
her perky ponytail swinging in time with each step as she
love for the art—and her natural talent—took hold and kept
maneuvers the baton in her hand through a series of motions
her grip firm on the baton, no matter the challenges that
choreographed to music. It’s the clichéd version we’ve all seen
could have tripped her up and taken her eyes off the mark.
in the movies, the “talent portion” pulled out by so many
“My mom was the one who thought it would be fun for me to
beauty queens on pageant stages over the years. But in truth,
try a few twirling lessons when I was six, and now I’m here!”
there’s more to being a majorette than meets the eye; and for
Isabella recalls with a laugh.
former Razorback majorette Melissa Udouj and her daughter, Isabella, twirling that baton is a tradition to wield with pride.
Just where here is is amazing, if you think about it. A nineteenyear-old sophomore who, like her mother, is twirling for the
At fifty, Melissa may no longer be marching the college field,
Razorbacks at the University of Arkansas while she pursues
but she’s still got that same degree of spirit that kept her fired
her degree—hers, however, is in apparel merchandising and
up, powering through routines while she was twirling from
product development—Isabella is indeed a competition-level
1987 to 1991 during her years at the University of Arkansas.
majorette, having qualified and competed at the National
A communications major at the time, she graduated and went
Baton Twirling Association (NBTA) at Notre Dame each year
on to become a flight attendant for American Airlines until
since she was seven years old. Last year, she was a majorette
2001, when she took on a full-time role as a homemaker,
on the line and will be named the new Feature Twirler this
raising her children and coaching young majorettes in the
year, accomplishing a dream she’s had since she was six years
area. Naturally enough, one of those young majorettes was her own daughter, Isabella. “I myself always had an interest in being a majorette and started when I was in sixth grade,” says Melissa. “I immediately fell in love with it and twirled all through junior and senior high before doing it in college. I always felt special, being a majorette, because it’s not as simple as someone just picking up a baton and twirling it. It takes time and dedication and a real love for doing it to do it well—and being part of Isabella’s journey to becoming a majorette over the years really drove that home for me even more. Seeing her dedicate two to three hours a day, five days a week to training in the gym and witnessing all of her willingness to tackle challenges and persevere was amazing to me. She’s on a whole other level of twirling than I could have ever imagined being, and it’s taken a lot of time, commitment, and sacrifice to reach it.”
Isabella and Melissa Udouj
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people
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people
old. In 2011, she won pre-teen Intermediate Miss Majorette of
in that the Fort Smith band programs have been supportive of
America and later traveled to France to teach baton. Adding to
continuing this great tradition.”
her list of accomplishments worthy of twilling that baton with a smile of satisfaction, in 2017, she was chosen as a United States of America Goodwill Ambassador to Peru, making her one of fourteen baton twirlers chosen to represent the U.S. in Peru for two weeks. As Melissa will tell you, the sport—and it is, indeed, a sport— has changed since she wore the uniform. “The difficulty level is so much higher now. There’s a lot more body work such as tumbling under high tosses than you saw in years past,” she says. “It’s such a unique sport,” adds Isabella, who has hopes that one day, the tradition will continue with her own children. “Twirling is essentially dancing and tumbling, but adding in a baton—or batons, as the case may be—makes it ten times harder. It combines many skills into one very difficult yet effortless-looking performance. People who have no idea about baton twirling are amazed by the sport and how much of a ‘wow’ effect it has on audiences.” And with good reason, as anyone who has ever watched a full routine will undoubtedly admit. Every step, every move is precisely timed so that no spin, no tumble, no toss of the baton or flick of the wrist is off by even a second, as that
“It’s been invaluable in my life. Baton has lead me all over the
second could throw everything off balance. “There is no off
world and given me so many friendships I otherwise wouldn’t
season for a competitive twirler,” Isabella says of the time she
have,” Isabella says. To hear them tell their stories, it’s clear
has to put in to stay at the top of her game. “I have to practice
that, for both Melissa and Isabella, twirling the baton has
all year long in order to keep up my skills as well as continuing
been about more than just the challenge of the sport; it’s
to get better. Growing up, I would miss out on things like
brought them great opportunities to forge friendships, gain
birthday parties or school dances because I had to prioritize
confidence in themselves, and make memories that will last
my practice sessions or competitions along with school and
them a lifetime. “I’ll never forget the first time I stepped onto
other outside activities. It was hard to understand then why
the field in Razorback stadium to march down the field to the
I couldn’t just be a ‘normal’ kid; but looking back on those
fight song,” Melissa recalls with a gleam in her eye. “And my
times, I realize that I would not be where I am today without
senior year was our last year in SWC. The band traveled to the
the time and dedication I put in.”
Texas Longhorn game, and at the end of our halftime show, we sang ‘All Our Exes Live in Texas.’ I have great memories of
Unfortunately for many girls who have dreams of one day
seeing the Texas fans’ faces!”
besting the baton as they hold the attention of stadiums filled with sports fans, twirling isn’t as much a priority in school
For mothers and daughters, the bond of blood always runs
sports as it once was. “You don’t see as many twirlers in junior
deep; but when there is a shared passion for a common
or senior high school band programs today,” Melissa says
interest, that’s literally a baton that’s worth passing.
regretfully. “It’s almost a dying art, but we’ve been fortunate DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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people
Methodist Village
SENIOR LIVING HELPS M E E T G R OW I N G N E E D WORDs Dwain Hebda images courtesy of Methodist Village
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people
Melissa Curry, chief executive officer of Methodist Village
offer assisted living. With the Baby Boomers coming up,
Senior Living in Fort Smith, doesn’t spend a lot of time
our community really needed that.
quoting national statistics. It doesn’t much matter to her that there are nearly eighty million Baby Boomers in the United
“We were also seeing more and more Alzheimer’s and
States, or that an estimated ten thousand of them reach
dementia patients and that’s why we made part of [assisted
retirement age every day.
living] a secure facility.” Methodist Village’s offerings are the latest expression of serving the most vulnerable in Fort Smith.
It’s not that Melissa isn’t as intrigued by such numbers as the next person or that she doesn’t recognize that this segment
“We are a faith-based nonprofit with a wonderful history,”
is the heart and soul demographic for Methodist Village. It’s
Melissa says. “Here on our campus years ago, we used
just that she and her erstwhile team are so focused with
to be a tuberculosis center. Once the tuberculosis was
serving people locally, they don’t have much time to worry
vaccinated and gotten rid of, the city started a kind of
about the rest of the country.
pauper’s nursing home.”
It’s a single-minded philosophy that pays off every day here
The venture proved too much for the city to handle and so
in quality, compassionate care.
it deeded the property over to the Methodist Church on the stipulation the Methodists would use it to continue to care
“Nursing homes used to be, honestly, a
for the community’s seniors. After years of being directly
place where you went to die,” she says.
501(c)(3) nonprofit and operates as such today.
“Here at Methodist, we believe it’s a
“We serve all people, absolutely,” Melissa says. “We have
place where you can begin to live.”
states. With our Alzheimer’s unit opening up, we have people
managed by the church, Methodist Village formed as a
people from all over Fort Smith, the River Valley, even different from as far as the east and west coasts coming in.”
Methodist Village is unique in the River Valley, offering living options from independent apartments (forty-two) to
As the community has grown and expanded, staffing needs
assisted living units (twenty-six) to secured memory care
have grown right along with it, currently numbering more
units (nineteen). It also operates a one hundred forty-five
than two hundred. This, Melissa says, is the most difficult
bed long-term care unit, dual certified to provide rehab
challenge on the operational side, attracting and retaining
or standard full-time nursing care. It is the fifth-largest
skilled, compassionate employees.
nursing home in Arkansas. The community opened its various living options in phases – the nursing home opened
“Recruiting and retaining good people in health care
in 1961, independent living in 1972 and the assisted
is very difficult,” she says. “It’s challenging across the
living and memory unit this past April – to adapt to care
country. We’ve done several things to try to recruit and
trends and needs within the community. The entity has
retain our employees.”
demonstrated a keen instinct in this regard; in less than six months, its assisted living unit is nearly eighty percent
For example, management goes to great lengths in
full and expected to be completely occupied by early fall.
scheduling to accommodate as many different schedules as possible. A goal is to one day construct daycare facilities as
“We were seeing a lot of the individuals who could no
an employee perk, to help out working parents.
longer live independently. However, they were too mobile or too independent to live in a long-term care facility,”
“Some people want to work just weekends. Some people
Melissa says. “That was when we made the decision to
want to just work nights,” Melissa says. “Whatever best fits their schedule is what we’re trying to work with.
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“We have a lot of single parents now and they don’t have
young people in the community a chance to both volunteer
that support that maybe we had growing up to help take
and make connections with the older generation.
care of their children. We’re trying to work around those things as well.”
“Years ago, they used to have Candy Stripers at hospitals, and we brought that here,” Melissa says. “Right now, we
Adding to the challenge of staffing are state requirements
have about twenty-seven young people, ages fourteen and
the facility must meet under the terms of its licensure. This
up, who come different days of the week, different shifts.
means having nurses and certified nursing assistants on
We let them choose. They have the original Candy Striper
staff during certain shifts. Nurses, CNAs and other workers
uniform. They go through the orientation training just like
are scarce enough; finding some who are experienced with
anyone else. They come and they read, they do arts and
seniors or dementia patients is as rare as finding gold in
crafts, they paint fingernails, they talk to the veterans about
your backyard. That’s what prompted Melissa and her team
different things that they’ve experienced.
to devise a robust training program to help round out all staffers’ skillsets.
“It’s really helped the morale of our residents to have younger people around. It’s helped our staff with activities. And, that
“We are probably the only community of our type that has
Candy Striper gets experience in volunteering that they can
a training center on campus,” Melissa says. “All of our new
put on their college application. We’re very proud of our
employees go through at least thirty hours of dementia
Candy Stripers and the things they are doing in this program.”
training before they begin work there. That’s just not for CNAs or nurses, that’s for our maintenance, for dietary.
Despite having just opened its most recent addition in
We spend a lot of resources educating our employees, so
April, Methodist Village is already ambitiously looking to
they are better trained to take care of someone that has
the future. This fall, the organization will begin a capital
Alzheimer’s or related dementia.
campaign for a designated inpatient/outpatient therapy center and hopes to break ground on the new facility
“When people are trained to take care of someone with
soon. Melissa says as much as the organization has served
Alzheimer’s they’re less frustrated in redirecting them.
the community, the community has been as generous in
Sometimes people get scared to take care of someone who
support of its mission.
has Alzheimer’s and we lose those people because they’re just too scared to do their job. But if we train them to really
“Fort Smith is a very giving community,” she says. “They
care for someone and do a lot of hands-on, then they’re
see the need. These seniors have taken care of us. They’ve
more comfortable.
paved the way for us, and we really believe that we need to provide a great place for them to live, something that
“Just because somebody has Alzheimer’s or dementia does
they’re proud of and they’re proud to bring their family
not mean that they can’t have a happy remainder of their
members and friends to see, too. That’s what we want to
life. A lot of times people try to bring them back into our
accomplish here.”
world and what we really need to do is walk into theirs.” Methodist Village daily reinforces this refreshing view of residents, even the ones whom age has dealt the unkindest hand, through programming. The very serious business of providing senior care is punctuated with fun and a sense of joy through activities and celebrations. The secret weapon,
Methodist Village Senior Living 7811 Euper Lane, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.452.1611 methodistvillage.com
though, is the throwback Candy Striper program which gives
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La Dolce Vita words Liesel Schmidt IMAGEs courtesy Evan Kohler
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T
here’s something profound that happens when
and methods unique to not only us as individuals, but us as
you’re taken out of the familiar, away from the
citizens of our respective corners of the world.
people and places and things you know. You either
retreat or you forge ahead; you give into your fear, or you
Coming to that understanding was, perhaps, one of the
rise to the challenge. For those with an adventurous spirit,
greatest lessons that Evan could have learned, stepping off
these are the moments that excite, the moments that feed
that plane as an all-American girl who’d never ventured
the soul and make it come more alive. Every unknown, every
out of the country. At the time, seventeen-year-old Evan
element of the unfamiliar, is something to be explored and
was expecting the stereotype. What she got left her literally
studied, to be appreciated and savored.
searching for words and an eye-opening year-long experience that taught her that life in Italy—while in many ways the same
For nineteen-year-old Evan Kohler, tapping into that
as what she knew in her own life back in the States—was so
adventurous spirit began with a trans-Atlantic flight that
different from anything she’d expected and something that
took her from her hometown of Fort Smith, Arkansas, to
she’d never forget.
Milan, Italy, landing her smack in the middle of a city known for its domination of the fashion world, in a country famed
“Coming off of the plane at the Malpensa Airport in Milan,
for its pizza, pasta, and endless stretches of picturesque
I was expectant of promising travels and vast amounts of
landscapes that seem almost unreal. As Americans, we
spaghetti and pizza—all the typical things we picture about
“know” what we know from movies, from books and
Italy as Americans,” says Evan, whose year abroad as an
television programs that explore nothing but the surface. It
exchange student was part of a Rotary Club-sponsored
seems such a romantic place, a fairy-tale land where everyone
program designed to give students an opportunity to immerse
is always happy. A land filled with good food, good wine
themselves in a host country’s culture and to optimize the
and falling in love in cities hailed for the magnificence of
language. “I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and
their ancient architecture and their contribution to history.
I had no idea what anyone was saying to me those first few
And while that might be partially true, it’s not the everyday.
days! Add to that the fact that no one had really told me what to expect, so during the first few months, I was thrown into
The everyday is a balance of pleasure and responsibility. It’s
a whirlwind of culture shock. Fortunately for me, I had this
the duties we face of earning a livelihood and raising our
beautiful family who had so graciously given me a room with
families; of going to school and growing up; of running errands
the utmost Italian hospitality, but I had no idea how to thank
and checking off tasks. It’s the moments of joy and happiness that make every struggle worth facing, the little things that seem so simple in the grand scheme of things but that keep us going. There’s tedium and
excitement—sometimes
in
equal measure, sometimes not. But that’s the everyday, no matter where on the planet you live. Those are the commonalities we share, regardless of age or race or culture. Those are the unifying things that give us ground on which to build, but there’s so much more that influences how and why we do those things, each of those reasons
Evan and Ella Kohler
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family could read, giving them—and herself—a way to stay
them or to even say goodnight,” she goes on.
connected. Through it all, she had the support of her family, For some, a language barrier is extremely intimidating, a
which gave her a great source of strength to get through
reason to stay silent and feel like an outsider. But for Evan,
any challenges she faced. “I couldn’t have achieved anything
her host family worked with her to help her learn and to
without my family, who are all so selfless and kind,” she says.
feel welcome, giving her the encouragement she needed to
“Despite the seven-hour time difference, my parents never
explore and embrace her new surroundings with a level of
failed to answer my calls or be there for me in a time of need;
daring that she might never have realized she had without the
and my sister was my main supporter. Even from thousands of
impetus of being in a new country on her own, without the
miles away, she reminded me why I was doing what I was.”
safety net of her family. Evan learned a great deal during her year in Italy—not simply “Sitting at the table for dinner, my host father would just
about the country and the culture, but about herself. “Since I
point to different foods and objects, telling me the name of
was young, my grandma always told me that the possibilities
each thing. The first few months of immersion were difficult;
for my life are endless. I’m glad that I started to believe her.
but once I had broken that barrier, the opportunities were
Once I started to believe in myself, I knew that I could achieve
endless. I began to make so many exchange student friends
anything I put my mind to. The confidence I gained overseas
from all over the world, and I still keep up and sometimes
helped make that possible.”
even travel with them to this day. It was comforting knowing that, while I struggled to figure out the ins and outs of life
So, too, did the choice she made after coming back to the
in Europe, they were right there with me,” Evan says. Over
States, a choice that she might never have made, had it
the course of her year in Italy, she and her friends traveled
not been for her time in the exchange program. “Once I
to thirteen different countries together, making the most of
came home, reverse culture shock hit hard,” she recalls.
the fact that so many other countries were all now within
“Every exchange student warns you of the emotional and
manageable distance. When she wasn’t traveling, she loved
physical distress you experience when you return home after
to explore Milan—an easy thirty-minute trip on the train from
living overseas for a long period of time, and I definitely
the small town of Bovisio-Masciago, where she was living—to
experienced it. My biggest challenge was returning to
spend time at Parco Sempione and visit the Duomo di Milano,
school and seeing how much everything had changed. As I
a famous Italian cathedral in the center of the city.
started looking towards my long-term goals, the promised paid tuition and guaranteed employment from the Arkansas
Naturally, there were certain things she fell in love with, being
Air National Guard became more and more appealing.
in a country where so much of the Old World is still present
Ultimately, I made the choice to enlist, and it was the best
even as much of the new has crept in. And as she explored
decision I’ve ever made.”
and became more immersed in the normalcy of Italian life with her hosts, she learned their ways and became a part of their
Now having graduated high school and fully focused on the
family. “My host mother, Alessia, and I, cooked once a week
path she’s planning for her career, Evan is currently stationed
together. She taught me how to make the most beautiful
at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. “I
dishes and pastries. We would set up the table, and it seemed
plan on staying in for at least twenty years,” she says. “I’m
like the whole neighborhood would come to taste anything
so eager to see the advances in technology for air power,
she made before it was gone,” Evan recalls with a laugh. “I
and I hope to get my degree and commission to become an
came to love my host parents and siblings like I loved my own
RPA pilot.”
back home, and Alessia and I had a special bond. That began even when we couldn’t understand each other.”
With her newfound confidence and her family support guiding her, the future is, indeed, filled with endless
Wanting to keep everyone at home up-to-date on what was
possibility. Her goals are set—and her dreams are getting
going on during her year abroad, Evan kept a blog that her
ready to take flight.
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Home, Sweet Home words Dwain Hebda IMAGEs courtesy Ronald McDonald Family Room
A woman and her husband move wearily, noiselessly down
“Primarily, the families we see come from Arkansas and
the sterile hallway. Today has been draining physically, but
Oklahoma [but] we have had families from as far away as
especially emotionally. The doctor says their daughter is
Virginia come to adopt a baby and that baby is in the NICU,”
getting better, but that’s hard to see. And the longer they
says Allison Davis, program manager. “We’re not going to
wait in this hospital, the road to wellness feels a little rougher.
turn down anyone based on where they’re coming from.”
Their little girl knows why she’s here and even though the staff is nice as can be, she cries for wanting to go home, to
Ronald McDonald House’s worldwide mission is to provide
play with her friends like she used to. She misses her room,
accommodations for families of children undergoing medical
her cat. It cuts deeply into Mom and Dad to hear it.
treatment. Families can stay overnight at one of the homes at little – or, as in Fort Smith’s case, no cost – while enjoying
To the naked eye, this hallway is just like any other hallway
a hot meal or using laundry and shower facilities in a home-
in the gleaming hospital, but the couple knows differently.
like setting. The Family Room provides a welcome break from
For down this hallway lies a respite, a haven where they can
waiting rooms, vending machines and other stressors of
sit comfortably, rest and breathe. Down this hallway lies the
having a child in the hospital.
Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy Hospital. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
people
Most importantly, it allows families to be close to their child
and logistics company. As its philanthropic arm, Propak Cares
during their treatment, something that many could not afford
looks for ways to get involved in the communities throughout
to do if they had to shoulder the cost of staying in a hotel.
its service area.
“We are located in Mercy Hospital on the fourth floor of the
Denver Dodd is technical product owner with Firebend, a
labor and delivery tower here,” Allison explains. “We have
spin-off company from Propak and a member of Propak Cares.
four overnight rooms that are available for families. Also, a
He said when approached by Susan Pruitt, Ronald McDonald
communal living space with a living room, dining room, fully
Family Room development coordinator, about improving
stocked kitchen, shower and bathroom, washer and dryer. We
technology there, the group mindset quickly conceived
also have a quiet room that’s like a library, but moms will go
something broader.
in there to pump if they need to do that.” “Susan came up with the idea of doing something with There’s also conspicuous technology in all the spaces: a large
technology and it evolved into the smart house, smart
TV in the kitchen that doubles as an announcement center
room, organically,” Denver said. “We just took all the pieces
and speakers throughout the space to announce dinner or
together of what it would take to do a smart home – speakers,
allow rooms to communicate with one another. Technology
projector, get everyone in the same room.”
can sometimes be thought of as cold, but here it’s just the opposite. Each device is a reminder of the community support
Denver spearheaded the process which included researching
that the Family Room inspires.
components, platting the system, purchasing the hardware, overseeing installation and providing ongoing technical support.
“I just love being able to see the families watch TV and bond in a time when they’re struggling,” Allison says. “It does bring
The effort installed smart TVs in the communal areas and a
some joy and laughter, even if it’s just for an hour or two. I
projector and screen in the living room. Chromebooks are
love that about it.”
found in each of the sleeping rooms, allowing families to stay in touch via email or social media. A Google Home Hub improves
The technology is a result of Propak Cares, the philanthropic
communication throughout the facility while Home Minis in
branch of Fort Smith-based Propak, a national warehousing
each bedroom allow families to set a preferred ambiance.
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“I know a lot of our families set an alarm through the Home Hub
Denver Dodd
Mini, or they play music,” Allison says. “I know one family even played some white noise to help them go to sleep at night.” The project happened with dazzling speed – from idea to completion in just a couple of months – and earned Propak Cares the 2019 Lily Award, named in memory of Lillian Paige Pruitt, infant daughter of Susan and Clay Pruitt. The Lily Award annually recognizes a person or persons whose work impacts the families of the Ronald McDonald Family Room. The project also sets the family room apart in the Ronald McDonald family. As far as anyone can tell, the Fort Smith operation is the first Ronald McDonald smart facility anywhere. That designation is looking to be short-lived, however, as the project is being adopted by Propak Cares in other communities for their local Ronald McDonald facilities. “We plan on expanding this next year to Northwest Arkansas,” Denver says. “Propak Cares is kind of all over the
HOW YOU CAN HELP
place. We’re helping with St. Jude’s [in Memphis]. We do a lot of work there and Ronald McDonald House actually has a house at St. Jude’s. So, the idea kind of sparked maybe we go there too and help.” There have been other payoffs as well. Denver said while he was aware of Ronald McDonald House, he’d never volunteered there until this project came along. Now, he and some of his colleagues join the list of other corporate citizens and community groups that bring in meals for the families. And when he does, he sees the fruits of Propak Cares’ labors at work every day. “I’m humbled and elated,” he says. “You don’t realize how technology can change day-to-day life. Just bringing that to people who don’t have to worry about technology, bringing their own computer for work, it’s all there for them already. I was just elated to see what it took on.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Arkoma supports the Ronald McDonald House in Fayetteville, Family Rooms in Fort Smith and Rogers and a mobile unit focused on oral care for children. Volunteers are always needed with the Fort Smith room staffed with volunteers from seven a.m. to ten p.m. daily. Corporate, church and other groups may also participate by cooking a meal or assembling wish list items. The group’s primary annual fundraiser is the Red Shoe Shindig featuring dinner, cocktails, entertainment and presentation of the Lily Award. This year’s event is slated for Nov. 16 at the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith. For details on volunteering, contact marketing@rmhcofarkoma.org; for more information on the Red Shoe Shindig or other fundraising events, please visit rmhcofarkoma.org.
“We’re wanting to grow it even more. The residents there at Ronald McDonald Family Room love it. We’ve received nothing but good feedback. I want to see it grow.”
Ronald McDonald Family Room—Fort Smith Mercy Fort Smith 7301 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.314.8030
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Glue
MOMS ARE THE words Stoney Stamper IMAGEs April Stamper
Emma, April, Abby & Gracee Stamper
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T
There’s a strong push in the “Daddy” blogger community,
relationship between her sons and their families. Every
and actually dads everywhere, to do away with the oafish,
Wednesday and Sunday night, we’d all make our way to their
helpless dad persona that is often portrayed on television
house where we’d play pool and watch football and talk
shows, movies and in public opinion. This is 2019, after all.
about horses and hunting. Story after story was told, and
Dads are completely capable of changing diapers, giving
laughter was nearly nonstop. We were a tight-knit group.
baths, fixing hair and making ponytails, packing lunches, and
But then, we lost her.
performing the countless duties that are required of a parent. I support this movement, of course. I can’t think of anything
She developed ALS in 1990 and passed away at the young age
my daughters need that I can’t do. I can make dinner, I can
of sixty-four in 1992. After that, something curious, and sad,
give our youngest a bath, wash and condition her hair, get
happened. When she was no longer there to bring the family
her dressed for school (without making her look like a retired
together, we began to slowly drift apart. No one ever wanted
rodeo clown), and help her with her homework. I cook, clean,
to disappoint her, but when she was gone, people did things
and do dishes. I help our oldest girls, Abby and Emma, with
that they likely wouldn’t have done under her watchful, yet
most things they need, minus clothing and makeup options –
kind eyes. Marriages deteriorated. Relationships were broken,
mainly because they think I’m a total moron when it comes to
and something that never happened, fighting, began. She was
their fashion. But all things considered, I can do most anything
the glue. She held us all together, kept us all accountable.
my wife April can do. And I think that’s a completely plausible
Always maintaining peace, she kept our family running like
thing to expect from a father. But, I’m not mom.
a well-oiled machine. It’s sad, and it’s hard for me to admit, but the day she died, part of my family died with her. It was
Don’t get me wrong, I’m capable. Dads need to pull their own
fractured, and one side went one way, one side went the
weight around the house. This isn’t the 1950’s, where the
other. And so many years later, that fracture still remains with
dad goes to work in the morning, and the mom, standing
some family members. Thankfully, what my granny taught
in her apron, sends the kids off to school, cleans hous, does
us all of our lives stuck with many of us, and those family
laundry, irons clothes, bakes cookies for the kids, welcomes
members are still close and loving, and I cherish it very much.
her husband home at the end of the day with a kiss, takes his
That’s thanks to my granny.
coat, and then walks him to the dining room table to a fourcourse meal each night. Not that this is a bad thing. If that’s
My mom has now assumed that role in our family. She was
how you live, then that’s great. Whatever works for you.
the next generation of moms that had a full-time job, and still
But for most families these days, moms have full-time jobs,
managed to take care of our home, our meals, and get us to
in addition to all the things they do for their husbands and
horse shows, hog shows, wrestling tournaments and baseball
children. Sure, dads do a lot, but moms? They’re superheroes.
games. My dad was more involved in our extracurricular
I think back to all the moms in my
Granny & Papa Stamper
life. My Granny Stamper was the exact mom that I described from the 1950’s, above. Her home was immaculate, her meals were second to none, and she doted over her husband. But she was more than that. She was the voice of reason for our family. She managed the accounting efforts
of
and
administrative
my
grandfather’s
businesses. She kept the family
Donna "Nan" Stamper
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activities than his dad was. Dad never missed a game or a
that would normally take four people to do. She cared for
show or a match. And around the house, he kept the yard
me, night and day. Doctor’s appointments, physical therapy,
mowed immaculately at all times, and oddly enough, he
bathing me, keeping up with my medicine.
always did our laundry. But most of the home’s duties were still performed by my mom. That’s not speaking ill of my dad.
At that time, Abby was a senior in high school, extremely
He’s a ridiculously hard-working man and provided us with
active in FFA, public relation competitions, speeches and
everything we needed. But that was still how things worked,
showing pigs, and all the activities that come with being
even in the 1980’s. My mom is now the person who makes
a senior. Emma was in junior high, showed pigs, played
sure that me and my siblings stay close and spend time with
softball and was a socially active little girl. Gracee was four
one another. We get together often, always at her request
years old and needed all the things that a four-year-old
and planning. She’s a great mom, and an absolutely amazing
needs, which can be pretty countless. Although I know on
Nan to her grandkids. She’s filled in for my grandmother
the inside, April was struggling. She was stressed about
wonderfully, and my family is extremely close because of it.
money (I obviously wasn’t working), stressed about spending enough time with the kids, stressed about my health and my
And then there’s the closest mom in my life. My beautiful wife
recovery. Of course, our families helped when they could,
April. She’s the definition of the “New Age” mom. She’s a
but the brunt of the load landed on April’s shoulders, and
serial entrepreneur, having owned multiple businesses since
she carried it all. She’d tell you that she thought she was
she was a young woman. Before we met, not only did she
failing, but I’ve never watched someone manage such a
take care of her own home, bills, and run her businesses, she
heavy load the way she did.
single handedly raised two absolutely amazing tiny versions of herself, Abby and Emma. Years later, I came along and
So, do I believe in equality for fathers in the home?
began my job as husband and father. Our family gradually
Absolutely. But do I believe that moms are superheroes?
formed into a cohesive unit and the girls became accepting
Without a doubt. They promptly plug all the leaks in the
of me in their lives. We all found ourselves in the happiest
boat, and usually do it with no thoroughfare, no acclaim.
time of our lives. Until November 8, 2017. That was a bad
They do it simply because it needs to be done. We are raising
day. I had a serious automobile accident and was badly
three little girls that will likely someday be moms, and I’m so
injured. I don’t remember a lot of what happened in the
proud that they have such an amazing role model. I know
weeks and months after the wreck, but I remember one
someday they’ll realize there’s no value they could place on
thing I’ll never, ever forget. April became supernatural. With
all their mom does for our family – it’s priceless, and there is
me stuck bedridden for months, she began to do things
no denying, moms are the glue!
Stoney Stamper Stoney Stamper is the best-selling author of My First Rodeo: How Three
Daughters, One Wife, and a Herd of Others Are Making Me a Better Dad (WaterBrook) and author of the popular parenting blog The Daddy Diaries. He and his wife, April, have three daughters and live in Oklahoma, where they are heavily involved in agriculture and raise and show a variety of animals.
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faith
A Girl's
Best
Friend
Words and images Jessica Sowards
My earliest memory is of a dog. I’ve shared Jessica and Bear
what details I can recall, though there aren’t many, with my parents and based on where we lived, I must have been around two or three. All I remember was a dark bedroom with the closet
on top of his head. My parents got him when they were first
light on and a small fluffy puppy whining on the floor. His
married, and he lived right up until a fateful afternoon when I
name was Bear and all I know was that he didn’t stay with
was in the fourth grade. We came home from school that day
us long because of something I can’t remember. Maybe he
and my dad waved my mom on, “Keep driving,” he’d shouted.
was never meant to be ours. I imagine it likely that we found
It was too late. I’d already seen the limp figure on the carport
him tossed aside somewhere and housed him as an interim
concrete. Losing Pooch did more than sting, it shattered my
solution. I don’t know, and my parents don’t know either,
heart to bits. It was my very first encounter with grief.
considering this took place thirty years ago. I have a theory that people are either dog lovers or they are The next memory takes place in a hardware store, where a
not, as simply as one might have brown hair or be allergic
kindly man in a uniform handed me a teddy bear wearing a
to peanuts. I was born a dog lover. For years after Pooch
hardware-store-branded t-shirt. He said he was trading me
died, when I was having a particularly hard day of childhood,
for the puppy. A bear for a bear. And that was that. It stung
I would go sit on the mound in the backyard that was his
my little tender heart but didn’t break it entirely.
grave. Long after the grass had grown over it and surely the body and bones beneath the earth had broken down
See, we already had a dog. He was already an old man when
to dust, there I would sit and tell my first friend about my
the puppy, Bear, came and went, probably nearly ten years old.
disappointments and trials.
He was the kind of dog people write books about, the epic kind. His name was Pooch and the first decade of my childhood
If you are a dog lover and you’ve ever had a truly great dog,
is marked by his presence. He was a mutt with a scar right
you understand me. A dog like that carves out a nook in
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faith
the heart of those who love him. Just like they might dig a hole in the yard, they burrow down into our deepest places and when they are gone, they leave a gaping wound, an altogether empty space. For two decades after Pooch died, I longed for a dog. I came close a time or two. There was a dog named Sam that I loved dearly but lost in a break-up. After all, he’d been a gift to my ex and was rightfully his. There was Dakota, a faithful livestock guardian that was my shadow in the garden. He’d see me go through the garden gate and in a moment, he’d scale the fences between us. But he was a guardian after all. He slept with the goats and though I loved him, he didn’t lay on the floor by my bed and jump in the car for a run to the store. He did his job until his lack of respect for fences cost him his life. It was a hard loss, but nothing like Pooch. Somewhere along the line, I made myself a promise. When my youngest child turned three, I would get a puppy. I would put the time and effort into him, and I would have the epic dog I’d spent two-thirds of my life wishing for. It was December when I found him. I was visiting my friend Kathy in Louisiana. We were painting cabinets in her new house, singing along with the radio but otherwise not talking, when I broke out of my thoughts saying, “I know it’s silly, but I really, really want a dog.” She looked at me slightly perplexed. “Why would that be silly?” I thought about it for a long moment and said, “I’ve been waiting for this dog for a really long time. I don’t want just any dog. I want the best dog ever.” She shook her head. “That’s not silly,” she said. And we kept painting. A little while later, Kathy asked me if I’d asked God for my dog. I love God, and I talk to Him about a lot of things, but the truth is, I had not asked Him for my dog. So, we did, right there in the empty house with paint brushes in hand. I asked God to give me another shepherd dog that would be my shadow in the garden, that would be for my kids what Pooch was for me, and that would fulfill that deep and unfulfilled desire for a canine companion. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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faith
That night, a post popped up
I knew from the very first
on my Facebook feed from a
day he was special. He made
lady I didn’t know in a group I
eye contact constantly. I
wasn’t a part of. She had a litter
hooked a leash to his collar
of shepherd rescue puppies,
and for the first six months
born on Thanksgiving, and
of having him, he followed
she was looking for homes. I
me everywhere.
went to the group’s page and realized it spanned a five-state
Bear is just two now. He is
area. The chances of those
my constant shadow. When
puppies being near me were
I weep in worship at the
slim to none, but I messaged
piano, he pushes his head
her just to see.
into my lap in solidarity. When I cry out in surprise
She lived ten miles from my
at finding a snake in the
house. I went to her house
garden, he breaks between
the following week, planning
me
on claiming the red-haired
threat. When I wake up in
female or the largest male.
the night and pad my way
But as soon as I saw the pile
to the bathroom, he stands
of
sentry in wait. He is my best
wriggling
two-week-old
babies, one stood out above the rest. He was the only one
and
the
perceived
buddy, and I literally thank God for him every single day.
that had dew claws, just like Pooch had. He was the smallest in the litter, just like Pooch had been. As soon as I picked
Sometimes the realization dawns on me that he will not be
him up, that still small voice in my heart said, “That’s him.
with me forever, but I push it aside. No sense thinking about
That’s Bear.”
that now. After all, the great cost of love is sorrow, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
I visited him over and over as he grew. The lady, a dog lover herself working with rescues and caring for her disabled son,
As for now, I’m enjoying my God-given dog. My best furry
never seemed to mind. Then one day, when he was nine
friend, who is surely digging a hole in my heart that will be
weeks old, I brought him home.
excruciating to feel later. He’s worth it though. After all, I am a dog lover, and a dog lover just needs to have her dog.
To watch Jessica’s garden tours, visit her YouTube channel, Roots and Refuge.
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taste
PEANUT BUTTER
BREAKFAST BREAD PUDDING WITH MAPLE PEANUT SAUCE Words courtesy Family Features Recipe and images courtesy of the Georgia Peanut Commission
This delicious breakfast provides a power-packed solution loaded with protein to help your family take on a full schedule! Find more recipe ideas for meals throughout the day at gapeanuts.com.
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
(serves 4)
Heat oven to 350°F. Butter four 4-ounce ramekins.
•
butter
In bowl, mix 1/3 cup peanut butter, eggs, sugar,
•
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
milk, vanilla and salt. Toss bread cubes in mixture
•
2 eggs
•
1/2 cup granulated sugar
•
2/3 cup milk
of bread brown too quickly, cover ramekins loosely
•
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
with aluminum foil. In small saucepan over low
•
1/2 teaspoon salt
heat, combine remaining peanut butter and maple
•
4 cups cubed brioche or challah bread,
syrup until thoroughly warmed. To serve, drizzle
cut into 3/4-inch cubes
ramekins with maple-peanut sauce and garnish
•
2/3 cup pure maple syrup
•
1/3 cup crushed peanuts
•
powdered sugar, for garnish
until thoroughly coated. Divide evenly among prepared dishes. Bake until custard is set in middle and tops are golden, about 35-40 minutes. If tops
with chopped peanuts and powdered sugar. Substitution: Whole wheat rolls may be used in place of brioche or challah bread.
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taste
41
BIG-BATCH
Bloody Marys Recipe adapted Taste of Home image Toni Osmundson
ingredients
For the mix (best mixed the night before) •
3 cups tomato juice
•
1 ½ ounces lemon juice, fresh
•
1 ½ ounces lime juice, fresh
•
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
•
1 Tablespoon prepared horseradish
•
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
•
1 teaspoon hot sauce,
such as Tabasco
•
1 teaspoon celery salt
•
¾ teaspoon black pepper
Add when serving
•
2 cups vodka (2 oz. each glass)
•
Bloody Mary salt for rim (optional)
garnish options
celery stalk, dill pickle spear, cherry tomato, pickled green tomato, pickled okra, carrot stick, bacon, prosciutto, shrimp, cubed cheese
method
Combine mix ingredients in large container. Place in refrigerator overnight. To serve, rim glass with salt if desired, add ice to high-ball glass, add vodka, top with Bloody Mary mixture, garnish as desired.
Please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.
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travel
Fall is one of the best times to explore The Natural State. That
TRAVELS
brilliant burst of color is a sight to behold and our beautiful
ARKIE
42
Fall in The Natural State
Arkansas will never let you down on the fall foliage. So, hop in the car and let’s go for a ride! Mr. Arkie likes to wake me up at 4:00am to catch a sunrise and the Atkins Bottoms Tree is one of our favorite spots. It’s located at the corner of Atkins Bottom Road and McLaren Loop and is easily accessible from the Blackwell exit of Interstate 40 between Conway and Russellville. This stunner has been standing for many years watching over the farmers in the Petit Jean Valley and it’s a photo favorite. Catch its silhouette at sunrise or sunset. It’s also the perfect place for a spooky mood on a foggy morning. After you welcome the day, head up Highway 64 to Russellville and stop at Old South Restaurant. We’re all about a downhome country breakfast and this place does not disappoint. It was built in 1947 with a gorgeous art deco lobby and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a minute for an Instagram-worthy photoshoot in one of the lobby booths! And, oh my, breakfast is incredible too! With a good meal settling in your stomach, you’ll be ready for a scenic ride with a view. Continue down Highway 64 North through Clarksville and take a left on Highway 109. Our favorite part of the day is when you top the hill and see the river spread out in the valley below. You’ll drive over one of the longest bridges in Arkansas and kind of feel like you’re in Florida. Enjoy the view! Our next stop on the tour is the Subiaco Monastery. Yes, real monks walk the grounds and live in the more than two-hundred-year-old Abbey. The Monastery is also home to an all-boys Academy, an Angus beef farm, and, our favorite, the Country Monks Taproom. Enjoy a tasty brew made with hops grown by the monks right on the grounds of Subiaco,
words Paul and Sarah Heer, Arkie Travels images courtesy Paul and Sarah Heer, Arkie Travels and the venues
one of only four monasteries that brew their own lager. Or better yet, get a flight and make sure you try the Nut Brown Ale, it’s new for fall and is a perfect blend. Not a beer drinker? The Taproom is still worth a visit, they also have hot sauces you can try that are made from habañero seeds brought back from Belize. We picked some up to give as Christmas gifts!
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travel
Atkins Bottoms Tree
Subiaco Abbey
Paris, Arkansas
Movie House Winery
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travel
Mount Magazine
Continue your journey with a trip to Paris! Not Paris, France,
No matter where you go, Arkansas puts on a show of fall
Paris, Arkansas! You won’t be disappointed however as they
colors and you will love finding several hidden gems along
have a replica fountain of the Eiffel Tower in the historic
the way. Happy fall, y’all!
Courthouse Square. Make sure you bring along a keyed padlock for the Love Lock Fence. Originally built in 2017, the first lock was placed by Miss Arkansas, Savannah Skidmore. Also, don’t miss JA Outfitters while you’re on the square and pick up some Christmas gifts from Fayettechill, Chaco’s and the JA Outfitters brand. And if you’re needing a snack, swing by The Grapevine Restaurant and make sure you get a bowl of their homemade bread pudding!
We love exploring The Natural State and want to encourage you to too! We eat local, shop local and stay local and we're proud to support Arkansas businesses. For more information on our travels and routes we've designed all over our home state, follow us on socials @ArkieTravels or visit our website at www.arkietravels.com.
Take Highway 109 South out of town and enjoy the view as you slowly climb up the highest peak between the CanadianMinnesota border and the Gulf of Mexico, Mount Magazine. Take the Signal Hill Trail up to the highest point in the state or pull up a chair on the back deck of the lodge and take in the spacious view of blue mountains as far as the eye can see. Extend your stay with a night (or weekend) in the spacious rooms at the Lodge. After you come down from the mountain, take Highway 10 back to Morrilton and “wine down” at the Movie House Winery. Sample the wines or enjoy a flight – our favorite was the Yankee Doodle Dandy Watermelon Wine.
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travel
HOBBS STATE PARK words and images courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Hobbs is Arkansas’s largest state park, spanning a 12,054-acre tract of Ozark landscape along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. It’s an asset to the ecosystem and water with minimum human impact. Highlights of this day-use park include a diverse, thirty-six-mile trail system with hiking, ADA, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails and five primitive campsites. It’s the only state park in Arkansas to allow regulated hunting. The visitor center includes exhibits about the park’s natural resources, limestone landscape, and history. Interpretive programs and workshops are offered throughout the year. For more information about Hobbs State Park and the other fifty-one state parks, visit arkansasstateparks.com.
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fiction
The Tea Fiction Sarah Phillips image Wojciech Zalewski
Robin loved this time of year.
She enjoyed the
of the maple trees that lined the street and marveling at
warm afternoons followed by crisp, cool evenings. Pulling
how death could look so beautiful. Top all of that with
her sweaters, boots and knit scarves out of storage. Seeing
pumpkin spice, hot cocoa, and warm plates of comfort
her neighborhood lit up with the vibrant reds and yellows
food, and she just couldn’t imagine anything better.
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fiction
For weeks her neighborhood had been decorating for
Behind them, the front door opened, which made them
Halloween. It was highly trafficked by children and their
both jump. “Hey, Mom.”
parents, probably because everyone on her street seemed to take it so seriously. Nearly everyone participated, with
“Hey, baby. I wasn’t expecting you. Come, have a seat with
some variation of witches, ghosts, and skeletons displayed
us,” Robin said as she moved the bowl of candy.
in yards and on porches. Orange lighting and webs containing black spiders hung from doors and windows.
Jess sat between them, readjusted her ponytail and pulled
The decorations were never too scary, though, keeping in
the sleeves of her red University of Arkansas sweatshirt over
mind the littlest of trick or treaters.
her hands. Her third year of college kept her busy, so it was odd to see her on a Thursday night. Even on the dimly lit
Robin planted chrysanthemums of every color down her
porch, Robin saw that her daughter’s eyes were red and
walkway and placed carved pumpkins lit up by LED candles
puffy. “What’s wrong?”
on her front steps. On her porch, scarecrows sat slouched on bales of hay that flanked her front door. Bags of Smarties,
“I broke up with Justin tonight,” she said before covering
Tootsie Rolls, bubble gum, Hershey’s bars and glow stick
her face with her sleeved hands in an attempt to conceal her
bracelets were opened and dumped into a large red bowl.
tears. They had been dating for over a year. She liked him
The big night was here, and after finishing her dinner, she
so much that she brought him home for Christmas. Robin
donned her witch hat, wrapped herself in her warmest wool
and Megan wrapped their arms around Jess, cocooning her
blanket and took her place on the top step of her porch, her
while she caught her breath.
bowl of treats beside her. “Tell us what happened,” Megan said before handing out Shortly after, a black suburban pulled up in front of her
candy to a unicorn.
house, her best friend jumping out of the passenger side, dressed in a cream sweater, jeans and brown riding boots,
“He said that he was at the library working on a report
her long red hair in a messy bun on the top of her head.
that’s due next week. So, after work I went to his dorm
She turned and waved at her husband and twin boys before
room to wait for him.” Jess paused for the group of trick or
making her way up the sidewalk. “You look cute. Where
treaters to move on to the next house.
are they off to?” Robin asked. “I opened the door to his room and there he was, making “Thanks,” Megan smiled. “School carnival. I told Brian that
out with some girl.”
I simply couldn’t leave you by yourself tonight.” “Nooooooo,” Robin and Megan said in unison, followed Robin winked at her friend, “Uh-huh. Wine’s on the table.
by, “what a jerk,” and “the audacity…”
Bring me a glass, too.” “I slammed his door and drove straight here. He keeps texting me, saying that he’s sorry and that it didn’t mean
“You got it.”
anything to him. But it means something to me!” she said, By the time Megan returned, also wrapped in a blanket,
wiping her face.
the kids had begun rolling in. They took turns handing out candy to little ones dressed as super-heroes, dinosaurs,
“Of course, it does, baby,” Robin said, reaching to tuck a
insects, and a whole lot of princesses. In between, they
stray hair behind her daughter’s ear before giving candy to
caught each other up on their lives as though they didn’t
a little girl dressed as Princess Jasmine.
talk every single day, laughing to the point of tears at almost every turn.
“So, yah, anyway, that’s the tea.”
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fiction
Confused, Robin looked at Megan who shrugged her
daughter and hoped that Megan picked up the slack as a
shoulders. “That’s the what?”
role model of relationships. “Well, there’s one thing that I know for sure. You deserve better. He’s obviously a cheater.
“The tea,” Jess replied, miming sipping tea, complete with
And once a cheater…”
her pinky raised up. “Always a cheater,” Megan finished. “I don’t get it,” Robin replied. She was often confused by millennial language. It seemed to her that they took random
“I know, I know,” Jess said before taking a bite of Hershey’s
words and gave them completely random meanings. She
and sliding a glowing bracelet over her wrist.
looked at Megan, who shrugged again. Robin unwrapped the left side of her blanket and her “It’s a meme. You know, with Kermit the Frog?”
daughter settled into the warmth of her mother’s arms. Jess’s cold hand reached for her mother’s and Robin held it,
Robin giggled, “Sorry, I don’t speak in meme.”
just as she always had.
Jess pulled her phone out, searching. And wouldn’t you
They watched as little boys and girls carrying plastic
know it, there on her phone was a picture of Kermit the
pumpkins and Wal-Mart sacks filled with candy marched
Frog, sipping a cup of tea. “You use it after you tell a big,
up and down the sidewalk, their little feet crunching the
dramatic story.”
dry leaves. Most were still full of energy, though some were already asleep, being carried to cars to be taken
“Oh, okay,” Robin said, even though she still didn’t
home and tucked into bed. Some held their parent’s hand,
understand, “anyway, I knew I didn’t like that boy.”
still leery of the costumes and the dark decorations. A few traded candy with their friends. All of them were playing
“Mom!” Jess rolled her eyes.
pretend for the night.
Robin threw up her hands, “I’m just saying. I knew he
She thought about her daughter’s reality, the pretender her
wasn’t worthy of you.”
boyfriend had been revealed to be, and the heartbreak she must be feeling. She kissed the top of her daughter’s head
“In your mom’s defense,” Megan chimed in, “she is pretty
and said, “I’m sorry.”
good at setting people up. I never would have looked twice at Brian, but somehow your mom knew he would be perfect
“I know, Mom. It’s okay.”
for me; and he is.” When the full sidewalk turned sparse with children, Robin Robin leaned back and nodded at her friend, “Thank you,
said, “You know, I have the perfect remedy for that
Megan. See, young lady? I know what I’m talking about.”
heartache of yours.”
“She’s just not good at picking them out for herself,”
“Ice cream?” Jess asked, looking up.
Megan rebutted, making Jess burst out in laughter. Megan raised her glass, “And more wine.” “Hey now,” Robin said, hands on her hips in mock protest, unable to keep from laughing herself. It was true, she
Robin smiled at them both, glanced around her empty yard,
hadn’t had any luck in that department in too long to think
and took off her pointed hat. “Ladies, I believe my work
about. She secretly worried that it had rubbed off on her
here is done.”
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WOMEN'S GUIDE
®
WOMEN'S GUIDE As women, we sometimes put our needs on the back burner. We try to do it all. CEO. Chef. Housekeeper. Taxi. Teacher. Mediator. It’s time you realize how important it is for you to care for yourself the same way you care for others! In this issue, we’re showcasing local businesses that make your life a little easier and a
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lot healthier. So, grab a pumpkin spice latte and read on to discover local experts who are eager to put you first!
Norma Basinger, M.D. and Janet Newman, RN 8101 McClure Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas arveinandskincare.com 479.484.7100
We are thankful & excited to celebrate women in the River
From childbirth to menopause, the female body can
Valley! Our group is blessed with six wonderful women who
experience remarkable changes. As rewarding as these
serve our clients with care & compassion. Dr. Braboy is joined by
changes may be, they can sometimes impair vaginal health
five other women who bring different skills, talents & training
and lead to vaginal stretching, loss of sexual sensation, and
to our therapy spectrum. Michelle brings experience with
urinary incontinence. To help restore your vaginal health, we
children, teens, marriage & families. Emily’s passion is working
offer diVa™ laser treatment, which can improve the quality of
with children, teens & women in crisis. Lori enjoys working
your vaginal tissue by resurfacing the vaginal wall. For women
with women & teens. Alisa excels with teens & women who
suffering from sexual dysfunction or urinary incontinence,
have experienced trauma or grief. Samantha keeps everyone
we offer the O-shot. The O-Shot harnesses your own body’s
organized with a smile! Our focus is to meet you where you are
healing abilities to stimulate collagen production and cellular
& join you on the journey to better mental health.
regeneration in tissues that have lost elasticity and sensation.
WOMEN'S GUIDE
1501 S. Waldron Road, Ste. 100, Fort Smith, Arkansas anchoredhopecounseling.net Office phone/text: 479.561.7600
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WOMEN'S GUIDE
Baptist Health Women’s Clinic-Fort Smith 1500 Dodson Avenue, Ste. 230, Fort Smith, Arkansas baptist-health.com 479.709.7490 With each new phase of a woman’s life come different health concerns. Baptist Health provides trained women’s need of the female body. From childbirth to breast cancer, osteoporosis to gynecological exams, we deliver the leading care and advanced services you need to pursue wellness. To learn more about advanced women’s care for every phase of life, visit baptist-health.com or call the Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST.
While all women are at risk for breast cancer, some are at higher risk than others. A Risk Assessment is a comprehensive consultation with a registered nurse who is specially trained to determine your risk for developing breast cancer. The nurse will evaluate several risk factors and provide a customized breast care plan for you. A Risk Assessment provides crucial information about how often and what type of screenings you need such as Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound, Breast MRI, or optional genetic testing. Take our short Breast Cancer Risk Quiz at breastcenternwa.com to learn more.
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health specialists and education opportunities to meet every
55 West Sunbridge Drive, Fayetteville, Arkansas 801 S.E. Plaza Avenue, Bentonville, Arkansas 502 N. Walnut Street, Harrison, Arkansas breastcenternwa.com 479.442.6266
WOMEN'S GUIDE
4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 15, Fort Smith, Arkansas centerforhearing.net 479.785.3277
8020 Dallas Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas dallasstreetdental.com 479.452.6600 Dr. Bill Ligon has called Fort Smith home for more than a quarter century. His practice, Dallas Street Dental,
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centers on excellent patient care, offering state-of-the-art Most people don't realize that chemotherapy and radiation
technology for dental and cosmetic procedures. Dallas
can cause hearing loss in up to eighty-four percent of patients
Street Dental welcomes your entire family! From routine
undergoing treatment. It is important to have a hearing test at
care to endodontics, orthodontics and cosmetic care, our
the onset of treatment and then to monitor hearing throughout,
staff looks forward to meeting you! While dentistry is our
in the event there are changes. Good communication skills are
focus, Dr. Ligon also has a passion for cosmetic treatments
essential to a good quality of life, and we're here to help people
and is highly trained in Botox® & dermal fillers, such as
hear their best as they walk this journey.
Juvederm® and Volbella®. Let Dallas Street Dental give you the confidence you have always desired and help you find another reason to smile!
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Certified Gemologist
5622 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR johnmaysjewelers.com 479.452.2140
2717 South 74th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas passmoreplasticsurgery.com 479.573.3799
It’s that time of year once again and it is one of our favorites! The changing of the seasons, the leaves and everything that
Football, autumn leaves, and cooler temperatures have arrived.
is fall. For all of us here at John Mays Jewelers this year is very
How do you look and feel wearing fall clothes? Do you need
special. This year we will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary
help zipping up your jeans or filling out your sweater? Maybe
so be sure to follow along on our social media accounts and
you need a little more here or a little less there. Passmore Plastic
of course Do South Magazine! We have some amazing events
Surgery offers contouring procedures to help you attain your
planned that are going to be ones for the books, and if you
desired shape. Call for an appointment and learn about surgical
have been to our events in the past you know they will be
and non-surgical options for every body and budget.
off the charts! Lots planned with Hearts On Fire, Tag Heuer, Hayley Paige and of course some of the gorgeous colored gemstone pieces to dazzle you as well.
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2801 Old Greenwood Road, Ste. 2, Fort Smith, Arkansas Find them on Facebook 479.434.5680 Raw Beauty Salon and Spa’s ultimate goal is to provide a nontoxic, organic experience for our clients and our environment. Because we absorb up to sixty percent of the substances we apply to our skin, Raw Beauty strives to offer skincare products and spray tan solutions that are natural, rather than those containing harsh chemicals. Our services include brows & lashes, facials, sugaring, spray tans, hair care, and makeup. Schedule your appointment to be pampered and indulge in a healthier option of self-care. We can’t wait to see you!
PO Box 11133, Fort Smith, Arkansas rivervalleyoca.com contact@rivervalleyoca.com Ovarian cancer doesn’t discriminate based on age or race; it can happen to any female. There is NO PREVENTATIVE SCREENING TEST! A Pap Test does not detect ovarian cancer. Over 22,500 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. Knowing the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer can help our mothers, daughters, wives and sisters fight this disease early, when treatment is more effective. Early detection and proper treatment are the best defenses against ovarian cancer. We must pay attention to our bodies, know the symptoms and be our own advocates. Listen carefully, it whispers!
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WOMEN'S GUIDE
No matter your stage in life, there are many things you can do to care for your body as you age. Check out the tips below then commit to putting them into action!
20s 30s
WOMEN'S GUIDE
Health for the Ages • Be aware of what you’re putting in your body. Read labels, they matter. • Diet and low-cal drinks still contain calories which add up quickly. • Sunscreen. Wear it. Protect yourself against skin cancer and age gracefully. • Take care of your bones with a calcium supplement and exercise. • Boost your brain with high-intensity interval training (HIT), a proper diet, brain games, and adequate sleep. • Eliminate sugars, especially from desserts, coffee, and juices.
40s
• Make sure you include a large portion of leafy green vegetables with all meals– smoothies are a great way to include them for breakfast. • Master your metabolism with exercise. Get active with an activity you enjoy; think running, Pilates, hiking, or swimming.
50s 60s 70s
• Even if you’ve created bad habits in your 30s and 40s, you have time to make changes.
All Ages
• Make sure you have an established relationship with a primary care provider so they
• Discover a new activity, run a race, pick up a new hobby. • Know your body and stay on top of health screenings. • Stay active, both mentally and physically, doing some sort of exercise daily, whether it's a short walk or a morning swim. • Enjoy outdoor activities like the farmer’s market, walks in local parks and art exhibits. • Create a safe environment at home. Eliminate areas of concern that could lead to falls
can care for you through all of life’s stages. • Be aware of and schedule healthcare screenings by age and state of life.
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and possible bone fractures.
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WOMEN'S GUIDE
5501 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas uncorkthefort.com 479.434.5000
WOMEN'S GUIDE
Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders 8400 Donnington Court, Fort Smith, Arkansas Located in Stoneshire at Chaffee Crossing fortsmithhomebuilders.com 479.452.6213
Featuring stunning wood décor, an enormous wine barrel
The Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders invites you
ceiling, forty craft beer taps, a wall of wine machines, a bourbon
to come tour the 2019 Showcase Home, built by Cobblestone
tap, outdoor patio, cigar room, live music, mouthwatering tapas
Homes and Justin Green Custom Homes. This beautiful new
and now full plates, Uncork’d is unrivaled in experience. From
home is 2,735 square feet with four bedrooms and three
casual evenings on the patio relaxing by the fire to date nights,
baths and features: interior brick accents, quartz countertops
special celebrations, or watching your favorite sports teams, the
throughout, 48” stainless steel double oven and range,
atmosphere is always far from ordinary. Choose from thirty-two
butler’s pantry, lockers, custom accented stairway, laundry
wines featured on our enomatic machines. Or choose a glass or
chute from 2nd floor, additional laundry hookups in master
bottle from our extensive wine menu. Enjoy unparalleled craft
closet, huge covered patio with built-in gas grill, fire pit and
cocktails created by our skilled bartenders. See our full food,
extensive landscaping, irrigation, epoxied garage floor, gas
craft, wine and cocktail menus at uncorkthefort.com.
heater in garage, natural gas backup generator and impressive large sliding door that opens living area up to the patio.
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WOMEN'S GUIDE
4300 Rogers Avenue, Ste. 8, Fort Smith, Arkansas universaltravelfs.com Find them on Facebook 479.785.1800
Supervising Physician: Dr. Thomas Wood Physician Assistant: Amanda Spahn, PA-C 8101 McClure Dr., Suite 100, Fort Smith, Arkansas wchwfs.com 479.459.6528
Introducing Universal Travel’s Wander Women! We are a group
Dr. Thomas R. Wood, D.O., a partner of Eastside OB/GYN, and a
of women who love to travel and spend time with girlfriends –
leader in women's healthcare in the River Valley, has expanded
those we’ve known forever and the new friends we make on
his practice by adding a new location! Our new clinic is now
the trips! Our first trip is Christmas in Vermont taking place in
offering same day and same week appointments as well as
early December of this year. In 2020, we will travel to Canada,
urgent gynecological care. As a gynecology only clinic, we offer
to the bay area and wine country, enjoy a European river
wellness exams, pap smears, minimally invasive surgeries, total
cruise, and much more! Like us on Facebook and ask to join
laparoscopic hysterectomies, pelvic reconstruction surgeries,
the Women’s Travel Club group where you can tell us where
incontinence treatments, as well as menopause, infertility,
YOU want to go. We look forward to traveling with you soon!
and bio identical hormone treatments. Call and schedule your
DO SOUTH® MAGAZINE
appointment today!
Read Chair Publishing, LLC 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110 Fort Smith, AR 72903