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September 2018 DoSouthMagazine.com
CONTENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / OWNER Catherine Frederick CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Scott Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS Marla Cantrell Catherine Frederick Jim Hattabaugh Dwain Hebda Jade Graves Megan Lankford Jessica Sowards Tom Wing Rebecca Wood GRAPHIC DESIGNER Artifex 323 - Jessica Mays PROOFREADER Charity Chambers
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PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
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INSIDE 14
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WHERE WE ATE Tom Wing takes us on a tour of some of the iconic eateries in Fort Smith. Raise your hand if you remember ordering a bag full of White Spot hamburgers and then eating at least one on the drive home!
PLAY FOR LUKE This month you can meet tennis legend Andre Agassi, who’s coming to Fort Smith to help raise money for a non-profit dedicated to helping children (and their families) dealing with brain trauma.
WINNING AT THE GAME OF GOLF What does it take to create a destination golf course at the foot of the Boston Mountains? Kathy and Tim Pense share their story of hard work, determination, and tons of research.
RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy helps families, but what does it do for the volunteer? Read this inspiring story to see for yourself.
DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
Catherine Frederick - 479.782.1500 Catherine@DoSouthMagazine.com
EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell - 479.831.9116 Marla@DoSouthMagazine.com ©2018 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 Cover Image: Ruth Black
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.
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letter from the editor
I
It’s official. I am in a state of mourning. Today
to be home. I thought about home a lot as this issue
was the first day of school for my now thirteen-
came together and it seems our writers were too.
year-old eighth grader. He started high school today – yes, high school. And I am sad. Not sad
Tom Wing tells the story of the best eateries that
that he’s a teenager, or that this is the start of
made Fort Smith home to him as he grew up.
my last five years with him before he heads off to
Jessica Sowards takes us into her garden as she
college, or that he’s taller than me. I am sad that
contemplates the wonders of the world. Marla
another summer together has come to an end.
Cantrell shares the story of Candis Barnes who’s found fulfillment at the Ronald McDonald Family
I love our summer days. When we’re not on the road for basket-
Room at Mercy, where she’s able to help those away from home
ball, we roll out of bed when we are good and ready and spend
get through trying times. So far, she’s worked more than two-
the day together, either at home, in the gym, or off on an adven-
thousand hours volunteering there.
ture. Summer is our slow season where we spend nearly every waking moment together, so much so that my heart could burst
We have the story of Kathy and Tim Pense who’ve built a golfer’s
wide open as he grows up more every day, right before my eyes.
paradise at the foot of the Boston Mountains, after changing careers mid-stream. We have news of tennis legend Andre Agassi
And then, the final weeks of summer hit. Another year rises up
coming to town to help an organization devoted to helping fami-
and punches me in the face with all its firsts, and so many lasts.
lies facing significant challenges. And, we have details about the
I compared a photo of him from this same time last year, and his
upcoming Chefs in the Garden event at the Botanical Garden in
transformation took my breath away. No more baby face. I swear
Fayetteville where you can try dozens of great recipes!
he is growing a mustache. Don’t miss our special feature this month, Focus on Physicians. I read those posts from other moms on Facebook. They are prac-
There you’ll find valuable information on medical experts in our
tically giddy for the start of school. They are ready for time alone,
area who are devoted to helping you live your best life yet!
and they long for the routine. It makes me wonder if I am alone in my feelings of sadness.
Just as it’s hard for me to believe I have a high schooler, it’s also hard to believe that it’s eight years ago this month I launched
This year will bring moments of joy, and my son will grow even
Do South®! I did so with the belief that a magazine that high-
bigger, stronger, smarter. For these things, I am happy. I will rest
lighted what’s best about the place we call home would be a
knowing that he’s in a great school district. Knowing I am fortu-
success. From the beginning, I’ve gotten so many sweet letters,
nate to have a job that allows me to enjoy summers with my son.
cards, emails and Facebook messages telling me I was right. You,
Knowing that his passion for athletics is equal to his passionate
readers, are the absolute best!
dedication to learning. Our team still gets excited as each new issue comes out, so I know fall will bring joy, I do. But today, and most likely for several
every month feels like a celebration! And then there’s you, dear
days to come, I will let myself be sad for the days of this summer
reader, and our loyal family of advertisers, who trust us, who
that we spent together that won’t come again. Sure, I’ll be happy
read our stories, try our recipes, create one of our DIYs, and tell
for pumpkin everything, family gatherings, and Christmas decora-
us how much you love us! We thank you.
tions. Game days, snow days, days off. But, if given a choice, I’d live our summer days over and over – lost in the bliss.
I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it. As they say, life happens fast, be joyful in every moment, and
As we traveled this summer for three weeks straight for basketball, from Augusta to Las Vegas, we made so many memories which will stay with me always. As much fun as we had, we were so happy
don’t miss a minute!
~Catherine
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poetry
Stones in My Pocket LINEs Rebecca Wood
The creek bed has gone dry, the water taking refuge beneath cover of rocks
Where the sun cannot steal it with trick of evaporation
So I walk along this late summer path revealed but once each year
My pocket full of stones, meaningless to some but that struck my fancy
I pause near “Old Lonesome,� the heron who makes his home in the overhanging branches
He is on the outermost limb of a fallen tree that reaches out over a lone pool of water
Warm and shallow, just enough to give the small fishes sanctuary
Until the flow returns with Autumn rains
Trees rise tall on either side of this path, with understory beginning to turn golden and red
This hint of transition gives hope that Autumn will burst into to glorious hues
And cooling rains will once again refresh our bodies and the sun-weary Earth
That it will once again give rise to the lifeblood of this parched creekbed
The heron sizes me up, bellows out his displeasure of my intrusion and takes flight
Yet with him he pulls away my weariness
And he will soar to the sky and drop it among the clouds
Where it will fall to Earth again renewed as vigor
I will put my stones in a clear jar on the window ledge
So that I can see them when the rains come
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calendar
SEPTEMBER
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images courtesy certain vendors and the AR Dept. of Parks & Tourism
Hot Air Balloon State Championship Harrison arkansasballoonfest.com
Submit your events to editors@dosouthmagazine.com
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This festival kicks off Friday night with a free concert, a beer garden, and hot air balloons tethered to the ground. On Saturday, there’s a balloon race, and in the evening, there will be tethered rides available, plus pony rides, music, food, and family fun.
Antique Auto Fest Eureka Springs antiqueautofest.com This year’s festival takes place on the grounds of the Great Passion Play and features hundreds of antique cars, hot rods, street machines, rat rods, muscle cars and rare trucks. Free admission, live music, and food trucks.
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Dutch Oven Lid Lifting Van Buren casaofcrawfordcounty.com One hundred area cooks are preparing their favorite Dutch oven dishes, and you get to try them for only $10. Starts at 11:30am in downtown Van Buren, near the post office, and runs until the food is gone. Tickets sold on site.
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Tailgate for a Cause Fort Smith fscic.org This casual, tailgate-themed watch party for those 21 and older includes live music from the Allison Grace Band, live and silent auctions, tailgate games, beer and wine, and lots of surprises!
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Cardboard Boat Race Fort Smith 479.784.2368 Build a boat big enough for two people out of cardboard, plastic sheeting, and duct tape! Then, bring it to Creekmore Park Pool to paddle your way across!
calendar
THETOPTENTHETOPTEN 10-15
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Crawford County Fair Mulberry thecrawfordcountyfair.com This county fair has lots of great food, carnival rides, livestock and poultry exhibits, home economics displays, mutton bustin’, and live entertainment, all at Kirksey Park.
Chefs in the Garden Fayetteville bgozarks.org
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Meet the area’s finest chefs at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, watch cooking demonstrations and try all the sweet and savory culinary creations.
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Bluegrass and BBQ Eureka Springs The-Farm-Events.com Two nights of live music, BBQ, camping, food vendors, and artists, on 160 acres in Eureka Springs.
28-30
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TH Play for Luke Fort Smith teamlukehopeforminds.org Tennis great Andre Agassi is coming to Fort Smith to teach clinics, there will be silent and live auctions, all-day family fun, and an after-party with musicians Two Story Road at the Riverfront Pavilion.
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Konsplosion! Fort Smith konsplosion.com This convention at the Fort Smith Convention Center combines comics, sci-fi, anime, gaming, and pop culture.
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community
Our Community Cares words Do South staff ®
For nearly forty years, the Donald W. Reynolds Crisis Intervention Center’s mission has been to end domestic violence and sexual assault in our community through our services, education and prevention programs which empower men, women and their children to live free of fear and harm within their own families and the community. Do South® sat down with Allison Davis, executive director of the Crisis Intervention Center, to talk about their mission. DS: How did the Fort Smith Crisis Intervention Center get its start?
Allison: The Donald W. Reynolds Crisis Intervention Center originated in 1979 as the Battered Women’s Shelter. It was a mission chapter under the umbrella of the YWCA serving as a safe-haven for women and children fleeing family violence. DS: How do your clients get referred to you?
Allison: Many of our clients reach out to us on our 24/7 crisis support hotline at 1.800.359.0056. We also get referrals from many community partners such as police
CIC Crisis Intervention Center 1-800-359-0056 24 Hour Crisis Hotline
departments, medical facilities, schools, churches, etc. DS: How many people did you serve last year?
Allison: Three hundred and one women and children were able to escape violence and stay with us in our emergency safe shelter last year. In addition, fifty-four women and men received a forensic rape exam in our specialized medical clinic from one of our trained forensic sexual assault nurse examiners.
Donald W. Reynolds Crisis Intervention Center 5603 South 14th Street Fort Smith, AR 72901 479.782.1821 fscic.org 1.800.359.0056 (24 Hour Hotline)
DS: What does it mean for you, your staff and volunteers to be able to do this work?
Allison: One in three women and one in four men will be beaten or raped during their lifetime. That statistic is staggering to me and honestly can seem quite overwhelming. But we cannot forget that behind those statistics are human beings: people, loved ones. That’s someone’s son or daughter. Someone’s mother, best friend, co-worker. For those who stayed at the Crisis Intervention’s Safe Shelter last year and for those who came to us for a rape exam, and for the ones we continue to serve each and every day, that’s why we get up in the morning and do what we do! DS: Can you talk about your upcoming fundraiser?
Allison: Our fundraising event “Tailgate for a Cause” is on September 8 from 6 to 10pm Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy charity in our area. If you have a non-profit you’d like to see recognized, email us at editors@dosouthmagazine.com.
at Fianna Hills Country Club. (You must be twenty-one to attend.) You can purchase tickets online at fscic.org, or you can call our office at 479.782.1821. This casual, tailgate-themed watch party will include live music from the Allison Grace Band, live and silent auctions, tailgate games, beer and wine, and lots of fun surprises! Come help us call those Hogs! All proceeds will benefit the Fort Smith Crisis Intervention Center. Our goal is to be less reliant on federal and state subsidies that may or may not always be available in the future. Through the generous support of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers we plan on continuing to expand on these services, which are crucial to propelling our mission forward. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
pets
in Need of {YOUR} Love F
F
M
F
Eliza June
Eliza
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Lady Dorota
Doggo
3800 Kelley Hwy., Fort Smith | 479.783.4395 |
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Sam
Kenai
| adoption@hopehumanesociety.com
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. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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entertainment
Clock Dance By Anne Tyler Alfred A. Knopf | 292 pages | $27 review Marla Cantrell
Anne Tyler, a Pulitzer Prize-winning literary icon, takes the
seem more like a child than his equal partner. She lives in a
ordinary lives of ordinary people and lifts them so high they
golfing community but never golfs.
become ethereal. This is especially true for Clock Dance, which tells the story of Willa Drake in four acts. Act one opens in
One day, she gets a call from a woman in Baltimore who believes
1967 when she’s eleven, living in Pennsylvania and dreaming
Willa is the grandmother of a nine-year-old girl named Cheryl,
of her adult life. She wants to live someplace big enough to
whose mother, Denise, has been shot and is in the hospital.
have sidewalks. She expects she’ll be happy.
The mistake is complicated, but it has to do with the fact that Denise had been in a relationship with Willa’s son, Sean.
Act two opens in 1977 when Willa is in college in Illinois, preparing to take her boyfriend, Derek, home to visit. The
Willa begs off when asked to come care for Cheryl but then
flight is the first she’s taken, and something so disturbing
reconsiders. In an act totally out of character, she decides to
happens to her that she fears for her life. This event and the
go. And so does her husband Peter, who finds the situation
way Derek responds to it seem to say a lot about the couple’s
more trying as each day dawns.
future, but still, she marries him, has two sons and lives a In the beginning, Willa is nervous about everything, especially
moderately happy life.
driving. Soon, though, Peter returns to Arizona, and Willa is Act three begins in 1997 when tragedy strikes. Coming to her
left to help Denise and Cheryl alone. She drives to the hospital
aid is her father who tells her to live one moment at a time until
each day to see Denise. She gets to know the eclectic cast of
those moments become days and then weeks and then years.
characters that make up the working-class neighborhood. She makes a decision to hide a secret she’s discovered that could
Act four begins in 2017. Willa is now married to Peter, a
have dire consequences.
semi-retired attorney living in Phoenix where she fills her time with friends, getting her curly hair straightened, and
Of course, the secret comes out, and it threatens all the good-
trying to maintain a connection with her adult sons who’ve
will that Willa’s found in her new community. She books a
moved away.
ticket to go home to Peter, back to the life that did not fulfill her but at least she understood. The trip to Phoenix is a pivotal
There are clues that things aren’t spectacular for Willa. She
journey that opens Willa’s eyes to the hard choices she must
has a superficial relationship with her only sister. Her husband
make if she finally wants to be happy. Will she do it? You’ll
is curmudgeonly and refers to Willa as Little One, making her
have to see for yourself.
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community
This year, as Fort Smith celebrates its bicentennial, author and historian Tom Wing will be sharing stories of our city’s past in each edition of Do South®.
WHERE WE ATE words Tom Wing, Historian and Author IMAGEs courtesy Chuck Raney
My purpose in writing this story is to recall just a few of the
During my days at Northside High School in the early to
places my friends, family, and I frequented in my younger years,
mid-1980s, we were free to leave at lunchtime as long as we
perhaps to give others an idea of what was here, but more
could make it back for class on time. This time constraint limited
than that, a chance for all of us who remember these places
us to places near the school.
to reminisce. Just a few blocks from campus, across from Darby Junior High My good friend Chuck Raney runs the Facebook page, “If You
School, was Homer and Martha’s. A drive-in with limited seating
Ever Lived in Fort Smith.” It is a goldmine of collective memories,
inside, I remember delectable onion rings and a chicken fried
old photos, and stimulating discussions of the city’s past. I
steak plate that always hit the spot. Within walking distance of
appreciate Chuck’s work and willingness to share photos and
campus, and behind Vivian’s Bookstore (a favorite place of mine),
some of the information for this article.
was the Corner House. Salads, soups, and sandwiches built on Van Hatten’s Bakery breads made it a weekly, sometimes twice-
It’s not my intention to cover such places as Constantino’s, The Old
weekly choice. Limited seating made for a somewhat crowded
South, and Jan’s because they were a bit before my time. Rather,
experience, but the food was worth waiting for. The Corner
I want to discuss eateries that I remember best, all of which have
House Special was my favorite: turkey and ham with house-made
faded and disappeared. The tastes, aromas, and atmosphere these
blue cheese dressing on Van Hatten’s french bread. I wish I could
local places had were unique, and while corporate franchises
order one now.
might try to duplicate them, they mostly fail.
DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
community
Across Rogers Avenue from Northside, and a few blocks down
on North O Street, this provided many opportunities to enjoy
was one of the numerous Porta Family establishments, all
another old-fashioned, neighborhood eatery, Bob’s Sunnymede
run separately by brothers. The Rogers Avenue location was
Drive-In. Bob’s had great shakes and malts, but what I liked best
operated by Roger and Mary Porta, while others included Art’s
was the signature Big Bob Burger, consisting of two patties,
BBQ on Jenny Lind and Albert’s Malt Shop on Grand Avenue.
lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and a generous amount of melted
While I remember the BBQ sandwiches on Rogers Avenue,
American cheese. What I wouldn’t give to have one today!
it’s mostly the chili cheese fries that come to mind, which makes me wonder about my memory. Regardless, good eats
To satisfy a sweet tooth, or make for a quick breakfast, Fort
were always provided by the Portas. Incidentally, news and
Smith was rich with bakeries and donut shops. I ate many maple
weather coverage was offered by yet another brother, Pat,
bars from Slack’s Sweet Shop when Dad would surprise us on his
who worked for Channel 5.
way home from the fire station. He’d also bring us good things from Van Hatten’s including my favorite, Cobblestone Bread.
Down from Porta’s on Rogers Avenue, closer to downtown,
Lightly iced, spiced, and with toasted pecans, Cobblestone
was one of the numerous White Spot locations. The White
Bread was perfect for breakfast, a late-night snack, or dessert.
Spots were more grill/café style than drive-in, but the food was
The main thing I remember is it never lasted long in our house.
similar. Very reasonably priced, limited lunch money could buy plenty of mustard, onion and pickle-topped burgers, handed
Lastly, no discussion of vanished food options in Fort Smith
over in a paper sack that soaked up the secret ingredient of
would be complete without mentioning the Grand Bakery.
good taste—grease. Breakfast was also served.
From buying post-midnight donuts out the back door to their assortment of incredible Danish (the cream cheese variety was
Today, we have an abundance of Mexican food options, but
used many times to gain a hall pass or afternoon excuse slip
that wasn’t always the case. Back then, one of the only Tex-Mex
from certain Northside faculty members), everything in the
joints in town was Señor Bob’s Tacos. With a location on Grand
store was wonderful. Nothing compares to the aroma of fresh-
Avenue, you could order tacos for lunch, but sometimes I opted
baked goods.
for a burrito, and even more often the Taco Burger, a seasoned meat and cheese sandwich on a bun.
These places and the food I ate are part of my fondest memories of growing up in Fort Smith, all of them now gone
For a time, I worked Saturdays and sometimes after school
but never forgotten. What are some of the places that bring
delivering prescriptions for Sunnymede Pharmacy. Located
back memories for you?
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shop
words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors
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shop
You can too! Visit some of our favorite local shops and you’ll fall in love with everything they offer as the season starts to change in this wonderful place we call home.
Onyx Coffee Lab Southern Weather Coffee, Eating Evolved® Keto Cups + Coffee, Maya Katmal Organic Everyday Dal™ Red Lentil + Butternut Squash + Coconut
Hearts On Fire Lorelei Double Halo Diamond Stud Earrings, 18kt White, Yellow or Rose Gold,.70cts.
JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140
OLDE FASHIONED FOODS 479.782.6183 / 479.649.8200
Slander Pinot Noir, Savage & Cooke The Burning Chair Bourbon Whiskey, Yuengling Oktoberfest, Savage & Cooke Second Glance American Whiskey
SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS
Arkansas Razorback Drinkware, Clocks, and Home Décor
JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP AT SPARKS HEALTH 479.441.4221
479.783.8013
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people
July 2015 was set to be a big month for the Tim Siegel family of Lubbock, Texas. Tim, the head men’s tennis coach at Texas Tech University was retiring on the eighth, a decision that would finally give him more time with his wife Jenny, a nurse practitioner, daughters Alex, Kate and Ellie, and son Luke, who was nine years old. The Siegels were moving into a new house, and much planning was underway. Paint colors, furniture placement, artwork: every decision was a joy. The backyard was a blank canvas and would remain so at the request of Tim and Luke, the two guys in the family, who loved baseball and carried gear with them in the family car, just in case they’d snag a chance to play. When they envisioned the perfect backyard, it didn’t have even one scrawny tree that could get in the way of a long pass. But on July 28, Luke was in a golf cart accident while at a friend’s house. Tim says the golf cart had been modified, making it taller and faster. Luke suffered head and chest trauma that resulted in anoxic brain injury. The term means Luke’s brain was deprived of oxygen for a time. What followed was a series of events that try the heart, beginning with the phone call Tim and Jenny received telling them their only son’s life was in jeopardy. Agonizing days turned into
Play for Luke The Luke Siegel Story
weeks at University Medical Center in Lubbock. Luke had three brain surgeries before being transferred to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, where he spent forty-four days and had multiple surgeries. The day Tim and Jenny were shown the MRI of Luke’s brain was the kind of terrible that knocks even the strongest people to their knees. Tim says they were told that Luke would never speak again, never use his arms or legs.
words Marla Cantrell imageS courtesy Tim Siegel and Bobby Banck
The Siegels decided to hope anyway.
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people
Luke with his Dad
Luke with his Mom
Before the Accident
Hoping and praying with them was the Bobby Banck family
he could use his talents and connections to help. In 2016, he and
of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Bobby and Tim had been friends for
many other volunteers, including Lucy Coleman, Elise Cooley,
decades by then, their roots going all the way back to the year
and other members of the Hardscrabble Country Club Women’s
they were eleven years old. “We played against each other in
Tennis Team, hosted a pro-am tennis event for Luke in Fort
the twelve and under national doubles tournament in Lafayette,
Smith, raising more than $100,000 in half a day.
Louisiana,” Bobby says. “Jimmy Arias was my partner. He and I played against Tim and Pat Harrison. After that, Tim and I became
In 2017, the Siegels formed the Team Luke Foundation, a
friends. We roomed at the University of Arkansas together.”
non-profit that aided families dealing with brain injuries. Bobby stepped in again with his crew of volunteers and hosted the
Friendships can be fleeting, fading away as time passes and
second annual Play for Luke event in Fort Smith, raising $135,000.
circumstances change. But that didn’t happen to Tim and Bobby, even though the two eventually lived five hundred miles apart.
As Tim spoke publicly, more and more families contacted him with stories of their own. When the Siegels learned more
In the aftermath of Luke’s accident, Bobby traveled to Texas
about a similar foundation, Hope for Minds, organized after
often to be with the Siegels. Medical bills mounted, and Bobby,
an eleven-year-old boy named JD suffered brain trauma after
tennis director at Hardscrabble Country Club, prayed for a way
nearly drowning in a hot tub, they felt a kinship. Since that
Luke with Ed Sheeran
After the Accident
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people
time, the two organizations have merged into Team LukeAndre Agassi
Hope for Minds. When a child suffers severe brain trauma, the road ahead is hard to navigate. While the focus is on the injured child, the rest of the family is facing depression, anxiety, and often feelings of helplessness. Add to that the costs that multiply even for those with insurance, and the pressure can be devastating. Tim didn’t have a place like Team Luke-Hope for Minds in 2015. Now, though, he works hard to get the word out that there is help. In fact, the non-profit has helped many families, including five from Arkansas that have received $150,000 in aid. Which brings the story back to Bobby, who along with his group of volunteers is hosting the third-annual Play for Luke event in Fort Smith on September 22. Growing up, Bobby attended the IMG Academy Bollettieri tennis academy in Florida. When he decided to go pro, he went back to perfect his game. At that time, there was a young player named Andre Agassi, who would go on to become a gold-medal Olympian and the number one men’s tennis player in the world. “I’m probably seven years older than Andre. I remember being asked to play a match with him. He was incredible, hitting the ball a million miles an hour. We used to practice a lot. I used to take him to 7-Eleven to get Mountain Dew. “When he was sixteen he was sensational. He has a heart of gold. He’s done incredible things for kids. He didn’t blink an eye when I asked him to come.” There are numbers to back up Bobby’s claims. Andre’s foundation has reportedly raised at least $60 million for at-risk kids in Southern Nevada and opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a public charter that’s been in operation in Las Vegas since 2001. Andre will show up at this year’s event shortly after eleven in the morning, at Ben Geren Park in Fort Smith. During the same time period, Luke and his family will be welcomed, the crowd cheering as Luke is wheeled to center court. Luke’s dad, Tim, will address the audience.
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people
“All the money is going to Team Luke—Hope for Minds,” Bobby says, and Tim adds that he’s planning to speak to some of the schools in the area while he’s here. He will talk about Luke’s accident, the importance of golf cart safety, and also about faith and perseverance. At one of his lowest points, a man Tim met while outside a grocery store, said, “Just put one foot in front of the other.” That statement has become the mantra that leads Tim on. At this year’s event, there will be live and silent auctions. One of the items offered is an hour-long tennis lesson for two with Andre and his wife and tennis star Steffi Graf, in Las Vegas, and afterward a lunch for six. On the day of the event, there will be a one-hour adult class with Andre beginning at noon. At one, there will be a junior clinic with Andre. New this year is an after-party that begins at 6:30pm at the Riverfront Pavilion, with cocktails and food trucks. Live music provided by JD Clayton starts at 7pm, and then the headliner, Two Story Road, which features a husband and wife duo from Nashville, takes the stage. Luke and Drew Brees
The addition of the after-party allows those who don’t play tennis but want to be part of Play for Luke an opportunity The tough odds don’t stop Tim or Luke, and Tim says they
to join in.
never will. He has seen so much improvement in Luke since Tim is in awe of the generosity of Fort Smith. As a former
the accident. He has seen how his son’s story has touched a
Razorback, he’s always held love for this state, but since
multitude. He has witnessed the kindness of so many people.
Luke’s accident, he’s grown even fonder of this place with its kind people and loving spirit. He talks about Bobby, saying
There are things that break his heart daily, like the empty
he’s never had a better friend and never will. He talks about
backyard where he should be throwing long passes to his
Lucy Coleman and her crew who volunteer each year to put
son. He doesn’t shy away from the heartache. Instead, he
on the event. And he talks about Luke, the little boy who was
uses it to reach out to others who are hurting, offering help
destined to be an athlete, who wanted a barren backyard that
and hope. Saying someone is here with you. Just take it one
he could imagine was a ballfield.
step at a time.
Today, Luke communicates by blinking his eyes or moving his tongue. Three days a week, Tim takes him to Fort Worth for therapy that tests his limits. When Tim looks at his son, he still sees that athlete’s spirit, fighting for a win in a game with tough odds.
Play for Luke takes place on September 22 at Ben Geren Park and at the Riverfront Pavilion in Fort Smith. To buy tickets or to donate, visit playforluke.com.
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i delight
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Words Jessica Sowards
images Jeremiah Sowards and Mikela Sowards
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actually look like.
"A little while ago, the word 'delight' kept rolling around in my mind. That happens sometimes. Like a loose marble, a single word or phrase gets caught somewhere in the vicinity of that space between my thoughts and my feelings, and it just lingers there until I ponder it a little more deeply."
It still gets the best of me occasionally. Every once in a while, I
I ended up doing a quick internet search for “scripture about
nearly come undone, and I have to take the time to put myself
delight.” And there it was. A list that just kept going. God
together again. But those episodes are few and far between,
had so much to say about delight. Over and over, verse after
and that comes down to the conscious choice, an intentional
verse, the Word instructs us to delight in Him and that He
mindset. It comes down to the choice to delight.
delights in us.
I love words, and I’m pretty sure I always have. Language is a
Honestly, I still felt a disconnect. After all, delight has always
gift, and I don’t take for granted the lovely opportunity to truly
been a word that I imagined to be lighthearted. The trill of
express our hearts and our dreams and even our fears through
“Delightful!” seemed only to fit the laughter of infants and
words. I look up definitions a lot. I reference the thesaurus.
simple pleasure. But if it is a repeated command of God, surely
I always want to make sure I am saying exactly what I mean.
it is no simple and shallow thing.
A little while ago, the word “delight” kept rolling around in
I was sitting in my garden when I did that internet search.
my mind. That happens sometimes. Like a loose marble, a
Perched on a brown metal folding chair in the middle of the
single word or phrase gets caught somewhere in the vicinity
weedy melon patch with my phone in my hand. Reading verse
of that space between my thoughts and my feelings, and it
after verse and recognizing that I wasn’t being deeply impacted,
just lingers there until I ponder it a little more deeply.
I reasoned that there must be some disconnect in language.
This morning I woke up to a to-do list that weighs 9,000 pounds. I feel the weight of it resting on my shoulders, and when I think too hard about it, my mind starts feeling like it’s being crushed. To be honest, a lot of mornings start this way. It is a regular thing for me to have to take the responsibilities of my life and hand them over to Jesus or else I will fall about trying to figure out how to make it work. The funny thing is, this is not a new feeling. I still felt the pressure of juggling before I had six kids, a homeschool planner chock full of plans, a huge garden full of tasks to accomplish, and a small farm that wakes up every morning and waits for me to meet its needs. I remember waking up in my suburban bedroom feeling the same feeling, which leads me to believe maybe we are all posed with the opportunity to get overwhelmed by our lives, no matter what our lives
What was I missing? Then I searched the definition of delight. Delight. It was there, demanding my attention. I thought about that word for a while, about what it evoked in me. Delight
There it was. Delight, verb, to take great pleasure in.
felt like a fluffy word. It reminded me of whipped cream or a dusting of powdered sugar. It didn’t feel particularly substan-
My wheels started turning, and for the first time since I began
tial, and I wasn’t sure why. Normally it would be a word I
pondering that little word, my heart began to leap. He delights
would dismiss, as it didn’t evoke any particular deep feeling or
in me. He takes great pleasure in me. He delights in me and
thought, but on this particular day when it rolled around in my
therefore He is pleased by me—but it isn’t because of me.
mind, I could not dismiss it.
Delight is not always a reaction. God does not delight in me because I am always delightful. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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My garden is my favorite place, but it is so much work. My kids scream and fight. They fall apart over minor things, and they look to me to bring calm to their chaos. Sometimes I just want to scream with them. The chores on a farm come in waves, morning and night, and they literally never stop. You do them, or you fall behind, period. The bottom line is, my life becomes overwhelming when I start expecting it to be delightful instead of staying in the mindset that I can be delighted in imperfection, just like God is delighted in me. I have to be a person who actively delights. I tend to think we could change the course of our lives if only we started with our thoughts. I don’t mean that in some New Age way. I just mean in a great big world that is so completely out of my control, if I can’t take control of my mind, how can I expect to influence change anywhere else? So, on the mornings when the responsibility feels crushing, and I could easily view the great blessings of my life as negative things because of how intensely demanding they are, I have found one thing that changes everything. I make the choice to actively (not reactively) delight. I wake up and marvel at the preciousness of my sons’ smiles. I have conversations with them and ask about their dreams. I choose to take pleasure in them so that when the tantrums come, I am able to handle them with the same heart that God handles my tantrums. I am able to bring calm to the chaos. I walk through the garden and note the way the pollinators hover around the zinnias. I study the details and choose to actively delight before I face the weeds and the pruning. Life has no shortage of wonder and beauty. In a world where the days are lit by the sun and the night sky is dotted with stars, surely, we can delight in the details. But we have to make a choice. We have to realize that delight is a verb. I have very bad days. Days when frustration and fear get the best of me. I want to give up sometimes, and sometimes I feel in over my head.
I have found the great alleviation to being overwhelmed in this one simple stance. I delight. Do you?
On those days, He makes the choice to delight in me, and He finds me pleasing. Because that is who He is. He delights.
To watch Jessica’s garden tours, visit her YouTube channel, Roots and Refuge
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words Megan Lankford, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks image courtesy Ironside Photography
September in the Garden THE DIRT:
Transplant what
Drought tolerant landscaping is becoming more and more popular. However, some people think that having this type of landscape means they’ll miss out on flowers and that it won’t be as beautiful as a traditional garden. This is not the case. Using native and cultivated native plants will not only allow you to have a marvelous garden, but you’ll also water less, and the plants support local wildlife year-round.
you sowed last month, plus garlic and shallots.
TIPS: Two of my absolute favorite drought tolerant natives are Baptisia alba (white baptisia) and Baptisia australis (false indigo). Both support native pollinator populations in the spring, with the white blooming in April and May, and the indigo in May and June. The flowers are born on spikes that sprout gracefully above the foliage. Seedpods can be left to dry on plants until they turn dark brown, and the pods can be used in flower arrangements. Echinacea purpurea is another tried and true garden darling. In the summer their pollen and nectar support both bees and butterflies. If left up over the winter they support birds including goldfinches, which are a delight to see on a cold winter’s day. There are many varieties of Echinacea on the market; however, some do not attract pollinators like the true native. If you buy a variety, be sure to keep an eye on it to see if the pollinators are visiting it. If not, you may consider adding a true native along with your other variety.
YOU CAN PLANT: Bok Choi Cabbage Collards Dill Fennel Kale Lettuce
We must not forget Asclepia (milkweed). Although there are many varieties, and I encourage you to explore them, make sure you understand the growth habit. Although Asclepias syriaca can be quite stunning, it belongs in a wildflower meadow, not a tamed garden bed. Stick with a smaller and tamer milkweed like Asclepias tuberosa, which matures to only two and a half feet tall and one and a half feet wide and can be tucked into almost any garden bed. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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WINNING THE GAME OF words and IMAGEs Jim Hattabaugh
Golf
My favorite hole at Winn Mountain is number four. It is a par thre e; you can se e the flag from the te e box. It always reminds me of life. You can se e your goal, and it lo oks easy, until you se e a huge tre e right in front of the gre en. Obstacles are common in life, so you have to decide if you are going over, under, around, or through it. Just remember, there is a way to play through.
G
Golf is a fantastic game that was invented by the Scots several
Knowing the origin of this sport makes playing the game even
centuries ago to ward off loneliness and to find another use
better. I play regularly with three friends at a delightful course
of their cow and sheep pastures. Those inventive fellows came
called Winn Mountain Golf Course near Mountainburg,
up with a game in which they hit a small leather-covered
Arkansas, about six miles north of Alma, on Highway 71.
feather ball with a stick into a little hole several hundred yards
There, we spend time catching up, discussing politics, which
away. They would yell “four” or “fore” to warn neighbors and
leads to lively conversations, and enjoying the beauty of this
friends that a flying object was headed their way. Being hit by
course that’s still somewhat undiscovered.
a ball made of feathers does not sound very painful but being hit by one of today’s golf balls is not for the weak of heart and warrants a forewarning.
When entering the driveway, you can smell the pine trees and hear birds singing. Up ahead is the clubhouse with all
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its amenities such as a driving range, putting green, cold drinks, snacks, free coffee, and bottled water! After checking out your cart, you drive through a wooded area to tee box for the first hole where you’ll see a spring-fed lake and Winn Mountain, the namesake of the course. Kathy and Tim Pense designed and developed a hundred acres of old pastures, ponds, and a creek that now runs through most of this par 70, eighteen-hole course nestled among the foothills of the Boston Mountains. Before this venture, Tim owned and operated a dirt moving business for many years, working in Oklahoma, Alaska, Colorado, and Florida. He and Kathy bought the property during the recession of 1980 as a place to park their large dirt moving equipment when not in use. Tim, an occasional golfer, started tinkering with the idea of building a course about seven years ago. Working together, they developed a five-year plan and opened the course to the public in 2013. To get things exactly right, Tim pulled a satellite map off Google Earth and started walking the property using traffic cones as markers for the tee box and where the greens might be placed. He would brush-hog the possible green site, go back and hit balls to see how it worked out. The property has several mature trees, and he did not want to remove them, so they planned the course around them. Tim used his knowledge of and experience moving dirt to develop the course. He researched and read all he could about golf course design, management, grass, water, herbicides, fertilizer, etc., while still in the dirt moving business. Kathy, knowing Tim was not an avid reader, was impressed by Tim’s dedication to learning all he could about this new venture, something that continues today as he keeps up to speed on all aspects of maintaining and running Winn Mountain. Tim already had a feel for this land. He’s a native of Crawford County, growing up in Mountainburg. Kathy is from Tulsa and jokes that Tim had to go all the way to Oklahoma to find a good woman. They share their labor of love with Kathy taking care of the clubhouse, greeting and taking care of customers while Tim takes care of course maintenance.
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Tim is on the course at six in
Tim, now sixty years old, says
the morning until closing time
the one thing he’d change if
at nine in the evening. Both
he could would be building
admit they work long hours,
Winn Mountain Golf Course
and take little vacation time or
years ago when he had lots
days off since Winn Mountain
of energy. Back then, fifteen-
is open seven days a week. But
hour days, seven days a week,
that doesn’t seem to worry
would have been a bit easier.
them much. They love what
Still, he wouldn’t trade what
they do, and when asked
he and Kathy have built. Even
what they liked most about the business, both said at the same
time,
“Working
now, he doesn’t see himself
Kathy Pense
as a “golf nut,” but he does
with
and meeting the people.” The
enjoy an occasional game, played on the course he built.
Tim Pense
people they’re talking about are golfers who come from all
I enjoy it as well. My favorite
over this part of the state to
hole at Winn Mountain is
play at Winn Mountain.
number four. It is a par three; you can see the flag from the
Recently, while playing at one
tee box. It always reminds me
of the course’s tournaments,
of life. You can see your goal,
I asked several other golfers
and it looks easy, until you
why they would drive a couple
see a huge tree right in front
of hours just to play golf here.
of the green. Obstacles are
I was told that the affordable
common in life, so you have
price was a factor. Where else can you play eighteen holes
to decide if you are going over, under, around, or through it.
with a cart for twenty-five dollars (twenty dollars for seniors)?
Just remember, there is a way to play through.
They also mentioned the friendly atmosphere and the rarity of having the owners welcoming you and stopping by on the course to see how you are doing.
It was that kind of determination that kept Tim and Kathy believing they could build and run this golf course five miles south of Mountainburg, a town of 625 people. They had a
Tim and Kathy are just being themselves, making sure everyone
vision of what it would look like, and they could visualize golfers
feels at home. Looking around, it’s hard to imagine the journey
coming from miles around to play on this beautiful piece of
to get it to where it is today. Tim and Kathy admit there were
land that they take such great pride in. They kept working until
many surprises along the way, the biggest one being how
it happened. They kept trying until their dream came true.
much everything cost, from the clubhouse to the driveway, and especially the fuel to keep the mowers and carts running. Winn Mountain Golf Course They’ve learned some cost-saving tips in the process. Tim has
10636 Highway 71
a different approach to fertilizer and herbicides and probably
Mountainburg, Arkansas
uses a fourth of what others do, by combining both during
winnmountaingolfcourse.net
application. This method saves water, fuel, and time.
479.662.6007
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apartment is housed on the fourth floor of Mercy, and serves families in crisis free of charge. She was stunned by the beauty of this place, a common response from first-time visitors. Stepping inside is like visiting a boutique hotel that understands how to be both serene and stunning. The dining room table was often full at dinnertime. The food was filling a critical need, and Candis, a talented cook, saw how appreciated she was. She also noticed how important meal time was for the parents who would talk among themselves, sharing stories and encouragement, bonding in a way only those in their shoes could. Just a month after Candis began, her step-granddaughter Candis Barnes
had a baby girl who was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. While the baby got stronger, her mom stayed in the Family Room, which made a world of difference, since she
The HAPPINESS
of Giving
lived forty miles away. Today, that baby girl is a first grader, happy and healthy. As time moved on, Candis got even more comfortable with her position. Always observant, she would notice which of the parents seemed to be having the hardest time. She’d sit with them, offering her presence, and if they asked, her advice. Mostly, though, she’d tell them how to make it through,
WORDS Marla Cantrell IMAGES courtesy Susan Pruitt and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy
taking one day at a time, and if that was too much, one hour. May 2013 rolled around, and Candis attended the reunion that’s held annually for the families who’ve used the room.
Six years ago, third grade teacher Candis Barnes was looking for
She looked around and saw the babies who’d struggled as
a way to give back. She’d always been a whirlwind of energy,
newborns chubby and laughing in their mothers’ arms. She
and she knew the skills she picked up in the classroom, like
saw older kids tugging on their fathers’ hands, excited to play
communication, empathy, and patience, would serve her well.
one of the games that had been organized.
The only question that remained was where she would best fit. Those memories were a godsend as Candis continued to In July 2012, she was looking through Craigslist when she noticed
volunteer. She could recall the joy of that day and offer it to
an ad for volunteers who’d be willing to help out at the Ronald
frightened parents who talked to her in shaky voices. That
McDonald Family Room at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
helped her help them, and so did her faith.
Candis booked an appointment, saw the Family Room, which
She is a woman steeped in the Bible, having logged so many
opened in December, 2010. The 3,200 square foot, luxury
hours in church she could likely never calculate them all. On
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Sundays, she’s at Heritage Methodist in Van Buren. On Tuesdays, she’s at Cowboy Church, which is service in the country with lots of food and singing. On Wednesday, she’s back at Heritage. Every Thursday, she attends Bible study, and she also attends a life group whose mission is to worship and grow spiritually. While faith is her stronghold, it also helped that she’d had a few rough patches herself. Those trials created empathy. The other gift she has is appreciating every day. Just being around Candis is like downing an entire energy drink. She makes you want to smile more, live better, give back. Do something! If she could ask for anything for the Family Room, it would be for the community to get to know it better. Asking for a tour would be a great start, just seeing what is accomplished inside these walls. To date, more than 3,800 River Valley families have been helped. None of it would be possible without people like Candis, who has logged 2,052 hours doing everything from cooking to washing load after load of towels. But it’s not just Candis. It’s the staff and those in the community, many of whom participate in the meal share program. Any family or group can sign up to bring food. Some restaurants donate as well. Candis mentioned TGI Fridays, which brings dinner, aptly, on Friday nights. She says this is a great program for church groups, for example, that want to serve the community. Talk of serving the community brings the conversation back to the love of volunteering. There are so many benefits, such
mention how your caring made them stronger, and you’ll feel overcome with gratitude that you were able to make someone’s stormy night a little calmer. And then you’ll see their sweet child, and your heart will expand to take in all that joy. That is the blessing of volunteering. That is the happiness of giving.
as becoming part of something wonderful. Candis imagines what it would be like for someone who might be struggling with loneliness to volunteer at the Family Room. She said it
The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy’s top needs are:
works like this: Your hands get busy, which keeps your mind
Individual Snacks
from dwelling on negative thoughts. You look up one day and
Liquid laundry detergent
realize you’ve become part of a family made up of some of the
Cleaning supplies and dish washing detergent
kindest people you’ll ever meet.
Drinks: can soda, bottled water, etc, K-cup coffee, and creamer Call 479.314.8030 or email allison@rmhcofarkoma.org to donate.
Not long after, you’ll be at the market, or at a festival, and you’ll see a family you helped. The hard times will be long
The Red Shoe Shindig, which supports the Family Room, is Saturday,
behind them, and they’ll come up to you to let you know
October 13, at Hardscrabble Country Club. Visit redshoeshindig.com
how much the Ronald McDonald Room meant to them. They’ll
for more information.
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CHEFS in the GARDEN WORDS Botanical Garden of the Ozarks IMAGES courtesy Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
Everyone’s favorite foodie event, Chefs in the Garden, returns for its eleventh year on September 11 from 6 to 8:30pm. This unique culinary event captures the excitement of the harvest season by bringing the area's finest chefs to the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville. Guests will stroll through the garden, watching cooking demonstrations and indulging in sweet and savory culinary creations while sipping wine and craft beer. The 2018 Honorary Chef is Mario Valdovino. Chef Mario is the Corporate Executive Chef and Senior Director of Culinary Innovations in the Research & Development Department at Tyson Foods. He’s the go-to guy for creating some of Tyson’s tastiest cuisine available. He has also appeared as a guest judge on Chopped, which airs on the Food Network. This year’s featured chefs hail from restaurants all over the Northwest Arkansas region, including Siloam Springs, Eureka Springs and Rogers. The Presenting Sponsor is Filippo Berio Olive Oil. Proceeds from the event will support the garden’s mission to provide education, entertainment and recreation for the thousands of visitors and students who visit the garden each year. Tickets for the September 11th event are $50 for Botanical Garden of the Ozarks members and $75 for non-members. Tickets are limited, and may be purchased at bgozarks.org or by calling 479.750.2620.
FEATURED RESTAURANTS: 28 Springs Restaurant, Bocca Italian Eatery & Pizzeria, Bonefish Grill, Bordinos, Café Rue Orleans, Ella's Table, Fayetteville Country Club, Fork & Crust Pie Co., Local Flavor Café, Meiji Japanese Cuisine, Mockingbird Kitchen, River Grille Steakhouse, Vetro 1925 Ristorante
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FILIPPO BERIO
SEAR-ROASTED SEA BASS
PREP TIME: 15 MIN COOK TIME: 10 MIN T O TA L T I M E : 2 5 M I N SERVINGS: 4
Recipe and Image Filippo Berio
ingredients
method
•
4 skinless sea bass fillets, or other firm white fish (about 6 ounces each)
Position rack in the center of oven and heat
•
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
to 450°F. Season fish with salt and pepper.
•
5 Tablespoons Filippo Berio® Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in a large
•
3 Tablespoons pine nuts
•
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
•
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes, preferably a combination of red and yellow
•
3 Tablespoons raisins
•
3 Tablespoons fresh orange juice
•
2 Tablespoons chopped roasted red bell pepper
Wipe skillet clean. Heat remaining 3
•
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish
Tablespoons of olive oil in skillet. Add pine
oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat, until simmering hot. Add fish and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Remove fish from pan and keep warm.
nuts and garlic to pan, and cook, stirring often, for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, raisins, orange juice, roasted pepper, and basil. Cook, stirring often, for 1 minute. Return fish to pan, nestling fillets into the tomato mixture. Roast in oven until fish is just firm to the touch and opaque when you cut open a thicker piece with a paring knife, 3 to 6 minutes. Let fish rest for a couple of minutes. Serve with tomato mixture spooned over top and garnish with basil, if desired.
September 11 Chefs in the Garden Botanical Garden of the Ozarks For tickets, visit bgozarks.org or call 479.750.2620.
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Bramble Berry COCKTAIL recipe adapted from foodandwine.com
ingredients •
2 oz. gin
•
1 ½ oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
•
1 – 2 teaspoons simple syrup
•
½ oz. crème de mure
•
Lemon half-moon, garnish
•
Fresh black berries, garnish
method
Combine gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into a lowball glass filled with crushed ice. Drizzle crème de mure over the top and garnish with a lemon half-moon and black berries. Always drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.
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It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s SPA CON! words Dwain Hebda images courtesy Visit Hot Springs
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B
By day, Amy Shipman is a mild-mannered high school librarian.
Garland County librarian Cori Williams talks about how this
The demure blonde maintains racks of books and periodicals
successful collaboration came to be. “We’d originally wanted to
for the benefit of young minds, few of whom ever suspect that
do a Dr. Who fest, but the funding never worked out. Visit Hot
beneath her sensible, learned exterior beats the heart of a warrior,
Springs approached us about doing a literary festival, but there’s
a superhero ready to spring into action on a moment’s notice.
already some of those in the state, and they’re doing very well, and we didn’t really want to reinvent the wheel. We basically
And that moment – Spa Con 2018, Hot Springs’ pop culture and
said, ‘You know, we have this idea.’ At first, they were like, ‘Is
comic convention – is approaching.
this a big deal?’” she says. “They came back and told the staff about it, and the staff was like, ‘That’s a great idea!’ They got all
“My kids [at school] find it hilarious,” Amy says. “I went last year
excited. It kinda went from there.”
as [the character] Maleficent, and they didn’t know it was me. And when they found out, they thought that was the coolest thing.
There was a time when a comic book convention wouldn’t fill
They were like, ‘You’re a librarian! You read books for a living.’”
a banquet room at the Arlington Hotel, much less the swank Hot Springs Convention Center. Once limited to a subset of
In reality, Amy would make a great comic book character all by
comic book fanatics, sci-fi wonks and Dungeons and Dragons
herself. She really is a librarian (at the superhero-y sounding Hot
aficionados, comic conventions (or “cons”) have enjoyed
Springs World Class High School, no less). And, she really is an
exploding popularity, in part thanks to superhero blockbuster
award-winning cosplayer, one who dresses up in costumes and
movies and the expanded acceptance of geekdom in general.
wins trophies for it. “I love that I can go and have this escape,” she says. “Last year I dressed up as Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones one day. It is a lot of fun dressing up as more of a villainous character because nobody likes her. Just walking the halls, people were scared of me. That is fun; I know that sounds weird, but it’s fun to see how people react.” Bill Solleder has superpowers of his own. As the Director of Marketing for Visit Hot Springs, he’s been integral in this event
“These were the places that people could get together and kind
from the beginning. “When I came into the job they said, ‘Okay,
of nerd out and not be heckled about it,” says Gary Jackson,
we’re doing this event, Spa Con,’ [which was the brainchild of
who’s operated Star Toys in Hot Springs for twenty years and
the Garland County Library]. It had never been done before. And
attended comic cons longer than that. “Now you have something
we were two months out. Literally, my predecessor said, ‘Here’s
for everybody.”
my notes. Have fun.’ I’d never even been to an event like this before. Admittedly, I was a Star Wars freak in 1977, that was
From the beginning, Spa Con was established not just to suit the
my jam. And, I’d organized a couple of music festivals and a film
traditional comic book and sci-fi crowd but as an entertainment
festival, so my background was producing events.
platform covering a wide range of genres. Horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games,
“The Garland County Library does a fantastic job of programming
web-comics, fantasy novels and general pop culture are all
to multiple audiences. They’re great, great programmers and a
represented to some degree.
tremendous resource. Visit Hot Springs advertises and promotes the entire city and we manage the convention center and its
“Some conventions, you can see everything in an hour and after
staff, so we had that at our disposal. It’s the largest convention
two hours you’re done,” Bill says. “My goal was, how do we get
center in the state and having that backbone was a huge asset
the normal con-goer to an event, do the vendor hall and then
to the first Spa Con.”
stay because there’s more to do. And that’s been my raison DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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d'être since then. We need to add things. More workshops, more
“You have the hardcore collectors, say from Star Trek, who speak
panels, more hands-on activities. Really well-produced events in
the language, they know every start date of every episode,” Gary
the nighttime.”
says. “I’ve done the Dallas show for years, and we used to have a group of Klingons come up, and they looked like they stepped
This broader view greatly enhanced the appeal of Spa Con without
right out of the film. Once they got into costume, they spoke
alienating the hard-core fans of such franchises as Star Wars, Star
Klingon, nothing else.
Trek, Dr. No, and a cacophony of crime-fighting comic book heroes. “They would come to your booth and they had another guy dressed “There’s kind of a formula [to comic cons],” says Erin Baber,
as an alien who interpreted for them. He told me, this is nothing;
special events coordinator with Visit Hot Springs. “There's a
they’d go to IHOP or Denny’s, they’d order in Klingon, and he’d
big expo hall kind of thing where there’s vendors, and people
have to tell the waiter what they wanted. That’s devotion.”
walk around and socialize, sightsee, people watch. And there’s always a panel and workshop element and then you’ve got the
As for our librarian/heroine Amy, she’s been working late into
celebrities. It’s a formula we’ve mostly stuck with; we’ve tried to
the night constructing a new costume for the 2018 show by
just add a little bit here and there.”
which she will try to defend her cosplay title.
“Last year we added laser tag in our arena, which really
“It’s so cool walking in here,” Amy says. “The costumes are
expanded attendance and the show ended up taking up the
amazing. I’ve seen full robots like Alphonse Elric from Full Metal
entire convention center. We also had some guests that were a
Alchemist walking around. It’s no big deal to walk around the
little different, we had two of the stars from the 1990s TV show
corner, and there’s R2D2 rolling around. I love everything from
Twin Peaks and Barb from (TV show) Stranger Things.”
Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Disney. Seeing it all there together, it’s awesome.”
“The show here, I like the way they’ve done it. They’ve done it correctly,” says Gary, “You don’t want to alienate any part of your customer base. You need a good variety. And that’s what I really enjoy about this. What I’ve seen with some shows is, they try to focus on one aspect or two aspects at most. If you’re focusing on Transformers and Power Rangers, the people that focus on comic books, there’s not going to be anything there for them.” The crowds at Spa Con have not only grown but diversified. Kids and families abound at the event as well as adults whose fandom for their favorite TV show, comic book or video game characters knows no bounds.
Spa Con September 21-23, 2018 Hot Springs Convention Center 501.321.2277 spa-con.org Several celebrities will be at Spa-Con, including Pam Grier, star of several movies including
Jackie Brown in 1997; Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster from the 1960s’ TV show, The Munsters; and Veronica Taylor who voiced Ash Ketchum in the Pokémon anime.
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travel
Take Time for Tennessee WORDS Marla Cantrell Images Marla Cantrell; courtesy Tennessee Department of Tourist Development; Bluff View Art District
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travel taste
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." Saint Augustine
I
I have come to love Tennessee with its mountains and rivers, valleys and glens, and the voice of its people that sounds like a Sunday afternoon spent on the porch with a glass of lemonade in hand. When I traveled to Chattanooga as the guest of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, my feelings only deepened. This city, on the border of Georgia, sits on the banks of the Tennessee River and is guarded by the Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and Signal Mountain. Atlanta is just 118 miles away, the Smoky Mountains 130. In September, the average high temperature is eighty-three degrees. That number drops to seventy-three in October. I couldn’t wait to explore Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. First, I checked into the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. The lobby is a former train station, and there are even old sleeping cars for overnight stays if you choose. I tried a Havana latte at the Frothy Monkey, the onsite coffee shop/bakery/diner. And I checked out Songbird Guitars Museum with its collection of more than 500 rare vintage instruments. A bit farther away, you can even take a tour on a Segway with Chattanooga Segway and Bike Tours. For everyone else, a free shuttle and trolley make navigating easy. After getting my bearings, I ventured out. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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MUST-TRY EATS
Dutch Maid Bakery and Café 109 Main Street, Tracy City dutchmaid.net Off the beaten path and worth every mile! Owner Cindy Day keeps this bakery, opened more than one hundred years ago, on target, using some of the original recipes. The lunch I had
Easy Bistro and Bar
included Famous Fran’s Chicken Salad and a perfect creampuff
203 Broad Street, Chattanooga
for dessert, and I left with a Tennessee Whiskey Cake. Tip: You
easybistro.com Don’t leave Chattanooga without trying Easy Bistro and Bar. Chef Eric Niel serves contemporary Southern Cuisine sourcing as much as he can from surrounding farmlands. I had the Brisket with Crushed Potatoes, but only after I tried the Crawfish and Artichoke Dip. Perfect!
can order the whiskey cake online. Go do that now! Jenkins Deli 2390 Spring Creek Boulevard, Cleveland jenkins-deli.com Such good food from the chicken salad wrap to the fried pickles, but nothing was as good as the Hot Slaw, a version of mustard-based coleslaw with a kick!
Community Pie
Café Roma
850 Market Street, Chattanooga
220 North Ocoee Street, Cleveland
communitypie.com
caferomatn.com
When nothing but pizza will do, head to Community Pie for
While in Cleveland, take the walking tour of the grand old
their Neapolitan style pizza made with flour from Naples, San
buildings, then make plans to eat at Café Roma. Try the Brus-
Marzano tomatoes from the Campania region of Italy, and
chetta Café Roma and the Tortellini Roma with cheese-filled
baked in an Italian wood-fired oven at 900 degrees.
pasta, artichokes, peas, mushrooms, and pink cream sauce.
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travel taste
MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS
Bluff View Art District 412 East Second Street, Chattanooga bluffviewartdistrictchattanooga.com
Tennessee Aquarium
This piece of paradise located on the banks of the Tennessee
201 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga
River is a must-see for foodies and art lovers alike, and feels a
tnaqua.org The Tennessee Aquarium, located on the downtown riverfront, opened in 1992, and since then more than 750,000 visitors have come through its doors. Children will especially love the exhibits which include penguins, touchable stingrays, a butterfly habitat, and sharks. The American River Otters were spectacular, as were the lemurs. And they have more turtles
bit like a European village. Watch chefs working, see a chocolatier creating, see coffee being roasted, bread being baked, pasta being pulled. Then visit the River Gallery Sculpture Garden, the surrounding art galleries, and end your tour either at Tony’s Pasta Shop and Trattoria or Back Inn Café with its extensive wine list and global cuisine.
than any other zoo or aquarium in North America. Budget at least two hours here.
Ruby Falls
Rock City Gardens
1720 South Scenic Highway, Chattanooga
1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Georgia
rubyfalls.com
seerockcity.com
Ruby Falls is the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open
All these years you’ve passed the tourist signs, “See Rock City.”
to the public in the U.S. An elevator takes you down twenty-
Visit, and you’ll know why. Just six miles from downtown
six stories (1,120 feet) to the cave’s floor. You’ll see stalactites
Chattanooga, across the border in Georgia, is this wonder of
and stalagmites, hear the story of Leo Lambert who named the
a place. Walk the trails, see the 400-plus native plants, cross
falls after his wife, Ruby. Changing colored lights flood the
the swinging bridge, explore the caves, and be sure to stand
waterfall, making it a one-of-a-kind experience. Ruby Falls also
on the spot where on a clear day you can see seven states.
has ZIPStream Aerial Adventure, including zip lines, climbing
Dining and shopping are great here, and you can bring your
tower, and obstacle courses in the treetops surrounded by
dog along for the adventure.
spectacular views. Tip: Buy tickets ahead of time. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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James F. Corn Interpretive Facility and Red Clay State Historic Park 1140 Red Clay Park, Cleveland tnstateparks.com/parks/info/red-clay Red Clay served as the last seat of the Cherokee national government before they were forced out, and is called the site where the Trail of Tears began. At that time, approximately 2,500 Cherokee, many of whom were tribal leaders, had homes in Southeast Tennessee. At Red Clay, the Cherokee eternal flame burns, and Blue Hole Spring, sacred to the tribe, ripples along. Chief John Ross’s Farm Site, now privately owned, is only four miles away. Savage Gulf State Natural Area 1183 Stone Door Road, Beersheba Springs tnvacation.com/local/palmer-savage-gulf-state-natural-area I hiked Savage Gulf wearing hiking boots I hadn’t yet broken in. Each step was a tornado of pain on my right foot, but even that didn’t keep me from loving this place. Savage Gulf is carved into the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau. The biggest attraction is Stone Door, a ten-by-one-hundred-foot crack that stretches from the top of the escarpment into the gorge.
Cherokee Removal Memorial Park 6800 Blythe Ferry Road, Birchwood
WHAT I LEARNED IN TENNESSEE
tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org Set at the convergence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee rivers, this park was built as a memorial of the Cherokee people. The
The most sobering leg of my journey was my trip outside Chat-
monument, which lists the names of 2,535 heads of households
tanooga to Charleston, Cleveland, and Birchwood. Here, there
and the number of people in each family, is haunting. The names
are parks and monuments devoted to the story of the Cherokee
were taken from the 1835 census, and descendants come year-
and their forced removal from Tennessee to the Indian Territory
round to honor their ancestors. A short walk away is the former
(now Oklahoma) on the Trail of Tears. From 1838 to 1839, the
launching site for Blythe Ferry, which transported 10,000 Cher-
Cherokee traveled many routes to get to Oklahoma, but nearly
okee people across the river on the Trail of Tears route.
all of them began in Tennessee. Detachments left Fort Cass in what is now Charleston, which served as the military headquar-
Hiwassee River Heritage Center
ters for the Trail of Tears. When they left, the 800-mile journey
8746 Hiwassee Street, Charleston
took nearly seven months, and many died along the way.
hiwasseeheritage.com This center on the banks of the Hiwassee River offers guided tours by appointment. Discover the stories of the Cherokee people in the interpretive center.
Southeast Tennessee is a beautiful place, with a storied past that it is working hard to preserve. Anytime is a good time to go, but consider a trip in the fall when the mountains start to show-off, parading their jewel-like colors. Festivals abound at this time of year, and Chattanooga hosts a month of events in October. To learn more, visit tnvacation.com. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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southern fiction
I had found Penny on the next-door neighbor’s porch the week before, standing in the yellow beam of the porch light, her arms raised above her head. Her hair was in a braid, her plaid nightgown tipping off one shoulder. Her feet were bare. It was nearly freezing outside.
THE CURRENT BETWEEN US
When the doctor finished, I took my hand off Winn’s shoulder, “We’re divorced,” I said as if that settled the matter. Winn stood up and crossed his
FICTION Marla Cantrell
arms. The moment was gone. The doctor scratched his nose,
We had been to a specialist that morning with our daughter,
recovering, I think. “If it helps, sleepwalking usually doesn’t last
Penny, who had started sleepwalking at six years old. Winn and I
past the twelfth year.”
were divorced more than a year by then. Our marriage had been a disaster, although not much of it was my fault.
I laughed, a wobbly, nervous laugh. “Six more years,” I said. “Should be a snap.”
I had on a red skirt that cinched at the waist and then flared out, all the way past my knees. If I had spun around in that skirt, it
In the lobby, Winn said, “You embarrassed me back there. Telling
would have flown out around me in a circle. I had on a white
that doctor our business. He didn’t need to know we’re divorced.”
sweater with red trim at the neck and wrists. Black heels because
Winn put his hands on his hips. “Unless you wanted him to know.”
I had to go to work—I was a secretary for a hardware company— after the appointment.
The doctor was forty, at least. Slight. He’d recently had hair plugs. You could see a series of little crosses on his scalp. I was
I dropped the doctor’s prescription, and Winn had knelt to pick
a looker, no doubt about it, but I wasn’t in his league. I drank
it up. He looked like a football player taking a knee, and then I
cheap beer and wine coolers, rode dirt bikes on weekends when
felt his fingers slip around my ankle. In another mood, I might
Penny was with Winn, thought a trip to Vegas was about the
have said it was a stranglehold, but the doctor was still talking,
classiest thing a man could surprise you with.
pontificating on our daughter’s diagnosis and it sounded as if he was laying blame somehow. Winn’s fingers felt rough and solid.
Still, I enjoyed pulling Winn’s chain. “Maybe,” I said. “He wasn’t
I put my hand on his shoulder.
bad looking.”
Penny, by then, had been taken out of the room to dig through
Penny was beside us, still looking through the tub of cheap toys,
a tub of plastic toys to find the one she wanted. A treasure for
the plastic whistle she ended up choosing right at her fingertips.
being a good patient.
A cloud passed over her face, and then a thunderstorm, and she started to cry.
The doctor said, “You could take turns the first few nights on this medication, sitting by her bed, making sure she doesn’t wander.”
“See what you did,” I said. And I scooped her up.
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southern fiction
Winn roared off in his pickup truck, his rubber work boots stuck
“She hasn’t been sleepwalking since she started taking the
upside down in the gap between the cab and the bed. An orange
pills, right?”
water cooler sloshed near the tailgate. He’d be spending his day in the sun, building a new post office the next town over, so small
“Well, sure, but what if you forget to give her one?”
it must have looked like a postage stamp to any pilots flying over. “I won’t.” At home that night, I slipped off my heels. I took off my pantyhose and tossed them in the bathroom sink to wash later. The ankle
“What if she’s been doing so good because I’ve been sleeping
Winn had claimed thrummed as if it were full of electricity. I put
with her?”
on jeans and an old sweater, and I fixed Penny fish sticks and mac and cheese. While she ate, I drank a wine cooler that tasted
“I’ll sleep in the hallway by her door if that makes you feel better.”
like strawberry lip gloss. “What if you forget to lock the front door?” “The doctor was nice,” I said. “I won’t.” “They gave me a whistle,” Penny said, “but I can’t find it.” Penny was tugging on my sleeve, ready to go. She had more fun I went to the counter where I’d hidden it earlier and handed the
with Winn, but then everybody did.
whistle back. “Just don’t blow it inside,” I said, and Penny tucked it in her pocket.
“Let’s go, pumpkin,” Winn said and took Penny’s hand.
“I wish I knew why you walk in your sleep.”
Later that night, I drove to Winn’s apartment building. I walked the grounds, around the pool that was drained and covered, beside the swings and the barbeque grills, past the bank of
Penny shrugged.
mailboxes in a scary breezeway. “The doctor thinks you’ll outgrow it. Just like you outgrew your I had a key to Winn’s place, just like he had a key to mine, for
baby bottle and sucking your thumb."
emergencies, and for a minute I thought about letting myself Penny’s eyes were green with specks of brown. She looked
in, just to see. I didn’t, of course, but I did walk by—his place
down. “I still suck my thumb, sometimes,” she said.
was on the second floor—but there was no light shining, no sound from the TV.
“Well,” I said. “Life is hard.” I jiggled the door handle to make sure it was locked, and within When I put Penny to bed, I made her keep her robe and house
seconds Winn flipped on the light and opened the door. “What
shoes on. I pinned a note to the robe with her name, address,
are you doing, Amy?” he asked.
and phone number, just in case she got away from me somehow. When I was finished, I crawled in bed beside her, the two of us
I tried to think of a reason, but none came.
crowded beneath her Care Bear comforter. “I can take care of my daughter.” We woke up before the sun did, in a sweat. Too many clothes. Too many covers. But Penny was safe, so what did I care?
Winn was beautiful: dark hair, blue eyes, the body of a hardworking man.
When it came time for Winn to take her for the weekend, I didn’t want to let her go. “Please,” I said, “let her stay.”
It was that phrase my daughter that did it to me. A month before,
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southern fiction
I was sure he would have said our daughter, but his memory of
“No way I could have stayed married to you,” I said.
us as a couple was slipping away. “Shh,” Winn said, something that would normally infuriate me “Let me come in,” I said, and Winn hesitated. In the stillness I
but tonight made me smile.
could hear the engines of cars stopping, doors closing, footsteps down below.
He led me to the couch, took off my coat and folded it. I sat down and he sat beside me.
I pulled off my knit hat and unbuttoned my coat. “Let me come in,” I said again, and Winn stepped aside as I entered. I walked to
“You,” he said, and I waited for the rest, but nothing came.
Penny’s bedroom. I stepped over a sleeping bag in the hallway, which meant Winn really was guarding her door.
He ran his fingers through my fair hair. He pulled me close and I was surrounded by the smell of his aftershave, cedar and
Penny was asleep on top of the covers, a stuffed rabbit in the
sandalwood, the scent of the beginning of earth.
crook of her elbow, her dark hair, same as Winn’s, wild across the pillowcase. She had on a T-shirt that read “Happy Camper.”
He kissed me in the way that makes your knees fail. His phone
She looked like an ordinary, happy six-year-old.
rang, and I asked him to make it stop. “Penny,” I said, meaning she might wake up. I think we both knew it was the polar
“Feel better?” Winn whispered. There was an edge to his voice,
bear girl checking in, making sure her man was where he was
but just barely.
supposed to be.
I had a sometime-boyfriend who had called me earlier, hoping I
He unplugged the phone instead of answering it, instead of
would drop by. He lived in a better part of town. He had a two-car
turning his back on me and whispering to her, and when he did,
garage and a speedboat at the marina. I don’t think he loved me
it felt as if I’d won something monumental.
at all, but I felt like someone different when I was with him. Winn sat back down on the couch and kissed me again, Winn, though. Winn knew me.
the natural world wild around us, and we were the eye of a hurricane.
“Some better,” I said. “Penny,” I said again, this time with a degree of regret. Winn He took my hands between his. “You’re freezing.”
understood although it took him a while to let me go.
On his kitchen counter was a greeting card that read “Hello,
In my car, I could feel the current that looped between us, that
Sweetheart.” On it was a polar bear blowing a kiss. I could
stung my ankle every time I tapped the gas pedal, a residual
imagine the kind of girl who would pick out that card. Probably
effect of our encounter. I knew enough about science to know
six or seven years younger than me. Always happy.
that the voltage between us was high and unstable. Electrons travel millions of meters a second through a wire, but never
I pulled my hands away and put them around his neck.
straight ahead. They bounce and drift, they push and pull, not knowing what the outcome might be but unable to stop their
“You’re still cold.”
erratic movement.
“So I’ve been told,” I said, and Winn laughed.
We, on the other end, flip the switch anyway, not knowing what it took to get the light to us. We do this casually, confidently,
He put his arms around my waist. In the early days, his arms around
arrogantly. We do this because we can’t live without the light.
me were fire. Later they were a moat that kept the creatures out.
We can’t live without all that flickering voltage.
In the end, they were a lifeboat sinking in the rough sea. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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women’s health, vein and aesthetic care with Dr. Smith for over 15 years. At Arkansas Vein Clinics and Skin Care, we provide patients with the best care and results.
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We specialize in the treatment of hearing loss through the
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Western Arkansas Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center 3501 W. E. Knight Dr., Fort Smith jameskelly3MD.com 479.709.8300 Surgery of any kind is not to be taken lightly and choosing to
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