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34 46 / BAYOU ARTIST Nicole Duet is Both an Artist and Professor with a Passion for Art That Continues to Evolve
105 / PINK LADIES Five Local Women Share with BayouLife Their Very Personal Experiences with Breast Cancer
58 / LOGAN AND THE LEGENDARIES More Than Just a Music Album, Logan and the Legendaries’ Debut Album Waxing is a Collection of Songs That Detail a Songwriter’s Memoir
126 / FABRIC OF LIFE The Perfectly Curated Home of Material Things’ Owner Joyce and Robert Sims
68 / BEAUTIFUL BULB COMBINATIONS P. Allen Smith Offers Tips for Planting Bulbs Now for Dazzling Spring Display 84 / HIDEAWAY AT FREDDIE’S Freddie Cascio’s Italian and Cajun Ristoranté is a Culinary Landmark Offering a Taste of Italy with a Flare of South Louisiana
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190 / TAKING FLIGHT Mason Andrews Has Circumnavigated the World as a Mission for MedCamps of Louisiana
/ ART OF A SIMPLE FALL A P R I L 2 0 1 8196 From Fall Bonfires to Pumpkin
148 / HOMECOMING NFL Great Johnny Robinson Reflects on His Life and Legacy – On the Field and Off 178 / PERFECT SPACES Tish Miller’s Life-Long Love of Creating Balance and Comfort Coalesces Into a Career as One of the Region’s Premier Interior Designers
Carving, This is the Season for Family Gatherings and Fun Times 206 / BLEACHER REPORT From Boots to Blazers, Furs to Fedoras, This Fall is All About Fun. Local Boutiques a Fresh Take on Contemporary Classics 214 / HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS Jorenda Stone’s Riverside Redux is a Modern Work of Art
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HIS MONTH MARKS THE sixth anniversary of BayouLife Magazine. Every October issue we joke that the magazine is cursed – there is always a major event that happens during this production, and this year was no exception. I think it’s a way of keeping me grounded, remembering that things are not always easy. My very first issue was absolutely insane and there have been many months that have followed that same suit. I’m incredibly thankful for my husband who has always been my biggest cheerleader, for my parents who offer encouragement, for my sister who has recently started working with me part-time, and for my friends who make me laugh when I feel like crying. I have an amazing staff – people are always in awe that five women can pull together such a huge effort every single month (we are, too). Maré Brennan has been a best friend and sounding board from the beginning; our sales manager, Ashley Hubenthal, would come by and visit and make us all laugh well before she joined the family. Melanie Moffett has been my right hand woman for over a decade now and still manages to amaze me. Amanda Singley just celebrated her third anniversary as our wild youngun’ who keeps us in stitches. Taylor Bennett, Kelly Moore Clark, Brad Arender and Meka Bennett wow us with their talents every day. We’ve had staff come and go, but through it all, we’ve made a lot of friends. What we’ve been able to accomplish is possible because of our advertisers. People like Cherry and Larry Phillips. Dr. Mickel, Cindy Stone and Debbie Herrington, Staci Albritton, Kelly Haddad, Dr. Finley, Sandy McMillan, Patricia Willis, Donna Phillips and Jenifer Johnson were all in that very first issue and can all be seen in the pages of BayouLife this month.
BayouLife 1201 Royal Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 Phone 318.855.3185 Fax 318.855.4645
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This month’s fashion shoot almost blew us away – literally. We had plans to shoot an outdoor fashion spread during the Start 100-year-celebration. Taylor Bennett had worked hard to prepare a picture perfect backdrop but Mother Nature had her own plans. As a torrential storm blew in, we took cover in the old gym at Start Elementary. Kelly and Mallory worked their magic and pulled off this month’s Bleacher Report – see it on page 206. This month is our annual fall home issue, and we were so thankful to be, welcomed into Joyce and Robert Sims home. Everytime I walk into Joyce’s store, Material Things, I want to redecorate my house. That’s exactly how I felt looking at her expertly curated home. See it on page 126. Along with our home issue, every October we feature women who are living or have lived with breast cancer. It’s been a mission of mine to encourage women to advocate for their health. Push for the early mammogram or ultrasound if you feel that something is off. A few years ago, we featured Lisa Northcott, who lost her life days after our interview. We want to continue bringing awareness to breast cancer in honor of Lisa and her husband, Glenn, as well as the many friends that we have currently battling this disease. See these brave women’s stories on page 105. We hope you enjoy reading this month’s issue of BayouLife Magazine.
Cassie
PUBLISHER Cassie Livingston cassie@bayoulifemag.com EDITOR Maré Brennan mare@bayoulifemag.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Moffett melanie@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Ashley Hubenthal ashley@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Amanda Singley amanda@bayoulifemag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Julie Mays Maré Brennan Meredith McKinnie Dan Chason Dr. Timothy Mickel Ellis O’neal Cooper Kenny Covington Guy Miller Shannon Dahlum Evelyn O’Neal John Preston Parry Lou Davenport Thomas Ritter Michael DeVault Vanelis Rivera Christy Flanigen Cindy Gist Foust Cathi French-Roberts Lori French Delia Simpson P. Allen Smith April Honaker Beatrice A. Tatem Sanjay Joseph Paul Lipe Phil Trahan Judy Wagoner Erin Love CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Arender Kelly Moore Clark Andrew Bailey Emerald McIntyre ON THE COVER Cozy up with our Fall Home Issue Photo by Kelly Moore Clark Styling by Taylor Bennett BayouLife Magazine is published and distributed by Redbird Publishing, LLC. Circulation: 13,000 copies monthly. Postal subscriptions ($30) can be ordered online at www.bayoulifemag. com. BayouLife Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited photographs, manuscripts or other materials. Reproduction of contents without express written permission is prohibited.
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Bayou Pages
NIGHTSTANDS & COFFEE TABLES
Three Literary Homes and the Writers who Lived in Them REVIEWS BY MICHAEL DEVAULT
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century before Heathcliff was skulking about Wuthering Heights, the perils of “home” were already fertile literary soil. As much attention as we focus on ideas of “home” and the challenges of making one, the places we share with family are fraught with dangers – both real and imagined. At the same time, the notion of “home” is one that varies wildly from person to person. Consider this: a doctor’s concept of what makes “home” is probably completely different than that of a homeless person longing for a dry place to sleep at night. That’s as true for authors as it is for the rest of us. Maybe that’s why “home” is such a rich setting for human drama. In these three works – two memoirs and a historical study, each author brings a unique perspective to this most human of ideas. These are their thoughts of home. Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs Growing up with an emotionally unstable mother would have been challenging enough for a 10-year-old boy. But when Augusten Burroughs’s mother consigns him to the care of her psychiatrist, Dr. Finch, and his evermodulating brood of children, both biological and adopted, and a host of his patients, Burroughs’s idea of “home” takes on a life of its own. These are the recollections he shares in Running with Scissors, his New York Times bestselling memoir. Burroughs’s upbringing in the Finch 8 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
home is anything but typical, as he comes to terms with his mother’s illness and his own sexuality. Rules don’t exist in the Finch household, at least not any rules that would otherwise make sense in a sane world, and left to the wilds of adolescence and a bevy of the slightly insane, Burroughs comes of age in a world that exists at the intersection of normal and whatever isn’t. An immediate literary hit when it debuted in 2002, Running with Scissors takes an unapologetic look at the dynamics of the Finch household, but Burroughs never once asks you to feel sorry for him. Instead, his is a celebration of coming through the other side all right. Fair warning: Running with Scissors is not for kids, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Proceed with caution, but by all means, proceed. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls Like so many children of the 1970s, Jeanette Walls grew up on the road, as her father bounced from odd job to oil field to coal mine to…a neverending series of “this is home now” and midnight move-outs, because the family couldn’t make rent the next day. All the while, her father promised they would one day live in The Glass Castle. Over the course of her childhood and adolescent years, Walls recounts in sometimes painful detail the family’s winding journey across the United States, tracking her relationship with her eccentric father and the mother who adored him. It isn’t until the very last pages that she reveals the extent of
the family’s tragic path, when she’s living in a luxury Manhattan apartment and her parents are, by choice, foraging in Central Park. Wells withholds nothing in The Glass Castle, and throughout the book she’ll move you to laughter, tears and everything in between. This is one book in which you’ll catch glimpses of your own familial relationships. At Home by Bill Bryson If you’ve ever wondered about that weird alcove under the stairs or why people put dormers in attics, Bill Bryson has you covered, as he takes you on his journey through his first year At Home in a Victorian-era parsonage in England. With his characteristic humor, Bryson recreates the 19th Century Kitchen, sharing everything from the rise of indoor plumbing to a detailed menu of a calorie-rich diet that would send Michael Phelps into a diabetic fit. At Home is as much a memoir of his time with his house as it is an examination of the rooms of the typical house. He takes you inside the very notions of design with a formfollows-function look at utility of space and the necessity of accommodations. Bryson is definitely on his game, demonstrating yet again that, At Home, he is one of the more gifted writers of his generation when it comes to seeing the world, and he is on the precipice of taking his rightful place alongside other well-known seers like Annie Dillard and Wendell Berry.
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Alumni Spotlight ULM Alum: Jonathan Hill
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ONATHAN HILL HAD A BACKGROUND in construction long before his days at ULM. As a third generation builder, Jonathan practically grew up on job sites. All through his high school years at Ouachita Christian School, Jonathan knew that he wanted to continue his dream of homebuilding at ULM’s School of Construction. He knew that ULM had one of the top programs in the nation and was one of the first to be accredited. Jonathan enrolled at ULM in the Fall of ‘94 as a commuter student, while still putting in 25 hours a week at the family business. He gained experience drawing house plans, working with framing crews, and putting in time at a cabinet shop all while taking classes at ULM. Jonathan enjoyed his experience at ULM. The School of Construction was a relatively small, tight knit group, and Jonathan made several life-long friends. Most of Jonathan’s education centered on math and construction classes. One of his favorite classes was Herb McCaskill’s estimating class. McCaskill’s engaging teaching style made the class easy to understand and enjoyable for Jonathan. Another influential professor during Jonathan’s time at ULM was Dr. Keith Parker. Along with being his professor, Dr. Parker was also Jonathan’s advisor and a member of the Home Builders Association. After graduating in 1998, Jonathan maintained a friendship with Dr. Parker. Jonathan also enjoyed the on campus activities ULM provided. Between classes Jonathan spent most of his time at the Church of Christ Student Union. Jonathan enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from Ouachita Christian School as well as make new friends who had similar interests. Jonathan also worked with The Construction 10 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
Guild, which competed in construction projects in cities such as Dallas or Las Vegas, as well as participated in volunteer projects for various organizations. When Jonathan was away from constructions classes, he was often putting the lessons he learned at ULM into practice in his family’s construction business. Having the opportunity to ask seasoned professionals about things, such as electrical techniques, carpentry designs and concrete foundations helped Jonathan better understand the classwork. Jonathan was the first person in his family to graduate college, and he attended ULM with the help of a scholarship from the Home Builders Association. During Jonathan’s sophomore year, he met his wife, Tara. They have been married for 20 years and have three kids: Jon Mical, Mallory and Julianna. Their eldest, Jon Mical, is a senior at Claiborne Christian School and is now considering colleges. Jonathan and Tara have encouraged him to consider all the opportunities we have here locally. Their wish is for him to be judicious with his choice and embrace the college experience. Jonathan worked in his family’s construction company for five years postgraduation before branching out on his own and starting Jonathan Hill Construction in 2003. His father’s company was in a time of transitioning, so after many prayers, Jonathan felt the Lord leading him to step out in faith and begin his own journey. Jonathan tries his best to run his business with integrity, and he strives to treat people the way he would want to be treated. One of the things Jonathan enjoys most about homebuilding, is the opportunity to build relationships with his clients. He loves the fact that he gets
to spend so much time with his customers during the building process. From drawing the plans to selecting finishes to helping with design choices, Jonathan enjoys the personal nature of custom homebuilding. His favorite aspect of homebuilding is working alongside a customer from beginning to end; seeing a project move from just ideas on a paper to the customer’s vision of their dream home upon completion. A contractor’s ultimate goal is making sure the client’s fingerprint is on the final product. Jonathan recognizes the impact ULM has on his community. A university brings talent to the area and jobs. Having a strong local construction program like ULM has a huge affect on his line of work. He trusts the interns he employs and the ULM graduates in his field to have the same level of high quality education that he received. Jonathan is grateful for the opportunity he had to attend ULM, and he would highly recommend ULM’s construction program to anyone. The ULM Alumni Association reaches, connects and celebrates alumni and friends to build lifelong relationships, and commit to the university’s missions of academic freedom, scholarship, diversity, excellence, integrity and service. We represent alumni who honor the traditions of our university and who share a sense of achievement and pride. We create a network of professionals, establish scholarships and advocate for our University through community engagement. Members of the Alumni Association support countless initiatives, and annual memberships are just $35. To learn more or to become a member, please visit our new alumni network at ulm.edu/alumni.
Hop Culture A Beginner’s Guide to Hops
BY DELIA SIMPSON, CRAFT BRAND MANAGER, CHOICE BRANDS, INC.
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OPS ARE THE FLOWERS OF the hop plant, Humulus Lupulus and are primarily used as a bittering agent when brewing beer. These cone shaped flowers are harvested and dried in the fall and can be used at several different stages in the brewing process. Besides imparting bitterness, which is critical to the balance of flavor, they can also leave behind citrus, pine, herbal and earthy aromatics. Hops were originally used to help protect beer on long journeys, as they lend antibacterial qualities which help prevent spoiling. In fact, that is how IPA’s were born. Here is the low-down on some common hops used in many of your favorite brews. CASCADE The Cascade hop gets its name from the Cascade Mountain Range in Oregon and has been one of the top hops in the US for the last few years. Its popularity is largely due to its versatility and signature ‘hoppy’ flavor profile. Typically used as an aroma-hop, it gives the beers citrusy grapefruit notes, pine and floral scents, balanced out by a mediumstrength flavor. Found in: Abita Hop-On Juicy Pale, Samuel Adams Sam ’76, Flying Tiger Man at Arms Amber CENTENNIAL Created in Washington state, the Centennial hop variety is slowly creeping up on Cascade for first place. It is often nicknamed “Super-Cascade,” because its
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alpha acid content is nearly double that of Cascade. The alpha acids in hops attribute to the bitterness levels. Aromas and notes of lemon and floral make this hop varietal a popular and very versatile hop! Found in: Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, Flying Tiger Heroic Hops IPA, Nola Revivalist Pale Ale CHINOOK Another Washington-grown hop, Chinook is very flavor-packed and complex in comparison to the others on this list. Its pine-heavy and light spiciness give way to some hints of citrusy grapefruit. The Chinook hop is another popular one with mellow bitterness which allows for a smooth, easydrinking beer. Found in: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale CITRA Citra has a very different flavor complex than most highly-bittering beer hops, producing a very fresh-tasting beer. It was designed in Washington state by crossing two older hop varietals and has definitely come out on top. A very popular hop for brewers across the country because of its lemony, grassy and lightly sweet aromas and flavors, the aroma can be more hoppy than others but leans towards a tropical fruit (passion fruit, lychee, lime) essence. Found in: Flying Tiger Heroic Hops IPA, Nola Hoppyright Infringement, Shiner Wicked Juicy IPA
MOSAIC Mosaic is a relatively new hop but is a fun one to work with and has recently been growing in popularity. Grown in Washington, it has a very special place in most IPA brewers’ hearts. Packed full of intense, yet fruity flavor, Mosaic hops are herbal, earthy and tropical. What more can you want out of a hop? Found in: Abita Wrought Iron IPA, Nola Hoppyright Infringement, Shiner Day Quencher WILLAMETTE The last, but certainly not the least hop is the Willamette hop. Its name comes from the Willamette River, which runs through Oregon’s prime hop-growing region. While it no longer holds the title of ‘most widely planted hop in the US’, it is hanging in there - and with good reason. When it comes to hops grown in the US, it is without question the king of aroma. The unique flavors and aromas of incense and elderberry along with the typical floral, fruity and herbal tones make it a good go-to hop. Found in: Abita Pecan Ale Be sure to like Choice Brands on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with local happenings and new product releases. In addition, you’ll find links to beer related articles, fun recipes, and much more! Find us at facebook.com/choicebrands, twitter. com/choicebrandsinc, and instagram.com/ choicebrands.
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10th Annual Think Pink Tea Celebrate Life with the Healing Power of Love and Togetherness
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N HONOR OF NATIONAL BREAST Cancer Awareness Month, recognized annually in October, Glenwood Regional Medical Center will host its 10th Annual Think Pink Tea on Friday, October 19th at the West Monroe Convention Center. This widely popular and well-attended event helps to spread the important message of early detection while celebrating the lives of breast cancer survivors in an empowering way. It is a wonderful time to gather with friends to celebrate life and the healing power of love and togetherness. Attendees will enjoy a delicious light lunch and a variety of teas along with optional shopping for beauty, skin and bath products, cosmetics, home décor, jewelry, apparel, accessories and more! The highlights of the event will feature live music, a special performance by Twin City Ballet Company dancers, cancer survivor recognition and door prize drawings. All breast cancer survivors will receive a special gift compliments of Glenwood. Due to limited seating, reservations are required. A $15.00 admission includes the program, luncheon, shopping privileges and tea. Payment is due when reservations are made. Tickets may be purchased online at www.glenwoodregional.org under Events and Classes. For more information, call 318329-8590. GLENWOOD BREAST HEALTH CENTER Center of Excellence. Centered on You. The Glenwood Breast Health Center has been recognized as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of
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Radiology and is a participant with NQMBC. We believe women deserve to be empowered to actively participate in decisions about their care and treatment. We are committed to equipping patients with knowledge and encouragement throughout their treatment journey. SERVICES INCLUDE: • Digital and analog mammography • Ultrasound • Guided mammotome biopsy • Guided needle aspiration • Vicor vacuum biopsy • Guided needle local biopsy • WOW Yoga and Pilate Classes 3D MAMMOGRAPHY 3D mammography is a revolutionary screening and diagnostic breast imaging tool designed to improve the early detection of breast cancer. It is an FDA-approved, advanced technology that takes multiple images, or X-rays, of breast tissue to recreate a 3D picture of the breast, unlike traditional mammography that only takes a single image. Two of the top benefits are improving the early detection of breast cancer and providing peace of mind due to greater clarity and accuracy. This increased accuracy reduces the number of callbacks, sparing women the inconvenience, anxiety and expense of coming back for further imaging. The multiple images of breast tissue slices give radiologists clearer images which makes it easier to detect breast cancer, even in dense tissue.
WALK-IN MAMMOGRAMS For Added Convenience Busy women shouldn’t neglect their health. We’ve made it easier to stay in check by offering walk-in screening mammograms to allow them to take care of their gynecological and mammogram exams all in one day, or to stop by when it’s convenient for them. Once the screening is complete, the images are evaluated by a radiologist who reports directly to the patient’s provider. Patients receive a letter with the results, or a call to schedule additional testing within ten days. All screening mammograms require a physician’s order. BREAST PATIENT NAVIGATION PROGRAM Help Along the Journey Glenwood’s Breast Patient Navigation Program provides patients with seamless and timely coordination of their clinical, educational and supportive needs, as they progress through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. This service is provided free of charge to all Glenwood breast patients. For more information about Glenwood’s breast health and women’s services, call 877-726-WELL (9355) or visit www. glenwoodregional.org.
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Washington Wine and Spirits Stock Your Liquor Cabinets for After the Hunt!
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T’S OFFICIALLY FALL, AND IN LOUISIANA THAT MEANS hunting, tailgating and grilling in the backyard! This month, we want to tell you about some products that go hand in hand with all the things you have planned for the Fall and some much needed cooler weather. We here at Washington Wine and Spirits know how much work you guys and gals have been doing to get your camps ready for hunting season, so we want to give you a quick and easy guide to some great spirits to stock up you liquor cabinets to enjoy after the hunt. •B uffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled, aged and bottled at the most award-winning distillery in the world. Made from the finest corn, rye and barley malt, this whiskey ages in new oak barrels for years in century old warehouses until the peak of maturity. The taste is rich and complex, with hints of vanilla, toffee and candied fruit. The smooth finish lingers on the palate and makes for a great sipper or mixer. •B ulleit Bourbon is inspired by the whiskey pioneered by Augustus Bulleit over 150 years ago. The subtlety and complexity of Bulleit Bourbon come from its unique blend of rye, corn and barley malt, along with special strains of yeast and pure Kentucky limestone filtered water. Due to its especially high rye content, Bulleit Bourbon has a bold, spicy character with a finish that’s distinctively clean and smooth. It is medium amber in color, with gentle spiciness and sweet oak aromas and mid-palate is smooth with tones of maple, oak and nutmeg with a finish that is long and dry with a light toffee flavor. • Wheatley Vodka is made at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky by Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. Crafted in smallbatches using a one-of-a-kind micro-still, Harlen’s unique wheat recipe is distilled a total of 10 times, triple-filtered and bottled at 82 proof, creating a delicate and balanced profile. Pure and crisp on the nose, with a clean taste and hints of soft vanilla, Wheatley Vodka delivers the kind of exceptional quality and taste you would expect from the world’s most award-winning distillery. • Last, but certainly not least, we have Washington Wine and Spirits hand picked barrel of Smooth Ambler’s Old Scout 107. We personally handpicked barrel number 9773 in March of 2018, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. Old Scout American Whiskey is a union of two whiskies distilled from classic bourbon mash bills. One is aged in new oak barrels and the other matures in rejuvenated, re-charred
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bourbon casks. While this unique aging excuses the whiskey from being called bourbon, it shares all of the character and drinkability you would expect from a whiskey on the brink of being one. Next up, we are going to tell you about some of our absolute favorite spirits for tailgating at The Grove at ULM or sitting on your back patio watching your favorite teams play on TV (Geaux Tigers!) These are perfect for before and after your team wins! • The Bloody Buddy is a ready to drink Bloody Mary consisting of a special chili pepper infused vodka and a homemade Bloody Mary mix. It’s a carefully infused vodka with a special set of chili peppers precisely mixed with a homemade tomato juice and seasonings bottled in a single container ready to go anywhere. The Bloody Buddy brings the high quality, handmade cocktail normally found in prestigious bars and restaurants to those who want to enjoy the same cocktail in their own home. • Bourbon Cream is handcrafted using Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, making it a perfect marriage of rich delicious cream and smooth Kentucky bourbon. You can enjoy it chilled, on the rocks, or pour it in a cup of coffee for an indulgent after dinner treat. We recommend “The Adult Root Beer Float!” • Shipwreck Vanilla Rum is blended with Madagascar vanilla extract and has a mild, oaky aroma, a rounded, robust vanilla-bean flavor touched with coffee and a cinnamon zing. Sip this amazing rum on the rocks or with your favorite soda to make a delicious cocktail that others will be clamoring over until the next party! Don’t forget that Washington Wine and Spirits offers the Doe’s Eat Place uncooked steaks for you to take home for your next backyard BBQ and tailgates! So stop on by and get you steaks, wine and spirits all in one stop! 6 oz Filet - $9.75 14 oz Bone-In Filet - $39.99 20 oz Ribeye - $21.24 1.5 lb T-Bone - $20.99 2.5 lb Porterhouse - $39.98 2-5 lb Sirloin - $9.99/lb
10 oz Filet - $16.24 1.5 lb Bone In Strip - $20.99 2 lb Bone In Ribeye - $35.98 2 lb T-Bone - $27.98 3 lb Porterhouse - $47.97
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Making Your Home Your Sanctuary Creating Peace At Home
BY BEATRICE TATEM, PH.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS
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N TODAY’S BUSY WORLD, IT HAS become more crucial than ever to find a way to relax and de-stress. The outside world is often chaotic, hurried and harsh. Recent societal events serve as reminders of the importance of having access to a calm and peaceful environment. For many, much of our time is spent away from home in the work place, which makes it important to create a sanctuary to rest, renew and restore. In response, to the chaos of the outside world your home can be a place of retreat, where you can let go of stress and disengage from the world in order to recharge and rebalance. Home has often been regarded as a gathering place, shelter and sanctuary, providing escape from the busyness and intrusiveness of the world. By definition, a sanctuary is a place of refuge and safety. In this instance home means sanctuary, the place we can be happy, unwind, enjoy friends, learn, grow and just be. Our homes say a lot about who we are, what we value and regard as important in life. Life itself and being immersed in the emotional lives of others has taught me the importance of making your home your sanctuary. Over the years, people have inquired as to how as a therapist I relax, how do I let go, how do I move from the confusion, dysfunction, disorder and conflict often presented to me during therapy to a mental state of calm resolve and peace. I tell them I go home to my loft. Being a therapist, the idea of having a sacred space that is tranquil and restorative is not only pleasurable but is necessary. I am always eager to share particularly with clients this personal experience due to the curative power it has had on my life. I believe everyone
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needs and deserves a place of respite where the challenges of the world are checked at the door, and upon entering, your soul is feed with positive energy….what better place for this space to reside then in your home. Making your home your sanctuary means different things to different people. Identify a space you can escape to when you need peace of mind and where you immediately feel lighter, and as though burdens of the day have been lifted. Beautify the home environment keeping all the senses in mind. Breathe new life into your home with fresh air, incense and essential oil diffusers. Essential oils and aromatherapy can positively affect mood-related ailments, such as anxiety and depression. Music can steady the rhythm of the mind, play what sings to your soul. When decorating, consider using colors that make you feel good i.e. blue for relaxation and green for renewal and growth. Display art that is uplifting; a personal favorite is my painting that depicts in colors the sunrise and the sunset. If you are a morning person choose a space where you can get up early and enjoy the quietness of the new day while witnessing its arrival. Bring the outside in while improving your emotional wellbeing by placing live plants throughout your home. Plants can reduce stress and bolster concentration. Let in sunlight, it boosts mood, health, comfort and can change the appearance and feel of a room. Create the ultimate in time: a day free of the impositions of telephones, emails, tablets and business commitments. Our physical spaces are a mirror of our mind and our life. They reflect physically what is occurring emotionally. Clean your house regularly, eliminate emotional clutter, avoid
distractions to clear your mind. Manage your energy and emotionally unplug. Keep in mind home as a sanctuary is not just about the home but the people in them. Your home unlike other environments is your space and does not have to be open to everyone. Consider the energy of those around you; invite those exuding positive energy into your home. Acknowledge unhealthy home situations and turn them into positive ones. Be mindful everyone in the home needs their individual space for alone time or quality “me” time. Designate a day or weekend each month to do nothing, to sleep in or whatever your heart desires in the sanctuary you have created. Turn your bathroom into a serene retreat and “spa it up” with aromatherapy baths. Soak away worries and shower off angst at night. Use rooms for their purpose...I have learned falling asleep on the sofa in the living room does not compare to the rejuvenating sleep I experience in my bedroom. At the end of each day, progressively dim the lights, slip into something comfortable, sip on a mug of tea, escape into the world of a good book and allow your mind to run free. Our environments are often the exterior reflections of our interior worlds. Create an ambiance at home that feels nourishing, relaxed, peaceful, comforting, positive and inspiring. After all, you deserve to be able to retreat to the most revivifying environment you can imagine. For more information on counseling and outreach services contact Dr. Beatrice Tatem at Wellness Initiatives, LLC 1900 North 18th Street, Suite 414, Monroe, La 71201, 318-410-1555 or at btatem.bt@gmail.com.
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Spice Up Your Space This Season With Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath
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S THE DAYS GROW SHORTER and the air grows cooler in North Louisiana, we find ourselves increasingly reminded of soft blankets in low light. The smell of a smoldering wood fire. Hot cocoa bubbling on a gas stove. Seasoned meats roasting on game day. A warm bath welcoming the night. Enjoying evenings on the patio with good friends. Maybe it’s the crisp air or the looming holiday season that leaves us longing for the comforts of home. But it’s also in these moments where we truly understand the feeling of home — and the importance that lies in each of its delicate details. Though these pieces seem small, they’re the key ingredients of a stunning, memorable space. It’s also the perfect time of year to consider updating your home, especially if yours is the treasured, traditional spot to gather for food, family and football. Or, maybe you have recently moved in to a new house that needs to be turned into a home and will be the source of welcoming celebrations and first holiday memories — just around the corner. At Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom, we strive to create that special place for our customers. Providing quality products, exceptional service and real solutions for your home is not just what we do — it’s who we are. Our experienced team of design consultants knows what it takes to guide you in achieving a certain aesthetic for your home, while maintaining function and quality for years to come. Yes, we’re a local supplier. And we’re also strong advocates for access to quality — 20 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
at every price point. Coburn’s carries a wide variety of quality products to suit everyone from the budget-conscious to the high-end shopper. We’ll work within your budget to find the perfect solution to fit your need — we believe you shouldn’t need to sacrifice your design dreams based on financial constraints. Our carefully selected inventory, with a variety of brands, ensures there are always great options available no matter the price range. Whether it’s in your home or in the outdoors, every space should evoke comfort and make a lasting impression. And we’re here to make that happen. UNRIVALED OPTIONS FOR AN UNBELIEVABLE HOME As experts on home design, we understand that creating the perfect space requires options, options and more options. That’s why each of our showrooms are stocked with a wide variety of industryleading brands and styles to suit any look, need or budget. Are you ready to take your home to the next level this fall? Enjoy a relaxing bath in a sleek tub from American Standard DXV or add elegant faucet fixtures from bold designers like Moen and Brizo. Do your kitchen appliances need an upgrade? We’ll help you welcome home high performance with innovative brands like Jenn Air — so you can cook your cocoa in style. Whatever your need, we’ll find the functional fix that works with your home and style, while maintaining tasteful design elements that will give your friends and family something to talk about.
MAKE YOUR SPACE GAME DAY CENTRAL Of course, indoor treatments are just the beginning — after all, why should your interior have all the fun? Whether you’re hosting a watch party for the big game or tailgating beneath the Saturday night lights of your patio, it’s the perfect time to get outside and fire up the grill. At Coburn’s, our inventory of grill options truly have something for everyone. Our Napoleon Grill products have everything you need to outfit your outdoor living space for fall — including the impressive Prestige PRO™ 500. Featuring a sleek, stainless steel body, infrared burners and WAVE™ cooking grid technology, this grill packs a serious punch in performance. Your guests will enjoy a hot plate of barbeque worth celebrating, while watching your favorite team run up the score. COUNT ON COBURN’S If a new space or updated look is on your list this season, visit a Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath showroom in West Monroe or Ruston for ideas, options and professional guidance. Our design consultants and staff are committed to customer satisfaction and will ensure your shopping experience is seamless and enjoyable. And long beyond the purchase, we will continue our services with timely delivery and professional installation. Working with your vision in mind, the Coburn’s team helps you create the space you’ve always dreamed of — and one you’ll enjoy for years to come.
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Where we long for always…. at the end of a business trip, concluding an extended vacation or after a long day. Besides family, what makes us feel at home? Books? Art? Plants? Color? Music? Fragrance? Your space is exactly that… YOURS. Spend some time alone in your home to reflect and experiment with all the things that are part of the whole, without considering what anyone might think. Ranch, Cottage, Bungalow, Apartment, Victorian, urban Modern Loft or anything in between, Home is where you feel safe, connected and loved. It is YOUR home. Go ahead and tell YOUR story.
Cathi French Roberts & Lori French
Home Again Books
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reate your own library of whatever you are curious about. Cannot afford to travel? Open a book about your dream destination, and just like that, you are there. Coffee Table books have become a decorative trend and look beautiful stacked, shelved or displayed. The library of Janet and Steve Hadieke is a personal favorite with a coziness of surround shelving and a couch to curl up on with soft reading lights. A natural retreat, they have created this space over and again wherever they call home.
Art
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ake it Personal. A mirror for light. A woven basket, a tortoise shell, a large abstract painting, a family portrait, a child’s drawing, black and white photographs... if you love it, hang it. Consider mounting pictures in small or large gallery style groupings. An interesting scrap of wallpaper or fabric might find its way into your mix. Be Brave. Open up a small space by mirroring a wall then layer a mirror on that wall.
Music
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urn on music to set a relaxed mood when you are alone, not just when you are expecting guests). Soft jazz is always nice, but create your own playlist with tunes that are reflective of your different moods and seasons. Julianna Raye’s Dominoes is a personal favorite.
Plants
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Fragrance
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very home has its very own smells… depending on the age of your house, pets, cooking odors and the season. Details matter. Your scent recall is quite special and can trigger memories – good and not so pleasant. Start with making your home smell clean! Then, begin the process of using candles, diffusers and the new layering of scented oils to create an aura of well being and welcome.
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aux or live greenery always bring such life and good energy to a room. Many faux plants look so authentic that you cannot tell them from the real thing. Expect to pay a little more for good looking imitations, but in the long run, they will last! Straight from the yard….greenery of any kind looks so inviting. even in an odd vase or mason jar on the kitchen counter. Green apples, limes, lemons or artichokes, piled in crystal or pottery bowls lend a fresh colorful wink. Think outside the flower garden. Found items such as berries, branches, leaves and seed-pods can all lend themselves to an intriguing and unexpected, seasonal display.
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loud white is always an option. White comes in hundreds of shades----some slightly blue, others more gray, pink or gold. To find the right one, compare paint chips with the other colors in the room. Consider doing one room with color and pattern. Enliven a sedated, two-toned palette with a variety of patterns (florals, checks, dots) contrasting trimmings and other pretty details. Consider painting a ceiling in a vivacious color like lime green and then balance it with a sprinkling of bright furnishing and accessories.
FOR YOUR OWN FRENCH TWIST CONSULTATION, CALL CATHI AND LORI AT 318-355-3041
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Westlakes Estates Subdivision One of West Monroe’s Premier Neighborhoods
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TTRACTIVE WOODLANDS AND LANDSCAPED properties can be found in Westlakes’ newest addition to the established subdivision. With newly constructed homes and lots available, Westlakes Estates is offering an upscale neighborhood with easy access to the city of West Monroe and all it has to offer. Family life or single, this subdivision is close to shopping, dining, hospitals, entertainment, parks and great schools. A perfect place to build a future. One of the amenities that make this neighborhood so appealing is the very progressive, underground utilities. This is a safer, more attractive way to install cables. Not only does this create a visually appealing street, but it also helps prevent transmission losses. Decorative streetlights will be in place by these underground power lines, helping to light the streets at night while enhancing the beauty of the neighborhood. One can never be too safe when looking for a home to raise your children. Located in one of West Monroe’s best school districts, Westlakes is zoned for Claiborne Elementary, West Ridge Middle and West Monroe High School. This school zone is guaranteed to set your child or children up for great education. This neighborhood is in a secluded area close to town and an amazing place to raise a family. Builders are welcome, as there are empty, affordable lots available. The average lot size is 70 x 138, giving just the right amount of lawn space. All lots and homes have natural gas available, as well. 119 Westlakes Dr., the home featured, is now available for purchase. Approximately 1,938 hsqft, 2,916 total, with an open floor plan, this could be the home for you. The decorative fireplace in the living room is so beautiful, creating a focus for the room and stands as a piece of art in itself. The living room is most likely the most popular room of the house and where you would spend most of your time. Warm and inviting, this living room and its amazing fireplace, will be your favorite room to spend time with family and friends. Gas heat, a instant hot water heater, and a decorative gas fireplace are features that pull the entire living room and kitchen area together. This home has beautiful granite countertops in the kitchen, as well as the bathrooms. The kitchen has ample amounts of counter 24 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
space, plenty of cabinets and a walk-in pantry, making cooking dinner for the family a breeze. It also includes LG stainless steel appliances and refrigerator. Complete with recessed lights, this perfect kitchen is perfect for entertaining, helping with homework or simply making memories. Ceramic wood-like tile floors flow throughout the home in all rooms, separate from the spare rooms, making one harmonized look for the open floor plan. In every part of the home, one can find closets and ample storage space, making it easy to hide the clutter and keep your home looking amazing. The master bath has a custom detailed tile shower along with a garden tub, his and hers sinks and a large walk-in closet. Plenty of space aboundsto make this your own personal oasis. The garage has a 6x6 storage closet, adding the amount of storage throughout the home. In the back yard, one will find a large covered back porch and professional landscaping that continues to the front of the house. Also, this house comes with one year paid garbage services, as added value. This is truly a beautiful home for you and your family. This home is move-in-ready and another will be ready to move in by October 1st. The next home available, 108 Westlakes Drive, is approximately 2,259 hsqft with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. It will include all of the same features list above. Imagine being in your new home just in time for the holidays. With 25 lots available, one is able to build their dream home in the perfect, upcoming neighborhood. Find your place within this one-of-a-kind woodland neighborhood. To schedule a tour or if you have any questions, please call Agent/Owner Brad Smith at 318-5121903. Westlakes Estates Subdivision Brad Smith 318-512-1903
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Historical Impressions
HALLOWEEN ON A SUGAR RATION OF TWO POUNDS PER MONTH
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n Christian tradition, November 1 is the feast of All Hallows’ Day; a day set aside to honor the saints and to pray for the souls of the recently deceased. It is therefore perfectly understandable that October 31 should be known as All Hallows’ Eve. As often happens in the English language (the name “Saint Nicolas” turning into “Santa Claus,” for example), All Hallows’ Eve somehow became modified into Halloween. Halloween is thought to have originated from a Celtic festival that commemorated the dead at the beginning of winter; winter itself being a time of “dying” in nature. The rituals of this ancient Celtic festival varied across time and subcultures but a common thread included people going house-to-house disguised as the dead or as “malignant spirts” and often reciting verses or songs or playing pranks. Sometimes these people would demand food to guarantee the home or its occupants would not suffer from any mischief. Torches were also positioned around homes as protection from whatever lurked in the darkness. In some cases, it was believed lit torches prevented the souls of the dead from falling to earth or that they kept the devil away. By the later 1930s, America was just beginning to recover from the Great Depression. Disposable income was still scarce and Halloween celebrations mostly consisted of town parades and parties. As the decade of 1940s dawned, trickor-treating started to gain widespread popularity. But the start of World War II severely impacted Halloween celebrations and traditions in America.
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The war increasingly demanded available resources. Local and national government representatives responded to wartime demands by trying to completely cancel the Halloween holiday. As the New York Times reported on October 15, 1942, “If plans work out, there will not be any Halloween in Chicago. The City Council voted unanimously today to abolish Halloween for the duration….” The public outcry for maintaining Halloween festivities was so great, however, that the new status quo for late October settled into appropriately modified celebrations. Governments and other organizations heavily promoted the “new” Halloween traditions with posters, cartoons and magazine stories. During the first Halloween of the war, trick or treating still continued in many parts of the country. Wartime sugar rationing very quickly limited the availability of candy or other sweet treats, however, and this limitation changed expectations for trick or treating. People still gave trick or treaters what little they could but also often invited the kids into the house to visit with the parents whose own children were away fighting for the country. The tradition of Halloween mischief was also deemed inappropriate during wartime. The soap and grease used to deface windows was needed for the war effort. In larger cities and near war industries, the police warned adults not to wear masks or they would risk arrest on suspicion of being saboteurs. Even ringing door bells was discouraged in some areas, because it could disturb the sleep of a tired
war worker who needs his rest. Children responded to the national slogan “monkey business is sabotage” and got into the war effort spirit by collecting scrap iron during the holiday instead of asking for treats. Children also became a holiday avenue for selling war stamps. Eventually, private home parties became the most common Halloween celebration. Homes were decorated with available seasonal items such as colorful leaves and corn stalks, and children and adults alike showed up in costume to these parties. The most popular costumes included cowboys and Indians, clowns and hobos. Influenced by the very popular prewar Hollywood movies “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “The Wizard of Oz,” witches were also a very common sight at wartime parties. Halloween party fun mostly consisted of playing games. The entertainment industry also tried to get into the wartime Halloween spirit. In 1942, the Brian Sisters mimicked the popular Andrews Sisters song “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” with their holiday song “The Boogie Woogieman.” In October 1944, Hollywood released “The Uninvited,” the first Hollywood film that really focused on haunted houses and ghosts. American men and women fighting overseas were also able to receive a little bit of Halloween fun. If the troops were lucky, the Special Services Division might have some candy bars to hand out. The items that were most available to provide some Halloween spirit to our fighting men were scary books from the Council on Books in Wartime. The Council on Books in Wartime was an organization created by American publishers. This organization’s efforts included printing monthly Armed Services Edition books; miniature paperbacks that easily fit in the hip or breast pocket of a military uniform. During almost four years of war, more than 123 million Armed Services Edition books were shipped to Americans serving in the armed forces. The October editions included books such as “Dracula,” “Frankenstein,” collections of ghost stories and similar horror themed books. As the Allies prevailed, the war was finally over, and Halloween began to return to its prewar traditions. Holiday parties became more boisterous. Parades grew in size and extravagance. Candy was plentiful. Unfortunately, Halloween also brought a renewed sense of dread for many Americans… mischief was also back.
BY GUY MILLER Vice Chair-Chennault Aviation and Military Museum
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I REMEMBER “I could have missed you.” a r t i cl e by PAUL L I PE
I REMEMBER the accident more vividly than would be expected
might be inflicted on those in my car, he could have hurt himself very given my declining ability to recall events that happened more than a seriously. Why, then, did he crash into me? Well, you know something? Most of us are often guilty of doing the few days ago. But this fender-bender sticks out in my mind, perhaps because it is the only automobile accident, in over sixty-five years of very thing of which I accuse my nemesis. We foolishly do things that driving, for which I was responsible – that is, if memory serves me well. put us in harm’s way, even when we could have avoided such action or The mishap took place on the street that runs behind the Delhi behavior. Every day, there are intoxicated people who are driving on the Hospital. My wife, Linda, and I were taking our two teenagers and a streets of our communities. Their couple of their friends to a ball game inebriation makes them less able to at Northeast Louisiana University adequately control the vehicle which (now known as ULM). I was headed they are driving; the result too often south and had halted at a stop sign, is an accident – sometimes causing but my vision toward the west was death, either to the driver or his hampered by the setting sun and victim. He could have prevented the a bushy shrub at the corner of the tragedy by not drinking, or by not intersection. As a result, I failed to see driving while “under the influence.” a vehicle approaching from my right. He could have “missed,” but he did I was almost through the intersection not. when that car (which, I am sure, was While most of us are not guilty speeding!) rammed into the rear of doing something that serious, not fender of my auto. many are without guilt in this area. For Since the other driver had the instance, numbers of us are reminded, right-of-way, I was at fault. However, when we step on the bathroom scales, something the “innocent” man said that we may be harming our health, did not make my day any easier. because we eat much more than is These were his words: “I could have necessary to sustain us. We could missed you.” He could have missed “WE FOOLISHLY DO THINGS THAT PUT US IN have exercised more restraint, but we me! Then why in blazes did he crash HARM’S WAY EVEN WHEN WE COULD HAVE did not. into me and my passengers? I wanted AVOIDED SUCH ACTION OR BEHAVIOR. ” Or, if we had saved or invested to grab him by his jacket lapels and instead of spending so freely, our shake him – real good! And I longed to explain to him that only an idiot would plow his vehicle into another retirement prospects would not be so bleak. Or, if we had studied for the car, if he could possibly avoid it. But I was stopped in my tracks by exam instead of partying with our friends, we may have made the grade the realization that Delhi was a small town and that it would not necessary for admission to grad school. Or, if I had taken my children to take long for word to spread that the Presbyterian preacher had man- church more frequently instead of spending so many weekends at the handled a fellow citizen. So, to preserve the dignity of the clergy and lake, we may not be facing this crisis. “I could have missed you” is more the reputations of the good Presbyterians of Delhi, I bit my tongue and a part of our stories than we would like, isn’t it? May our “I could have” be changed to “I will” and “I did.” God played the role of a contrite traffic violator. Despite what I have just said, I am still bothered and perplexed by help us use our sanctified, common sense so that, when we can, we will those words, “I could have missed you.” The fact that he could have avoid those actions that could result in harm to self or others. prevented the accident, but did not do so, continues to baffle me. Why would a person do something that would almost surely result in harm when he could have prevented it? In addition to the potential injury that
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Audibel, The Hearing Center Introducing the World’s Most Innovative Hearing Aid
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T AUDIBEL,WE ARE REINVENTING the hearing aid and are proud to introduce the Via AI. This is the world’s first hearing aid that provides both superior sound quality and the ability to track body and brain health. Audibel in Monroe and Ruston is the only place in Northeast Louisiana, where you can find this innovative Audibel technology in hearing aids. As the first-ever hearing aid to feature integrated sensors and artificial intelligence, Via AI is a multi-purpose device that redefines what a hearing aid can do. Until now, there has never been a device that tracks physical activity and cognitive health as measured by hearing aid use in social situations. Most fitness tracking devices use the wrist, but the ear provides far more accurate data. In fact, it is the ideal spot for reliable tracking and Via AI is the first ever device to take advantage of that. The AI in Via AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. This is the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Using artificial intelligence in hearing aids helps Audibel optimize your experience with body and brain health tracking, tap control and language translation. What superior quality sounds like Thanks to a new technology we call Hearing RealityTM, Via AI is designed to be effective in even the noisiest environments, comfortable in loud settings and quiet in quiet settings. It also provides newly enhanced clarity of speech. Via AI hearing aids work seamlessly with accessories and your favorite digital devices to help you connect to your 30 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
world and to: • Deliver superior sound quality, listening clarity, more natural hearing and effortless transitions. • Preserve peace and quiet while amplifying the important things and help you better understand conversations • Stream phone calls, music and messages directly from your smartphone to your hearing aids • Offer remote programming, so your hearing care professional can make minor adjustments without an office visit The Connection Between Health and Hearing Hearing health is directly connected to overall health and well-being. That’s been proven, and it means people who are able to hear can engage with the world around them and live better and healthier lives. Everincreasing evidence also shows treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids can improve or limit some serious health issues like cognitive decline and dementia. Via AI lets people of all ages take a proactive approach to their overall wellness. Sensors inside the hearing aids detect movement, activities and different gestures. The hearing aids then communicate with each other, and with multiple accessories, to deliver meaningful benefits beyond traditional amplification. You will not only hear better, but live better thanks to real-time feedback about your overall body and cognitive fitness. What Making Better Connections Sounds Like Via AI intuitively connects to your Apple and Android devices via Bluetooth technology and our easy-to-use Thrive Hearing app.
Thrive offers additional features designed to enhance your listening experience anywhere you go, and help you easily enjoy everything you do. Some of the features include: • Body and Brain Health Tracking - Sensors are integrated into your Via AI hearing aids, so you can set daily wellness goals and easily track them via the Thrive app. • Remote Programming - Request adjustments from your hearing care professional, who can then make them remotely, so you don’t need to make an appointment and stop in. • Language Translation - Easily communicate with people who speak other languages via the easy-to-use translation tool in your Thrive app. Requires an Internet connection. • Personalized Control - Make personalized, real-time adjustments to suit your preferences in different listening situations. • Personalized Memories - You can create multiple custom memories in the Thrive app by using any of the customize options. You can even geotag memories. A geotagged memory will use GPS and cellular towers to recognize where you are and automatically adjust your Via AI hearing aids when you enter that space. For instance, a geotagged “coffee shop” memory will automatically activate when you walk into your favorite coffee shop. Audibel doesn’t do technology for technology’s sake. From the technicians in their labs to the scientists, audiological researchers and every employee at every level, Audibel continually seek ways to better understand the science of hearing loss and its impact on people’s lives — so they can continually develop better technologies to improve it.
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Pillow Talk
A new throw pillow can instantly transform a room. Add dimension to your space and deliver a pop of color. PHOTO G RAP H S BY K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K Fabulous Fabric
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Haven
Julie Mays Interiors
Sleepy Hollow Julie Mays Interiors
Material Things Muffin Tin
Fabulous Fabric
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Hey, Pumpkin!
Nothing says fall like a decorative pumpkin arrangement. From miniature pumpkins to those with bold colors, there’s a variety to choose from. Looking for the perfect pumpkin? We found these beauties in Oak Grove, grown locally by Gentry Harper. If you’re looking for a pumpkin with a pop of color, contact Kyle Harper at 318.282.3729. Varieties include: Big Max, Scarlet, Small sugar, Baby boo, Fairytale and Blue jarrahdale pumpkins ST Y L E D BY TAY LOR BEN N ETT PH OTOG RA PH BY K E L LY MOORE CLARK 34 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
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Luxe Living Enhance your living space with these romantic crystal decanters, glasses and candlestick holders. ST YLE D BY TAY LO R B E N N E TT P H OTO GRA P H BY K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K
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Crystal goblets from Muffin Tin, Mignon Faget glass from Louisiana Purchases, Decanter with gold accent from Sleepy Hollow Furniture, Cut crystal decanter from Traditions Antiques, Bud vases from Haven, Candlesticks from Material Things
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Copper Feel This fall create autumnal palettes with the warm glow of copper. This versatile metal is easily incorporated into your dĂŠcor. ST Y LE D BY TAY LO R B E N N E TT P H OTO G RA P H BY K E L LY M O O R E C L AR K
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Cutting board, candle and cookie cutters from Muffin Tin, Bundt pan from Traditions Antiques, Oblong tray from Haven, Ombre vase and hammered copper plate with metal accent from Sleepy Hollow Furniture, geometric vase from Julie Mays Interiors, hammered vase from Material Things, Books from Palette House, Servingware from Louisiana Purchases
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Spooky DĂŠcor This grown-up version of Halloween dĂŠcor mixes spooky elements with black and white finishes.
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Metal first aid box, velvet pumpkins in bowl, book set and black vase from Palette House, metal bowl and Ruston/Bulldog books from Julie Mays Interiors, vase, black matches and porcupine quills from Material Things, roebuck horns and blade from Traditions Antiques, black cat from Sleepy Hollow Furniture, orange decorative bottle with bat from Muffin Tin, tortoise shell, geode and acrylic box from Haven, playing card set from Louisiana Purchases
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Cozy Up This Fall Illuminate your soul this season by incorporating cozy items into your home. Snuggle up in rich textiles perfect for cooler weather.
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Leather chair and large printed pillow from Louisiana Purchases, acrylic bench with Mongolian fur from Palette House, Books on side table, basket, grey Mongolian fur pillow from Material Things, copper kettle, small plaid pillow and small green pillow from Traditions Antiques, gold and marble side table from Julie Mays Interiors, cable knit blanket and fringe blanket in basket from Haven, leather serving tray from Muffin Tin, fur throw in chair from Sleepy Hollow Furniture, candle from Fabulous Fabric
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Louisiana Purchases Unveils New Lighting Gallery Lighting That Can Turn a Room into a Living Work of Art
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OUISIANA PURCHASES IS A BOUTIQUE OF THE South located in Northeast Louisiana that boasts far more than material goods within its walls. Louisiana Purchases is not just a store. It is a place where friendships are made, gifts are purchased with gratitude, hearts are impacted and every item is handpicked with meaning and love. Having experience in home construction, interior design and real estate, owner Emily Lane is passionate about everything home. From wedding gifts to couches to hostess gifts and even gifts for men- Louisiana Purchases has it all. What makes this store so different is the mixture of antiques and contemporary furniture, the work of local artisans, exclusive lines and one-of-a-kind finds. Emily lives her days striving to make a difference, share a moment, help a friend, freshen a home with what she calls “a little fluff’ and all in all, give the community a place to visit where walking in the doors puts a smile on your face, comfort in your heart, excitement in your eyes and a shopping experience that is truly fun. Fall has arrived and new home accessories are arriving daily. Mirrors, pillows and drink tables are an easy way to update a space. Custom upholstery is offered in a variety of styles and textures. Couches, loveseats, ottomans and swivel chairs can be tailored or slipcovered! The velvet pumpkins are to die for with their real pumpkin stems and a beautiful color palette that is rich and warm. Luxurious fragrances run throughout the store. Treat yourself, your home or a friend to an aromatic oil diffuser, candle or room spray. Explore spiritual gifts, Kendra Scott`s Home Collection and an extensive line of Louisiana themed items. Also, enjoy the beautiful complimentary gift wrapping. Louisiana Purchases not only offers handcrafted items made by local artisans, unique home decor and more; they are now thrilled to unveil and welcome you to their Visual Comfort & Co. Lighting Gallery. As the only gallery for Visual Comfort & Co. in North Louisiana, they are excited to offer gorgeous lighting elements that 44 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
fit any decor and budget. More than just simple light fixtures, the gallery is a showcase for these timeless works of art. A Houston,Texas based company, Visual Comfort & Co. is known for impeccable designs and immaculate finishes. All fixtures are created by some of the most prominent and influential names in the design industry and are made using natural materials of remarkable quality. Offering craftsmanship that balances beauty and function in every room, with a mix of ambient, task and decorative sources that can produce the best, most comfortable results of layered light in a space. Any environment can be transformed and enhanced by Visual Comfort & Co. “Visit our showroom and discover an extensive offering, spanning many styles, sizes and finishes. Whether your style is classic and traditional or bold and contemporary, we can help you discover which ones will work best in your space. Our gallery display offers an amazing sampling of wall sconces, pendant lights, chandeliers, bath fixtures, table and floor lamps. We can’t wait to share our ideas and designs with you! Our doors are open to contractors and designers, and they are welcome to use our design space and coffee bar to spread out plans while meeting with clients. No matter your need, we can accommodate you. I am extremely excited to offer a products that can be used in every environment. Whether it is a residential new construction or remodel, a bank, hotel or commercial space, we can execute custom lighting development.” – Emily Lane Visit them Tuesday- Saturday on the corner of North 18th and Glenmar Ave. in Monroe.
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Nicole Duet is both an artist and professor with a passion for art that continues to evolve. Working as an artist and as an Associate Professor of art at Louisiana Tech University has connected her to the world and to people in ways that make continual growth possible. 46 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
article by APRIL HONAKER and photography by KELLY MOORE CLARK
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LO N G D E B AT E exists among creatives regarding the importance of talent versus hard work in relation to success, and strong arguments exist on both sides. Those on the side of talent argue that talent is innate and that successful artists are naturally predisposed to greatness, while those on the side of hard work argue that talent is irrelevant and that anyone can learn to be successful in the arts through instruction and practice. Which side is more true? The reality likely lies somewhere between the two. Although many artists discover they possess some natural aptitude at an early age, that aptitude alone is rarely enough to lead them to success. 48 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
According to best-selling author Stephen King, “What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” Because artist and professor Nicole Duet discovered her natural talent later than the majority of her peers, she went through a period of intense, self-directed study and practice to make up for lost time. During her last year as a theater major at California State University, Northridge, Nicole took a life drawing class that led her to completely change directions. She finished her Bachelor of Arts in Theater but said there was a moment in her life drawing class that changed everything. The model got off the stand, and Nicole completed a quick gestural drawing of that transition. “I felt like I captured something,” she said, “and I knew I wanted to be able to do that again.” That moment and the class as a whole sparked a new passion for Nicole, and she finished it transformed. “When I got to end of the class, I felt like I was in an arena, where I didn’t know anything but had grown a great deal,” she said. The experience made her want to chart a new course, and she spent some years after piecing together training from a variety of different places and teachers. “Suddenly there was this thing I was really focused on--obsessed with,” she said. “One thing led to the next, and it was like filling in the missing pieces.” During this period, Nicole saw as much,
read as much, studied as much and practiced as much as she could. “Once I made the decision to pursue art, I left theater behind, and it was on to the next thing,” she said. Fortunately, Nicole found the time and space she needed to pursue her new passion by house sitting for a friend in New Mexico. While there, she painted from 8 in the morning until the natural light was gone. She also spent a lot of time walking the desert and seeking out teachers who could help her develop keen observation skills. Along the way, she studied under southwest artists David Leffel and Joan Potter. She also immersed herself in a variety of workshops and was introduced to several of the Old Masters including Rembrandt and Caravaggio. Painting in that style, she gained gallery representation and began to take on commissions, but just as success was growing tangible for her, she felt a tinge of discomfort. “I felt like I was making the work my teachers made and not my own,” she said. “It didn’t feel authentic.” Despite her rising success, Nicole knew something was still missing, and she decided to go back to California to continue filling in the gaps and shaping her identity as an artist. In California again, she continued to build her repertoire in unconventional ways, and took some time to decide where her time and money would be best spent. In Los Angeles, she studied with teachers skilled in
animation, such as Glenn Vilppu and Karl been about creating a character, which ties she said. “My theater experience helps me Gnass, through animation union workshops. the work to theater. But now the paintings empathize and has an effect on how much I Then, although she knew extending her are getting simpler in terms of what’s in can communicate. It’s almost like it drives the education with a Master of Fine Arts would them,” she said, “and fuller in terms of the brush sometimes.” be a departure from her education thus far, connection. Now the more I look, the more I In addition to painting, Nicole continues she began testing the waters in universities take away. I’m trying to figure out how many to explore characters and scenes through across southern California as an art model. resonances can come out of a single element.” drawing. Graphite in particular is very According to Nicole, universities at the time According to Nicole, this approach to her elemental for her. It’s very different than tended to emphasize conceptual and abstract work is so new that it’s still evolving, which working with the fluid, liquid color of art, but she figured working as paint. “It’s all about the subtlety an art model would give her a of different shades and values and first-hand glimpse of what was how they can communicate,” she being taught in their programs. said. However, she doesn’t see a After about two years, she chose clear distinction between drawing to earn her master’s at California and painting and instead feels State University, Long Beach, and they’re connected. “Sometimes I said she took courses with some paint in a drawing-driven way, and of the greatest teachers she’s ever sometimes I draw in a painterly studied with there. way,” she said. Although there is Throughout Nicole’s studies some overlap in her treatment of and even before pursuing her the two media, she believes viewers master’s, transformation was a relate to them differently. The recurrent theme, and she became senses respond differently, both for deeply interested in the idea that the artist and the viewer. paint or marks could appear And of course, the time, place to become something else. She and other elements of her work recalls a specific moment when also contribute to its emotional she stood before a self-portrait impact. Nicole describes herself of Rembrandt in which he wore as an emotional person with a a beret adorned with a gilded strong interest in interior life. “I ribbon. There was a moment am someone who has an external when the shadow cast onto his and internal life,” she said, “and forehead by the beret seemed sometimes those things don’t add to become air. “I felt like it was up. There are ways that plays out in atmosphere and light,” she said. the work in the sense that maybe the “It came alive in that way.” characters are not always connected Still today, transformation to the environment they’re in.” remains an important concept This dissonance is a feature she to her. “Almost always light attributes partly to being adopted is an important aspect of the and the instability that comes with the narrative and mood of a missing an important piece of her painting,” she said. Nicole is identity. an avid photographer, and she Nicole said sometimes she finds often paints from photographs, shape-shifting comes easier to spending hours mining them for a her as a result of her background, Painting has always been a way for me to connect certain gesture or ray of light that which is a sentiment echoed in with people--not in person but in the image. It’s also begs to be explored. She enjoys an interview with Gillian Welch, always been about creating a character, which ties the work seeing how paint can change an a singer-songwriter she admires. to theater. But now the paintings are getting simpler in terms image. However, her process has In the interview, Welch said, “I of what’s in them, and fuller in terms of the connection. changed some over time. She do think that the abiding mystery Now the more I look, the more I take away. used to work almost exclusively of my origins has definitely had a from her own photographs, and profound effect upon my writing. she would paint one photograph at a time, makes it difficult to describe. However, she There is that thing in the back of my mind, including multiple people and things each said, “It’s more about a single person in an where I think I don’t really know who I am. time. Now, she is more likely to combine environment, and it’s about the way being in And it may make it a little easier to shift elements of multiple photographs and has a space affects us.” All the elements of a space around in my narrative voice.” Just as Welch started working from photographs that are from the time and place to the lighting and inhabits a new character for every song, given to her as well. atmosphere play a role. As she composes a Nicole inhabits a new character each time This new approach, she said, is a little painting, Nicole considers what the elements she creates a new work. Maybe this ability more like staging, so her background in in the painting communicate about the comprises an unspoken kinship among those theater continues to exert an influence on person--the character’s--inner state of being, who’ve been adopted. her work. “Painting has always been a way as well as what story those elements tell. “The In addition to being adopted, Nicole for me to connect with people--not in person elements that are part of the scene take on a lost her mom, when she was very young. but in the image,” she said. It’s also always symbolic quality like elements of a set do,” Although not solely responsible for her WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 49
decision not to have children, these circumstances played a role in that decision. “I was never one of those girls that babysat, so there was not a lot of exposure to kids,” she said. “It didn’t come naturally to me.” For Nicole, choosing not to have kids is just a different path. She still has as many demands on her time. They’re just different demands. Nicole recalls a moment when she realized that she was going to have to work harder to achieve success. Upon completion of her first life drawing class, she had undergone such a huge amount of growth that she felt compelled to visit the professor one last time to say goodbye. During the visit, he said, “Keep in touch and let me know when you have babies.” Nicole was surprised that those expectations were still so strong at the time but admitted her optimism was probably naive. With those few words, her professor essentially destroyed the sense of reverence she’d had for him. “It was like a switch flipped,” she said, “and I took it as a challenge. All of the women I know have had similar experiences, but it made me work that much harder.” Although Nicole has 50 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
made a conscious decision to devote more time to her career as an artist and professor and to experiencing life in her own way, she admires her friends who are moms. “I look at them with their kids with wonder,” she said, “and I think, ‘What an amazing thing that is!’ I have a deep respect for the ones who do it beautifully, even if they feel they don’t do it perfectly. Seeing that relationship at work is amazing.’’ As an artist, Nicole doesn’t necessarily strive for perfection, but there is always a higher bar to be set. “I have in my mind something I think painting can do that I’m still working toward--an ideal,” she said, “but perfectionism has a dark side that can inhibit discovery, so I try to be healthy about it. I try to accept where I am at and where my painting is, and that’s a constant practice.” Although being a successful artist inevitably requires a certain set of technical skills, Nicole hopes that when people view her work they see more than technical skill. She hopes they see light in darkness. She realizes people will have varying reactions to her work. Some may feel uncomfortable or dislike a piece as a matter of taste, but she said, “I hope I can
make an image compelling enough that even if that’s their first response, it’s not their only response. I think especially when the work is emotional, it’s not always about making something beautiful. It might be about exploring isolation and solitude and whether people want to spend time with that.” When composing a piece, Nicole thinks extensively about how all the elements will work together. In a sense, she considers how the viewer might respond to certain changes just as a director would in staging a play. “It’s always about creating an experience,” she said. “Rather than something to be looked at, it’s something to be entered into. It’s about making choices that guide the act of perception, and that’s part of creating the experience.” For Nicole, painting goes beyond the normal and expected ways people live their lives. It goes beyond the ordinary, surface level, even if it does so through depicting everyday scenes. According to Nicole, painting allows people to find parallels in their own lives in the same way they might find those in novels, movies, plays or other works of art. In a way, seeing oneself or one’s life through an artist’s lens can bring about a level of clarity that could not be achieved on one’s own. As an artist, Nicole aims to recreate for viewers an experience like the one she had while viewing Rembrandt’s self-portrait. “When they walk away, I hope they see the world differently,” she said. In an effort to continually see the world with fresh eyes, Nicole has lived her life not only open to change and growth but seeking it and following it. Working as an artist and as an Associate Professor of Art at Louisiana Tech University has connected her to the world and to people in ways that make continual growth possible. “Painting and teaching make me think about what it means to be human,” she said, “and my own assumptions are almost always not enough. They’re not the whole picture.” The constant interchange with students and other artists keeps her actively engaged and thinking about making. “It’s that constant learning thing that everyone who teaches talks about,” she said. Since that first life drawing class, Nicole has grown into a style that feels authentic and continues to evolve. “I started out from nowhere and nothing,” she said, “and things have evolved to a degree that still amazes me. How does someone with no background in art end up teaching it and loving it?” In Nicole’s case, courage and persistence have been key. She said, “I think the way we get from one thing to the next is by noticing the things important to us and being willing to follow them, even if we don’t know where we’re going.”
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Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School JGS Celebrates Community, School and Family IT’S FALL FESTIVAL TIME OF YEAR! Now that fall is finally right around the corner, our amazing JGS PTO and volunteer parents are busy organizing the 4th Annual JGS Fall Festival set for October 27th at 5:30 p.m. at JGS School. This event signifies the culmination of The JGS School Annual Fund Campaign, which began August 1st. The JGS Fall Festival is a family-friendly, community event meant to be enjoyed by all ages. There will be an old-fashioned country store with homemade goodies and crafts, amusement rides for the children, food provided by the JGS Dad’s Club, a silent auction, class carnivalstyle booths and a bingo hall. We hope that you can join us for our celebration of community, school and family at the JGS Fall Festival. Thank you in advance to our wonderful community for always supporting Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School, and we look forward to seeing you at our fall celebration. CAMPAIGN SUCCESS IN YEARS PAST. The JGS Annual Fund Campaign, our yearly giving campaign, is meant to produce better results than many small fundraisers combined. It has replaced our fall fundraising events of years past, such as Rock-N-Bowl, Boo at the Barn, and magazine and cookie dough sales. We have seen tremendous success in the last several years since establishing the campaign. The JGS Annual Fund helps support the school’s operating budget and provides funds for classroom technology, teacher retention, campus improvements and security as well as other pressing needs of the school. The success of our previous Annual Fund Campaigns and Fall Festival celebrations 52 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
are outstanding examples of the supportive community that JGS has been blessed to be a part of for almost 60 years. It is truly humbling the amount of love, faith and generosity Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School receives from our families, friends, church parishioners and surrounding community. At JGS, we are blessed with faithful teachers and administration and a caring staff, who strive daily to provide a safe, productive and Christ-centered environment for all students. We pray that God will continue to bless us and provide for our school as He has always done in the past. We ask that you prayerfully consider supporting the JGS School Annual Fund campaign. It’s never too late to donate and our motto is “Every Gift Matters.” No matter the size of the donation, every gift is a vote of confidence in our school and in our mission. You may do this by filling out one of our annual fund pledge/donation cards, which can be picked up at the school office, online at www.jesusgoodshepherd.org or in the church gathering space. MANY THANKS TO OUR DONORS. Many thanks to our current sponsors of the JGS School Annual Fund as of 9/10/2018: Ronda and Marty Herlevic; Haley and Micah Pulliam; Andree and Lane Eddleman (Eddleman Dental); Felicia and Mead Hardwick; Lise and Jean Poirrier; Dr. Mary Kathryn and David Crigler; Michael Ann and Jott Delcambre; Mark and Courtney Holyfield; Sadye and Arthur Richert; Dr. Justin and Mrs. Dana Tarver; Lillian and Albert Paxton; Caroline and Alan Brockman; Ashley and Gerald Tonore; Nancy and Ed Patrick; Tammie and Mike Benoit; Cindy and Steve Gray; Mary
and Jay Hardwick; J. Michael Inzina; Dr. and Mrs. Randy Taylor; Bing Bishop Construction Co.; The Leaumont Family; Lazenby and Associates,Inc.; Tracy and Steve Blanchard; Laura and Chris Maciaszek; Aimee and David Anthony; Gretchen and Jason Tiser; Annetta Hill; Amy and Danny Ellender (In Memory of Charlynn Leehy); Progressive Bank; Brenda and Charles Taylor; Becky Norsworthy; Brenda and Gerry Debetaz; Perry and Brett Estis; Karen and Buddy Embanato; Kasey and Chandler Witherington (In Memory of Charlynn Leehy); Arvin Jake and Mary Tan (Procare Therapy of Monroe, LLC); Renee and Larry Lashley; Courtney and Zeke Wetzel; Saundra and Clint Shepard; Rosa and Richard Lee King; Monica and Robert Jones; Susan Pate; Deisiane and Billy Allison; Lori and Charles DiGiulian; Misti Hajj, Realtor; Katie Parker; Kathi Savage; William Gattis, III; Helen King; John Semmes; Connie and Ike Stokes; Sondra and Tola Myers; Patricia and Douglas Coon; Lori and Donovan Morein; Margaret and Tom Brock; Mallory Benedetto; Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Rodriguez; Wendy Crow; Violet and Brent Houser; Sandra Savage; Lisa and Tony Patrick and Mary and Wayne Bonney. Families interested in finding out more about Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School or the JGS School Annual Fund are encouraged to visit our website, www.jesusgoodshepherd.org, and Facebook page or contact the school office directly at 318-325-8569. Tours are given every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. and by appointment with our principal, Mrs. Lisa Patrick. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Faulk & Foster Years of Service to the Community
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OHN W. PERRY, JR. GREW UP IN Perryville, Louisiana and stayed local, furthering his education at the University of Southwest Louisiana, now known as University of Louisiana Lafayette, and then LSU. After college, he chose real estate as his career in his hometown community of Monroe. In 1972, John joined Faulk & Foster as a junior sales associate. Within five years, he had purchased the firm and implemented a progressive plan to grow the company. Focusing on commercial and industrial real estate, John has led Faulk & Foster to become the leading commercial brokerage firm in Northeast Louisiana. Continuing to expand the growing real estate firm, John began working with wireless companies in the 1980s providing services for telecommunication locations. John W. Perry, Jr. has established Faulk & Foster as a leading commercial and industrial real estate brokerage firm and a national full service zoning and construction provider to the wireless communications and renewable energy industries. In 2009, the commercial real estate division became a part of NAI Global, which extended the company’s platform to over 400 offices around the globe and over 7,000 local market leaders. In 2012, the company expanded once again to add residential opportunities to the commercial offerings, broadening the services they provide to this community. John, as well as other real estate professionals at Faulk & Foster, hold individual memberships in the Society 54 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), National Association of Realtors, Louisiana Realtors Association, Northeast Louisiana Association of Realtors. Faulk & Foster holds real estate licenses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Colorado and Utah. John remains active in his community, including previous board and committee positions with United Way, ULM, several banks and many other organizations. Along with being actively involved with the community, John is very much a family man. John and his wife, Cyndy have a daughter, Jamie, and a son, JW, and four grandchildren ranging in age from one to eleven. As Faulk & Foster is a family owned business both Cyndy and JW have many years of service with the company. LAND, HOMES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES Faulk & Foster is ready to help you find exactly what you need. Here is some information about a few of the properties they have available, pictured adjacent: The wooded lot in Monroe, off of Forsythe Extension, would be the perfect location for one that is planning to build their dream home. Off the Intersection of Forsythe Extension and Old Forsythe, it is an ideal lot for one to three homes right in an amazing area of Monroe. The King Stubbs designed office, is centrally located within one of Monroe’s main business corridors, just off North 18th St., and Louisville Ave. The building
would be great for medical or general office use, with four large offices, four restrooms, a conference room, six exam rooms, large waiting room, reception area, kitchen, and break room, along with many other rooms that could be used for their current use or repurposed. The property has an additional .22 +/- acres of vacant land that could be used for adding additional square footage to the building, extra parking, or potentially build another building. Faulk & Foster has this prime Commercial Property located on New Grimshaw Street Extension in Rayville. With I-20 visibility, this property is nearby the newly built Tractor Supply Company and has easy access to I-20. NAI Faulk & Foster has been a leading commercial and industrial real estate brokerage firm in Northeast Louisiana since 1945. As an NAI Global member, we give local-market leading insights combined with access to the single largest, most powerful network of owneroperated commercial real estate firms with 7,000 brokers in 400 local offices across 55 countries – all actively managed to perform for you. Faulk & Foster 1811 Auburn Avenue Monroe LA 71201 United States Tel (318) 807-4666
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Marsala Beverage
Introducing the Latest Installment of Budweiser’s Reserve Collection: Budweiser Reserve Copper Lager
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PARTNERSHIP OVER A CENTURY IN THE MAKING. On Aug. 23, 2018 Budweiser and Jim Beam® Bourbon officially unveil their highly anticipated collaborative brew Budweiser Reserve Copper Lager. The new beer celebrates two allAmerican brands that survived Prohibition and have thrived in their respective businesses for a collective 365 years. The third installment in Budweiser’s Reserve Collection, Copper Lager, will be available nationwide through the holiday season. Copper Lager is an American lager-style beer, brewed with tworow barley and aged on Jim Beam bourbon barrel staves. The charred American oak staves, which previously served as barrels aging Jim Beam for four years, create a toasted oak aroma, while the beer has a deliciously nutty taste with caramel rye and vanilla notes and the classically smooth Budweiser finish. The new specialty beer will be available in heritage glass bottles and on draught at bars across the country. “We’re very excited to bring the highly anticipated Budweiser Reserve Copper Lager to beer and bourbon aficionados from across the country,” said Ricardo Marques, Vice President of marketing for Budweiser. “By working closely together with our friends at Jim Beam, we’ve brewed something truly unique that stays true to the incredible legacy of these two American icons.” This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition, and both brands share unique histories of surviving the 13 years in which America went dry. The partnership between Budweiser and Jim Beam began in April as a cross-merchandising program and now includes Copper Lager, a uniquely innovative beer combining the heritage, quality and passion from both companies. “As the category leader in bourbon production and innovation, we are especially particular about the brands with whom we choose to partner,” said Rob Mason, Vice President of marketing for Jim Beam. “Budweiser is the perfect match for Jim Beam – an all-American beverage icon with generations of family heritage, tradition and craftsmanship. We are thrilled that Fred Noe, our 7th Generation Master Distiller, had the opportunity to collaborate with Budweiser’s brewmasters to deliver such a unique and bourbon-forward beer.”
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ABOUT BUDWEISER Budweiser, an American-style lager, was introduced in 1876, when company founder Adolphus Busch set out to create the United States’ first truly national beer brand – brewed to be universally popular and transcend regional tastes. Each batch of Budweiser stays true to the same family recipe used by five generations of Busch family brewmasters. Budweiser is a medium-bodied, flavorful, crisp and pure beer with blended layers of premium American and European hop aromas, brewed for the perfect balance of flavor and refreshment. Budweiser is made using time-honored methods including “kraeusening” for natural carbonation and Beechwood aging, which results in unparalleled balance and character. ABOUT JIM BEAM Jim Beam is the world’s best-selling bourbon, crafted by seven generations of family distillers since 1795. Elegant. Smooth. Refined. That’s what years of aging in new charred oak barrels does to our Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller, has stayed true to the family recipe that’s been passed down through generations. The Jim Beam portfolio of products includes Jim Beam Bourbon, Jim Beam Black, Jim Beam Double Oak, Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, Jim Beam Bonded, Jim Beam Rye, Jim Beam Distiller’s Masterpiece, Jim Beam Vanilla, Jim Beam Honey, Jim Beam Kentucky Fire and Red Stag by Jim Beam among other offerings. Locally, Marsala Beverage employs about 100 full-time employees. Marsala Beverage, LP is the largest malt beverage, wine/spirits and non-alcoholic distributor in Northeast Louisiana. Their success is based on the fact that they never lose sight of delivering what is really important – quality products, timely service and a genuine concern for our customers’ needs. Annually, they deliver over 2.4 million cases of beverages to over 700 retail accounts. Please find us at www.marsalabeverage.com or follow us on social media: Facebook: Marsala Beverage Twitter: @marsalabeverage1 Instagram: @marsalabeverage
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LOGAN AND THE LEGENDARIES More than just a music album, Logan and the Legendaries’ debut album Waxing is a collection of songs that detail a songwriter’s memoir, a tip-ofthe-hat to the lessons of Logan Lewis’ past and the joys of his present.
article by VANELIS RIVERA photography by ANDREW BAILEY WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 59
"You like that, y’all?"
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rom behind studio glass, General Keith Patterson, a local veteran guitarist, addresses studio captain and local purveyor of music Dan Sumner along with four members of the North Louisiana band Logan and the Legendaries. It’s a tracking day at Fort Sumner. Sounds are being layered and fleshed out. Logan Lewis dresses in a black fitted tee, dark blue jeans, and brown dress shoes. He leans back in a chair, legs crossed, immersed in the guitar parts being added. “That was nasty,” he says with a smirk, following with, “He sounded like Chuck Berry there for a minute.” Matt Abrahm nods in agreement as he opens a pack of all-red Starbursts. “That’s it right there,” chimes in Jacoby Phillips, tapping his Jordan’s to the track. Meanwhile, Morgan Decelle sits contemplatively on the floor, cross-legged, sipping on a roughly made screwdriver. These self proclaimed “moonlighters from all over north Louisiana” are in the closing stages of their first LP Waxing. More than just a music album, this collection of songs detail a songwriter’s memoir, a tip-of-the-hat to the lessons of Lewis’ past and the joys of his present. The “Genesis,” says Lewis of Logan and the Legendaries, happened last year during the first Titopalooza, a musical homage celebrating the life and music of local and beloved musician Thomas Bradley “Tito” Duncan who passed that same year. It was thanks to Tito that Ruston natives Lewis and Abrahm forged their way into the Monroe music scene. A chance meet-up with Tito and Decelle lead to an instant connection based on their love of pro wrestling. They formed the band Slawdawgs, an acoustic percussion group with Tito and Lewis on acoustic, Decelle playing congas, and Abrahm playing djembe. “It was like lightning in a bottle,” says Lewis. “When Tito passed away it brought everything to real life. Made us do stuff. We can’t be a cover band our whole life,” says Decelle. After playing at Titopalooza, Lewis played Tito’s record on his drive home to Shreveport. “I felt a lot of guilt. I’ve been writing music for thirteen to fourteen years. Maybe I was afraid or just didn’t want to do the traditional [album] release. This guy was such an example to everyone. He was at least able to get something out. It put a sense of urgency in my mind.” Lewis’ urgency turned into a “revolving door” of some of the most talented musicians 60 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
in the area. “The ethos of the Legendaries is everyone rallying around the project I want to do. That’s why I have so many musicians,” says Lewis. His constants are Phillips on saxophone and Decelle on congas. But no one is really considered permanent. “They are hired guns,” says Lewis. “It’s fun to switch people out. That’s why they are the legendaries.” Self-described as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers meets Incubus with a sax player, it’s hard to categorize this band’s sound aesthetic, and that’s how they like it. Lewis’ role is to create a “groovy growling guitar sound” that the other musicians can “paint on top of,” particularly when it comes to the sax and the congas, which add a sense of diversity to an already indescribable sound. Jacoby plays by ear and Lewis just lets him riff, trusting his instinct to figure out where his sound fits. When they play live, Decelle sings harmony with Lewis, creating a full sound that allows Lewis’ vocals to “punch out.”
The overarching theme of the record, consisting of about thirteen years of material, is Lewis’ viewpoints and experiences. “Kind of tongue and cheek in a sense,” he says. The title of the LP alludes to the phrase “waxing poetic,” which can be defined as verbose, flowery, and poetic speech. “It only makes sense that I would be waxing about those experiences,” explains Lewis. He admits that in that way he’s also taking a dig at himself. The record is dedicated to Tito and Lewis’ late grandmother, Patsy Lewis. She bought him his first guitar. His grandmother is also his muse for the artwork of the album and the cover of the singles that have already been released, particularly because he considers his grandmother’s generation a reflection on the golden era of America. Artist Paige Powell uses this idea to create retro inspired collages that fit the motif of vintage Americana. Waxing is a songwriter’s album. “Songs will start with just a feeling,” says Lewis. At times, songs seem to write themselves,
suggesting that he lets the music flow through him. He waits for inspired moments, focusing on the parts of the music and songs that connect with people. The songs in this album chronicle parts of Lewis, transforming the album into a memoir of sorts. “It’s a chronological map of where he was at one point in his life. It shows how he’s grown as a songwriter and as a human being,” says Abrahm, from the perspective of longtime friend. Reflective songs abound, like in “Breakaway,” where Lewis sings about looking back over decisions, having a fresh perspective, and breaking with traditions. In “No Ordinary Pearl,” Lewis’ creative force is his wife Elizabeth Earl Lewis: “No ordinary pearl. With temporary curls. In this feminine world. I’m in love with a girl named Earl.” Varied in sound and influence, the album doesn’t follow any certain style.
They’re hitting different parts of the music spectrum like southern blues, alternative rock, college rock, indie rock, then taking it to another level by adding saxophone and congas, creating a form of soulful rock. “It brings another element and color to the music,” says Phillips. As the only brass musician in the group, he acknowledges that it’s kind of taboo in rock culture to include a saxophonist, especially since the sax is a solo instrument. It’s important to have form, stay melodic, and maintain a harmonic foundation. “You have to know where you’re going. Stay in line with them. Keep the energy and flow moving,” says Phillips. In Fort Sumner, Phillips gears up to fill a few songs and refine others that were “too busy.” In “Decidedly So,” he adds a slow grind to a song that begins with melancholic guitar licks and intensifies with an electric guitar and drums medley, culminating with the sax’s noodling sounds dancing with a steady drum beat. “There’s no kinda time to take creative pauses,” Dan reminds Phillips, referring to both notes and time—the nature of the process. The song “Best of Us” is about Tito. After refining the sax fills, the song can play in full. Lyrics like, “I kept waiting for your call, even though it will not come” swim with the orchestral sound of the cello. The room seems to still until the last note. “I need a f---ing cigarette after that one,” deadpans Decelle, walking out of the studio. Logan takes a beat before his feedback. “I like the tightness of this song. Like breathing in tension. I don’t want to take away from that feel,” he says to Dan. In “Mojo,” a song that can be described as a monologue set to music, Phillips adds a hauntingly moving sax solo, adding to the flamenco meets folk meets blues sound. “It’s kinda like a guitar solo,” Lewis remarks to one of Phillips’ sax fills. “Making music is more about exposing yourself. There is always that uncertainty that people might not like it. But that’s kind of the thrill of being a musician,” says Decelle while talking about contributing to original music. In Waxing, relatability of songs is packaged in an unexpected manner. From loss to songs about love and everything in between, this debut album is fearless in its exposition and exploration of lyrical content and music form. Each song is a self-discovery of sorts, a reminder that what we create is what we leave behind.
Follow Logan and the Legendaries on Facebook and Instagram to keep track with the single releases from their new album (two are already available), which are available for streaming on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and Youtube. Waxing will be released this November. BayouLife congratulates Logan and the Legendaries for making it into the Louisiana Music Prize Top 5. We wish them luck as they hit the competitive stage on October 4th in downtown Shreveport.
Meet the Legendaries and checkout their respective bands: Morgan Decelle
congas and backup vocals | Louisiana Soul Revival, The Waterboys
Matt Abrahm bass guitar | Darth Brooks, Capt. Pimp & ‘Em
Jacoby Phillips sax | JAM Brass Band, Stiff Necked Fools
Colby Rushing drums | Chief & The Hounds, Cold Canyons
Michael Chreene bass | HWY Lions, Basic Cable
Jimmie Bryant drums | Voodoo Trees
John Hoffman drums | Max Dab, Stiff Necked Fools
Jamichael Wiley drums | Jimmy Wooten Band
Morgan Fayard bass | Shayliff, June July WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 61
Holidays in CedarTown
Celebrating 29 Years as North Louisiana’s Premier Holiday Shopping Market!
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OLIDAYS IN CEDARTOWN WILL OPEN WITH A NEW event this year - Take a Bunch to Lunch on Thursday, November 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Ruston Civic Center. Gather your friends and colleagues and join us for lunch hosted by area chefs and restaurants while enjoying exclusive early shopping. The Lunch Bunch event includes music, door prizes, beverages and savory lunch bites provided by Campatori Catering, Chick-fil-a of Ruston, Crumbs Catering, Devine Wines and Spirits, Railway Coffee, Ponchatoula’s, Newk’s Eatery and Uptown Downtown. Take a Bunch to Lunch tickets are $15.00 and must be purchased in advance as there are a limited number available. This is the perfect way to begin the holiday season and get a head start on your shopping while enjoying music, friends and a delicious lunch. The bonus for Lunch Bunch guests is private shopping before Holidays in CedarTown opens to the public on Thursday, November 8th, from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Avoid the stress of that last-minute shopping with one-stop shopping that includes an abundance of unique and extraordinary merchants from across the Southeast. Holidays after Hours is Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. featuring complimentary appetizers from Beau Vines, Ben Christmas Catering, Iron Cactus, Social Bites, Portico, Roma Italian Bistro and The Keg Package and Cork Room. The evening will also include live music provided by DJ D-Smooth and door prizes. Holidays After Hours is the perfect place to check off that shopping list while enjoying an evening of entertainment and a sampling of fabulous food. Admission is $15.00, and tickets may be purchased in advance with a limited number available at the door the night of the event. Whether you are shopping for a weekend chef, your mother-inlaw, the men on your list, your child’s teacher or neighbor, you are sure to find the perfect gifts all in one place. From fashion items to home decor, personalized items to toys and books, cowboy boots to specialty foods, handcrafted jewelry to outdoor living, your choices are limitless. Holidays in CedarTown is truly North Louisiana’s premier holiday shopping market! Our goal is providing our shoppers a unique experience and exceptional shopping. You will be able to enjoy the Take a Bunch to Lunch on Thursday featuring area chefs and restaurants, join us for Holidays after Hours on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and shop all day on Friday and
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Saturday. There’s no shopping like Holidays in CedarTown shopping! Bring your little ones out Saturday for two very special children’s holiday events. Jingles and Jammies is Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and features The Night Before Christmas story time along with breakfast and pictures with Santa. Admission to Jingles and Jammies is $10 and may be purchased in advance with a limited number available at the door. Saturday afternoon features Holiday Crafts and Treats from 2:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. where each child will complete a Christmas craft provided by the North Central Louisiana Arts Council and enjoy a treat. Admission is $5 and may be purchased at the door. As is the tradition at Holidays in CedarTown, we are once again inviting all area educators to join us for complimentary admission Saturday, simply present your employee ID at the ticket booth when you arrive. This is our way of saying “thank you” for your commitment and dedication to the children in our community. We also support the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs as they match up against Rice on Saturday evening. All Tech fans wearing their Tech spirit wear will receive free general admission Friday from noon till 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit Holidays in CedarTown, and it may just be your lucky day! Make sure you purchase a ticket for the iPad and Apple Watch Raffle. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10, and the winner receives both items. Who wouldn’t be delighted to find both items under the tree. Take a Bunch to Lunch, Holiday After Hours, Jingles & Jammies, and iPad/Apple Watch raffle tickets may be purchased in advance by calling Cedar Creek School or online at cedarcreekschool.org – click on the Holidays in CedarTown logo. Contact information is listed below. Holidays in CedarTown is a project of the Cedar Creek School Parent Club. For sponsorship, merchant or ticket information contact: Cedar Creek School 2400 Cedar Creek Drive ~ Ruston, Louisiana 71270 318-255-7707 ~ www.cedarcreekschool.org facebook.com.HolidaysInCedarTown Cedar Creek School practices an open non-discriminatory admission policy.
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Vantage Health Plan Seeking to Improve the Quality of Your Healthcare
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ANTAGE HEALTH PLAN INC. (VANTAGE) WAS founded in 1994 by Dr. P. Gary Jones, CEO, and a group of local physicians who believed they could create a higher quality and more affordable health insurance option for the residents of Monroe. What started as a local insurance company has now taken root throughout the state. Vantage offers Commercial, Exchange and Medicare Advantage plans, serving customers in all 64 parishes of Louisiana. In addition to corporate headquarters in Monroe, Vantage currently has satellite offices in Hammond, Bastrop, Baton Rouge, Mangham, Oak Grove, Shreveport and Winnsboro, with representatives in Lafayette and various locations across the state. Vantage’s focus on high-quality care and patient-centered health insurance with a local touch have been embraced by people throughout Louisiana. Vantage’s membership has grown steadily for over 20 years, and it now provides health insurance coverage for more than 40,000 members and contracts with over 15,000 Louisiana healthcare providers. Currently, Vantage is one of only two Louisiana-based health insurance companies offering products on the Exchange at the individual and family level. Vantage also offers quality coverage for small and large businesses, Medicare Advantage members and State employees and retirees. Vantage takes pride in being one of the largest employers of Louisiana-based professionals in the health insurance industry. Although health insurance benefits can be difficult to comprehend, Vantage works hard to make understanding healthcare easier for its members. When you have a question, you’ll get an answer from a local employee who understands you. As Marketing Director Billy Justice says, “You give Vantage a call; you’ll get a quick answer from a real person. You won’t get that with any other insurance company. You call Vantage, we will answer the phone.” As a Patient-Centered Medical Home, Vantage Health Plan places emphasis on developing strong bonds between the member/patient and their healthcare provider. Likewise, customer service based in your hometown and your home state makes a real difference, when you have questions about your health or health insurance. The Patient-Centered model ensures that the member is the highest priority throughout his or her time with Vantage. Customer service representatives throughout
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the state are dedicated to helping members understand their benefits and how to get the most value from health insurance. Vantage is committed to making a difference in your community, sponsoring all the local events you love, like the Miss Louisiana Pageant, Race for the Cure, Dragon Boat Races and many more. Vantage’s investment in the revitalization of Downtown Monroe supports economic growth by employing talented local builders to make renovations, then filling these newly restored, historic buildings with local employees. Outside of Monroe, Vantage advances community wellbeing by creating partnerships with rural hospitals across Louisiana through its Shared Savings program. By providing administrative and goalsetting assistance, Vantage representatives are able to help healthcare providers set and achieve more ambitious health standards among patients in rural communities. There are many choices for health insurance out there, but what makes Vantage different? Besides the commitment made over 20 years ago to be a driving force in the market for affordable insurance, Vantage believes in quality - in the products it offers and in the employees who make it possible. Vantage believes in giving members the most benefits for their investment, the best customer service in the industry and the highest level of care. You have a choice. When it comes to your insurance, choose the health insurance that’s invested in your community, invested in its people and invested in you. Check what matters most with Vantage Health Plan. Vantage Health Plan, Inc. (Vantage) is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Vantage depends on contract renewal. Vantage complies with all applicable Federal and State civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic. ATTENTION: If you have limited English proficiency, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-888-823-1910, MEDICARE Call 1-866704-0109 (TTY: 1-866-524-5144). ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-888823-1910 MEDICARE llame al 1-866-704-0109 (TTY: 1-866-524-5144). ATTENTION: Si vous parlez français, des services d’aide linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement. Appelez le 1-888-823-1910 MEDICARE appelez le 1-866-704-0109 (TTY: 1-866-524-5144).
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Caples and Robinson Orthodontics Dr. Sarah George Joins Local Orthodontic Practice
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R. SARAH GEORGE IS EXCITED TO RETURN HOME to Monroe, Louisiana where she was born and raised to serve her community providing orthodontic care. Sarah attended Neville High School where she was a former Valedictorian. She graduated summa cum laude from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a minor in Chemistry. Dr. George then went on to complete her doctorate training at Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in New Orleans. She was a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Honor Society and the C. Edmund Kells Honor Society. After finishing her dental degree, she completed an additional three-year orthodontic residency program at Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. There, she received her Orthodontic Certificate and Master of Science in Oral Biology. Sarah is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics and American Dental Association. Outside of orthodontics, Sarah loves spending time with friends and family, running, reading and traveling. As Dr. Sarah George returns home, she looks forward to becoming actively involved in the community. For Sarah, orthodontics is more than a profession; it is a passion. As a previous patient at Caples and Robinson, Dr. George now has the privilege of joining the team and providing excellent quality care in an awesome environment. Drs. Ricky Caples, Chris Robinson and Sarah George are committed to providing you with excellent orthodontic care in a comfortable environment. You deserve a skilled, experienced orthodontic team that can help you ensure great oral health. Experience what patient-centered care can do for you at Caples and Robinson Orthodontics. We welcome new patients of all ages and strive to accommodate all. Your orthodontic care experience is fully personalized at Caples and Robinson. Our friendly, knowledgeable team will address every question and concern. Your oral health needs, goals and priorities are the focus of your customized treatment plan. We want to work with you to create the beautiful, healthy smile of your dreams. We have five locations across Northeastern Louisiana. For your convenience, we offer flexible hours for scheduling your appointments. If you have an emergency outside of our operating 66 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
hours, please call as soon as possible to schedule follow-up care. We will ensure you receive the orthodontic treatment you need in a timely manner. We have a team member on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to cater to emergencies. OUR PHILOSOPHY An orthodontist has completed a 2-3 year residency to get a masters in the specialty of orthognathic and craniofacial knowledge. This insures you will get the great smile you’ve always wanted and deserve. When you choose Caples and Robinson, you are receiving treatment by an exceptional, board certified team of professionals. At Caples and Robinson Orthodontics, we offer advanced solutions for your treatment. Our practice is a leader in comfortable and accelerated orthodontics. Depending on your needs, we may recommend: • Invisalign™ • Damon™ Braces • Clarity™ Advanced Braces • iTero® imaging • Orthognathic Surgery • Retainers To get started on your healthier, more beautiful smile, contact our office for a consultation 318-325-9655. Each new member to the Caples and Robinson family is entitled to a free orthodontic consultation. “The mouth in its entirety is an important and even wondrous part of our anatomy, our emotion, our life; it is the site of our very being. When an animal loses its teeth, it cannot survive unless it is domesticated; its very existence is terminated; it dies. In the human, the mouth is the means of speaking, of expressing love, happiness, joy, anger, ill temper or sorrow. It is the primary sex contact; hence, it is of initial importance to our regeneration and survival by food and propagation. It deserves the greatest care it can receive at any sacrifice.” – F. Harold Wirth DDS
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Beautiful Bulb Combinations to Plant for a Dazzling Spring Display AR T ICL E BY P. AL L EN SM I T H
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know a lot of my fellow gardeners might be feeling like they’re finished for the year. Maybe the summer was especially hot and dry, or rabbits and deer took some of the fun out of gardening by eating more than their fair share of plants. Believe me, I can sympathize. But before you roll up your hose and store your shovels for the season, I want you to think about treating your future gardening self to the gift of fresh spring flowers by planting some bulbs this fall. It’s an easy and relatively pain-free planting job that can be made even easier with the help of some classic spring bulb “recipes” and flower combinations. Let’s start with daffodils -- please! As you may know, I’m somewhat of a daffodil connoisseur -- or fanatic, if you will -- and I think there are many reasons to include this beauty in your spring garden. It’s one of the few bulbs that deer, rabbits and voles won’t eat and are extremely easy to grow. In addition, they come in many different color combinations, heights and bloom times, so you have endless planting options. One of my favorites is the heirloom ‘Yellow Cheerfulness’ double daffodil that has been around since the 1930s, and for good reason. It’s a midspring bloomer that reaches about 16 inches tall that has a rich, lush appearance. Combine ‘Yellow Cheerfulness’ with blue/ purple of pansies and/or hyacinth bulbs for a classic color combination. In addition to my love of daffodils, I am a big fan of large alliums, in part because they can’t help but make a big statement. They always stop traffic, especially when planted in large groups -- a single plant or two won’t get the job done. ‘Gladiator’ Allium is a favorite, standing at 3 to 4 feet tall and blooming in mid to late spring. Softball sized lavender blue flowers persist for an incredibly long time on sturdy stems. If you let the plant dry completely in the garden, you can lift and store the dried flowers for future autumn decorating, using their naturally tan color in
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Above: Daffodils are the harbingers of spring, so carefree and one of the first to pop up and brave the cold! (photo by Mark Fonville); At Left: In autumn when most people are visiting pumpkin patches and making Halloween costumes, gardeners are thinking ahead to spring. My contrasting Beauties tulip collection is sure to be a spring show stopper! (photo by Beth Hall)
containers, or go wild and spray paint them gold or another complementary color. Combine the defined circular shape of ‘Gladiator’ blossoms with the soft ruffled petals of blush pink ‘Angelique’ tulips for interesting contrast. For a tiered effect, complete the grouping with petite ‘Minnow’ daffodils, a 6-inch-tall beauty with creamy white petals and yellow cups. In addition, ‘Minnow’ is fragrant and has three to five flowers per bulb. I also like the design effect of choosing a flower, like tulips, and planting different varieties together that are in the same color palette. The richness of similar tones playing off each other is a sophisticated but easy look to achieve. For example, my Garden Radiance Tulip Collection features two pink and white tulip varieties -- Hakuun and Ollioules. Hakuun is a pure white mid-spring bloomer, and Ollioules is a rose-pink tulip edged in white that blooms at the same time. Together, they create a soft pink blanket of color that is easy on the eye and definitely says that spring has arrived. Flex your artistic muscles by selecting contrasting colors like
Above: An early summer flowering bulb that you plant in the fall. I like to plant Gladiator Allium, the whimsical blooms are baseball-sized. (Photo by Hortus, Ltd.)
Above: Once the daffodil bulbs are planted in the fall, they emerge each spring for many years with little care. Yellow Cheerfulness is one my double bloom favorites! (Photo by Hortus, Ltd.)
orange and purple -- ‘Orange Queen’ and ‘Negrita,’ featured tulips in my Contrasting Beauties Tulip Collection. Fall bulb planting is undertaken when the weather and soil have cooled and nighttime temps are regularly in the 40 to 50 degree Fahrenheit range. And don’t be afraid to plant in large groupings. This is a philosophy I take very much to heart at Moss Mountain -plant big or go home! Think of this final gardening task as a gift to yourself that you’ll receive in spring -- and give you something to look forward to as winter weather sets in. P. Allen Smith is an author, television host and conservationist with a passion for American style. His show “Garden Home” airs on LPB, KLTM, KLPA and AETN. Check your local listings for “Garden Style.” Smith uses his Arkansas home, Moss Mountain Farm, as an epicenter for promoting the local food movement, organic gardening and the preservation of heritage poultry breeds. He created his farm to serve as a place of inspiration, education and conservation and provides visitors from around the country with tours of his property, which may be booked at pallensmith.com/tours.
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article by Kenny Covington
FISHING
With Kenny
The Allure of Kayak Bassin’
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n the past few years, one of the growing trends in bass fishing has been the number of anglers who have chosen a kayak to fish out of. This particular watercraft, once used for sightseeing and recreational exercise, has become a standard way to prowl our waterways, both big and small, for fishing. Kayak fishing has become a serious part of the bass fishing world and is quickly becoming a sport all its own. Recently I spent a day fishing out in one of these small vessels, and I must say it was an eye opening experience. Not since I was a kid and scull paddled my way around Cheniere Lake in a 12 foot aluminum boat do I remember experiencing anything close to this method of fishing. In a way it took me back to my fishing roots, but it also opened my eyes to the unlimited fishing opportunities that are available to all anglers. There is a certain allure to fishing out of a kayak. I had seen the pictures my lifelong friend Bubba Jones would post on Facebook. The scenic pictures were always the back drop to a beautiful smallmouth bass someone had caught in the numerous remote streams close to where he lived in northern Arkansas. The smallmouth bass alone were enough to peak my interest. To learn he was doing this fishing out of a kayak added to my intrigue. When I finally talked myself out of my continual fear of traveling, we set up a weekend for me to experience fishing from a kayak. Armed with a small tacklebox of suggested lures (and too many I might add) and four rod/reel combinations (another example of overkill), I sat out to conquer the kayak bass fishing world. The scenery driving through the mountain areas of north Arkansas were what you would find on a postcard. As far as my kayak fishing trip, I must tell you I was not disappointed. 70 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
The first thing I learned was how to balance myself and get a feel for how the kayak would maneuver and respond as we made our way down the small creek we were fishing. “If you aren’t careful you will tip over at some point,” Bubba’s words rang in my ears. “Sometimes the rapids will push you faster than you expect, and if you hit a rock the wrong way your boat will tip on its side and take on water making you tip over” he continued. All I wanted was to fish, and now I had to worry about boat control even when paddling down a secluded stream. Some things about bass fishing just don’t change, regardless of the type of boat you are in. While many kayak bass anglers will use rod lengths of all sizes, I believe anything between 5 ½ and 6 ½ feet is best suited for this type of fishing. You are so close to the water that anything longer can be troublesome. Casting angles fishing from a kayak take some getting used to and hook setting can be an adventure until you get comfortable with your set up. It’s all part of the allure of kayak bass fishing! Our day consisted of catching over fifty bass, except for two largemouth all of them were smallmouth. My experience with these brown fish was limited, as I had caught a handful of them over the years fishing in tournaments in more northern fisheries. This was the first time I had truly focused on catching them. Even better was what I learned observing their behaviors, as I peered into the gin clear water. If you are a crawfish in the world of the smallmouth bass your life expectancy isn’t a very long one, they simply love them. Smallmouth are very mobile and like to move around searching for food, and I can honestly tell you none of the fish we caught had missed very many meals. As many crawfish pinchers that I saw coming out of the gullets of the smallmouth we caught, you would have bet they were all Cajuns. The actions were consistent as we caught fish on grubs, small topwater lures, in-line spinners and crankbaits. Although it didn’t seem to matter, any lure that required a basic retrieve or upward rod movement seemed to be more fishing friendly. Shorter rods using simple lures – I enjoyed this “back to basics” aspect to our trip. There wasn’t a need to have a dozen rods on the deck of the boat or a desire to run twenty miles down the lake to a potentially better spot. There was a small creek cutting through the mountains and nothing but flowing current, deep pools and a day light of time ahead of us. The advantages of fishing out of a kayak are numerous. Shallow water areas that can’t be accessed by bigger boats are perfect for kayak fishermen. Kayaks are fantastic when fishing for heavily pressured fish. Places once thought of as being inaccessible are now quietly becoming fishing hot spots because of these specialty rigged fishing crafts. It is a different way of bass fishing, and in this case, different is definitely good. My weekend in Arkansas opened my eyes to this new way of fishing. I understand why kayak sales are steadily growing across the country and why more and more anglers enjoying this new version of the sport. There are now kayak based bass clubs and fishing tournaments held on the smallest of public waterways to lakes as massive as Toledo Bend. Kayak bass fishing has taken an identity all of its own and the sport is better because of it. Well, once again it looks like we have run out of time and space for this month. I hope we were able to give you enough insight on kayak bass fishing to peak your interest into learning more about the how’s and why’s of it all. Believe me, it’s adventurous and a lot of fun. Now that it’s the beginning of hunting season many of you will put your rods up for a while, but regardless if you are in the woods or on the water, please be careful and enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer. See you next month!
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TIPS FOR MAKING A S M A L L S PA C E SEEM BIGGER by Erin Sharplin Love erinlove@panachebyerin.com
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he trick to making a small space appear bigger is to fool the eye into perceiving that there is more space. This sounds fairly straightforward, but to do this, you must play with scale, light and flow. To learn more about this theory, check out my tips below: Use mirrors! I am sure you have heard this one before, but it is often forgotten for some reason. Mirrors will utilize ALL of my theories of scale (opt for as large a mirror as possible in your space), light (mirrors reflect light), and flow (the light from the mirror will create movement and, therefore, flow). Both reflecting light and creating movement will trick the eye into seeing more space than actually exists. I like to use mirrors that are on the simple side so the frame doesn’t detract from the visual effects of the mirror. Coerce the eye into looking up! If you have fairly low ceilings, you want to trick the eye into thinking the ceilings are higher by making the eye stop at higher points in the room. For instance, make all bookcases and cabinetry touch or almost touch the ceiling. You could also create a gallery wall that is grand in scale and will almost reach the ceiling. Work with natural light! Allow as much light as possible to enter your space. Forgo curtains to utilize this trick to its fullest, but if you prefer window treatments for privacy, choose fabric that is the same color as the wall. This will trick the eye into thinking 72 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
the curtains aren’t actually there. During the daylight hours, pull window treatments back to take advantage of the light. If you have a room with only one or two windows, create the illusion of an additional one by placing a mirror where it will reflect a window. This is a trick of almost all interior designers by the way! Choose sofas and chairs with legs. This creates flow as well as light and contributes to a more open feel. Get rid of clutter. I bet you guessed that I, the professional organizer, would suggest this, but it is true!! The more cluttered a space, the smaller it will appear. Choose the right color palette. The lighter and more neutral your walls the better. Lighter colors are airy and reflect light better than darker colors, plus they make it easier to choose accessories to decorate the interior of the room. Use rugs that are light in color and small in pattern. You want a rug to add depth and warmth to your space, but you don’t want it to overpower. To create this effect, it is best to choose a rug that is neutral in color and pattern. You want the rug to blend in rather than stand out for a small space. Consider adding lucite to your décor. I love using lucite chairs, end tables and coffee tables to enlarge a room visually. You can see straight through lucite, so the pieces appear as though they are not even there! So, of course,
this adds space to your room. Keep furniture away from the walls. Most people immediately think that pushing their furniture up against the wall will add more space, but that just is not the case. It can actually make a room feel more cramped and stuffy. Even pulling your sofa just a few inches away from the wall and incorporating a thin sofa table, will create the illusion of more space. Play with placement. Less is more. Where furniture is concerned, less is more. Too many pieces will make your space look cluttered, so opting for one large sofa instead of several smaller pieces will expand the room visually. Use your floor to create the illusion of more space. If you are remodeling, make sure your flooring is laid correctly. To elongate a room, I suggest laying long and lean tile or wood where it mirrors the length of the room – usually end (of the room) to end instead of side (of the room) to side. If you are using perfectly square tile, try laying it on a diagonal instead of perfectly straight. If you don’t have the option of changing the way your floor is laid, use a striped rug to create the same illusion. These are just a few of the tricks I use, when designing a space for a client, so if you have an issue that these tips don’t resolve, please feel free to contact me at erinlove@ panachebyerin.com. I would love to help you!
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BayouTrends
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Army green is this season’s best neutral. From trench coats to pillows, this trend is one to fall for.
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1. BENT OAKS BOUTI Q UE 2. W O O DSTO CK FU R N I T U R E R E V I V A L 3 . Y A N C E Y S ’ P H A R M A C Y & G I F T S 4 . F ABU L OU S F ABRIC 5. A R ON’S PHARMACY 6. THE M UFFI N TI N 7. HAV E N 8 . M A T E R I A L T H I N G S 9 . T H E C H I L D R E N ’ S S H O P P E 1 0 . K- SERA BOU IT QU E 11. LE WIS’ 1 2. SL EEPY HO LLO W FURNI TURE 13. F I E S T A N U T R I T I O N C E N T E R 1 4 . L O U I S I A N A P U R C H A S E S 1 5 . SON N Y PAN ZIC O’ S GARDEN MART 16. HERRI NG STO NE’S 17. TR A D I T I O N S A N T I Q U E S 1 8 . T H E F A S H I O N O F R U S T O N 1 9 . PAL ET T E H OU SE 76 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
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ARTICLE BY PHIL TRAHAN
What What They’re They’re Saying... Saying... “We’re not big enough to host the two USTA events that brought in the most money, but we’re determined to get them back.” – Barbara Grandon, President -NELCTA “Our league play has outgrown the capacity of Forsythe Tennis Center.” – Paul Vingiello, Board Member-NELCTA
Community Tennis Association Drives Forsythe Expansion Plans
“The NELCTA is an inspiration, matching strong advocacy with funding from their own coffers. It’s rare to see that from a relatively young CTA.” – Bill Phillips, USTA Southern
Once the exclusive domain of the privileged class, tennis has evolved into a sport for all. Perhaps the best representation of tennis’ grassroots appeal is the Community Tennis Association. Sponsored by the United States Tennis Association, CTAs are not-for-profit volunteer organizations dedicated to growing the sport at all levels and for all populations. Here at home the NELA CTA led by President Barbara Grandon has an active role in efforts to upgrade and grow Forsythe Tennis Center. Subject to pending grant applications to various entities, an expansion at Forsythe would allow more local play and continue to attract USTA tournaments that bring tourism dollars to the market. Competition format changes at USTA have increased the court requirements for CTAs hosting tournaments, causing NELA to fall short for the events it has hosted in the past. The loss in economic terms will be significant. Adding to the case for FTC expansion is the growing popularity of Local League play, which has outstripped the capacity of the eight court complex. Given the health and social benefits of tennis it’s a shame to turn players away and the CTA is determined to grow the facility to match the demand.
“Sports tourism creates huge economic impact and we support expansions that allow for more and larger events.” – Shelia Snow, VP Communications-Monroe West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Everybody deserves a chance to play tennis.” – Madison Brennan, Tennis Coach-Carroll High School
Carroll High School Tennis Program Rebooted
The arrival of Monroe native and Millsaps College competitor Madison Brennan means a rejuvenation of the tennis program at Carroll High School. Dormant since the retirement of local player and coach Fran Miller, Bulldog Tennis restarts with a roster of 20 players and a generous donation of racquets and practice balls from the Forsythe Men’s Doubles League. Expect more cooperation, promotion and growth from the NELA tennis community as players continue helping players.
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Two Mens Teams Take State Titles
NELA teams captained by Lorenzo Treadway and Richard Ainsworth captured Louisiana championships at the Mens 3.0 and 3.5 levels, respectively. At presstime Richard’s guys were enroute to compete for Southern Section honors in Columbus, GA, a last minute substitute venue for Asheville, NC, courtesy of Hurricane Florence. And Lorenzo’s team fashioned a strong 3-1 record at the 3.0 championships in Mobile, AL, missing a spot in the finals by a whisker. 78 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
1. State Champions at the 3.0 Level for players 18+ 2. Madison Brennan, Tennis Coach, Carroll High School 3. State Champions at the 3.5 Level for players 55+ 4. Barbara Grandon, President, NELA Community Tennis Association
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Sleep Apnea
Dr. Justin Tarver, Local Family Dentist, Discusses Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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O YOU OR YOUR PARTNER snore? Is snoring keeping you awake at night? Unfortunately, this is a common problem many people are faced with on a nightly basis. Snoring can interrupt you or your partner’s sleep and can lead to a lack of daily productivity. Sound familiar? Often times snoring is dismissed as only a nuisance, but in reality, it could actually be a sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. Each pause can last for a few seconds to a few minutes and can occur many times throughout the night. In the most common form, these pauses follow loud snoring. There may be a choking or snorting sound as breathing resumes. Because the disordered breathing disrupts normal sleep, those affected may experience insomnia at night or exhibit sleepiness during the day. Still sound familiar? At this point, you are probably wondering why a dentist is talking to you about sleep issues. Well, I am here to tell you that I see patients day in and day out exhibiting symptoms associated with OSA. In a thorough dental exam, I can make a general assessment about whether a patient has potential sleep disordered breathing. Patients who grind their teeth, have TMJ disorders, have missing teeth or have large tongues are at greater risk. A patient’s medical history also plays a large role in whether they may be predisposed to OSA. Risk factors may include: • obesity, • age over 40, • large neck size (greater than 16–17 inches), • enlarged tonsils or tongue, 80 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
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small jaw bone, gastroesophageal reflux, allergies, sinus problems, a family history of sleep apnea, or deviated septum.
During a patient exam, if we suspect a patient may be suffering from OSA, we make a referral to a local sleep center for an overnight sleep study. The sleep study helps determine the level of sleep apnea the patient may be suffering from. The typical forms of treatment for sleep apnea include a CPAP machine, weight loss or even surgery. A CPAP machine is considered the gold standard when treating OSA. But sometimes patients can’t tolerate a CPAP machine and over time become noncompliant with wearing it. However, here is where I can help! If the OSA is in the mild to moderate range, and the patient is looking for an alternative to a CPAP machine, they may be a candidate for a custom oral appliance. This device, worn at night, is designed to advance the lower jaw forward helping to open the patient’s airway which allows for easier breathing. These appliances are also designed to help reduce clenching and grinding, an added bonus. Overall, this appliance is very effective at resolving mild to moderate sleep apnea. Our patients have seen great results. And so can you! Stop suffering today, and give us a call at 318-343-6006. Schedule a consult to determine if you would be a candidate! Our office hours are Monday -Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. We are located at 92 Lincoln Rd in Monroe, LA.
ABOUT DR.TARVER Dr. Justin E. Tarver is committed to providing his patients with exceptional comprehensive dental care. Dr. Tarver is a general family dentist, who welcomes all ages, including children, into his practice. He specializes in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, which includes root canals, crowns and implants. Dr. Justin Tarver was born and raised in Monroe, LA. He is a graduate of Neville High School. He received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Louisiana State University. He then attended LSU School of Dentistry to obtain his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree. Dr. Justin Tarver feels it is important to stay on the cutting-edge of dentistry. Thus, he maintains memberships in many prestigious professional organizations and attends numerous continuing educational courses each year to keep up-to-date on the latest techniques and technology. He is currently a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, Louisiana Dental Association, Northeast Louisiana Dental Association and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology To give back to his local community, Dr. Justin Tarver volunteers with the Give Kids a Smile program and the Northeast Louisiana Virtual Dental Clinic. In his personal life, Dr. Tarver is married to Dana Dugas Tarver of Baton Rouge, and they have two children, Harrison and Griffin. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, hunting and spending time with his family.
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McLarrin Flooring and Counter Tops
Providing Quality Products at Competitve Prices to Meet Your Decorating Needs
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CLARRIN FLOORING AND Counter Tops is locally owned and operated by the Hughes family. Candy Hughes started out in the floorcovering business in 1990 and eventually purchased the business located on Hwy 165 in Monroe. It is truly a family business with Candy’s children, Jennifer and Clay, involved in the day to day operations. Both Jennifer and Clay grew up working in the business from an early age. Today, Jennifer works full time in the showroom, while Clay works for a company that performs hydrographic and geological surveys of the seabed in unmapped locations in the world and works in the showroom and as an installer when he is stateside. The Hughes family is looking forward to continuing the family tradition at McLarrin’s! The next generation is growing up with Adrian, 16, Landon, 13, followed by Justice, 7, Chandler, 6, and Barrett and Tesley, both 4. At McLarrin’s, they take great pride in providing quality products at competitive pricing, along with awesome service! From the rich, warm tones of hardwood to the hottest new styles in pavers and both porcelain and ceramic tiles, McLarrin’s offers a variety of flooring products, providing a perfect fit both your needs and your budget! 82 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
McLarrin’s offers practical cultured marble products for bathroom vanity tops, tubs, tub decks and surrounds, and custom showers. They can also provide higher end products, like granite and quartz, for counter tops, tub decks and splashes. They design and install custom tile showers to fit your every need, including large, zero entry showers for handicap access. In addition, they design and install tub splashes, counter tops, decks and kitchen backsplashes in natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles. McLarrin’s carries a vast array of decorative tile and mosaics. McLarrin’s has highly trained and experienced installation specialists to assure that your products are installed following all guidelines for the industry. Their clean cut, courteous installers are one of the biggest assets of their business. Why spend good money for a quality product and then get burned by an inexperienced installer that you hired off a list from the discount store? When you have a problem, can you count on them to fix it or replace your material. McLarrin’s installers have years of technical experience installing products, in addition to numerous hours of classroom instruction and seminars on the many products they offer. McLarrin’s stands behind their installation service 100%! McLarrin’s has years of experience
in decorating. Their showroom has fabric samples, and they can provide custom designed draperies and bedding. They also have a ready-made line of bedding that is budget friendly. They sell and install Roman shades, blinds, shutters and have a rug line as well. They can even order furniture for your home! While McLarrin’s doesn’t sell paint, they do have the fan decks and samples to help you find the perfect wall color to compliment your decorating scheme. In addition to their decorating services that you receive free with the purchase of products, McLarrin’s offers professional advice and assistance as well. Reneé is their on-staff Interior Designer and is happy to assist you will all your design needs. *Certain fees apply for their Interior Design services. McLarrin’s invites you to their showroom located at 7469 Hwy 165 North in Monroe, Louisiana. They are open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and after hours and Saturdays by appointment. You can find McLarrin’s on Facebook to see more pictures of their quality work and design. Come visit their family and let them help make your dream home a reality!
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Hideaway at Freddie’s ar ti c l e by VA N ELI S RI VERA photog raphy by BRA D A REN D ER
The Red Snapper Cascio is a signature dish that features broiled South Louisiana snapper topped with sautéed lump crab meat in a light lemon butter sauce and served with a baked potato and salad.
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as station grub is usually associated with too salty or too sweet treats, dubious sandwiches and wraps, and greasy grab-and-gos. Typically, not the quintessential location for any restaurant that is dine-in worthy. But at the intersection of Old Sterlington Road and Finks Hideaway Road, a culinary hideaway is tucked beside a run-of-the-mill Chevron station, and it offers a taste of Italy with an original flair of South Louisiana comfort food. Freddie Cascio’s Italian and Cajun Ristoranté is more than just a Monroe staple. It is a Monroe culinary landmark. Freddie Cascio, the restaurant’s namesake, can trace his Italian roots back to another boot-shaped land mass from across the pond: Sicily. His grandparents traveled to America from Sicily, an island below mainland Italy of subtle beauty and a rich history. Distinct to the region, the surname Cascio is a possible variant of one of the Italian words for cheese: cacio. A curiosity that seems more prophetic than coincidental based on the family’s longstanding restaurant enterprise in Monroe. Freddie learned the restaurant business starting in 1976 at The Chateau, a family-run locale on Louisville that provided an elegant dining experience. There, Freddie studied under his uncle, Victor, who taught him how to cook, and his uncle also provided a solid groundwork of culinary skills. Led by passion and gumption, Freddie attended and studied at a culinary school in California, living there for a full year. After his West Coast excursion, he returned briefly to Monroe, only to then travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he worked at a culinary powerhouse: Cajun’s Wharf, a rustic Cajun-style seafood and steak restaurant. With a keen eye for detail and seemingly destined to own his own restaurant, Freddie returned to Monroe ready to put his acquired skills and his natural talent to the test. Freddie established his Italian and Cajun Ristoranté in 1991, after he noticed that the area had a vacancy and growing potential for a restaurant to flourish. He remembers skeptics treating his enterprise as a fool’s errand, but twenty-seven years later, the still standing restaurant has proven otherwise and vested this unassuming local ‘little Italy’ as an unpredictable tour de force, as far as local restaurants go. Freddie’s success should not suggest the going has been easy. The restaurant business is “a real tough business,” he explains frankly. He admits that his advice to those who have sought guidance from him on whether they should also take the leap-offaith into the restaurant world has been, “I wouldn’t do it if I were you.” He chuckles at the irony of it, but affirms that, once in the restaurant business, unwavering commitment and solid consistency are imperative for longevity. “Good
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food and good service that’s consistent,” he firmly believes is the simple, yet effective, blueprint for any restaurant that plans to develop any long-staying power. There’s no mistaking the cultural hybrid that is Freddie Cascio’s. Italy meets Louisiana not only in cuisine but also restaurant aesthetic. A black vertical sign presents the restaurant’s staples in light pastels and dark primary colors: PASTA, Ettouffee, LASAGNA, Canneloni, Muffalletta, Manicotti. The sign sits alongside two candy-apple red doors that display a forest green sign reading: “Home of the… Original Crawfish Enchiladas” with a crawfish clip art. Walking into the snug and mellow space is like walking into a quaint and nostalgically attractive time capsule of obscure and common cultural references. A retro poster of Farrah Fawcett fashioning her staple feathered layers in all its 70’s glory hangs side-by-side a very believable reproduction of the Mona Lisa, whose demure mystery smirk juxtaposes Fawcett’s girl-nextdoor Colgate-perfect smile. Collections of photographs—black and white, sepia and color—hang indiscriminately, layers of decades on the walls attesting to the character and legacy of the space. Tables are covered in the traditional red and white checkered tablecloths, while booths line the walls and offer a more intimate eating experience. BayouLife suggests sitting in what we like to call the Frank Sinatra booth, located at the left wing of the restaurant. A 20 x 35” poster of a 22 year-old Sinatra, mischievous eyes, slicked-back hair and sultry demeanor emanate from his 1938 mugshot. His arrest charge was “Seduction.” What better way to enjoy pasta all’italiana (the Italian way) than next to the ultimate Italian heartthrob? Much like the restaurant, the dishes served at Freddie Cascio’s have endured the ages. Favorite appetizers of customers include the Oysters Rockefeller and their homemade cheese sticks. The Rockefellers are plump oysters baked in their shell and topped with spicy, garlic-spiked sauteed spinach. Rolled by hand and fried crisp in a thin coating, the cheese sticks are served hot with a side of rich homemade ranch dressing. It would be a mistake to pass-up the cheese sticks (unless, of course, you are lactose intolerant), because Freddie Cascio’s cheese sticks are NOT your basic mozzarella stick. The ranch dressing is creamy, flavorful and best described by a recently satisfied customer’s review: “I can dip my life in this ranch.” It’s simply one of those sauces you wish were sold by the bottle! (Hint, hint Cascio’s).
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heir thick tomato sauce, rich and savory, is made by Freddie himself. Venture into their Italian Spago, which is slang for pasta, section of the menu to choose what to top your pasta with—homemade meatballs, homemade Italian sausage, homemade meat sauce, olive oil and garlic, shrimp or chicken breast. Italian specialties, of course, dominate the menu. The eggplant parmigiana is a classic, prepared with pasta battered eggplant with ham, meat sauce, and topped with mozzarella cheese and served in a casserole. Another sound Italian delight are the cannelloni shells stuffed with beef, pork, spinach and seasonings, then topped with Béchamel sauce--also known as white sauce, which is made from a white roux and milk. It has been considered, since the seventeenth century, one of the mother sauces of French cuisine. Also be sure to try the traditional baked lasagna—layers of pasta filled with meat sauce and ricotta cheese, then topped with creamy parmigiana cheese. BayouLife recommends treating yourself by pairing your meal with one of the wines from their beverage menu, which includes whites and reds from Germany, France, Veneto, Tuscany and Napa Valley. In the Creole-inspired corner, the favorites include the Crawfish Enchiladas, which are two enchiladas in a thick, creamy sauce; Catfish Rosie, shrimp and crawfish tails with mushrooms and green onions mixed in a Béchamel sauce over catfish fillets; Seafood Fettuccini Oysters, a delectable fettuccini topped with shrimp, crabmeat, crawfish tails and mushrooms in a Béchamel sauce; Shrimp Queenie Shrimp, crawfish tails, mushrooms and green onions in a Béchamel sauce over angel hair pasta or fettuccini. You simply can’t go wrong with their Muffaletta Sandwich, which is prepared with Genoa salami, ham, provolone cheese, mortadella and topped with Olive Salad prepared by the famous Central Grocery of New Orleans. In addition to the popular staples, some menu surprises that have 88 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
gained traction with customers include the hamburger with cheese, the 12 oz. ribeye (served with French fries or a baked potato), and Freddie’s most recent special: the Red Snapper Cascio. Considering it his signature dish, this fish entry is a broiled South Louisiana snapper topped with sauteed lump crab meat in a light lemon butter sauce and served with baked potato or French fries and a refreshing salad. Weekly specials abound at Freddie Cascio’s. They now serve pans of crawfish enchiladas (a six person serving) for carry-out that could serve as a perfect holiday package. Soft shell crabs are in now, which means soft shell crab po’boys are available on the menu. Wednesday is whole catfish day, while Thursdays are 2-for-1 Angus Choice Cut ribeye meal time. The specials are served with salad, fresh bread and your choice of baked potato, green beans or fries. Chow time doesn’t stop at these rollicking specials. Spaghetti bucket giveaways occur on ‘the reg’ via the restaurant’s Facebook page. Full buckets of spaghetti, for you, to eat. You can’t be upsetti with that much spaghetti! Freddie Cascio’s Italian and Cajun Ristoranté has been described as having a very casual “Monroe atmosphere,” which speaks to the proclivity of good food curating the restaurant’s enduring popularity and steadfast identity. Passion and consistency is the secret here. Sit among walls full of extensive mementos while satisfying your craving for classic dishes in this gas station get-away meets haute eatery—one of the area’s best kept heirlooms. Find Freddie Cascio’s at 305 Finks Hideaway Road, Monroe, Louisiana 71203. They are open Tuesday through Friday between 11 AM to 2 PM for lunch then 5 PM to 10 PM for dinner. On Saturdays they are only open for dinner between 5 PM to 10 PM. Call them at 318-345-4536 if you are interested in the space for a wedding reception, birthday party, or similar event. Follow them on Facebook to learn more about their plans to open another restaurant in New Orleans.
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Living Through History Traditions Antiques
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ELANIE LILES AND PAM WOOD,THE OWNERS OF Traditions Antiques, have been venturing to Europe for many years now. They have now made the long trip across the big pond more than 40 times, and it has truly been a dream come true for them. These trips aren’t just their tradition, it’s their business. As the owners of Traditions Antiques, they understand the importance of finding the perfect additions to stock one of the finest antiques stores in North Louisiana. They absolutely love seeing the pieces they bring back go into customers’ homes. Often customers come by the store, located on Antique Alley in West Monroe, and reminisce about items they bought “way back when.” They hear all the time, “I bought a table, a bookcase, a server about 20 years ago from Traditions, and it is still my favorite piece.” When shopping with Traditions, one is actually shopping through history. Each item in the store is hand-selected for quality and beauty. Melanie and Pam want all of their customers to have the opportunity to have the pieces they want. They will give you an exceptional selection to choose from at the best prices possible, and they also offer lay away. From start to finish, they will help you along the way. Designers suggest you should anchor a room with a dark piece of furniture no matter the décor style. Formal furniture is making a comeback according to English and European dealers. Not sure on which piece to get? The ladies at Traditions Antiques are friendly and extremely knowledgeable in interior design. Let them help you ground your home with an antique. The antique world knows the ladies from Northeast Louisiana and they have friends all over Europe who help them find beautiful treasures for their customers. They never know what exactly they are looking for until they find it. You would be amazed at what they find and they are always in awe of the things they come across on their travels. Each piece Melanie and Pam bring back to the U.S. has a story, a history, memories. When shopping at Traditions ask the ladies there where the piece came from and you will be able to bring home not only a new item for your home, but a story you can pass on to 90 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
your children and even your grandchildren. It will give them an appreciation for it and it will be something they treasure and want to inherit. It will be a conversation piece for when guests are over. The items available at Traditions Antiques are not just furniture but a continuation of history. Working with people that are equally as passionate as you make one’s job very easy. It is such a pleasure for the ladies at Traditions to meet dealers who have such a love for antiques that they have started their own businesses. Always a highlight of their trip, they love to revisit friends and meet new people that love what they do. On their most recent trip this September, Melanie and Pam stayed in The Pig in the Wall in Southampton. This hotel chain is buying old stately manor homes and turning them into small hotels. The stylish hotel they stayed in is built within Southampton’s historic medieval walls. They have lovely antiques with modern conveniences. There are also wonderful restaurants with food sourced from within a 20 mile radius of the hotel. They then traveled to Amsterdam. There they stayed in the same hotel that John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their “Bed-in” for peace in 1969 to protest the Vietnam War. While in Amsterdam, they visited the Rijks Museum. This museum is full of Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages to the present. It is the home of many Rembrandt and Vermeer paintings. Traditions prides itself on bringing the unique and fun to life for their customers. Whether it’s a new source for copper or a vintage Louis Vuitton suitcase resurrected as a coffee table, a gorgeous Black Forest carved piece or a beautiful etched crystal decanter, Melanie and Pam are able to help their customers achieve that curated life look without ever having to leave the comfort of home. Newest shipment of antiques coming soon. Should start arriving in November, just in time for the holidays. For any questions, please visit the store at 313 Trenton St. in West Monroe or call 318.322.7728.
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Rafael Lara Construction and Design Studio Making Your Dream Home a Reality
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AFAEL LARA CONSTRUCTION began in 2007 and has since become a household name in the construction and custom home industry throughout Northeast Louisiana. This past summer, the locally owned and family operated company opened their new office and design studio in Monroe. Not only does the building house the company offices, but there is also an opportunity to see the type of work Rafael Lara provides. When you enter the office, there is a top of the line kitchen and a cozy living room area. “In this space, you can see what one step crown molding looks like versus a 3 step crown molding,” said Rafael Lara. “You can really see the variety of styles and options you have when building a custom home and what they look like in person and in an actual home setting.” There is even a full size bath with a shower, allowing the customer to see tile, finishes and floor options. Customers can sit down the design room and look through lighting books, options for countertops, paint colors and more. “This allows us to truly be a one stop shop and make the home building process easier,” said Rafael. “You are getting much more than just a house. You are getting a personalized building experience and that is what sets us apart from others.” Rafael Lara Construction has always focused on the customer, and this new design center will allow them to take care of the
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customer from start to finish. From planning, financing and shopping for accessories, their team will walk you through the entire process. No matter the size of the home, each home gets the same attention to detail. Rafael Lara and his team have truly changed what it means to build a home, by combining speed, quality and budget. With his passion and desire to build his clients their dream home, Rafael spends hours making sure every detail is perfect. When he was asked why he chose residential construction, he said, “I do this as a passion, not just a job or career. When I can turn my customers’ dream home into a reality and put a smile on their faces… that is why I do it.” Each of his homes have a life and feel of their own. While some clients prefer a more modern look, others love a more rustic feel. No matter which style, Rafael and his team makes sure the look is executed perfectly. He also puts his own personal touches in each home with his custom handmade woodworking, and specialty ceilings to make them unique. In addition to custom homes, Rafael Lara Construction has planned community and subdivisions, overseeing the development from start to finish. They also provide commercial contracting and construction services throughout Northeast Louisiana. Monroe, West Monroe, Ruston, Wisner, Olla, Start and Columbia are just some of the areas Rafael Lara Construction has done work, as
they are capable of traveling and working all over Northeast Louisiana. Rafael and his company are not just focused on building homes, developments and buildings, though. Their focus is building relationships with their customers and making their dreams a reality. They strive to make their customers feel included and part of the family. With his wife Megan by his side as a co-owner and office manager, you are ensured that the Lara family will welcome you into their family with open arms. Rafael Lara Construction strives to give back to their community, as well. Together with their two children, Lexi and Max, Rafael and Megan attend Bayou Baptist Church. They also support a variety of charities in Northeast Louisiana. They have donated countless hours and resources and the framing labor to the 2014 St. Jude’s Dream Home. They also support P.E.E.P, helping underprivileged children in our local communities, and Our H.O.M.E, which helps veterans transition into their everyday lives. Additionally, they give to little league teams and local schools. The Rafael Lara Construction family invites you to visit their new office and design studio and be a part of the family!
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Hand and Wrist Pain? You Could Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome BY ELLIS O’NEAL COOPER III, MD
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ARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensation to the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger. It also controls the muscle at the base of the thumb. The carpal tunnel - a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand - contains the median nerve and tendons that flex the fingers. Sometimes thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed. The result may be pain, weakness or numbness in the hand and wrist, sometimes radiating up the arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. Most commonly, the disorder is due to a congenital predisposition - the carpal tunnel is simply smaller in some people than in others. Women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Other contributing factors include certain medical conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism or rheumatoid arthritis. Working in an assembly line, and using vibrating tools can cause the disease. Pregnant women commonly develop this syndrome which usually resolves after delivery. Symptoms usually start gradually with tingling, burning or numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers. The symptoms often first appear at night, since many people sleep with flexed wrists. Affected individuals may wake up feeling the need to “shake out” the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people
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might feel tingling during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away. Diagnosis is accomplished first by a detailed history. Important considerations include the anatomic distribution of symptoms, timing and duration of symptoms, presence or absence of night symptoms, activities that worsen symptoms, and presence of other medical conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid disorders. A thorough physical exam will look for things like loss of sensation, irritability of the nerve with direct tapping or bending of the wrist, and muscle weakness or atrophy. Entrapment of the nerve at more proximal locations, like the forearm and neck, should be ruled out as well. Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography can assess how well the nerve transmits electrical signals down the arm. These tests are used to confirm a diagnosis and give objective information about the stage or severity of the disease. They can also be used to rule out problems in other areas, such as the neck. Non-operative treatment involves changing patterns of wrist and hand use to reduce pressure on the nerve. Identifying and treating underlying medical causes, such as diabetes or thyroid disorders, is essential. Wearing a splint at night that keeps the wrist from bending is often successful. Injection of corticosteroids into the carpal tunnel can be helpful. Modifications to a patient’s workplace environment or schedule can be therapeutic and preventative.
Patients who have failed an adequate trial of non-operative treatment are candidates for surgery. Carpal tunnel release is one of the most common and most successful surgical procedures in orthopedics. It involves cutting the band of tissue laying directly on top of the nerve called the transverse carpal ligament to reduce pressure. Two techniques exist: Open release surgery, the traditional procedure used to correct carpal tunnel syndrome, consists of making an incision up to 2 inches in the wrist and then cutting the transverse carpal ligament to enlarge the carpal tunnel. Endoscopic surgery may allow faster functional recovery and less postoperative discomfort than traditional open release surgery. The surgeon makes a much smaller incision at the wrist, inserts a camera with a retractable knife blade, and cuts the transverse carpal ligament while observing the tissue on a video screen Both options are outpatient procedures and take 10-15 minutes to complete. A postoperative splint is not required, and the patient goes home with a soft dressing. Patients are encouraged to gently move the wrist and fingers immediately after surgery. Most people can return to full activities within 1-3 weeks Ellis O’Neal Cooper, MD is board certified in both hand surgery and orthopedic surgery. Dr. Cooper practices at Orthopedic Specialists of Louisiana in Shreveport. To schedule an evaluation with Dr. Cooper, please visit: orthopedicspecialistsla. com or call: 866.759.9679.
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Perfect Pigments Intelligent Designs’ Sandy McMillan Provides Insights on Breathing Life into Your Ideal Space article by Michael DeVault A new coat of paint is one of the easiest, fastest and most affordable ways to breathe new life into a tired space. Sandy McMillan knows color, and with these five colors from Benjamin Moore, she takes the guesswork out of making the most in your home.
Soft Chamois (OC-13)
Revere Pewter (HC-172)
Water’s Edge (1635)
White Dove (OC-17)
Sandy begins with one of the more versatile hues, Soft Chamois. This light neutral leans “a touch in the warm direction,” Sandy says, which opens up a space and helps set an ideal stage. “It’s light enough that you can paint the trim and the walls the same color and end up with a stunning, natural backdrop.” Recommended for: Soft Chamois will help set the perfect living room or bedroom, especially because it’s versatility pairs well with multiple accent colors. “I’m a big fan of neutral colors on walls in general,” Sandy adds. “I feel like a neutral wall always gives you a timeless, classic look.”
If a slightly darker neutral is your idea of a calming space, look no further than Revere Pewter, a neutral that moves towards a gray. “It pairs really well with silver and gold metals, and it gives you a nice depth of color on the wall, but without being too dark,” Sandy explains. “I think a lot of people will love this color, even those who aren’t big fans of gray.” Recommended for: Revere Pewter is great for a dining room or anywhere in the main living space. “It’s subtle and will make art really pop,” she says. “Most colors look great against Revere Pewter, with darker tones like navy or stark white, which look spectacular together.”
Sandy’s darkest selection this year, Water’s Edge is a medium-blue tone with just the slightest hint of green. “It’s got great depth-of-color without being too dark,” Sandy says. “I love organic colors, and this is one that pairs well with offwhite and khaki tones.” Pairing Water’s Edge with other earth tones can bring out the depth of Water’s Edge, creating unique and soothing spaces. Recommended for: “I tend to lean towards lighter colors in general, but I do think you can use darker tones in accent spaces like a powder room, dining room or laundry room. In fact, laundry rooms are a great place to have color, because it’s the room you have to do the most work in”
The search for a classic off-white goes no further than White Dove, which appears more white in certain lights than others, lending a dramatic effect to your space. “White Dove is a great backdrop color for art that has a lot of color to it, and you could also use it for just a trim color if you wanted to,” Sandy says. Recommended for: Both the satin and semi-gloss finishes produce unique effects in a space. “It works great on cabinets or trim in semi-gloss, and on the wall, a satin finish is ideal,” she says. White Dove stands out from other off-whites and stark white, because of it doesn’t lean yellow or pink. “It’s just a great color to use,” Sandy says.
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Homemade Marshmallows Syrup: 14.5 oz White Sugar 1/2 c. Corn Syrup 1/2 c. Water Gelatin: 1/2 c. Water 7 tsp. Gelatin (unflavored)
recipe by Evelyn O’Neal and photo by Kelly Moore Clark
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Pinch of Salt 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract Dusting Powder: 1 c. Confectioner’s Sugar 1/2 c. Corn Starch
Mix white sugar, corn syrup and water until sugar is mixed with water. Heat over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Gently swirl pan to evenly distribute heat. Cover pot with lid and lower heat to medium. Cook for 3 minutes. Do not lift lid. After 3 minutes, remove lid and check to make sure there are no sugar crystals on sides of pot. If there are crystals, cover pot for another minute to allow crystals to dissolve by condensation. Cook syrup to firm ball stage, checking every 5 minutes. When syrup reaches firm ball stage, remove from heat and let sit a few minutes. While syrup is cooking, prepare gelatin. Place 1/2 c. water in mixer bowl. Add gelatin and mix to moisten. Set aside for at least 10 minutes. With mixer on medium-low speed, pour syrup into gelatin along the wall of bowl to prevent gelatin
from being scorched by hot syrup. Add salt and increase speed to high for 3-5 minutes until marshmallow base has tripled in size and white, fluffy and smooth. Do not mix longer than 5 minutes. Add vanilla and mix another minute. Rub 8x8’ pan with shortening or butter. Brush all utensils, as well. Spread marshmallow evenly in pan with oiled spatula. Sieve confectioner’s sugar over top an allow to set for at least 6 hours. Mix dusting powder using confectioner’s sugar and corn startch. Turn out set marshmallows on a work surface dusted with dusting powder. Cut marshmallows with an oiled knife. Toss in dusting powder and store in an air-tight container.
Myrtlewood Cottages Local Architect Develops Homes in Downtown West Monroe
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OR OVER 24 YEARS, TIM BRANDON has been creating and designing office buildings, medical facilities and educational facilities across Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas with his firm, Tim Brandon Architecture. His firm oversees all aspects of architectural projects, from site analysis to conceptual planning to programming to design to construction administration. Some of their projects include the new Bayou Pointe facility at ULM, the former Georgia Tucker School turned assisted living facility, D’Arbonne Woods Charter School, the Louisiana Tech Davison Athletic Complex and Joe Aillet Stadium Press Box and more. And now, he is working on a project close to home. In fact, it is just steps away from his office on Cypress Street in West Monroe. Myrtlewood Cottages is a development of homes available for lease with reduced square footage located on Wood Street in West Monroe. “This is an area that was blighted, had old homes and overgrown yards,” said Tim Brandon. “It was really an eyesore, and I was thinking what I could do with this area to improve downtown West Monroe.” When the opportunity came to purchase the area, Tim knew what he wanted to do. For this project, Tim and his team not only designed the development, but also oversaw the building and construction with his company, Venture Development. Phase I of this development features 15 homes with reduced square footage with one and two bedroom options. “Some people may think they are tiny homes and they aren’t,” says Brandon. “They are more along the lines of minimalistic living and ideal for young
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families and the older generation.” There is little upkeep and maintenance required in a safe and secure environment, all available at market rate leasing. Some of the amenities include security cameras, granite countertops, decorative security fencing and open floor plans. With these homes located in the heart of downtown West Monroe, they are within walking distance of an elementary school, post office, churches, restaurants, retail shops and more. But this isn’t just about creating options for residents to lease housing. Tim Brandon is passionate about historical preservation and being a part of the revitalization of downtown West Monroe. In fact, when Tim started the process of taking down the old homes to begin the Myrtlewood Cottages development, he didn’t just demolish the homes. He removed wood and other materials in the shuttered homes to implement throughout the Myrtlewood development, preserving history. This passion for preservation continues with Brandon’s current term or president of the Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group. This group is made up of dedicated community and business leaders, who are dedicated to improving the downtown area in West Monroe for the prosperity of the entire city. The group raises funds that are used for the purpose of capital improvements made to the downtown area like crosswalks, single facade grants and general beautification. Brandon has also recently acquired the Hatchell Building, at the corner of Trenton and Natchitoches Streets in downtown West Monroe. Brandon plans on using state and
federal historical tax credits to renovate the building. It will feature multiple retail spaces on the first floor and six upscale residential apartments on the second floor. And while Tim Brandon credits his hometown upbringing and education at Louisiana Tech for his success, he credits his team even more. Donna Cathey serves as the COO of all of Brandon’s companies, which range from architectural design to construction as well as real estate. With a background in teaching, Donna serves as special advisor for educational projects as well. Donna and Tim’s skills and strengths complement each other, leading to the team’s success. Clint Whittington serves as Vice President and Director of Production. Clint is a licensed Architect and has 13 years of architectural experience with TBA Studio. Serving alongside Clint is Robbie Meredith, who is a new addition to the TBA team. Robbie comes to TBA with a vast amount of experience working in all sectors of architectural projects. Lisa Peddy Frontaura serves as the Vice President of Operations in the Bossier office. She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University School of Architecture and has been managing projects for most of her 12 years with TBA Studio. Tim and his team are excited to continue to work on architecture and design projects for a variety of businesses and institutions in this area, as well as create developments that preserve history and promote interest in downtown West Monroe.
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Five local women share with BayouLife their very personal experiences with breast cancer. As breast cancer survivors, these women hope to inspire and uplift others who may be battling this disease and educate women about the importance of early detection. Non-profit organizations, including the Susan G. Komen Organization and the American Cancer Society, are dedicated to saving lives by investing in research to prevent and cure breast cancer and improving the lives of women affected by the disease. Donations of time and financial resources can help them reach these goals. To volunteer or donate, contact Susan G. Komen of North Louisiana at 318-966-8130 or visit their website at www.komennorthlouisiana.org; and contact the Monroe chapter of the American Cancer Society at 318-398-7248 or visit their website at www.cancer.org. ARTICLE BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE AND PHOTOS BY MELANIE MOFFETT
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RESHON FORD The Fighter”
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eshon Ford is no stranger to cancer. In the last five years, she’s fought the battle four times. A mother of three children, Reshon was only 38, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, too young for a routine mammogram, despite her family history. In December of 2013, the plan was to take her children to Arkansas for Christmas. She had taken off work at Logan’s Roadhouse, where she was a top server. Reshon had been with the company since the Ruston location opened in 2011. Patrons requested to sit in “Smiley’s section.” Her nickname says a lot about her disposition, an optimism she would rely on during her treatment. Two days before Christmas, she was lying in bed, alongside her husband of one year, when she began feeling sharp pains in her left breast. It was more than uncomfortable, disturbing her sleep. Her husband shrugged it off, telling her to go back to bed, but Reshon knew, “Something is not right.” When the pain returned a few hours later, she noticed her breast shifting from side to side and her nipple inverting. She went immediately to the hospital where the doctors and nurses performed a biopsy, mammogram and ultrasound. She had Stage 4 breast cancer, and without chemotherapy and radiation, Reshon was in jeopardy of losing her life within three months. In a state of disbelief, and left with an unimaginable diagnosis, Reshon, “put all my faith in God.” She decided, there’s “no way I’m leaving my kids.” She prayed and promised to follow God wherever he led her, as long as he walked with her step by step. Her first chemotherapy treatment was on January 3, 2014. She ended the previous year with a bleak diagnosis, and began the new year with hope in the form of poison. Reshon called the treatments “torturous.” Her mental capacity just shut down; the body can only take so much, and it robs the brain of its ability to think clearly. She remembers her head tingling, her hands staying numb, the feeling of sharp pins in her feet. Scared, yet hopeful, she knew it was her only chance of staying alive for her children. Reshon kept reminding herself that there would be life after treatment. Three times a week, she visited Feist-Weiller Cancer Center in Shreveport. In three-hour spells, the hope would pump into her body, making her physically and mentally weaker in hopes of ultimately weakening the cancer. Reshon prayed her body would outlast the cancer cells. At home, her husband couldn’t handle her illness and left. She was alone with her children and depleted emotionally. Her parents Mable and Jesse Franklin stepped up, helping with Reshon’s four-year-old daughter, Destiny, and teenagers, Martell and Jabari. After treatments concluded in April, the doctors removed her left breast. She jokingly told her oncologist Dr. Peddi, “Take the other one, too. No one is using it now anyway.” But Dr. Peddi insisted Reshon was too young, and after another round of chemo and seven weeks of radiation, she thought she had beaten it. Genetic testing found a family history of breast, ovarian, cervical, kidney and liver cancer on her father’s side. Her Aunt Tiny and Tiny’s daughter Dana had also suffered from breast cancer. In February of 2015, a routine checkup showed Stage 2 ovarian cancer. Enduring sharp pains, bloating, frequent trips to the bathroom and nausea, Reshon’s primary care physician discovered a spot on her cervix as well. She began to pray again, insisting, “Lord, have your way.” She had to stay strong; if she broke down, all hope would be lost, and believing she
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would get better gave her the best chance of defeating cancer again. After a full hysterectomy in May, all the tumors were gone. Reshon told the doctor to, “Take it all.” She thought she was out of it again. But in October of 2017, doctors found a low dose of leukemia, cancer cells in her bloodstream. Reshon was nervous about a blood transfusion, but much like chemo, the scary option is sometimes the only one. As of this past April, Reshon is cancer-free. She had five surgeries, lost one breast and 11 lymph nodes from under her arm. Cancer took pieces of her, but she’s still standing. When the cancer kept coming back, Reshon wondered, Why me? Why do my kids have to see me in pain? But as the reality repeatedly set in, she started wondering, Why not me? She knew she had faith, couldn’t imagine enduring the process without her belief in God. She thought of her other family members, those untouched by cancer, and decided she’d rather it be her. She had the strongest arm to lean on. She could handle it. As draining as chemo is, sleeping half the day from exhaustion, losing so much time, it was the sounds of laughter from her kids that served as respite from the pain. They brought her joy when it was difficult to find a reason to smile. Her children would still be there when chemo was over. When she lost her hair and felt vulnerable and exposed, her daughter Destiny said, “Mommy, you’re still pretty. When your hair grows back, I’m going to put it in a ponytail, just like my baby dolls.” Sitting for hours a day, with uncertain futures, suffering together, Reshon found solace in those around her. She made friends with those enduring cancer, sharing stories and testimonies, and embracing those who knew what she was going through as she was going through it. They exchanged buddy gifts once a month, inspirational little gift bags, a reminder that “we are all fighting this together.” One her last day of chemo, Reshon met Iiesha Green, who was there for her first treatment. Reshon promised to be her “Pink Sister,” and support her through her journey. They would meet for Iiesha’s doctor’s appointments and surgical procedures. Reshon made breast cancer ribbons for Iiesha and her family. The two are still best friends, more like sisters and frequently attend each other’s family functions. Meeting a friend at the beginning of her journey on Reshon’s last day of treatment brought the experience full circle, and Reshon was able to pour her gratitude into another soul who needed support. Reshon’s oncologist Dr. Peddi is a character, always lightening the mood. She appreciated his efforts. He would say, “Reshon, you don’t look like you’re sick.” She would respond, “Well, according to your tests, I am.” Ms. Jennifer at University Health showed compassion and cared more about her patients than her paycheck. Reshon remembers how warm she was, and that she could feel her feeling for all of them. George and Keisha Nims, Reshon’s God-Sister, let her stay at their home in Bossier during the weeks of her treatments. Away from her own home and family, it was comforting to be welcomed as a part of theirs. Cancer inevitably changes people. Reshon no longer lets what people say or think bother her. She’s not living for them anymore. She knows how fragile life is, and chooses to focus on herself and her kids, those who love her. She’s a fighter, and will continue fighting, now that she knows the magnitude of her own strength. “I didn’t let cancer defeat me. I defeated cancer.”
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KIM GLOVER Life Is A Dance
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im Glover’s cancer story is a testament to early detection. At 42, on a routine mammogram, they noticed “changes,” or calcifications. When the doctor at The Kitty Degree Breast Center said it was cancer, Kim was shocked. To her knowledge, no one in her family had suffered with cancer, and she thought she was too young. But something in her gut made her keep going for those routine checkups, and her recovery was less involved as a result. Diagnosed in August of 2008, and she had a double mastectomy in October to lower the risk of recurrence. A co-worker had suffered from breast cancer, opted for a lumpectomy, and her cancer came back. Kim’s daughters Avery and Bailey were in elementary school and middle school at the time of her diagnosis; she couldn’t risk leaving them without a mother. The cancer was in her milk ducts. Found early, it was Stage 1, and after the mastectomy, she required no chemotherapy or radiation. Her cancer was hormone receptor positive, so she’s taken Tamoxifen for the last ten years, but otherwise her life has returned to normal, or as normal as it can be after cancer. Her decision to go with the mastectomy was made easier thanks to Dr. Frank Dellacroce. He practices at The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans, though he is originally from Monroe. The plastic surgeon uses the most advanced procedures, procuring fat from another part of the woman’s body to build the breasts. Kim had the mastectomy and reconstruction in the same day. This allowed for an easier shift emotionally, cutting down on the feeling of loss. They took her breasts, but she woke with a new set. As a mother, she worried most about her girls. Avery was too young to understand the magnitude; she knew mommy was having surgery, but not the severity of the diagnosis. Bailey surprised her mother with her response. When Kim told her she had cancer, she expected Bailey to ask if she would die, but her question was, “Does that mean I’m gonna get it, too?” This was heartbreaking, seeing her child worry about her own health as a result of her mother’s struggle. But it’s also a testament to the public’s general knowledge about cancer. An eighth-grader considered the hereditary component; while hard to hear, it’s encouraging after decades of raising awareness about the disease. Kim’s BRCA gene test was negative, but her journey inspired her sisters to get mammograms. The doctors said genetically, people are most like their siblings; so the likelihood increases for sisters who share all the same genes, as opposed to just mothers and daughters. Kim calls herself a “wildflower,” the only one in her family who had it; thankfully the one family member who was proactive about her health. One of the significant moments of healing came during Bailey’s dance recital the following spring. She danced with Linda Lavender, and was usually talkative about her upcoming performances, but was secretive about one dance in particular. When Kim went to the rehearsal, the dance began with a breast cancer ribbon backdrop, and all the performers wearing black dresses with pink ribbons. The girls danced to Melissa Etheridge’s song “Run for Life.” The lyrics read: I run for hope I run to feel I run for the truth, for all that is real I run for your mother, your sister, your wife I run for you and me my friend I run for life 108 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
During the line, I run for your mother, your sister, your wife,” Bailey pointed to her mom in the audience. It was a little girl’s way of dealing with her mother’s illness, taking the opportunity to say, “I love you, and we’re all behind you.” Meredith Barnes Pilcher choreographed the routine. While it made Kim cry, it was a catalyst for emotional healing. It opened the door for her daughter and her daughter’s friends to talk about cancer, express their emotion in the movements. Kids may not know what to say, but Bailey knew how to dance. And she joined her friends in dancing for her mother, acknowledging her illness and celebrating her survival. Kim is forever grateful for Meredith’s gesture, for teaching her daughter to channel her pain, frustration and confusion into something beautiful. It’s been 10 years since Kim battled cancer. And sometimes in the rush of life, she forgets, but that checkup visit every six months is a sober reminder of what she endured, what could have happened, and the risk of its return. Kim underwent a hysterectomy three years later due to severe endometriosis, which catapulted her into menopause. The side effects were brutal. But she was still alive to endure them. She developed autoimmune problems due to fibromyalgia, common with breast cancer survivors. Overactive nerves result in flare ups and chronic pain, like severe headaches but in other parts of the body, resulting in extremely low energy levels. She is now even more proactive about her overall health, choosing organic products, particularly eggs, milk and chicken. She is more aware of the foreign substances in her food. She chooses natural body lotions and soaps with no chemicals; every little bit helps. She’s training her children to make better choices, that even small changes can make a significant difference in their quality of life. In a time of struggle, people get to see others rise to the occasion. This was the same for Kim. Her co-workers at George Welch Elementary, where she has taught now for 29 years, lessened her physical load. Being a third grade teacher, Kim didn’t just sit a desk. Exerting herself was commonplace, and her peers stepped up, taking on recess duty and picking up the slack when Kim didn’t have the strength. “The upside to sickness is seeing how amazing people are.” Her husband Jeff remains her rock. At all the appointments, he took careful notes of everything said, a blessing when Kim couldn’t remember. He was supportive and encouraging, even when her reconstruction surgery meant out-of-pocket expenses. The cancer was concentrated in Kim’s nipples, meaning she couldn’t reuse her original ones during reconstruction. This required a second surgery many months later and more expense, and still Jeff was supportive. He wrote blogs, “before blogs were popular,” detailing Kim’s progress and keeping family and friends updated on her health. It was at this low point in life that Kim learned he really was her “true soul mate.” Her life group at First West, the Truth Seekers, flooded the Glover’s home with meals, prayed with Kim the night before her surgery. Kim always knew faith, family and friends were paramount, but her cancer battle cemented that belief. If facing her mortality has taught her anything, it’s to stress less. Life isn’t about perfection, but doing her best each day, recognizing when to let something go. If the house is not as clean or the laundry is piled up, it’s more important to see her daughters dance or play ball. Moments matter. Life matters. Cancer forced Kim to recognize how short it really is, and she’s more grateful for every day.
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JUDY HOUGH Light After Cancer
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udy Hough’s “education in cancer” began before her diagnosis, working at Delhi Hospital in public and patient relations. The hospital reached out through The American Cancer Society: sponsoring events, raising money and passing out literature. After 12 years volunteering, Judy had read the pamphlets and seen the impact of cancer up close. But in her “journey of learning” after her breast cancer diagnosis, she realized she didn’t absorb the literature until it applied to her, didn’t feel the impact until it was personal. At 25, Judy had been diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease, making cancer detection more difficult. Forty years later, she wasn’t surprised she had breast cancer, but like most, “You just hope it’s not going to happen to you.” Frustrated with upsetting her life plan, Judy quickly accepted the reality. But then she began thinking of her kids, the survival rate, and her legacy. The regrets poured in. Why didn’t she appreciate her body when it was well? Why hadn’t she just paid for that “extra” mammogram herself? On February 24, 2014, Judy was diagnosed with Stage II Ductal Carcinoma, but then cells found in her lymph nodes bumped her to Stage 3. She didn’t cry when Dr. Marx delivered the news, but her husband, James, did. She’d had routine mammograms for years, but when she turned 60, the insurance company would only pay for one every two years. She learned that it was “more cost-effective” for women of her age group. After months of research and prayer, a double mastectomy was their choice of surgery, performed at MD Anderson, on April 11, 2014. Her treatment plan was six months of chemotherapy in Monroe, and six weeks of radiation administered at MD Anderson in Houston. Treatments started on June 7, 2014. Blood work is done one week prior to treatments to determine a white blood cell count. Patients are placed on recliners in treatments rooms, to make them as comfortable as possible, as many as five per room. During those multiple-hour treatments, Judy could feel the chemo when it hit the brain and other organs, a warm, grabbing sensation. Some patients get too ill for the treatment. Some fall asleep. Judy just visited with the other patients and used the iPad purchased by her children. Problems occured: Judy’s port during chemo became infected. She had to get IV treatments after each round to get the infection under control and took shots to bump up her white count; this meant oftentimes seeing doctors five days a week, not uncommon for cancer patients. The chemo itself was bearable, but the after-effects were worse. She learned that although chemo can save lives, it can also cause permanent damage. Because her cancer was hormone receptive, a hormone inhibitive pill must also be taken for five to ten years. Because 32 lymph nodes were removed, lymphedema is an issue for the rest of her life. Studies indicate that even after surgery, treatment and drug therapy, her chance of recurrence is still 15%....but she says, “There’s an 85% chance it doesn’t!” Inconveniencing others bothered Judy more than being sick. She learned that she must allow others to help. She could no longer keep her two-year-old granddaughter Addison. She learned how it felt to be out of employment for the first time since age 18. She could no longer “contribute” her share of family responsibilities. James was already retired, though he still did landscaping work and took contract jobs out of town. He had to cut back during Judy’s recovery. He remains very strong and supportive. Judy knows he kept a lot to himself in the interest of her wellbeing. They prayed and discussed the options of each decision along the journey. They were blessed to have five children: Belinda, Terra, Clay, Tammy and Shane, each contributing the best and most they could. With the support of the rest of their large family and 110 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
numerous friends, Judy made it through the difficult time. She kept a “thank-you journal” throughout her experience with scriptures by each entry. Judy tracked small gestures and kind words, allowed treatment professionals to sign the book. Though she lost the tangible papers in the flood of 2016, the words of support are etched on her heart. In an effort to give back, Judy co-created GIRLS (Girls Interested in Restoring Lives Successfully) in Richland Parish with her friend Janice LaBatt, who was also going through treatment. Janice handled the finances, and Judy focused on teaching the relaxation and exercise therapy techniques. Along with six other volunteers, they raised funds, met for prayer, and created gift bags for those going through cancer. People were being diagnosed weekly, and Judy realized just how common her experience is. She learned that these new G.I.R.L.S. would share what they learned with others….and thus, the circle grows. She had bonded early with Michele and Dena, who became her new best friends during chemo; they all started treatment together. The threesome would keep each other’s minds off the procedure, and they stayed friends after. It was easier to talk to someone with the same emotional and physical pains. When Michele passed a year later, Judy was reminded again how fragile life is. Cancer taught Judy how it really felt to hear, “You have cancer.” And no one can prepare for that news. Now she can identify with and help others. She learned everyone is susceptible, regardless of race or creed. “Cancer is not a respecter of person. Some of us just get it.” Judy had always been healthy. Cancer didn’t care. Her BRCA gene test was even negative. She thought she knew about cancer until she had it. “You can always learn more.” It affected everyone, her family and her community. It was an emotional toll on those that love her and a financial toll on her family. She depended heavily on her faith and her friends, sought out spiritual guidance. She had a 3-inch binder full of notes and cards of support. She learned how much people care. So many helpful organizations exist for those suffering. The American Cancer Society has a phone number available 24 hours a day. The Northeast Louisiana Cancer Institute raises money to provide people with gas cards, regardless of income level, though one must apply to receive benefits. The professionals at Kitty Degree Lymphedema Therapy were instrumental in Judy’s emotional struggle. With few licensed therapists in the field, she benefited greatly from the local availability. Judy received her treatment plan at MD Anderson, and the staff at Louisiana Oncology followed the doctors’ suggestions. Local treatment is an option; doctors do work together. Impressions by Peaches is owned and operated by a wonderful cosmetologist who will help you choose a style and color of wig from hundreds she displays. Judy had always maintained her cosmetology license; her appearance is a significant part of her identity. She bought a wig immediately after receiving her treatment plan at MD Anderson; it looked just like her normal hair. James shaved her head; she wanted to avoid the emotional trauma of watching it fall out. Overall, Judy learned healing depends on giving back. Having the focus be on her throughout her disease and her recovery, Judy was anxious to shift that focus to others. You never know when simply asking people about their day could be the only outreach they receive, at a time of vulnerability. When Judy sees people she thinks may be in treatment, sometimes God will lead her to remind them of life after cancer. The tunnel of disease can seem so absent of light; people need hope, and often it comes from a stranger. Judy is a survivor, and she reminds others they can be one, too.
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BARBARA POWELL Advocate For Yourself
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n 2005, with no family history, Barbara Westfall Powell went in for her first routine mammogram at 40 years old. When a detected spot called for an ultrasound, Barbara knew it was cancer. Her mother Karen had benign cysts over the years, and told her not to worry, but Barbara just had a gut feeling. She did her own research, knew what a cancerous tumor looked like, and the irregular edges on the screen confirmed her suspicions. After a biopsy, the diagnosis was breast cancer. Barbara was sitting in the hairdresser’s chair when she got the call. She didn’t cry, though her hairdresser broke down. She had prayed about it and believed God gave her the peace she felt. Barbara knew what she wanted to do, double mastectomy and no reconstruction surgery. She got the confirmed diagnosis on Wednesday, saw her doctor on Thursday, and had both breasts removed on Monday. After two pathology reports, one saying Barbara’s cancer was medullary, the contained kind, requiring less chemotherapy, and another report saying it was invasive ductal, requiring more chemo, Barbara sought another opinion. Friends of hers had been treated at MD Anderson, and so she went Houston. It was Grade 3 invasive inductal, requiring more intensive treatment, and was triple negative, more aggressive. Barbara credits her gut instinct to seek a second opinion with being alive today. Had she gone with the less aggressive treatment, the cancer might have defeated her. The doctors at MD Anderson prescribed a treatment plan, and Dr. Barron, her local oncologist, followed it. She did four months of FAC chemotherapy, a six-hour procedure, followed by Taxol once a week for 12 weeks. The second round brought flu-like symptoms. Though nauseated, her bloodwork looked good. She was still able to teach her three-year-olds at Children’s Garden Preschool, which she had co-owned for 12 years. She would go to school every morning, and leave early for treatment on Thursdays. She tried to keep life normal for her two sons, Ryan and Justin, then 15 and 13. Her hair started coming out in clumps ten days into her treatment. Barbara’s mother-in-law cut her hair off short, and when she couldn’t hide it anymore, she allowed her sons and their friends to give her a mohawk before shaving it all off. Finding light in the darkness helped. She went alone into the bathroom and had a good cry. When she came out in a hat, her husband Quint simply said, “Let’s go get ice cream.” Normalcy at all cost was the family’s motto. One of her first outings after losing her hair was her son Justin’s game. She wore hats and didn’t like wigs, felt like she “was playing dress up.” The fans were sitting on the visitor’s side. As she walked across the field, hat on her head, feeling more exposed and more a cancer patient than ever, Quint said, “We can turn around anytime you want.” But she kept walking. When she got to the stands, all her friends were wearing pink breast cancer bracelets and stood and clapped for her bravery. It was a moment of support at a time of vulnerability. After her treatment, when her hair had grown back a mere half-inch, she went to Ryan’s baseball game, and she didn’t wear a hat in public for the first time. She noticed her son warming up, and when he glanced back, he did a double take, pulled his hand out of his mitt, and gave his mom a thumbs up. Cancer taught Barbara how strong she is. She appreciates life more, is more aware of others’ struggles, and how much prayer works. She says, “You can’t get away from cancer.” It’s always there. You see cancer
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on people’s faces when they look at you. They can only see cancer. You see it in your limitations, your bald head, your husband’s and mother’s willingness to help. While she realizes she was lucky to have the support, not being able to perform her day to day routine, watching others do it for her just made her “feel sick.” Barbara sat her mom down, who was only trying to help, and said, “I need normal. If I’m having a bad day, let me tell you.” She knows it was hard for her mother to hear, and just as hard for her to say. Karen flew in her cousin Diana, a nurse, after the surgery. They went wig shopping, and Diana washed her hair when she first came home. She needed the comfort of a friend, and now she had a cousin who knew what to do. A sobering moment happened just after her diagnosis. As Barbara was trying to process it all, balance the gravity of the news and all the people it would affect, she confided in her mother. Barbara said, “Mom, it could be worse. It could be one of my kids.” After a moment, her mother replied, “It is one of my kids.” For so long, Barbara thought of herself as a wife, as a mother. She had forgotten she was still someone’s daughter. Chemotherapy sucks at the soul. The body is depleted of energy, and fatigue takes over. For the first time in her life, Barbara fought depression. And it was scary; she had always been upbeat, and her inability to shake her feelings of despair was an unexpected burden, especially for someone who relied on optimism. Luckily, the feeling dissipated after a week with each treatment. Cancer put the reality of death in her face. She didn’t fear dying, but she couldn’t imagine leaving her boys. Barbara was a mother before she was a cancer patient. She was open with her kids from the beginning, telling them her diagnosis in the carpool lane. It helped her focus her energy on recovery, telling her kids, “This is what it is. This is what we’re going to do.” Quint helped. She and her husband laughed a lot. He learned Barbara’s cues, when she needed help and when she didn’t want it. He paid attention. The evening of her double mastectomy, one of her sons had a baseball game, and Quint was the coach. Barbara insisted he be there. Quint wondered what people would think, leaving his wife alone hours after a major surgery. Barbara didn’t care what people thought; the boys’ lives would remain the same. And Dad’s presence at the game would send the message that Mom would be okay. Her decision to refuse reconstruction was immediate. She didn’t want more surgery. And Quint backed her decision. When you get cancer, even if you beat it, you’re always on alert for its return. She thought, “If there’s nothing on my chest, I can see it faster. I can feel it faster.” Society expects reconstruction, insisting a woman can’t feel like a woman without breasts. For Barbara, it wasn’t true. Cancer took her breasts, and she doesn’t need them anymore. She would tell her sisters in treatment, those just finding out, or those in depths of the chemotherapy chasm, “advocate for yourself.” Whether it’s a second opinion, or just more nausea medication, no one knows you like you do. Everyone handles cancer differently, and everyone is entitled to. Trust your instincts. For those supporting loved ones with cancer, express less negativity. Save the bad news for the doctors. And let people talk; just listen to them. Keep interaction as normal as possible. It’s been 13 years since Barbara fought the good fight and won. She’s a mother, a grandmother, a wife, a daughter and a cancer survivor.
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JOHNNA UTZMAN A Tale of Two Women
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his is about two women who fought cancer, a mother who sacrificed her life to the disease, and a daughter who lived to tell both their stories. Johnna Utzman is alive today thanks to her mother Ruby. Watching her mother lose her battle with cancer after a three-year fight made Johnna a crusader for her own health. She was diligent about exams, went every year for her mammogram, though her cancer was self-detected. She found a spot, and the doctor put her on antibiotics for two weeks. When it didn’t subside, Johnna saw Dr. McClusky at The Green Clinic for a biopsy. Johnna’s husband Steve and her son CJ were with her when she got the news in July of 2014. “The only word they heard was ‘cancer.’” A month later, she had a bilateral mastectomy. Johnna had worked for Pine Crest Elementary School in Luna for five years as a teacher’s aid. During her eight rounds of chemo, Johnna had a front row seat to her support group. She lived right across the street from the school; she would sit on her porch when she was too ill to leave the house, and the kids would wave from the busses. Her lunch was hand-delivered by the cafeteria workers each day. They walked the plate right across the street. The children made cards for Johnna. She had an 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. reminder each weekday of how much she mattered. She missed 207 days of school that year, but she felt and witnessed their presence throughout her recovery. Johnna admits a woman shouldn’t be defined by her hair, but she realized how much her hair mattered, the day her sister shaved it. It was one of her most emotional days, though Johnna jokes, “I had a pretty head.” Her brother-in-law had a pink hard hat made in her honor and wanted Johnna to be the first to wear it. He now brings it out every October to raise awareness of the disease. The hard hat symbolizes Johnna’s transition perfectly, as she has taken a new position with The Department of Transportation. Halfway through chemotherapy, Johnna tired of the weight of the wig, and she ventured to Walmart with Steve and CJ bare-headed. While waiting in line in the restroom, two Walmart employees burst through the door shouting, “Sir, you can’t be in here.” When she turned around and made eye contact, they left. Dealing with the side effects of chemo, Johnna was still in the stall when they returned, making jokes at her expense, mocking her appearance. When she exited the bathroom, they were still laughing. She remembers a woman nearby saying, “That woman can’t even go to the bathroom.” She asked to speak to a manager, was told one wasn’t available, so she called corporate. Her Facebook post went viral; an outpouring of support online humbled Johnna. KNOE shared her story. So many identified with her struggle and offered their support. And she did finally get an apology. Johnna is not thankful she got cancer, but she is thankful for the people she met on her journey. In Branson, a woman met up with Johnna, said she was also going through cancer and expressed what an inspiration she was. Her son CJ was only seven years old, when she was diagnosed. He couldn’t understand the magnitude of the situation, and she chose not to tell him about the fatality risk. Her husband Steve is a quiet man, keeps his emotions internal, and unfortunately due to the financial strain, had to continue working offshore during parts of her treatment. Her sister Sherri and her family moved in with Johnna to help during chemo, while Steve was offshore. Her brother Mike, along
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with her circle of “chemo buddies,” would drive her to treatment. Her sister Lisa and her brother Larry took over the care of their father due to his dementia. A full circle of people rallied together when Johnna needed them. She is grateful for their support and sacrifice. Johnna later found out she had a genetic Pten mutation, Cowden syndrome. It puts one at an 85% higher risk of getting any type of cancer. After nodules were found on her thyroid, the doctors advised her to have it removed. She also had an appendectomy, followed by a hysterectomy. Johnna jokes she’s had “all the ectomies.” Her mother Ruby was diagnosed in 2010 with metastatic breast cancer. She found a lump, but always put off going to the doctor. Eventually, they found two lumps, one Stage 3 and one Stage 4. After Ruby finished chemo and radiation, they thought she was in the clear. But she kept falling, and once threw up for 30 straight days. After five doctors couldn’t find the problem, the family insisted Ruby go for rehabilitation. A CT scan found tumors in the front and back of her head. She had two options. With surgery to prolong her life, she risked not making it off the table, or possibly becoming a vegetable. Without surgery, they gave her two months to live. The five siblings told their parents they didn’t want her to have it done, but Ruby had already decided she wanted to live the remainder of her days in peace, and turned down the surgery. She was discharged to hospice in May, and passed on July 2, 2013. While in hospice, Ruby kept asking to go home, and home was Clark County, Mississippi, in a little town called Energy. Someone bought an old RV with a bed in the back, and 35 family members loaded up to take Ruby home. Johnna remembers the trip fondly, laughing and reminiscing with her siblings and her parents. They pulled the RV into a local McDonald’s and saw pastor Willie Ray Lowe inside. When Johnna explained where they were headed, Pastor Lowe put down his biscuit, hopped on the RV, and prayed over Ruby. The tumor sat on the part of her brain that affected appetite. She ate and ate on the trip, and they let her. That evening, Johnna remembers her mother saying, “Today has been a good day.” She has a newfound respect for those words and what the journey must have meant to her mother. After Ruby’s passing, that same RV led the funeral procession. When the workers asked where to park it, Johnna insisted, “right behind the hearse.” God got Johnna through every day, and she says she wouldn’t be here without her faith. “God knows survivors have heart, and in every heart, there’s a survivor.” Johnna journaled her entire journey. Before her passing, Ruby would say she talked with family members that had passed years prior, that she saw them on the front porch. She was referring to her childhood “dog trot” house in Mississippi, part built before The Civil War, and part after. Johnna named the Facebook page where she chronicles her journey “The Front Porch.” Releasing her feelings on the blog is Johnna’s way of talking to her mother again. She wears a shirt bearing Ruby’s name, and she is an advocate for those beat down by the fight. Johnna has a light that shines when she speaks, a testament to the darkness she’s endured. She couldn’t save her mother from cancer, but she carried Ruby’s strength into her own battle and won.
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Never Lose Hope LA Oncology is Ready to Help Fight BY DR. SANJAY JOSEPH
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CTOBER IS THE MONTH THAT HAS BECOME synonymous with breast cancer. Breast cancer is a disease that does not discriminate based on age, color, race or gender. Instead, it is the disease that we, in the Oncology community, are fighting to find a cure for at all stages. The solidarity shown for survivors and fighters during the month of October is awe-inspiring. But, that show of strength should not be kept solely for the month of October. We should continue this push for answers and cures year round regardless of cancer type. No person’s diagnosis is just represented by a color. It is represented by the fight, the struggle, the grit and the tenacity that all cancer patients and their caretakers must have. Dr. Walker and I are honored to work in a community that rallies around cancer patients. This area displays amazing acts of kindness every day for our cancer patients, such as raising money, doing meal trains, and most importantly, praying for their overall well-being. We witness so much love on so many occasions. The cancer world needs more communities like Monroe, West Monroe and our surrounding areas to encourage other communities to step up their game and rally around their fellow cancer patients not just when called upon. The statistics for breast cancer patients are more encouraging with every year that goes by. Within the Oncology community, the focus for most breast cancer research currently is for stage 4 and triple negative breast cancer patients, as the cure rate is high for those with breast cancer stage 0 to 3. Dr. Walker and I are proud to serve this community six days a week. We have portal access to UAMS, MD Anderson and the Mayo Clinic. This access allows us to give patients treatment right here at home, while allowing patients to access top tertiary centers around the world. Our clinic has many advancements that we look forward to revealing within the coming months. Thank you for supporting us and letting us care for your loved ones. It truly is nothing short of an honor. The doctors of Louisiana Oncology are humble servants of God. For every patient we have come into contact with, we are grateful to God for putting them in our lives. Also, we are blessed with the most kind and warm staff. Our nurses and staff go above and beyond the call
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of duty to ensure that patients feel loved and cared for, like we would care for our own family members. The nurses and staff have developed relationships with the patients separate from our doctor, by praying for the patients’ care and motivating them throughout their treatment. This, in addition to great medical care, is truly what an oncology clinic is supposed to be about. Cancer is a diagnosis, but it most definitely does not define the patient. Treatment and incidence rates vary for different types of cancer, and cancer cure rates do tend to be much higher in the earlier stages. At Louisiana Oncology, we want to be where you turn, when you are ready to fight cancer. We want to fight cancer with you. To schedule an appointment, please call our office at 318-322-HOPE (4673). My prayers go out to all of you with cancer. Never lose faith. Never lose hope. “The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.” Exodus 14:14 Louisiana Oncology, LLC, is a located at 3116 Kilpatrick Blvd. in Monroe. The practice takes pride in caring for patients with cancer and blood disorders. Dr. Joseph founded the practice and opened its doors in 2012. Dr. Walker later joined and have been an excellent partners in the practice. The office is unique as it is set up with a physician portal to MD Anderson, and has access to patient records if a patient has gone to MD Anderson for any extent of care even if it was for a second opinion. This gives patients the opportunity to receive the same quality of care from an institution like MD Anderson while staying close to home. Louisiana Oncology follows the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines that have been formulated and updated by cancer experts from the leading institutions in the country. The practice also partners with other physicians in the community to coordinate the radiation treatment and surgery procedures that patients may require. The clinic provides an ambient setting for patients with peaceful artwork, such as photography of some of the best Louisiana has to offer, all in the hopes of providing serenity during treatment.
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Cleaning with Meaning SaniCan Helps Local Breast Cancer Patient
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INCE 2016, MATT RAINWATER HAS BEEN A PART OF the community with his business, SaniCan. The business originally began as a garbage can and bin cleaning service and eventually grew into a new style of exterior cleaning to the area known as SoftWash. They have been the name to call when it comes to washing your house, roof, fence and decks as well as gutter, sidewalk and driveway cleaning. Since the community has been so good to Matt and his business, he wanted to think of a way to give back, and that is where “Cleaning with Meaning” came from. “With October being breast cancer awareness month, we thought this was the perfect way to help someone in our community that is currently battling breast cancer,” said Matt. Sanican posted on Facebook that they were looking to help a local community member by donating a portion of their proceeds during the month of October, and the nominations poured in. One, however, stood out with numerous nominations. Nelda Hart is originally from Choudrant and currently resides in Farmerville with her husband of three decades, Mike. She has two daughters, Kristi and Melissa, and a son, John “Jay.” Nelda was diagnosed on February 23 with Stage 1 breast cancer and underwent surgery on March 27. “At the time, my daughter was pregnant and that new grandchild, Atlas, has been one of the things that has gotten me through this,” said Nelda. He has been a welcome addition and joined her three older grandchildren - Paul, John Michael and Dylan. After learning of the generosity of Matt and his team at SaniCan, Nelda was overwhelmed. “I am definitely blessed with the people in my life and everyone that nominated me,” said Nelda. “When Matt called to tell me about this, he told me that I had a lot of people who loved me. I guess I knew that but this was a great reminder.” Matt, his wife, Michelle, and their crew met Nelda at her home recently and it was a touching encounter. “They all made me feel very special,” said Nelda. “They didn’t know me from Adam, but they came to my home, talked with me, hugged me, told me they supported me. The money from the proceeds is great and beneficial, of course, but what matters even more is the kindness of strangers and the meaning behind it.” You can call SaniCan today to book a service during the month of October and 10% of total sales will go towards Nelda, as she continues to battle this disease. In addition, SaniCan will be selling t-shirts, and all proceeds will also go to help Nelda with her battle.
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Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Common Risk Factors to Consider
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TUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT YOUR RISK FOR BREAST cancer is due to a combination of factors, however, main factors are being a woman and getting older. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get the disease, and not all risk factors for breast cancer have the same effect. • Getting older. The risk increases with age; most are diagnosed after age 50. • Genetic mutations. Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. • Early menstrual period. Women who start their periods before age 12 are exposed to hormones longer, raising the risk by a small amount. • Late or no pregnancy. A first pregnancy after age 30 and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise one’s risk. • Starting menopause after age 55. Like starting one’s period early, being exposed to estrogen hormones for a longer time later in life also raises the risk. • Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk. • Being overweight after menopause. Older women who are overweight have a higher risk than those at a normal weight. • Having dense breasts. Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see tumors on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer. • Using combination hormone therapy. Taking hormones to replace missing estrogen and progesterone in menopause for more than five years raises the risk. • Taking oral contraceptives. Certain forms of oral contraceptive pills have been found to raise one’s risk. • Personal history of breast cancer. Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get it a second time. • Personal history of certain non-cancerous breast diseases. Some non-cancerous breast diseases, such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ, are associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer. • Family history of breast cancer. A woman’s risk is higher if she has a mother, sister or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either her mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises a woman’s risk. • Previous treatment using radiation therapy. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts before age 30 have a higher risk later in life. • Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) have a higher risk. Women whose mothers took DES while pregnant with them are also at risk. • Drinking alcohol. Studies show that a woman’s risk increases with the more alcohol she drinks. Research suggests that other factors such as smoking, being exposed to chemicals that can cause cancer and night shift working also may increase breast cancer risk. Source: cdc.gov WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 119
C-Change Primer Monroe Garden Study League Presents Climate Change Seminar
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he Monroe Garden Study League, member of The Garden Club of America, is excited to present the C-Change Primer with Kathleen Biggins and Katy Kinsolving on October 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at ULM’s Bayou Pointe Theatre. The event is free of charge and light bites will be served as we learn about climate change from a non-partisan point of view. C-Change Primer is a non-partisan, multi-media seminar on the science of climate change. Founded by group of New Jersey citizens, concerned about climate change and the communication of the science behind it, developed the 45-minute presentation in consultation with scientists, business leaders, and public policy experts working on climate change and the issues caused by changes in the Earth’s climate. The Primer has been widely a hailed as an intelligent, dispassionate introduction to climate change. The C-Change Primer team travels the country presenting the Primer to community groups, business organizations, planning associations and to anyone interested in a fair and balanced approach to the issue. We aim to create an environment where people feel encouraged and safe to ask questions about climate change. How Did C-Change Get Its Start? C-Change Conversations was founded by Kathleen Biggins, Katy Kinsolving, Carrie Dyckman and Pam Mount. The founders wanted to engage their friends, family and colleagues on the topic of climate change in a constructive, non-partisan manner. Initially, they created a lecture series in central New Jersey, inviting nationally known experts to speak on related topics such as renewable energy, extreme weather events, arctic thawing and public policy. From this successful lecture series grew the conviction that many in the community were searching for a comprehensive overview on climate change. In response, the team created The C-Change Primer, a non-partisan, multi-media presentation on the risks and opportunities associated with climate change. This has been seen by over 3,300 people nationwide. New requests for bookings come in every week. C-Change and The Monroe Garden Study League are committed to bringing the discussion of climate change out of the political arena and into our local communities. We believe that engaged, concerned citizens want to know more about how climate change is going to affect their lives and futures. Please join us for this free event featuring two of the founders of the C-Change Primer and join the conversation about climate change. For more information about C-Change, go to www.c-changeconversations. org.
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Southern Roots Dental Dr. Julie Simpson and Dr. Sarah Gregory Provide Individualized Dental Care
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EETH WHITENING IS ONE OF THE MOST ASKED about dental procedures. So when it came to choosing a system that was the most fitting for their office, Southern Roots Dental did not take the task lightly. They wanted to be able to offer a system that would not only give amazing results but would also make for a pleasant experience without the sensitivity that most whitening systems can inevitably trigger. After much research, the doctors discovered the GLO® whitening system and were intrigued by how it works. There are no impressions or trays involved. The Patented GLO® mouthpiece combines LED light and heat resistors in a closed system, which prevents oxygens from escaping the teeth. With each application the mouthpiece warms up to the optimal temperature to accelerate and activate the process for quicker, more efficient results. For optimal whitening results, they recommend the in-office treatment (which takes about 45 min) followed by 5-7 days of at home whitening with the universal mouthpiece that is yours to keep. You can expect to see your teeth up to eight shades whiter! The team at Southern Roots is pleased to be able to offer this highly effective whitening system to their patients with the peace of mind knowing there’s little to no sensitivity involved. Southern Roots is excited to announce their Plan for Health, a smart, affordable alternative to dental insurance. “We know that not everyone has access to dental insurance or the plan they do have doesn’t make sense for them, so we wanted to offer this opportunity,” said Sarah Gregory, dental partner at Southern Roots. This Plan for Health is a membership program that rewards patients for being proactive with their dental health. There are different plan options available, and some of the benefits include several hygiene cleanings, exams and x-rays, as well as a percentage off dental products and procedures. There are no deductibles or yearly maximum on benefits and no exclusions for elective or cosmetic procedures. “We know that there are several small, locally owned businesses it isn’t always feasible to offer dental insurance to employees and we want to be able to help those people,” said Dr. Gregory. Southern Roots Dental is located on North 18th Street in the heart of Monroe. Southern Roots is led and owned by Dr. Julie Simpson and Dr. Sarah Gregory, who strive to provide comfortable and individualized dental care. Southern Roots offers a variety of preventive, restorative and cosmetic procedures. The preventive services include comprehensive exams, dental emergencies, oral cancer screenings, digital imaging, children’s dental care, sports guards, TMJ therapy and cleanings. Restorative dentistry can help to care for patients who suffer from common oral health problems and includes dental crowns, bridgework, fillings, tooth extractions, dentures and implants. Cosmetic dentistry can help achieve a dazzling smile and make positive changes to your teeth for an aesthetically pleasing smile. In addition to in-office whitening, they offer Juvéderm and Botox as well.
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Leave It to The Pros Mr. Electric of Monroe
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OW A NEST PRO CONTRACTOR, MR. ELECTRIC OF Monroe is selling and installing Smart Home Packages. What if a thermostat could do more than control the temperature? Or a smoke and CO alarm could work together with a light bulb to signal danger? When products work with Nest, you don’t have to tell them how to connect. Or what to do. They just work. Here is a list of Nest Pro products Mr. Electric can install for your home: • Thermostats • Cameras • Video Doorbell • Alarm System • Door Lock • Smoke + CO2 Alarm • Nest Aware Whether you are looking for better home security or to save more energy, Mr. Electric is providing different Smart Home Packages. Their helpful staff will listen to your needs and help establish which package is perfect for you and your home. Mr. Electric possesses the technical expertise to upgrade your traditional electrical system to smart home automation. Our licensed electricians have handled electrical repairs, replacements, upgrades and installations in Monroe, West Monroe, Ruston and surrounding areas. We possess expert workmanship alongside world-class customer service through our local contractors. We want you to have trust and confidence in us and that is why our professional electricians will arrive on-time. Before our electricians complete your job, you will receive a detailed estimate of the cost. You can trust our professionals because we conduct routine background checks and update licenses and registrations. In addition to traditional electrical needs, our electricians are knowledgeable about home automation, security camera monitoring and have proper licensing. We at Mr. Electric are owned and operated by a licensed Professional Electrical Engineer with experience in industrial automation. This allows our seasoned electricians to offer technical support and education of smart home integration. Our electricians offer customized home automation packages that cover security packages, energy efficiency packages, lighting packages and any custom package requested by the customer. The options are endless, and Mr. Electric can tailor any package to meet your needs or desires. If you are interested in installing a Smart Home system, call 318-233-3310, and let Erik Redd and his team help you along the way.
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3rd Annual Pumpkin Fest DBK Dance and Performing Arts and the City of West Monroe to Present Event on Saturday, October 20th
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HEN YOU CAN SMELL AUTUMN DANCING IN the breeze and the sweet chill of pumpkin and sunburnt leaves, it’s time to have a festival with crafts, hayrides and all things edible. Join DBK Dance and Performing Arts and the City of West Monroe as we host our third annual Pumpkin Fest on Saturday, October 20th with the help of 88.7 The Cross/Power 92.7 and Macaroni Kid. We are so excited to move to our new venue this year, Kiroli Park. With the help of the City of West Monroe and Macaroni Kid, we are expanding our event and expecting it to be the best one to date! The park will be filled with vendors, food, crafts, entertainment and so much more. Be sure to arrive early, as the first 500 people in attendance will receive a swag bag supplied by 88.7/92.7 filled with goodies. You also don’t want to miss a chance to join in on the raffles for great door prizes provided by each of our vendors! This is a wonderful family friendly event for all ages. For our furry friends, a pet costume parade is hosted by Cooper Veterinary Hospital. For not so furry friends, we can thank Richland State Bank for hosting our Costume Contest. NEW this year…it is open for all ages! Great prizes will be awarded to our winners of both the Pet Parade and Costume Contest! Please be on the lookout for the times of these events on our Facebook page. A special thank you to Ouachita Valley Federal Credit Union for being our Big Pumpkin Stage Sponsor. You don’t want to miss out on all the entertainment throughout the day on stage. We will have performances from DBK Dance and Performing Arts, ULM Hawkline and Cheerleaders…with a special visit from Ace, local cheer squads and school dance teams! If you think a pet parade, entertainment and a costume contest are all, we’ve only just begun. The entire day is filled with shopping from numerous local vendors. You can also eat as much as your heart desires of fall treats and baked goods from beignets to BBQ and good southern, soul food! Sweet tea and sandwiches from Newks, turkey legs from Heckard’s Bar-B-Que or coffee from CC’s Coffee House. Delta Roux n’ Que, Jo-El’s and TASTE Like Heaven will also be serving up their yummy food. The kids can enjoy hayrides, a pumpkin patch with a great photo op, jumpers and canvas painting, just to name a few activities. We hope you will join us as we celebrate all things fall and enjoy a family friendly community event for all ages. For more information on available sponsorship levels or vendor packets, you may email dbkpumpkinfest@yahoo.com.
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Add a Work of Art to Your Tablescape
The Muffin Tin and The Trenton House Offer Style for Your Home
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NNIEGLASS TASTEFULLY ACCENTUATES everything from sleek, modern designs to delicate porcelain, or can be used on its own as a dramatic statement. However, Annieglass is not meant to sit unused admired, but celebrated and integrated into your life and meals. It is meant to be enjoyed not only for special events, but with close family and friends. Select collections are hand-painted with 24k gold and genuine platinum, and then each piece is individually set by hand into kilns, where at high temperatures the glass drapes over handmade ceramic molds. Precious metals permanently fuse to the glass during this step, and the glass “slumps” into their mold’s individual patterns, rendering each piece of Annieglass a unique work of art. The 24k gold and genuine platinum reveal the artisans’ individual brush strokes, as well as a slightly distressed appearance from the organic materials’ movement during kiln fire. These effects are by no means a defect, but rather are intentionally crafted into every unique Annieglass piece to celebrate the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi—in which asymmetry and “imperfection” enhance beauty. You will get a oneof-a-kind piece with Annieglass.
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Not only does it add elegance and style to your home, but is practical with every day use. Surprisingly these beautiful pieces of art are durable. Annie did what no one else was doing. She created something special that everyone not only could admire but also enjoy daily. Almost every piece of Annieglass is dishwasher safe as well as chip-resistant when used with a mild detergent, including the 24k-gold and genuine platinum pieces. Cleaning up after a dinner party or just a special dinner with your family has never been easier. Yes! As Annie loves to say, “Go ahead! Put it in the dishwasher!” Whether you are shopping for that special gift for weddings, anniversaries, or holiday parties or just treating yourself because you can, these beautiful designs will be enjoyed by all. Come shop with us at The Muffin Tin and The Trenton House, and let our friendly staff help you find your new favorite dinner ware or serving piece.
AcuPulse and FemTouch
Laser Treatments for Facial and Vaginal Rejuvenation BY TIMOTHY J. MICKEL, MD, CERTIFIED, AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY
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OSMETIC LASER TREATMENTS of the face have come a long way in the last 25 years. Old lasers treated the skin with a solid beam, so after treatment you looked red and burned. New lasers split the beam into hundreds of small beams that leave tiny islands of normal skin untreated - providing safer, gentler and more comfortable treatment. The increased safety and predictability of fractionated lasers has been a huge advance in facial rejuvenation and has revolutionized the growing field of vaginal rejuvenation. One of the newest of these is the dual use AcuPulse/ FemTouch fractionated CO2 laser. The AcuPulse attachment can treat several signs of aging skin: skin discoloration, sun damage, mild skin laxity and fine lines and wrinkles. In my experience, one of the best uses of this laser is to treat radial lines around the mouth. These “lip lines” come from
activity in the underlying muscles – things like whistling, pursing your lips and using a straw. Muscle tension eventually leads to the radial lip lines around the mouth that most women over 50 begin to notice. Unfortunately, there is no perfect treatment for wrinkles around the mouth. Because these wrinkles result from muscle activity, the ideal treatment would include removing the muscle to prevent the wrinkles from coming back. Obviously, this is not an option, since we would have difficulty speaking and eating. So the best we can do is reduce the muscle movement and minimize - but not completely erase - these wrinkles. I’ve found combining the AcuPulse treatments with Botox and fillers works best. All three steps are outpatient procedures handled in the comfort of my office. The laser treatment is done first. The latter two steps,
Botox and filler, can be done six weeks later during the same visit. The fractionated CO2 laser also has a range of gynecologic uses. It can help with mild stress urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and vaginal laxity after childbirth. These symptoms frequently occur in a woman’s 30s and 40s and aren’t exclusively post-menopausal. It is important to me that my patients look and feel their best, which means treating issues we see, like wrinkles – and these issues that others can’t see, but that impact how youthful you feel. The FemTouch attachment allows rapid, safe, comfortable, non-surgical treatment for these peri-menopausal vaginal symptoms and has revolutionized laser vaginal rejuvenation. I am proud to welcome Kasey Burks, a licensed nurse practitioner, to my practice. Kasey will not only use the FemTouch to perform vaginal treatments in the comfort and privacy of my office, but can inject Botox and fillers as well. Whether you have peri-oral wrinkles or peri-menopausal vaginal symptoms, call Mickel Plastic Surgery at (318) 388-2050 and set up a consultation to see if AcuPulse or FemTouch is right for you. From surgery to lasers and everything in-between, when it comes to looking and feeling your best, if it works, we have it!
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FABRIC of LIFE
The perfectly curated home of Material Things’ owner Joyce and Robert Sims. ARTICLE BY MARÉ BRENNAN P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K E L LY M O O R E C L A R K
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urrounded by the bottomland hardwood forests of Eastern Ouachita Parish, an American flag flies proudly over the yellow farmhouse that Joyce and Robert Sims built and have called home since 2002. Designed by Larry James and built by Lee Harper, a builder from Oak Grove, the home has served the Sims family well. “Our sons grew up here,” says Joyce. Though near (Shelby, 25, lives in West Monroe and is recently engaged) and far (Alex, 29, works at CERN where the Hadron Super Collider is in Geneva, Switzerland as part of his Ph.D.program), the boys’ younger lives were spent exploring this idyllic part of the parish with creeks and bayous traversing the wooded landscape and abundant wildlife at every turn. “When the kids went to college, they each took pieces of furniture and decor with them,” says Joyce, who explains the home’s recent interior renovation, The transformative process began last November by painting the interior yellow walls a liberating creamy white hue, Sherwin Williams Steamed Milk. “I knew
I wanted neutral walls. I went through a lot of suffering in front of Sherwin Williams’ paint chips,” said Joyce. Joyce updated chandeliers, pendant lights and sconces throughout and filled in with key new pieces of furniture to replace those the boys took to start their adult lives. The front porch beckons visitors to linger with a swing positioned on one end piled high with custom pillows created by the homeowner, who is known for her ability to turn fabrics into covetable pillows, bedding, drapery and an occasional quilt. Vintage white-painted iron plant holders from Dallas’ Country Garden Antiques welcome visitors to the cheery front door. As owner and co-founder of Monroe’s venerable source for beautiful home furnishings, decor and design, Material Things, Joyce has made the art of beautiful living easier for all who have found her shop. In addition, the homeowner’s easy-going nature and “It’ll be fine” positivity radiate throughout the home. Innate optimism and love for each other is reflected in their style.
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Above: The front porch beckons visitors to linger in a swing piled high with custom pillows created by the homeowner. Vintage iron plant holders from Dallas’ Country Garden Antiques welcome visitors to the cheery front door. Below: The home opens into the dining room and kitchen which is separated by a tall, wrap-around island. Opposite page: A 1960’s wooden table and chairs were stripped down, painted and refinished by Richard Carroll to create a completely different look from the original. Here and on windows along the front of the home, Roman shades made of natural woven material provide a neutral window covering. The Aiden Gray chandelier was sourced from Material Things.
The back covered porch is an oasis which overlooks a magnificent pool. Robert’s grandparents’ black wright iron table and chairs set the stage for al fresco dining. The tablecloth is a find from antiquarian Nick McKinney, along with the concrete garden bust, which had been a fixture in Nick’s storied garden in Monroe. Vintage, mid-century modern wrought iron chairs were sourced by Joyce at an estate sale in Monroe. Joyce created custom cushions for each chair, ensuring pleasurable hours spent overlooking the pool as hummingbirds chase each other from feeder to feeder. Dotted around the yard, bluebird houses provide shelter for nesting pairs which return twice a year to raise new families and hours of birdwatching enjoyment. Terra-cotta pots filled with herbs and lead the way to the back door and the home’s open concept kitchen. Just inside the back door the home opens into the dining room and kitchen which is separated by a tall, wrap-around island. “Robert likes to joke that the whole house was built around the farmhouse sink. It’s true. I do love it. I had the sink before the house plans, and we had to add height to the island to make the sink work,” says Joyce. Added storage for cookbooks is created in a niche on the side of the island cabinetry. 128 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
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sunny alcove overlooking the back patio contains a stylish aluminum desk from IKEA and a painted wrought iron daybed that the couple’s energetic, brindle Jack Russell/Boston Terrier mix loves to lounge on during the day. “This is CoCo’s spot,” claims Joyce of the bed (once a hospital bed that Joyce and her mom rescued and painted), piled luxuriously high with pillows made by the homeowner. “If CoCo has a choice between a down pillow or plain, she always goes for the down!” Joyce’s friend and co-founder of Material Things, Peggy Gonzales, made the tiny sachet pillow that takes center stage on the daybed. The rug that brightens the spot belonged to Mrs. Billie Berry. When Mrs. Berry sold Joyce the rug, she told her it was the first rug she bought with her husband, Oliver; thus beginning Berry’s lifetime of collecting beautiful rugs. Says Joyce, “The colors are perfect. I am 130 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
lucky to have acquired many of Mrs. Billie’s rugs. They add so much warmth to our polished concrete floors.” The vignette over the desk includes Lori Young Louisiana series paintings mixed in with French oyster plates. The hanging cabinet was a find from a shopping trip to Dallas with Peggy. The desk chair with airy, lucite legs is sourced from Material Things. Illuminating sheers sewn by Joyce cover the nook’s windows and are hung on IKEA wire tension rods. In the adjacent dining area, the furnishings Joyce has combined here are a testament to the art and versatility of painted furniture. A rolling bar cart was sourced from Canton, Texas and Dolly Jordan gave it new life with paint. A 1960’s wooden dining set was stripped down, painted and refinished by Richard Carroll to create a completely different look from the original. Here and on windows along the front of the home, Roman shades made of natural woven material
provide a neutral window covering. The Aiden Gray chandelier was sourced from Material Things. During the re-painting of the home, all of the art was taken down and Joyce decided to create a gallery wall in the living room of some of her favorite landscape and bird paintings and objects. To create her design for the wall, she laid out all the artwork on the floor until she got the balance right, then transferred the paintings to the wall. An old English trunk which Joyce has had since her high school days in West Monroe serves as an interesting coffee table. “My nephew calls it the ‘treasure chest,’” says Joyce. Sconces on either side of the fireplace mantle are by Aiden Gray and were sourced through Material Things. The neutral sofa is also from a line of upholstered furnishings carried at Material Things. Robert was able to restore a Swedish tall clock from the 1700s to working order. Joyce found the clock at the Round Top Antiques Fair,
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one of her favorite places to source antiques for her shop. Vintage Fortuny fabric pillows by Becky Vizard add elegance to the sofa. B. Viz pillows are available through Material Things and are sought after for their one-of-a-kind embellishments and use of antique fabrications. An Art-Deco style club chair in rich leather is Robert’s favorite perch. A pair of swivel glider chairs from Joyce’s shop are upholstered in a graphic print. The cow painting above the mantle was another prize found at Round Top Antiques Fair. A large Hekman armoire was sourced from Bodie’s in Ruston and hides the television and audio/visual equipment. Acrylic waterfall nesting side tables add a lightness to the conversational area. In the master bedroom and en suite bathroom, the Sims find a welcome retreat from the bustle of their busy lives. The Material Things workroom made all the drapery, the duvet cover and countless custom pillows for the space. Laughs Joyce, “One Christmas, Robert gave me an electric staple gun, and it was the best gift ever.” Joyce also calls attention to the crewel work antique fabric shades on bedside lamps which were custom created by her former partner and fabric co-conspirator Peggy. Above the headboard hangs a handpainted fabric fragment discovered in a flea market in Geneva, Switzerland. “We had recently taken a trip to see Alex, and I knew it could easily be rolled up in my suitcase for the trip back to the states. Lisa at Timbermill framed it for me, sewing the fabric to the boxed frame for effect. The guy I bought it from was a true eccentric, wearing only a top hat and shorts, no shoes or shirt,” exclaims Joyce. An upholstered chair from Anthropologie is outfitted a botanical toile. Because the bed is so tall, Joyce added a bench to aid CoCo. Above a handpainted, Italianate desk are photos of the couple’s ancestors, at the top are Joyce’s, at bottom are Robert’s, including his grandfather from Start who participated in D-Day +1 at Normandy and his grandmother who entered America through Ellis Island as a little girl. The two met in New York City and soon they married and she was living in the little country town, a far cry from the Big Apple. The door covering beside the desk is Vosca Honey, an English linen that Joyce loves for its Asian flair in hues of pinks, greens and honey. The bedspread is a washable mattelasse by Lili Alessandra which can be sourced through Material Things. 132 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
For the home’s master bathroom, the Material Things workroom sewed the shower curtain. An Italian tole chandelier dangles above the jetted soaking tub. Peggy found the perfectly proportional rattan cabinet that fit perfectly between the two pedestal sinks. Antique mirrors above the sinks were Antique Alley finds. Wall-mounted brown transferware plates and serving pieces provide luscious counterpoints to the serene turquoise painted walls. As Joyce surveys the bathroom, she says, “There is a lot of Peggy in here,” as she points to a bee painting that hangs above the closet door. “That bee art was from the first time Peggy and I went to Round Top.” Peggy and Joyce first met at Fabulous Fabric, where they were both working part-time. They quickly realized their shared love of fabrics, home decor, antiques and vintage items would make them a great team. Together, they opened Material Things on Park Avenue originally, moving to the Forsythe location in 2013. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 133
The Sims’ own idea of nesting reaches its nexus within their home in the lovingly and carefully curated collections interspersed throughout. Nowhere in the home are Joyce and Robert’s passions on display more than the upstairs Great Room. The room, which runs the entire length of the home, is distinctly divided into a His and Hers, if you will, to provide Joyce an enigmatic workroom, filled with colorful fabrics, sewing equipment and an oversized table to spread all of her large fabric projects out with ease. “Obviously, I’m a fabric-oholic. It’s so pretty, I can get pulled in by color,” says the talented homeowner. “Upstairs is set up to do just about any kind of sewing I want to do.” Joyce, who learned to sew from her mother, began her own sewing journey by making a quilt. “It was the first thing I ever made,” says Joyce, “I was pregnant with Alex, and I wanted to make a baby quilt for him. I had no clue what I was doing; I just did it and figured it out as I went.” That first project has evolved into home decor. Laughs Joyce, “When people 134 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
figure out you can sew, you won’t believe the projects you get asked to take on.” On Robert’s side of the Great Room, a pool table finds its place among what many would call a mini-museum of World War II military objects, including cots, uniforms, trunks, canteens and ammunition, neatly displayed on shelves and life-like vignettes. Most of the items are original WWII vintage pieces, including wool blankets and other items that Robert sourced from Army Supply stores throughout the country. “There’s a story behind each piece, and things were built to last back then,” says the collector. Says style connoisseur Cathi French of the Sims’ and their home, “These are collected lives in a collected home. It’s the mix that works so well.” Says Joyce, “I’m sentimental, and it can be hard to part with meaningful objects, but Robert is getting better about letting go.” Robert was instrumental in establishing Chennault Aviation and Military Museum and donated many pieces of his grandfather’s WWII memorabilia and photos
to the museum. When the couple’s boys left home for college and adult life, Alex’s bedroom was converted into Robert’s home office, while Shelby’s bedroom received a makeover with a decidedly feminine feel. “Robert calls it my ‘Princess Room,’” laughs Joyce. Originally, this room was painted an avocado green and felt like a cave, according to the homeowner, but with a fresh coat of paint and a headboard designed and upholstered by Joyce and crafted by Robert, the look is delicate and inviting. Joyce created the bedding and chose a vintage turquoise fabric with a contrasting striped trim for window treatments and the duvet. The chest in the corner had been her mom’s as a child, and the large antique old pine armoire is now a permanent fixture in the guest room. “We struggled to get the armoire into the room, so it is definitely not coming out,” laughs Joyce. Stacks of Joyce’s handmade quilts are featured on an antique bread rack. The antique shelf above the rack was a Round Top, Texas find.
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The hallway guest bathroom exudes a very masculine feel. The heavy mirror framed in a dark rubbed mahogany is an antique given to Joyce by her grandmother. European mounted deer antlers above the mirror were a purchase from Victor Cascio’s estate. The shower curtain, reminiscent of a Ralph Lauren fabric was sewn by Joyce especially for the bathroom. A World War I artillery basket hangs above the toilet to hold toiletries. The lamp on the countertop was a candlestick converted to a lamp by wiring wizard, H.L. Brown. Robert’s office, which had been converted from Alex’s bedroom, is the homeowner’s retreat for peace and quiet while working from home. European mounted deer antlers are trophies from time spent hunting with his sons and friends. A trunk at the center of a conversational seating area in the office is actually an antique WWII field desk. Once opened, the trunk transforms into a desk complete with drawers and a stool. Robert’s has always exhibited a passion for collecting WWII memorabilia and for restoring antique vehicles and has just recently begun collecting vintage Coleman lanterns, which provided a source of light for troops in the field. A shadowbox filled with Robert’s grandfather’s antique, hand-painted fishing lures are a reminder of the craftsmanship of past generations. Robert’s deep appreciation for history is evident. One of his prized possessions is a copy of the ship’s manifest that bears the name of his great grandfather, who arrived in America in the early 1900s and found work as a chef at the famed Waldorf Astoria in New York City. He believes his grandmother arrived in the United States as a young child around 1907 with her mother to join his great grandfather. Robert, whose of love of cars and military ephemera runs deep, is fittingly the fleet manager for CenturyLink, traveling the country to ensure the Fortune 100 company’s wheels are ready when they are. His well-outfitted shop is just few steps away from the pool and back patio. Here beneath a large pre-World War II American flag with 48 stars is the haven where Robert’s passion for restoring antique military vehicles is satisfied. Robert first started as a mechanic for Coca-Cola and eventually began managing the fleet operations for industry giant. He has managed CenturyLink’s fleet operations for the last four years. Robert’s most recent vehicle renovations have included a 1942 Ford/ Willys Jeep collaboration, explaining that because of high demand, Ford was contracted to build Jeep Willys for the Armed Services. Robert painstakingly documented the restoration process with photographs to illustrate the incredible care that went into crafting the original vehicle. A 1952 Jeep was a gift from a Korean War Veteran in Paducah, Kentucky. Robert had painted a Jeep for him and in return he was given this Jeep to restore. Another of his vehicle restorations, an Air Force Crash Rescue Truck, won many awards for Robert’s attention to detail and is on permanent exhibition at the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Comfortable in scale and heroically edited in style and substance, the Sims’ home is the epitome of a thoughtfully curated home filled with unbridled optimism and enthusiasm for the past, present and future.
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Lewis’ Gifts of Shreveport Unique Blend of Personal Service and Luxury Products
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THE LEWIS FAMILY OF LEWIS’ GIFTS HAS BEEN A part of Shreveport, Louisiana’s retail community for over 90 years. The small shop that began as a pharmacy back in the 1920s and was transformed into a gift shop in 1985 grew so much that the family ultimately found a new home and a new 12,000 foot showroom at 5807 Youree Drive in 2008. Today, Catherine Lewis Hobbs is the fourth generation to own Lewis’ Gifts along with her brother Mike Lewis who runs the adjoining café, Biscotti’s. The staff has a combined 259 years of retail experience, and most of them have been with the company for many years. That family atmosphere coupled with impeccable personal service is one of the hallmarks of Lewis’ Gifts. Another signature hallmark is the breathtaking selection. Walking into Lewis’ Gifts transports guests into a world of new options, from the perfect gift that pampers to graceful home décor. Lewis’ Gifts carries the brands you love such as Jon Hart, Niven Morgan, Vietri, Juliska, Skyros, Tyler Boe and Bella Notte Bedding in the latest trends as well as classics you’ll love forever. The bustling store showcases everything from artisan bath products to baby gifts and clothing. They also carry fabulous women’s clothing, accessories and jewelry. Lewis’ Gifts is the perfect place to take your home into every season. The staff can show you some simple additions in china, flatware and linens for an easy update to your tabletop design. They can help you coordinate throw pillows and matching lamps, as well as home accents for inside or outdoor entertaining. Their candles, scented soaps and gourmet packaged foods will add a welcoming note to your guestroom. Lewis’ Gifts is known throughout the South as a wedding registry destination with full service and attention to detail. Each wedding party receives personal service customized just for them. Lewis’ offers almost everything the newlyweds need to start a new home together. The wedding consultants and staff make it their priority to ensure a timely follow-through and personal experience. Registering your wish list is easy and convenient, whether it is in the store or online! As you enjoy your shopping, plan to stay for lunch! Biscotti’s is located inside Lewis’ Gifts and offers a delectable menu with something to delight every taste. Catering and Meals-to-Go is also available offering sandwich trays, casseroles, sides, salads, dessert trays, soups, pies and cakes. Biscotti’s can handle catering for small families and larger parties. So whether you’re looking for something to spruce up your home for the winter or for the perfect gift to delight and pamper, the staff at Lewis’ Gifts is ready to help. Their convenient location and unique blend of personal service and luxury products will enhance your style and your life.
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B AYOUKID Z
FALL IS IN THE AIR Getting the Whole Family in On Fall Decorating article by Cindy G. Foust
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appy Fall, y’all! There’s one month a year I can say that and get away with it…otherwise it just sounds like something I’m making it up because it’s always so blasted hot. And to be honest, it doesn’t really feel like fall outside right now, but hey, by the time this month’s magazine lands in your driveway, it will be the first of October, and it SHOULD feel like fall. But it probably won’t then, either. But guess what, readers? It’s the holidays! Yes, they are here, they are here with pumpkins, hay bales and cheer (I haven’t rhymed in a while…had to make sure I could still do it.) I mean, didn’t we just put all those decorations in the attic? It flies by, I’m telling you, time that is, and the older I get, the faster and faster it goes. Maybe we should just leave our holiday decorations out all year and save ourselves the trouble of putting it all up and taking it all down. I mean, there are several retail establishments that “re-start” the holiday season in like May, so why not just subscribe to it in our homes? Santa in the Spring and Jolly Ole Saint Nick in a Speedo…wait…I may be on to something. Speaking of our homes, this month’s magazine is all about the home life, and boy, was I relieved to hear it. Last month’s column gave me hives with all that fashion talk and quite frankly, I hope it’s another year before we circle back around to that topic. And I know I promised to update you on “How to Paint Your Nails for Halloween” (well, black…DUH?) and “Thanksgiving Day Beauty Tips” (just put on a velour warm-up suit with an elastic waistband and call it a day), but honestly, I was just so excited to get to the heart of my column this month, I didn’t have time to do my due diligence on those topics, so I’m leaving you to your own devices. If you’ve read my column for any length
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of time, you know fall is my favorite time of year. I just love the season, it’s a little slower, or it should be, especially around Thanksgiving, right before the Christmas craziness starts up. Back when I was growing up on the “prairie,” fall was definitely a season we celebrated and looked forward to as much as the Christmas holidays, and I’ve tried to maintain that same love affair with this season in my own family.
Y’all know I am a strong proponent of family time, and I try to advocate for “the family that plays together stays together,“ so I’m taking yet another opportunity to encourage your family to “fall-er-gize” your home (haven’t made a word up in a while, either, but that’s a pretty good one, too, so it will suffice to say that I am BACK.) Last fall, I encouraged your families to make a “Fall Bucket List” and go visit the pumpkin patch and have a tailgate party. This year, I’m not saying you need to “knit a scarf” or make “pumpkin pie play dough (that’s a TERRIBLE idea, actually), but what I am
saying is that it will be a great idea to “fall-ergize” your home for fall, and you should do it as a family. I’m sure many of you do that already, well duh, but have you ever included the entire family? Even my 20-year old son loves to come home to the house all decorated, so imagine the excitement of the younger kids, especially if the entire family gets involved in the process. That’s right, even dear ole dad can get in on the action and first things first, you should start with the front porch. Nothing screams fall like the front of someone’s home that is decorated with mums, pumpkins and maybe a few cornstalks. Take a family trip to any of the local pumpkin patches, farmer’s market, garden marts or even the local retail giant and stock up on all the essentials. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to spruce up the front porch and let the kids help in putting it all out. Feeling overwhelmed? Just not a decorator? Jump on Pinterest and snag a picture of a front porch that strikes your fancy and copy away. They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so imitate until your heart’s content. I think it would also be a great idea to stuff a Scarecrow and sit him out front on a haybale. Your kids will love getting their dad’s overalls (if dad actually has overalls, please refer to last month’s column in the event he decides to wear them in public) out and stuffing them with hay. Next, bring the magic inside and pull out the boxes of fall decorations. You do have those, right? (If not, ease on over to my house, I can hook you up, because my attic looks like I threw up HGTV, even AFTER I put all my stuff out.) If anyone is like me and loves to bring in the outside elements when I’m decorating, make your way outside and look for colorful leaves, berries and pinecones. Hey, I’m not saying you need to have the family out gathering acorns, but it would be great to include everyone in the “gathering CONTINUED ON PAGE164
BALD ON THE BAYOU 5th Annual St. Baldrick’s Fundraising Event Event organizers are proud to announce the 5th Annual St. Baldrick’s fundraising event in Northeast Louisiana, called Bald on the Bayou and set to take place on October 6, 2018. The Bald on the Bayou event is a major community and fundraising event that primarily consists of individuals who volunteer to have their heads shaved in exchange for donations from friends and family, as well as a way of showing solidarity with children who have lost their hair due to treatment for cancer. The event also includes many fun activities for children and families, including a silent auction, photo booth and
other engaging activities. Since 2014, Northeast Louisiana’s only St. Baldrick’s event has raised more than $52,000 and has shaved more than 175 heads. “We are very excited, as we are nearing this year’s Bald on the Bayou event,” said volunteer event organizer Justin McLeod. “Each and every year, more and more members of our community show up and show out to help us make a huge impact for children fighting cancer! We want to invite everyone to come join us for this year’s event. It is a lot of fun, and we have some really inspiring people who will be a part of this year’s event. You don’t want to miss it!” Event organizers expect to reach goals of
fifty heads shaved and $15,000 raised at the 2018 Bald on the Bayou event. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the nation’s leading private funder of childhood cancer research. The organization operates on a grant program, providing monetary grants to doctors and researchers around the world who are conducting research with the goal of developing better treatments and finding a cure for pediatric cancer. In 2017, research partially funded by St. Baldrick’s brought about the first gene therapy treatment in the United States for children with cancer, a revolutionary treatment that was approved by the FDA as a treatment for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Since the organization’s inception in the early 2000s, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has provided grants to multiple researchers and facilities in the state of Louisiana, as well as more than a dozen to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. For the third consecutive year, Bald on the Bayou has partnered with the NELA Celtic Fest to host the two events in conjunction with one another at Kiroli Park, one of Northeast Louisiana’s most popular excursion locations. To schedule media interviews, please contact volunteer event organizer Justin McLeod at (318) 351-1439 or justinmcleod1@ yahoo.com.
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Bent Oaks Boutique on Antique Alley The Largest Selection of Linen in the Twin Cities and More
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OCATED ON ANTIQUE ALLEY IN West Monroe, Bent Oaks Boutique offers one of the largest selections of linen of Twin Cities, as well as unique, handmade jewelry and accessories. But Bent Oaks Boutique is more than just a shop in Antique Alley, it’s a family. The locally owned shop has been open since 2008, and Melissa Futrell recently took ownership in February of 2018. Melissa couldn’t be more excited about being a part of the Antique Alley area. The Bent Oaks staff are friendly and helpful and enjoy visiting with current customers and meeting new ones! “We are always looking to grow our family with new customers coming into the store and finding new vendors that offer what our customers are looking for,” said Melissa. Bent Oaks offers a family friendly atmosphere and loves working with ladies of all ages.
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While Bent Oaks is located in the heart of historic downtown West Monroe, they do have customers from all over Northeast Louisiana.” The shop offers popular brands like Elan, Match Point, Russ Berens, Mozaic and more. However, big brands aren’t the only thing they have. Bent Oaks has carries a variety of products from local vendors. You can find home accessories, picture frames, signs and more, made by people right here in Northeast Louisiana. Melissa prides herself on being a locally owned shop and always looks for opportunities to network and work with local vendors. Bent Oaks loves being a part of the Antique Alley community and the MonroeWest Monroe community as a whole. “We are constantly thinking about ways to be involved in the community and love giving back,” said Melissa. Bent Oaks has
participated in the Junior League of Monroe’s annual Spring Market event, hosts open houses during holiday season and recently held a book signing event. Bent Oaks is located at 306 Trenton Street, West Monroe, LA 71291 and has convenient parking directly in front of their shop. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Be sure to follow them on Facebook, as they are often posting new items and even have an occasional opportunity to win a gift card! The holidays are fast approaching so whether you are looking for something to give as a gift or just treating yourself, Bent Oaks has plenty to choose from. Stop by and join the Bent Oaks family!
Give Your Beauty A Boost
Choose Derma MediQ for Your Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedure
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OR THE PAST THIRTEEN YEARS, DR. SAIDI SOWMAFakhre has been providing state-of-the-art, medically-supervised beauty regimens at Derma MediQ. Dr. Sowma-Fakhre is Board Certified in Aesthetic Medicine and Pediatrics. Her goal with each client is the creation of a rejuvenated and refreshed face, which she achieves through a conservative approach. She provides noninvasive aesthetic treatments for teenagers and adults which includes Botox®, Juvéderm™, Radiesse, Kybella®, Bellafill, Restylane, Fractora, Lumecca, Diolaze, Thermashape, acne treatment, Sclerotherapy (for spider veins on legs), Obagi Blue Peel, Obagi Skin Care products, laser hair removal, permanent makeup, Photofacials and prescriptions for Hyperpigmentations. Among her most popular treatments are Bellafill, which is the only dermal filler that stimulates collagen growth long term to help maintain your youthful appearance for up to 5 years. Over time, your body uses the microspheres in Bellafill to create a “scaffold” onto which your own natural collagen can develop. This collagen forms a foundation that adds volume to wrinkles, reducing their appearance – and giving you natural-looking results that feel soft and smooth. Bellafill is also used to fade acne scars by adding volume to them, bringing them to the level of the surrounding skin and keeping them there long-term.
If you’re bothered by fat under the chin and don’t want to have surgery, KYBELLA® may be for you. The active ingredient in KYBELLA® is synthetic deoxycholic acid. When injected into the fat beneath the chin, KYBELLA® destroys fat cells, resulting in a noticeable reduction in fullness under the chin. Once destroyed, these cells can no longer store or accumulate fat, so further treatment is not expected once you reach your desired aesthetic goal. Dr. Sowma-Fakhre also specializes in Fractora, a non-invasive skin renovation without surgery. Fractora is a fractional skin resurfacing and subdermal tissue coagulation device that bridges the gap between fractional lasers and surgical procedures. Clinical papers demonstrate outcomes, such as improvement in skin complexion, reduction in skin irregularities and restoring skin to a more youthful appearance. This all occurs within one session or multiple sessions, depending on patient preference. Fractora can be used on active cystic acne and acne scars. The staff at Derma MediQ not only has an eye for aesthetics, but the medical knowledge necessary to safely provide patients with the relaxed and rejuvenated look they want. Schedule your consultation today and give your beauty a boost.
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Brasher Group
Dedicated to Serving Our Clients and Meeting Their Needs
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S THE TOP-PRODUCING REAL ESTATE TEAM IN the Northeast Louisiana area, Brasher Group is excited to serve you in all of your real estate needs. Working for Keller Williams, we work for the #1 real estate company in the United States, both in agent count and in sales production. Our team is dedicated to investing in relationships with our clients, keeping upto-date on the market trends in the area and consistently protecting our clients’ interests. Through savvy negotiations and cutting-edge marketing strategies, Brasher Group offers unparalleled services to ensure our clients’ success. We want our clients to have the best experience possible when buying and/or selling their homes. Brasher Group agents specialize in listing and selling residential, commercial properties and land. Brasher Group currently has properties listed in six Northeast Louisiana parishes from Lake D’Arbonne to Lake Claiborne, so whether you are buying or selling – no matter where you live we can help! Our agents love Northeast Louisiana! We were born and raised in this area, our agents are committed to helping Northeast Louisiana grow and thrive. We understand the importance of family – that is how our business began. We know that making a move can be the most important event in a family’s life. We want to treat you like family, like we would want to be treated. Our team is made up of nine agents and two assistants, who are ready to serve you in your real estate needs. Whether you are just beginning to look for a home or you are putting your home on the market, we can provide you with full service from beginning to end. Real estate is our passion and finding our clients their perfect home is our goal. We are passionate about giving back to our community as a way of saying “thank you.” Each year, we strive to give back in meaningful ways, including serving the Boys and Girls Club; helping local churches with school supply drives and Operation Christmas Child; supporting LA Tech, Grambling, ULM and local schools; and volunteering at various organizations and charities. We love our community and firmly believe that it is important to give back to the area that we serve. Call Brasher Group today to speak to one of our agents and find out how we can best serve you. Our Agents include Kim Brasher - Briley Cotton, Turner Brasher, Paul Costello, Bambi Hinson, Barry Brasher, Jennifer Smith, Tammy Patterson and Melinda Adkins. Pictured above: 1509 West Kentucky, Ruston, La. Call today to see this great property! 142 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
We’re in This Together 3D Mammography Available for You at Delhi Hospital
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E DO MANY THINGS ALONE. WE GO TO THE mall, alone. We go to the grocery store, alone. We drive to the salon, alone. That’s because we are made to be strong. Independent. Perfect in every way. But sometimes life presents its challenges. When you or a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer, you find yourself joining together not only with family and friends, but co-workers, church groups and even the members of the medical team around you. You don’t have to do it alone. At Delhi Hospital, we offer 3D Mammography and are proud to offer such a lifesaving service in our community. While the stress of going through this process can be straining, there are certain things that you shouldn’t have to worry about. As a 2018-2019 grantee of Susan G. Komen, Project Pink at Delhi Hospital is here to help uninsured and underinsured women get the medical attention they need. Project Pink is a fundraising campaign targeting Delhi and the surrounding communities. Led by Delhi Hospital, this campaign raises funds for the 3D Mammography Program, allowing the uninsured women of our community to receive a free screening and diagnostic 3D mammograms. 100% of all profits will go directly towards providing the women in OUR COMMUNITY with free mammograms and a better mammogram experience. Our Mammography Area is quiet, comfortable and confidential. Having medical tests completed can create anxiety and make one feel very uneasy. But, at Delhi Hospital, we take all of those feelings into account and help give you the best experience possible. The best part? You don’t have to do it alone. Research has revealed that cancers found during early screening exams are often smaller in size and still confined to the breast, as compared to those found later. When considering both the factors of size and spread of breast cancer - the most important predictors of prognosis for women with the disease - early detection has become a strategic focus in cancer prevention and care. Gwyn Ogden, Director of Radiology at Delhi Hospital says, “The fight against breast cancer takes a huge leap forward with the availability of 3D Mammography. With fewer false positives and the ability to detect a greater number of small invasive breast cancers, Delhi Hospital and our experienced team will continue to do our part in saving lives by using these superior images.” You don’t have to do it alone. At Delhi Hospital, you’ll find that we are here for you and your family. If you, a friend, family member or loved one needs an annual mammogram, give us a call at 318-878-6459. From scheduling, to testing, to helping you along the way, Delhi Hospital 3D Mammography is here for you. The best part of it all? You don’t have to do it alone. Call us today, 318-878-6459 to schedule your 3D mammography. We’re in this Together…
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Passion for Building
Flanigen Builders Can Build Your Future Today BY CHRISTY FLANIGEN
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ASSION COMES IN ALL FORMS. FOR EDDIE FLANIGEN with Flanigen Builders, construction is his passion. Over the past 20 years, Eddie has created a company that strives for quality work and customer satisfaction. In fact, he highly values the client-contractor relationship. After all, it’s through his clients’ recommendations and accolades that he has built a sound, well-respected reputation throughout the community. Building or remodeling a home is a tedious process, so selecting your contractor is one of the single most important decisions you’ll make concerning your construction project. Every step has a reason or a step that precedes it. Eddie guides the way for a smooth and enjoyable experience. Being very knowledgeable in the up-to-date trends of custom homes and striving to make your new home perfect for you and your family is what sets Flanigen Builders apart from the rest. No matter the size of the project, Flanigen Builders can meet your needs. Eddie assists each client from selecting or creating the ideal house plan to welcoming you home to your own haven. Custom cabinetry, gourmet kitchens, stone fireplaces, beamed ceilings, mahogany offices, luxurious baths, outdoor entertaining areas, pools, spas, fountains…the possibilities for your home are limitless and within reach. Even if you
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lack the vision or know-how, Eddie will put all of your worries to rest. As a licensed general contractor, Eddie can also provide construction services to businesses in Northeast Louisiana. Whether your office building needs to expand to better suit your business needs or you need a new structure for your business, Flanigen Builders is the smart choice. Eddie can design a functional, yet friendly, business setting that is current with the times and will help take your business to the next level of service. With each and every project, Eddie provides an incomparable level of service to his clients. There is no middle man or second hand. He is the one clients deal with on a day-to-day basis. He is the one on job sites every day. Your project is his calling card, and he takes every step to ensure the job is done right. Simplify the building process, and hire a qualified, licensed professional. Call Eddie Flanigen with Flanigen Builders for a free quote. He can make your dreams a reality and help you enjoy the experience. It’s a logical choice with great benefits. You can also check out completed custom homes and other projects at flanigenbuilders. com, as well as Flanigen Builders Facebook page.
Custom Designs by Kim’s Floor Décor Always Better Prices, Always Better Service
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IM’S FLOOR DÉCOR IN WEST MONROE, IS ONE OF the best flooring and home décor stores in the area. They can give a personalized free estimate, and the staff will work with you until you have exactly what you dreamed. From flooring to tile work and from kitchen backsplashes to custom showers, Kim’s Floor Décor can do it all. Comfort, durability, style and cost are key considerations, when choosing floors for your home. The most popular type of resilient flooring, vinyl is durable, low maintenance and easy on the budget. Vinyl floor has more depth and texture today than it did a generation ago, so it can look like hardwood, tile and stone, and it comes in a variety of colors. Vinyl is soft underfoot, so it’s comfortable to stand on for long periods. It’s also warmer to the touch than hard surfaces like tile. Vinyl comes in various levels of gloss, so you can get a range of looks. In the prior century, vinyl was predominately used for kitchens, bathrooms and other areas of the home, where water, other moisture and dirt were present due to its resistance to such. Now vinyl is used everywhere, not only for the water and dirt resistance, but also for its resilience and long-lasting durability. Just about any vinyl floor will last over 20 years in a residential space. That means no sanding, refinishing or replacing your floors for a lengthy stretch of time. Vinyl is
also known for being easy to maintain and clean. All it takes is regular sweeping and occasional mopping. Last, but certainly not least, luxury vinyl plank floors are costfriendly, when compared to real wood or real tile floors. So, in essence, you get the best of both worlds; a floor with supreme realistic wood and stone looks that comes with all the advantages of vinyl. It’s no wonder why luxury vinyl has become the trendsetter that it has this century. Quality work with quality people. If you are looking to build or remodel, please consider Kim’s Floor Décor. They will help you every step of the way, through the design process to the installation and more. They have the lowest prices in town on materials and installation. With free estimates, you can’t go wrong, so call Kim’s today, and let this be the beginning of having the home you always envisioned. Kim’s Floor Décor 1309 Glenwood Dr. West Monroe, LA 71291 Phone: 318-323-0646 • Cell: 318-953-3671 Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday by appointment
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Heather Guillot is More Than Just a Realtor Local Realtor Helps With Ideas and Projects with New Venture
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ITH NEARLY A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN THE real estate industry, Heather Guillot is an expert in her field. She specializes in getting to know her clients and helping with their specific wants and needs, when it comes to selling and buying a house. One of the things that sets Heather apart is the ability to think outside the box, allowing her to market herself and her listings in a creative way, reach a wide audience, and ultimately, help her client purchase a new home or sell a property. “One of my favorite things about my job is being able to meet people from all over,” said Heather Guillot. “I can be someone’s first contact when moving to the area, and walk them through the entire process of buying a home. It is one of the biggest investments that people will make and I take that seriously. I value my clients and don’t just look at it as a transaction.” In 2017, Heather and her mother-in-law, Jackie Guillot, founded Vanguard Realty. Located on Trenton Street in the heart of downtown West Monroe, the real estate office is strategically positioned to be apart of the area’s revitalization, growth and synergy. Since opening the real estate office, Heather has even gone a step further. She has started her own business, Beyond the Front Porch, which offers interior decorating, home design and re-design,
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event planning and decorating, craft projects and outdoor space design and decorating. “This was a natural progression,” said Heather. “I was already doing a lot of these things, and I wanted to make it official and offer it to my clients. Not only can I help you purchase or sell a home, I can help you after as well.” Heather is very involved in the community, as well, and as has served on several boards for non-profit organizations, including the Junior League of Monroe, Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, Fashion Fusion, Children’s Coalition and Salvation Army. She is also involved with Big Whit 77, Miss Spirit of the Ouachita pageant and Junior Garden Club. Heather is the PTO President at George Welch Elementary, a member of Rebel Club and a member of First West Baptist Church. Not only is Heather giving back to the community through these activities, she is constantly networking and connecting. If you are looking to list your home or searching for your dream home, Heather Guillot is the name to call. But even if you aren’t in the market for a home, she can help you improve your home, create an amazing birthday party or pull off that Pinterest project you have been eyeing!
A Breakthrough Solution
New Option for Men Seeking Optimal Sexual Performance BY JUDY WAGONER
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GING IS A FACT OF LIFE, BUT looking and feeling youthful is often something we “can” control. We are a generation of people seeking preventive and regenerative medicine, non-surgical aesthetic alternatives and sexual wellness solutions. Professional Laser Center delivers on all of these fronts. Studies show one in two adult males, between the ages of 40 and 70, will have sexual changes they consider problematic. However, there are now solutions to sexual dysfunction that men deserve to know about. Soundwave or Shockwave Therapy is an astounding, new treatment for men which uses pulsed, acoustical waves. The technology is technically known as “extracorporeal shockwave therapy” or ESWT. Pulse waves at specific frequencies deliver a mechanical force to the body’s deep tissues, which causes microtrauma to the area. In response, the body begins to repair the area
with new blood vessels and nerve connections. The result is improved blood flow, and an increase in size, firmness and sensitivity. Today, pulsed wave therapy is the latest protocol to address the root cause of erectile dysfunction, which is poor blood flow. It also helps patients who do not suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), but simply want better performance overall. This painless, non-surgical, in-office procedure takes about 15 minutes to perform, requires no medications and has been used throughout the world for ED. Most protocols require about six treatments, preferably two per week. Currently, shock wave therapy is not FDA approved for ED alone, but there are multiple studies hailing its effectiveness, and U.S. trials are very promising. Professional Laser Center offers shock wave therapy as a stand-alone procedure or in combination with two integrative treatments,
testosterone replacement and the “P-Shot.” Human Identical Testosterone can be replaced with pellets or creams. Pellets are 100% optimal, compared to creams, which are only 30% optimal. The “P-Shot” improves penile circulation. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), taken from the patient’s own blood and injected into certain areas of the body, regenerates and rejuvenates the body’s tissues, so they work better. Studies show an 86% improvement rate with Shockwave Treatment, combined with the P-Shot and testosterone replacement. So far, Professional Laser Center has seen results consistent with that number. ED not only affects the patient, but his partner, as well. By combining Shockwave Therapy with Testosterone replacement and PRP, Professional Laser Center can address and treat this most troubling problem. Medical Director, Dr. Victor Zuckerman performs all of these procedures. He has been offering hormone replacement to both men and women for almost a decade. He is a Diplomat in the American Academy of Anti-Aging. For more information on shockwave therapy, hormone replacement, PRP or the myriad of procedures offered at our center, head to our website, www.professionallaser. com. To schedule a free consultation or an appointment, call 318-361-9066.
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HOMECOMING NFL Great Johnny Robinson reflects on his life and legacy – on the field and off
To hear Johnny Robinson talk about his years on the gridiron must be at least a little like listening to Churchill talk about World War II. It’s not just that he lived the events he’s sharing. He embodies them. ARTICLE BY MICHAEL DEVAULT At 80 years old, Robinson is on the PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMERALD MCINTYRE precipice of taking his rightful place alongside names like Montana, Lambert and Lombardi. In mid-August, Robinson learned that he had been selected as the Seniors nominee for the NFL Hall of Fame Class of 2019. For fans in Dallas, Baton Rouge and Kansas City, it was an honor a long time coming. For the humble Robinson, it was something else altogether. “After all this time, I thought I had been forgotten,” Robinson tells BayouLife. “I was so thrilled to be notified. I can’t tell you how pleased I was to be notified.” The news comes long after his career highlights clips have given way to younger athletes, many of whose worthy records of achievement lack the luster of Robinson’s career. Robinson is, after all, a Super Bowl champion, a three-time American Football League champion and a member of the AFL All-Time Team. He also finished 12 seasons in the NFL with 57 interceptions and 17 touchdowns. For many fans and NFL watchers, Robinson’s absence was an oversight almost impossible to explain. On some level, Robinson agrees. But, he thinks that there may be a good reason. “I have no explanation as to why I haven’t already been inducted, except to say that I believe God wanted me to start the Johnny Robinson’s Boys Home, to answer the call He placed on my life,” Robinson says. “The Boys Home and the lives of the young men who have stayed with us is what I have devoted all my time to for the past 38 years.” For decades, Robinson has fielded questions from NFL colleagues, friends and even Hall of Fame voters about his absence. Yet, in each case, his reply remains steadfast. He answered the call, did the work and changed the lives of every boy who stayed in the home. “So I don’t ask why,” he says. “I just know that God has led me on the path that He wanted me to take.” The road to the Hall of Fame may have been a long one, but a close examination of Robinson’s career takes almost as long. That’s saying something about a boy who was born in Delhi, raised in Baton Rouge, played football for University High and caught the attention of legendary football coach Paul Deitzel. Even in his recollection of going to college Robinson demurs. “My dad was the tennis coach at LSU, so I grew up with LSU in my blood, you might say,” Robinson says. “Even though I played at University High on the LSU campus, I never thought that I would be picked to play football at LSU.”
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eitzel saw the young Robinson’s potential, though, and he placed him on the squad as a running back, alongside Billy Cannon. He also played on the defense side, because “back then, we played both ways.” As the starting safety at LSU, he went on to earn his first National Championship with the Tigers in 1958, when the Tigers went undefeated. They’d repeat the feat for the first seven games of the 1959 season, and an injury ended his season early. The Tigers went on to play in the Sugar Bowl, which they lost, but Robinson found himself selected for the 1959 All-SEC team for the second time.
Under the goal posts at the 1959 Sugar Bowl, Robinson’s future changed. Lamar Hunt owned the Dallas Texans, who, in 1963, moved to Kansas City and became the Kansas City Chiefs. Hunt and Dallas Texans head coach Hank Stram wanted to know if he was interested in continuing his career. “I really had not planned to play professional football, so it was a surprise to receive offers to play,” he says. “I had originally planned to join the Air Force after college.” With an offer to play pro football and a choice of which league he’d play in – there were two leagues in 1959, the AFL and the
NFL, and he could play for the Dallas Texans’ AFL squad or the Detroit Lions NFL team – Robinson chose Dallas for two reasons. “I chose Dallas, because it was closer to home and a whole lot warmer,” he says. He began his professional career as a running back and flanker. For his first regular-season game, the Texans faced the Los Angeles Chargers at home. For some of the other rookies on the team, it was an overwhelming experience. For Robinson, it was just another day on the gridiron. “I was used to playing with big crowds in attendance at LSU, but that wasn’t a factor for me,” he says. “I just knew that I was playing with and against great athletes, and the game was faster than college.” Robinson scored his first pro touchdown in Los Angeles. Three years later, he moved to the other side of the line as a safety – a position he’d remain in for most of his career. As a safety, he’d post an impressive 57 interceptions. The game was a lot different back then. Robinson explains. “I played during a time when the rules allowed for more contact with a player, and there weren’t as many rules established to protect players from injury,” he says. “A defensive back could contact a receiver or back going down the field, until the ball was in the air. Then, a defensive player couldn’t contact the receiver, until the receiver touched the ball.” The looser contact rules meant there was a much higher risk of player injury – and injuries happened frequently. In fact, during Super Bowl IV in 1970, Robinson played with three broken ribs and separated cartilage. A thoracic surgeon attempted to relieve the pain
Johnny Robinson is a Super Bowl champion, a three-time American Football League champion and a member of the AFL All-Time Team. He also finished 12 seasons in the NFL with 57 interceptions and 17 touchdowns.
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Robinson was selected as the lone Senior Committee finalist for the Pro-Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019. Inductees must receive an 80%-approval of the voting members to be inducted. The meeting will be held during Super Bowl weekend in February. Robinson has been invited to attend. Results will be announced Super Bowl weekend.
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by injecting Robinson with Novocain, but it made Robinson very dizzy. Robinson’s brother, Tom, who was in residency at Tulane specializing in ophthalmology at the time, made Robinson aware of a drug they were using to relieve pain in the eye that was much longer lasting. The thoracic surgeon was able to get the medication and inject Robinson’s rib cage in hopes that it would work, and it did. Robinson was injected on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday before the game and again during the game, at half-time. The surgeon sat on the bench during the whole game to monitor Robinson’s condition. “My brother, Tom, told us about the medicine that enabled me to play in the game,” Robinson says. “The thoracic surgeon injected me in my ribs to help with the pain, and then I was wrapped up with just about all the tape they had. After the injection, Coach Stram threw me a pass, I caught it above my head and that was it. That’s when we knew the medicine would kill the pain and enable me to play.” By the time Super Bowl IV came around, Robinson was making his second Super Bowl appearance after having played in Super Bowl I when the Chiefs played the Green Bay Packers. For the 1970 championship game, they were the definitive underdogs against Coach Bud Grant’s Minnesota Vikings – the famed “Purple People Eaters.” This Vikings team had been the first NFL team to win 12 consecutive games. The Chiefs played remarkably and so did Robinson. He made an interception and a fumble recovery while playing with three broken ribs. Overall, the Chiefs made three interceptions, recovered two forced fumbles and held the Vikings to 67 rushing yards and a single touchdown. That Chiefs defense led every measurable defensive statistic that season, an accomplishment that no other modern-day Super Bowl team has matched. All the while, the Chiefs offense posted a staggering 151 yards rushing and scored an impressive 23 points to clinch the title. His career would end on Christmas Day in 1971, when an injury during the AFC playoff game against the undefeated Miami Dolphins took him out of professional sports for good. The Dolphins went on to win their Cinderella season’s Super Bowl, and they remain the only team in the NFL to post an undefeated season. The Chiefs lost in overtime. “I always felt that, if I hadn’t been injured in that game, we could have made it back to the Super Bowl again,” he says. “We were a great team.” Robinson announced his retirement in July of 1972, just days before the start of training camp. Even though Chiefs coach Stram offered him a three-year guaranteed contract – he would be paid whether he could play or not – Robinson declined. “I had my own expectations of how I should play, and I didn’t want that to ever diminish,” he says. I always performed at the top of my ability, and that’s how I always wanted to be judged.” Robinson completed his career being selected to seven Pro-Bowls, eight All-Pros (six-times AP first team) and being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Time Team. During this era of football, it was common for players to have off-season jobs. Robinson worked as a stock broker, a job that required him to travel extensively. Upon retirement, he continued in this role, but in a full-time capacity. Some time later, he received an offer to be a defensive coach for a new professional football franchise in Jacksonville, Florida. Two years later, Hank Stram had been hired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints and called Robinson to offer him a position as a defensive coach on the sideline. “I didn’t want to live in New Orleans, so I was hired as a scout for the Saints instead, which meant I could remain in Jacksonville,”
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“To hear these men, who’ve left the Johnny Robinson’s Boys Home, tell of the families they now have and about their own children is a real joy to me,” he says. “To me, if it was worth it for just one boy’s success, then it has all been worth it.” PICTURED ON RIGHT: The Johnny Robinson’s Boys Home in Monroe, LA
he says. “I scouted the southeast part of the country.” That same year, Robinson received a call from Dr. Dwight Vines, President of then-Northeast Louisiana University. Dr. Vines informed Robinson that the university had hired former Heisman Trophy winner and professional football player, John David Crow as the new head football coach for NLU and he, in turn, offered Robinson a position as the defensive coach and head tennis coach. Dr. Vines knew that Robinson was also a star tennis player at LSU, having won the SEC singles and doubles championship with his brother, Tom.
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he boy born in Delhi, raised in Baton Rouge, who was the son of the LSU tennis coach, was back in Louisiana, back in football and back at tennis. It was a Louisiana homecoming. By the late 1970s, however, he had begun to feel a much higher calling. In 1980, Robinson answered the call, and he opened the Johnny Robinson’s Boys Home, a place for troubled boys to find their footing and lay a stronger foundation. Even in the story of the home, Robinson is quick to give credit to God and to the people in his life. It began one Sunday at church, where Robinson was serving as associate pastor. A woman in the church had been bringing a young boy with her for several Sundays, and when Robinson inquired, he learned the tragic details behind this child’s past. “She told me that her dad was the warden at the state juvenile prison and that she was allowed to bring the boy to church with her,” Robinson says. “One day I noticed that she wasn’t bringing him to church any longer, so I asked her about him. She said that she was no longer allowed to bring him to church due to circumstances originating at the prison.” Soon after, the woman asked him if he would visit the boy in prison. Robinson went immediately. “I went down to the prison and asked if I could visit with the boy, and they allowed me to see him,” Robinson says. “The little boy broke down crying, telling me that he was being sexually abused by older boys there.” Those were the circumstances that prevented the boy from attending church, and Robinson realized something had to be done. What, however, he didn’t know.
“When I left the prison, I suddenly felt like God was telling me that I had a decision to make right then and there,” he says. “I felt like God wanted me to start a home for troubled boys. As I was driving down the road, after leaving the child, I saw a big home for sale just down the road from the prison, and I knew that I was supposed to buy it for this purpose.” After purchasing the home, Robinson reached out to the judge on the boy’s case. The judge, as it turned out, was an LSU fan, who had followed Robinson’s football career. “He signed an order of release to my custody and called the prison,” Robinson says. “I drove to the prison and picked him up. That was my first child.” He had been an associate pastor at a local church, now the founder of a home for troubled boys. His life wasn’t quite complete yet, and his work at the house was growing. By 1980, he knew he needed help, especially with the management of finances. He remembered Wanda, from church, had recently retired from banking. “I asked her to come to work for me at Johnny Robinson’s Boys Home in 1980,” Robinson says. He knew he was making the right choice. “She had a reputation for being an excellent banker, who was great dealing with finances. Eventually, through the circumstances of life, the Lord brought us together.” Johnny and Wanda Robinson married and dedicated their lives to their children–between them they have four boys, Matt and Rhett Robinson and Bob and Jason Thompson—but they both know their family stretches far beyond their own kids. Over the years, Robinson has become as known for the Boys Home as he has for his football career. In 2016, Gov. John Bel Edwards declared May 1 Johnny Robinson’s Boys Home Day, an honor he didn’t expect to receive. Some of the boys who’ve left the Johnny Robinson’s Boys Home have gone on to become military officers, family men and professionals, who are making their own marks on the world. “Some boys have gone on to be successful in life,” Robinson says. “We even had one become a millionaire.” It’s the letters and phone calls from boys who have lived in the home over the years and the lives they have had that have made it all worthwhile. “To hear these men tell of the families they now have and about their own children is a real joy to me,” he says. “To me, if it was worth it for just one boy’s success, then it has all been worth it.”
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A Portable Storage Offers Solutions
Local Business Offers Secure Onsite and Offsite Storage Units
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PORTABLE STORAGE IS THE name to trust when it comes to portable storage. This locally owned and operated company offers safe and secure storage, both onsite and off. A Portable Storage delivers a portable storage unit to your home or office, which allows you to store your belongings at your own convenience. You can pack and unpack the container at your own convenience, without making several trips to a storage facility. You can then leave the storage unit at your home or have it stored at an offsite facility. This is perfect for moving, remodeling or just extra storage. If you do decide to have your container move, A Portable Storage moves them securely, ensuring your belongings are kept safe and level. A Portable Storage is owned by Mary Durham. Michael and Mary Durham own
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Custom Carpets in Monroe and had the opportunity to acquire the business, which was a natural fit with what he is already doing. “We often do several remodel jobs ,where people are pulling out carpet in their home, changing flooring, moving things around, and it is hard to move things to storage for a short amount of time,” said Michael. “This is a great solution for those situations. You can load your belongings just once, without making several trips and you can grab something if you need it.” But A Portable Storage isn’t just for residential solutions. “With the holidays coming up, this is a great option for retail businesses that may need some extra space to store inventory and be able to access it while they are at their store or shop,” said Durham. There are two different sizes to choose from- 8’x 8’x 12’ and 8’ x 8’x16 - which allows
plenty of room for boxes, furniture and more. The 12 foot option offers almost 700 square feet of interior packing space and is comparable to a 10’ x 10’ storage unit and a rental truck that is 15’ long. The larger 16 foot option offers approximately 850 cubic feet of interior packing space and is ideal for three to four rooms of furniture. It is comparable to 10’ x 15’ storage unit and a rental truck that is 20 feet long. A Portable Storage services all of Northeast Louisiana, including Monroe, West Monroe, Ruston and surrounding areas. Call today to get a quote and let A Portable Storage help you with your onsite and offsite storage needs!
Fall Family Portraits and More Upcoming Portrait Specials at Albritton Photography
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ALL HAS ARRIVED, AND WE ARE excited to share all the fantastic memory making events we have happening at Albritton Photography. Our annual Fall Outdoor Portrait Specials are here, and you do not want to miss this opportunity! Book a family session with us between October 2 – November 19, and you will receive 50% off your session fee! Late afternoon appointments are available throughout the week to help with work and school schedules. If weekdays are difficult to get all the family together, we have two Sundays available for Staci’s Sunday Family Special on October 28 and November 4. These sessions with Staci book up quickly. AP has a beautiful outdoor studio designed for photography. Want a lifestyle session of your family at your home? We are also offering 50% off your session fee for locations as well, just in time for the holidays! We have put together special packages great
for gift giving, Christmas cards and displaying in your home. We have so many fun seasonal sessions going on over the next few months. We are having our pumpkin patch mini sessions this year on October 16 and 17. We have prepared a precious rustic set at our indoor studio and are ready to snap some photographs of your child in their fall attire. Stop by our studio in your Halloween costumes for our annual Halloween photos on October 31 before you venture out to your Halloween event. No appointment necessary! Bring a new toy valued at $20 or more and receive your Halloween photos at no charge. AP gives the donated toys every year to the WMFD, who then distributes to children in need from our community We are thrilled to introduce a new mini session called “Camo at the Camp” on November 6 and 7. We will be photographing
kids of all ages in their hunting gear at our outdoor studio. This is a fun one for all ages and pets, too! Christmas sessions will begin on November 14 as well! Santa will be stopping by the studio for portraits with the kids on November 20 and 21, and he can’t wait to hear what is on your wish list. We will also be with Santa at The Mother Hen located on Trenton Street in West Monroe on Saturday, December 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon for portraits We are looking forward to all the fun this season brings! Have questions and want more detail on all that we have to offer? Give us a call at (318) 324-9118, and we will be glad to speak with you!
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Grin and Bear It 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run One of the Area’s Most Scenic Races at Poverty Point in Delhi, LA
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HE GRIN AND BEAR IT RACE IS back for 2018! Join us for the annual Grin and Bear It 5K and 10K Run and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, October 20th, 2018 in Delhi, Louisiana. We have a fantastic race day planned, complete with amazing views of Poverty Point Lake. Delhi Hospital is proud to partner with Cajun Timing of Lafayette, offering the most professional timing and latest scoring technology for running. All proceeds will benefit Delhi Hospital Community Wellness Program and our efforts to provide preventative health screenings throughout the Northeast Louisiana Region. Registration is now open! Enjoy a scenic run on a flat course around Poverty Point Lake and afterwards, cool-down at our post-race party and awards ceremony. All pre-registered runners will receive a Grin and Bear It t-shirt, race day packet and entry for door prizes.
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RACE DAY: 6:30 a.m.- Race Day Registration and Packet Pickup 7:45 a.m.- ½ Mile Kid’s Fun Run 8:00 a.m.-5/10K Run AWARDS: Overall Male and Female top finishers in the 5 and 10K races will each receive a $100 gift card, as well as awards for overall male and female age group finishers. Age groups: 12 and under, 13-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 4044, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65 +. REGISTRATION: $15 through October 9th $20 through October 15th $25 Race Day (All kids 10 and under run free)
As we secure sponsors for our 8th Annual Race, we would like to again thank our 2017 Sponsors for their support and contribution to making last year’s race such a success: Lamb Weston, Vantage, National Guard, SAPA, Commercial Capital, Deerfield, Delhi Home Care, Crossroads Hospice, Anytime Fitness, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, First South Farm Credit, Champion’s Bistro, and Brookshire’s of Delhi. To register for this family fun event, visit www.DelhiHospital.com. We look forward to another successful race and to see participants “Grin and Bear It” as they cross the finish line! For questions or more information, visit us online or contact us at 318-878-6459. See you on Race Day!
Transform Your Space from Drab to Fab Fabulous Fabric Has a Vast Selection of Fabrics and More
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ANTING TO SPRUCE UP YOUR HOME FOR THE holiday? With today’s colors and trends, the options are endless, and it comes down to what you like and want to live with. At Fabulous Fabric, our goal is to find the style that you are looking for at the lowest prices possible. One of the biggest trends in design is the addition of chinoiserie to a space. While ceramics are an easy way to add color to an allwhite space, at Fabulous Fabric we offer a variety of blue and white fabrics that mimic the patterns of gorgeous chinoiserie ceramics and ginger jars. If you’re looking for something a little bolder, try a neutral fabric with a pop of orange, or a soothing lavender, blush or grey. We have one of the largest selection of bolts in North Louisiana and outstanding 2,000 plus yards of remnant fabric. Beautify your space with custom drapes. Our design experts are a great resource when choosing fabrics for your window treatments. If we don’t have the perfect fabric on a bolt, we also have a large selection of cut-yardage to choose from. If you are looking for a more affordable option, we also offer ready-made drapes in a variety of lengths and fabrics. Add beautiful tape trim for a custom look without the expense. Our window treatments don’t stop at Fabulous Fabric;
we also provide custom drapery hardware, French Return rods and even motorized drapery rods. Wallpaper has made a huge resurgence and is an easy way to add dimension to an interior space. From botanicals to metallics, geodes to natural fibers, we have a vast selection of modern wallpapers at affordable prices. Whether you prefer a statement wall or an entire room, our wallpaper line is worth a trip in to see. A vibrant throw pillow can liven up an entire room’s décor. To easily transition your home to fall and winter, choose pillows with luxe materials like rich velvets and furs. Fabulous Fabric has everything you need to “winter-fy” your space, whether it’s new bedding from Peacock Alley, bold pillow selections, gorgeous black out drapery or a luscious-smelling candle, we’re your cozy one-stop shop. Let us help you transform your space from drab to fab. Come see our vast selection of bolts in a variety of colors from neutrals to those with a pop of color, and materials like vinyl and leather. Fabulous Fabric is located at 1803 Lamy Lane in Monroe. Find us on Instagram and Facebook.
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ADVICE
Meredith’s Musings Uninvited Opinions |
By Meredith McKinnie
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enturing out alone with a onemonth old baby is daunting. Of all the places, we went to The Home Depot, an odd choice without Husband, but I was on the hunt for white floating shelves. Baby Bird needed a bookshelf in her nursery. And as I am with many purchases, today was the day. Also, I was going back to work in a week, so all the to-dos seemed all the more pressing. I know it was my first time out, because I was reduced to calling my mother-in-law to get the car seat out of the base. Husband made it look so easy before, turns out there’s a switch on the front side, which is completely hidden when getting the child out of the back seat, but I digress. Shortly inside the front door, I was greeted by overly enthusiastic woman. We all know the type. She’s bubbly, dressed funny, and today was sporting what appeared to be a chicken on her hat. It kept bobbing at me with each of her exaggerated head nods. I inquired where the shelves might be, and the nice lady offered to show me. And for the next few minutes passing aisles, she began 158 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
peppering me with questions about the baby. It felt odd. I know people are just being kind, making conversation, but I found myself not wanting to answer them. I don’t know her, and the questions are somewhat personal. Most of them I skirted, but I answered a few I shouldn’t have, one being, “Is this your first baby?” Apparently that is the go-ahead for unsolicited advice. And once she started, she couldn’t help herself. The baby’s head was tilted too much; she could stop breathing. And I really needed a cover for that car seat and the shopping cart. I shouldn’t let anyone touch the baby or God forbid, kiss the baby. She could get meningitis. She was “sorry for throwing this list at me,” but she was a mother, and I “needed to know.” When she finally paused for breath and looked in my eyes, she may have noticed the steam rising from my head or the look of disdain on my face. But I calmly told her, “All I asked about were the shelves.” I didn’t expect to have that reaction. I’ve heard others mention hating people commenting on their parenting, but it really annoyed me. I could have smiled, taken a note out of my
grandmother’s playbook and thanked her for the advice I didn’t want, but that would not be genuine, and frankly, that’s just not me. If I allow it, I’m encouraging the next mother to get bombarded with uninvited opinions, and the lady needs to know we don’t want it. Save the parenting advice for your grandkids. Unless I ask you, don’t. You don’t know me, my baby, my situation, or clearly, your own limits. I get this is the South. We’re taught to be kind and tolerant, and often that just means dealing with behavior that long ago should have been deemed rude. And unless we start calling it that, it will continue. I can respect my elders and call out their behavior. You don’t get an automatic pass, because you were born before me. I can show someone respect, while still respecting myself and my beliefs. I don’t sacrifice myself in other parts of my life, and I refuse to do so for the sake of “kindness.” When I consider it from another perspective, the kind thing to do is to let the woman know her behavior is offensive to me; therefore, she’ll consider repeating it. I can’t change others’ behavior, but I can change my reaction to it. As she sauntered away, clearly a bit offended, I noticed the chicken was hanging onto her hat by one webbed foot, almost for dear life. It made me chuckle. She looked back at that moment, and I smiled at her as a peace offering. After all, I am a Southerner, and it’s the kind thing to do.
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Freeman Lumber in Ruston
For All of Your Hardware Needs and Home Improvement Projects
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OCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED by Scott Freeman, Freeman Lumber can provide all your hardware needs to help with your home improvement projects. Freeman Lumber has the inventory needed for contractors to find all their quality building equipment and construction supplies. They offer a wide range of construction essentials, making Freeman Lumber your one stop shop to take care of not only refreshing and updating your home, but also providing the tools to assist you in your do it yourself projects. Freeman Lumber offers a variety of equipment to satisfy those small and big projects on your to do list. Insulation, building materials and installing garage doors are all right in one store to customize any home project. Freeman Lumber can offer something for anyone who comes in. They provide the
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supplies for contractors to shop locally for their own businesses, but can also help you find the perfect shade of paint to freshen up your walls, or that window or door that can make all the difference in your home. Whether your needs are electrical, plumbing, lawn and gardening, or storage and organization, Freeman Lumber has this and more. They can even help you with your flooring needs with their in-house flooring contractor. Otwell Flooring can help you design your new floor plans to get that look you’ve been craving. If your looking to install a new garage door, Freeman Lumber can provide the services to get the job done. Builders Supply Insulation has the insulation that can keep you warm, now that cooler weather is on its way. Scott Freeman has run the store for the past three years and has worked in the store for the past 13 years. The selection and service
that is provided at Freeman Lumber matters greatly to Scott and his employees. He takes pride in providing and assisting customers to make sure each and every one has the right tools for their needs. Freeman Lumber offers Ruston and its surrounding area the quality and customer service that is appreciated by all. Having over 40 knowledgeable employees, Freeman Lumber has the correct tools and expertise to improve the quality of their home whatever the needs might be. Come improve your home with Freeman Lumber, located at 2039 Farmerville Hwy. in Ruston or contact us at 318-255-3585. We are open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m and Saturday 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Haven: Interiors, Fine Paper and Gifts Treat Yourself and Your Home with a Trip to Haven
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T IS HARD TO BELIEVE FALL IS HERE! Haven has so many new items in their shop, you will want to stop by and visit soon. They always have a great selection of Nest Candles, and the fall scents of Hearth and the ever-popular Pumpkin Chai have already arrived. Haven is known for their amazing selection of gifts. Several new lines of jewelry, S’well patterns and bath products have just hit the floor. Haven has lots of new styles arriving from Barefoot Dreams that make great gifts, as well as something fun for yourself. New bags from GiGi New York are already a hit! Their stylish stadium bag is a stunning addition to any outfit this football season! The men’s section is continually expanding with new books, travel bags and so many other great items, you will want to check it out. It’s not too early to start your holiday shopping,
and don’t forget about their beautiful complimentary gift wrapping! Not only is Haven a great gift resource, but they offer a large selection of design accessories, lamps, small side tables and artwork to finish that space you have been working on or to provide inspiration to get started. Now through October 12th, Haven is offering 20% off in-stock and special order bedding, just in time to create that oasis you have been needing in your master bedroom or to prepare for guests arriving soon. It is all about layering for the fall, and that can be accomplished with pillow textures or a luxurious throw at the foot of the bed. Let one of their staff members help you create a beautiful, unique bedding combination from their many bedding lines. In addition to the bedding sale, Haven
is offering 20% off special order Sherrill and Bernhardt furniture now through October 12th. If you have been wanting a new sofa for your living room or chairs for your bedroom, now is the time to take advantage of these savings. Both Bernhardt and Sherrill offer a great combination of style and quality in their furniture. Haven has a designer on staff that can help you coordinate your new piece with your existing room. Call to make an appointment. Holiday Open House is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for November 10th to visit the participating shops and get inspiration for your holiday shopping. Haven is Monroe’s premier shopping destination. Treat yourself and your home with a visit to Haven today.
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Northeast Imaging Now Providing Advanced MRI Imaging Service in Monroe
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HEN YOUR PHYSICIAN PRESCRIBES AN MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to assist in diagnosing medical conditions, a new outpatient imaging center in Monroe is now at your service. Using advanced MRI imaging technology operated by experienced and certified imaging technicians, Northeast Imaging provides MRI services in a convenient, nearby, and safe setting. Offering fast appointment scheduling, Northeast Imaging is locally owned and operated and offers more affordable MRI pricing options than found in hospital imaging. “We bring to our clients the highest quality MRI imaging technology coupled with a staff that is focused on the needs of our MRI patients,” states Jana Whatley, Marketing Director of Northeast Imaging. “Our outpatient setting allows for easy access to our center, and our ability to schedule appointments with short notice makes getting the imaging results back fast, which is of real benefit to the referring physician,” Whatley added. Northeast Imaging performs MRI imaging of a broad range of body sections including spine, neck, pelvic areas, brain, the vascular system, musculoskeletal among other areas. The GE MRI technology found at Northeast Imaging is among the highest quality systems available and allows for high resolution images to be obtained and provided to the referring physician. Once images are obtained, radiologists with Northeast Imaging read and interpret the results and provide their findings to the physician or other referring party. The MRI imagery obtained along with the interpretation of the radiologist provides the referring physician a tremendous tool to use in the diagnosis and ultimate treatment of their patient’s medical condition. All MRI technicians at Northeast Imaging are certified by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and imaging results are interpreted by experienced radiologists. All staff of Northeast Imaging practice a high level of customer service, being sensitive to the patients schedule, concerns and comfort. They are also centered in providing the results back to the referring physician or others as quickly as possible. Northeast Imaging prides itself in offering an affordable MRI service and accepts most insurance coverages, as well as special cash pricing options, all to meet the needs of the customer. MRI imaging appointments can be obtained by calling 318-5704985 during the center’s office hours of Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information on the service can also be obtained at that number.
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Your Hometown Urologist Dr. Robert Marx
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OBERT D. MARX, M.D. IS THIS COMMUNITY’S hometown urologist. He was born and raised right here in Monroe, Louisiana. He graduated from NLU, now ULM, and graduated from medical school and completed his residency at LSU Shreveport. Dr. Marx has traveled extensively working with the leaders of the field in order to keep up with the latest and most successful techniques in incontinence. He has been in practice for over thirty years and conveniently operates at Glenwood, Monroe Surgical and P&S. Dr. Marx has 24/7 call coverage with other local urologists. He has a standing relationship with each of the other doctors he shares call with and enjoys working with them and his other peers. The office has a wonderful, knowledgeable staff that has worked with him for many years and the majority of his time in private practice, ensuring good continuity of care. It truly is a family practice that loves taking care of it’s community. Specializing in female urology since 1998, Dr. Marx is board-certified offering specialized care for female incontinence. Dr. Marx promises caring, confidential consultations and personalized solutions for any related problem such as: bladder prolapse, removal of mesh, InterStim, urethral bulking. He also treats male incontinence. Vasectomies are done in the office with a no cut technique. Bladder prolapse is one of the problems Dr. Marx specializes in correcting. A woman might feel an ache in her lower abdomen. Or she may have trouble urinating. Maybe sexual intercourse is uncomfortable. If you experience any of these, the problem might be your bladder. The bladder sits in sort of a “hammock” of muscle and tissue inside your abdomen. When the tissue gets weak, the bladder can break through it and go into your vagina. Doctors call this bladder prolapse. It’s a common condition, and it’s treatable. If you presently have a device such as a pessary, this can easily be treated with an outpatient surgical procedure. Dr Marx is pleased to provide cutting edge bladder neuromodulation techniques. This is also known as “Medtronic Bladder Pacemaker.” Dr Marx has been implanting InterStims for 8 years. His staff is also thoroughly educated in support of this treatment. If your doctor says “you must live with it,” you might not have to. Whatever level of severity your problem is, Robert D. Marx, M.D. and his dedicated staff are ready to assist you. We specialize in all areas of urology and male and female incontinence and will consult with you on an individual basis to determine the appropriate solution for your particular problem. Our staff will work with you and your insurance company to ensure fast payment processing and help answer any other questions you may have. Dr. Marx prides himself on the personal attention he provides each patient. He understands that this is a sensitive time for you. Dr. Marx has decades of experience providing careful, appropriate treatment to put you at ease. The office’s goal is to make you feel comfortable, so you can openly address your problems and let us help you fix it. Conveniently located in the Glenwood Medical Mall, we are happy to be accepting new patients. Contact us today for an appointment.
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FALL IS IN THE AIR Continued From Page 138 of the décor” to spruce up the inside of the house. Lay that stuff across your mantle (unless you have a professional decorator, but if that’s the case, you probably flipped right past this article and on to the next as soon as I said “fall-er-gize” your home,) fill up empty vases and put the pinecones in empty bowls. Next, troll Pinterest again and find you a recipe for some good stovetop potpourri, the kind with cinnamon sticks and orange peels. I love walking in my home or someone else’s home and smelling fall right off the bat. You can get an inexpensive simmering pot and leave it on there all season long, just be sure to change out the ingredients periodically. No sense in having a science project, if you don’t need one. Lastly, how about setting aside a night a week through the holidays where you actually bake together as a family? I’m not suggesting
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you roll out your pie crust that is laced with Crisco…y’all need to lay off the Loretta Lynn, but nothing smells better than apple pie, sugar cookies or gingerbread infiltrating the walls of your lovely homes. So get to it readers, pull out those fall
decorations and let’s get this favorite time of year started. I’m telling you, family traditions are beautiful things… they build memories and incite feelings in all of us, no matter our age. I still remember the witch window decals my mom used to hang up for Halloween. Don’t let these days slip away from you, before you stop to smell the gingerbread. Put your lives on hold or temporary pause and enjoy the single greatest gift you have…your family. It’s hard to believe that when I come to you again next month, we will be worried about the ways we are going to cook our squash and fry our birds, but the holidays are definitely upon us, and I would encourage you to grab them by the tail and enjoy and savor every single moment you can.
9th Annual ARTober fest Event Set for October 19th at the Norton Building Tickets are available for the North Central Louisiana Arts Council’s 9th Annual ARToberfest, which will take place Friday, Oct. 19 at the Norton Building in Downtown Ruston. ARToberfest, sponsored by Gibson’s Fresh Grocer, is NCLAC’s craft beer tasting fundraiser that supports arts programmin,g such as the Southern Circuit Independent Film series and Holiday Art Crawl. Tickets can be purchased at Fine Line Supply, 207 N Trenton, or online at nclac.org Limited quantity Early Bird tickets, $45, allow guests to enter at 5 p.m. and receive a commemorative pint glass, provided by Fine
Line Supply. General Admission tickets, $30, allow guests to enter at 6:30. General Admission guests receive a tasting cup, the first 200 of which will be glass tasters provided by Utility Brewing. There are also $10 Designated Driver tickets. All guests must be 21 or older. The event ends at 10 p.m. All ticket holders will have access to snack foods from Gibson’s Fresh Grocer, an assortment of delicious food trucks in the Beer Garden, live music from area musicians provided by The Keg Package and Cork Room, a carefully curated silent auction, The Selfie Stop photo booth and more.
Regional home brewers and breweries will offer samples, and Marsala Beverage and Choice Brands will provide tastes of commercial craft beers. Home brewers will compete for bragging rights with the Devine Home Brewer Judge’s Choice award, sponsored by Devine Wines and Spirits, and the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Utility Brewing. The People’s Choice winner will be given the opportunity to brew the winning recipe at Utility Brewing. Ruston Animal Clinic will provide volunteer support this year, providing food and shirts for the team that brings the event together. To sign up as a volunteer, email nclac5@gmail.com Thanks also to Troy Lord Electric, Catahoula CrossFit and the Norton Building for their support. Call (318)255-1450 for more information. The Norton Building is located at 207 West Mississippi in Ruston. NCLAC is supported by its members, and also by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and administered by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.
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A Local Family Business Automated Alarm Co.
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E AT AUTOMATED ALARM HAVE BEEN SERVING Northeast Louisiana for over 25 years and care about this community. As the holiday season approaches, we wanted to pass along a few tips that homeowners can do to make their house a hard target for burglars. This may sound silly, but secure all your doors and windows. Place motion activated lighting around your perimeter, and keep landscape trimmed. Evaluate exterior door material and proper lock operation. Keep visibility from the outside to the inside limited, so valuables can’t be determined. Remember to have someone take out your garbage and pick up your newspaper and mail, if you are out of town. Lastly, get a home security system. It will add an extra layer of security, whether you are home or away, and will deter a potential burglar. Automated Alarm has been serving NELA since 1993 and is locally owned and operated. We provide custom low voltage solutions that are more than just security to include: fire systems, security cameras, access control, central vacuum systems and distributed audio. Automated Alarm was founded in 1993 by Donna and Ronnie Tucker and continues to be family run with both sons, Nathan and Wade, assuming a more active role. We are members of the Louisiana Life Safety and Security Association, with one of our officers serving as
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the Vice President for security companies in NELA. Over the past 25 years, we have maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Automated Alarm is in compliance with all known state regulations for licensing and insurance through the State Fire Marshall’s Office. Being a local company, we are involved in local community volunteering labor and parts for St. Jude, Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, and local police and fire departments. Our primary mission is to provide low voltage technology solutions for residential and commercial applications with integrity through fair business practices, tip of the spear technology and equipment installed with excellence, and are customer focused through a shared passion for security and safety. Automated Alarm wants to remind you that October is National Fire Prevention Month. Be sure you test all smoke detectors in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, review your home evacuation plan and conduct a safety walkthrough to identify any potential hazards, such as heaters, electrical and hazardous material storage. We look forward to the opportunity to serve as your low voltage solutions company.
What’s So Important About Missing Teeth? Everything.
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TATISTICS SHOW THAT THE population between the ages of 20-64 are missing three teeth on average. The same studies have shown that approximately 8% of the population are missing all of their teeth. In addition, up to 10% of the population between the ages of 20-64 are missing all of their teeth. While these may not seem like large amounts of people, that is a significant portion of the population. If that’s not bad enough, those numbers are expected to increase with our increasing life expectancy. As we continue to live longer with new advances in medicine and healthcare, the rate of missing teeth in the adult population with undoubtedly increase. The effects of missing teeth can be obvious; however, there are many that are not as apparent. When a person loses
a permanent tooth, the first and most noticeable effects are cosmetic. Often times, the missing tooth can be detected during conversations or during smiling and laughing. The second (and just as important) complication is that chewing ability decreases substantially when a person loses a tooth. As more and more teeth are lost, chewing ability and efficiency begins to decrease rapidly. There are also less apparent consequences associated with tooth loss. Complete tooth loss, as shown in multiple literature studies, has been associated with a decrease in one’s life span. Poor chewing and eating efficiency can lead to poor nutritional intake, in turn causing a sequelae of health problems. Ironically, patients who have most of their teeth but are missing only some teeth are more likely to be obese.
Obesity, as a result, increases a person’s risks of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. So what does all this mean? It means that poor dental health can and does result in a decrease quality of life. Poor dental health does not have to be the normal for people, or for you. Patients do not have to settle with embarrassing missing teeth or poorly fitting dentures or partial dentures. At our office, we have various options that can help you if you are missing teeth or are unhappy with your dentures or partial dentures. Dr. McGee provides a full range of services from single tooth replacement to complex full mouth reconstruction. Please contact us today, if you would more information on how we can help restore your smile to health, comfort, esthetics and function.
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Levee Gallery Welcomes Hemline Monroe Local Boutique Moves to Murray Place Shopping Center
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EVEE GALLERY IS PROUD TO welcome their new neighbor to the Murray Place Shopping Center on 18th Street in Monroe! Local boutique, Hemline Monroe, is moving there on October 1. Hemline is locally owned and operated by Joshua and Leslie Culp. They opened the boutique on Tower Drive in February of 2014. They carry a full line of fashion forward women’s apparel including clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories. Since their opening, Hemline has always been committed to ourcommunity and has raised awareness and funds for the DeSiard Street Shelter, the Children’s Coalition, American Red Cross, ARCO, Monroe City and Ouachita Parish Schools, the local animal shelter, the Children’s Advocacy Center and The Cinderella Project. Joshua and Leslie are looking forward to growing their business in the new location and continuing to be
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involved in the community. Levee Gallery is located in the Murray Place Shopping Center and is owned by Kathy Biedenharn. Levee Gallery specializes in contemporary artwork created by emerging and established regional artists. The gallery also hosts events with the goal of broadening the understanding and appreciation of visual arts and culture. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise stated. The gallery is open Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday 11am3pm or by appointment (call 318.537.9006). Located at 1617 North 18th Street, Monroe, LA. Kevin Kennedy and Brooke Hoogendoorn’s exhibition, Points on a Line, Passage Through Time is on display through October 11 at LEVEE GALLERY. Kennedy is a renowned sculptor from Shreveport who
works in wood, graphite, metal and thread. His sculptures often reference functional objects, while also evoking a sense of time passed. There are quiet stories and histories behind each of the forms, both personal to the artist and also universal. Brooke Hoogendoorn is an emerging, self-taught painter from New Iberia. Hoogendoorn’s abstract paintings range in scale and contain muted palettes with contrasting lines looped over brushstrokes, sometimes combining into compositions that appear like crystals or geodes. Be sure to stop by both of these great locally owned businesses located in the Murray Place Shopping Center. And keep an eye out, as they have several ideas and events planned for the shopping center and midtown merchant area!
Key Millwork and Supply Company Helping Create Extraordinary Living Spaces for Over 45 Years
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T JUST FEELS LIKE HOME! The kitchen is today’s family living space. Whether small or large, the kitchen IS the hub of the home. It is where the meals are created – it fuels the bodies, minds and souls of friends and families. Past or present, kitchens are not sedate and quiet rooms. They are rooms filled with energy, aroma and texture. They are created with purpose. This featured kitchen by Wellborn Cabinetry does a great job of welcoming family and friends to the heart of the home. From the Premier Collection, the Winslow door style with full overlay door marries high fashion with comfortable nostalgia. While being a fashion forward and innovative product line, Wellborn has taken a time honored traditional style and created a new shaker door style, with a
twist. Winslow has wide stiles with a onestep moulding around the center panel’s perimeter, a clean crisp recessed square cope and tenon. The finish is Willow in maple. This linear-inspired door is very versatile in its ability to acclimate to almost any type of room. Whether it is a traditional or a modern setting, Winslow makes a perfect fit. The Premier and Estate series offers many stylings of overlay door profiles, a large selection of semi customs and an extensive selection of finishes. The 5/8” solid hardwood dovetail drawer is standard with soft close drawer slides, soft close door hinges and a Lifetime Limited Warranty guarantee. The Premier Series by Wellborn has the quality you would expect. What if “home” has a different look for your taste? There are over 30,000 door styles, specie and finish combinations
available from Wellborn. Heirloom quality is not just an expression, it’s a way of life. Since 1961, the Wellborn family has owned and operated Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., located in Ashland, Alabama. Their goal is to provide you with kitchen and bath cabinets made with the utmost quality and care. Key Millwork has been “at home” in Monroe for over 45 years, helping create extraordinary living spaces for our customers. Our experienced staff can assist you with windows, doors, decorative tiles and appliances. With a wide variety of products to select from, Key Millwork is proud to be able to offer Wellborn Cabinetry as well. With our feet planted in the future, we are excited about Monroe’s downtown energy and investments being made in surrounding areas. It is a statement expressing a need for our services for years to come. It is satisfying to see the reinvestment in our community, because it signifies that Northeast Louisiana is a quality place to live. Key Millwork and Supply… making your dream home come true!
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B L A C K B AY O U L A K E N AT I O N A L W I L D L I F E REFUGE
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a photographic journey by Thomas Ritter
LACK BAYOU LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE is one of ten refuges in north Louisiana, and it was established in 1997 through a unique partnership with the city of Monroe. The National Wildlife Refuge System manages a network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants. The national system is overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and it is controlled by the North Louisiana Refuges Complex, headquartered at the D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge. Black Bayou is located a few miles north of Monroe near Highway 165. The four thousand five hundred acre site includes Black Bayou Lake which is more than sixteen hundred acres in size. Trails meander through the area and there is a photo blind from which migratory birds and other wildlife may be observed. Bald cypresses, tupelo gums, various hardwood trees and majestic pines are found within the boundaries of the refuge. Swamplands hold a special place in Louisiana culture. These marshes are an extremely important ecosystem where Native Americans and early settlers lived in harmony with the landscape for centuries. From the lurking alligators to pristine lakes that are dominant throughout the state, a visitor will discover how special these swamps are to the mystique of Louisiana. A wetland full of magnificent trees, like the one at Black Bayou Lake, is what most people think of when they imagine a Louisiana swamp. The knobby cypress knees rising from the water and the ever-present Spanish moss are all a part of this well known vista. These trees along with their associated plants like black willow, water locust and tupelo gums provide a shady canopy over the banks and shallow areas of the lake. All of the various parts of Black Bayou combine to form an almost unique scenic grandeur that defines this state as few other characterizations do. Environment edges are created when two or more types of habitat come together. All types of wildlife need to make use of more than one form of terrain during their daily activities. Edges become crossroads for these animals when they travel between habitats, and they evolve into places where wildlife thrives. Anywhere a variety of edges are provided, an increase in the diversity and quality of life is implemented. Black Bayou, with its vast water system, its surrounding pastures and its canopy of trees, offers an ideal setting for an immense assortment of animals all flourishing in this natural space. For anyone who wishes to find a place to become immersed in nature, Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers six maintained trails that provide 170 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
an outdoor experience in an undisturbed setting. The hiking trails through wooded areas and over swampy terrain via raised wooden walkways present opportunities to witness scenic views, birds, fish, insects and an occasional alligator. This beautiful place is a preserved wetland and has been set apart and made accessible for the public to experience something unique in this state’s geography. The deep green world of this swamp affords a calm and inspirational environment providing a chance for a visitor to achieve a feeling of peace and fulfillment. The trails provide a place to gain the health benefits of walking, and they offer opportunities for wildlife observation, photography, education and inspiration. The refuge was established as a protected wildlife habitat and the needs of the animals come first. Enjoy the trails to the fullest, but remember that you are the visitor, and this sanctuary is their home. The refuge has a Visitor Center with numerous exhibits, and it is located in a restored planter’s house originally built in the 1890s. Restrooms and a bookstore are available at the Center. Also to be seen is the Conservation Learning Center found adjacent to the Visitor Center. It includes several live animal exhibits, consisting primarily of reptiles and fish.
A profusion of lotus flowers thrust through masses of lily pads in many parts of the lake during the mid to late summer. The lotus seeds, young leaves and roots are quite versatile and can be eaten raw or dried. The plant was a staple of Native Americans long before the arrival of Europeans. The lotus blossoms become huge, often approaching six and a half inches in diameter at their peak. Anybody who has ever observed a lotus flower emerging from the surface of a lake cannot fail to see the beauty of this exquisite plant. These flowers always look radiant against the background of blue water and green lily pads. A large wildlife pier has been constructed at the site which offers a vantage point that allows one to watch the birds and animals without disturbing them. Vast open water to the east and the west of the pier highlights the often spectacular rising and setting of both the sun and moon. To photograph the rise of a full moon over Black Bayou Lake, it is helpful to know that it will happen at precisely the same time as the sun sets. The pier affords a view of the eastern horizon where neither trees or hills obstruct an early view of the event. An exposure must occur within about five minutes after the moon is visible because it gets brighter as it rises, and the land becomes dimmer when the sun sinks below the horizon. Very quickly, the difference in illumination can
overwhelm the latitude of the photographic process either making the moon overexposed and the land underexposed or the opposite. Being in position well ahead of the occasion and being ready to shoot quickly is essential. I consider myself primarily a landscape photographer. It is much more enjoyable to me to wander along the edge of a bayou or explore a woodland trail than it is to spend time sitting in a wildlife blind waiting for a wild animal to appear. However, if luck materializes, there is no reason not to take advantage of the moment. I stepped into the refuge’s photo blind on a hot July morning and had the good fortune to see a yellow-crowned night heron standing in the water nearby. Several exposures were quickly made. Thinking I had enough pictures, I was about to put my camera gear away. Some movement caught my attention, and I watched in disbelief as a raccoon entered the shallow water and strolled past the bird. It paused nearby and the heron did not move for the time it took me to take a single shot. I am still amazed that I was able to capture the moment, because the raccoon moved away about one second later. The importance of an unanticipated circumstance should never be underestimated, and we must always stay alert to take advantage of it.
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Positive Steps Fertility Opens Satellite Office Now Building Familes in Monroe! BY DR. JOHN PRESTON PARRY
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I! I’M DR. JOHN PRESTON “PRES” Parry and along with the rest of the Positive Steps Fertility team, we are proud and excited to open our satellite clinic here in Monroe, LA. We know how long Monroe has needed a fertility specialist, and we are bringing our breakthrough, patentpending single visit fertility test known as the “Parryscope® approach.” Being able to understand your fertility gently, accurately and safely, all while getting instant results, goes a long way to helping you plan your future family. Moreover, knowing that insurance often doesn’t cover fertility testing or therapy, we keep our pricing low to make it affordable. Another valuable thing we’re bringing to Monroe for fertility is perspective. I always say that people are good at what they do and admit that if I were to lift the hood of my
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car, I wouldn’t be able to find spark plugs. (I just don’t look there.) For fertility, this is something we do every day, so we can see ways of getting results that others might not. This is part of why advice from friends and family on getting pregnant doesn’t work, as it isn’t something they regularly think about, and they have more experience with fertile people than subfertile. This relates to facts people don’t tell you about: 80% of women get pregnant within three months of trying, but a 30 year old trying for a year only has a 3% chance per month of becoming pregnant. Moreover, while clomiphene works well for people who almost never ovulate, for people with regular cycles it often improves chances only 1-2% per month. Fortunately, there are far more effective treatments. Finally, the most important thing we’re
bringing is hope. If you’re silently suffering with infertility, know you’re not alone. If you know someone struggling, don’t try to “fix” them (just as you would defer to a doctor other medical conditions like a heart attack or cancer). Instead, be supportive and let them know that the Positive Steps Fertility team knows what they’re going through, has probably seen much worse and can help them become parents. You will not need a referral to schedule an appointment with Positive Steps Fertility. Our Monroe clinic is conveniently located in the Chase Building at 1900 North 18th Street, Suite 209. We now offer gift cards for our services. Please follow us on Facebook and join us each month for our First Friday Live discussions. We’re excited to be here and look forward to helping build families! 833-POS-STEP
Spooked Out About Going to the Dentist? NELA Dental Can Help
Relax with IV Sedation NELA Dental believes everyone deserves a healthy smile. For far too long, fear and anxiety have kept people from receiving oral care. NELA Dental offers a solution; Intravenous Conscious Sedation (a.k.a. “IV sedation”). IV Sedation is a procedure in which anti-anxiety medication is administered into the blood system during dental treatment to help patients feel calm and relaxed. NELA Dental is one of the few certified dental practices in the area to offer IV Sedation. Often times, an otherwise simple solution to a dental problem turns into a serious issue, because a patient simply didn’t go to the dentist. IV and other forms of sedation offered at NELA Dental can help eliminate anxiety and save you from a laundry list of problems. Different from your traditional “laughing gas” option, IV Sedation is administered intravenously. IV Sedation works very quickly
and dosage levels can be adjusted. While some patients do fall asleep, most stay awake during procedures. A patient using IV Sedation will often times have very little memory of the procedure. Whether it’s root canal therapy or a routine procedure like a cleaning, IV Sedation is a great option. Often times, sedation allows patients to have multiple procedures completed in one visit. Tips to Ease Your Child’s Fears Some experts believe that waiting to take a child to the dentist can escalate fears and anxiety. Let’s face it, even adults can be scared of going to the dentist! No matter if a child is visiting a dentist for the first time or if they have frequent appointments, there is a good chance their nerves will get the best of them. One way to help calm the dentist jitters is to show them what a dentist visit is all about.
Bring your child along to your next dentist appointment, and let them see mom or dad get an exam. Another recommendation is to allow extra time for that first visit. This way, the visit is not rushed or chaotic. A stressed or rushed parent can have an negative effect on a child. Also, make sure your child is well rested. A well rested child is more likely to feel relaxed and comfortable. It’s Scary Easy to Contact NELA Dental Call NELA Dental to schedule your child’s check up or their very first visit or find out is IV sedation is right for you, or find us online! Our friendly team of dentists is ready to get your child started with good dental habits. We offer flexible appointment times at three convenient locations. Our offices are located in Monroe, Farmerville, and Oak Grove. Our dentists are ready to help guide you and your family to a strong smile and healthy living.
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Justice, Mercy and Grace Looking Deeper at Romans 6:23
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HAT DO THESE WORDS Justice, Mercy and Grace mean? Consider this illustration: You are traveling down the Interstate at 120 miles per hour when a state patrolman pulls you over. And because of the severity of your traffic violations the state patrolman takes you immediately to traffic court. The traffic court judge looks at you and says, “We have you on radar and on video. You are guilty of reckless driving. Your license will be revoked, you will be fined $1000 and you will spend one month in jail. Justice means getting what you deserve.” “But,” the Judge continues, “I am going to show you mercy. I am not going to give you what you deserve. However someone must pay for these violations. Someone must be punished. I am going to punish the state patrolman who brought you in. He will have his license revoked, he will have to pay your
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fine and he will have to serve your sentence in jail for a month.” And then the traffic court Judge adds something even more amazing, “Not only am I going to show you mercy, by not giving you what you deserve, I am going to show you grace. I am going to give you something you don’t deserve, here are the keys to a brand new Mercedes Benz, free of charge. You are free to go.” Wow, that would never happen would it? Well, it really has happened already. How? We have been conceived and born in sin. Plus, we sin everyday against God and our fellow man in our thoughts, in our words and in our deeds. God’s Word says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” You and I and all mankind have earned death, because of our sins. Yes, all of us. Romans 3:23 tells us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” What does God’s Justice demand? Death in Hell forever for all.
Thankfully, our story doesn’t end there. God has shown us mercy. Remember what is Mercy? Mercy means not getting what you deserve. God does not give us death in Hell. However, our sins cannot go without punishment. Justice must be served. So God punished Jesus in our place. On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself all the sins of all the world and paid for them. On the cross Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished” from John 19:30. In Greek, what He said was, “Te-Ta-Les-Ti” which means, “Paid in full forever.” Wow! Instead of getting what we deserve, death in Hell, God through Jesus’ perfect life, innocent death and victorious resurrection has shown us grace, giving us what we don’t deserve, forgiveness of all of our sins now and the assurance of eternal life in heaven. All because and only because of Jesus, only Jesus. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) • Justice – getting what you deserve. • Mercy – not getting what you deserve. • Grace – getting what you don’t deserve. Three words that describe our relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Stephens: A Judge Must be Independent Kavanaugh: A Judge Must be Independent and Must Interpret the Law, Not Make the Law
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NCUMBENT, SECOND CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL, JUDGE Jimbo Stephens agrees with President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh that a judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law. Judge Stephens is an independent constitutional conservative with the most courtroom experience in all areas of the law. “It was my honor to swear-in President Trump’s Federal Judge nominee Judge Terry Doughty,” said incumbent Second Circuit Court of Appeal, Judge Jimbo Stephens. Judge Stephens’ office is in Monroe and the Court of Appeal is in Shreveport. While this district of the Second Circuit includes part of Ouachita, Morehouse and West Carroll parishes, and all of Franklin and Richland parishes, Stephens serves with eight other judges who review cases from 20 North Louisiana parishes. POLL GIVES JUDGE STEPHENS THE ADVANTAGE In 2017, Judge Marchman lost the race but carried Ouachita Parish 62 percent to 38 percent, but Judge Stephens carried the other parishes 78 percent to 28 percent and won the five parish election 52 percent to 48 percent. Now, Judge Marchman’s 24-point lead in Ouachita Parish has
changed dramatically and incumbent Judge Jimbo Stephens is leading Ouachita Parish. For more polling information go to this source link: http://winwithjmc.com/archives/8413 Jimbo and his wife, Faith, have three children and four grandchildren. Faith and Jimbo live on their farm and continue the fifth-generation of family farming. An avid outdoorsman, Stephens rides, ropes, farms and enjoys fishing and hunting with his grandchildren. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and the National Wild Turkey Federation. STEPHENS STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT “Judge Stephens is a law and order judge following in the footsteps of his grandfather Sheriff A.J. Stephens and his father Judge Sonny Stephens.” – Sheriff Jerry Philley, West Carroll Parish Judge Stephens, an Independent, is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, not just because he likes to hunt, but because he knows that the Second Amendment is responsible for safeguarding the rest of the Constitution.
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A Special Collection of Local Favorites Junior League Cookbooks Continue the Tradition
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UNIOR LEAGUE OF MONROE cookbooks represent a key piece of the community, heritage and tradition. Beginning with The Cotton Country Collection, published in 1972, Celebrations on the Bayou and Cooking in High Cotton complete the collection. Junior League women and the greater community have been sharing these recipes and cooking these meals for families, friends and guests for generations. We are sharing these recipes, with the hopes of continuing this tradition of sharing these cookbooks with new generations, those new to the area and those outside our region. These cookbooks are more than just the recipes that fill their pages but more importantly, they were created to directly support the community through their proceeds.
Recipe and Photography Submitted by Tara Ambrose
Shrimp and Grits Divine Cooking in High Cotton, pg. 88
Directions: Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan.
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Ingredients: • 4 cups of water • 1 cup of grits • Salt and pepper to taste • 1/3 cup of butter • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese • 1 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined • 6 slices of bacon, chopped • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped • 1 cup chopped green onions • 2 garlic cloves, minced • Shredded cheddar cheese for garnish • Slivers of green bell pepper for garnish • Sliced green onions for garnish
Whisk in the grits, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in the butter and 2 cups of cheese. Keep warm until serving time. Rinse the shrimp and pat dry. Fry the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Remove the bacon to paper towels to drain, reserving the drippings in a skillet. Add the shrimp to the bacon drippings. Sauté for 3 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink. Do not overcook. Stir in the lemon juice, parsley, 1 cup green onions and garlic. Remove from the heat. Pour the grits into individual serving bowls. Spoon the shrimp mixture over the grits and sprinkle with the bacon. Garnish with cheddar cheese, bell pepper and green onions. Serves 4 Wine Recommendation: Antinori Bolgheri Vermentino
Educate, Encourage and Empower Judge Aisha Clark for 4th Judicial District Court Division “G”
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AITH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY are a few of the words that come to mind when one thinks about Judge Aisha S. Clark. The law is one of her greatest passions, and each day she considers it an absolute honor to serve in the Judiciary. Currently, she is the youngest woman serving as a judge in Ouachita Parish. Early on, she knew her path would be different than that of her two sisters, Dr. Brittany Clark (Internal Medicine physician) and Dr. Amber Clark (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician), as she was more drawn toward Drama Club and Teen Court. Through these experiences, she quickly learned that being a voice for those in need was her gift. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Grambling State University, with degrees in Political Science and Mass Communication with a minor in Theater, she became resolute with her decision to attend law
school. She graduated from Southern University Law Center and upon graduation, she hit the ground running by serving in several capacities that prepared her for her future. She was a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Wolfe in Amite, Louisiana. Seeking a new challenge, she became a felony Assistant District Attorney under the administration of Eddie Jordan, D.A. of Orleans Parish following Hurricane Katrina. Her experience has been vast and diverse, including time as both Assistant City Attorney and Assistant City Prosecutor for the City of Monroe. She also served as Environmental Court Administrative Hearing Officer/Judge for the City. In 2014, she was elected as Judge in Monroe City Court. She has stayed committed to her community not only serving with grace on the bench, but also being a visible face and a tangible presence as a guest speaker, panelist and volunteer whenever asked. She has also championed platforms of her own, suicide
prevention and Hairloss from the Heart, to give back to her community. Four years later, she is now in pursuit of one of her greatest dreams, running for District Court Judge. She has a three point plan that includes education by providing information on the laws, encouragement by promoting and advocating positive perspectives on the judiciary and criminal justice systems and empowerment by providing knowledge to remain involved in maintaining safe communities. With God before her and her family behind her, she knows that nothing is impossible, if you are willing to put in the work and dedication. She wants her legacy to be one of a world-changer whose faith, love for humanity and the law helped transform the judiciary and the criminal justice system for the better. She will continue to Educate, Empower and Encourage the masses, as long as God gives her the opportunity to do so.
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PERFECT SPACES Tish Miller’s life-long love of creating balance and comfort coalesces into a career as one of the region’s premier interior designers A R T I C L E B Y M I C H A E L D E VA U LT PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD ARENDER
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hen Tish Miller was a young girl, there wasn’t much of a question in her mind what she wanted to do with her life. Her father also had designs for his daughter’s career might look like. The problem was that their visions weren’t exactly in synch. In fact, they both envisioned completely different professional journeys. “Of course we encourage things that we know and love,” Tish tells BayouLife. From the time she was a student at Sallie Humble, Tish’s father, Dr. Myron Bailey, had encouraged her to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in the medical field. Tish had different ideas. “But both my mom and my dad were happy to have me find my own way, and I wanted to be in fashion.” Throughout junior high at River Oaks and high school at Neville, Tish returned time and again to the idea that she’d like to work with textiles, design clothes and maybe own a boutique of her own. It took a little convincing, but Tish finally persuaded her father that her future was in fashion. Her mother was also a strong influence in her life, pushing her to follow the path Tish saw for herself. “She has always been my biggest cheerleader and supporter,” Tish says of her mother. “She taught me to be my own person, and she always believes in me.” After studying first at Louisiana Tech and then at the Fashion Institute, her father encouraged her to pursue the opportunity. He insisted she learn every aspect of the business, bringing a surgeon’s mind to bear on a sprawling industry with hundreds of potential career paths. “I had ended up at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York,” she says. “It was there that I was offered a position at Jacques de la Marre and Associates overseeing Atlanta and Dallas showrooms.” Tish went on to spend five years in Dallas with de la Marre and Associates. Along the way, she began to realize
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the time was fast approaching for her to step out, finally, and open her own store. By 1992, she felt she was ready. She had a few criteria she needed to meet, first Tish knew she wanted to return home to Monroe to open her store. She also had traveled extensively, so she knew she didn’t want just another clothing store in another strip mall. Instead, Tish envisioned a neighborhood clothing shop, the kind of quaint place one might discover by accident. When a building became available on North 3rd Street in Monroe’s Garden District neighborhood, she knew the “right time” had come. The Indigo Company opened in 1992, and Tish filled the store with the kinds of beautiful, unique designs that she believed Monroe buyers would like. Very quickly, they added accessories for the home to the collection. As customers came in, Tish did what any good retailer does. She followed the opportunities, always knowing that she wanted Indigo “to be a little different.” By the time the building next door came available, Tish was offering private label bedding in addition to her clothing designs. They expanded the business and added even more offerings. Inside Indigo was born. “It evolved, changed, and grew,” Tish says. “We expanded that part of the business and started to bring in furniture.” Customers adored Tish’s flair for staging a space, selecting the perfect pieces of furniture and the accessories to bring them to life. She even recruited local artists to create works, hang them in the store and sell them. As the store’s furniture offerings expanded, so too did Tish’s efforts to present them well. Whole rooms in the two stores began to take on a particularly Tish Miller feel. As the interest in Tish’s work on home interiors expanded, the offerings inside her stores followed suit. “The two buildings ended up being almost completely taken over by furniture,” Tish says. Before long, customers weren’t just picking Tish’s brain for ideas and tips on how to create the perfect space. They were actively seeking her out to come do rooms in their houses. She’s unsure of the first time she stepped into someone else’s space to bring her touch to their home. But soon enough, her designs were finding their way into homes across northeast Louisiana. Tish’s designs feature a mixture of old and new, contemporary and classic, and organic metalics and woods. Whether the woods she selects are rough or finished is driven more by the each project than a preconceived aesthetic.
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“If nothing in a house has a story, it’s going to be a long time before a story is created in that house.”
“It’s all about how a space feels to me—the curated items selected and the quiet spaces between,” Tish explains. To round out her designs, she layers neutrals with earth tones and warmer colors for a lush, yet classic feel. Each accessory is hand-selected from the owner’s own possessions, a slew of markets and antiques stores. She’s also not afraid of bold statement pieces or subtle understatement. The result is an alwaysinviting, sometimes contradictory environment onto which she imprints the owner’s wishes. Elegant and refined, yet at once comfortable, each of her rooms is unique, expressive of both the owner’s desires and their needs. Unlike other designers whose works all fall into a similar aesthetic vein, in no situation is there a clear “Tish Miller style.” Yet it’s clear any time someone steps into her creations that she’s the one who perfected the space. Between the two stores and work for dozens of clients, Tish found herself traveling to five or six markets a year, a grueling schedule of travel-shoppurchase-install that would slow anyone else to a crawl. If operating two stores and a burgeoning career as an interior designer proved a challenge, though, Tish took it in stride and decided to start a family. First came a daughter, Bailey, followed a few years later by her second daughter, Emery. Adding motherhood to the busy schedule was just a matter of course for Tish, whose energetic nature and natural buoyancy infused everything she did with a youthful enthusiasm. Each week, it seemed, design was where she was headed. However, she’d been working for a long time to establish the stores as fashion houses first, furniture stores second. Four and a half years at Jacques De La Marre had prepared her well for running a boutique, providing her the business
acumen to navigate the transition. She credits her father’s steadfast advice and direction with her tenacity. “When I began going down the road into fashion, I wanted to know everything, learn everything I could, about the business,” Tish says. “My dad pushed me into that. He understood it was my career choice, but he wanted to make sure I understood what it was I wanted to do.” Tish likens the process she undertook to becoming a surgeon. The methodical nature in which she dissected the industry, becoming intimately aware of each level of the fashion business, and understanding how they all relate helped to inform her journey. It was a journey with many stops, to be sure. By the time 1992 rolled around and it was time to open Indigo Company and, later, Inside Indigo, Tish knew what she wanted. “I wanted to come up with something organic, comfortable and not foreboding or confrontational in any way,” she says. In Indigo Company, she chose something that fit her business and design goals. “I knew I didn’t want my name on it. We were very life-style driven, approachable and relatable.” For almost 20 years, Tish operated the Indigo Company and Inside Indigo until, at last, the demands of her nowthriving design business overtook the time she could spend on the store. She shuttered the shops and set out as Tish Miller Design, the business that’s combined all of her loves, from textiles and décor to layout and design. Her girls grew up, Tish’s business thrived, and it seemed life was moving forward in all the ways she had always hoped. Bailey went to Houston to pursue a career in contemporary art, while Emery ended up at LSU in New Orleans, studying nursing. Tish’s design company continued to flourish, and though she missed some of the hustle of the shops, she knew she had made the right move. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 181
“I made a lot of beautiful friendships, just beautiful relationships and connections during that period,” she says. “I wouldn’t change a thing.” At the end of September, 2015, Tish faced her biggest challenge yet, when doctors informed her that symptoms she’d been experiencing were due to B-Cell Lymphoma. She immediately headed to MD Anderson, in Houston to “figure out the best treatment,” relying on the advice and experience her sister had had with the hospital. MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the world’s premier treatment and research facilities for persons with cancer. The hospital has a long record of innovative and thorough treatment. Her oncologist set her at ease with the coolness and intent with which he approached
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treating her cancer, which she says he didn’t stage. “He said he treats everything like it is Stage 4, which I really appreciated,” she says. From October of 2015 through July of 2016, she underwent numerous treatments, a grueling process made more difficult by the cancer’s invasion of her central nervous system. She calls cancer an “awkward, ugly disease,” because each case is different, each tumor responds differently, and these constantly shifting sands make treating the disease especially hard. For someone with a long history of rising to the challenge, cancer and treatments became a new awakening of sorts. “It was a challenge, but a different kind of challenge,” Tish says. As bad as it was, she still felt blessed. Friends and family rallied around her, her doctors were encouraging, and in the end, she persevered. She’s been cancer-free for two years. “There were so many blessings within that very scary period of time that, maybe, something was telling me to slow down, look around, and just stop for a minute,” she says. “It was a quiet time, an introspective time that I felt, in spite of the reason I was having to be quiet and introspective, that within all of that was a blessing. I saw how kind people are.” These days, Tish is still hard at work creating some of the region’s most expressive and inviting interiors. She’s especially proud when she can create the exact environment that her clients are looking for to spend time in. Tish understands spaces shouldn’t be trendy but, instead, should be classic – in the world of the owners. And she’s still making sure each piece, each interior, tells a story. That’s what it’s all about, after all. “If nothing in a house has a story, it’s going to be a long time before a story is created in that house,” she says.
St. Francis Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic St. Francis Welcomes Two New Providers
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T. FRANCIS IS PROUD TO WELCOME two new providers to our Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, Dr. Sarah Aftab Ahmad and Sonya Fronsoe, NP. Below is information they have graciously shared with us: Why did you go into medicine? Dr. Ahmad: I’ve always had a passion for medical science. Becoming a surgeon was a way for me to combine my love for medicine and my wish to make a positive contribution towards improving the quality of human life. Sonya Fronsoe: Cardiology came into my life, when I started as a unit secretary in the cardiac cath lab while going through nursing school. I knew immediately that cardiology would be my passion! What brought you to Monroe, Louisiana? Dr. Ahmad: I enjoyed the atmosphere and environment, when I first visited St. Francis. I have always liked the feel of a small
to medium-sized town, where I can interact closely with the community and develop longlasting relationships. I believe this community will be a great place for both my career and family. Sonya Fronsoe: My family has deep roots here, so I grew up visiting this area. My husband had a dream to own a running store after he retired, so when a locally-owned business became available for purchase it was clear that God was directing our next chapter in life. When I was ready to start looking for career opportunities in this area, St. Francis had a position that I was excited to pursue... and well, here I am! What are you most excited about in your new role and what is your vision for the future of cardiovascular services at St. Francis? Dr. Ahmad: Joining St. Francis provides me with a great opportunity to develop a strong practice along with the support and
mentorship from senior colleagues. I am most excited about developing a TAVR and minimally invasive program at St. Francis for patients with valvular disease. I bring a dynamic range of surgical and catheter-based skill sets, along with academic leadership, to the medical center. Using a structured team approach, St. Francis will be the center of excellence for cardiovascular services in Northeast Louisiana. Sonya Fronsoe: After practicing in clinical cardiology for 17 years, it’s exciting to have the opportunity to tackle heart care from a different perspective. St. Francis has a strategic vision for bringing new technologies and procedures in cardiovascular care to our community, and I am looking forward to being involved. What do you like to do in your free time? Dr. Ahmad: I enjoy reading, playing sports and spending time with family. Sonya Fronsoe: My favorite activity is spending time with our fur baby, a mini Australian Shepherd, who is the apple of my eye. I also love to run and spend time with family. I also enjoy free time on the couch with hubby, enjoying a Netflix binge while drinking a great cup of coffee!
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Fitting Customers with the Perfect Sleep for One Year American Mattress Outlet
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PENING IN AUGUST 2017, Robby Compton at American Mattress Outlet is celebrating his first year of serving the West Monroe community. It is located in the same location as the old H. Mickel in West Monroe, across the street from City Hall. Compton has been a part of this community his entire life and is happy to call the Twin Cities home. Compton has worked in retail for many years and chose West Monroe for his home and business. He opened American Mattress Outlet with the hopes of providing this community with high quality, brand name mattresses at a reasonable price. Mattresses, frames, adjustable beds, pillows and sheets can all be found at the conveniently located store, right off North 7th Street. There is no reason not to stop by and see for yourself the amazing inventory they have. American Mattress Outlet receives new styles weekly in their 3,000 sq. ft. building
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ensuring the perfect fit for a night of deep sleep. A good night’s sleep is a key part a healthy lifestyle. It can improve your mood, help lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. Lack of sleep due to an old mattress can contribute to depression, pain in shoulders, neck and back, and more. Here are a few signs it is time for a new mattress: • Tossing and turning • Pain in back or neck • Numbness • Waking up feeling restless If you or your spouse is having trouble sleeping or if you’re just ready for a change, American Mattress can help. They have top of the line brands at affordable prices and believe you shouldn’t have to go into debt to get a great night’s sleep.
American Mattress outlet sells Rize and Structures adjustable beds. These beds provide lots of options for people looking for a little more out of their sleep experience. Something that is durable and wellengineered, but easy to use. Adjustable beds help you find the perfect position and provide health benefits like: the anti-snoring setting, as well as settings to improve blood flow and relieve pressure on the back. American Mattress Outlet’s friendly staff can assist in the decision making process and offer insight to help along the way. Please stop by and see Robby today for the best mattresses and prices in town. Follow American Mattress on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming sales and discounts.
Julie Mays Interiors The Sofa Search BY JULIE MAYS
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HOICES…..IN THIS WORLD OF the Internet and mass advertising along with brick and mortar retail locations struggling to stay afloat, what helps us decide where to invest our hard earned money? The design world online gives us an overwhelming amount of options that we desire, but can overlook the importance of customer service, quality and comfort. Here is a situation that I receive calls about quite often, I would like to share with you the journey of a typical sofa search. “The beautiful sofa with the down cushions, tufted high back, luxurious velvet upholstery and tapered foot can be yours in a few short weeks with the touch of a button…” This is my thought process as I listen to my client: Size… is the sofa the right scale and size for the room? Did you measure the space? Durability… have you read all the specs about the construction of the frame? Will it hold up to years of active use or just be pretty to look at?
Construction… what about the cushion construction? Is comfort important? Down sounds luxurious in the description… How will it feel when you sit on it? What happens when you tire of fluffing the down cushions daily and the sofa starts to look like a worn out shoe? Fabric… in the picture on the screen the velvet looks like a lovely shade of taupe. Not too gray and not too brown. Perfect! What do you do when the sofa arrives and the sofa is actually green? You think to yourself, maybe throw pillows will help? Maybe you should now paint your room? What color of paint will make the sofa look the way it did online? What about a different rug? Freight…Who will help you unload the sofa? Where will it ship? Eighteen wheelers often cannot deliver to residential areas due to their size. Check for damage. Most often returns are complicated. Do you have time to spend on the phone with customer service? As the journey you are on that began as a great way to find something wonderful
and cost effective turns into an expensive remodeling project in your mind, what do you do? This is not meant to scare you or keep you from making purchases online. This is meant to reinforce your thinking about the value of a dollar. Sometimes we have budgetary reasons for the decisions we make. Overspending can often be curtailed by simply walking into a store, meeting with a professional and talking though your needs. A professional will strive to help find you the best product for you and your lifestyle while staying within your parameters and providing you with peace of mind and dependable customer service. In addition to acquiring a stunning new sofa, you will have found a kindred spirit who shares your love for creating great spaces in your home while supporting business in your own town and state. Happy shopping!
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Butter Bakery in Downtown Monroe Local Bakery Offers Gluten Free Goodness
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UTTER BAKERY OPENED IN January of this year and has been serving sweet treats ever since. They have become the place to go for all things gluten free. And it’s so good, you don’t even know the gluten is missing! They are known for their cookies, cakes, eclairs, muffins and brownies and have recently expanded to serve breakfast and lunch. Located on the first floor of the Vantage building on DeSiard Street, Charity and Adam Jones, has quickly become a staple in the downtown area. Butter Bakery is truly a family business. You can find Charity in the kitchen, working on new recipes, overseeing employees and ordering ingredients, while Adam works behind the scenes. Their two little ones, Penelope and Graham, even make the occasional appearance. And while starting a business with two little ones has been hard and exhausting, Charity relishes in the fact that she is providing
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gluten free food while helping grow downtown Monroe and be a part of the local business community. “When traveling, we always try to seek out the local businesses, small coffee shops, cute boutiques,” said Charity. “Local businesses are the heart of our community and we are excited to be in downtown Monroe along with people like RoeLA Roaster, Rain Salon, Restaurant Cotton and more!” You can grab breakfast or lunch Monday through Friday at Butter, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some of the breakfast options include homemade poptarts, grits bowls, blueberry, chocolate chip and banana nut muffins and more. Options for lunch have included BLTs, Asian nachos, Frito Pies, Italian meatballs with French fries, cheeseburgers, waffle cone tacos and more. Butter proudly serves locally roasted RoeLA coffee. They recently introduced an affogato, which is a scoop of their homemade ice cream “drowned” with a
shot of hot espresso. Charity is always testing out new recipes, so there is always something new to try! Now that fall is officially here, the holidays will be here before you know it. Butter will have plenty of options both in their case at the bakery and available for special orders. Fall specialties will include pies, cobblers, pumpkin loafs, speciality coffees and more! And if you are a pumpkin spice fanatic like Charity and Adam, Butter Bakery has a variety of pumpkin spice baked goods that you will love! Charity has even begun thinking of Christmas treats with gingerbread men, pastries that resemble a snow covered village, petite red velvet cakes and more. Be sure to stop by Butter during the week to try some of their gluten free goodness and place your holiday orders!
Stone Work Creations
For All of Your Masonry Needs, From Basic to Custom
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TONE WORK CREATIONS IS YOUR GO-TO contractor when it comes to customizing your ideal home. They specialize in a variety of masonry work. Whether you are interested in a simple home improvement or looking to create a new look, they can build and create firepits, mailboxes, sidewalks, floor pavers and more. If you are building a new home or renovating a current home, Stone Work Creations can help turn your home project dreams into a reality. The company is locally owned and operated by Josh Worley, who has been in the masonry business for 15 years. He and his crew take pride in building high end quality work with stone, brick and all things masonry. They are qualified and skilled in doing custom work for unique projects of all sizes and budgets. Now that fall is here, it is the time to create your backyard fire pit, where you and your family can enjoy this cozy time of the year right outside your own back door. It is prime football and hunting season, which means outdoor cooking. Stone Work Creations can create the grill and cooking station you have been dreaming of, perfect for entertaining. The holidays are right around the corner, so now is the time to finish off those projects and have them done for family and out of town visitors to enjoy. Whether it’s fireplaces, mailboxes,
columns or to custom built showers, Stone Work Creations can help you check everything off your home project list. Since Stone Works Creations is locally owned, they have the hometown values that we all appreciate and are invested in our community. You don’t have to worry about dealing with a corporate office or someone far off. You will deal directly with the owner. Josh oversees all aspects of every job to ensure quality work. Working directly with homeowners as well as repeat contractors, Stone Work Creations ensures you’ll get the job done right and to your satisfaction. You can bring your ideas to Stone Work Creations and their experienced and knowledgeable staff and feel confident they can help make your project a success. Stone Work Creations is licensed and insured and offers free estimates to help bring your visions to life. Contact them at 318-376-8600 or find them on Facebook to see more pictures of their high end custom projects.
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Rhymes Gets Your Ready for the Holidays Rhymes Renovations and Contracting Offers Custom Work and More
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OR ALMOST TWO DECADES, Randy Rhymes has been working on homes throughout Northeast Louisana as a licensed residential general contractor. Randy has experience in historic and vintage properties, interior and exterior work, new builds and remodel jobs of all shapes and sizes. With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to mark some things off that ever growing project list. Whether you need to remodel a guest bathroom, add a back patio or update a kitchen, Randy can help ensure your project goes smoothly from start to finish. “When you are working with a licensed general contractor, it is a turnkey operation,” said Randy. “You aren’t having to research who does what for your job, find good and reputable workers, make sure they are ordering all the correct things
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and installing them correctly. That is my job, and I oversee every project.” Most people are busy working and simply don’t have the knowledge required when it comes to construction and remodel. “My clients hire me to take care of their project and be the middle man and expert when it comes to all the different variables that come along with construction and remodel.” You can call Randy to meet with him and discuss the project you are planning. He will give you an estimate and once agreed upon, he will get to work. He is licensed and insured, which is another added bonus. “Often times, people may attempt to work with someone who isn’t licensed or have insurance. When there is a problem, they end up having to hire someone else and it costs more money in the long run,” said
Randy. Having work done in your home means having a variety of workers in and around your home. When you hire Rhymes Renovations and Contracting, Randy ensures your home is taken care of throughout the process. No matter the scope of your addition or renovation, Randy Rhymes can provide quality contacting services to anyone looking to build from the ground up or renovate an existing home. Randy works throughout Northeast Louisiana, including Monroe, West Monroe, Ruston, Farmerville and Sterlington. To experience the level of care and detail that Rhymes Renovations can bring to your next construction project, call Randy today at 318.348.4287.
Local Lending Done Right Marion State Bank is Your Trusted Mortgage Lender
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NTERING INTO A MORTGAGE IS often times the biggest financial transaction any of us will ever make. Whether you’re a first time homebuyer, downsizing, refinancing or anything in-between, choosing a mortgage lender for your loan can be a daunting task. Marion State Bank would love the opportunity to make your choice easier! We are a local bank with our mortgage department located in Sterlington, Louisiana. We also serve Marion State Bank’s home office in Marion and our other branches in Farmerville and the Drew (West Monroe). As a hometown bank, it is of the utmost importance to us to support our friends and neighbors with whom we work and live. All of our underwriting and appraisals are done locally. Closing documents are prepared on-site, and we utilize local title companies, who are well versed in our Louisiana customs. Flexibility, versatility and convenience are integral in
order to meet the needs and requests of borrowers and realtors. If you can’t get to us, we will come to you to discuss your borrowing options! Accommodating our clients and finding out which loan will best fit their needs is priority. You can count on Marion State Bank’s mortgage specialists to keep your best interest in mind. We offer a range of home loan programs, including Conventional, Rural Development, FHA and VA loans. We also have lending products for self employed borrowers. Our mission is to make the process as easy and hassle free as possible in order to get you into the home of your dreams! With over forty years of mortgage experience between them, our mortgage specialists, Pam Garrett and Joel Turner, are well seasoned and skilled in their industry. Pam has been in the mortgage business since 1991. She has served as an originator, a closing
agent for a title company and a notary public. Joel has been an originator since 2002 and is proficient in mortgage lending guidelines and products. Kylie Middleton serves as our loan processor and works diligently to prepare, organize and have your loan approved as soon as possible. Our team is excited about our new office, and they believe that home ownership is one of the most exciting times in any individual’s life! Allow one of our local loan officers to navigate you through the home buying process and get you into your dream home. Their doors are always open for you to drop in and discuss your options. They are also available by phone, email or text message and are looking forward to meeting you!
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A local teen’s quest to enter the history books is nearing its completion. Mason Andrews has circumnavigated the world as a mission for MedCamps of Louisiana. A RT I C LE BY M I C HA E L D E VAU LT A N D P HOTOS CO URTESY OF J OR DAN B E L LOW A N D M ASO N A N D R EWS 190 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
BY THE TIME THE READERS ARE LOOKING AT THIS, Mason Andrews will be safely ensconced back at home, asleep in his own bed, his father’s Piper Lance PA32R secure at the local airport. At the time of the writing, though, Mason’s father, Jeb, and a team of volunteers, supporters, well-wishers, and gawkers are sitting on pins and needles. Mason, you see, is on a quest to become the youngest pilot ever to solo-circumnavigate the globe. And right now, he’s stuck in Manila as one of the largest storms in recent memory churns its way across the Pacific Ocean, making a beeline for the Philippines. “Prayer request for Mason’s MedCamps Mission: we urgently need to get him out of the Philippines before the typhoon starts blowing!” his mother, Nancy Andrews, shared in a Facebook message September 10. Mason arrived in the Philippines with plenty of time to make it to Japan before Typhoon Mangkhut moves into the Philippines Area of Responsibility, or PAR. However, weather kept him grounded for a few days and, when the storms finally broke to allow passage to Japan, a 6.8 earthquake struck the area in which he had intended to land.
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uch are the challenges want to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. But faced by adventure fliers then, when you realize you have to fly back seeking to complete one home across the same ocean and no one cares of the most arduous about that, you decide to go on ahead and fly tasks an aviator can around the rest of the world.” undertake. For Mason, It was hard for Jeb to argue with the his mother and father, logic. So together, they began to dissect the and the thousands of challenges. First, the financial burden of people following him such a trip was paramount. Mason estimated on Facebook, this was he could do the entire circumnavigation for just one more challenge to pray about and $75,000. Jeb agreed to finance the trip, if they to overcome. “He’s been through two of the could hold costs to just that. largest weather events in recent memory— Pretty quickly, they found out how short like the largest monsoons in 100 years,” Jeb the estimates are. Andrews told BayouLife. “And Typhoon Jebi is Turns out, it’s a very small community of the largest in over 25 years.” aviators who’ve completed the trip. They’re Mangkhut is only the latest hurdle Mason eager to talk about it and eager to caution has faced. He also took time to speak with about the shortcomings of efforts, as well. BayouLife from his hotel room in Manila, where Mason would need outside support. Luckily, he had been for five days after a weatherMason’s not an ordinary college kid. forced emergency landing at Subic Bay. The community rallied around him, “It’s absolutely been a challenge, but and while none of the large national aviation it was expected to be one the whole time,” companies stepped up to sponsor his effort, Mason said. “We’re prepared for pretty much donations began to roll in $50, $500, even any eventuality.” $1,000 at a time. At the same time, Mason So far in his journey, Mason has seen decided he wanted to dedicate the trip to one sights many will never see. He flew from the of his favorite organizations: MedCamps of United States to Paris, where he flew past the Louisiana. Eiffel Tower en route to Le Bourget airport. So far, his efforts have paid off for He’s seen the Burg Khalifa in Dubai. Along the MedCamps. They’ve raised more than way, he’s also faced and met challenges that $10,000 to send kids to the camp, and the UPS most pilots never encounter. Charitable Foundation recently announced Yet Mason is no ordinary aviator. And they’re donating 100 new mattresses for kids he’s also no ordinary teen. to sleep on at the camp. Jeb points out it wasn’t exactly smooth With his father’s blessing, the resources sailing for the boy who would fly around the in place for success and a mission to drive “By far, the most exciting part world when the idea first presented itself. The him through to the end, Mason set out in his of the experience was flying into first time the idea came up, Jeb remembers his father’s Piper, which they re-christened the Paris, seeing the Eifel Tower, and response. Spirit of Louisianne. “It was an emphatic ‘no,’” he says. “We Mason departed Monroe on July 22 with an doing those kinds of things.” discussed it several times, and I told him ‘no’ estimated arrival of September 7. As of press the first three times he came to me about it.” time, Mason’s estimated arrival had crept to As a pilot himself, Jeb understood the challenges of long-haul the 22nd, though whether or not weather and the movement of flights. There were modifications to the plane – it would need tectonic plates would cooperate enough for him to make that new additional avionics and navigation, as well as a long-range fuel deadline is still up in the air. tank, for example. Then there was the cost of aviation fuel and the Meanwhile, Mason is staying focused on the goals at hand challenge of finding aviation fuel for a piston-driven aircraft in a and having the time of his life. When he lands back in northeast world where most aircraft burn jet fuel. Because of housing and Louisiana, he’ll become the youngest pilot in history to complete fueling concerns, as well as dozens of variables with weather and a circumnavigation. And because of recent changes in aviation aircraft range, the idea of plotting a course and sticking to it was rules that raise the age pilots can obtain their licenses from 16 to 17, also a challenge. Nevertheless, Mason kept returning with the idea. chances are that Mason will remain the youngest for a long, long Mason, it turns out, is a tenacious kid who won’t let go of a good time. idea. Until then, he’s still looking for a way out of the Philippines “I started looking at it, and I realized he could do it,” Jeb says. and back across the U.S., where he’ll land in Alaska and watch the “He could complete the whole trip. I knew he’s a smart kid and, if Northern Lights. anybody could pull this deal off, it would be him.” “I was just looking back at all the pictures,” Mason said. “By For his part, Mason notes that he didn’t just approach his father far, the most exciting part of the experience was flying into Paris, with the goal of circumnavigation. After the circumnavigation seeing the Eiffel Tower and doing those kinds of things.” request, Mason returned with a different goal: be the youngest But the thing he’s most looking forward to on a return to the to solo the Atlantic. This, his father realized, was doable. Mason U.S.: Talking to U.S. Air Traffic Control and eating an American began planning. Soon, Mason realized a pattern. Cheeseburger. Until then, he’ll just have to fill his days with views “It happens the same way for all of us who fly of Subic Bay, the Pyramids at Giza, Tokyo at night and the Northern circumnavigations,” Mason says. “It always starts out where they Lights. 192 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
NCLAC Announces Holiday Art Crawl Artists and Locations The North Central Louisiana Arts Council is excited to release this year’s plans for Holiday Art Crawl, which will be held in Downtown Ruston November 15-17. On Thursday and Friday evenings of the Art Crawl, artists will be displaying their work in shops from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. around downtown Ruston. Scheduled musical performances and artistic demonstrations will be held throughout the same evenings. Saturday morning will feature Sprout Hour, a craft session for kids, and Holiday Art Brawl, an art competition for adults, which will both be held at the Historic Fire Station at 10:00 a.wm. Art Brawl and People’s Choice winners will be announced
at 11:30. For more information, visit nclac.org/holiday-arts. Artists will include: Kit Gilbert, Lacey Stinson, Annie Richardson, Catherine McVea, Donna McGee, Karen Armstrong, Linda Snider-Ward, Mary Jane Van-Zandt, Noula Rodakis, Bette Kauffman, Hooshang Khorasani, Julie Crews, Frank Hamrick, Jake Dugard, Christiane Drieling, Neal Blackman, Emily Ezell, Cathy Godley, Amy James, Dorene Kordal, Liz Zanca, Bethany Roberts, Amanda Roe, Caylan Dowden, Molly Engen, Shannan Inman, Emily Pullin, Janelle Cobb, Jared Latiolais, Madison Wooley, Zeppy Cheng, Rabbet Run, Todd Maggio, Linda Dwyer, Laura Lewis, Raluca
Iancu, Jessica Horne, Dean Dablow, Jonathan Stewart, Mariel Alexis Davenport and Kaitlin Self. These artists will be hosted by participating downtown locations: Studio 301, No. Nine Books and Records, Gallery 210, Ruston Artisans, Fine Line Supply, Re/Max Results Realty, Railway Coffee, Amberley’s, Trenton Interiors, The Fashion of Ruston, Chartreuse Pear, Main Street Exchange, Patton’s Downtown, Cotton Top, Rodeo Boutique, Sue Paperie, Uptown Downtown, Esma’s Alley, Sundown Tavern, The Frame Up, Fringe Gallery, Garden Baby, Durrett Law and Title and Townsend House Gifts. With musical performances by: Elizabeth Vidos/Lady Chops, Ouachita Strummers, Cain Budds, James Waller, Piney Hills Harmony Chorus, The Untouchables and Tech Theatre Players. All Holiday Art Crawl events are free and open to the public. Artists will have works for sale. Fine Line Supply is the title sponsor of Holiday Art Crawl, which is also supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and administered by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.
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Gearing Up for the Season for Giving Yanceys’ Pharmacy and Gift Shop
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ANCEYS’ IS A FULL-SERVICE Healthmart Pharmacy. This third generation, privately owned business has been serving Richland Parish and surrounding areas for over fifty years. Yanceys’ dedicated and helpful staff is always ready to help you with your health care needs and provide you with beautiful home decor and giftables. Yanceys’ Gift Shop has a full range of gifts. Convenient parking, free gift wrap and great customer service are just a few things that make Yanceys’ the perfect place to shop. We have gifts for any occasion, including Faceplant Pajamas (bamboo and oh so soft), Consuela totes, beautiful frames and so much more! We also have great selections for baby and wedding gifts. Bring it outdoors with our seasonal and everyday flags and mats. We have many colorful styles to cheer up your yard. These
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make great gifts along with our Woodstock wind chimes. Yanceys’ is sure to please with beautiful seasonal selections for gift or home. Let us help you choose a new fabulous piece or two to freshen up your holiday look. Watch for our annual sale on Old World Christmas Ornaments. Jewelry anyone? Let Yanceys’ staff help you select the perfect piece of jewelry for that special occasion, gift, or perfect accent piece to wear everyday. Choose from our varied selection of styles at prices to fit any budget. You will not want to miss our MARIANA PROMOTION! Mariana jewelry is hand made in Israel of handcut gemstones and Swarovski crystals. This exquisite jewelry is timeless yet constantly changing. Yanceys’ is excited to introduce the latest collections and styles designed by Mariana to make a statement. A beautiful Mariana necklace can be yours for
FREE! Come and try on our Mariana necklace of the month, and you will be entered in a drawing to win. There will be a new necklace each month, and each month, one lucky customer will be taking this beautiful necklace home with them. When it comes to home fragrance, Yanceys’ has the best selection around. Come and choose your favorites from Nest, Tyler and Votivo candle companies. We have new fragrances and products in every line and scrumptious seasonal fragrances you will want to bring home for the holidays. We can’t not mention our Beekman 1802 products. These soaps and skincare products are made in the U.S. of natural ingredients. They are also paraben and sulfate free. Goat milk is a key ingredient, which leaves your skin clean and moisturized. We absolutely love it! This year make your holiday shopping a fun and personal experience at Yanceys’ Pharmacy and Gifts. We can help you choose the perfect gift for those special someones on your list. Can’t make the trip? Give us a call! Our experienced staff is ready to serve you. Visit us on Facebook and Instagram! 103 Christian Drive Rayville, Louisiana 318-728-4195
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Art of a Simple Fall
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From fall bonfires to pumpkin carving, this is the season for family gatherings and fun times article and photography by Kelly Moore Clark styling by Taylor Bennett
“Personally, I love fire ... as soon as the weather gets cool, we have a fire in the fireplace. And, what’s the only thing better than fire in the fireplace? A fire under the stars! Friday night bonfires are something we look forward to all week. We gather our supplies of sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers and Reese’s if we’re feeling feisty! S’Mores are a beloved tradition that we look forward to year round.”
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Whether you’ve been making S’Mores since you were a Girl/Boy Scout or this is your first time around, this gooey-licious confection is fall’s staple dessert. For a simple twist on this favorite campfire favorite, we’ve changed a few basic ingredients.
Peanut-Buttery S’Mores
Gluten-Free Graham Crackers Peanut Butter Cups 1 square marshmallow (we love using homemade marshmallows, look at Evelyn O’Neal’s recipe on page 98 of this month’s issue)
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1. Take the peanut butter cup out and place in on a gluten-free graham cracker. 2. Roast the marshmallow on a cooking stick until it reaches the desired doneness. 3. Place the marshmallow on top of the peanut butter cup, then top with another graham cracker 4. Pull the stick from between the S’More and enjoy this gooey delicious treat.
Nothing says Halloween like homemade candy apples
Homemade Candy Apples 12 Small Apples (different varieties) 12 wood dowels 3 cups of white sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1 cup water 1/2 tsp red food coloring candy thermometer Insert dowels in apples and set on wax paper. Combine sugar, light corn syrup and water in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook until thermometer is 300 degrees F. Remove from heat and stir in food coloring. Carefully dip apples into the mixture and allow to cool. Dip in nuts or other candy if desired.
“I love being outside and getting my hands in the dirt. For me it’s a way to relax, enjoy, unplug and simplify life. Plus, it makes me feel good when I can pull something out of the garden to eat for dinner. Keeping it small and manageable is a way I can garden without getting overwhelmed with a huge project that I won’t maintain.”
HELPFUL HINTS:
• Containers are heavy once they are filled with soil. Make sure that you have your container in place before planting. • If making a homemade container, make sure to have adequate drainage. • Almost any vegetable can grow successfully in a container. Try planting a salad garden with lettuces, cabbage and kale. • Container plants need regular feeding. Make sure to research before planting.
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Pumpkin Carving Time
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ne of our favorite things about fall (other than food and gardening) is spending time with my family decorating for Halloween. This includes carving pumpkins with the kiddos. Pumpkin carving is super easy with kids, if you plan, have the tools and use templates. It’s important to use a design that can carved out easily by the kids. This enticingly messy tradition is one that our family looks forward to every October. Here are a few steps to make the process scarily simple.
1. Choose a pumpkin with smooth skin that is easy to draw on and safe to carve. 2. Find a template online that can be printed. You can download ours at bayoulifemag.com 3. Cut the pumpkin top off and scoop out and discard pumpkin “guts.” 4. Next, pin the template to the pumpkin and trace with a Sharpie. 5. Carefully use a designated carving tool to cut out the traced template. 6. Use a LED tea light or add extra pizzazz with a flickering battery-operated light. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 201
Curry Lentil Soup
List of Ingredients: 1 tbsp coconut oil (or olive oil) 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced 2 Tbsp tomato paste (or ketchup) 2 Tbsp curry powder ½ Tsp hot red pepper flakes 4 cups vegetable broth 1 400ml can coconut milk 1 400g can diced tomatoes 1.5 cups dry red lentils 2-3 handfuls of chopped kale or spinach salt and pepper, to taste Garnish: chopped cilantro (fresh coriander) and/or vegan sour cream
“This curry lentil soup feels and tastes very sophisticated and complex, but it is so easy. I love it, because it is a one pot meal. It cooks in less than thirty minutes (when using red lentils) and is not only delicious, but so healthy. My kids ate their entire bowl, so this in itself was a huge success! This recipe does not contain meat, but you could add it for extra heartiness.�
Instructions: In a stockpot, heat the coconut oil over medium heat and stir-fry the onion, garlic and ginger until the onion is translucent, a couple minutes. Add the tomato paste (or ketchup), curry powder, and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute. Add the vegetable broth, coconut milk, diced tomatoes and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 20-30 minutes, until the lentils are very tender. Season with salt and pepper. {Make-Ahead: May be cooled, frozen in air-tight containers and re-heated over medium-low heat.} Before serving, stir in the kale/spinach and garnish with cilantro and/or vegan sour cream. Recipe from Vegangela.com
BAYOU BUZZWORTHY
MISS AMERICA PAGEANT Our own Miss Louisiana, Monroenative Holli’ Conway, was named Second Runner-Up to Miss America at the 2019 Miss America Pageant on Sunday, September 8th in Atlantic City, NJ. In addition, Conway was also named Talent Winner during Thursday night’s preliminary competion with her vocal performance of Fantasia’s “I Believe.” Overall, Holli’ earned a total of $26,000 in scholarship money at the competition, in addition to over $20,000 in scholarship money she has earned at the Miss Louisiana Pageant since she started competing in 2015. Way to go, Holli’!
AMERICAN MATTRESS OUTLET American Mattress Outlet celebrated its one year anniversary on September 6th with their official Ribbon Cutting. The West Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Staci Albritton came out to 2200 North 7th Street to help celebrate the occasion. Owner Robby Compton, a West Monroe native, hosted the party open to public with his family in attendance. Food and drinks were provided for guests as they browsed the store. Compton gave a small speech thanking family, friends and the community for the support given in the past year. Mayor Albritton also spoke briefly about the importance of supporting small local business and thanked everyone for attending.
WEST MONROE RECYCLES The City of West Monroe unveiled its new Recycling Center on September 5th. The facility is located behind the West Monroe Police Department and is open for drop-offs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. They will gladly accept paper, aluminum, cans, #1 and #2 plastics and cardboard. For more information, visit www.westmonroe. com or call 318.397.3290.
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BAYO U O U TDO O RS
article by DAN CHASON
Gearing Up
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HETHER YOU ARE a hunter or angler, the month of October is the time to brush off the bow and stands, put on the mosquito dope and head to woods. For anglers, this is the time of year for some of the best fishing there is in the country. Bow season in Louisiana coincides with some welcomed cooler weather, but for most hunters there is much more to this time of year than climbing in a bow stand. Preparation has started well before now and for those not choosing the old stick and string, food plots are disked, game cams are hung and corn and rice bran have caused the need for a second mortgage. The critters are starting to get active, and early morning late hunts are the normal choice, so the hunt is more pleasurable outside of the heat of mid day. A couple of things that are overlooked by bow hunters is to hunt the natural forage and thickets that deer call home in the early Fall. If I had to choose one food source, it would be persimmons. Persimmon trees are easy to find as one only has to follow their nose for the sweet odor they exude. Persimmons are a natural draw for deer, and if you find a persimmon tree, you are half way home. One way to compound a persimmon tree’s draw is to supplement the area with persimmon scented food. Rice bran and corn can now be found with persimmon flavor. If you cannot find it, there is another solution: Kool Aid. Take a couple of packs of strawberry scented Kool Aid and sprinkle it on top of your corn or bran. It works like a charm. I do not recommend this, if you hunt in an area with wild feral hogs. Hogs also love the sweet aroma, and your deer will leave the country when they show up. Bears will be attracted as well, so be forewarned. Another issue with bow season is safety. I know you have heard me say this thousands of times but I say it because I have experienced it. No matter how young or agile you may be, never ever climb without a safety harness. Portable stands are the norm in bow hunting so remember: The more you climb, the more times you are exposing yourself to a fall. If you hunt alone, always carry your cell phone and make sure a hunting friend knows where you are and what your hunting times are scheduled to be. It is very reassuring to know that if you have an accident, or run into something unexpected, there is someone out there who knows where you are and who will come to the rescue. Whether you hunt with a compound, recurve or cross bow, one item of concern is present on all of them: The broad head. If you have never cut yourself with a broad head, you are lucky. Always carry a quiver and always leave your crossbow unloaded before ascending or descending. Most accidents occur when climbing up or down, and a sharp broadhead can cause lethal wounds should you fall onto them. One necessary item in the backpack should always be a pull CONTINUED ON PAGE 221
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HERRINGSTONES
Mallory takes center court in this soft waffle knit turtleneck with lettuce edge hems. Layered over is an ombre-print fur vest in cream, pink and grey. Pair it with a oldschool flare high rise jean for a polished look. Accessorize with a belted felt fedora and exotic leopard print heels.
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BLEACH ER REP ORT
From boots to blazers, furs to fedoras, this fall is all about fun. Layer textures and prints and play with outerwear trends for a fresh take on contemporary classics. Photography by Kelly Moore Clark, MUAH by Meka Bennett and Model: Mallory Lynn
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THE FASHION OF RUSTON
A wine-colored top is layered with a lightweight, bohemian-inspired jacket crafted in rich hues and elegant trim. Pair with a cropped mid-rise denim jean with a raw hem. Add a gold cuff, wallet crossbody in burnt bronze and these off white pointed toe booties.
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BENT OAKS BOUTIQUE
This gorgeous tencel blend top features a scoop neckline with keyhole accent, side slits and long roll-tab sleeves. Layer it with a brown shag vest, and super soft navy leggings. Complete the look with an elegant cross earrings and necklace.
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K-SERA BOUTIQUE
This chunky turtleneck sweater is fall’s essential piece. Pair it with a mustard-colored faux leather skirt with front zipper or pocket for sophisticated style. These totally unique, mixed-materials mules let you slide into breaking convention. Accessorize with snakeskin disc earrings and a snakeskin cuff with geode accent.
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BAYOU HEALTH
EARTHING
HOW KICKING OFF YOUR SHOES CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH Article by Shannon Dahlum and Photography by Jamie Dahlum Walking barefoot can be a great way to keep the muscles and tissues of your feet strong and healthy, but can it actually improve the health of your entire body? Placing your bare skin in contact with the Earth, called grounding, or Earthing, is said to put out the fires of inflammation, improve sleep and energy, decrease risk of cardiovascular disease, improve blood viscosity (improving circulation and oxygenation) and more. I know, it sounds like a bunch of hippy-dippy woo-woo, but there is some scientific evidence that actually backs this up! I’ve been wondering about the validity of this practice myself, so I’ve done some digging, and here’s what I’ve found… First, what exactly is grounding? As mentioned, it simply involves coming into direct contact with the Earth. Grass, dirt, sand, ocean… any of Earth’s natural surfaces or materials. You can walk barefoot in the grass, dig through the dirt with your hands, swim in the ocean, or climb a tree. All of it counts! To understand the impact grounding can have on your body, it’s important to understand that you are an electrical being. Your body is made up of atoms which contain positively charged protons, negatively charged electrons, and neutral neutrons. The cells that make up your body are able to generate electrical charges using electrolytes. Your nervous system relies on this electrical activity to function. Electrical impulses are sent along your nerves, so that your brain can communicate to all areas of your body. It’s because of this reliance on electricity to function that electrical shocks can be lifesaving (in the case of defibrillators) or deadly (lightining strikes or electrocution). Over time, though, you begin to accumulate a positive electrical charge in your cells, which leads to inflammation and aging. Through Earthing, we can actually harness the negative energy of the Earth to bring our own electrical charge back into balance. 212 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
Are you still with me? Before you roll your eyes and stop reading, let’s look at oxidation in the body and the role of antioxidants. You know what happens when you slice an apple and leave it sitting on the counter, right? The flesh goes from white to brown. This happens because of oxidation. The exposed flesh breaks down. It becomes damaged. You also see this process with iron that is left exposed; it oxidizes, and you see rust. Oxidation also happens to the cells of your body due to normal metabolic processes, but it can be sped up through poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, too little or too much exercise, inadequate sleep, etc. Oxidation is a chemical reaction created by free radicals, which leads to damaged cells and aging. Almost all chronic disease can be attributed to the damage caused by free radicals and the oxidative stress they create. Free radicals are formed when a healthy, neutral molecule loses an electron, causing it to become positively charged and unstable. These unstable molecules, or free radicals, then react with other healthy molecules and damage them as well. The free radicals are like little zombies inside your body that bite into all those neutral, healthy molecules, looking for their lost electrons. Once the healthy molecule is bitten, it becomes a zombie, too, and continues spreading the virus. These zombie molecules can spread out of control and even damage your DNA. Here’s where antioxidants come in. Surely you’ve heard that antioxidants are important for your health, right? These are substances like vitamins A, C and E, lycopene and beta-carotene, that help fight free radicals and calm inflammation. Antioxidants literally prevent oxidation of the cells. They fight those unstable molecules by donating electrons to them, neutralizing them and making them stable once again. Antioxidants are the good guys who whip out their electron guns and shoot the free radical zombies with electron “bullets,” neutralizing them and stopping the spread
of oxidation. Woohoo! The zombie apocalypse inside your body has been halted, thanks to the electron wielding antioxidants! Without these powerful superheroes, your body would fall victim to high levels of inflammation, faster aging, and the ravages of disease. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants, but so is the Earth. Earthing, or coming directly in contact with the Earth, actually allows you to absorb a big bunch of antioxidants all at once. You now know that antioxidants work their magic by donating negatively charged electrons to the positively charged, unstable molecules in your body. Well, the Earth is rich in these electrons, and you can absorb them through your skin. Cool, huh? Mother Earth is seriously amazing, providing you with healing energy not only through the foods she grows, but also through her own surface. All you need to do is expose yourself to it. Maybe this is why spending a few days at the beach, barefoot in the sand, is so rejuvenating! Earthing has also been said to decrease stress (and hence, inflammation) by stimulating the Vagus nerve in the brain. According to cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra, the negative charge from the Earth’s surface travels up your spine to the Vagus nerve, activating the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for rest, recovery and healthy digestion, while the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response. Earthing essentially turns off the body’s stress response, bringing the nervous system back into balance and calming inflammation. This may be why it’s also known to improve sleep, decrease anxiety, and balance out the body’s circadian rhythm and hormone production. Dr. Gregory Melvin, a chiropractor in California, has even demonstrated the inflammation calming benefits of Earthing using thermal imaging. Thermal imaging makes heat patterns visible and can highlight early signs of disease and disfunction in the body. Using this technology, he has shown a significant reduction in inflammation of his patients after 20-30 minutes of Earthing. [1] Some other benefits said to come from Earthing: • Improved heart rate variability (HRV), which has an enormous impact on regulating the cardiovascular system and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Stephen Sinatra, cardiologist, preformed his own research on 20 people, and saw a 266% improvement in HRV after 20 minutes of grounding. • Increased blood viscosity, decreasing vascular disease and increasing oxygenation to the organs and tissues. According to Dr. Steven Sinatra, “Grounding’s effect on blood thinning is so profound that if you are taking blood thinners, you must work with your health care provider to lower your dose otherwise you may overdose on the medication.”[2] • normalized biological rhythms • relief from muscle tension and headache • improved menstrual and female hormone symptoms • decreased healing time from injury or athletic activity • protects the body from the effects of electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) Still sound a bit woo-woo? So what? Even if it is all hog wash, why not try it? Spending 20-30 minutes outside in your bare feet is free, doesn’t require a prescription from your doctor and insurance coverage isn’t necessary. It’s a great way to de-stress, too. Don’t stop eating your fruits and vegetables, but kick off your shoes and soak up some electrons while you’re at it! You have nothing to lose, except a bunch of inflammation. [1] From Pain Relief to Improved Digestion: Grounding Benefits Confirmed Through Thermal Imaging http://www.earthinginstitute.net/from-pain-relief-to-unclogged-digestion-grounding-benefits-seenthrough-thermal-imaging/ [2] The Earthing Benefits for Heart Health, by Dr. Stephen Sinatra https://www.drsinatra.com/the-earthing-benefits-for-heart-health WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 213
Home is Where
the Art Is The riverside home of Jorenda Stone is a special place of collected journeys and of collaborations past, present and future. After Mother Nature destroyed her grandmother’s home, she salvaged what she could and rebuilt her modern day redux around her love of art. ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARÉ BRENNAN
After the 107-year-old home’s foundation was deemed unsafe and the home declared a loss, Jorenda thought, ‘why not look to the future’ for inspiration for her dwelling. Shocking friends and pushing envelopes, for Jorenda, modern it would be. Salvaging pieces of her grandmother’s home took on deeper meaning, as it became apparent that the destruction from the tornado had been irreparable. Carefully and methodically, Jorenda directed her friend and salvage specialist Bennie Sims to help her save as much as they could for potential use in the house that was to come. In her own defense, Jorenda explains that Synope Plantation, a Greek Revival structure built in 1857 with Creole and Anglo-American influences, has more than enough history to keep her grounded in her roots. In particular Jorenda Stone fashion, the tornado which upended her home, helped AFTER A DEVASTATING TORNADO LEFT THE ANCESTRAL FAMILY HOME her break new ground and push the limits of OF JORENDA STONE DESTROYED, SHE LOOKED TO THE FUTURE FOR her own thinking, helping her galvanize her collective of collaborative friends to find the INSPIRATION FOR HER RIVERSIDE RENOVATION. new, the unexplored. Here is where Jorenda Stone, the Icon, shines. She brought together hen Mother Nature felled an oldher network of very capable architects, builders, painters, artists, growth oak through the center landscapers, carpenters, upholsterers and craftsmen and fielded a of Jorenda Stone’s ancestral West team to make her dream of an architecturally daring and significant Monroe home during the EF-2 home a reality. tornado of October 13, 2014, she Local architect and Jorenda’s long-time family friend, Fred had but one choice in light of the Bennett of Architect Associates and was a first responder to Jorenda’s devastating effects to the home’s emergency quest for developing plans. Her good friend and architect foundation. The day started emeritus Cookie Cookston provided guidance and reassurance like any other, but October 13, along the way as well. Says Fred, “Jorenda was a joy to work with. 2014 had long lasting effects for She’s a free spirit and was very open to creating something new that community activist and patron of would push the boundaries of residential design.” Fred’s preliminary the Arts, Jorenda Stone. Stone, who divided her time between her concept sketches dating from March 2015 show the voluminous Great family’s Synope Plantation in Columbia, LA and her grandmother’s Room for entertaining with a private Master Suite connected by an turn of the century home on Trenton Street in West Monroe, was entry Vestibule. The initial front elevation sketch from Trenton Street home alone when the skies darkened and a tornadic event, producing shows masterful proportions with soaring angular rooflines, which winds up to 125 miles per hour, barreled across her property, heading holds true with the finished residence. Instead of a typical garage, across the Ouachita River like a freight train. No match for the Jorenda challenged Fred to design a free-standing Party Pavilion that tornado, a huge oak upended, landing squarely on Jorenda’s home, could double as a carport connected by a covered breezeway to the trapping her momentarily inside. Like the real-life heroine that she main house. is, Jorenda called for extrication help, but managed to free herself Working with contractor Brian Ragan, Jorenda and her architect from the tangled mass of branches. It was only when she made her were soon posed an interesting question. A steel fabricator, Mark way outside that she realized the extent of the damage that had just Harris, had stopped by and inquired about the build-out, offering befallen our communities. a steel skeleton as an alternative to using lumber as the internal With her home looking more like Dorothy had just dropped it construction. Again, Jorenda asked, “Why not?” and pushed Fred into Oz, Jorenda donned the proverbial ruby red slippers and set out to find a way to acknowledge visually the internal steel structure. to find a way to restore her home. Now as you may know, Jorenda, His response was to expose the trusses in the vaulted vestibule and who was profiled as one of the original Bayou Icons in BayouLife, to add open-air steel transoms above the vestibule doors leading to is hailed for her unflinching commitment to the Arts in northeast public and private spaces of the home. After breaking ground on the Louisiana. Her homes in West Monroe and Columbia serve as modern new construction, the sight of shiny steel beams reaching sunward day salons for critical thinkers, artists, musicians, historians and the created quite the sensation, as onlookers slowed down to view the like, celebrating diversity and the richness of culture we share here futuristic structure. in the Delta. A consummate hostess who serves up conversation and If strength and modernism is at the home’s core, Jorenda knew thought-provoking questions alongside delicious heart-warming the exterior of her new home would need an artist’s touch and food and beverages, Jorenda first began to explore the idea restoring warmth. Anyone who has ever spent time with Jorenda, realizes a of the Victorian-era cottage and putting the puzzle back together. series of clinical, white structures is not part of her color palette. Enter
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Jorenda’s friend and local visual artist Anna Rowan, who devised the pattern play that draws the eye toward the entrance of the home. Based on Jorenda’s love of color and inspired by her wardrobe of vintage African kaftans and textiles, Anna’s colorful renderings provided geometry for the resulting exteriors, which are clad with a metal gridwork which holds large concrete composite panels. In order to find colors and paints that would stand up to the rigors of Louisiana weather, painter Curtis Brown of Premier One Painting and Jorenda consulted with Penny Aulds at Sherwin Williams to determine the best paint for the job. The volume of space which holds the master bedroom and bath is covered externally in a Mondrianlike pattern with rectangles and squares of primary colors. For the exterior of the Great Room, a horizontal strip of cobalt blue represents the home’s proximity to the Ouachita River. For this large expanse of space, Jorenda wanted softer, more muted tones, like a Paul Klee painting. Here, terra-cotta is warmed by reds and soft browns to achieve a dappled, more painterly effect. Site coordinator Jonathan Tucker painted the bare, sculptural tree mural, which adds diagonal movement and interest to the wall. The colors on the concrete panels of the recessed entry are deeper and more vibrant with a distinctly tribal feel. One panel was painted with a Cubist-inspired head by Jorenda’s friend and artist, Dr. Bill Rambin. The double front doors were salvaged from the original homestead. Called her “River Doors,” Jorenda had amorphic wooden cutouts made and incorporated behind the glass insets to represent the Ouachita River. The entry hall is a light-filled space with an entire wall of glass which overlooks a petite rock garden complete with a fountain and a Paul Smith blue heron sculpture. To the right, behind a pair
of swinging doors inscribed with the homeowner’s initials lies the Master Suite of the home; to the left the public spaces. An antique Tiffany globe lamp illuminates one corner of the vestibule and a large, sculptural painting is prominently hung beside an iconic Marcel Breuer Wassily chair. Reclaimed wood planks from the original home line the vaulted ceiling and provide an organic foil for the exposed steel trusses. For the Great Room Jorenda envisioned a lofty space for entertaining, with three sets of French doors allowing parties to spill out of doors onto a wide veranda. Fred incorporated generous transoms and long clerestory windows to take advantage of natural light as well. To create a feeling of depth and produce soft light, Fred designed sets of square “light boxes” of varying sizes, which give the illusion of skylights across the ceiling in the Great Room. Clayton Head, who Jorenda refers to as the “ciphering carpenter,” did the math for creating the beautiful wells of overhead light, which take great pains to hide their light source. The wall of the Great Room that leads out to the veranda is covered in reclaimed wide boards from the original 1907 home which were lovingly given an almost imperceptible wash of paint then sanded gently to achieve an aged, pickling effect. Bennie Sims, the salvage artist, is responsible for the soul that this wall imparts to the Great Room. Treasured photos, pieces of art and textiles, like an African Kuba cloth and an antique tulip quilt are hung with dramatic effect on this wall. Inspired by the Parisian avant garde look of Roche Bobois’ Mah Jong sofas and loving the idea of creating seating that encouraged experimentation – and maybe even breaking the rules a little – the
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non-conformist homeowner chose to have each piece of a modular sectional sofa covered in a colorful array of contrasting fabrics. The lightness of the chairs makes it easy to move the party out of doors when weather permits. Solids, stripes, florals and graphic prints provide playful pops of color that encourage out-of-the-box thinking. Upholstery work was done by Richard Jackson of Jackson Upholstery. Chunky knit poofs in primary colors and a myriad of bright, patterned pillows enliven the space. Says Jorenda, “Friends’ children come in and immediate gravitate to this conversational area.” She recounts one little boy who loved reconfiguring the sectionals’ pillows, mixing and matching to his heart’s content. Extra tall pocket doors original to the 1907 home were repurposed and hung on a barn door-style track to provide privacy for the study beyond. Jorenda accentuated the graphic-ness of the doors by painting the edges of the inset rectangular moldings a crisp black. 218 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
The home’s study is a quiet work space, where Jorenda develops amazing humanities concepts for our communities like 2019’s Year of the River, a yearlong celebration of the 200th anniversary of Fort Miro’s name change to Monroe. An adjacent guest bath features her grandmother’s original clawfoot tub and a cheery sunburst stained glass window. As a cheeky reminder, guests are encouraged to leave their John Hancock or even a little poetry on the bathroom door. In Jorenda’s kitchen, minimalistic chic rules with a daring punch of color. Sleek white lower cabinets and island with honed black soapstone countertops set the tone. A thick black open shelf runs the length of the kitchen. A zebra painting by Lissy Sanders Compton and a graphically composed painting of calla lilies by the late Linda Rambin are hung on either side of the shelf. A figurative painting on the top left of the shelf inspired the colorful kitchen backsplash which was painted by muralist and project site coordinator Jonathan Tucker. Working quickly, Tucker painted loosely to render the
brushstrokes that add organic movement to the glass and walls above the sink and counter. Tendrils of color peek above the wide shelf, reaching for the clerestory window. The kitchen ceiling received special treatment as well, with the “ciphering carpenter” devising a unique grid which incorporated pressed tin ceiling tiles from the old house. Rescued from a law office, the Chinese red painted cabinetry provides extra storage for Jorenda’s dining area within the Great Room. Filling its open shelves are treasured books and photographs, woven baskets, objets d’art, and paintings by her late husband, Gregory Stone. Sinuous, Italian-design upholstered dining chairs provide a neutral foil for Jorenda’s mosaic-patterned Italian silk textile, a house warming gift from her cousin. Jorenda’s table is set with handmade, crackle glaze earthenware and silverware in a kaleidoscope of colors. In the private wing of the home, the Master Bedroom is as colorful as its inhabitant. A headboard of woven reed adds a hint of neutral to a bed made with a colorful hand-printed striped duvet and piled high with tropical print pillows. A painting by the homeowner’s dear friend and artist, the late Phoebe Mathys, is given a place of prominence above the headboard. A ventless gas fireplace beneath a multi-media work is a modern extravagance. Brightly hued luggage stacked from large to small are an improvised bedside table. In the en-suite bathroom black painted cabinets with a white marble countertop continue the graphic theme. The master closet is wellorganized with neat built-in racks for shoes, open shelving for hats, bags and sundries, and an antique armoire and chest of drawers. Once the structure was in place, Jorenda’s knew she wanted to include a bocce ball court to run parallel with the veranda. Guests frequently gather beneath the bright yellow triangular sail shade to wait their turns throwing the weighted balls down the gravel court. Others lounge along the low wall of the veranda to cheer on their favorite competitor. Contractor Brian Ragan custom-made a liveedge cypress and steel bench for spectators, and it is positioned beneath a sculptural tree. Naturalist Kris Kelley helped Jorenda select the perfect native Louisiana plants for creating a meadow feel for the grounds surrounding the modern structure. A winding gravel path leads guests from through a metal “moon gate” toward a central rondel centered by an enormous piece of cypress topped with a yellow-painted iron heron sculpture by Choudrant artist Paul Smith. Guests can continue meandering through the gardens by traversing the gravel path or follow the generous walkway to the front entry. Along the garden path, a wooden bridge to the right carries one past yet another red heron sculpture by Paul Smith that points toward a bamboo trellis and more paths that beckon to be explored. When the quote “Architecture is inhabited sculpture” is inscribed above the transom that leads to the Great Room, you know that initial feeling you had upon walking into Jorenda’s home was correct. This is a special place of collected journeys and of collaborations past, present and future. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 219
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Cyberbullying BY THE CHILDREN’S COALITION FOR NORTHEAST LOUISIANA
ullying is a type of youth violence that threatens young people’s well-being. Bullying can result in physical injuries, social and emotional problems and academic problems. The harmful effects of bullying are frequently felt by friends and families and can hurt the overall health and safety of schools, neighborhoods and society. Bullying can occur in-person and through technology. Electronic aggression, or “cyberbullying,” is bullying that happens through technological devices and mechanisms such as email, instant message, a website, text message, social media and other digital application. Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students of all races and classes. 1 out of 4 kids is bullied and up to 43% of students have been bullied while online. Child and teen Bullying and Cyberbullying are at an all-time high in northeast Louisiana. Some kids are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative. R h o n d a Winbush, recently received her Master’s degree in nonprofit administration from LSUS, where she also received a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health. She is currently the Community Outreach
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Specialist for the Northern part of Louisiana for United Healthcare, where she educates the families on the importance of having health coverage, especially low income citizens and their families. In her position, she has the ability to provide families in Louisiana with great resources, such as the significance of eating a healthy foods, and the resources to get healthy foods, the importance of exercising and how to make it easy and convenient for your lifestyle, and how to identify bullying and cyberbullying to help put an end to harassment. The goal is to help all children reach their full potential and to live their best lives.
1 out of 4 kids is bullied and up to 43% of students have been bullied while online. Q: What is the most important thing parent and youth need to know about cyberbullying? A: The major thing for parents and youth to clearly understand is that technology goes everywhere we go, and it doesn’t stop at school or at home. Most young people don’t tell their parents about bullying online or offline. So if your child’s losing sleep or doesn’t want to go to school or seems stressed, this could be
an indicator that something is going on with your child. Provide an open environment for your child, to communicate and express their feelings and emotions, whether good or bad, make it a non-judgmental setting. Parents also recognize when there is a need for assistance outside of the home. Refer to teachers, counselors and mental health workers etc., to help give services to improve your child’s outcome as well as the parent. I would ask our youth, to be mindful of the information that is shared on the Internet. Make sure it is something that will makes a difference for the better instead of the worse. Youth also need to know that you are never alone, and it is okay to tell when something doesn’t make sense to them or make them feel bad. Q: Why is important for parents to talk to their children about cyberbullying? At what age should they have the conversation? A: Children are now starting to use technology at an early age. Although there is a lot of research saying we need to limit screen time with very young children, many children interact with technology early. In fact, my granddaughter received her first tablet, when she was nine months old. She is now five years old and very computer savvy. Unfortunately, she is sometimes not monitored while using her tablet. It is my responsibility as a guardian, to make sure that she understands that there are good and bad sites on the internet. Parents should discuss online conduct and behavior, as well as cyberbullying, as soon as children begin using technology. Established strategies provide the child and parent, a verbal agreement on what to do if something is not right and how to handle the situation. Clear and frequent communication provides a healthy environment. Q: What are some common misconceptions teens have about cyberbullying? How is it different from other kinds of bullying?
A: Most teens feel that cyberbullying only happens to a certain group, but the truth is that anyone who use the Internet is subject to cyberbullying. Secondly, they believe they know who is on the other end of the cyber communication, which can be absolutely false. It could be the person they think it is, or it could be someone they have never met. It is important to proceed with caution in these exchanges. Remind them not to do or say anything online that they wouldn’t do or say in person. Third, victims of cyberbullying and/or bullying usually feel they are the only ones, who are being bullied. We have to encourage victims to get help to live a healthy and productive life. The difference between cyberbullying and other types of bullying is that with cyberbullying, the bully can be anyone. The bully could even be someone you were previously with at school. Cyberbullying can be anyone and it is much harder to identify who it is versus a bully in person. Q: What should my child or teen do or say if they suspect they or someone they know is being cyberbullied? A: Tell someone. Such as a teacher, counselor, parent or someone that they
can trust, but can help get results to end the cyberbullying. In some cases, getting law enforcement involved. Utilize resource officers as someone of protection as well as someone to trust in harassment situations. Q: What is our community doing about cyberbullying? A: I am seeing more effort on stopping cyberbullying in northeast Louisiana. As an adult, we can no longer say, “Kids will be kids.” Action has to be taken to ensure the future of our kids. More concerned citizens are going into the schools to bring awareness and education on cyberbullying. United Healthcare Community Plan of Louisiana has a cyber-bullying program, that we utilize in several schools throughout Louisiana. There’s more research being conducted as well as more laws are being developed to stop cyberbullying. The next step is to get more community leaders, especially city and county leaders such as mayors and city council members to take a stand, speak out, and write letters to stop bullying of any kind.
Tammy Washington, Life Skills Coordinator at the Children’s Coalition, is working with schools in northeast Louisiana to help educate young children and their parents about bullying and making health choices through school-based programs like Al’s Pals and the Bullyproof campaign. On October 20th, Children’s Coalition for NELA will also raise awareness for bully prevention at our Super Saturday in the Garden at our main office 117 Hall Street. A “Buddy Bench” will be installed and dedicated to the late Mrs. Charlynn Leehy. The bench will be placed in the garden as a reminder of the joy and light she shared with everyone she met. Call Tammy at (318) 323-8775 or go to www. childrenscoalition.org to learn more about upcoming events in our community.
RESOURCES Here is a great resource for bullying prevention. “The Eyes on Bullying Toolkit provides specific insights, strategies, activities, and resources to address bullying. It is designed especially for caregivers and parents of preschool and school-age children and youth to use in child care programs, afterschool and youth programs, and camps. There is a free downloadable toolkit for parents and educators: http://www. eyesonbullying.org/pdfs/toolkit.pdf Unity Day, Monday, October 1 Bullyproof is a local effort to raise awareness about bullying in our schools and community What are your true colors when it comes to bullying? We know you care about safe and supportive schools and communities, so make your color is BLUE on Unity Day. That’s the day everyone can come together — in schools, communities and online — and send one large BLUE message of support, hope and unity.
Gearing Up Continued From Page 204 up rope to pull up your weapon and gear. Added weight when climbing can be a catastrophe, as your balance is displaced when weight is added. Don’t forget the Thermacell, water and, of course, some good binoculars. If you are right handed, always place your corn pile or bran pile to your left and no further than the middle of the stand. This helps prevent an awkward shot which can lead to a miss or even worse, a fall from your stand. As I stated earlier, October is my favorite time to fish. Crappie are moving up to my brush tops in big numbers. Any structure located near deep water will produce loads of crappie. I also love spider rigging in open water next to creek channels in October. These types of areas can be found in just about every lake in our area. Lure selection should key on shad and grass shrimp as these are the primary fry being eaten by crappie. The exception is after a full moon, when I will switch to a crawfish color as there is a crawfish hatch on every full moon. Crappie and bass will key heavily on crawfish on the week following a full moon. For bass, the action can be fierce. Look for low barometer days. That is the day before a front moves through. The lure choice on these days are crank baits, spinner baits, swim jigs and lipless crank baits. I move to structure and slow down during and after fronts, as bass will get tight to the cover. Bass can be found from shallow all the way to the channel. They will gorge on shad as it is the primary source of protein before the winter. Just remember, as the water cools, the retrieve and presentation should slow down. A fish has the same body temperature as the water, so cold water dictates slowing down. Lure colors remain in the shad variety in whites, grey and silver coloration. However, nothing is more productive in October in my boat than a shallow diving crank bait. The go-to bait for me is a Bandit in either grey (Old Smokey) or in the splatter back color. Don’t forget the Ouachita River after a rain. The cuts, creeks and drains will make bass stack up in large numbers. My best day ever was on the Ouachita River in October, where I landed over 140 bass on a silver Bandit. I caught so many that I had 5 crank baits on my deck with no paint left on them. So whether you are an angler or hunter, get your gear ready. October is the month to get outdoors and enjoy the great bounty given to us by our Creator. Share the trip with a kid or a veteran and remember to catch and release. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | OCTOBER 2018 221
MGC’s Annual Silver Tea Traditions are important, and one of the most eagerly anticipated ones is the Monroe Garden Club’s annual fall Silver Tea. The bayou home of member Brenda Marsala provided the perfect setting for the afternoon event. Special honored guests for the Tea were MGC Past Presidents of the 84-year-old organization. Co-chairing the Tea with Marsala was Cindy Rogers. Serving with them as hostesses were MGC president Alise Oliver, Kathy Hart, Amanda Barry, Lillian Gentry, Priscilla Mott, Ellen Huey, Sandra Blate, Mary Bernard, Bettie Phillips, LaNell Armstrong, Debbie Sawyer, Joy Loomis, Allison Cattar, Lisa Nelson, Denise Smith, Wendy Napoli, Mandy Pruitt, Pat White, Ann Cooksey, Harryette Wynn, Vicki Robinson, Johnette Mintz, Ginger Huckabay and Linda Taylor. Orchids, English ivy, Casablanca lilies and an abundance of fresh seasonal flowers in hues of gold, orange, and bronze filled the home with fragrance and beauty. Temptations --- many prepared by members --- included pralines, tea sandwiches, lemon squares, asparagus rollups, stuffed baby bell peppers, cheese straws and pecan brownies. Members received their 2018-2019 Yearbook that introduced the Club’s theme for the year: “Our River’s Natural Beauty... from the fields along the Boeuf to the bayous of the Ouachita.” The cover features a sketch by the late Jane Rhymes Oliver, MGC president 1969-1970 and mother-in-law to current president, Alise Oliver.
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Bowl and Bling
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The Wellspring Alliance for Families held their Bowl and Bling on Saturday, September 15th to raise funds for children and families of Northeast Louisiana. Family, friends and coworkers came out to support the cause and have a great time! The event was separated into four time slots throughout the day for individuals and teams to make a difference in our community. To add to the fun, raffle prizes were awarded to several winners. The Wellspring is Northeast Louisiana’s Accredited Sexual Assault Center and serves as the lead agency for The Family Justice Center of Ouachita Parish. They would like to thank the community for their continued support and everyone that participated in the Bowl and Bling.
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On the BayouScene 1 Sandy Savage, Aimee Anthony and Caroline Cascio 2 Walton Weaver and Zaria Neal 3 Rachel Niblett and Erin Davenport 4 Celia Webb, Nathan Ducote, Holly and Randall Veasey 5 Jacob, Anna Clair, Chris and Tricia Nadler 6N ewt Goings, Denise Goings, Shane Ware, April Ware, Alex Hawkins, Lynn Brown, Scotty Sills and Kathy Sills 7 Carolyn Cascio and Jane Brandon 8 Sydney David and Danni Camacho 9A bby Wise and Shylon Francis 10 Cindy Leath and Courtney Kinman 11 Lana Fairburn and Anna Abney 12 Jimi and Robyn Johnson 13 Melissa and Brooklyn Ducote 14 Chuck and Christy Gwin 15 R eba Slatten, Ramona Caldwell, Gaye Barnes, Lee Mayronne and Rose Calk 16 S kylar Dowdy, Aidan, Nathan, Sarah and Isabella Tremain 17 Debra Long, Reita Portman and Sharon Grant
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Simply Lou The Queen and The Bandit article and illustration by Lou Davenport original drawing
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his issue marks my third anniversary writing “Simply Lou” for BayouLife. It’s the best job I have ever had, and I truly love the staff. Thank you, Maré and Cassie, for giving me this chance and, also, a new adventure. I LOVE MY JOB! We have lost two American icons in a month’s time. Aretha Franklin, “The Queen of Soul” and Burt Reynolds, “The Bandit” or as his last movie is called, “The Last American Movie Star.” Both of them have been “fixtures” in my life for so many years, it’s hard to remember exactly the first time I ever laid eyes of either one of them. I think Aretha showed up when I was in the 7th grade and Burt, well, he was “Quint” on “Gunsmoke” in 1962. I may have been young, but you don’t forget a face that looked like his! R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me R-E-S-P-E-C-T Take care, T-C-B My life’s soundtrack is probably at least 30% Aretha’s music. I cannot even pick a favorite song of hers. I know she could sing a song like nobody else, “belting it out” or singing it as softly as a gentle breeze. She never sang anything “half way.” And most of the time she accompanied herself on the 224 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
piano, a skill she taught herself. Aretha played by ear, learning at a very young age and was thought of as a child prodigy. You betta THINK...(think think)...What ya tryin’ to do to me...THINK...(think think) let yourself be free! To me, it sounded like Aretha lost herself in her music, since she was an only child and her mother left her father, when she was a little girl. Her father was, Rev. C.L. Franklin, the “superstar” minister of the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. She started performing in church at a very early age. Little Aretha was left with baby sitters, but she had some famous ones, such as Mahalia Jackson. Her family home was usually full of famous gospel singers, groups and even Sam Cooke! Little Aretha was destined to be great. If ya wanna a do right, all day woman... (woman)...ya gotta be a do right, all night man...a woman is only human...this you must understand... She had four sons, having her first when she was only 12 years old, a second son when she was 14. Since Aretha was pursuing her career, her sister, Emma and her grandmother minded her boys. In 1964 and 1970, she had two more sons, Teddy and Kecalf. She never married the boys’ fathers but was married
briefly to two different men. Those marriages both ended in divorce, one being an abusive relationship. She had a long time companion, Willie Wilkinson, up until her death. They shared a 35 year relationship. Don’t trouble the water, why don’t ya, why don’t ya, let it beeeeee... A radio DJ announced Franklin should be crowned “The Queen of Soul” in 1960, and it stuck. There’ll never be another like her and there sure won’t be another “Queen of Soul.” Ain’t no way...for me to love you....if you won’t let me... Aretha racked up so many honors in her 60 year career, it’s hard to list all of them. She was ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine as the number 1 greatest singer of all time, twice! She was the first female to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Aretha was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as the National Medal of Arts. She is the most charted female singer of all time with record sales of 75 million worldwide! I ain’t neva loved a man, the way, that I love you...Naw, I ain’t neva In 1980, Aretha got to do a little acting in a little film called “The Blues Brothers,” and I have wanted a pair of those pink house shoes like she wore ever since. I still watch that one every time it comes on, and Aretha did pretty good! Tyler Perry tells the story that she would call his house and ask to speak to Madea! “They” were friends! We goin’ ridin’ on the freeway of love in my pink Cadillac... And, then, to blow everyone away, she stepped in for Luciano Pavarotti to sing in his place, “Nessum dorma!” There will never be another like her, and never will there be another “Queen of Soul.” Chain, chain, chain...chain, chain, chain... Chain of Fools... When I heard Aretha’s health was declining quickly, I just turned Spotify on and listened to her....for days. It was the least I could do to pay my “r-e-s-p-e-c-t-s.” When she did leave us, I can truly say I have never seen a funeral that really was “fit for a queen!” She got to cross that “bridge over troubled water,” and she’ll never deal with sickness again. Thank you ,Ms. Aretha, for all the memories. What can I say about Burt Reynolds that hasn’t already been said? He was an actor, a football player, a tv star, a director and did them all....well. He was bigger than life itself! And, he was the very first male centerfold in Cosmopolitan magazine that, of course, I rushed out and bought! I lived in a dorm then, and Burt was our very own “pin up boy!” My mother even laughed herself silly over Burt! In later years, he said he wished he hadn’t done the centerfold, because it may have hurt his movie that was coming out, “Deliverance.” I wish I could have told him that I preferred
the centerfold cause that movie just disturbed me. I watched three-fourth’s of it with my eyes squeezed shut. But, Burt made his big splash with that movie and thank goodness, he never made anymore that intense! Before Burt’s success in “Deliverance” he said “he was the most famous unknown in Hollywood.” He had played “the heavy” in many TV shows. If it hadn’t been for a knee injury, he may have gone on to play pro football, and we would have never had movies with Burt in them! Again, he was destined to be a movie star! Some of the parts he turned down were memorable. He was asked to be James Bond but turned it down saying, “No American can play Bond!” He passed by on John McClane in “Die Hard,” Han Solo in “Star Wars,” Edward Lewis in “Pretty Woman,” R.D. McMurphy in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and Garrett Breedlove in “Terms of Endearment.” It’s hard to believe Burt playing those parts now, isn’t it? There weren’t many of Burt’s movies that I didn’t get a good laugh. The first movie I saw with Burt as the star was “White Lightning” and he played “Gator McKlosky” at the old Rose Theatre. Of course, I loved both “”BANDIT” movies, “The Longest Yard,” “Semi Tough,” “Hooper,””Cannonball Run,” “The End” and “Starting Over.” I think he loved getting
together with his best friends and making movies! Speaking of “Smoky and the Bandit,” I wonder how many black Pontiac Trans Am T-tops with the big gold bird on the hood were sold? That was one fine car and will always be connected to “The Bandit!” The story goes that when Burt was asked to make “Boogie Nights” he turned it down seven times. When he finally agreed to meet the director for the eighth time, Burt threw a hissy fit about how he had said NO, he didn’t want to do it! The director told him if he’d do that “fit” in the movie, he’d probably win an Academy Award. Sure enough, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor! His last movie was “The Last American Movie Star” but was planning on being in Quentin Tarrentino’s new movie, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” that is shooting right now. Burt’s heart gave out, before it was time for him to start shooting. In Burt’s last years, he’s had lots of health issues and kept a low profile. He’d had bankruptcy and divorce problems. He had plastic surgery, which I don’t think he needed. And I didn’t understand the “rose colored glasses.” But, he was Burt, and we loved him any way! Talking about his last few years, he said his life was good. He lived in Tequesta in Palm
Beach Country, Florida. He hung out with one of his best friends from the 7th grade! He said his friend was a retired electrician and had had his own company, so now all the women chased his friend because he was rich and a bachelor! In truth he said, they liked to hang out like a couple of “old farts.” On Friday evenings, Burt taught acting classes at his “Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Television” in North Palm Beach. He said Spencer Tracy gave him his best acting advice that he passes down to his students. Tracy said, “Never let the audience see you acting!” On a plaque in his classroom the words, “Don’t Act, Behave!” hangs. And that laugh...WHO could resist the “Burt Laugh?” Burt Reynolds appeared on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” over 60 times and Johnny named his trademark laugh as “an insane giggle!” This week to pay my respects to Burt, I found the tv show he made in the 90s, on YouTube, called “Evening Shade.” It’s held up well, and I sat here alone and laughed right out loud! Such great characters all revolving around Burt and that laugh! So... “That’s a big 10 – 4 Bandit! Smokies on our back door! We’re eastbound and down!” Rest in peace, Aretha and Burt.
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ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
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he Cooley House Foundation presents a weekend celebration of Monroe’s iconic Mid Century Modern Architecture on October 26 and 27, 2108. Beginning with a fun happy hour on Friday night at Parish, Chef Cory Bahr’s newest restaurant, the weekend continues with a 4-home tour which culminates at the historic and architecturally significant Cooley House with a box lunch and talk by noted Mid-Century Modern master interior designer and Monroe native Mil Bodron. Start off the weekend at Chef Cory Bahr’s new Parish Restaurant with a fun Friday Happy Hour and tour the newly renovated modern building, with interiors designed by Gregory Hudgins. Parish is located in a restored Mid-Century Modern building on Monroe’s Second Street, which historically was home to Ackel Jewelers and a flower shop before that. Tickets to the Happy Hour are $25 per person. Saturday starts off with a tour of four Monroe icons of Mid-Century Modern Architectural Style. The self-guided tour starts at 10:00 a.m. on Point Drive at the home designed by Saul Mintz for his own family, which is now owned by Jane and Gus Campbell. Tour-goers will also be treated to another Saul Mintz-designed home, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Bodron, and a Paul Stewartdesigned home, recently purchased by Nathan Ryan, on Old Deborah Drive. The Lockhart’s award-winning home on Pargoud Blvd. rounds out the tour and was designed by the architectural firm of Curtis and Davis of New Orleans, known as the designers of the Louisiana Clifford Strauss Superdome. The tour Residence will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Following the tour, guests will gather at the GB Cooley House, designed by modern masters Walter Burleigh Griffin and his wife Marion Mahoney Griffin, for a box lunch and opportunity to hear interior designer and MidCentury Modern aficionado Mil Bodron speak on the genre. Mil is known for his ground breaking and thoughtful renovations and interior design plans for historic and iconic Mid Century Modern structures throughout 226 OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
Texas, Louisiana and beyond. Tickets for the tour and lunch are $50 per person. A r c h i t e c t s are able to receive continuing education credits for attending this tour. Sponsors for the tour include the Monroe-West Saul Mintz Residence Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau, BayouLife, The City of Monroe, and the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council. If your company is interested in supporting the Cooley House Foundation as a sponsor of this tour, sponsorships begin at the Historical Level at $250, Architectural Level at $500 and Preservationist Level at $1000. Sponsorship deadline is October 18, 2019. Checks should be made out to The Cooley House Foundation. The Cooley House Foundation was incorporated in 2007 to save the Cooley House and restore it to its former glory. Restoration began with the roof in July of 2008. To operate the Cooley House as a museum, The Cooley House Foundation has entered into a partnership with the City of Monroe. The city purchased the building in the summer of 2008, and once restored, it will maintain the building and the property. The Cooley House Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that is raising money for the restorations through grants, donations, and sponsorships. Once restored, this non-profit group will continue to fund educational programs and exhibitions. Funds from the Mid-Century Modern Home Tour, will go to renovations at The Cooley House including restoration of the cork flooring, improvements to the wiring and restoration of lighting throughout the home, in addition to the general upkeep of the historic structure.
ARCHITECTURAL SYNOPSIS
Mid-Century Modern is a collection of home styles originating around 1940 and extending up to around 1975. These styles include International, Contemporary and
Organic and are all influenced by the Prairie Style, which originated in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park Studio. Our 3-hour tour includes four homes of the Contemporary Style and concludes with a luncheon and lecture by Mil Bodron (noted authority on MidCentury housing) at the Cooley House, which is a classic example of the earlier Prairie Style. What all these houses share is an emphasis on Lifestyle, a new way of modern living centered on open spaces with a strong interconnectivity with exterior yards and gardens. Characteristics of these homes include open ceilings with exposed structures, reliance on natural materials, windows that often extend from ceiling to floor, asymmetrical front facades often with recessed entrances and in most of our cases, low slung flat roofs. The selected architects and homes on this tour include the following: • P aul Stewart – A Residence for Mr. and Mrs. M.D. Sorkin (1959) – 4005 Deborah Drive • S aul Mintz – A Residence for Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Strauss (1957) – 3706 Deborah Drive • S aul Mintz – A Residence for Mr. and Mrs. Saul Mintz (1969) – 2767 Point Drive • C urtis and Davis – A Residence for Dr. and Mrs. Fred A. Marx (1950) – 2120 Pargoud Blvd. • W alter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffin – A Residence for Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Brian Cooley (1908) – 1011 South Grand The Board of Directors of the Cooley House Foundation and the architects of the Monroe Section of the AIA, Louisiana are proud to present this fine selection of MidCentury and Prairie Style homes to the people of this region. It is the Cooley House Foundation’s mission to provide educational outreach regarding preservation, architecture, and regional steamboat history to the citizens of Northeast Louisiana. The Foundation works to raise public awareness of the architectural and historical significance of the Cooley House and to restore, maintain, and preserve the home for the public.
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Levee Gallery Reception
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On Thursday, September 13, Levee Galllery hosted a reception artists Kevin Kennedy and Brooke Hoogendoorn and their exhibition - Points on a Line, Passage in time. Kennedy is a renowned sculptor from Shreveport who works in wood, graphite, metal and thread. His sculptures often reference functional objects while also evoking a sense of time passed. There are quiet stories and histories behind each of the forms, both personal to the artist, and also universal. Brooke Hoogendoorn is an emerging, self-taught painter from Lafayette. Hoogendoorn’s abstract paintings range in scale and contain muted palettes with contrasting lines looped over brushstrokes, sometimes combining into compositions that reference crystals or geodes.
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1 Evie Stewart and Hannah Jordan 2A nn Johnston Currie, Gregory Hudgins and Jennifer Morris 3 Tony Pedigo and Steve Walker 4 J anice Landry, Eliza Sartor, Jane Sartor and Forrest Sartor 5A nnetta Hill, Kevin Kennedy and Beverly Sivils 6 Eric and Anne-Marie Weis 7 Camille Peterson, Fran Winter and Minette Saber 8B rooke Hoogendoorn and Kathy Indest 9 Janice Landry, Eliza Sartor and Pat Bailey 10 M ary Helen Hayes and Alex Pedigo 11 Sandy Davidson, Arden Kennedy and Greer Kennedy 12 Sylvia Masur and Clint Downing 13 Brooke Cassady and Kathy Biedenharn 14 Tommy Zentner and Steve Mintz
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Calendar of Events For a full list of event happenings in Northeast Louisiana, see our website at www.bayoulifemag.com October 4 Water|Ways Event – Caldwell Parish Library Historical Readings Part of the Schepis Museum of Columbia’s presentation of Water|Ways Exhibit. The Schepis Museum has been chosen as one of the first museums in Northeast Louisiana to host a travelling Smithsonian Exhibit known as “Water|Ways.” This exhibition will begin on September 30th and will be held through to November 10th, 2018. It will be an amazing experience for the Schepis, and we are very proud to be sharing it with the town of Columbia. At this event, Delena Beckley: History and readings from diaries written years ago by people in the area. Venue: Caldwell Parish Library Hours: 11:00 a.m. Cost:Free Phone: 318-649-9931 October4-10 Restaurant Week Check out local restaurants specials throughout this week to kick off the North Delta Food and Wine Festival! October 5 Rock the Railroad Come out to Railroad Park for
live music, food trucks, beer and wine, extended shopping hours and a pep rally with LA Tech spirit groups! Event is free and family friendly. Venue: Railroad Park in Downtown Ruston Hours: 6:00 p.m. Cost:Free Phone: 318-255-2031 Loyal Blue Weekend Loyal Blue Weekend celebrate LA Tech football! Every home game weekend, come out for Rock the Railroad on Friday nights, downtown shopping and dining on Saturdays, and Bulldog Brunch on Sunday. Don’t forget to park downtown for the game and take the free shuttle service to the stadium! Cost:Free Phone: 318-255-2031 October 6 Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival Celtic celebration with great music, food, crafts and activities for the entire family. There will be music from Celtic artists, Irish step dancing and more! Venue: Kiroli Park 820 Kiroli Road, West Monroe Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Cost: $5 park admission, 10 and under free
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Phone: 318-355-1824
Bald on the Bayou 2018 Be a hero for kids with cancer! Join the 5th annual St. Baldrick’s event in the Twin Cities and whether you decide to shave your head, volunteer, or donate, you’ll be a hero for the kids. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. Venue: Kiroli Park 820 Kiroli Road, West Monroe Hours: 12:00 p.m. Cost:Free Phone: 318-396-4016
October 12 North Delta Food and Wine Festival: Grand Tasting Indulge your taste buds for a night they won’t forget. The region’s best chefs will be serving up savory, sweet, and surprising bites of delight for one night only. Paired with the perfect wine, you’re in for a treat. This year, the North Delta Food and Wine Festival will overlook Bayou Desiard at Bayou Pointe Event Center. Visit their website for a list of participating chefs and other details. Proceed benefit the Arts Council of Northeast Louisiana. Venue: Bayou Pointe Student Event Center 100 Warhawk Way, Monroe Hours: 6 - 9 p.m. Cost: $55 advanced online tickets, $65 at the door Phone: 318-397-6717
Goat Yoga at the Farm Not your usual yoga class! Goat Yoga at the farm is for people of all ability or no ability at all. It is lots of fun! This event will be outside so dress appropriately. Please bring your yoga mat. Class will be taught by Yogi, Elizabeth Griffon. Prepaying guarantees a spot. Limited spots available. **Disclaimer: Class could be interrupted at any moment by baby goats wanting a cuddle! Venue: Double BB Farms 1816 Stubbs Vinson Road, Monroe Hours: 4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Cost:$20
October 12 -14 North Delta Food and Wine Festival The North Delta Food and Wine Festival celebrates the region’s premiere food, wine, beer and spirits. Friday, October 12: Grand Tasting Enjoy an evening of sampling extraordinary culinary offerings by dozens of the finest chefs in Louisiana and Mississippi. Couple that with fine
wine offerings from some of the top wineries in the world, and you’ve got a night your taste buds won’t forget. Area restaurants, partnered with arts organizations, will serve up their best meals throughout the weekend. Details to come. For more information, visit northdeltafoodandwinefestival.com. Venue: West Monroe Convention Center 901 Ridge Avenue, West Monroe Hours: Events all weekend Phone: 318-397-6717 October 13 Brew on the Bridge Come out to Brew on the Bridge, a celebration of local craft beers on the Endom Bridge spanning the Ouachita River. Saturday’s component of the North Delta Food and Wine Festival features dozens of craft beers for you to sample for just $10. Grab lunch from the delta’s best local food trucks and mix and mingle with local artists and artisans. Proceeds benefit the Arts Council of Northeast Louisiana. Venue: Endom Bridge 110 DeSiard Street, Monroe Hours: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Cost: $10 Phone: 318-397-6717 Doc Chilly’s Backyard Safari ft. Johnny Gill and Friends It’s a Backyard Party for The Ages! Come out to The Louisiana Purchase Zoo and enjoy a live performance by R&B Legend Johnny Gill! Singing all his hit songs. The evening also features live performances by
Southern Soul Artists Nathaniel Kimble, Vick Allen, Chris Ivy and Kiko Pryor! You can bring your own food, but food will be available compliments of Edna’s Cookin! Venue: Louisiana Purchase Zoo 1405 Bernstein Park Road, Monroe Hours: 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Cost: $20-35 Phone: 318-329-2400 Fall Celebration at Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge Come out to the Friends of Black Bayou’s 22nd annual Fall Celebration at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Activities this year include a pollinator activities, turning of the Blue Goose migration marker, free canoeing and kayaking, face painting, display of the photo contest winners, birdhouse building, art projects, finger painting with mud paints and live animal exhibits. The public is invited to this free, family-centered event! Venue: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge 480 Richland Pl Drive, Monroe Hours: 10-3 p.m. Cost: free Phone: 318-387-1114 October 18 Levee Gallery Opening Reception: Lynda Frese and Babette Beaullieu Frese layers pigments collected from around the world and combines them with egg tempera, images and photographs of ancient sites and the natural world. Beaullieu is an interdisciplinary sculptor whose organic sculptures have a visceral quality that is minimalistic influenced
by Zen Philosophy. On view through late November at Levee Gallery. Venue: Levee Gallery, 1617 N 18th St, Monroe Hours: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Phone: 318-537-9006 October 19 Think Pink Tea 2018 In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, recognized annually in October, Glenwood’s Breast Health Center will host its 10th Annual Think Pink Tea on Friday, October 19th at the West Monroe Convention Center. It is a wonderful time to gather with friends, enjoy entertainment, a delicious light lunch, and a variety of teas along with exclusive shopping. Venue: West Monroe Convention Center 901 Ridge Avenue, West Monroe Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Cost: $15 Phone: 318-396-5000 Culturati Noire Fashion Show Event Organizer and ULM alumni Robert J. Brown collaborated with the Eta Chi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha to bring this 7th annual cultural heritage event to fruition. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy live art galleries, music and food. The main event is a fashion show depicting the progression of AfricanAmerican history. There will be local, national and international vendors with handmade goods products and services, non-profit organizations and a spoken word performance illustrating the stories of African-
American ancestry. This year’s show will promote and support breast cancer awareness and a percentage of the proceeds will be donated. Venue: Bayou Pointe Student Event Center 100 Warhawk Way, Monroe Hours: 5-9 p.m. Cost: $30, pre-sale $20 Phone: 318-342-5216 ARToberfest This beer tasting event celebrates tasty home-brewed and commercial beers and features local musicians and food trucks as well. Grab the crew for a night of drinks, food and fun while supporting the North Central Louisiana Arts Council. Venue: The Norton Building Hours: 6:30 p.m. hone: 318-255-1450 Rock the Railroad Come out to Railroad Park for live music, food trucks, beer and wine, extended shopping hours, and a pep rally with LA Tech spirit groups! Event is free and family friendly. Venue: Railroad Park in Downtown Ruston Hours: 6:00 p.m. October 19-21 Loyal Blue Weekend Loyal Blue Weekend celebrate LA Tech football! Every home game weekend, come out for Rock the Railroad on Friday nights, downtown shopping and dining on Saturdays, and Bulldog Brunch on Sunday. Don’t forget to park downtown for the game and take the free shuttle service to the stadium!
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Cost: Free to attend Phone: 318-255-2031 October 20 Monroe Distance Classic The Monroe Distance Classic was established in 2018 with a 2-fold mission. The first was to encourage the community to embrace a more active lifestyle. The second was to become a NELA major racing event to kick off the fall road racing calendar. The Monroe Distance Classic inaugural events will consist of a 5K and Half-marathon through mid-town Monroe, LA. The Monroe Distance Classic will raise funds to support Team WillPower Foundation benefiting St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Venue: Downtown Monroe 1120 Oliver Road, Monroe Hours: 7:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Cost: 5K- $25 and Half-marathon$45 Super Saturday Super Saturdays include gardenbased activities for children and adults, early childhood activities in the outdoor learning center, community health fair in the parking lot, seminars for parents of children 0-18 in main hall, and volunteer opportunities in the garden and in the community. Super Saturday is part of the revitalization effort in downtown Monroe, will coordinate with compatible third Saturday events, and serve as a meet up for United Way 211 volunteer opportunities both in the garden and in the community. Venue: Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana 117 Hall Street, Monroe Hours: 9:00 a.m. - Noon Cost: Free Phone: 318-323-8775 Herbal Harvest Original Arts and Crafts Festival Free event which will host more than 60 vendors selling original artisan arts and crafts. St. Paschal will be selling herb plants and foods prepared by their church members. Delicious Herbed Chicken Salad, Taco Soup, Grilled Sausage, freshly baked Breads, Cakes, Cookies and Sweets, Almond Tea and Cold Drinks will be available for purchase. Bring the entire family for a fun time! Venue: St. Paschal Catholic Church 711 North 7th Street, West Monroe
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cost: FREE Phone: 318-801-9138 Touch a Truck Trick or Treat Event “Touch a Truck” will allow climbing, vehicle touching and noise making around construction, emergency, farm equipment, military and commercial vehicles. Children are encouraged to dress in Halloween costumes as candy will be handed out at each vehicle. The “Touch a Truck” event hosted by Families helping Families of NELA will benefit families of children with disabilities as well as adults with disabilities. Venue: Ike Hamilton Expo Center Arena 501 Mane Street, West Monroe Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cost: $5 a person Children 2 and under free Phone: 318-325-9160 Pumpkin Fest 2018 Stop by Kiroli Park on October 20th for the Third Annual Pumpkin Fest! There will be vendors, hayrides, jumpers, costume contests, pet parades, entertainment and so much more! Venue: Kiroli Park 820 Kiroli Road, West Monroe Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Phone: 318-396-4016 ULM Warhawks vs Texas State Bobcats Join in on the fun and head to Malone Stadium to watch the ULM Warhawks take on the Texas State Bobcats! Venue: ULM Malone Stadium 514 Warhawk Way, Monroe Hours: 6:00 p.m. Cost: $22-32 Phone: 318-342-1000 “Expression of Joy” featuring Melissa White The Monroe Symphony Orchestra opens its season with Dvorák’s rousing, Bohemian-flavored Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 and showpieces of Saint-Saëns, with the fiery virtuoso violinist Melissa White. The orchestra also marks the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth with Selections from West Side Story. Venue: Neville High School 600 Forsythe Ave., Monroe Hours: 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. Cost: $5-25
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Phone: 318-323-2237 2018 Fall Bulb and Plant Sale presented by the Northeast Louisiana Master Gardeners Spring blooming bulbs especially chosen for our Southern climate, as well as hard-to-find native and heirloom bulbs and plants that will add beauty and interest to your garden and landscape. Available at the sale will be daffodils, amaryllis, lilies, fall bedding and landscape plants. Master Gardeners will be onhand to help with your selections and answer questions. Recycle your flower pots by bringing them to the sale. Venue: Pavillion at Seventh Square (West Monroe Farmer’s Market), 1700 N. 7th Street, West Monroe, LA Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Phone: 318-323-2241 October 25 NCLAC Indie Film “Las Sandinistas” NCLAC had partnered with Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers to present a series of documentaries and fiction films. “Las Sandinistas” reveals the disappearing story of the women who fought in Nicaragua’s Sandinista Revolution and their continuing struggle for justice. Venue: The Dixie Center for the Arts Hours: 7:00 p.m. Cost: $5/$3 for students Phone: 318-255-1450 October 26, 27 and 31 Haunted Nature Trail The Haunted Nature Trail is back for three nights this year! Come earlier for a less scary experience or come later when it is darker for a bit more of a scare. As always when you survive, you will be rewarded with a s’more. Venue: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge 480 Richland Pl Drive, Monroe Hours: 6:30 p.m. Phone: 318-387-1114 2018 Food Fight on the ‘Front ESA Alpha Gamma Chapter is hosting the third annual Food Truck Competition benefitting Chennault Aviation and Military Museum. Attendees are invited to enjoy the nice weather while watching local food trucks battle it out for the best in the biz title. Entry fee
allows for you to try samples from the trucks and one vote for your favorite (People’s Choice). Enjoy live music, face painting, a jumper for the kids along with other vendors with items to purchase. Venue: Downtown Riverwalk 316 South Grand, Monroe Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Cost: $5 or $3 with a valid military ID. Children 5 and under free Tails at Twilight a Purr-Anormal Event The River City Humane Society presents Tails at Twilight a PurrAnormal a Halloween Costume Gala. Catering by Chef Pat Nolan. Live Music featuring Jack Rabbit Slims. Unique Silent Auction Items and a Raffle. All proceeds will go directly to the River City Humane Society for Cats. Venue: Ouachita Grand Plaza 501 South Grand Avenue, Monroe Hours: 6:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m. Phone: 318-329-1381 Wild Wild West Enjoy food, a street dance, dessert auction, bourbon ring toss and entertainment on Antique Alley! Proceeds benefit the Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group. Venue: Antique Alley 100-400 blocks of Trenton Street, West Monroe Hours: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm. Cost: $30 per ticket Enjoy your stay in MonroeWest Monroe! We at the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitor’s Bureau hope you have a great stay here! Please feel free to call us at 800-843-1872 if you have any questions. You may also stop by our offices at 601 Constitution Drive, West Monroe for brochures, coupons and additional information. Visit www.monroe-westmonroe. org for information about events in Ouachita Parish and visit www.rustonlincoln.com for events in Lincoln Parish.
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