BayouLife Magazine February 2016 by BayouLife Magazine

BayouLife

EBRUARY IS ONE OF

the busiest months of the year for me. I have two birthdays to plan, Vivian will be turning two and Stella will be four this month. And I’m not going to tell how old my mom will be, but wedged in the middle of Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras, she’ll be turning sixty-something. So, it’s a month of “happy birthdays” to three of the people I love the most. I absolutely love this month’s photo shoot. That is not unusual for me to say, but Ellie Jackson and her precious dog, Wilson, rocked the set this month. It may look glamorous but sitting for two hours while your hair is teased and then balancing 10 lbs of fake hair while modeling is not an easy job…and our girl makes it look like a breeze. It isn’t without the help of the talented Meka Reliford that we are able to accomplish such a seamless look. A huge thanks to Martin G Meyers for pulling together the vision and making “Date Night” one of my favorite shoots to date. See the photographs on pages 84-89. I’m a sucker for a good love story. I cry watching Hallmark commercials, so it’s no news that I shed a tear…or two reading Barbara Leader’s article on Annie and Terrence Broussard. It’s a love story that defies the odds and is a true testament to the depths that people will go for one another when they are in love. Read their story on pages 122-126. Before I found out I had Celiac disease, I would have considered myself a true foodie. I would plan trips around places that I wanted to eat. But, when I was home, one of my favorite places was a little restaurant called Big Momma’s Fine Food. My friends Alissa and Matt Stevens were the first to introduce me to this gem when we were in college. I could

1201 Royal Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 Phone 318.855.3185 Fax 318.855.4645

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

go for some of Ms. Dorothy’s fried chicken and macaroni and cheese right now! I have to say that Martin was pretty happy after photographing this month’s BayouEats because they sent him home with a healthy serving of love. See this article on page 106. We love calling attention to people who make our hearts sing, especially those who do it so genuinely. In this issue we feature five people who bring a smile to our faces. I recently asked Mrs. Angie at Fiesta Nutrition Center what the hiring process was like at their store because they genuinely have the nicest people on the planet working there. Toni calls it the “Disneyland” of north Louisiana. So, it isn’t a surprise that one of her employees, Rebekah Guadalupe, made our list of “People We Love.” Also featured are Marilyn Elliot, Laura Clark, Sheila Snow and Ginger Hubenthal Padgett. Read more about them on pages 154-163. I want to thank all of our readers and advertisers for their continued support of our magazine. We are a locally-owned and operated small business and could not continue without the “love” that our community has shown us. Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you. We hope that you enjoy reading this month’s issue of BayouLife Magazine. Please like us on Facebook and visit our website at bayoulifemag. com. ~ Cassie Livingston

PUBLISHER Cassie Livingston cassie@bayoulifemag.com EDITOR Maré Brennan mare@bayoulifemag.com STAFF WRITER Michael DeVault michael@bayoulifemag.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Moffett melanie@bayoulifemag.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Gaeb Cardinale gaeb@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Toni Navarro toni@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Ashley Hubenthal ashley@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Amanda Singley amanda@bayoulifemag.com OFFICE MANAGER Ellie Jackson ellie@bayoulifemag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Maré Brennan Dan Chason Kenny Covington Lou Davenport Dr. David Finley Cindy Gist Foust Annie Jopling Harrison Holt Linda Holyfield Barbara Leader Paul Lipe Erin Love

Isabella McJunkins Meredith McKinnie Dr. Timothy Mickel Dr. Mark Napoli Jennifer Schmeer Delia Simpson P. Allen Smith Beatrice A. Tatem Analeise Thomas Alicia Valair Judy Wagoner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Arender Martin G. Meyers ON THE COVER Date Night, featuring Ellie Jackson, page 84 cover photography by Martin G Meyers BayouLife Magazine is published and distributed by Redbird Publishing, LLC. Circulation: 13,000 copies monthly. Postal subscriptions ($20) 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.

4 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

BL contents

FEBRUARY 2016

148

22 / P. ALLEN SMITH Spring Into the Grow Season with Seeds 26/ FISHING WITH KENNY Bass’n the Boat Docks 70 / A. ALDEN’S MEMO Valentine’s Date Night 72 / KING OF HEARTS The Extraordinary and Innovative Work of Dr. Terry King 84 / DATE NIGHT Get Dolled Up this Valentine’s Day with These Flirty Frocks from Local Boutiques

106

94 / SIMPLY LOU Just an Old Fashioned Love Story 106 / BAYOU EATS Big Eats at Big Momma’s 123 / UNCONDITIONAL LOVE The Love Story of Annie and Terrence Broussard 136 / RENAISSANCE & REVIVAL Hudgins Breathes Life into Historic Home with Recent Renovation 148 / FUTURE HISTORIES The Works of Masur Museum Resident Artist Vitus Shell

72 6 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

154 / PEOPLE WE LOVE Five People Who Bring a Smile to Our Faces

Reelin’ in the Beers The Changing Landscape of American Beer

BY DELIA SIMPSON, CRAFT, SPECIALTY, AND IMPORT MANAGER, CHOICE BRANDS, INC.

O SAY THAT THE AMERICAN BEER INDUSTRY HAS changed in recent years would be an understatement. A growing craft beer segment has made quite an impact on the way people think of, and drink, beer. According to location and season, consumers find themselves with a variety of choices like never before. The shift actually began many years ago. In the late 1970’s, the way people thought about brewing in America was beginning to change. Due to an influx of immigrants from all over the world who wanted to enjoy styles of brews from their respective countries, a culture of homebrewing began to emerge in the United States. These early homebrewers began what is now known as the craft beer movement. Eager to introduce American beer drinkers to bigger flavor, many of these brewers began to form small companies. In 1976, the New Albion Brewery was founded by Jack McAuliffe in Sonoma, California. While this brewery was only in business for about six years, it inspired many others to follow. In 2013, the Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) released an American Pale Ale called New Albion in honor of McAuliffe, using his original recipe. Over the next few years, the quality and variety of products from these small companies continued to improve and evolve. By the mid 1990’s the volume of craft beer had increased significantly. The number of craft brewers went from eight in 1980 to 537 in 1994 and over 1,600 in 2010. That number continues to grow at an exponential rate. Louisiana’s own original craft brewery, Abita, was also instrumental. Founded in 1986, the Abita Brewing Company is nestled in the piney woods, 30 miles north of New Orleans. By 1994, they outgrew the original site (now a 100-seat brew pub) and moved up the road to a larger facility to keep up with demand. Today they brew over 151,000 barrels of beer and 9,100 barrels of root beer in their state-of-the-art brewing facility. Their lagers and ales are brewed in small batches, hand-crafted by a team of dedicated workers with only the highest ideals of quality. This 8 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

pride, along with their brewing process, is what creates great brews. In addition to the flagship beers we all know and love, Abita has expanded their lineup to include many seasonal offerings, as well as a harvest series that uses Louisiana produce in all of its brews. Be on the lookout for everyone’s favorite, Abita Strawberry, later this month! In honor of the iconic street of the same name, Abita is now brewing its Bourbon Street series. These select brews are aged in bourbon barrels to impart a warmth and depth of flavor. They are available in specialty stores in 22 ounce bottles and on tap in select bars and restaurants. Abita is still privately owned and operated by local shareholders, many who have been with them since day one. Andy O’Bryan and his crew in Mississippi are just beginning their journey. Located in the beautifully renovated Hendricks Machine Shop building in downtown Water Valley, Yalobusha Brewery is serving up consistent, high quality beers on a small scale. Available in our area are River Ale, a pale ale, pilsner hybrid, Copperhead Amber, a hoppy amber ale and Mississippi Blues Trail, a farmhouse ale brewed with lemon zest and white pepper. A portion of the profits from Mississippi Blues Trail will go to the Blues Foundation. From Abita and Sam Adams to Blue Moon, Leinenkugel’s and Magic Hat, you will find a wide array of craft brands available at your local retailers. There is also a crop of flavored ales and ciders making their mark. Angry Orchard, Smith and Forge and Crispin are three very different brands of cider that cater to the gluten free set. If flavored beer is what you’re after, Redd’s Apple Ale, Abita Bayou Bootlegger Hard Root Beer, Not Your Father’s Root Beer and Ginger Ale and Henry’s Hard Soda are just a few of the many options. There really is something for everyone! For more information on any of the beers listed in this article, go to www. choice-brands.net and visit the “Contact Us” section of our website. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have!

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Hopkins Dermatology Come to the Light

E INVITE YOU TO START your new year with a visit to Hopkins Dermatology. It is time to look and feel younger with Fotana. FOTONA* Laser. Dr. Janine Hopkins chose to bring the Fotona into her practice after seeing the results at the AAD meeting in New York. This new dual-wavelength laser system from Fotona offers a wide range of skin resurfacing and rejuvenation treatments. Fotona4D*: Non-Invasive Laser Facial This is a series of synergistic, non-invasive laser treatments of both the exterior facial and interior oral cavity, enabling full-thickness contraction of collagen for persistent, nodowntime tightening and volumization, without injectables. With Fotona4D laser wavelengths and four treatment modes, anti-aging is comprehensively approached from four different levels, working deeper, medial and superficial connective structures of the skin as well as targeting imperfections. A full course of Fotona4D consists of four separate treatment sessions. The four “dimensions” of Fotona4D refer to four distinct modes of treatment. All of them are harnessed for aesthetic use in concert to combat facial and neck aging. This system grants the opportunity to achieve face lifting with a cumulative, synergistic effect, with little or no downtime or anesthesia. Other exciting features of the Fotona that are available include: • Permanent Hair Reduction Using the hand scanner this becomes a fast and painless procedure for back or legs and is optimal for men and women. Fotona’s 10 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Nd:YAG lasers incorporate revolutionary pulse-control technology and a proprietary three-dimensional treatment pattern to provide safe and effective hair reduction. Unlike other wavelengths, only Nd:YAG is safe to use on all skin types. Fotona’s innovative system effectively targets surface treatment areas while leaving surrounding tissues unaffected. The success of hair reduction treatments depends largely on a patient’s skin and hair type, as well as the skills and treatment insight of the practitioner. • Post Pregnancy Stretch Marks and Tummy Tightening • Acne and Acne Scar Revision Fotona offers a laser acne treatment protocol that provides a truly comprehensive solution to the problem of acne. The Nd: YAG Laser light safely penetrates into skin to effectively target overactive sebaceous glands and to reduce the risk of developing new acne inflammation. For improving the appearance of acne scars, Fotona offers a complementary laser treatment based on a precise and gentle skin resurfacing procedure in which the Er:YAG laser beam is absorbed by the top micro-layers of the skin to vaporize scarred tissue and stimulate the production of new collagen in the dermis. In addition to its thermal penetration effects, the Nd:YAG acne laser treatment also accelerates the healing process and stimulates collagen remodeling, an important step in the long-term treatment of acne. • Skin Resurfacing (a laser peel) Recent developments in laser technology

are now delivering a longer lasting and scientifically proven method of restoring the natural beauty of the skin. Unlike traditional treatments such as dermabrasion and chemical peels, the unique characteristics of laser skin resurfacing allow more accurate and precise control over the treatment process. As a Board Certified Dermatologist and Laser Expert, Dr. Hopkins is pleased continue to address women’s health issues. IntimiLase is a unique laser therapy for incisionless, non-invasive photothermal tightening of the vaginal canal. Clinical studies have shown that IntimaLase is an efficient, easyto-perform, and safe procedure with no pain and downtime. IncontiLase is for the treatment of mild and moderate stress urinary incontinence. This laser therapy is based on non-ablative photothermal stimulation of collagen neogenesis, shrinking and tightening of vaginal mucosa tissue and collagen-rich endopelvic fascia, and subsequently greater support to the bladder. Dr. Hopkins and her team just returned from a private tour of the Revision manufacturing facility and meetings with their renowned international chemist. The intense research and development of each Revision product are why this collection has so many benefits and lasting results. Revision Event Thursday, February 25. Learn about the latest in anti-aging products and new formulations. Don’t forget to schedule a relaxing massage and hydrating facial for your Valentine. For an appointment, please call Hopkins Dermatology at 318.325.0600.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

A Look Ahead

Is Better Hearing Part Of Your Retirement Plan?

OU KNOW THE DRILL. YOU SIT down with your financial advisor and discuss your income, savings, spending and everything in between. You have questions for your advisor and they have questions for you, but the most important one on your mind is, “Will I have enough money set aside to have a fulfilling retirement?” When you think of your ideal retirement, does it include memorable experiences with your friends and loved ones? How about trying new restaurants with your friends, traveling, or spending time with grandchildren? These occasions and retirement in general, will be far less satisfying if you have hearing loss and aren’t able to hear your friends and family. This is why we feel that retirement financial planning is missing an important component! The statistics are surprising. At age 65, one out of every three people has a hearing loss. In addition, there are 28 million people living with hearing loss in the United States alone and only 22 million have gotten the help they need by investing in hearing aids. Getting help is often put off because, once retired, people are living on a fixed income, which doesn’t allow for expensive purchases. When you turn 65, United States citizens are eligible for Medicare. What isn’t widely known is that, in most cases, Medicare does not pay anything towards the cost of hearing aids. Depending on technology, hearing aids can range from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars each, and they need to be replaced every four to five years (with proper care and maintenance). Hearing aids are an investment, but they are an important one. As Helen Keller said, “blindness separates

12 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

people from things, deafness separates people from people.” When planning for retirement, chances are that buying hearing aids is not top-of-mind. We encourage you to make sure hearing healthcare is included in your financial planning so that you are sure to have a fulfilling retirement.

will be given. Amplification options will be discussed and if the patient wants a custommade hearing aid, an earmold will be taken. Most hearing evaluations and consultations take about 30 to 60 minutes. To get started, simply call us and we will get you scheduled for your free hearing exam.

NO OBLIGATION HEARING EVALUATION We are happy to check your insurance benefits during your free hearing consultation appointment, so contact us today. A hearing evaluation is a no-obligation and simple procedure that can offer many longterm health and lifestyle benefits. Yet many people experience a little anxiety when visiting an unfamiliar business. Knowing a bit more about the hearing evaluation process will alleviate some concerns. When first entering the hearing clinic, you will be warmly greeted by the front desk assistant and checked in for your appointment. The hearing specialist will then begin the appointment by asking a series of lifestyle questions to gain insight into what your listening needs might be. Next, a free audiometric evaluation will be performed to measure any hearing loss and to what degree it may exist. You’ll wear a set of headphones and indicate whether you hear a variety of sounds at different frequencies and levels of loudness. Your hearing test results will be examined by the specialists to determine if there is a loss and what logical steps the recommend to treat it. If that involves hearing aids, various product models based on your lifestyle needs

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Our mission is to bring understanding among people through hearing care by focusing on awareness, education, protection and treatment, So the World May Hear! At Audibel The Hearing Center, we care about your well-being and the lives of the less fortunate around the world. As a proud supporter of The Starkey Hearing Foundation’s “So The World May Hear” program, we are changing lives through the gift of hearing. Your support through the purchase of Audibel Instruments and your donation and trade in of any model hearing aids goes to the foundation’s programs to provide hearing instruments to children in the most remote and poverty stricken regions of the world. ABOUT US Audibel The Hearing Center is Northeast Louisiana’s Audibel dispenser. Cherry Phillips “The Hearing Lady” has been serving this area for over 27 years. We offer free hearing screenings, free second opinions, extended warranties and repairs on all makes and brands of hearing aids. You can find out more by visiting our website www.AudibelMonroe. com and you can see more and like us on Facebook.com/AudibelMonroe.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Discovering The Real Thing Giving, Receiving and Recognizing True Love BY BEATRICE TATEM, PH.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS

IN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH, AIN’T NO valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you babe… is a song performed by singing sensations Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. A song awarded for lyrics conveying passion, love, commitment, and at the same time power, determination and strength. A song depicting (in my opinion) sentiments about real love in all forms, across all times applicable to various situations and desired by most people. When I was in high school I was swept emotionally off of my feet...I was in love. I felt the sun rose and set on what, I believed at the time, was an eternal love, a real love. In my mind this was the kind of love Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell sung about. My family, friends and mentors possessing real love for me “rescued” me when this “young love” ended. I eventually realized this teen relationship was a short-lived romance and not real love. It was an initial lesson towards my discovering “real love” is not to be solely equated with romantic love but a respect and love for self, family and friends. It taught me the importance of knowing who really loves you, where to go to really be loved and the value of giving and receiving real love. Exploring love is a journey unique to the individual. Often the journey consists of people searching for love and self worth in unexpected places resulting in the unexpected. A client once said to me, “I was searching for love, and after several failed attempts, I decided to seek counseling.“ This client expressed what most want to experience…relationships rooted in trust, intimacy, validation, acceptance, communication and commitment. When attempting to experience love, many search outwardly in the wrong places while failing to look inwardly, in the right places. Often, we fail to look for love within ourselves before turning to others to give us the love we deserve, want and need. To discover real love you need to know what it means to you. To be in love in a healthy way takes awareness, effort, care and your owning the fact you deserve to be really loved.

14 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Real love is friendship, romance, family, physical, emotional, self-love, agape and platonic. It is from within and starts with you. Real love is what you say, what you do, how you feel and how you make others feel. Real love is unconditional, meaningful and consistent. It is empowering, natural, incessant, undying, authentic, genuine and pure. It is of the heart, spirit and soul. Real love is expressed willfully and respectfully. It transcends time, age race, gender, conditions of physical and mental health. It is about loving someone as they are for who they are and not based on popularity. Real love is not an afterthought, nor does it compete with other things you enjoy doing. It is a priority that is healthily integrated in your life allowing you to openly and generously share your love with others. It is satisfying and meaningful. Real love remains strong even when you are at your lowest. It does not waver under adversity. Real love is uncompromising; it withstands challenges and grows over time. It makes difficult times easier and lighter. Real love has emotional depth and defies pain and suffering. It is not manufactured or mass-produced. Real love is priceless and does not need fluff or stuff to exist. To experience love is great, to experience real love is greater. Everyone deserves and needs to experience real love. Make an effort to feel real love, show real love, experience real love, to embody real love and offer real love. Ignite the journey of others towards their discovery of real love by sharing your gift of real love with them. In the words of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell… “Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby.” Happy Valentines Day with real love! For more information about counseling services and outreach programming contact Dr. Tatem at Wellness Initiatives LLC, 1900 North 18 th Street, Suite 414, Monroe, La 71201, 318-410-1555 or at btatem. bt@gmail.com

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Handcrafted in Baton Rouge Geaux Local. Drink Tin Roof Beer.

IN ROOF BEERS ARE HANDCRAFTED IN BATON Rouge, Louisiana, using only the finest American and European malts, freshest hops and pure parish well water. No preservatives or additives are ever used. This means you enjoy the natural flavor of the beer the way it was intended. Every batch of Tin Roof beer is brewed with an uncompromising commitment to exceptional quality. This gives our beer a consistent, delicious and unmistakable Southern charm - you’ll know it when you taste it. Tin Roof Brewing Company was started by two childhood friends with a passion for beer and a desire to create their own Southern, handcrafted brand. The dream was born when Charles Caldwell ventured out West in the early 2000’s to work on a ranch in Colorado. During his stint as a ranchhand, Caldwell experienced an abundance of microbrewed beer and immediately fell in love. Upon returning, he was disappointed to find the deep South lagging behind in the craft beer world. The dream of building his own brewery was born, but it would take years before it came to fruition. Caldwell ended up in banking in his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi. He began making trips down to Baton Rouge to visit William McGehee, who was finishing up his law degree from LSU. McGehee had also developed a palate for the finer beers during a law school Summer abroad program in Europe. One weekend trip, after indulging in a few beers, the topic of the brewery came up. The two decided that it was now or never, and what better career path change for a banker and lawyer to take, than to start brewing beer. After several years of hard work, their dream became a reality with their first batches of beer being produced for commercial consumption in November 2010. Tom Daigrepont came on shortly after in December 2010 as Tin Roof’s brewmaster and tour guide extraordinaire. Tom’s 20 plus years of homebrewing experience and ability to create outstanding beers added the final component. Since then, the Tin Roof team hasn’t looked back.

16 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Juke Joint IPA India Pale Ale with a solid malt backbone, huge floral and citrus aroma, and a nice strong bitterness up front that fades and does not leave you puckered. Juke Joint is the aroma hop lovers dream. Turnrow Coriander Ale Spiced Ale brewed with fresh ground coriander. Turnrow’s light straw color and low bitterness make it the perfect compliment to the warm, humid days and traditions in the South. The coriander provides just the right amount of citrus spice to balance this refreshing brew. Tin Roof Blonde Ale Tin Roof Blonde Ale is a light-bodied, crisp American Blonde Ale with a wonderfully refreshing finish. This beer is easy-drinking and perfect for any occasion. Pairs well with virtually everything. You name it…pizza, crawfish, poboys, etc. If the food is good, Tin Roof Blonde Ale will enhance it. If it isn’t good, we still recommend drinking a TinRoof Blonde Ale. Perfect Tin Amber Ale American-style amber ale brewed with a variety of the finest specialty malts available. These malts combine to form a distinct flavor profile with hints of toffee and chocolate. Its mild bitterness never lingers longer than you ask it to. The final product is a malty, medium-bodied, and easy drinking session beer. You’ll love this malt masterpiece! Pairs well with most grilled or roasted meats. Also great for chilis, stews and brining. Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale American-style pale ale with layers of intense flavors. Generously hopped, this brew draws on pale, honey and caramel malts to provide the perfect balance between bitterness, aroma, and malt character. Pairs well with anything spicy…especially crawfish, gumbo wand jambalaya.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

18 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

A Name You Know and Trust New Affordable Pricing, Great Quality and Service at Bob Moss Carpet One

INCE 1946,YOU’VE COME TO BOB MOSS CARPET ONE for all your flooring, bath and countertop needs. And today you can still go to Bob Moss Carpet One and find that same great service. Now under new ownership, Bob Moss Carpet One has beautifully classic hardwood selections, natural stone, ceramic tile and much more! Lew Hubbard became owner on January 1, 2013 and has taken the flooring world by storm. “I’m fortunate to have a great crew that is fantastic to work with! Forrest “Tree” Erwin is our General Manager and has over 28 years flooring and tile expertise himself!” Your experience with Bob Moss Carpet One starts with one of our knowledgeable Interior Decorators, Nancy Shutt and Nikki Creighton. These helpful ladies can help turn your living areas into a showplace you can be proud of, and at no extra cost to you! Tree and Lew will work with you on your commercial and residential needs, including churches and businesses. Also, measuring and bringing samples to you is no problem at all! We want to help you in any way we can, every step of the way to your dream home! In addition, we offer the “Beautiful Guarantee” on specific merchandise. If after we install your flooring, and you don’t like the color or style, we will replace it, at no cost. That’s right. No cost! And we offer an easy-to-understand warranty system that gives you a level of protection that is tailored to you. Making it hassle free and taking the guess work out of your buying decision! We believe in flawless execution every step of the way, so our work continues after you’ve made your flooring selection. At Bob Moss Carpet One Floor and Home, we know how important it is to feel confident in your flooring selection. You want to know it’s going to look exactly the way you want once it’s installed in your home. That’s why we offer you unmatched peace of mind with our one-of-a-kind guarantee. We go the extra mile to ensure that you are 100% happy with your new floor.

20 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Our crew of friendly, courteous and competent installers will make sure the job is done right the first time. They will even move your furniture for you. Expertise is what we offer you on so many levels. We also offer installations with Carpet One’s exclusive Healthier Living treatment to protect against mold and mildew. With over 82 years combined experience in the flooring industry, you are sure to get a quality product and service that far surpasses your expectations. Bob Moss Carpet One is also your place to go for custom-fit area rugs. We can order any rug you can dream of or have any carpet bound into any pattern you like. We are also Monroe’s Karastan rug source. And Bob Moss also has tremendous buying power through the national co-op, Carpet One. We also can offer 12 months of no interest financing! Our exclusive brands like Lees®, Tigressa®, Bigelow®, Resista® Soft Style, Rustic River™ Hardwood, Invincible™ Hardwood and LVT, and Laminate for Life™ set the industry standard for beauty, style and quality. In fact, every floor we offer at Bob Moss Carpet One Floor and Home has more than surpassed our own high standards of performance and comfort. You can find some inspiration for your home and testimonials from previous customers on the Bob Moss Carpet One website. Stop by your locally owned Carpet One and visit with Lew and his courteous staff at 610 Louisville Avenue, next to the Mohawk, in Monroe and start making your dream home a reality. Check out our website www.bobmosscarpetonemonroe.com or call 318-387-6929 or 1-800-256-0746. Bob Moss Carpet One is the best place for all your flooring needs. We pay less, and so do you. Bob Moss Carpet One—Beautiful Made Affordable!

pring is just around the corner, but if you are like me, cabin fever has already set in and you are counting down the days until you can get back into the garden. Seed starting is a great way to get a jump on your garden plans, and keep your green thumb busy during those last, long winter months. You can easily gain four to eight weeks in your garden starting seeds indoors and transplanting seedlings in the spring. The process is easy, and there are many great vegetable varieties that respond well to seed starting. Here are just a few things you need to know before digging in… Containers. You can sow seeds in almost any container you have on hand. Keep it simple and use plastic flats or trays from last year’s planting. Clay pots or compressed peat pellets will work as well. If you want to DIY your containers consider using egg cartons, cut-off milk cartons or plastic jugs. Just drill drainage holes in any container you select. Also, wash all containers thoroughly in soapy water and disinfect them in a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water before planting. Soil. It’s best to use loose, fertile, disease-free soil for seed starting. I recommend the packaged potting soil — it works well and is super easy. Slightly moisten your soil in the potting container before sowing the seeds. Then, evenly space seeds onto the surface of the mix, and cover the seeds to the depth indicated on the seed pack. Timing. Gauge an approximate time when your climate will have its last frost, you can find this out by checking with your

22 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Seedlings ready for transplanting to the garden. photo, Jane Colclasure ‘Lilliput’ Melon. photo, Mark Fonville ‘Deep Purple’ Mustard Greens. photo, Mark Fonville ‘Peppermint’ Swiss Chard. photo, Mark Fonville county cooperative extension service or local garden center. After you have determined the last frost date, check on the back of your seed packets and find out how long each variety will take to germinate. Mark the last frost date on a calendar, and then count back the number of weeks needed for germination and that is the date to start the seeds. If you want the seedlings to be larger and stronger when you plant them, you may want to start them indoors earlier than recommended. This time frame will vary from plant to plant, so if you are planning to start many different plants, you may be sowing seeds at different times. I find it helpful to keep a journal or calendar, and have all of the seedlings labeled to minimize confusion. Seedlings will be ready to transplant into larger individual containers when they gain their first set of true leaves. Temperature. Soil temperature is critical when seed starting. Soil that is too cool halts germination, so you want to aim for soil that is around 75 degrees until the seedlings have emerged. To maintain this soil temperature, I use an electric grow mat under my trays. There are many online sources for these, and they start at $20 or so. The air temperature in the seed starting room should be between 70 and 75 degrees during the day, and no cooler than 60 to 65 degrees at night. Water and Light. Once your seeds are planted, water the soil gently until water drains from the bottom of the container, but be very careful not to wash the seeds away. Cover the soil surface with plastic until the first seeds begin to sprout. Once the seedlings emerge, remove the plastic cover and move containers into the light.

ow that you have the basics on how to start a garden of seeds indoors, here are a few of my favorite vegetables to get an early start on.

Cool Season Plantings Baby Broccoli ‘Aspabroc’ (Broccolini®) Branded as Broccolini® in the produce section of your grocery store and on restaurant menus, ‘Aspabroc’ resembles a broccoli raab with an asparagus stem, and offers a mild taste. This petite broccoli is a must because it is so easy to grow and requires very little space. (5060 days to maturity from transplant) Broccoli ‘Green Magic’ This early spring through fall traditional broccoli has a semi-domed, tight head. (75 days to maturity from transplant) Cabbage ‘Stonehead’ ‘Stonehead’ is a purple and green early, medium–headed variety with tip burn tolerance, and excellent flavor and texture. (45 days to maturity from transplant) Warm Season Plantings Okra ‘Jambalaya’ ‘Jambalaya’ okra matures very early in the season and offers a high yield. The compact plant is ideal for home gardens. Harvest often. (50 days to maturity from transplant)

with great texture and excellent flavor — perfect for slicing. (72 days to maturity from transplant) Peppers Pepper ‘Jalafuego’ It doesn’t get hotter than ‘Jalafuego’! This is a vigorous plant with high yields of extra large, smooth, dark green fruit. (70 days to maturity from transplant) Pepper ‘Cheyenne’ This early-maturing plant produces very attractive cayenne peppers on a compact plant. (65 days to maturity from transplant) Sweet Pepper ‘Right On Red’ ‘Right on Red’ matures early and delivers continuous high yields. (65 days to maturity from transplant) Sweet Pepper ‘Majestic Red’ ‘Majestic Red’ produces a fantastic bell pepper that matures to a large, smooth fruit with bright red skin and a thick, crunchy texture. (75–85 days to maturity from transplant) Sweet Pepper ‘Grenada’ This variety boasts large mild-flavored fruits that are perfect for frying, grilling or stuffing. (80 days to maturity from transplant)

Eggplant ‘Shikou’ ‘Shikou’ produces a long Asian–shaped eggplant with dark, glossy fruit, tender skin and very few seeds. (70-80 days to maturity from transplant) Tomatoes Cherry Tomato ‘Sweet Treats’ ‘Sweet Treats’ produces a large, round cherry tomato with a deep pink hue and rich flavor. (65–67 days to maturity from transplant) Cherry Tomato ‘Red Robin’ This compact, well-branching plant produces high yields of bright red, one-inch cherry tomatoes. (55 days to maturity from transplant) Grape Tomato ‘Sweet Hearts’ ‘Sweet Hearts’ offers high yields of bright red oval fruit with excellent flavor and good shelf life. (60 days to maturity from transplant) Tomato ‘Red Pride’ This consistent performer produces large, deep red fruit with a good blossom end. (78 days to maturity from transplant) Tomato ‘Charger’ This low maintenance plant produces large, deep red colored fruit WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Glenwood Medical Group Quality Medical Providers You Expect. Compassionate Care You Deserve. BRAIN AND SPINE SURGERY Jorge Alvernia, MD As an accomplished neurosurgeon in the area, Dr. Alvernia specializes in treating brain tumors, nerve disorders and spinal conditions. Special services include vagal nerve stimulators for epilepsy, spinal cord stimulators for pain and baclofen pump placement for spasticity. PH: 318-807-4611 CARDIOLOGY P.Thomas Causey, Jr., MD, FACC Dr. Causey, a fellow of the American Board of Cardiology and board certified in cardiovascular disease, specializes in clinical consultative cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and preventive cardiology. He also serves as medical director of Glenwood’s Cardiac-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center. PH: 318-338-3525 CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY Harry Donias, MD Dr. Donias’ services include mitral valve, tricuspid valve and aortic valve repair or replacement, on and off pump coronary artery bypass, proximal aortic and arch pathology, surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation, lung and esophageal cancer, aneurysms, peripheral revascularization and carotid stenosis, as well as minimally invasive and endovascular techniques. PH: 318-329-3475 EAR, NOSE AND THROAT Brent Metts, MD, PhD Dr. Metts, one of the few surgeons in the nation who is fellowship trained in minimally invasive and endoscopic assisted thyroid and 24 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

parathyroid surgeries, provides treatment for sinus disease, thyroid disease, hearing loss, throat and voice problems, sleep apnea, tonsillitis and ear infections. He also performs minimally invasive balloon sinuplasty. PH: 318-329-8458 FAMILY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE Roland Ponarski, MD Dr. Ponarski specializes in diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. In addition, he offers routine physical exams and CDL license exams. PH: 318-329-8485 FOOT AND ANKLE David Gardner, DPM Michael R. Kaye, DPM Drs. Gardner and Kaye specialize in bunions, hammertoes, flat foot, achilles tendonitis, toenail fungus, ingrown toenails, heel pain, neuromas, corns, calluses, warts, deformities, geriatric conditions, diabetic foot conditions and sports injuries of the lower legs and feet. PH: 318-322-5506 GENERAL SURGERY Frank Sanfiel, MD Dr. Sanfiel specializes in hernia repair, breast surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, skin and soft tissue infections, and other surgical interventions including laparoscopic and robotic surgery. PH: 318-329-8411 GENERAL SURGERY AND WOUND CARE Russell T. Lolley, MD Dr. Lolley is the Medical Director of Glenwood’s Hyperbaric and Wound Care Center. He performs transcutaneous oxygen

monitoring, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, wound debridement, specialty wound dressing and skin grafts, compression therapies, diabetic foot care as well as general surgeries. PH: 318-329-8445 INTERNAL MEDICINE Alyce Adams, MD Dr. Adams is a certified Diabetes Educator who specializes in diabetes, hypertension and preventive cardiology. She also offers EKGs, stress tests, and echocardiograms. PH: 318-322-0458 NEUROLOGY Cresha Davis, MD Dr. Davis is board certified in neurology and specializes in sleep, neurologic and movement disorders, epilepsy, migraines and chronic headache disorders, stroke, dementia and neuromuscular diseases. PH: 318-807-4611 Jenny Guerre, MD Dr. Guerre is board certified in neurology and specializes in Myasthenia gravis, muscle disorders, spasticity, neuropathy, neurologic disorders, epilepsy, movement disorders, migraines and chronic headache disorders, stroke and dementia. PH: 318-807-4611 PSYCHIATRY Michael B. Wright, MD Dr. Wright specializes in psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for adolescents and adults. His services include psychopharmacology and medication CONTINUED ON PAGE 167

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

In bass fishing, the month of February is a lot rolled up into one. The water is not warm enough for a spring time bite, but it isn’t cold enough for a winter pattern either. In this month’s article we will take a look at one of the most productive constants in bass fishing – boat docks. Almost all of our fisheries have them and fish are drawn to them, just as they would be to your favorite Cypress trees. Docks come in various shapes and sizes. Some are floating, some are even made of metal. Is the dock the longest one in a series going down a bank or is it an isolated one in the back of a cove? Is the bottom made up of rock or does it have a sandy bottom? Not all docks are created equal so each one requires a different approach in the way to fish them. Seasonally, shallow docks are good in the spring time, early summer and throughout the fall. The mid range docks are year round producers but can be extremely good while night fishing. Deeper docks are most effective in summer and winter but even with these “rules,” nothing is set in stone. When dock fishing, pay attention to the different depths the dock will cover. A dock that sits in six feet of water or less is considered a shallow dock. If the dock reaches a depth of 10 feet, then I would consider this to be a medium range dock. If the dock sits in water over 15 feet, this is a deep dock. Usually the better structures offer shade and cover, but it also offers a noticeable depth change. This means a bass has easy access from deep to shallow water with minimum effort. On lakes that have an abundance of hydrilla, milfoil or coontail moss, shallow docks can be dynamite all year. Mid-range docks on lakes can be the most difficult to figure out because they offer both shallow and deep water access. Deeper docks can be a year round producer but are usually 26 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

technique specific. As we move closer to springtime, bass will instinctively begin making their shallow water movements to spawn. These fish are moving from deeper water towards staging areas outside of spawning coves and flats before they totally commit to shallow water. Your mid-range docks can be good choices when faced with this particular scenario. The fish will stage in the deeper sections and use the rest of the dock as a migration route into shallow water. It is usually best to fish the deeper areas of a dock first and then continue working to the shallow portions. Once the first fish is caught, particular attention should be placed working similar areas on other docks in the area. If smaller male bass are caught on the shallow portion of the dock, the bigger females are probably deeper and may require a different presentation to catch them. Like a lot of aspects in bass fishing, it is simply a process of elimination.

When fishing docks, keep your lure choices simple. My favorite February lures for dock fishing are a Rat-L-Trap or a crankbait, a Carolina rig and a jig. At some point one of these lures will produce fish no matter the type body of water I am fishing. The Trap allows the fisherman to cover

water quickly, paralleling the front and sides of each dock trying to find which portion of the dock the active fish are using. This choice of lure is excellent if there is submerged vegetation. Use a crankbait in the same scenario as the Trap, but it works better when the docks are deeper or don’t have a lot of vegetation around them. The key to both lures is the retrieve speed, as that is what will trigger the fish to strike. I like a crawfish pattern or the color red in either lure. Once fish are located in specific areas a good way to catch the bigger fish is with a Carolina Rig. A Zoom lizard is probably the best choice for this technique and color is more about the fisherman’s confidence than the bass choice. Natural colors such as watermelon and pumpkinseed are productive but black/blue is still a good option. Your leader length should be conducive to the cover being fished and the sinker size should be based on the bottom contour and any present vegetation. Arguably the best choice for dock fishing would be a jig, especially in the pre-spawn. The size of your jig should be determined by depth of water and the amount of cover. My first choice would be a 3/8 ounce black/ blue jig with a matching craw worm trailer. If I fish the deeper portion of the dock, then I may switch to a 1/2 ounce version. The most important aspect of dock fishing with a jig is accurate presentations. The better the flip, pitch or cast the better the result. Remember big bass are lazy and the less work required to get an easy meal the better the chances are of catching them. As I have said quite often, there are no sure things in bass fishing so don’t be afraid to experiment with lures and techniques on your favorite body of water! Please be careful in the woods and on the water and be sure to catch one for me! See you next month!

Designing A Dream Larry James Looks Back on Four Decades

ARRY JAMES WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE HEART OF Morehouse Parish, but his education, travels and career have taken him around the country and world. He has been able to bring those experiences and influences back home, where he has successfully designed over 25,000 homes throughout the United States and several foreign countries over the last 42 years. Larry has always had a love of houses and dappled in design when he was a child. “I remember looking at house plan books when I was seven years old and being fascinated,” he said. “I spent the summer between my 7th and 8th grade remodeling my bedroom. I measured the room, drew up a floor plan of the space and even built all the furniture after painting the room.” However, Larry didn’t take a direct path to his dreams. After teaching art at Terrebonne High School in Houma and working as a designer in Dallas, Larry made his way back to Northeast Louisiana to join his father-in-law in home design, and eventually bought the business at the age of 27. Since then, he has designed single family homes, multi-family homes, home renovations and additions, churches, subdivisions, logos, lake cabins, pool houses, restaurants, underground houses, horse barns and even the latest trend, tiny houses. As a designer, Larry’s role is to design a house in black and white, create a functional floor plan, an attractive exterior and make a home that is economical to build. His plans are what are used for the builder, third parties, inspection, financial institutions, appraisers, interior designers and more. Larry sums up his design aesthetic as timeless, traditional and classical, but that doesn’t mean he injects his style into every home he designs. “My client’s dream is more important than my dream,” he states. His goal is to design the perfect home as effortlessly as possible for the client. “I am not designing a home for my glory, but for that person and their family. I truly believe that everyone can have a well designed, easy to build timeless home that suits their needs, and has a place for all of their memories and possessions.” In addition to his Bachelor and Masters degrees in Fine Art with studies in art history, painting, drawing, graphic design, art and ceramics from NLU, now ULM, Larry continues to learn and 28 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

educate himself. He has traveled to Rome and studied under a program sponsored by The Institute for Classical Architecture from New York University. “I was on a quest to learn the detailing of Classical Design and see where it was born,” he explains. “And that is something that I still draw from and use everyday.” One of the highlights of his career was working with Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, designers of fashion furniture and who supply pieces to Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Crate & Barrel. They worked together to build a home in Hickory, North Carolina. “This experience was special to me because even though I stayed close to home, I am able to work with experts all over the world and design a variety of homes in an array of styles,” says Larry. Even though he has designed thousands of homes, Larry sees the bigger picture and is credited with the expansion and growth in the North Monroe and Sterlington areas. He aided in the planning and zoning of Sterlington, worked with the mayor on urban design and initiated traditional neighborhood design including sidewalks, streets and alleys. It is clear that the area would not be where it is today without his hand. But Larry doesn’t take a hundred percent credit. “I often use The Bible to lead me and direct me and when I was looking at the property along 165 North, I opened it and simply pointed to a verse.” That verse was Proverbs 24:27 – Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. And in that area, which Larry owns, designed and developed – Sterling Fields. Another driving force, influence and motivator, is his wife of 47 years, Dianne. “I know for certain that behind every good man is a good wife. She has always offered ambition when mine was lagging, encouragement when I had lost enthusiasm, and the courage to travel through difficult times.” Larry continues to design homes in various styles, have his work featured in national publications and seek out projects, but is always focused on building memories. “One day, all of the houses I have ever designed will be gone, but my hope is that all of my clients know that I cared about them as individuals, not as clients.”

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Bayou Pages

NIGHTSTANDS & COFFEE TABLES Ziggy Stardust and the Life of a Starman

he world awoke January 11 to news that David Bowie had died after a long, undisclosed battle with cancer. It was a tragic, though fitting end to the life and career of a multi-talented artist whose life, at times, seemed to be a performance arts piece about nihilism. Yet, as Twitter, Facebook, and CNN’s trending stories indicated--in each case, five of the top ten spots on each were Bowie-connected--the powerful reach of Bowie’s works traveled as far as some of the heroes of his songs. Still, as news broadcasts filled hours with talk of the rocker’s exploits, from the famed alter ego Ziggy Stardust to his turns as an actor, the world couldn’t help but wonder. Who was the real David Bowie? Glam rocker, the Goblin King or family man, it seemed Bowie could move effortlessly between them all. Here are three books we think will help you remember the best and most outlandish personalities of David Bowie. David Bowie: A Life in Pictures By Chris Welch When it comes to the life, career and artistry of David Bowie, it’s nearly impossible to separate the man from the work-and from the loud, sometimes garish image he created. Enter David Bowie: A Life in Pictures, a collection of images of some of Bowie’s most iconic and memorable creations. A known quantity to the world of curated rock photography collections,

30 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

REVIEWS BY MICHAEL DEVAULT Welch separates Bowie into a series of interconnected periods as he traces the artist’s development from the 1960s. By connecting each period of Bowie’s career with a series of portraits and images by some of the world’s most famous photographers, Welch charts the expansive career of a singer, actor, and personality while underscoring Bowie’s immense contribution to pop culture and the arts. Of special note are dozens of rare, early photos of Bowie as well as images from some of his more memorable moments. Included are his Ziggy Stardust, the Thin White Duke period and his turn as the Goblin King. An ever present spectre, hanging over the images, are Bowie’s fans, highlighted in their fervor in more than one candid performance photograph. The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie and the 1970s By Peter Doggett Among artists and performers to emerge from the 1960s, few held as much attention as did David Bowie, who some critics argue carried as much cultural significance as Andy Warhol and Timothy Leary. For lovers of Bowie’s haunting lyrics and musical innovations, The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie and the 1970s provides a song-by-song chronicle of the evolution of this artist. With an acute awareness of the troubled times of 1970s music, Doggett shines a light on the artistic development, cultural influences and life events that are ever-present in Bowie’s

greatest works. Doggett’s previous works saw him take a similar tack with a popular biography of the Beatles, and through this unique approach, Doggett crafts a portrait of Bowie that is at once the man and the artist, singer and song inseparably fused. For music buffs with a love of pop music, Doggett’s work is a must-read, especially given Bowie’s influence on today’s popular pop and rock scene. Bowie: The Biography By Wendy Leigh A decidedly de-musiced book, Wendy Leigh plots the course that was David Bowie’s personal life, sharing intimate details gleaned from myriad sources over the musician’s life. From early childhood, when Bowie first began experimenting with makeup, through adulthood, Leigh’s biography takes a somewhat voyeuristic approach to Bowie’s exploits. With the near-breathless tone of a tabloid exposè, Leigh recounts Bowie’s affairs, marriages, divorces and relationships. And yet, through the muck and scandal, she manages to find a sense of Bowie’s humanity. Far from a definitive biography, Leigh’s book is more of a popular biography, a borrowed page from the works of Kitty Kelly. There’s substance here, and substance worth reading, but Leigh’s book isn’t for the Bowie fan. It’s instead aimed at those who might want a cautionary tale to scare the kids.

St. Frederick High School PTO Making Every Dollar Count

T ST. FREDERICK HIGH SCHOOL,THE PTO’S initiative is to expand education opportunities, support teachers, supplement technology and enrich all classrooms in an effort to further develop the STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, English, Arts and Math) program. Funds generated over the past two years, through the annual SFHS PTO fundraiser, have allowed the PTO to update the science and technology labs while upgrading other school facilities and equipment. At the start of planning for this year’s Third Annual SFHS PTO fundraiser, the PTO Board, in coordination with Principal Webber, Vice-Principal Porter-Lord and the SFHS STREAM Director Mr. David, identified several areas that would further STREAM integration at SFHS. This collaborated effort has generated plans for the SFHS PTO to upgrade the existing computer lab with a new classroom being added in the process. The objective is to provide two classrooms that have the ability to address the needs of students at SFHS. One classroom will serve as the keyboarding and word processing classroom for junior high students while the other classroom will become a multi-purpose computing classroom for our high school students. In addition to making changes to the current computer lab, the SFHS PTO plans to purchase equipment fundamental to the success of the STREAM program including: Makerbot 3D Printers, Computer Aided Design software programs, additional Robotics competition sets and CNC Technology equipment. With the PTO purchasing this equipment, our students are gaining access to technology and technical skills that are not readily available at other schools in the area. It is the SFHS PTO’s goal to help provide our students, faculty and staff with the most current technology, equipment, and materials available, ensuring that our students are prepared for their future after graduating from St. Frederick High School. This year’s annual PTO fundraiser featured the band Hands On!, which provided for a wonderful night of entertainment for all those who attended. The food was catered by Thurman’s, which 32 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

featured an array of delicious items commonly found during Mardi Gras season. Along with the wonderful music and food, Daq’s Wings and Grill provided their specialty “King Cake” daiquiris, along with beer and wine from by Marsala Beverage and Choice Brands. The St. Frederick High School gymnasium was a sight to see thanks to the SFHS PTO President, Misti Cordell, and her design vision for the fundraiser. The decorations for the event were outstanding with splashes of purple, gold and green throughout. The SFHS PTO also secured a host of live and silent auction items from many of our local businesses and parents of St. Frederick High School. One new addition to the fundraiser was a mystery bag pull in coordination with the wine pull. Mystery bags were sold for $20 each, and guests received several different items including wine glasses, gift cards for gas and local restaurants. From amazing painted art from local artists, spa days for the busiest of moms and spray-in bed-liners from Ryan Chevrolet, the silent auction had something for everyone. The live auction was run by the famous auctioneer Harold Sullivan. The auction featured vacation homes, trips to watch the LSU tigers and New Orleans Saints as well as a trip to the famous Jeff Landry, Louisiana Attorney General Gator Hunt. If you missed this year’s fundraiser, just remember the good times will roll again for the fourth annual fundraiser in 2017. The St. Frederick PTO would again like to thank everyone who has supported and continues to support the St. Frederick High School PTO in their fundraising efforts. Without your support and donations, we would not be able to supplement the technology and equipment needs for our school. A special thank you goes to Principal Bob Webber, VicePrincipal Dianne Porter-Lord and STREAM Director Blair David, who have been instrumental in coordinating efforts to achieve the vision at St. Frederick High School. In closing, we encourage all alumni and friends of St. Frederick High School to come by the school and see the tremendous progress that has been made. While SFHS has received a facelift, the same Warrior tradition, pride and family is still very much alive!

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Family. Style. King Stubbs-Designed Georgian Home in the Heart of Monroe

OMETIMES A HOME SEARCH CAN make you feel just like Goldilocks. This one’s too big. That one’s too far out of town. Then the perfect home hits the market, and suddenly you’ve found the home that is just right for you. Frances Cox of John Rea Realty has recently listed just such a home at 1500 Emerson Street in the heart of North Monroe. Designed by celebrated architect King Stubbs, this perfectly-proportioned, red brick Georgian home is sited beautifully on the corner of Emerson and Hawthorn. The neighborhood is one of the quietest and most idyllic, where children spend their days riding bikes and playing with friends. No wonder this is one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Monroe. Perfect for a growing family, the home features five spacious bedrooms and three full baths and over 3811 square feet of living space that has been totally updated. Professionally decorated with light, custom paint colors which were coordinated by local designer Virginia Haddad, the home exudes a calming air which is heightened by the abundance of windows allowing for rooms bathed in natural light. The current homeowners updated their kitchen by painting the existing Key Millwork cabinets a luminous shade of white. The kitchen is a chef’s dream with Sub-Zero refrigeration, three unique freezer drawers, a Viking gas range, as well as a built-in microwave and additional wall oven. You’ll never run out of cooking

34 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

options in this kitchen! Countertops are a lustrous Carrera marble. An oversized island with multiple electrical outlets and many drawers for easy storage is illuminated by a two-drum fixture. The homeowners opened the den up to the kitchen and breakfast area and replaced all the flooring with beautiful hardwoods, creating a harmonious flow throughout the public spaces of the home. The entire back of the home is a bank of windows, allowing light to flood the space and views of the New Orleans-style courtyard. The formal living room features floor to ceiling windows and an original fireplace that anchors the room. Hardwood floors again create continuity throughout the space. In the formal dining room, an elegant Chinoiserie wallpaper on a pale blue background sets the tone for holiday get-togethers and fun dinner parties with friends. The home’s generous master suite is a study in serene colors and comfortable amenities. A large fireplace with a brick hearth and Georgian mantle anchors one end of the room, which features a parquet hardwood floor, reminiscent of European interiors. The en suite master bath features his and hers sinks, enormous closets and built-ins and a relaxing sauna. The three bedrooms occupied currently by the homeowner’s young children are roomy and feature hardwood floors and beautiful Roman shades or panels over windows. Upstairs, the attic space has been

transformed into a fifth bedroom with a full bath, which could double as office space. If you can imagine yourself in this gorgeous, one-of-a-kind space, call Frances Cox or your realtor for your own private viewing of 1500 Emerson. 5 bedrooms. 3 baths. 3811 square feet. $564,900. Frances Cox has been selling real estate for over 28 years. She began her career in real estate at John Rea Realty and has remained there because of the unique culture of the office. Says Frances, “John is a leader in our industry and stays up with the national trends. I love what I do as I meet the nicest people.” Known for her ability to match families with the homes of their dreams, Frances says, “It’s fun when you see them years later and they are still happy. I have several families to whom I have sold over six properties. It is a compliment when a client returns over and over again. Many of my clients I consider close friends and know they can always stop by for a visit.” Says Frances of why she loves her job, “Everyday my job changes. And you meet a wide range of people. They may be different but they all have the same needs. A safe comfortable home for their family.” Let Frances Cox help you find the home that is just right for you. 318.791.9347

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

NOW OFFERING DERMAPLANING

WHAT IS DERMAPLANING?

Dermaplaning is a simple and safe procedure for ex-foliating the epidermis and ridding the skin of ﬁne vellus hair (peach fuzz), with NO DOWN TIME.

IS DERMAPLANING THE SAME AS DERMABRASION? When patients hear the word Dermaplaning, they quickly associate the term with the procedure known as Dermabrasion, and won’t even consider it as a possible treatment. Dermabrasion is a medical procedure in which the skin is abraded down to the dermis using a whisk-like device. There are many complications associated with Dermabrasion, including infections and scarring, which is why it is not commonly used anymore. Dermaplaning, on the other hand, is a simple shaving of the epidermis.

BENEFITS OF DERMAPLANING: Physical ex-foliation triggers the cell regeneration process and allows products to better penetrate skin. Dermaplaning is also excellent to rid the face of excess fine hairs which can often accumulate dirt and oil. Contrary to popular belief, vellus hairs, as opposed to terminal hair, will not grow back thicker or darker. Microdermabrasion, which also physically ex-foliates skin, does not remove vellus hair. Ex-foliation of dead cells along with the removal of fine hairs results in healthier, brighter skin that has a smoother look and feel. Many physicians recommend this treatment to prepare the skin for medical procedures such as laser treatments or deep chemical peels. It also may be used by estheticians to prepare the skin for superficial chemical peels or before a cleansing facial. Dermaplaning is most often used on patients with rough, dry skin, superficial hyper-pigmentation, mild acne scarring, or fine lines and wrinkles. The treatment results in a more refined, smooth, “glowing” appearance. The procedure can be done every 3- 4 weeks. Blading the skin actually removes about 2 to 3 weeks worth of dead skin cells. MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY!

4 0 7 D E S I AR D STR E E T | MO NROE | 318.651.8088 | RA INDOW NTO W N.COM

BayouTrends

This Valentine’s Day is red haute with these simmering gifts from local merchants. From hot sauce to hot looks, we’ve got you covered.

3 4

2 10 11

8 9

12 14

22 18 25 27

23 24 19

20 21 1. HAIK HUMBLE EYE CENTER 2. THE FASHION POST 3. RAIN THE SALON 4. LOUISIANA PURCHASES 5. THE CHILDREN’S SHOPPE 6. BEAU MONDE BOUTIQUE 7. K-SERA BOUTIQUE 8. FIESTA NUTRITION CENTER 9. DUCK AND DRESSING 10. THURMAN’S FOOD FACTORY AND GIFTS 11. HOLLIS AND COMPANY JEWELERS 12. HERRINGSTONE’S 13. THE FASHION OF RUSTON 14. MATERIAL THINGS 15. THE STORK’S NEST 16. VIEUX CARRE MARKET 17. SUE PAPERIE 18. DEBBIE’S HALLMARK 19. SPA NOUVELLE/DERMA MEDIQ 20. NEW ATTITUDE HAIR DESIGN AND BOUTIQUE LACOUR 21. PEARCE PHARMACY 22. LINCOLN OUTDOOR LIVING 23. SLEEPY HOLLOW FURNITURE 24. HOPKINS DERMATOLOGY 25. PAUL MICHAEL COMPANY 26. ABSOLUTELY ABIGAILS 27. THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE 38 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Recognizing American Heart Month Glenwood Heart and Vascular Institute

EBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. Glenwood recognizes the need for comprehensive heart care, from diagnostic and intervention to rehabilitation and prevention. For this reason, we are the provider of some of the most advanced cardiac care in our region. We are also the local cause sponsor for the Go Red for Women movement that works to educate women about the risks of heart disease so they can lead healthier lives. Our non-invasive cardiology labs, cath labs, surgical suite, 64-slice CT Scanner, hybrid OR, telemetry unit, CV-ICU, DVT Clinic and surgeon’s clinic are all located on one floor within the hospital. The proximity and comprehensiveness of these services ensures a high quality of care. DIAGNOSTIC CARDIOLOGY Many patients first come to Glenwood for diagnostic testing. Diagnostic testing performed by qualified technologists at Glenwood include: • • • • • • • •

EKG – (Echocardiogram) Stress Tests Heartview Scans Holter Monitoring Nuclear Cardiology Cardiac Catheterization Rhythm Disorders Pacemakers and Defibrillators

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY Our interventional cardiology program is dedicated to the non-surgical management of patients with cardiac and peripheral vascular disorders. Our physicians perform the following procedures:

40 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

• • • • • •

Carotid Stenting Coronary Angioplasty and Stenting Coronary Angioscopy Clot Removal for Heart and Vascular Blockages Peripheral Arterial Angioplasty and Stenting Renal Artery Stenting

CARDIAC REHABILITATION Glenwood’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit offers customized programs including exercise, nutrition, education and support groups designed to help heart patients become independent, self-assured and able to resume normal daily activities. ACCREDITED CYCLE IV CHEST PAIN CENTER When you’re having a heart attack, where you choose to go for treatment could be one of the most critical decisions of your life. Cycle IV accreditation is the highest rating a Chest Pain Care facility can earn. Glenwood earned it by demonstrating expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria. Using STEMI protocols, Glenwood’s door to balloon times for transported STEMI patients is significantly reduced to give them the best chance of survival. ANGIOSCREEN MOBILE UNIT Glenwood’s AngioScreen Mobile Unit provides painless, inexpensive and non-invasive screening that usually takes only 10 minutes. AngioScreens provide participants with immediate information about their circulation, risk of heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and stroke. For more information about Glenwood’s comprehensive heart services, visit us online at www.grmc.com.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Four Seasons Excursions Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo BY JENNIFER SCHMEER

HE ADVENTURE BEGINS IN A SIMPLE, breezy airport in Liberia, Costa Rica. After landing in a dry climate with ocean temperatures averaging around 80 degrees, the air felt refreshing and the energy is flowing.

Day 1: Arriving in Costa Rica...Pura Vida! Upon arrival, I am greeted by the Four Seasons staff, with a smile and a private, black SUV, waiting to whisk me away to the property, which lies on the peninsula of Papagayo, overlooking two perfect beaches. Entering through the private, gated peninsula past the marina and the 18-hole golf course, among the coconut trees and monkeys swinging from the trees, we arrive at the Four Seasons of Costa Rica. Above the Pacific Ocean, I am greeted with warm faces, cocktails and appetizers. The resort holds 182 guest rooms including 34 suites, 25 villas and three newly renovated estate homes. You can feel the warm breeze gliding over the peninsula through the open design. With four pools overlooking two beaches, the resort seems as if it was created within the hillside. Private residences feature plunge pools and magnificent views, providing the ultimate luxury experience. There are plenty of things to do in Costa Rica for all ages and the Four Seasons of Costa Rica provides activities during the day and night, both of which will inspire your inner Robinson Crusoe. A kayaking tour out to Monkey Head, zip lining adventure at Witch’s Rock and horseback riding are just a few to choose from. Dinner is served at the Latin inspired Sol 42 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Y Sombra restaurant with panoramic ocean views under the stars. The menu features a land to sea concept with fresh, sustainable items such as chicken and seafood, cooked in a traditional South American style on a rotisserie. My personal favorites are the made to order ceviche bar and the live music. Day 2: Yachting Fantasy! The staff of the Four Seasons can take care of any wish and whim, including making arrangements to spend the day on MoonStone, a 62-foot yacht sailed by Captain Judd Dunham of Costa Rica Luxury Charters. Upon introduction, we discover our North Louisiana connection, as he graduated from my dear alma mater, ULM. Friendly crew and calm waters make for a wonderful day exploring the coast. We stopped to enjoy stand-up paddle boarding, swimming and even hopped on a small dingy excursion to explore a slow-moving river with mangroves. We boarded the yacht once more, just in time to view the performance of the jumping stingrays shooting out of the water. Pure joy! After a day of yachting, it is time for a little swim back at the resort, first in the pool and then in open water on both sides of the peninsula. The beaches have endless views lined with trees with happy monkeys swinging from limb to limb and exotic birds flying above. The water is just as perfect as the views, as I sipped on my protein shake from the Surf Shack on Playa Blanca Beach. Ending the evening at the open-air terrace at Cena Sociale restaurant, an Italian kitchen and wine bar serving a variety of Italian and

seafood creations at the resort, I am excited to see what the next day will bring. Day 3: More adventures please! Starting the day off with golf sounds like a perfect way to begin the day, especially when you are so close to one of the best courses in South America. This course is ranked among the “Top 100 Courses Outside the United States” by Golf Digest and is something to behold. With views of the ocean and a course designed by Arnold Palmer, I am inspired to try something different. After the golf game, the staff at the Four Seasons arranged for an afternoon horseback riding tour of Witch’s Rock, which provided countless photo opportunities from cliff top perspectives. Day 4: Departing paradise is hard! Prior to my departure, I wanted to experience a spa treatment and the resort boasted a holistic experience inspired by nature, provided by some of the finest massage therapists in the world. The spa experience at the Four Seasons in Costa Rica did not disappoint and it was the best gift I could have given myself. With a black SUV waiting for me, I wasn’t ready to leave Costa Rica, but knew that I would return one day, as there were still many adventures to be had. I am excited about my next Four Seasons stop along my global travels, In order to plan my next voyage, I always visit the Four Seasons website - FourSeasons.com - to pick my next destination! Safe travels and I’ll be back to share yet another adventure with you!

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Neville High School College Awareness Night Set for Thursday, February 11

GOOGLE SEARCH FOR “COST OF COLLEGE” WILL result in over 26,000,000 results. “College admission requirements” nets 168,000. What are the nuggets of information that can most assist students and their parents as they prepare for post-secondary education plans and wade through the glut of resources? Concerned parents can pursue the answer to this question when Neville High School hosts its annual College Awareness Night on Thursday, February 11 at 6 p.m. Topics will include financial options for post-secondary education, admissions requirements and course offerings for selective universities, local universities, community colleges, and vocational/technical colleges and the Taylor Opportunity Program Scholarship (TOPS). Representatives from state and regional higher education institutions will be on hand, as well as Neville Student Services professionals, Laura Bryan, Dorothy Thomas and Chris Waters, to help families make sense of all the course offerings and options available. Each year, Miriam Hinchliffe, event coordinator, works to schedule the most meaningful sessions and to invite institutions and their representatives with the most impact on seniors and underclassmen. Partnering with ULM, Louisiana Delta Community College, and Louisiana Technical College, Neville High School leads the region with dual enrollment options available on campus. Dual enrollment coordinator Kyle Gregory says, “Taking dual enrollment classes saves parents money (dual enrollment courses are less expensive than courses offered at the university) and gives students the ability to graduate college in fewer than four years. In some cases, this allows students to work on a master’s degree while they still have TOPS.” Accountability Specialist Clementine Lockhart will facilitate a session at College Awareness Night outlining dual enrollment requirements, as well as the pros and cons of pursuing these college credits. Brett Lemoine, a Neville faculty member and father of a recent graduate, says, “I highly recommend that our students take advantage of the dual enrollment program offered at Neville High School. My son, TJ Lemoine, enrolled at LSU last fall with 41 hours from dual enrollment classes. After the fall semester of college, he is already a sophomore and his advisor said he could graduate in three years.”

44 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

In addition to the rigorous academic programming and postsecondary institutions that will be presented, parents and students will have the opportunity to look at options available through Neville High School’s JumpStart initiative. For the last three years, high schools around the state have begun implementation of this innovative approach to preparing students for high-demand, highwage occupations in Louisiana and around the world. Through JumpStart, students pursue specific majors, or pathways, in addition to traditional academic content. Beginning in freshmen year, students are able to participate in elective courses that prepare them for job internships, vocational or on-the-job training, as well as two- or four-year universities. According to Matt Dickerson, one of Neville’s lead teachers of JumpStart courses, “The programs within Jumpstart are not designed for a certain group of students; instead they are customized to help cultivate interests in career choices for ALL students post-secondary. Neville offers specific courses that compliment a student’s chosen major and allow students to earn Industry Based Credentials, developed by companies in our area and around the nation. Therefore, we are able to teach our students skills that will put them further ahead at the completion of high school than ever before. This is truly an exciting time in education and we are looking forward to continuing our mission of inspiring, educating, and motivating students to achieve excellence and become productive citizens through the Jumpstart program.” Today’s high school graduates face stringent requirements as they compete against students from across the nation for not only admission into colleges and university, but also scholarship dollars. However, they also have expanded opportunities for a wide-variety of careers that don’t necessarily require a college diploma but some other training program. High school students may not realize that taking one course over another could make a significant difference in the number of options available to them. This event is an effort to keep Monroe’s students and their parents well-informed and prepared.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Brandin and Herring

egan Ann Herring and Whitney Ray Brandin exchanged marriage vows on the twentieth of June, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Monroe, Louisiana with Reverend Chris Winterman officiating. Megan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Herring, Jr. of Bastrop. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Hyland Nelson of Monroe and the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Herring of Lake Providence. Whitney is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Corbin Turpin of West Monroe and Mr. Max Brandin of Monroe. He is the grandson of Mrs. Hazel Ray and the late Mr. Roy E. Ray and the late Mr. and Mrs. Elmus Brandin all of Monroe. Megan is a graduate of Ouachita Christian School and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She is currently employed as a teacher by First United Methodist Church Pre-School. Whitney is a graduate of Ouachita High

School and is employed by CFM Enterprises as Regional Supervisor. Escorted by her father, the bride wore a Watters classic washed silk ivory organza, full A-line gown with modified sweetheart neckline. The gown featured a soft tiered skirt with chapel train and an exquisite hand-beaded lace motif belt. She carried a hand tied bouquet of coral roses, berries and baby’s breath finished in ivory silk ribbon. Amanda McDuff, sister of the bride, served as Matron of Honor. Bridesmaids were Jaime Herring, Abi Nelson, Lori Domonkos and Jodi Bower. Junior bridesmaids were Livia McKnight, Mary Madison McDuff and Sophie Domonkos. The bridesmaids wore mint green chiffon floor length gowns by Bill Levkoff. Olivia Clare Copes was flower girl. Participating as Reader was Joei Brown. Serving as the best man was Casey McGrew. Groomsmen were Scott Domonkos, Morgan Decelle,

46 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Dustin Sackman and Hyland Herring. Junior Groomsman was John Scott Domonkos. Max Herring served as ring bearer. Ushers were Ryan Dzurny and Chris Esswein. A reception at the Vantage Tower Ballroom followed the ceremony. Before entering the ballroom, guest’s attention was brought to the sideboard on which a floral arrangement of green gladiolas, peach and coral roses in a crystal vase accompanied a portrait of the bride in her gown wearing her maternal grandmother’s wedding shoes. Tables throughout the ballroom were covered with white floor length cloths and coral organza overlays. Centering each table was a white urn of coral roses, green hydrangea and baby’s breath. All floral arrangements were created by friends of the bride’s mother. This held a special meaning to Megan. As the youngest daughter of these friends, Megan grew up helping with other’s weddings and

dreamed of these special women being a part of her wedding day. The bride’s cake was a tiered confection upon a silver plateau accented with fresh roses. The table was covered in an antique cloth given to her by her grandmother. The groom’s table was popular with all the guests displaying pennants from his favorite sports teams, popcorn, buckets of candy and a Saints cake of chocolate confection. Guests enjoyed a buffet of Louisiana cuisine by Chef Ben Thompson. Family and friends danced the night away to the music of the Josh Madden Band. The selection of music, chosen by the bride and groom, added to the good times had by all. A rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s parents the Friday before the wedding at the Lotus Club. After a honeymoon in Punta Cana, the couple has made their home in Monroe. Photography by JAK Photography.

A Gathering of Gifts and Gardening Junior League of Monroe Presents Spring Market 2016

PRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND FAST approaching is the Junior League of Monroe’s Spring Market. The 18th annual Spring Market is sponsored by Origin Bank. Friday, March 18, 2016, the Market opens at 8:30 a.m. with the classic event, “Shop ‘Til You Drop!,” sponsored by The Mulhearn Corporation, LLC. This exclusive event is $30.00 a ticket and features a champagne brunch catered by The Coffee Bean, with entertainment by Rod Allen Payne, and extended shopping until 5:00 p.m. General shopping is open to the public on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun!” Spring Market’s signature event, sponsored by Progressive Bank, kicks off at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening. It includes catering by Thurman’s Food Factory, entertainment by Mike McKenzie, door prizes, preferred shopping, and of course, everyone’s favorite, “Market-ritas.” Tickets for this event are $40. On Saturday, the Market is open for general shopping at 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. General shopping tickets are $6 in advance, and $8 at the door. Please note that no strollers are allowed during any Spring Market, due to space constraints and crowd control. The third annual Breakfast with the Bunnies, sponsored by The Paper Market, is a special time for the whole family to enjoy. This event features a light breakfast, a visit from Peter Cottontail, story time, balloons, children’s activities and live bunnies and chicks. Albritton’s Photography will take adorable photos that feature your children with live bunnies. Portrait packages will be available for purchase. There will be two Breakfast with the Bunnies seatings on Saturday, March 19. The first seating will be at 8:30 a.m. and the second seating at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are available for $20 per family and includes one general shopping pass. The Junior League’s Provisional Member class of 2015-2016 is taking pride in hosting this event. Each year, the Junior League of Monroe features a raffle for Spring Market as a way to increase fundraising efforts. This year our raffle is brand new and exciting! ($10,000 Home Makeover) The Junior League of Monroe has partnered with Sleepy Hollow

48 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Furniture and HGTV to bring you a home makeover: Customized HGTV Line Furniture, accessories to complete the Home Makeover and personal Sleepy Hollow assistance. Tickets are only $20. Money raised by the Junior League of Monroe strictly stays in Ouachita Parish and supports various activities throughout the community! We encourage you to help support our local community by purchasing a ticket to be entered to win a home makeover! The winner will be announced towards the close of Market on Sunday, March 20! The Junior League of Monroe is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Since 1930, members have devoted countless volunteer hours to meet the needs of the people and organizations of our community. Spring Market serves as one of the major fundraisers for the Junior League of Monroe. • “Families Can’t Wait”, a program that provides a hospital- based primary prevention plan for at-risk mothers and has a positive impact on the health of infants. • “Tools and Literacy for Children (TLC)” is a community outreach program that addresses the overall needs of at-risk children and families and focuses on the physical, emotional, and educational needs of a selected area elementary school and students. • “Education Task Force” a committee committed to helping education in our community. We give grants to area teachers and help sponsor the area scholars banquet. • This only names a few of the outreach programs that are operated through the Junior League of Monroe, giving purpose to your purchase of a ticket. Tickets for all Spring Market activities can be purchased by a member or by visiting the League House, located at 2811 Cameron Street in Monroe, between 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Please join us and experience Spring Market’s Gathering of Gifts and Gardening at the Monroe Civic Center from March 1820, 2016. We look forward to seeing you at the Market!

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

All of Life’s Special Occasions Love is in the Air at Sue Paperie First Comes Love During the month of February, love is in the air and Sue Paperie has all things Valentine’s Day. Forget boring and basic when it comes to cards for your kids to pass out at school. This local paper specialty shop has a variety of themes for the kiddos to give to their classmates – from pirates and monster trucks for the boys and owls and ladybugs for the girls. Some even include temporary tattoo cards to add an extra element. There are also cookie cutters in heart shapes, notepads and a wide assortment of cards for that special somebody. However, the love doesn’t stop there. Sue Paperie has been in business for over a year and is quickly becoming known as a one-stop shop for all of life’s special occasions. Then Comes Marriage After a suitor has wooed his love with the variety of handmade or letterpress cards from Sue Paperie, they pop the big question. Which leads to a variety of other questions – Have you set a date? Who will be in your wedding party? Where will you live? And the stationery shop has everything you need to get you down the aisle. First, every bride has to have a plan and the “Instant Wedding Planner Book” can help you get started. From setting a budget to selecting colors, this book will help you stay organized and on track. Once you set a date, you can use Sue Paperie to design and print all of your stationery from 50 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Save the Date cards to showers and parties to the wedding invitations. Some favorite lines include Crane, Bella Figura and Anna Griffin. When it comes to including the special people in your life on your special day, you want to do better than sending a text message. Sue Paperie features adorable cards to present to bridesmaids and flower girls, asking them to be a part of your wedding party. And while some may say you have up to a year to write your thank you notes for shower and wedding gifts, you will want to do so right away with the stunning stationery from Sue Paperie. These notes will let your friends and family know just how special they are to you. After the I-Do’s, the brides last name isn’t the only thing that changes. Often times, her address does too. With a line of custom and pre-designed styles of return address stamps, Sue Paperie can make sure you transition in style. If you know someone getting ready for their big day, Sue Paperie has a variety of gift options. A set of Mr. and Mrs. wine glasses would be the perfect touch to their new home together. A gift they will remember through the years is the Newlywed Deluxe set, a keepsake box and memory book. Then comes the baby in the baby carriage After the confetti settles and you are home from the honeymoon, there is one

more question that is asked – when are you having kids? When that day comes and the stork arrives with a bundle of joy, Sue Paperie is there with everything you need. They have options when it comes baby shower invitations, or you can bring in something you like and they can design and print it for you. You will want to keep up with the progress your little one is making and the Baby’s First Year box set is just the way to do so with milestone marker cards. You can welcome the new baby with a beautiful keepsake birth certificate. It makes an adorable decorative addition to baby’s nursery and will certainly be a memorable and timeless keepsake for years to come. As your children grow, so do your options for gifts. Sue Paperie offers gift items from newborn to school age including Melissa and Doug puzzles, stickers, books and notepads. No matter what stage of life you are in, you can be stylish and coordinated with the Jon Hart Design line from Sue Paperie. This line features personalized, handcrafted items, including luggage, travel accessories, handbags, sporting goods, and business and executive gifts all of which come in a variety of contemporary coated canvas, leather or Texas Mink fabrics. Whether you’re looking for that perfect gift, unique holiday present, lifestyle accessory, or special sports and hunting season musthaves, there is something to complement your lifestyle.

Cox and Goudeau

laire Helene Goudeau and Joshua Almon Cox were united in marriage Saturday, December 19, 2015, at three o’clock in the afternoon at The Bridge Community Church, Ruston, Louisiana, with Mr. James Skinner, officiating. Claire is the daughter of Mark and Jill Goudeau, of Marion, Louisiana, and the granddaughter of Rodney and Marilyn Binford of Marion, Louisiana, and Joseph Willy and Judy Goudeau of St. Francisville, Louisiana. Josh is the son of Lori and Glenn Almon Cox of Bossier City, Louisiana and grandson of Ruth Cox and the late Bill Almon Cox of Overland Park, Kansas, and Vee and Merlin Rieser of Bossier City, Louisiana. Escorted by her father, the bride wore a gown by David Tutera for Mon Cheri Sybil. The gown consisted of sleeveless hand-beaded lace, point d’Espirit and organza in a modified mermaid style with front and back V-necklines, plunging V-back finished with covered

buttons, detailed corded lace appliqued bodice with dropped waistline, point d’Espirit skirt with matching beaded lace appliques cascading down to the hemline and chapel length train. Claire carried a bouquet of blush and cream roses, peonies and orchids. Attending as Matron of Honor was Taylor Lee Goudeau of Denham Springs, and as Maids of Honor were Ciarra Brooke Humble of Houston and the bride’s sister, Lily Caroline Goudeau of Marion, LA. Bridesmaids were Allison Marie Cox, Pensacola, FL; Kaila Wildes, Shreveport; Erin Fisher, Bossier City; and Holly Dempsey, Shreveport. The attendants wore beaded taupe gowns. They carried bouquets fashioned after the bride’s. The flower girl was Loren McDaniel of Breaux Bridge and the Ring Bearer was Blake Waits of Ruston. Music for the ceremony was provided by James Denver Booth on the piano. Beau Stuckey of Ruston,

52 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Louisiana and Evan Goudeau of Marion, LA served as Best Men. Groomsmen were Garrett Guy, Tyler, TX; Ian Arnott, Ruston; Andy Baldwin, Baton Rouge; Thomas Hayward, Monroe; and Stone Burrelson, Ruston. The groom and his attendants wore traditional black Vera Wang tuxedos. Wedding guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the reception held at The Barn on Pipes Road in Choudrant. A traditional bridal cake with layers of red velvet, Italian cream, pink champagne, strawberry and vanilla were served for dessert, as was a groom’s cake of red velvet. The Gnarly Brothers entertained guests throughout the evening. Arrangements of hydrangeas, roses and orchids adorned the tables in tall, clear vases. A rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s parents at the Ruston Country Club. The couple was also treated to a couples’ shower, bridal showers, an engagement party and a bridal

tea in the months approaching the wedding day. The bride is a graduate of Ouachita Christian School. She attends Louisiana Tech University where she is a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority and pursuing a B.S. degree in Animal Science. The groom is a graduate of Cedar Creek High School. While obtaining his B.S. degree from Louisiana Tech University in Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Josh was a member of the Louisiana Tech Track Team and Sigma Nu Fraternity. He is now employed with Fiberbonds in Minden, LA. Following their honeymoon to St. Lucia, the couple is now home in Ruston. Photography by Megan Mechelle Photography.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

54 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

hang rods in your closet, the three-shelf hanging organizers would be perfect, and if you have all long hang rods, the six-shelf organizers would be perfect. 5. Add a double-hang rod if needed. If you have one long-hang bar in your closet, then this tip is for you! The addition of a double-hang rod will immediately increase your hanging space and it is perfect for your tops! I’ve even hung purses off of them before, so use your imagination and make the most of the space you have!! You can purchase the double-hang rods from Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, or, if you prefer shopping from home, Amazon! 6. Use organizing bins, but label them! As a professional organizer, I LOVE bins and baskets, but have found that once an item goes into a bin or basket, it has a tendency to be forgotten. An efficient way to keep up with stored belongings is to label each bin. You can make the label fit your color scheme and preferences by creating or finding a design online and then printing it. Baskets are great for housing out-of-season items, but they can also hold everyday pieces such as hats, socks, camisoles, etc.

ask erin

How to Organize Your Closet Like a Professional BY ERIN LOVE

magine starting and ending your day in a well-organized closet that holds endless outfit opportunities. You would never waste time or energy looking for a lost item, and you would save money because your need for impromptu purchases would be nullified. This sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Oh, but it’s not! I create these spaces for clients on a regular basis, and I am about to let you in on all of my secrets. I hope you enjoy! 1. Change all of your hangers to matching hangers. If you incorporate only one of my suggestions into your own closet, this should be the one! Changing your hangers so they all match makes an immediate difference in the look and feel of your closet, and you will be able store more clothes because mismatched hangers will no longer be fighting for space. When I organize a closet, I prefer to use heavy-duty, clear, plastic hangers like the ones you typically find in a boutique. *Tip – I also suggest purchasing rubber grips for these hangers. The grips will help hold on to wide-neck blouses and strappy tanks or camisoles that are prone to fall off. 2. Organize like with like and in color order. In other words, all tops should hang together, in color order, and all bottoms should hang together in color order. I prefer to organize from lightest to darkest, but if you prefer the opposite, go ahead!! Also, in this same vein, I suggest separating any matching pieces (suits, etc.) as it helps you consider them when mixing and matching. Just remember to launder the matching pieces together so they fade at the same pace. 3. Organize your shoes by alternating the direction of each one. I prefer the right shoe toe forward and the left shoe heel forward, but again, go with your own preference. This method typically allows for one more pair of shoes on each shelf, plus you will be able to tell the heel height of each shoe in one glance! 4. Create some sort of division in your closet. For instance, I love using sweater organizers to divide shirts and pants. This division helps break up the monotony of full lines of clothing, and it helps create vertical organization space. The sweater organizers can be used to house sweaters, of course, but I also put jeans, shoes, purses, etc. in them! If you have double

56 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

7. Help your boots and purses maintain their shape by stuffing them. Of course, there are organizing products that have been made specifically for this, but if you want to save money by using something you probably already have in your house, I have a few ideas! I have used everything from newspaper, magazines and tissue paper to water and wine bottles to stuff boots! For purses, I typically get a gallon zip-lock bag and stuff it with tissue paper or newspaper and then place it inside each purse. Using a ziplock makes the stuffing easy to remove when you want to use the bag. 8. Use the “hanger trick” to help you decide what to keep and what to toss. The “hanger trick” is a tool I use to help my clients realize when it is time to let a clothing item go. To use this trick, turn all of your hangers backwards on your rods. When you want to wear something, return the hanger to its original position. After one full month, notice which hangers are still turned around backwards. Those are the items that should get special attention now. Perhaps you will make sure to use them in an upcoming outfit, or you will decide to get rid of them. Either way, the hanger trick pays off. 9. Use the two-year rule instead of the one-year rule! Some professional organizers suggest that you should get rid of anything that you haven’t worn in one year, but I think that two years is a better estimate of when an item has passed its prime. 10. Figure out how to make use of all available vertical space. The amount of vertical space that is unused in most closets is astounding!! You can see so many opportunities to go vertical if you take a little time to study the space. One solution might be to use those sweater organizers previously mentioned or you can add extenders to all available shelf space. Consider the picture provided – notice the shoe shelves that are both on the top shelf and in the floor space. These shelves can be used for much more than shoes if you already have enough shoe space (but what girl does?). 11. Treat your closet as you would any other room in your home and personalize it! This is one of my number one tips because it makes such a huge difference in the look and feel of a closet. Add pictures, a rug, a plant or anything else that you like. 12. Create a boutique-like atmosphere by incorporating mannequins and busts. Mannequins and busts are perfect for displaying jewelry and scarves! Take inspiration from your favorite boutique and then create your own little nook! They don’t have to be used inside the closet, by the way. Make a space just outside of the closet if you don’t have enough room inside. Ladies, it’s time to create the closet you’ve always dreamed of! You can do it! OR if you feel overwhelmed, email me at erinlove@panachebyerin.com!

Advance Your Education eULM Fulfills Education Goals

IM COTITA, OF MONROE, IS A man of many talents. He received his associate’s degree in Nursing in 1980. After graduating, he worked in many diverse clinical areas such as intensive care, surgery, dialysis and home health. It was while working in home health that he discovered his second passion–starting businesses. For the next eleven years he established, obtained licensure for and managed a home health agency. Following that position, Cotita took a position as Director of Marketing at a home health agency. Throughout this time, he was led to study courses in theology to become an ordained Catholic minister. All of these passions served as the stimulus for starting up the Diabetes and Nutrition Outpatient Clinic for St. Francis Community Health Center, which he managed for six years. During that time he made the next step in his education by attending the University of Louisiana Monroe’s online RN to BSN program. ULM’s online RN to BSN is designed to give working diploma or associate degree registered nurses the opportunity to advance to the next level of their education. This 100 percent online program provides flexibility to working RN’s. Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; this is faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will occur for a number of reasons, including an increased emphasis on preventative care; growing rates of chronic conditions, such 58 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

as diabetes and obesity, and demand for healthcare services from the baby boomer population, as they live longer and more active lives. Associate and diploma degree nurses can become a RN when they pass the NCLEX-RN. Obtaining the BSN opens doors for these RN’s by allowing them to return to school to become nurse educators, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and much more. For example, after completing his BSN in 2011 from ULM, Cotita went back and obtained his Master of Science in Health Care Ethics. Since 2012, he has been employed as the Regional Ethicist for St. Francis Medical Center/Our Lady of Angels Hospitals. “I had taken traditional classes here and there, but when I read about the online program’s availability, I realized it would coordinate with my work schedule so much better,” Cotita stated. However, he would be the first to tell you that the online route is not easy. “I think that a lot of people assume because a program is online that it is a ‘diploma mill’ in which you just pay for the courses and walk away with a degree,” he said. “It’s not like that. You have a lot of interaction with your professors, the same professors as you would have in a traditional nursing course, so it is a very hands-on educational experience. At least, that’s the way it has been at ULM.” The Kitty DeGree School of Nursing and the eULM nursing faculty take pride in the ability to offer a flexible, rigorous program for Associate or Diploma RN’s that prepares the student to move on to the next

level in their career. The recommendations nationwide are to increase the educational levels of nurses to ensure that the public has a well-rounded, competent graduate providing for their healthcare needs. The School of Nursing is assisting by providing this online program, which ensures the students meet the same rigorous standards employed within the traditional program while offering the flexibility of online classes. Cotita recognizes the power of education as an opportunity to improve himself. “Getting the BSN made me a better nurse,” he stated. Applicants for the RN to BSN online degree must meet the following criteria: • Graduate from a state-approved and nationally accredited diploma or associate degree nursing program (CNEA, ACEN) • Currently hold an unencumbered unrestricted RN license to practice prior to admittance into the professional program • Have a minimum corrected, cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all required pre-nursing courses (excluding grades earned in developmental education courses). If you are interested in applying to this program or would like additional information about other eULM programs, please call (318) 342-3347. Visit our website at ULM.edu/eULM to discover your degree options.

Derma MediQ and Spa Nouvelle The Perfect Gift for Your Valentine This Year

ERMA MEDIQ/SPA NOUVELLE HAVE EXCITING things on the horizon. The staff is extremely excited about 2016. The beginning of the year is a time of renewing and taking care of ourselves and loved ones. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it is a great time to focus on our health and wellness. It is hard to believe that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. While there are so many caring things you can do for the special people in your life, giving them a gift card for pampering at the spa should be at the top of the list. Treat your Valentine this year to something that will make them feel special and provide relaxation… the best gift of all. Derma MediQ/Spa Nouvelle has grown to be a thriving medi-spa and day spa. The experienced staff at Spa Nouvelle has created a serene and peaceful setting with all the luxuries and amenities of a full service day spa. They offer the benefit of Dr. Sowma-Fahkre a few steps away for all your skincare needs. Spa Nouvelle is staffed with two licensed aestheticians: Wendy Newsom and Drew Farr, three licensed massage therapists: Ana Hale (Lic. # 1423), Jeanette Barron (Lic. # 0773) and Mary Beth Dickerson (Lic. # 4641) and one licensed nail technician: Kelly Griffin. The staff at Derma MediQ creates a very professional and nurturing environment. Dr. Sowma- Fahkre offers free initial consultations to all of her clients. Dr. Sowma-Fahkre is Board Certified in Aesthetic Medicine by the AAAM. She takes time with each client, listening as the client describes what they envision for their desired result. Dr. Sowma-Fahkre is passionate about creating great results and prides herself on achieving a natural look for her patients. Clients constantly compliment to Dr. Sowma-Fahkre that everyone “sees” that they look good but no one can “tell” what has been done. Derma MediQ offers many noninvasive aesthetic procedures such as Botox, Juvederm, Artefill, Radiesse, Obaji Blue Peel and Photofacials. These are just a few of the services Dr. Sowma60 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Fahkre offers at Derma MediQ. For a full list of services visit their website at dermamediq.com. The staff at Spa Nouvelle can work with all types of groups from a three person birthday party to a six person bridal party with ease. The most popular service Spa Nouvelle offers is the spa day escape. This is an all inclusive spa package! The service begins with the client being escorted to her private serenity room and provided a luxurious robe. Ana, Jeanette or Mary Beth will prepare their massage room for an hour of pure relaxation. Once the client has experienced the talented hands of one of the massage therapist, they are then escorted only a few steps down the hall to either Drew or Wendy’s peaceful and cozy aesthetician room. The essential facial is just the beginning. Drew or Wendy will also give the client a full consultation and recommend any additional services or recommend a skin care regimen by SkinCeuticals. Once the client is relaxed and glowing she will be served a light lunch in her private serenity room. After lunch, Kelly will whisk her away to a bubbly pedicure soak. The spa pedicure is Kelly’s most popular service with the nourishing masque, nail and cuticle care, ending with perfectly polished and buffed nails. The spa day escape continues to be the number one gift certificate sold at Spa Nouvelle. Consider Derma MediQ/ Spa Nouvelle your Valentine’s Day headquarters. Whether you want to surprise your sweetheart with a spa day or one of their many services, or leave it up to her to decide, it’s up to you. Make it a yearly tradition to give the gift of relaxation. Derma MediQ and Spa Nouvelle is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

BAYOUBUZZWORTHY FLYING TIGER BREWERY

Flying Tiger Brewery is excited to welcome Monroe native Brooks Hamaker as its first brewmaster. Brooks brings a wealth of brewing knowledge and experience to Flying Tiger dating back 25 years when he was the brewmaster at Abita Brewing Company, Louisiana’s first craft brewery. Brooks developed some of Abita’s familiar flagship beers and eventually began a second career as a brewery startup consultant, with brewery projects in Mexico, Ireland, Hong Kong and across the Southeastern U.S. He recently oversaw the build-out of Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, NC and Blackjack Brewery in Raleigh, NC. Brooks is happy to be home and excited at the prospect of developing a craft brewery in Monroe. Says Hamaker, “I talked to several people a very long time ago about building a small brewery in Monroe and at the time, it just was not a great idea but I think now the time is right. So, here I am 25 years later, overseeing a build-out and startup in Monroe at Flying Tiger Brewery. Who woulda’ thunk it?” Flying Tiger Brewery is set to open in late spring.

ORNAMENTS FOR BRAYLON

In December, ten-year-old Kylie Christy of West Monroe raised $400 for Braylon Streetman. Fouryear-old Braylon, also from West Monroe, is recovering from a bone marrow transplant in his battle to beat DKC, an autoimmune disease. With the help of friends and family, Kylie created and sold nearly 80 hand-made anchor shaped ornaments. Braylon and his family are currently staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati, while he receives treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. For more information, check out facebook.com/braylonsjourney.

MISS KAY’S SWEETS AND EATS

Miss Kay Robertson will grace Antique Alley with her sweet treats this spring! Originally, Miss Kay and her oldest son, Alan, planned to open a bakery on Constitution Drive in West Monroe, next to the other family restaurant venture, Willie’s Duck Diner. However, they decided Trenton Street would be a better fit. Located at 401 Trenton Street, Miss Kay’s Sweets and Eats will feature her famous pies, homemade pralines, banana pudding and more. Get your sweet tooth ready as the location plans to open next month!

MR. P’S TEES

Local t-shirt company, Mr. P’s Tees, is not only known for their unique and original designs on comfy shirts, sweatshirts and tanks, but also for giving back to the community. Owners Lissy and Brent Compton have raised awareness and funds for a variety of causes with their shirts that give back. Their Pops the Dog shirt gave back to PAWS of NELA, a lemur design for the Louisiana Zoological Society and an airplane design for Pilots for Patients. Recently, Lissy designed a special shirt for Scott Caldwell, a local business owner, diagnosed with cancer in December. There were 286 shirts sold, and Mr. P’s Tees was able to present Scott with a check of nearly $5,000!

62 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

GO RED FOR WOMEN

Help women across America take charge of their health – in one doctor visit. A single Well-Woman Visit can give a head-to-heart-to-toe view of a woman’s overall health. Our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends are at risk. Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year – more than all cancers combined. Get informed about the risks of heart disease and stroke. Know the red flags. Know your heart health story.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

A Special Thank You

little over a year ago, we were living a perfectly normal but hectic life. My husband and I were raising an active and precocious two year old named Sam, and a new baby girl was expected in March. Life was good. Suddenly, Sam became unusually cranky and couldn’t be comforted. He was experiencing pain that could not be alleviated. Almost immediately our local pediatrician knew that something was significantly wrong. We were fortunate enough to be able to quickly get into St. Jude’s Children Hospital, and Sam was diagnosed with Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma. The news was devastating and life-altering. The prognosis hurtled us into a world that we had to struggle to comprehend, and it made some of a parent’s worst nightmares come true. The unknown was terrifying. Our son’s life was being threatened by a dangerous illness that would take an epic battle to help him survive. “This is not a sprint; it is a marathon. We are preparing for high school and college graduations.” These words from Dr. Furman, the solid tumor oncologist at St. Jude’s and creator of the NB2012 protocol for Neuroblastoma patients, echoed through our heads on a cold, dark night in November 2014. We couldn’t even fathom what we were facing, how we would handle it and where our strength would come from to tackle our son’s diagnosis. One thing we knew for sure was that this was going to be a long, painful ordeal that was going to test Sam’s strength and endurance and our ability to cope with a life threatening situation. What began to happen in our hometown communities in Louisiana and eventually all over the world was that our son became known for his contagious smile and his will to stay strong throughout anything that came his way. His hashtag (started by a former classmate and friend, Mims Boyce) became viral. #samstrong was taking over social media. We quickly found our strength would come straight from God. The continuous prayers from our communities at home were uplifting and helped us get through many painful and challenging treatments. A Facebook page for Sam (#samstrong) was created, and people started to flood our personal pages, sending their well wishes and prayers. A t-shirt campaign was started by a friend of the family, Katie Johnson. Soon the t-shirt company contacted us asking questions about who we

After a life-altering year of battling Neuroblastoma, three-year-old Sam Routon of West Monroe is now tumor free.

were because the amount of shirts sold was rising so quickly. We were and still are overwhelmed that over 6,500 shirts were sold.

hildren are amazingly resilient. After a year of battling horrendous childhood cancer, Sam is clear of tumors, and he is back to being the outgoing, happy child he was before the struggle began. This battle could not have been fought without the support of hundreds of friends, family members and medical personnel. St. Jude’s Children’s hospital is truly a blessing for any family that is facing cancer. Because of our community and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, we have been able to take care of Sam without the worry of expenses and many other day-to-day problems associated with this illness. We would like to thank the ER staff and the pediatric floor of Glenwood Regional Medical Center, especially Mr. Chad Shields. We would also like to thank Dr. Cindy Bimle and her staff. Without Dr. Bimle, we wouldn’t have gotten into St. Jude’s so quickly to get treatment for Sam. Dr. Bimle and her staff have also provided care for our sweet Graci Belle born in the midst of the storm. To the Woman’s Clinic and Dr. Lee, thank you for taking such great care of us and helping us get set up with a clinic in Memphis to help us deliver Graci Belle. Once again, thank you to our community and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for helping us through the hardest times of our life. Please continue to pray for Sam and our family.

– Jennifer and Drew Routon photos courtesy of St. Jude’s BME, Nikki Melder and Lindz Photography

Wig and Stache Bash Geneva Academy Hosts 4th Annual Event

S WINTER CLINGS WITH A TIGHTFISTED GRIP TO Louisiana, you can heat up the night with one of Monroe’s signature social events. The Wig and Stache Bash brings the flare and revelry of the “Roaring 20s” to downtown as party-goers enjoy rich food, spirits, dancing and multi-faceted auction events to benefit a premier private school. On the night of February 27, Geneva Academy invites you to don your best 1920s costume, put on your dancing shoes and stroll to the Vantage Banquet Hall in historic downtown Monroe. This will be the fourth annual Wig and Stache Bash. Aleta Eley, Director of Development at Geneva Academy, says, “We have seen a growing crowd each year at the party. Increasingly, people, who have no particular connection with the school are coming just to enjoy the festivities. They leave having had a great evening, loaded down with great prizes as well as a better understanding of how much Geneva Academy has to offer.” All proceeds will benefit Geneva Academy, a pre-K through 12th grade classical Christian school located on Oliver Road in Monroe. The night’s festivities will showcase music, food, drinks and a spirited live auction, plus multiple opportunities to win prizes. The Smile Moore Photo Booth will be on site to capture the dapper costumes and 1920s attire. Gentlemen are encouraged to sport their mustaches (real or costume) along with dress attire or gangster getup. Ladies will stun the room with their flapper costumes and elegant ball gowns. Our auction committee is hard at work gathering items and lining up events that will make your eyes dance! There will be a weeklong trip to the beautiful beach in Pensacola up for grabs, as well as a brewery tour for your favorite fella. Don’t forget the wonderful parties we have planned for you, “Bluegrass and Brewskies,” “Moonlight Swim Party” and “Zoopendous Breakfast” are just a few. This auction is sure to get your blood pumping and waving your bid number!

66 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

In addition to the food, drink and dancing, party-goers will have multiple fun-filled opportunities to win loot. There will be dozens of silent auction packages, pay-to-play party games and an exciting live auction featuring coveted items. Attendees will frolic for their desserts in the “Dessert Dash” that will have the room a ruckus. A classic game of “heads or tails” will offer the crowd a chance to win big. All of this, plus a few surprises, will ignite the room with delight and gaiety. What would an event like this be without a game of chance thrown into the mix? We are excited to offer a raffle of grand proportions. Sit on the balcony and soak in the breathtaking view of the Gulf while the kids run in the surf as you spend a week at your Island Shores condo for six on the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, AL. Raffle tickets are only $10, so don’t miss your opportunity to grab a chance at this taste of paradise. Tickets can be purchased through our school office (805-0116) or from your favorite Geneva student. Our special event of the night will be the opportunity to taste some of Monroe’s original delights. After the auction, please stick around for “Beer and Beignets” offered by our very own Ouachita Brewing Company and the always tasty confections of Caster and Chicory. This signature combo is sure to have you begging for more! Event tickets are limited, so you and your friends will want to act quickly to be a part of this unique experience. General admission tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. To guarantee seating, consider purchasing a signature table for $1,000, which will seat eight and offer revelers a classy space to dine. Tickets and tables and may be purchased through the school office (805-0116) or online at www.genevaclassical.org/auction. Follow Geneva Academy on Facebook to receive updates regarding the party. Look for the hashtag #WSB16.

Meredith’s Musings He’s Never Bought Me Flowers |

It’s been two years and eight months since we first met. And in that time, not so much as a petal. No roses for Valentine’s Day, no lilies on my birthday, no convenient camellias picked from my Mom’s garden just because, no sliding the stem behind my ear for affect... nothing. This should bother me, right? Girls get flowers; they’re pretty; they make us feel special. It shows everyone else how much he loves me. And though we say we don’t care, we do. No one wants to be the one girl at the office who doesn’t get a bouquet at the end of 68 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

By Meredith McKinnie

February. But last year, that was me. Years ago, in my last serious relationship, I received flowers all the time, dozens of bright, red roses. I told myself that he chose those because red was my favorite color, not because it was the most typical and readily available. I relished those roses. I needed those roses. That was his love language. But the roses became predictable, no variety, as if no thought went into the gift, just autopilot, like his coffee he picked up every morning. I began to resent the roses. He sensed my displeasure

RELATIONSHIPS

and went from one dozen to three, and thus more resentment. As the relationship grew stale, and the dozens continued to grow, I noticed a trend. The worse he screwed up, the bigger the bouquet. The more he hurt me, the more blood red roses I would get. The last monstrosity of a bouquet I received got me thinking, “What did he do this time?” And after a charge even bigger than usual on the bank statement, I got curious. So pretending to be his secretary, I called the flower shop. Apparently there were two orders, sent to two addresses, and that’s when I knew. The flowers weren’t his love language; they were his guilt gifts. I never told him I called. I didn’t have to. The relationship was disintegrating. It had run its course and it had run me ragged. I had mistaken the flowers for affection. A show of emotion does not equate a depth of emotion. Perhaps he loved me as much as he could. Perhaps he wasn’t capable of love at all. Perhaps he’s never learned to love himself. But I was tired of guessing and accepting flowers as a substitute for the love I wasn’t getting, the respect I deserved. So instead of flowers, I now have fireworks. Instead of vases, I have stability. Instead of petals, I’m met with patience. And this man, this man without flowers, gives me more than a guilt gift, or a show or a fake, repetitive gesture. He gives me his time, his affection, his kindness. He looked across the living room the other day, when I was in a stained T-shirt and gym shorts from ten years ago, not a swipe of makeup on my face and he just stared at me. He simply said, “You’re so cute.” And while it was a small gesture, and no one at the office saw it, it beat the mess out of some flowers. If he never buys me a single stem, that’s just fine with me.

A. ALDEN’S MEMO

Dallas and Atlanta based fashion sales representative for Reeves & Company, Analeise Reeves Thomas, shares her ideas for a memorable Valentine’s Day at home.

the look

Red or pink? Classic or sexy? Boho or preppy? Dress or sweats? It really doesn’t matter how you choose to look on Valentine’s Day just as long as you are yourself and you’re keeping in mind how your partner likes for you to look. Pull out an old dress that you haven’t worn in years that will conjure up sentimental memories for your better half. Or maybe splurge on a new surplice top that shows off your figure- after all, this is the night for romance. Men classically prefer formfitting pieces, so that trendy tent dress you love might not be your best option. Flared jeans that fit your rear just right are always appropriate as is an a-line 1950’s style dress to take your partner back in time. Whatever you choose to wear, wear it with confidence, because ultimately he’s looking at you and not your outfit.

the meal

A classic steakhouse dinner always evokes romance for me and for men, red meat is the manliest choice of all, so why wouldn’t you prepare a steak and potatoes meal to woo your man? John always does the grilling at our house so when I’m the one preparing the steaks, I opt for the Ruth’s Chris approach and cook them in an extremely hot oven. I season the steaks with salt and pepper only, sear both sides (3 minutes each) in va cast iron skillet of butter and olive oil and then pop them in a 550º oven for 7 minutes for medium-rare. Serve with a classic béarnaise sauce, roasted asparagus and scalloped potatoes. John and I love Simi’s Cabernet and it pairs perfectly with this meal. For dessert try a flourless chocolate cake with fresh raspberries. 70 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

the scent

A pleasant smelling home is the key to setoff a romantic ambience. Thanks to my dear friends, Nicki and Frank Sampognaro, my home currently smells like a beautiful Catholic wedding from all the wonderful incense I’ve been burning. I absolutely love the Incense Burner No. 1 from Frank’s company, Lonewa, and their self-titled incense, Lonewa, which is a limited-edition scent from BLACKBIRD. If incense isn’t your thing, Diptyque’s candles in Baies or Rose are very sensual and lovely and will definitely set the mood. Make sure you start burning your candle an hour or two before dinner in a centrally located room other than the kitchen. Also, don’t forget to wear your partner’s favorite fragrance!

the film

After you’ve enjoyed a wonderfully romantic evening together, cuddleup on the couch and experience a Hollywood created romance that in no way depicts your relationship but makes you feel oh-so-good. Here are some of my favorites for whatever mood you may be in this Valentine’s Day: Casablanca ‘42 – the classic choice My Best Friend’s Wedding ‘97 – the comedic choice Out of Africa ‘85 – the cynical choice Pride and Prejudice ‘05 – the literary choice The English Patient ‘96 – the tragic choice The Last of the Mohicans ‘92 – the male choice

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

O Over the course of the last 40 years, technological advances in healthcare have meant fewer patients undergoing radical surgeries with high risks and long recoveries. Few of those innovations have touched as many lives as the extraordinary and innovative work of Dr. Terry King.

article by MICHAEL DEVAULT photography by BRAD ARENDER

n the morning of April 8, 1975, Suzette Creppel was going through the final motions of surgical prep. For the first seventeen years of her life, Creppel had lived with an atrialseptal defect, a potentially lethal condition in which an individual is born with a hole between the chambers of their heart. Since a young age, Creppel had known surgery was in her future, though she was fearful of what that would look like. In 1975, repairing an atrial-septal defect required a wildly invasive surgery in which cardiologists opened the sternum, placed the patient on a heart-lung bypass machine, stopped the patient’s heart, and then opened the heart to sew closed the defect. Even in the best cases, the procedure resulted in a months-long recovery process and a gnarly scar from just below the clavicle to below the sternum, one that patients bore for the rest of their lives. In the worst case, patients could die from the procedure or from any of a host of postsurgical complications. Sitting in the cold, bright facility, Creppel remembers her emotions well. “I was nervous, terrified,” Creppel tells BayouLife. Perhaps it’s a natural part of the human condition. It is the only emotion appropriate when faced with an unknown, in which one of the possible outcomes is uniquely terminal. Yet, she mustered her courage and forged ahead. With a final signature on a consent form, Creppel and her parents consigned the situation to fate, though in this particular instance, the tools of fate were two physicians at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Crowded around a single operating table in the hospital’s heart catheter lab, nurses, technicians and a myriad of other assistants busied themselves with the order of the day – a first-ever attempt at medical history. After all, just a couple of years before, the younger of the two men had been called insane for even suggesting such a procedure could be attempted, much less completed successfully. And now, at just 38, he would deploy a never-tested device in a human patient. The stakes were astronomically high. Underscoring the importance of the moment, in a small anteroom separating the cath lab from the larger open-heart operating room, at a desk normally reserved for post-operation charting, a secretary sat cradling a phone to her ear. At the other end, the entire board of directors of Ochsner Medical were assembled, waiting breathlessly for word. With the last of the papers signed and the initial anesthesia taking affect, Creppel was wheeled into the cath lab. The events that unfolded over the next hour in that icy room were the culmination of a path that began far from the city, removed from board rooms and air conditioning, on the black mud flats of south Texas.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

B AY O U I C O N | D R . T E R RY K I N G

outh Texas of the 1930s was home to two enterprises, and if you lived in the region, chances were you worked for or supported one or both of them. Cattle was king in the area, and in the vast, open skies of the ranch that dotted the countryside outside of Houston, the lights of the Humble Oil Refinery glowed on the horizon. It’s hardly the place one might expect to find the future of cardiology, but in 1938, Terry King was born on just such a ranch near Highlands and Baytown. His father owned the ranch and worked at the oil refinery. Growing up on a working ranch was challenging. “I did all the things that cowboys did,” King recalls. They roped cattle, branded them and herded them into stocks for sale and eventual slaughter. It was hard work, made harder by the ranch’s choice of breed, the popular but ornery Brahman cattle, known to cattlemen as one of the meanest of breeds. King agrees. “I swore I’d never own one if I got a chance to own something else.” It was the tail end of the Great Depression and, for the most part, the country had weathered the economic collapse. Franklin Roosevelt was president, his New Deal had put people to work, and with the promise of a rosier future just over the horizon, America had started to dream again. King smiles any time he starts talking about his childhood on the ranch. “Those old pictures you see of people sitting in front of tall radios? I remember that so vividly,” he said. It’s no surprise that King has returned to those roots with a thriving cattle ranch in western Ouachita Parish-a hundreds-acre large endeavor that boasts herds of cattle, supplies meats to numerous area restaurants, and employs a half-dozen full-time employees, including one of his sons. The ranch doesn’t include Brahman cattle, though. In today’s world of hour-long morning commutes, interstate highways and NPR’s Morning Edition, Kingsland Ranch is barely more than a stone’s throw from Shreveport and even closer to Monroe. Routinely, individuals and families pile into the car and drive to Houston, Dallas, and points beyond. For those who don’t enjoy a drive, airlines fill in the gaps. But in the 1940s, before jet travel made the world a smaller place and Eisenhower’s interstates pulled the country into the city, northern Louisiana and southern Texas were worlds apart. Nevertheless, every summer for much of his youth, King made the trip from Houston to Shreveport, where an uncle and aunt worked in the cotton industry. His uncle was an entomologist who specialized in hunting down one of the largest threats to Louisiana’s main cash crop--the boll weevil. In spite of sweltering heat and crippling humidity, King looked forward to summers checking cotton for the destructive devil. 74 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

“Texas was flat, black gumbo,” King says. “This, this was rolling hills, hardwoods and just gorgeous country.” With that first visit, King was in love with the region and the work. He enjoyed being outside, found the study of insects fascinating, but the university he had chosen lacked a degree in the subject. Bugs, it seemed, just weren’t important to the University of Texas. At the end of his bachelor’s degree, and with little consideration for what his future might hold, he decided to work on a master’s degree. By this time, he had married, and his wife wanted to study at a smaller school. Southwestern Texas State University in San Marcos fit the bill. For his fifth year of college, King decided to follow her there. It was a decision that would have repercussions on the rest of his life and on the history of medicine itself. While in his fifth year of studies, a professor screened a movie about a heart surgeon. From the first moments, King was hooked and the film rekindled childhood notions of becoming a doctor. Recognizing the enthusiasm gushing forth from his young student, that professor had a bit of advice. “He said I needed to go to medical school,” King says. Doctors were in demand, and King saw the potential for a good career. He applied and was accepted to the University of Texas Medical School at Galveston. Shortly before King arrived, his first son, Brady, was born. A family man now, with a wife and a child to support, King knew time was short. Galveston provided the answer. For well-qualified students--those with exceptional grades and a strong work ethic--the school provided an accelerated program. Instead of the normal four or five years of study, these students were placed on a fast track. King applied to the accelerated program and was accepted. Just two years and nine months later, he received his medical degree and began an internship at Galveston Medical’s hospital-at roughly the same time the King household welcomed a second son, David. King’s enthusiasm, drive and skill drew the notice of the hospital’s chairman, Bill Daschner, who came to King with some unsolicited but greatly valued advice: leave. Recognizing the limitations of Galveston’s facility and the talent in his young intern, Daschner encouraged King to apply for programs at five of the most prestigious facilities in the nation. With Daschner’s help and encouragement, King sent applications to programs of study at the University of North Carolina, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children’s Hospital. A rotation in the cath lab of Dr. Leonard Harris had instilled a fascination for cardiology and, under Harris’ guidance, King decided to pursue cardiology. In other words, King says, his professors chose his career for him, which in his estimation was a good move.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

B AY O U I C O N | D R . T E R RY K I N G

“When I first thought about going to medical school as a young kid, I was going to be a family practitioner. I soon learned I wasn’t smart enough to do that,” King says, a brief touch of the humility that’s colored his career. While much of the world looks at general practice as the lower end of medicine, for the doctor family practice requires a tremendous body of ever-evolving knowledge and treatments. More than just a viable career path, though, specializing provided King the opportunity to innovate. After interviewing at UNC, Duke, Hopkins and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, King was offered fellowships at all four. One stood out, set apart from the others by the attentive nature and interest of Dr. Madison Spock, a renowned pediatric cardiologist. For the next two years, King would study with Spock at Duke. “Duke was a good choice,” King says. Early on, he skipped a year of residency and entered into the two-year pediatric cardiology program. As important to his training as a heart surgeon was, King credits Spock with another, equally valuable set of skills. “He taught me how to do research,” King says. “He really opened my eyes.” Spock’s research was at the forefront of electrophysiology, the study of the electrical impulses that drive the heart. For two years, King would study electrophysiology with Spock, practice cardiology and learn to be a great doctor--or so he thought. As King closed in on the completion of his two-year fellowship, Spock had other plans. “He told me I was such a country boy, I needed a third year,” King jokes. The truth was somewhat more involved, though. Heart medicine was changing rapidly, in no small part to Spock’s own work. Adding vast volumes of information and technique to the practice, the needs of the modern cardiologist were changing and King was developing the skills of a world-class physician. King may have been the first three-year fellow, but today the program at Duke is four years long. Amid the innovations of medicine of the late 1960s, the political turbulence of the era had its own effects. With the Vietnam War raging and no end in sight, the U.S. Armed Services were looking for doctors. King readily signed up and, almost immediately, returned to south Texas. From 1970 until 1972, King was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, the home of the 59th Medical Wing and, more importantly, the Air Force’s ambulatory surgery center. Known then and now as Wilford Hall, the facility provided physicians with as many patients as they could handle in virtually 76 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

any specialty. Doctors not only treated hundreds of patients, they were expected to improve care through improving the processes of medicine and their bodies of knowledge. Cardiologists were no exception. The chief of cardiology at the time was Dr. Howard Johnson, a self-taught cardiologist of good reputation. Like all of the cardiologists on staff, King was expected to pull his weight. One of the primary jobs of a cardiologist was and continues to be performing heart catherizations. Minimally invasive, heart caths are procedures in which the surgeon threads a tiny, flexible cable through a blood vessel in the neck, arm or groin. The procedure is commonly used to treat numerous heart conditions, check for blockages and diagnose conditions ranging from plaque buildup to mitral valve prolapse. Heart catheterization represented the safest, most state-of-the-art treatment and diagnostic protocol of the day, but that didn’t mean the procedure was without risk. In a sometimes hours-long procedure, patients were placed under general anesthetic as the physician made the incision through which he would insert the catheter. Then, over the course of how ever long the process took, the physician slowly and gently snaked the device through the patient’s blood vessels. Long before echograms made it possible to peer through the skin into the body’s soft tissues, cardiologist relied on feel and memory to guide the catheter with only occasional views of the catheter’s position made possible by a fluoroscope, essentially a fullbody, rapid view X-ray. Though the procedure was considered safe and routine by the early 1970s, complications were still commonplace, which rendered catheterization a harrowing experience for patient and doctor alike. During his two years at Wilford Hall, King performed more than 500 heart caths, a staggering number, and numerous other procedures--including open heart surgery to repair conditions inside the heart, such as atrial-septal defects. During his time in the Air Force, one of King’s earliest thoughts kept cropping up. If doctors could “see” inside of the heart--by touch and feel--and diagnose problems within the heart using a catheter, why couldn’t they also fix holes inside the heart? He had raised this question before, as a young cardiology fellow at Duke, but to no avail. “They said it couldn’t be done,” King said. “Some of my colleagues even suggested I might need a psychiatrist, that I’d lost my mind.” Already a major by 1972, King was considering making the Air Force his life’s work. The work was

challenging and fulfilling, he enjoyed it and a promotion to Lt. Colonel was just around the corner. But promotion came with a longer contract, and King had to make a decision. With Lt. Colonel just one day away, he decided to leave the Air Force. But leaving the Air Force would mean he had to find a new job. With a bevy of credentials, awards, and recommendations, King’s job wouldn’t be too difficult. Some might say a doctor in his position could write his own ticket. They would be right. One of the first facilities to express an interest was Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans. Founded in 1942 by the charismatic New Orleans physician Alton Ochsner, the facility was recognized as one of the best hospitals in the country. Under the guidance of Alton Ochsner’s son, John, that reputation had grown such that, by 1972, Ochsner Hospital was one of the nation’s leading research and development hospitals. When King first visited Ochsner Hospital, he did not believe New Orleans was for him and decided against pursuing the position further. John Ochsner changed that with a phone call encouraging King to give them another chance and asking him to interview with Dr. Noel Mills, a renowned cardiologist. Not expecting to change his mind, King reluctantly accepted the second invitation.

During the interview, Mills quizzed him about his experience, and about his research background. Ochsner was, after all, a research hospital, and physician research was expected. Somewhere during the interview, King’s mind drifted back to his days at Duke, to that first notion of closing heart defects without open heart surgery. He raised the subject with Mills. If surgeons could diagnose the size of a hole in the heart with a catheter and a balloon, didn’t it stand to reason that they could also develop a tool to close that hole? Mills shoved back from the desk, astonished. “He jumped up, ran over to a desk drawer and pulled out a bunch of catheters,” King says. He had found in Mills a kindred spirit who understood the challenges and potential techniques surgeons might use to close atrialseptal defects without cracking a sternum and stopping a patient’s heart. “In that moment, I knew it could be done,” King says. He joined the staff of Ochsner Hospital immediately and set to work with Mills on developing the techniques and tools required to successfully repair holes inside a patient’s heart. The first order of business was to raise funds to begin development of the device they would use. All the WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

B AY O U I C O N | D R . T E R RY K I N G

while, King and Mills faced another challenge. Before repairing any defect, they had to answer a simple question: how big was the hole? To answer the second question, they began testing balloon catheters, which provided close approximations of a hole’s size. Within a millimeter or so, using just an inflatable balloon at the end of the catheter, a surgeon could estimate the size of the hole. With this challenge settled, next the team had to invent the device that would close the hole. The device had to overcome several challenges. First, it had to be able to pass through the defect from one chamber of the heart into the other. It then had to deploy inside that other chamber in a configuration that would at once close the hole and prevent the device from retreating into the first chamber. Then, the device had to remain in place. All the while, it could be no larger than the end of the catheter that would deliver it--measured, like the defects it would repair, in millimeters. King turned to a relative at Edwards Laboratory in Santa Ana, California. The laboratory was at the forefront of a new technology, Dacron, a thermoplastic polymer from the polyester family. With a high melting point, north of 200 degrees Celsius, Dacron could be combined with surgical stainless steel. It could also be sterilized and rendered medically safe. Fashioning an umbrella out of Dacron and stainless, the device could fit into the end of a surgical catheter for delivery. Pushed through the end of the catheter, the folded umbrella would open. Working with Edwards, King developed a device that would retract the catheter until the umbrella was affixed to the outside of the defect, deploy the second umbrella against the defect, and then snap the two together. Easy, really, until the realization strikes that the physician is dealing with feel, deploying a quarter-sized device the weight of a small corner of tissue paper, inside a beating heart, at the end of a fivefoot long spaghetti noodle cooked al dente. Nevertheless, after dozens of practice runs on canine research subjects, King had perfected the technique. “Once there, I’d jiggle it, make sure it was locked, and then detach it from the delivery system,” he says. “You had your heart patched, but not by opening your chest.” Quickly, the team learned that the heart closed over the umbrella in a matter of months, incorporating the device into the very flesh of the heart. Dozens of experiments later, King was ready to try. They began searching for the perfect -- and willing -- test case. Suzette Creppel didn’t want a scar. She was afraid of a major procedure. Complications were regular, and the recovery time was months, if not years, long. “I would have had to have open heart surgery,” she says, emphasizing open and heart to underscore what that process meant. Years later, she would live through 78 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

this moment again, albeit vicariously in the form of one of her children. “My baby, my fourth one, my last one, was born with one of the things I had--the hole in my heart,” Creppel says. “But she also had the Epstein’s Anomaly.” That diagnosis meant Creppel’s child would endure open heart surgery--heart bypass and all--and months of rehabilitation. The experience provided her with a glimpse of what might have occurred in that operating room in New Orleans back in 1975. King and Mills were scrubbed and ready as their patient nodded off. In the anteroom, the secretary briefed the board. King had arrived that morning at 4 a.m., and by the time he asked for his scalpel, the excitement was palpable. “You could sense this in the air, that something was going to happen,” King says. King and Mills couldn’t have asked for a better test subject. Creppel’s defect was 25 millimeters wide, nearly a perfect circle, and a 35 millimeter umbrella would close it. He knew the risks going in, and King understood that, at any moment, the order might be given to retract the catheter, step back, and watch as the patient was whisked into the adjoining operating room for open heart surgery. Adding to the pressure were the limitations of their device. “Our device was not retractable. Once we had it out, it had to be in the right spot and work,” King says. “If it wasn’t, you were on your way to the OR to remove it.” He inserted the catheter, confidently finding the defect, where he deployed the umbrella. A slight retraction, another deployment, a click. “You couldn’t tell it on the outside, but my heart was racing,” King says, estimating his pulse was north of 180. Then, came the moment of truth. He jiggled the catheter, tugging on the umbrella. The device remained firmly in place. Later, John Chancellor and Walter Cronkite would trumpet the achievement on the evening news. In that moment, though, the staff and team at Ochsner were celebrating. Between April and the end of 1975, Ochsner would deploy four more Mills-King devices, in patients ranging from 17 to 75. All patients did well and, with the exception of the 75 year-old patient, all are alive and well at the time of this writing. The oldest, now 85, phoned King on Christmas Eve to wish him a happy holiday. King has remained in touch with almost all of those early patients, including Creppel. “He’s my hero,” Creppel tells BayouLife. “Out of all the doctors I’ve had, if it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be here today.” King’s achievement aside, he notes today it wouldn’t be possible to create and deploy this device, no matter how beneficial. Controls and concerns for patient safety improve quality of care, but the moves also stifle innovation. Late last year, King broached the subject at

a talk in Miami. The conference topic: disruptive thinking. King opened the conference and was followed in the podium by Alo Castenada, an infant heart surgeon, and Martin Elliot, the surgeon who pioneered the heart transplant. King’s message is clear. “I could not do today what I did in those days,” he says. He stops short of criticizing the current system. “It depends on what you’re talking about. Is it protecting society? Yes and no.” In the current state of modern medicine, developing a new drug routinely averages in costs of more than $100 million. The cost of developing and deploying his device in 1975: somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000. King is still hopeful for the future. He’s recently discussed disruptive innovations with surgeons interested in completing pancreas transplants and geneticists interested in changing the course of lives for individuals with genetic defects by correcting problems at the cellular level. He foresees a day when physicians are able to genetically correct defects in fetuses at the unborn level. Any time he speaks to physicians and researchers about these otherworldly prospects, inevitably the answer on possibility is “yes.” In the near future, medicine may literally know no limits. “I’ve said some pretty strange things in my career because I got away with some pretty strange things,” King says. Since April 8, 1975, more than a million individuals have benefited from transcatheter ASD closure--known in textbooks as the Mills-King procedure. King continues to practice medicine today, and the cardiology clinic he founded in Monroe in the late 1970s was recently purchased by Ochsner Medical Center. For their achievement, Mills and King were nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1976. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Teeth Whitening Teeth Whitening at Bayou Dental BY DAVID FINLEY, D.D.S

BEFORE

AFTER

OUR SMILE CREATES AN IMMEDIATE, SUBCONSCIOUS, visual impact on people you meet. A brighter smile gives the impression of youth, vitality, radiant health, happiness, and warmth. A bright smile is perceived as a healthy smile. Be sure to consult with your AACD Fellow, Dr. David Finley to learn which whitening treatment is best for you. Teeth whitening remains one of the most economical ways to enhance your smile. Smiles Are Valuable Statistics reveal that we place a high value on our smiles. According to an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey: • Virtually all adults (99.7%) believe a smile is an important social asset. 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex. • Three-quarters (74%) of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chance for career success. • And when respondents were asked, “What would you like to improve most about your smile?” The most common response was: Whiter & brighter teeth. If you are not happy with your smile, teeth whitening may be a good first step. Are you looking to impress at an important job interview? Do you want to make the best impression at an upcoming party? Do you just want to feel better about the appearance of your smile? If you’re looking for a hassle-free and safe way to whiten your smile, the whitening services at Bayou Dental may be the solution you are looking for! Our methods of professional teeth whitening are among the most successful and lauded home teeth whitening and in office teeth whitening services are the best. Bayou Dental provides a safe, effectual, convenient and cost-effective way to whiten your teeth and give you the flawless smile you were meant to have. There are several benefits that come along with teeth whitening. Professional teeth whitening removes persistent stains and brightens your smile, leaving you with more self-confidence and less embarrassment about your dingy smile. You will no longer feel the need to smile with a closed mouth or shield your teeth when laughing or talking. You can show your smile off with confidence and finally feel proud of the way you look. Plus, getting your teeth whitening performed by a professional at Bayou Dental is much safer and effective than using an over-the-counter whitening product.

80 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Preventing Heart Disease Learning the Best Coping Methods

BY MARK NAPOLI, M.D. INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST, ON STAFF AT P&S SURGICAL HOSPITAL

E FACE MANY UNIQUE HEALTH CHALLENGES throughout our lives, but heart disease is one of the most prevalent and the most common causes of death in the nation’s adults. Despite huge advances in care and survival rates, this fact has remained true for the past 100 years. One out of every two men and one out of every three women will experience a serious cardiac event after the age of 50. Cardiac risks dwarf the risks of diseases like colon cancer, where the risk is one in 50. We can improve our chances of preventing heart disease by learning the best coping methods. Assume you’re at risk. Assume you have heart disease in the form of atherosclerosis, which is plaque buildup and prevalent in men, even by the age of 20. In fact, the majority of Americans already experience this during their teenage years. Tobacco Cessation, Exercise and Diet If you use any form of tobacco, you belong to a group of people— roughly 20 percent of the adult population—who are chiefly responsible for the most common cause of preventable death and disability in the U.S. It is very difficult to break this particular drug addiction, but it is by no means impossible. The day after you quit, your risk of a heart attack drops by about 50 percent and continues to decline thereafter. The American College of Cardiology recommends training your way to achieve 40 minutes of exercise per day, at least four days per week. Aerobic activity should reach a level of moderate intensity. Duration, frequency, and intensity are the most important goals for aerobic exercise. Devote yourself to exercise just as you devote time to work, church, or family. Make it a habit. The term “diet” does not mean denial of food. It should refer to creating a habit of eating prudently. Learn to retrain yourself to recognize when enough is enough at the end of the meal. The cornerstone of a healthy diet is to avoid processed foods. Aside from enriching food with salt and sugar, processing alters food by concentrating more calories per volume and adds many chemicals that affect our bodies in adverse or unknown ways. Rest and Relaxation Achieving regular, restorative sleep is a major challenge for most people. Success rests in creating habits in an environment conducive to restorative sleep. Most people, with rare exception, require 7-8 hours of sleep per night to ensure optimal brain, immune and physical health. Aging does not diminish this need. Alcohol and sedatives can often interfere with the level of required deep sleep. If you feel there may be health conditions that impair your sleep, seek help from a medical professional. Changing one’s lifestyle is never easy, but the aforementioned tips will go a long way in combating heart disease. P&S Surgical Hospital offers one of the region’s most advanced Cardiac and Peripheral-Vascular Laboratories. P&S Surgical Hospital is a joint venture among physician specialists and St. Francis Medical Center.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Family Promise of Ouachita Buliding Communities, Strenghtening Lives

AMILY PROMISE OF OUACHITA IS A 30-90 DAY transitional homeless shelter for families with children located here, in Ouachita Parish, since 2009. We are one of 199 affiliates of Family Promise National, which was formed in 1988. Affiliates have served more than 600,000 people through the efforts of over 6,000 congregations and more than 160,000 volunteers. This affiliate has served 93 families, including 201 children, and has offered almost 6,000 bed nights since opening our doors. Family Promise is a nationwide movement to stimulate communities and their local interdenominational congregations to care for those that cannot care for themselves. Locally we have an extremely supportive group of host congregations that allow our families to sleep in their church facilities for a week every rotation. These congregations provide overnight volunteers and meals. They are supported by another group of support congregations that assist in meals, volunteers or monetary support. During the day, our guests come to our Day Center, which provides a homelike atmosphere from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. This is the staging area for families to take care of their daily needs, and where we are able to assist families in their time of transition. Here, we offer life skill classes including resume and job search, short and long term goal setting, New Beginnings Financial Literacy Course, weekly benchmarks, transportation and a list of other things from school supplies to socks. Our primary goal for our guests is that when they finish this program, that they will move into a home and never have to face homelessness again. Families with children make up 40 percent of the people in this country who experience homelessness. This partnership with this community is a stepping stone to see that families that are facing homelessness have a chance to have a new beginning. Thank you all for your support and continued efforts to help those who cannot help themselves!

82 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Well Woman Exam 2016

Prevention is Key in Women’s Healthcare BY ANNIE JOPLING, WHNP

S WE ARE COMMITTING TO NEW YEAR’S resolutions, I would like to encourage all women to make an appointment for their annual well woman exam in 2016. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines state that the annual wellness exam is valuable in promoting preventive practices, recognizing disease risks, identifying medical problems and establishing the clinician-patient relationship. Guidelines and practice recommendations regularly change based on current research. This means that many women are not aware of what the actual current guidelines are each year. A once a year visit to your physician or nurse practitioner gives you the opportunity to learn and discuss your concerns with your provider. Prevention is one of the most important aspects of women’s healthcare. At the well woman exam, a complete history is taken to determine what conditions a woman may be at risk for and testing can be done to screen for any such conditions. The recommended age to begin having an annual well woman exam is 21. In young women, screenings such as the pap smear and STD testing may be appropriate. In older women, mammogram, bone density testing and colon cancer screening are recommended. In patients younger than 21, a first visit for the purpose of education and disease prevention is recommended, but does not require a pelvic exam in asymptomatic patients or for the initiation of oral contraceptives. Disease prevention also includes a discussion of healthy lifestyles like diet and exercise. Identifying health risks and addressing problems is a vital part of the evaluation of a woman’s health history. For instance, women with normal pap smear results who are not at risk for cervical cancer can now follow guidelines to repeat pap testing every three years. For women who have had a hysterectomy, pap testing is no longer routinely indicated. Age appropriate immunizations are another factor to help reduce disease risk. Discussing personal risk factors helps determine what testing is appropriate and also builds trust with a provider. At Ovation Women’s Wellness, we offer well woman exams in a proficient, compassionate manner. To schedule an appointment, call (318)599-1404.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Get dolled up this Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day with these flirty frocks from local boutiques. From the perfect little red dress to a sexy sheath, these looks will have your guy red hot. Photography by Martin G Meyers. Hair & Makeup by Meka Reliford. Models: Ellie Jackson and Wilson Jackson

NEW ATTITUDE HAIR DESIGN AND BOUTIQUE LACOUR Embrace your romantic side with this feminine one-piece vest dress with lace embellishments. Add fuchsia suede pumps by Dee Keller, coordinating Eye Bobs, an estate pearl necklace with 1930s dress clip and rhinestone bangles for a look that is ready for date night.

BEAU MONDE BOUTIQUE Emphasize curves with this figure-flattering dress from Beau Monde Boutique in Ruston. The criss-cross neckline with keyhole is red haute. Finish the look with a pair of woven beaded and gold earrings.

DUCK & DRESSING BOUTIQUE Non-traditionalists can skip the norm in favor of an outfit that makes a statement. This adorable floral print top with off-the-shoulder frill sleeves is paired with a long fringed skirt for a flirty feel. Style with a floral-jacquard moto jacket and these vintage-cool peep-toe sandals with geometric cutouts.

THE FASHION OF RUSTON Ellie looks super chic in this ponte sheath dress with lace-up sides. and gorgeous 3/4 sleeve jacket with laser-cut detailing. Add a touch of sophistication with these strappy snakeskin heels, and this mini bagâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoulder strap can be removed and the front slip strap used to make it a clutch.

K-SERA BOUTIQUE This Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, set the mood with luxe layers. These stunning leather leggings are combined with a layered white long-sleeve blouse topped with a burgundy sweater. Add a gold and black fringe necklace and sexy black criss-cross strapped heel.

HERRINGSTONEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Ellie looks pretty in pink in this luxurious velvet dress which features a stunning neckline and swing skirt. Dress it up with a pink and gold Kendra Scott necklace and these dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Orsay-inspired pumps for a look that will make him swoon.

HARRY’S CORNER B Y H A R R I S O N H O LT

in a suite. I love Anthony Davis-“the Brow.” Well, the holidays are over and I’m He is good enough to win the MVP award. back just in time for Mardi Gras, crawfish, I’m afraid Steph Curry or as some people Valentine’s Day, National Heart Month (if call him, “Chef Curry,” might get MVP… your Mom works for the American Heart he’s always cooking up some 3’s! The game Association, you know this very well, cause was so awesome and, at the last minute, the she is crazy during this time of the year), Pelicans won! Super Bowl 50 (I predict Carolina Panthers “Laissez les bon temps roulez” and if vs. New England Patriots) and more of the you speak some French, you know what I’m Donald. talking about. It’s Mardi Gras time and I love I felt like a crazy person cheering for me some Mardi Gras! I’m the king at catching Alabama as they pulled out a win over the beads. I hope we get to go “chase the Mardi Clemson Tigers in the collegiate National Gras” in Cajun Country (Eunice). Sorry, I’m Championship game last month. Now, don’t gettin’ in da Cajun mode! Several years ago, get me wrong, I still bleed purple and gold, my step-dad took us to Eunice, where he is but I think this win is good for the SEC. from and we saw people dressed in costumes Speaking of LSU, they killed Texas Tech in I had never seen before. They had been out the Texas Bowl game, with the final score 56 “chasing the chickens”. I can’t wait to share to 27. I was expecting it because Texas Tech my 2016 Mardi Gras experience with ya’ll! has one of the worse rushing defenses in Valentine’s Day is here and I am thinking NCAA college football. They could not hold about who I am going to ask to be my “the beast” Leonard Fournette, with five Valentine. I can’t pick Mom, because she’s touchdowns. “The beast” set a single season taken. I been thinking about my top ten love record for rushing touchdowns. songs I can share Well we all with you. Hope this knew the Saints helps you get your wouldn’t get far. At WAY TO GO NEVILLE TIGERS, groove on! least Sean Payton WE ARE STATE CHAMPIONS– “The Donald” announced he is W OOHOO ! is still going strong staying with the at 32 percent, last Saints and they got I looked. Dr. Ben rid of Rob Ryan. Carson has slipped down closer to the bottom, Like I said several months ago, Ryan needed so that tells you… ladies and gentlemen, I’ve to GO! At least I feel better that the Cowgirls got to go with Donald Trump. I tell a lot of didn’t make it to the playoffs. It was my people I have liked Donald since he started second year in a row to be in the Super running and people don’t agree. I think it Bowl...well, virtually. I beat my whole family will take someone strong and not afraid to in our fantasy football league and I am the say what most people think. I am looking Super Bowl champ…take that! forward to the next debates…it’s a family Way to go Neville Tigers…state event at our house. Go Donald! champions! Woohoo! Go Cam Holt, my big Happy Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras! brother, #81, wide receiver! While I was Hope you will be catching beads (some down in New Orleans with my mom, Pops catching chickens) and eating as many king (aka Paul Amy), Poppa and Aunt Madison, I cakes as you can! Remember to wear red got to go to the New Orleans’ Pelicans game. February 5th! Ca c’est bon! Thanks Mr. Bill Boles for inviting me to sit Harry Holt 90 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

HARRY’S T OP 10 VALE NTI NE ’S DAY L OVE SONGS “At Last” by Etta James

(mine and my GranJan’s favorite)

“How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor

“It Had To Be You” by Frank Sinatra (my Mom’s favorite)

“Crazy Love” by Michael Buble and Van Morrison

“Remember When” by Alan Jackson

“Your Song” by Elton John

“Sweet Melissa” by Allman Brothers

“In My Life” (I Love You More) by the Beatles

“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King

“Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton

Here to Meet Your Needs Fashion Post in Jackson, MS

HE FASHION POST IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, is a ladies’ boutique that caters to women of all ages with many different needs. From everyday clothes to special occasion wear, Fashion Post can dress you. The alteration department works on daywear, mothers of the bride and groom gowns, bridesmaids dresses, wedding gowns and custom designs. Beth Griffith, the owner, began her career in fashion when she and her husband purchased the Fashion Post in the 1980s. She soon discovered her untapped talent for design. For the first ten years, Fashion Post dressed career women. By the 1990s Beth realized that her customer’s children were marrying and something special was needed besides what the bridal shops were offering. No other store was dedicated solely to taking care of the needs of mothers of the bride and groom. So the Fashion Post added Mother’s Special Occasion Wear to their lines of everyday clothing. Over the past few years, more than ten new designers have been added from which moms can choose their gown. Some outfits are custom-ordered, while others are in stock and available for purchase off the rack. There are also silk separates - exclusive to the Fashion Post - that can be special ordered to accommodate your size and choice of color and style. Today, Fashion Post is well known as the premier store for the mother’s wedding needs. From the barbeque rehearsal dinner to the delta casual announcement party, the perfect outfit can be found at the Fashion Post. Whether you desire a gown or silk pants with a novel jacket, the staff can help you. If you require sleeves or an arm cover that a gown doesn’t have, Beth can create just what you need. Your body shape is carefully considered when showing styles that would be suitable to your silhouette. The goal is to make every customer look as flattering as possible. The owner and staff of Fashion Post understand how stressful the wedding process can be and it’s their goal to make this part pain free. If you are traveling some distance to shop with us, alterations can usually be done the same day. There is also a wide variety of shoes in different styles, some with kitten heels. Plus, they also carry crystal and pearl jewelry and cocktail bags available for one-stop-shopping. From the proposal to the reception, Fashion Post’s goal is to make this a great experience and to make every mom who comes through the door feel like the beautiful woman she is – with that FASHION POST look! Located in Northeast Jackson on I-55 North Frontage Road off Northside Drive, Fashion Post is convenient and easily accessible.

92 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

MGH Physicians Clinic Clinic Staff Embraces Community

MILING FACES GREET THOSE WHO ENTER THE doors of the Morehouse General Hospital Physicians’ Clinic in Sterlington. You will feel the family atmosphere when in the company of the professional women who make up the staff at the facility: JoAnn Meche, FNP, Emily Dodson, LPN and April Brown, Receptionist. When you walk into the building, the first person you will meet is April Brown, a vivacious receptionist capable of putting a smile on your face on the most troublesome of days. Her personality is perhaps best reflected in her decision to pursue a nursing degree at Louisiana Delta Community College, after dialysis work led her to discover that she liked helping people. She loves to spend time with her two sons, Logan and Emerson. A trip through the MGH clinic brings you to our LPN, Emily Dodson, a smiling face ready to help you. Described as a compassionate, thorough and knowledgeable nurse, Emily accomplished a lifelong desire to be a nurse in 2010 when she received her license after graduating from Arkansas Northeastern University. Emily’s time outside of work is dedicated in large part to her children, Gauge and Khloe, and fiancé, Chad. She states they are the light of her life. The last person you will encounter on your journey through the clinic — is JoAnn Meche, a Nurse Practitioner board certified in Family Practice. JoAnn is the mom of two and a native of Northeast Louisiana as well. In fact, she graduated from Ouachita Parish High School. One of her children has followed her into the medical field, while the second is attending college locally at ULM. In JoAnn’s spare time, she loves to travel, read and cook. Sabrina Simmons, LPN with MGH said that Meche is a woman who truly cares about her patients and goes above and beyond. The clinic as a whole strives to create a pleasant, calming atmosphere for patients to visit for a variety of healthcare needs. The clinic is open on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an hour break for lunch at noon. Call 318.598.1852 for more information or stop by 8649 Highway 165, Suite 1 (located next to Fiesta Linda and Johnny’s Pizza) to enjoy a community clinic located “right around the bend.” WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

SIMPLY LOU JUST AN OLD FASHIONED LOVE STORY

Illustration and article by Lou Davenport

ometime during 1906, in Liddieville, Louisiana, she met him. Probably just a simple twist of fate. He was an orphan and a widower. He was 23. She was barely 13. Sparks flew. Her parents forbid her to see him. She had other plans. He did, too. A secret romance blossomed. Those two were my grandparents, Phillip Williams and Lily Anders. In her pictures, she was a beautiful young girl wearing starched and ironed cotton dresses trimmed in lace. She had “Gibson Girl” styled dark hair and blue eyes. In the few pictures I have seen of him, he was handsome, with high cheek bones, twinkling eyes, always wearing a dapper little derby. I can see how she fell for him and he had to have been quite smitten by her as well. He played a fiddle. Handsome and a musician! He must have been quite an outlaw by Liddieville standards. Like Waylon Jennings sings, “Ladies Love Outlaws!” The Anders were not wealthy, but they were comfortable. Surely, they had other plans for their youngest daughter. It would have been scandalous for them to allow her to court that widower! He had came to Liddieville because he had cousins who lived there. He had a job with the railroad and his cousins gave him a home. Somehow, the young couple “courted” in secret for nearly two years. I have often wondered where they would meet. How did they keep things so secret? They made plans to elope. My grandmother’s older sister had married years before and lived near Jonesboro and that was where they went. Quietly, they loaded a wagon in the middle of the night and 94 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

jostled along rutted dirt roads for two days to get there. I can only assume that my grandmother’s sister and her husband called a Justice of the Peace and were most likely their witnesses. So, at the age of 15, my grandmother became a wife. She was disowned by her parents. She now faced life with a man 10 years older than her, who had much more experience at life than she had. I wonder what her thoughts were back then. Did she have regrets? Was she frightened? Was she happy? I have always heard love conquers all. The newlyweds made their way in that wagon to Magnolia, Arkansas. My grandfather found work. My grandmother became pregnant with their first child, my Uncle Jack. When he was born, her parents made the trip to Magnolia to see them. All was forgiven. Learning she was no longer disowned, I am sure my grandmother was happy. Lily, Phillip and little Jack returned to Liddieville. Settled again back home, my grandfather became a sharecropper. He worked a plot of land between Winnsboro and Liddieville. The family began to grow. Eight children were born to Lily and Phillip. My aunts, uncles and my father. Life was hard. Feeding 8 children and a wife was tough on my grandfather. He played his fiddle at juke joints on Saturday nights and cleaned up the church on Sundays for extra income. One night as my grandfather was cleaning the church, he found a ring. No one ever claimed it. He could finally give his bride the ring she never had. It was a tiny, delicate gold band that she wore until the day she died. From what I have been told about my grandfather, he loved to have fun. He loved Miss Lily and his children. He played his fiddle and everyone danced. He had red hair and freckles. All his children thought he hung the moon! I know I would have adored him, too. Some of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren inherited his musical gene and there are a lot of redheads in my family,t too! One of my aunts told me about how their family barely survived the Flood of 1927. My grandfather got the family to Crowville to a patch of higher ground until the water finally receded. They lived in tents and barely had enough to eat. I have always wondered how much damage was done to their home. And, then, The Great Depression came. Things only got worse. While working in the fields, my grandfather collapsed from an aneurysm in his brain. He died shortly thereafter, only 46 years old. Her life was going along like any ordinary day, then without warning, her beloved husband was gone. I cannot imagine what my grandmother must have felt at that moment. She was alone with eight children to care for. My Uncle Jack and the rest of the older children tried to keep sharecropping. It was extremely hard on them. One of my aunts told me she threw down her hoe one day and said she was never working the fields again. Shortly after that, my Uncle Jack found work in Bastrop. He brought the whole family with him. Those old enough to work, got jobs. They all pitched in to keep the family together and take care of their mother. A few got married but even that did not keep them from looking out for their mother. My grandmother lived through two World Wars. She had to have been in constant worry when my dad lied about his age and joined the Navy. He was right in the middle of the Pacific. Two of her son-in-laws served in Europe. As always, everyone rallied around one another and kept vigil. Fortunately all three of them made it back home. How

relieved she must have felt! Slowly, more of my aunts and uncles married and moved out of the house to begin families of their own. Still, they all helped take care of their mother. They all saw to it that she never did without one thing. They made her life easier. When my parents got married, my grandmother came to live with them. Their house was home and weekly gathering place for the entire family because their mother was there. By the time I came along, my grandmother was getting older. Don’t get me wrong, I loved her, but I was downright terrified of her! She was tough! She would have me go get her a switch and tear my little butt up if I misbehaved! She was a quiet, stern, no nonsense woman. I can’t remember her ever talking to me about her younger days and all the hardships. Maybe it was just too difficult. But, how she must have missed her Phillip. She never played with any of us grandchildren. We just tried to stay out of her way. We even wondered if she even liked kids! But, maybe she never had the time to play with her own. There was always so much work to be done and they all had to pitch in. Her room was a source of great mystery to me. She had beautiful furniture, a big high bed with four tall posts and a dressing table with its own little satin covered stool. She always wore dresses and always had on her gloves for church. She kept her silver hair in a bun with the sides held in place with little combs. She grew several houseplants and called them “her flowers.” She never missed “her stories” (soap operas) after her nap. You better not wake her up during her nap either! There’d be hell to pay! She made string quilts from her scraps of fabric. She just called them “cover.” Those quilts were no big deal to her, but, I loved them! She made the most delicate crocheted doilies. She embroidered pillow cases and dresser scarves. She made the best fried pies in her black iron skillet. I am now the proud owner of that skillet. She loved “Uncle Earl Long!” She loved to watch westerns, Perry Mason and read Mickey Spillane novels. And, she dipped snuff. And, had a spit can. I always seemed to kick that nasty thing over and when I did, I had to clean it up. YUCK! She still had one more hardship to endure when one of my uncles died. Within a year, she died as well. She just seemed to wither away. Her doctor said it was leukemia. But, to me, she died of a broken spirit. It has been 47 years since she died. I have learned to respect and admire her. She was a rebel! She defied authority! She survived the natural child births of eight babies! She endured a flood, near starvation, a depression, wars and losing her beloved husband. She never remarried.. Her eight children unabashedly loved her. Because life was never easy when she was a young wife and mother, I believe her children gave her the life that my grandfather had wanted for her. That’s some kind of powerful love! Her children buried her beside her Phillip in Liddieville. She lies near my uncle, the son she had to bury. Liddieville, that little village where they first met, secretly courted, eloped and raised an amazing family during the worst of times. She is home. Just an old fashioned love story, about a “lady and an outlaw,” that left behind an incredible legacy, forged from great love, poverty, hardships and strength. My precious family. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

Design It Your Way

Sleepy Hollow Furniture Offers Custom Upholstery with the HGTV Home Design Studio

BY ALICIA VALAIR

T’S NO SURPRISE,THAT THE HGTV BRAND IS NOW available in retail decorative furnishings. Many will wonder where to purchase the HGTV Home Collection, and is it coming to your neck of the woods. Well, look no further than your local Bassett Home Furnishings store. The collaboration between Bassett Home Furnishings and HGTV began in late August 2012. Shopping the HGTV brand at the Bassett stores will basically make it easy for some consumers, who may need some designer input. “What we are doing with all of our products is helping consumers cut though the angst of buying products for their homes,” said Ron Feinbaum, general manager of consumer products for HGTV. Robinson said the HGTV collection at Bassett provides a customized piece, made in the United States and in most cases, delivered within 30 days. Buyers can choose from 1,000 fabrics, including leather and numerous colors for the accent pieces. “This strategic partnership with HGTV leverages Bassett’s more than 100-year history of building quality home furnishings while tapping into the popularity and credibility of the HGTV brand among home enthusiasts,” said Robert H. Spilman Jr., Bassett’s president and chief executive officer. “The launch with HGTV Home drives Bassett’s commitment to combining stylish, well-priced custom furniture with top-notch room makeover advice from our team of design consultants.” Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc., is a leading manufacturer and marketer of high quality, mid-priced home furnishings. The Bassett Home Furnishings stores also feature the latest on-trend furniture styles, more than 750 upholstery fabrics, free in-home design visits and coordinated decorating accessories. Sleepy Hollow Furniture is proud to partner with HGTV and Bassett Furniture as North Louisiana’s only HGTV Home Furniture Gallery! Refresh. Imagine. Custom, Your way to a look that reflects your own personal style.

96 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

About High Blood Pressure

Dr. Langiulli Talks Cardiac Stents February 11th

LOOD PRESSURE IS THE FORCE OF BLOOD PUSHING against the walls of your arteries, which carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day. But if it stays high for a long time, it can damage your heart and lead to health problems. High blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease and stroke which are leading causes of death in the United States. High blood pressure has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. The only way to know if you have it is to measure your blood pressure. Then you can take steps to control it if it is too high. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Measuring your blood pressure is quick and painless. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart rests between beats. The chart below shows normal, at-risk and high blood pressure levels. A blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg is normal. A blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or more is too high. People with levels in between 120/80 and 140/90 have a condition called prehypertension, which means they are at high risk for high blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Levels Normal

systolic: less than 120 mmHg diastolic: less than 80mmHg

High

systolic: 140 mmHg or higher diastolic: 90 mmHg or higher

At risk (prehypertension)

systolic: 120–139 mmHg diastolic: 80–89 mmHg

Team-based care that includes you, your doctor and other healthcare providers can help reduce and control blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medications and lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes are just as important as medications. Follow your doctor’s instructions and stay on your medications. Do not stop taking your medications before talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All drugs may have side effects, so talk to your doctor regularly. As your blood pressure improves, your doctor will check it often. Make Lifestyle Changes Lifestyle changes can help you control your blood pressure. • Diet. Eat a healthy diet that is: • Low in sodium, total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. • High in fresh fruits and vegetables. • Be active. Try taking a brisk 10-minute walk 3 times a day 5 days a week. • Do not smoke. If you smoke, quit as soon as possible. Source: cdc.gov

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

By February, deer hunters have put their rifles in the gun safe and are either opting for rabbit hunting or pulling out the fishing rods in search of magnum bass or a mess of crappie. For years that was my cycle. That is until our governing bodies determined that the wild hog problem needed a boost. Feral hogs can be found most anywhere in North Louisiana. They breed like rabbits and will eat anything for nutrition. Hunters who left feeders out will return to find them destroyed by bear who will share the bounty with the hogs. There are few folks that go after them with dogs during daylight hours while others opt to attempt to trap them. A feral hog is no dumb animal. They don’t see very well but they have a nose better than a bloodhound and can hear like a wild turkey. They are an eating, killing machine. For those of you who would attempt to trap a wild hog, there are some common mistakes made that need to be avoided. The first is don’t put out a trap, bait it and expect to catch a hog. Use game cameras to locate not just one hog, but a sounder or group of hogs. Secondly, stay away from small enclosed traps. Hogs are very trap shy. They get even tougher to catch if a trip latch trap malfunctions or if a hog is witnessed being trapped. The optimum set up is a system like the Jager Pro System. It has a remote gate with a link via the camera that notifies the owner when pigs are inside the enclosure. Once the camera activates, the photo is sent to the owner where a decision is made on whether to activate the gate or wait on the entire sounder/group to enter. This system is one proven way to capture and control hogs on large acreage. The bonus that has been thrown our way is the ability to hunt hogs at night. Feral hogs can be legally harvested on private land at night from March 1 to August. The catch is you MUST notify the Sheriff’s Office of the parish you are hunting in to report the area you intend to hunt. Failure to do so is a violation that can result in hefty fines. You can now use a silencer (suppressor) and artificial light for hog hunting. Silencers are federally regulated so check with the pros at Simmons’ Sporting Goods who can walk you through the process. Lighted optics are a plus even when hunting with artificial light. Hunting hogs can be tricky so my method is to try and stack the odds in my favor. One method that is effective is the use of game cameras to ascertain exactly what time the hogs are in your feeding area. Feed can range to corn or rice bran, spoiled soybeans or rotten bread. It doesn’t really matter to a hog as they will eat nearly anything. The secret to hunting hogs at night is to first pay close attention to the wind. Avoid windy nights and always approach your set up from the up wind side as to not cast scent towards the baited area. The second is to 98 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

use good scent attractant and scent cover. I like the Buck Bomb “Sow in Heat” spray for the perimeter of my chosen area and the Buck Bomb “Sweet Corn” cover scent. Both of these are proven products that can help fool a pig’s nose. One other issue is being able to see at night. Your choice of weapon is one item that is highly argued. Some opt for heavier rounds/calibers while the smart hog hunter goes for accuracy and shot placement. A hog is not an easy animal to take down. Never shoot a hog facing you, becaus in the front of his shoulders are his shields. This is a thick piece of cartilage the hog has to protect his vitals when fighting. I have seen arrows bounce off of the shields. The optimum shot placement is right behind the eye. For heavier calibers, behind the shoulder around rib two is the spot as you avoid the shields. My calibers of choice are pretty simple: Longer range shots call for my .308. Closer in I opt for my .444 magnum. I have never had a hog take a step with either one of these weapons. Make sure that the animal is down and remember to always approach a downed hog from the rear, not the front. Some folks will tell you that a wild hog has a gamey taste. Not if it is properly butchered. I harvested a large boar a couple of weeks ago and had it processed for sausage. I can attest that it is the best sausage I’ve ever eaten. The trick is the get the hog hunt, dressed and cooled as quickly as possible. Remember when cleaning or handling a hog to always use non-permeable gloves. Hogs carry numerous diseases that can be contracted by humans. Once they are chilled and cooked properly, there is no risk. Feral hogs can be butchered to the taste. Most folks opt for the sausages: link, pan and summer. I butcher a wild hog the same way that a domestic hog would be butchered. I also like to use my wild hog and mix it with venison for chili meat, hamburger meat and sausage. I will leave you with my favorite recipe for wild hog:

After eating this dish, you will see why I will be sitting on my favorite feeder waiting on Mr. Piggie to make an appearance. Great fun and the meat can’t be beat.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

What is the Relay For Life of Ouachita Parish Movement? American Cancer Society Relay for Life Set for April 15

ELAY FOR LIFE IS THE SIGNATURE fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. At the event, you have the opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to this disease during the Luminaria ceremony, and learn more about how to fight back against cancer. While you’re raising much needed funds, you’ll also be raising awareness of the importance of cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and patient support. Each American Cancer Society Relay For Life event gives everyone an opportunity to fight cancer and help save more lives. Teams made up of family members, friends, andcoworkers set up their site and take turns participating in the family fun activities provided, as well as continue to raise funds that night by having on site fundraisers. There will be food, fun, and live entertainment with events and games scheduled throughout the night!

100 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Be part of a Relay for Life Team Gather up your group and register as a team through www.Relayforlife.org/ ouachitala. Each team has a Team Captain and plans fundraisers before and during relay. Each participant that raises a minimum of $100 can receive their complementary 2016 Relay for Life shirt.

Benefits may include your company’s logo printed on event t-shirts, banners,etc

Volunteer Volunteers play a crucial role in the success of the Relay For Life event in your community. Whether you have a few extra hours or a month, the ACS needs your talent and appreciates your time

Important Dates/Events: • Relay for Life of Ouachita Parish April 15, 2016, 6 p.m.-Midnight Ike Hamilton Expo Center

Become a corporate sponsor Businesses that choose to sponsor Relay are making the decision to partner with the American Cancer Society and there are many opportunities offered at varying levels.

For more information on how you can help or for questions, please contact: Megan LeBeouf- Community Account Manager- Megan.LeBeouf@Cancer.org Jessica Siddon- Event Lead- siddon@opsb.net Join Now- www.Relayforlife.org/ouachitala

• Team Captain meetings February 15, 2016, 5:30 p.m. March 21, 2016 , 5:30 p.m. Ouachita Council on Aging

Delhi Hospital Cardiac Rehab Because Every Heart Deserves A Second Chance

ID YOU KNOW THAT HEART Disease is a leading killer of American women? In fact, according to the American Heart Association, more women die from heart disease than from all cancers combined. Most women are unaware of this fact and even fail to recognize their risk factors for heart disease. Women are busier than ever as they balance career, family and other time consuming responsibilities. Often times, a woman’s health needs fall to the bottom of her never-ending to do list. In recognition of National Heart Month, Delhi Hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program wants to remind women to take time out of their busy schedule to protect their heart. KNOW THE SIGNS: Women tend to visit emergency rooms after heart damage has already occurred because they downplay their symptoms and do not associate

them with a heart attack. When a heart attack strikes, women don’t always have the same classic symptoms as men, such as a crushing chest pain. This symptom can certainly occur in women, but often times, vague or “silent” symptoms are experienced and over looked. Heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain can include: neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, right arm pain, nausea or vomiting, sweating, lightheadedness and unusual fatigue. These symptoms can be more subtle than the apparent crushing chest pain associated with most heart attack cases.

develop a unique cardiac rehabilitation plan tailored to address individual health conditions and meet the patient’s specific needs. By following through with cardiac rehabilitation, women can reduce their risk of developing future heart problems while also promoting an overall sense of wellbeing. Delhi Hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program is dedicated to mending broken hearts by providing women with compassionate care that will support them as they make vital lifestyle changes to promote optimal heart health… because every heart deserves a second chance.

WE CAN HELP: Anyone undergoing surgery or other treatments for a heart condition will need further care and long-term support to ensure a safe and healthy recovery. Our heart specialists will

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

101

Special Agents … On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Squire Creek Presents The Peachy Keen Caper March 13

HE PEACHY KEEN CAPER is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Louisiana’s second annual fundraising event, which is hosted by Squire Creek on Sunday, March 13 from 2-7 p.m. The event begins and ends at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant. The Peachy Keen Caper is a zany “Amazing Race” style event starting with the most innovative scavenger hunt you’ve ever seen! It’s not about figuring out where you’re going or retrieving an item when you get there, but instead working together to solve interactive and sometimes puzzling clues on a mad dash through Lincoln Parish! To add to the excitement, a reception with dinner and prizes will take place at Squire Creek Country Club following the hunt. Show team spirit by dressing up— Be

102 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

creative! Each team of six to eight people will be chauffeured to clue sites in a limo or vehicle stocked with snacks and libations. Team captains will receive a hint sheet, which can help increase your odds of winning, several days before the event. Get your team together, and try figuring out what the hints mean by doing a simple Internet search. You might find the piece of the puzzle that will come in handy on the day of the event. Don’t get too confident as you never really know what awaits you and your team at each clue site. Proceeds from this event will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Louisiana (BBBS of NELA), a program of The Wellspring. BBBS of NELA is a nationally acclaimed mentoring program that provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally

supported one-to-one relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people in our community. BBBS of NELA makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (”BIGS”) and children (”LITTLES“) ages 7-18 in Ouachita, Morehouse, Franklin, Lincoln and Richland Parishes. Don’t miss out on the fun! Grab up to seven people, age 21 and over, and form a team today! You can register by phone at (318) 323-9034 or online at bbbsofnela.org/ pkc.

Homemade King Cakes Celebrate the Spirit of Mardi Gras at Vieux Carré Market

ARDI GRAS IS AN ELECTRIFYING TIME OF YEAR, especially here in Louisiana. We celebrate the culture by wearing extravagant masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing and parades. But to truly have a satisfying Mardi Gras season, one must indulge in the 300 yearold, sensation-pleasing delight that is known as the King Cake. At Vieux Carré Market, we have our own take on the classic treat. At Vieux Carré Market, each King Cake is made completely from scratch. We start by creating an impeccable dough that takes about twenty-four hours to rise. This process creates a flakey, airy, perfect tasting crust. Once the bread settles, we carefully lay out two sheets and roll the bread to a precise thickness. We then carefully create either a traditional, cream cheese or pecan-praline filling which is generously layered into the bread, and hand rolled into each King Cake. Now, the baking begins. We bake all of our King Cakes in our large stone oven, which creates the ideal environment for the bread. Once the baking process is completed, we allow time for the bread to cool. The final step is to dress the cake with traditional colored sugars which represent justice (purple), faith (green) and power (gold).

We love bringing smiles to people faces (and bellies), but we also know the importance behind the tradition. It symbolizes our faith, not only religiously, but in each other. As Louisianans, we know how to celebrate, and King Cakes help remind us that it’s important to laugh and catch up with our loved ones. We all have special memories tied to the traditions of King Cake. Let us make your celebrations especially gratifying for your guests and your stomachs. Made from scratch, with love and appreciation for tradition, and its meaning, our King Cakes are without a doubt the best outside of the city of New Orleans. We will make you feel the spirit of Mardi Gras through our King Cakes no matter where you are. Come get yours today at Vieux Carré Market! Lunch Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Dinner Hours: Thursday – Saturday 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

103

Breast Augmentation Frequently Asked Questions

BY TIMOTHY J. MICKEL, MD, CERTIFIED, AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY

HE WINTER SEASON IS A GREAT time to consider breast augmentation. If privacy is an issue, you can camouflage your new fullness with thick sweaters and jackets until the weather warms up. And even if privacy isn’t a concern, having breast augmentation in the winter allows several months for swelling to subside and your breasts to soften, settle and look more natural in your new sundresses and swim wear when spring and summer roll around. I started my practice in Monroe in 1990 and over the past 25 years have done well over a thousand breast augmentations. During the pre-operative evaluation, I have been asked every imaginable question about the procedure. Here are some of the more frequent ones. How long does the operation take? The surgery takes about an hour. Of course, there is some additional time in the beginning to safely put you to sleep and some time in the end to safely wake you up and transport you to the recovery room. If your anatomy is

104 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

challenging and it takes more than an hour, so be it. I will never rush through your surgery. In plastic surgery, it is not as important to be the first one finished, as it is to be the best one finished. Why do I have to be put to sleep? I prefer general anesthesia, meaning you will be put to sleep by an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist. Most patients don’t want to remember anything about the operation. They simply want to wake up in the recovery room, look down at their chest and know that the operation is over. Can you do the surgery in your office? No. I prefer to do this type of surgery in a hospital or outpatient surgery center setting. Accredited surgical facilities have strict guidelines and procedures in place to help insure sterility and patient safety - which is my highest concern. I would never compromise your safety just to shave a few dollars off of the package price for a surgical procedure.

What’s the best kind of implant to use? In the vast majority of first time breast augmentation patients I use smooth silicone implants because they are softer and look more natural than implants filled with saline (salt water). However, in women under age 22, saline implants can be a reasonable choice. In some patients, an Allergan Style 410 “gummy bear” implant is the best choice. We will discuss these options at your initial consultation. I am comfortable using all types of implants. Are silicone implants dangerous? No. Multiple studies have failed to show a link between silicone implants and any medical illness. They don’t cause breast cancer. They don’t cause connective tissue illnesses such as lupus, scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis. They do, however, cause very attractive breasts. And I suppose, in some situations, this could be dangerous. How long will I be off work? I encourage patients to be up and around as soon as possible. Most patients can return to light work in 3 to 5 days. I allow patients to get back to the gym – including intense cardio or even weight lifting – in 3 to 4 weeks. How do you know what size implants to use? Implants are sized according to width and

volume, not cup size. I will listen carefully to what you hope to achieve with surgery, evaluate your particular anatomy and then try to align your expectations with what my 25 years of experience tells me I can realistically deliver. The goal is a fuller, more attractive breast that looks natural and fits your body – no matter what the ultimate cup size. Will large breasts make me look fat? No. Fat makes you look fat. Fuller breasts make you look proportional, attractive, sexy, feminine or a host of other adjectives, but not fat. This is a myth. Do my implants need to be changed every ten years? No. This is another urban myth. While it is true that a breast implant – like your toaster, your refrigerator or your car is a man-made device that won’t last forever, there is no reason to fix it if it isn’t broken. If your breasts are soft and natural, and there has been no evidence of implant rupture on routine mammograms or ultrasound examinations of the breasts, then leave well enough alone. However, if your breast becomes hard or there is a change in the shape of the breast, then implant rupture is one of several possibilities that should be ruled out. Breast augmentation is one the most common procedures I perform, and certainly one of my favorites. If you are considering breast augmentation, there is no need to go elsewhere. I encourage you to visit www.mickelplasticsurgery. com to browse the before and after gallery and see for yourself, then call Mickel Plastic Surgery at (318) 388-2050 to set up a consultation. We will take the time to answer all of your questions and do our best to make the entire experience world class.

ULM School of Construction

Join in Celebrating Our 50th Anniversary on April 8th at the ULM Library The IAC (Industry Advisory Council) is working to make this a very memorable and enjoyable occasion for all. Please plan to join us on April 8, 2016 for social and heavy hors d’oeuvres on the 7th floor of the ULM Library, and have a good time visiting with those you may not have seen since you graduated. All program graduates and their spouse(s), the faculty and administration, both current and previous are invited. So that we may plan for the size of the event please let us know by e-mail if you are thinking about attending and how many in your party. Please email: brayton@ulm.edu or rsmith@ulm.edu. Anyone interested in sponsoring a part of this event please let us know. Don Greenland, Chairman, IAC Ed Brayton, Director, School of Construction Management

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

105

Dorothy Gilbert’s day starts early, when she arrives at the restaurant every morning, slips on an apron, and gets started cooking. Usually, she’s there before 9 a.m. Sometimes, it’s earlier. But from the moment she steps into the kitchen until well after 3 p.m., Gilbert will remain mostly in the kitchen, only sometimes slipping out from behind the hot stove to say hello to an old friend or to mind the register. In those rare moments when she’s in the front of the house, it’s clear Gilbert loves her work. But what’s even more apparent is that her customers love her. After all, who wouldn’t love the bright, beaming smile and the hearty laugh? It’s this casual familiarity that’s help cement Gilbert’s identity as Big Momma, the proprietor of Big Momma’s Fine Foods, the restaurant she opened in 1999. Now going on fifteen years, Big Momma’s Fine Foods is a study in the art of southern cuisine, and with the touch of Michelangelo or Rembrandt, Gilbert plies her trade. “I’ve always been a cook,” Gilbert revealed. She began working in kitchens early on and was almost immediately hooked on the fast paced life, the smells and flavors and the processes that go into cooking. She cooked in the corporate kitchen at Bancroft Bag for 21 years, where she mastered cooking on an industrial scale, catering to the tastes of Bancroft’s diverse workforce. By 1999, she was ready for a new challenge. “I wanted to experiment with what I knew.” That experiment worked out well, especially for the hundreds of customers who file through the line at Big Momma’s Fine Foods every Monday through Saturday in search for the kinds of stick-to-your-ribs cuisine that’s hard to come by in the world of boutique eateries, sandwich shops and fine dining restaurants. If you’re looking for heart healthy, light fare, you’re barking up the wrong tree. But if what you need is a touch of southern comfort, Big Momma’s has just what the doctor ordered. A traditional meat-and-three plate features a choice of a meat, three vegetables and a bread. Beverage choices include sweet tea and unsweet for those that ask, fountain drinks and water. While the menu varies slightly from day to day, the lineup at Big Momma’s regularly features southern fried chicken, fried pork chops, and beef tips with gravy. Other meat choices include hamburger steak and liver and onions. On Fridays, while Big Momma is frying up fish, son Daryl prepares ribs. And not just any ribs. Real, slow-cooked, savory barbecue ribs. They’re a popular feature. “When we do our ribs, we cook anywhere from

six to eight cases for that one day,” she said. For point of reference, a case contains ten slabs, and a slab makes three orders. For the math challenged among us (and I had to break out a calculator), that’s somewhere between 180 and 240 orders of ribs. And very rarely are there any leftovers at the end of the shift. “Customers really like our ribs.” You’d be hard pressed to find something customers don’t like at Big Momma’s Fine Foods, an establishment that more than lives up to its name. Take for instance Gilbert’s fried chicken. Seasoned and breaded, the chicken is perfectly peppered for just the right amount of heat and the ideal balance of salt. Part of the secret is in the frying. For her fried chicken, Gilbert uses only 100 percent peanut oil, which lends a light, perfectly brittle flakiness to the skin. “People love the way it cooks our chicken, so we won’t change that. It comes out pretty and brown, and crispy,” she said. For knife and fork eaters, that means plenty of crispy little bits to pluck off the plate and nosh on after they’ve finished. For those who are pick ‘em up and biters, the satisfying crunch is followed by a cascade of juicy flavor, so have your napkin handy! For the pork lovers, Big Momma’s Fine Foods serves up some of the most succulent fried pork chops around. In true soul food fashion, the pork chops are smothered with a rich, savory gravy that pairs well with mashed potatoes or rice. Add a helping of string beans and a heaping scoop of mustard greens, and you’ll leave Big Momma’s needing a nap. For a bit of authentic southern delicacy, swap the beans for stewed okra and tomatoes, a true Louisiana treat. Round out your selection with a homemade roll or cornbread, available in traditional and hot water varieties. Gilbert’s hot water cornbread is bar none. Where many restaurants attempt the traditional southern side and fail is producing a heavy, thick, and pasty product that’s not only difficult to chew but also too dry to enjoy. In contrast, Big Momma’s hot water cornbread is lighter and just as flaky as her pans of the more traditional, baked variety. While you’re sopping up that last bit of gravy with your cornbread, take a minute to look around at the other diners. Seating is a combination of smaller four-tops and long, cafeteria style tables. So don’t be surprised if, when you’re dining alone, a stranger slides in next to you and starts up a conversation. You’re just as likely to see a mayor or member of the City Council as you are a construction worker or school teacher. At Big Momma’s, everyone’s treated the same. “The whole city of people, and people come from all over--Shreveport, Alexandria, everywhere-we serve them all,” Gilbert said. “It doesn’t matter the label, they come to Big Momma’s to eat.” Black-eyed peas, pinto beans and fried catfish will only take a place so far. In addition to the good eats, there’s also another thing that makes Big Momma’s Fine Foods a muststop destination for lunch. Gilbert sums it up best. “They like the food and they like the service,” she said. Gilbert tries to divide her time between the busy kitchen and the busy service line in the cafeteria-style establishments. Walking that tightrope is a demanding, delicate operation, though, and to help manage the whens WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

107

and wheres of being Big Momma in Big Momma’s Fine Foods, Gilbert relies heavily on family. While Daryl helps man the kitchen, her daughter, Deidre, oversees the dining room and the staff of up to seven, depending on the day. If you ask to see Big Momma, Deidre can usually let you know if she’s a bit too busy in the kitchen--but she’ll be out in a bit to say hello. Gilbert says she’s blessed to have two of her six children working full time in the restaurant, but it’s clear watching her work and watching how her employees defer to her that even newly hired waitresses are part of Big Momma’s family. Teamwork is part of the secret at Big Momma’s Fine Foods. From the moment the crew starts working, they’re in synch, moving about the small establishment on South 2nd Street with the well-timed movements of a ballet. “I don’t even have recipes,” Gilbert confided. “We work together, and that’s the secret. We ask each other what goes in what, if we don’t know.” Just as it appears the line is set to run out of candied yams, in comes Daryl with a steaming pan fresh out of the oven, one more step in the endless swirl of activity that takes place behind the crowded lunch counter. They have a lot of practice replenishing the line, in no small part to the healthy portion sizes. In fact, for many customers, eating Big Momma’s lunches is a challenge. For others, it’s an excuse to enjoy a second meal later. Rarely, if ever, is food left on a plate. Regular patrons know the drill. “They’ll ask for a to-go plate, because they want it. They take it home with them, because they ain’t going to throw it away,” Gilbert said. Looking at a heaping plate of fried chicken,

108 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

DOROTHY GILBERT Owner of Big Momma’s Fine Food

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

109

mashed potatoes and kidney beans, it’s clear this is the kind of place that knows how southerners like their food--good and lots of it. But don’t think big portions let you off the hook for a little something sweet. Lining the top shelf of the service line and crowding the areas around the register, delectable sweets abound. There’s always chocolate, vanilla and lemon cake on hand. Occasionally, Gilbert gets a hankering to make German chocolate or red velvet cakes. Pineapple and carrot cakes are frequent customer favorites, and she’s almost always got a cobbler of some sort on the line. As you’re looking at the portions of your lunch, though, whatever you do, don’t skip dessert. Big Momma’s cakes are as famous and popular as the fried chicken. Visit on a Friday, enjoy the catfish or ribs, and then chase it down with a heaping helping of Gilbert’s famous rum cake. “It’s got alcohol in it,” she said, though she declines to speculate if that’s why it’s so popular. If rum cake is your thing, though, come early, because supplies are limited. “Customers come in and ask for it,” Gilbert said. Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Big Momma’s Fine Foods is just that: fine food without the frills and, more importantly, without the price tag. Lunch varies depending on the choices you make for meats, sides, drink and dessert, but in almost any combination, $10 will cover it. So come hungry, dive in and enjoy the atmosphere.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

111

Chi Omega Christmas

The annual Chi Omega Christmas Party was held this year at the beautiful home of Mary Hardwick. The party honors all the new pledges and their mothers, and also serves as the Christmas social gathering. Some of those attending were Jennifer Graham, Lynn Barr, Fran Turpin, Caroline Coon, Mary Howell Coon, Carly Bowman, Carol Dryfus, Avery Tennis, Jeri Tennis, Claiborne Morris, Jennifer Morris, Lillian Paxton, Claudia Wood, Amy Norris, Jana Graves, Hope Robertson, Suzanne Wolff, Olive Sartor, Mossy Sartor, Margaret Ann Zentner and Maggie Zentner.

On the BayouScene 1 Claudia Wood and Amy Norris 2 Margaret Zentner and Olive Sartor 3 Mossy Sartor, Mary Hardwick and Maggie Zentner 4 Avery Tennis, Caroline Coon, Margaret Ann Zentner and Carly Bowman 5 Jerri and Avery Tennis 6 Maggie and Margaret Ann Zentner

112 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Trenton Society

On Monday, December 14 the members of Trenton Society and their guests were treated to a presentation featuring the perfect marriage of storytelling and visual arts. First United Methodist Church in West Monroe was the place where the beloved nativity story took on new breath and meaning as Allison Milliron meshed the events of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; birth with her own oil-oncanvas creations. Each piece of art was incorporated to develop the meaning of The Christmas Story. Following the presentation, the group adjourned to the church parlor where, under the direction of hostesses Kari Scott, Laurie Majure and Pat Minard, members of Trenton Society invited their guests to join them in Christmas cheer and refreshments. Trenton Society is a 51-year-old organization that exists to render community service in West Monroe and to provide opportunities for cultural and social growth for its members.

2 4

On the BayouScene 1 Marcia Donald, Dana Kennedy and Mary Sanders 2 Lauren Campbell, Mary Sue Mitchell and Johnette Sellar 3 Laurie Majure, Cathy Chandler and Debbie Edgerton 4 Kathy Morrison, Armande Kennedy and Sarah Hendricks 5 Nanette White and Judy Bennett 6 Kathy Horne, Jean Cornwell and Patti Gaskin

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

113

Heartfelt Conference From Friday, January 15, 2016 to Saturday, January 16, 2016, guests attended the second annual Heartfelt Experience at First West Baptist Church, West Monroe Campus. The women of Duck Commander and Christian author Dr. Joneal Kirby teamed up for the conference along with Shellie Tomlinson, Mary Snyder, Mindy Lancaster, and musical guest, Jeremy Camp and his wife Adie. The intimate and lovely atmosphere at First West made the Heartfelt Experience a truly blessed event! The mission of the Heartfelt Ministry is generational faith passing—older women mentoring younger women. Events during the Experience included book signings, testimonies, a fashion show, popup-shops and much more, making it what the Heartfelt Ministries called it, “So Much More than a Conference.”

On the BayouScene 1 Lauren Vincent, Maranda Green and Kathy Davenport 2 Marianne Sidders and Lynne Flowers 3 Christy Tisdale and Jenny Holloway 4 Amanda Meadows and Brenda Thomason 5 Krystal Wilson and Michelle Sepulvado 6 Natalie Makool and Misti Meredith 7 Kirby Johnson and Vicky Johnson 8 Janie Stafford, Grace Stadler and Suzanne Stafford 9 Baleigh, Lynne and Denise Wells 10 Doris Humplik, Lauren Furlough and Janice Barnard 11 D orothy Donaldson, Dawn Biering and Norma Lemoine 12 Janet Pack and Hannah McDaniel 13 Kelly Block and Caitlyn Bamburg 14 Cheyenne Little and Amber Breithbarth 15 Kayla Williams, Debbie Herrington and Cindy Stone

7 9

11 15

12 114 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

A Fresh, New Vision for City Council Michael Echols for Monroe City Council

ARING FOR HIS COMMUNITY, A devotion to making it a better place to raise our children and a commitment to service are just a few of the reasons that Michael Echols has decided to run for the District 1 seat on the Monroe City Council. He is a young, proven, dynamic leader who has already provided remarkable service to his community through his volunteer involvement in many civic, arts and charitable groups. Michael believes in building bridges of unity to bring solutions to problems. His contributions have given life, breath and depth to the message and vision of the organizations he has served. Today’s business environment calls for leaders capable of working together with others, able to collaborate in creative endeavors, innovate, inspire and contribute without dominating any undertaking.

Michael’s work as Director of Business Development for Vantage Health Plan and Affinity Health Group, his work as a registered financial consultant and his work as a member of the senior leadership team at ULM have prepared him to have the skill set necessary to be the type of City Councilman that the City of Monroe needs to get things done. It is his extraordinary poise and style in contributing his best that creates an environment which draws the very best from his associates in whatever project he is working on at the moment. Echols envisions enhancing prospects for doing business and growing jobs, working to solve Monroe’s crime problems, listening to citizen’s concerns and implementing plans of the Ouachita Business Alliance for the City and the Parish. As a small business owner and

developer of Monroe historic commercial properties, he has already helped bring downtown Monroe back to life and become a tax base for the city. He serves on the board of the Northeast Louisiana Economic Partnership and the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. He is also the President of the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation. Michael Echols possesses the integrity, the giving spirit and the fresh vision to represent District 1 in the City of Monroe. If you would like to show your support with a yard sign or volunteer, please call Michael Echols, (318) 366-7370.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

115

ULM Football Meet and Greet

On Thursday, January 14, ULM held a special event at the Bayou Desiard Country Club, in which athletics foundation members were able to meet with the Warhawk football coaching staff. ULM president Dr. Nick J. Bruno and deputy athletic director Josh Brooks opened the program with opening remarks including highlighting the work ethic of the coaching staff and their excitement and expectations for the coming years. Dr. Bruno then gave way to a trio of coaches as head coach Matt Viator, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Mike Collins and offensive coordinator Matt Kubik all spoke to those in attendance. ULM athletic director Brian Wickstrom closed the event with an updating on the athletics departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fundraising efforts including highlighting the endzone facility that is set to open in March. He also shared his excitement on the upcoming seasons as well as how easy it is to work with the coaching staff.

On the BayouScene 1 2 3 4

Bernard Heflin and Bill Pippin James Stephens and Tyler Flemister J ohnathon Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leary and Linda Bruno J oe Domingos, Dr. Charles R. McDonald, Dr. Nick Bruno and Dean Charles McDonald 5M att Viator, Todd Wright, Carolyn Clampit and Tommy Franklin 6C harles Herold, Mayor Jamie Mayo, Scott McDonald and Joe Domingos 7 Bob and Janet Durden with Daniel Freeman 8 Robert Charles Payne, Kristen Firth and Billy Justice 9 Gayle Miletello, Terry Reeves and Blake Herrington 10 C harles Marsala and Dr. Larry Danna 11 Bob Cooper and Glen Gibson 12 Randy Turner and Tom Dansby 13 Roger Johnston and Stacy Weldon 14 D r. Nick Bruno, Eric Liew, Brian McGregor and Mike Collins 15 R onnie and Sharon Ward, Mayor Jamie Mayo and Mike Vining 16 Susan Chappell and Romana Martin

6 8

9 13

12 16

14 116 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Marx for Monroe City Council Leaders Say Jay Marx’s Reputation, Demeanor and Financial Experience Needed

HE MARX FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN downtown Monroe since the late 1800’s when his great grandfather opened Southern Hardware. Jay began working there at an early age and ultimately became the President and Chief Executive Office of Southern Hardware and Supply. Around the same time that he took over the family business, Jay and his wife, Susan, also opened the Poolside Shop that they successfully operated until 2013 when they retired. What some of the people who encouraged Jay Marx to run are saying: Because of Jay’s leadership as board chairman the RiverWalk was built. His vision helped make Downtown Monroe the destination it is today. — Wynn Lawrence, former Downtown Development Board member We need Jay’s ability to work with people and build relationships which will help the Ouachita Business Alliance Plan become a reality. The OBA Plan will help attract and retain businesses. A successfully functioning City Council and Administration will enable the OBA improvements of our infrastructure, education, and quality of life. — Carrick Inabnett Because of his reputation and history of service in our community, people respect and listen to Jay. — Eugene Montgomery His CPA and business expertise were apparent on the Monroe City Council as evidenced by the increase in the City’s Fund Balance that grew from under $200,000 to over $13,000,000 with a bond rating of A Plus. — George Cummings Jay Marx is not running for personal political reasons or as a steppingstone to another elected position. He has a reputation of being honest and trustworthy. — John Bruscato I’m glad Jay Marx has agreed to run for City Council. His election will be a continuation of his exceptional record of community service. — Hugh McDonald Paid for by the committee to elect Jay Marx. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

117

Krewe of Janus On Saturday, January 16, the Krewe of Janus hosted the 2016 Grand Ball at the West Monroe Convention. Mistress of ceremonies, Lacy Miletello, recognized former royalty, captains and presented the 2016 Royal Court. King Janus XXXIII Michael Brown and Squire William Lam, along with Queen Janus XXXIII Lucy Hotzclaw and Lady-in-waiting Bonnie Dilmore kicked off the ball with a command to dance as they took to the floor with all of their duchesses and dukes for a royal second line. Ball music was provided by the Topcats as party-goers reveled into the night.

On the BayouScene 1 Joseph Hakim and Steve Courteau 2 Evelyn Johnson and Clint Downing 3 Max and Debbie Coplen 4 Lee and Carla Rodgers 5 LeeBo Alderman and Giles Davis 6 Ron and Shelley Hill 7 Uellรก Strickland and Ramona Welch 8 Jamie Brown and Brad McCarty 9 Joe and Karen McCarthy 10 Renada and Julian Decateur 11 Lauren Walker and Dana Mullins 12 Tara and King Janus XXXIII Michael Brown 13 Ana Lopez Hale, Ashley Watkins and Ty Goodin 14 Wade Salter and Micah Goins 15 Queen Janus XXXIII Lucy Holtzclaw and King Janus XXXIII Michael Brown 16 Zeke and Courtney Wetzel

118 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Mayor Jamie Mayo Seeks Re-Election Our City, Our Future, Our Choice!

URING HIS FIFTEEN YEARS AS mayor of the city of Monroe, Jamie Mayo has demonstrated proven leadership in government, business, education and throughout the community. Not only is he making a difference in our city, he has gained recognition on a state level, as he is currently serving as co-chair on the transition team for Governor John Bel Edwards. One of the things Mayor Mayo is most proud of during his terms is the growth and economic development that has taken place. He has worked with CenturyLink, GardnerDenver-Thomas and IBM to create jobs, over 2,000 businesses of all sizes have opened during his administration and there have been 11 consecutive budget surpluses, a $15 million fund balance and the city has received an A+ bond rating. Not only has he helped create jobs, but Mayor Mayo has saved jobs as well, by investing economic development funds in

St. Francis Medical Center and helping lead the effort to keep University Health/Conway Hospital open. These projects are in part what have earned him multiple state and national awards, including LMA Award for Economic Development. Infrastructure has continued to progress and develop under Mayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration as well. The city has seen water, sewage, roads and bridges improved. Local citizens and visitors alike are able to travel in and out of the city at the state-of-the-art airport terminal, with the surrounding Air Industrial Park continuing to see growth. Several local recreation and community centers have seen renovation thanks to Mayo. The city has grown with numerous public and private housing developments. Mayo has been instrumental in downtown development with projects like the RiverMarket, RiverJams and Art Crawls. The downtown area has seen a significant increase

in new businesses, restaurants and housing. In the safety sector, there has been a hightech Fire and Police Public Safety Center built, updated fire and police vehicle fleets and the city has received a Class 1 fire rating, which also reduces insurance costs, saving both home owners and business owners money. In fact, there has been a 19.5 percent decrease in property and violent crime over the past 14 years while Mayo has been in office. The city has made many strides and advancements under Mayo. Monroe was one of the first municipal administrations in the state to initiate a $10 minimum wage, as well as the use of police body cameras. Mayor Jamie Mayo has served this city well and looks forward to doing so in the years to come. On Saturday, March 5, you have a choiceâ&#x20AC;Ś.promises or proven performance.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

119

Happy Tails is Here for You Doggie Daycare, Grooming, Boarding and Lots of Love

COMMON QUESTION WE RECEIVE IS, “WHAT IS doggie daycare?” Doggie daycare is simply supervised group play during the day. Pets get dropped off in the morning while parents go off to work, school or even just to let their pups socialize while they are out running errands. During the day your pups will meet new friends there size, play games and just romp around and have FUN! All pets are required to pass a temperament test, remain current on all required vaccinations, be at least four months of age and be spayed or neutered by six months of age to qualify for daycare. All parents need to do is call to set up their pet’s first free day of daycare and temperament test, then they are free to drop in whenever they are ready to have a good time! Doggie Daycare may be good for pups that: • Have high energy levels • show destructive behaviors at home • Are overweight • Have separation anxiety • Need Socialization • Just love to have fun!

120 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Is your pup due for a day of pampering? Happy Tails is a full service grooming salon offering services for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Our groomers are experienced, friendly and work by appointment only to ensure special time with your pet. Pets can be dropped off early and stay all day while mom and dad are out, or can be dropped off at their appointment time and be picked up as soon as they are ready. It’s all up to you! We offer many services from baths to full grooms, even color and feathers if desired! During overnight stays, your pets will always be treated as our own. We have two options for boarding clients,” Boarding only” or “boarding with daycare”. The boarding only package is great for any pet who may not want to participate in doggie daycare during their visit. In this package, pets are kenneled during the day, however, all boarders are let out every one to two hours during the day to ensure that your pets are always provided ample exercise and potty time! If your pet registers as boarding with daycare, they will go straight to doggie daycare after morning routine and breakfast and will not return to their kennel until dinner time. After dinner we will do a little more play, and then it’s time to get tucked in for bed! And trust us, they will be ready for a good night’s rest!

Dixie Center for the Arts

Dianne Douglas Displays Watercolor Paintings at the Dixie Center for the Arts

he North Central Louisiana Arts Council is pleased to announce a new exhibition by the artist Dianne Douglas. The paintings, featuring colorful landscapes, are on display now through March 1, 2016 at the Dixie Center for the Arts Lobby. Dianne Douglas started painting watercolors at an early age in her hometown of Wewoka, Oklahoma under the tutelage of her father Stephen. She continued to paint during her teaching career at Louisiana Tech University, where she holds the title of Professor Emerita of Hispanic Literature and Language. She believes that painting with watercolors is like working directly with light and relishes in the inherent difficulties of the medium to create beautiful works of art. In Douglas’s artist statement she writes, “The more I experiment with watercolor, the more I am in awe of its limitless

possibilities. Each painting brings new ways of seeing and interpreting the world.” Douglas works on a small scale that forces her to distill the essence of each scene and eliminate extraneous detail. She now experiments more boldly with light, seeking sharper contrasts of form and color for their visual impact. Her recent paintings incorporate more and more the people she sketches and photographs in and around Ruston and while traveling in Europe, Latin America and the United States. She has displayed her artwork across North Louisiana, and her painting Peach Prism won

first place in the Transparent Paint category for NCLAC’s 2015 Peach Art Exhibit. In partnership with the Dixie Center for the Arts, NCLAC presents art exhibitions that feature work by regional artists. Works are available for purchase by calling the NCLAC office at 318.255.1450. The Dixie Center for the Arts, located at 212 N. Vienna in Ruston, has been a part of Ruston’s historic downtown since 1928 and provides the city a full season of entertainment and the arts.  NCLAC is supported by its members, as well as 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 Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

121

article by BARBARA LEADER photography by MARTIN G MEYERS

When she was only 13 years old, Annie Douglass made peace with her belief that she would likely always be a single woman with no children. She couldn’t imagine that there could be a man who would understand her unique needs, accept her medical diagnosis and still choose to join her in the challenges that a life together would bring.

ittle did she know that only a few miles away, there was a young man who would one day become her husband and the father of their children. Together the young couple would conquer incredible challenges and celebrate victories that most wouldn’t believe possible. West Ouachita residents Annie and Terrence Broussard and their two children Savanna, 8, and Sara, 3, appear to be like most any other young family. They ride horses together, go to Savanna’s basketball games and practices and attend church. Unless you knew the family intimately, you would never guess the hurdles they’ve overcome and the blessings they’ve experienced on the road to becoming a family.

Medical Challenges Shape Life

Annie was born with a heart condition that required her to have surgery when she was only three years old. During that surgery, she was given a blood transfusion that was contaminated with HIV. Ten years later, she went to the doctor for treatment of another illness and learned that she had HIV – a result of the surgery to repair her heart. “Through my life, I always prepared for it to be just me,” Annie said. “I didn’t think I would ever find a guy who could handle my illness. It will never go away. The doctors will never say that I don’t have HIV/ AIDS.” As a child, Annie attended Claiborne Christian School and spent her spare time with her animals – a Yorkie named Angel and a horse, Fancy. “My animals were my life,” she said. “That’s how I coped.”

Illnesses Create Additional Challenges

Through the years, Annie missed a lot of school as she participated in medical studies, including one at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and going back and forth to local doctors’ appointments. But very few people knew the underlying cause of her frequent absences. Her illness also made her reluctant to experience life like most other teenagers. “I really never looked at guys in a personal relationship kind of way because I knew that when they found out about me, they would run,” she said. Still, like any other beautiful young lady, she attracted the attention of potential boyfriends. At one point she set her fears aside and began a relationship with a young man. Confiding in him about her illness confirmed her worst fears. The relationship ended abruptly. Annie resumed her life as before, depending on her family and friends for support and riding her horses to fill her time.

A Love Story Begins

“I never knew Terrence,” she said. “I knew his younger brothers

– they were friends with my brother – I was friends with all of my brothers’ friends. I cheered and they played basketball.” Terrence was four years older than Annie and was homeschooled. Even though Annie knew of Terrence, she didn’t meet him until the two began working food booths sponsored by their churches and located across from each other at the Ark-La-Miss fair. They began talking as Annie went back and forth between the booths visiting with Terrence’s brothers. “I thought Terrence was cute, but there weren’t sparks,” she said. “I just didn’t let myself look at guys that way.” But a friend of Terrence’s decided the couple needed to get to know each other better. He ran across the way to Annie’s booth and asked her out for Terrence. “He said, ‘Do you know that guy?’ pointing to Terrence,” she said “I said ‘Yes, he’s Jeremy and Brandon’s older brother.” “Would you go out with him?” Annie recalled the friend asking. “I said, ‘Yeah, but he’s got a girlfriend.” After learning that Terrence’s relationship had ended, she agreed to go out with him. Their first date, Annie says, he picked her up at her house in his truck and took her to the fair. The couple shared a common love of horses and spent many hours riding together.

Young Love Confronts Serious Illness

“I asked her about her heart surgery,” Terrence said. “She couldn’t deny that. There wasn’t any skipping around that, everyone knew she had heart surgery. But nobody was for sure what (other diagnosis) she had or why she had it. ” “She said ‘I had heart surgery, but they fixed it and everything is alright,” he said. “I said ‘okay’. I didn’t ask her anything else. I just made up my mind that if that’s all she was going to say, that’s fine.” Two or three weeks later, Terrence said Annie was ready to talk. “She said, ‘I need to tell you something.’ She told me about how she had contracted HIV. She said, ‘I understand if I don’t want to see me anymore and I said, “No, I’ve got to think about this.” “The next morning, I was sitting in my truck reading my Bible,” he remembered. “I’d been praying to find the right girl. I was only 21, but I was tired of dating. I wanted to get married and have little kids and have a house to go to every night. So, I was reading my Bible and it was like God thumped me on the ear kind of like ‘Ain’t you listening?’ “He said, ‘Look, I gave you someone. I’ve shown you someone who has all the same interests as you. Believes the same way you do, likes to do things with you and you like to do things with her. Everything you asked for, except there’s this one little thing….HIV.” And it came to my mind, “Tomorrow is not promised to anyone.’ And God said…’Don’t let this one little thing be a hindrance.” So, I said. “I can handle it.” Annie said she expected that after telling him about her illness, WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

123

relationship would end. “I knew I really liked him, but I was afraid that when I told him, it would be over, so I wouldn’t get really connected,” she said.

An Answer And A Proposal

“I called her the next day and said, ‘I’m good with it,” Terrence said. Eight months after their first date, he proposed to Annie. “He called me and told me that my horse had a hurt leg and that I needed to come down to the stall,” she recalls. “I took off running in my pajamas, and when I got to the stall, there he was down on one knee and he had the ring out.” Before the couple married, Annie went public with her medical issues. She gave her testimony in each of their churches. “I went into my teenage years being diagnosed with AIDS,” she said. “I wanted to go out of my teen years and to tell people what I had and what God was doing.” Terrence said after his initial decision to spend his life with Annie, he wasn’t concerned that he made the wrong decision. “I never had any doubts after that morning in that truck when God said ‘I’ve got this. You asked for me to send you somebody. I’ve got this.’ And still to this day, I don’t have any doubts about her health. She could die tomorrow. I could die tomorrow. I don’t have a problem with that. No, I don’t want to go on without her, just like any other man wouldn’t. And she’s not going to die tomorrow. But if that was to happen, I could deal with that.”

Young Newlyweds Confront Medical Crisis

Annie’s medical issues continued. She was in and out of hospitals and doctor’s visits – a routine part of her life. But at one point shortly after the couple married, it got significantly worse. Annie had a serious infection in addition to the HIV. Terrence found himself, a newlywed of six months, sitting beside his wife’s hospital bed in ICU in Shreveport. He’d been told that she likely wouldn’t live through the night. “You could see the monitors and her blood pressure was like ….it was horrible. She shouldn’t be alive,” he said. “I grabbed her hand and prayed for her and she was blue and cold,” Terrence said. “I prayed, I said, I finally found the person that I want to be with the rest of my life and the person that I think you want me to be with. I know you didn’t just allow us to date, get married for this short amount of time and then bring us to this point. I don’t feel like this is the end, but it’s in your hands.” “I prayed that if He had a job for us to do, we needed to be doing it. I didn’t believe it was the end… with her dying right here in this hospital after we ain’t done anything together as a couple or anything.” Miraculously, Annie’s condition turned around and soon, she was headed home from the hospital. The couple says no one ever knew what the infection was or what caused it. Over the years, Annie had beaten the medical odds time and time again, surviving illnesses that according to doctors, she should not have. Beginning early in life and throughout her time with Terrence, 124 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Annie would endure illnesses and treatments then defy the odds, recover and move on.

Moving Ahead With Their Dreams

When Annie’s medical condition seemed to be stable several years later, the couple decided they wanted to have children. They tried several times to adopt, but all of the attempts ended in disappointment. “The adoptions were a letdown and it wasn’t like they didn’t happen because of the HIV. The mama would just decide she wanted to keep her baby,” he said. “I think God had the ultimate plan to let us have our own two kids.” Annie and Terrence now have two girls, neither of which have HIV. For more than ten years Annie’s medical indicators of HIV have been classified as “non-detectible.” “It’s a treatable disease now,” Terrence said. “Ten years ago, it wasn’t.”

The Future Is Bright

Today, their life is much like other couples their age. Annie is a stay-at-home mom. Terrence owns an electrical business, ASTS Electric, and is studying to take the exam for his general contractor’s license. Annie plans to one day write a book chronicling her life. She hopes that it will give others in similar situations both faith and strength.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

125

For Terrence and others who know her well, Annie’s already been an inspiration. “I figure I’ll make it to about 80 years or so and I’ll die and she’ll still be alive,” Terrence said. “In my opinion, God’s used the medicine to heal her.” “Our relationship would not be possible without God,” Annie said. “There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God, all things are possible.” Annie and Terrence have been married 16 years and are looking forward to a bright future with their children and eventually their grandchildren. “Just like all relationships, we’ve had our ups and downs,” Annie said. “Terrence has always loved me for me. I love him for many reasons...but, I especially love him for loving me.”

126 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Give the Gift of Beauty This Valentine’s Day Professional Laser Center Helps You Get Creative BY JUDY WAGONER

WAY FROM THE REGULAR cliches of flowers, chocolates and jewelry on Valentine’s Day, the serious at-heart lovers are taking the cosmetic procedure route to look their best on V-Day. As people get more creative with Valentine’s Day ideas, beauty and youth are scoring high on the charts this year. One of the hottest trends of the season is the ‘Vampire FaceLift.’ Professional Laser Center brought the Vampire FaceLift to Monroe, because it’s the bleeding edge of the science of beauty. It’s a non-surgical, in-office procedure, performed by Dr. Victor Zuckerman, Medical Director at Professional Laser Center. Blood is drawn from your arm and spun in a centrifuge. Dr. Zuckerman then extracts the result,

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and injects it into specific areas of your face, along with a filler, to give you a fuller, softer look. PRP and other growth factors in your blood then trigger new collagen production. The result is smoother, more youthful skin, as the process restores shape, color, texture and volume, with results lasting around 18 months. Because it’s a process that uses the healing properties of your own blood, greater results are acheived than filler alone. The procedure is less than 20 percent the total cost of a surgical facelift, and has virtually no down-time. Also offered under the ‘Vampire” umbrella is the ‘O-Shot,’ the ‘P-Shot’ and ‘Hair Restoration’ using PRP. Other hot trends this season are Botox and ‘lip plumping’ with fillers. This is a

treatment sought by women of all ages for lip augmentation, correction of lip asymmetry, gummy smile and treatment of vertical smoker’s lines. The adventurous ones are also going for Laser Hair Removal, and Intense Pulsed Light to remove age spots, freckles, and treat Rosacea. The conservative ones are opting for Microdermabrasion and Rejuvapen Microneedling (collagen induction) to treat wrinkles, acne scars and stretch marks. From now until February 14, take 15 percent off any procedure at Professional Laser Center. We offer beautiful gift certificates with tailor made treatments he or she will love.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

127

The Best for Your Child Jesus the Good Shepherd School Welcomes You

S A PARENT,YOU ALWAYS WANT what’s best for your child, – whether that means their health, education or faith. By choosing to send your child to Jesus the Good Shepherd School, you are providing them a unique opportunity to grow in Christ while performing at high academic standards. Our focus at JGS is to give our students the best spiritual, intellectual, physical and social environment available in north Louisiana. As a Catholic school, our focus remains on Christ because we know that what a child believes is as important, if not more important, than what they know. It is our mission to instill a knowledge and love of God, self and others by providing for our students a lasting moral and academic foundation. We emphasize within our challenging curriculum, prayer, service, self-discipline, individual self-worth and a positive attitude toward others all within a safe enviroment. Our faith in Jesus Christ is the reason our school exists. Therefore, both spiritual and academic experiences at JGS enable students to deepen their relationship with Jesus

128 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Christ, broaden their knowledge of their faith and connect their faith to their daily lives. The foundation of faith around which our academic programs are built permeates every aspect of the school day and continues beyond it. This faith-filled environment instills high degrees of self-confidence, selfrespect and self-discipline among students. We know that an education should prepare students to be good stewards of God’s gift’s and active people of faith who serve others, make a difference in the world and participate in their faith and civic communities. Visit JGS and you will notice the spirit of camaraderie among students, teachers, parents and administrators. Our school is a “community within a community” that unites people who share common values and goals as a community of faith. As a member of the Jesus the Good Shepherd School family, your children will benefit from academic, faith, enrichment and extracurricular activities. Some of the highlights of a JGS experience are:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Full week and three day Pre-K 3 available S.A.C.S. Accredited Accelerated Reader Bus service available Art and Music Programs Up-to-date Library Federal Food and Nutrition Program Fully Equipped Gym/Auditorium Extended Day Program with Homework Help Student Council Active PTO and Dad’s Club Altar servers through JGS Church 2nd-6th grade Tennis 3rd-6th grade Baseball 3rd-6th grade Softball 4th-6th grade Basketball 3rd-6th grade Football Cheerleaders (all grades) Average 17:1 student/teacher ratio Summer camp for registered students

Open registration for new students for the 2016-2017 school year will begin this month. Please be sure to visit our website or call our school office for more information including application and tuition information. School tours are offered each Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. or by making an appointment with our principal, Lisa Patrick.

G.I. Associates

We Don’t Monkey Around With Tummy Trouble

HE STRESS OF NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO TO relieve a baby’s stomach discomfort can be overwhelming for parents. You’d give anything to make them feel better. Should you wait and take your child to the pediatrician or the family doctor? A pediatric gastroenterologist’s training gives you the peace of mind that a specialist will treat your child’s stomach issues. Adults aren’t the only ones who are troubled with acid reflux, celiac disease or GERD; children can have these same issues. A toddler’s picky eating might be a sign of digestive issues because he can’t tell you that a certain food gives him indigestion. Pediatric specialists can end your anxiety about what to feed a child with digestive problems and make mealtime enjoyable for the whole family. Symptoms of disorders that can affect the upper GI tract (from the esophagus to the stomach) include: • Heartburn • Difficulty swallowing • Stomach pain • Nausea

• Vomiting • Problems in the passage of food • Any combination of these symptoms No one knows your child better than you do, so trust your instincts. If your child has a stomachache or persistent digestive problems like diarrhea, constipation or cramping, it’s time to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. GI Peds is part of GI Associates, the largest gastroenterology clinic with pediatric specialists on staff, in Mississippi. You don’t need a referral to bring your child to GI Peds; you can come to our office first. So don’t monkey around the next time your child has tummy distress, because we don’t! GI Associates is a certified endoscopy facility with a staff of board-certified physicians highly trained in gastroenterology for adult and pediatric patients. Contact GI Associates at 601.355.1234 to request a pediatric gastroenterologist to care for your child.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

129

Lambda Sigma Chi Sorority Continuing the Tradition

BY ISABELLA MCJUNKINS, PRESIDENT

AMBDA SIGMA CHI IS A SORORITY RICH IN tradition. It was founded in 1932 by a group of sixth grade girls from Georgia Tucker who met once a week in a garage. Originally, Lambda was primarily a social club. Today, Lambda is both a social and service sorority. The goals for our organization are to promote friendship, sisterhood and community service. Since the conception of Lambda Sigma Chi, times have changed immensely, as has our organization. That tiny group of friends that met in a garage for an hour of social bonding has grown into an organization of 123 active members, known in our community for selfless and endless volunteerism. There is power in numbers. Serving as an ambassador for Lambda Sigma Chi is a privilege and an honor. As we follow in the footsteps of our friends in volunteerism, the Junior League of Monroe, we encourage you to ignite your passion for volunteerism. It is our goal to leave a legacy of true service to others, not because we are required to get service hours, but because we want to show the love of God through serving those in need. Last year, Lambda Sigma Chi donated over $6,000.00 to organizations such as Med Camps of Louisiana, The Wellspring, The Ronald McDonald House, Families Helping Families and Grace Place. In addition, members contributed over 2,500 hours of service in our community. This year, the tradition continues as members have embraced opportunities to serve others by volunteering at events such as the American Legion Memorial Service, the Animal Shelter, the Acts Family Retreat, Battle of the Badges, The Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coalition, the Peace, Hope and Heart Rock Walk for the Northeast Louisiana Heart Association, Run for Mercy, MedCampsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fall Bash, a Diabetes Walk to fund Juvenile Diabetes and the Red Kettle Run for the Salvation Army. In most organizations, with the introduction of new leadership, it is customary to introduce a new platform. A platform is set in place at the beginning of a new term or season. The platform supports the existing mission statement of the organization. In our case, our motto is friendship, socials and service. The platform should stimulate new energy to help grow the organization. The platform selected for 2015-2016 is Pearls, Poise and Purpose. Pearls to represent the charms of our southern heritage, poise to remember that social graces are important and are noticed, and purpose because in all things we do there should always be purpose.

130 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Celebrate Valentine’s Weekend Professional Soloists From the Local Area and Throughout the U.S. Sing “Carousel” Favorites in the 5th Season of Louisiana Opera

Join the fifth season of Louisiana Opera Friday, February 12, at 7 p.m., as it presents a fundraiser for the opera company in Grace Church’s Kilbourne Hall in Monroe’s Garden District. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical “Carousel” will be presented by members of the Louisiana Opera--professional singers from throughout the US as well as local Northeast Louisiana talent. Monroe welcomes back baritone Corey McKern, who sang the role of the Barber in the LA Opera production of The Barber of Seville this past June. Soprano Betsy Uschkrat, the former Miss Indiana, will also return to town after many stellar performances in Monroe. Betsy and Corey will be Julie and Billy in the musical about the star-crossed lovers’ ill-fated romance. “If I Loved You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” are only two of the many well-known tunes in the show. Also returning is tenor Tyler Smith and baritone Ron Ulen. Familiar to our audience are Monroe soloists Claire Vangelisti, Lynn Clark, and pianist Richard Seiler. The party kicks off at 7 pm, when Cory

Bahr will serve beverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $40 per person and are available at Fiesta Nutrition Center, 1211 N. 18th Street, and in the VAPA office at the University of Louisiana at Monroe Biedenharn Music Building during university office hours, 8 am-5 pm. For more information, call (318) 342-3247. Sponsors for this Valentine’s fundraiser are Fiesta Nutrition Center, the News-Star, Vantage Healthcare, Glenwood Regional Medical Center and ULM VAPA. Food will be generously provided by Cory Bahr of Restaurants Cotton and Nonna. Gift baskets to be raffled off are being provided by Tonore’s Wine Cellar, Janine Hopins, MD and Vieux Carré. On April 1 and 3 the Louisiana Opera will present its first full production of the season, the exciting and passionate Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini. The opera will be fully costumed and staged and will be sung in Italian with English translated titles above the singers onstage. The Friday night performance (April 1) will begin at 7 pm while the April 3 Sunday matinee will be at 2 pm.

Returning by popular demand is the Metropolitan Opera tenor Allan Glassman, who sang the role of Canio in LA Opera’s production of Pagliacci in 2014. Also returning is soprano Rebecca Wascoe and Ron Ulen, baritone, both having sung major roles in last year’s Dialogue of the Carmelites. Rounding out this extraordinary cast as the comic priest is bass Bill Bugg, returning to Monroe after starting his singing and teaching career here many years ago. ULM faculty member Julian Jones and outstanding graduate Nathanael Medlin also have important roles in the musical drama. Making an appearance will be members of the outstanding Delta Youth Chorale, conducted and created by their leader Jarrod Richey. The production team is led by director Mark Ross Clark, with Jeffrey Peterson (from the Baylor University Opera faculty), and pianist Richard Seiler. Margaret Hall is the costumer, while ULM technical director Steven Burnside executes the costume design. Tickets will be available March 1, and will be $25 per ticket, with student tickets at $10.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

131

CUPIDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ARROW Design by Gregory Hudgins Photography by Martin G Meyers

Gregory Hudgins takes Cupid to the tropics for a unique bouquet that is Hot! Hot! Hot! In a shallow container filled with Green Trick Dianthus, Gregory intersperses king protea and ranunculus. A sculptural piece of flat willow looks as if Cupid is about to fling one of his arrows and make a love connection.

Greetings from The Tennis Life, resurrected this month after a two year hiatus and poised to cover all the tennis on the bayou and beyond. This first edition will serve as an introduction to the people, places and organizations who drive tennis activity in Northeast Louisiana. Please feel free to contact the individuals listed below for information on their products, services and upcoming events.

Wilson Campbell

Joel McGregor Tori Krutzer Fred Lemongo

Bayou Desiard CC 318-801-0775 wilson-campbell@comcast.net

Monroe Athletic Club 318-512-5757 mcgregorjg@hotmail.com

Mark Taylor

Kelly Taylor

The Pros

Forsythe Tennis Center 318-801-0772 forsythetennis@aol.com

Forsythe Tennis Center 318-512-2894 kellywtaylor@hotmail.com

Phil Trahan

Kiroli Park 318-801-0337 ptrahan@comcast.net

The Organizations

The Teams

Kathryn Waters

Terrence DeJongh

Lee Ainsworth

Chad Camper

Northeast LA Community Tennis Assn (318) 325-4059 waters.chris@comcast.net Ouachita Womens Tennis Association 318-366-7516 lainsworth2@comcast.net

ULM Ladies Tennis (318) 243-5815 dejongh@ulm.edu

Louisiana Tech Ladies Tennis 937-572-1939 camper1@latech.edu

Katherine Reigelman

Squire Creek CC 318-768-7706 katherinereigelman@ squirecreek.com

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

133

LOVE NATURALLY Design by Nick McKinney Photography by Martin G Meyers

Nick McKinney created this Valentine’s arrangement with a nature lover in mind. Using a glass cylinder case as his starting point, Nick chose lichen covered branches of varying lengths and secured them to the case using strands of natural raffia tied in tight knots. Then he nestled a dozen long-stemmed red roses into the case for a Valentine’s arrangement she won’t forget.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

135

HUDGINS BREATHES LIFE INTO HISTORIC HOME WITH RECENT RESTORATION. article by Maré Brennan and photography by Martin G. Meyers

hen the historic Bancroft family home, located on St. John Boulevard in South Monroe came onto the market, it was fortuitous that an entrepreneurial investor, who loved marvelous older homes and had the wherewithal to see the potential for saving such an iconic residential conclave, was in the market for just such a home. Says the homeowner, “I love everything about this house. I love old homes and this is one of the best. All my past homes have been older. I lived in the Garden District and had attended Masur functions before, but I had never seen this neighborhood until I saw the listing for this home. What 136 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

really drew me in is the peacefulness of the neighborhood. You never hear traffic or trains.” This grande dame of a home is located on a spacious corner lot and was built by Toby Bancroft, Sr. in 1927 as a home for his family, just a few years after he founded his company, Bancroft Bag, in 1924. The gardens surrounding the home are filled with mature plantings including towering magnolias, a pecan tree, light pink and white azaleas and ancient camellias, their trunks huge and gnarled, which were planted by a local camellia enthusiast. That same camellia expert is rumored to have given camellias to Emy-Lou Biedenharn for her gardens, as well.

Upon obtaining the property, which is located near local treasures, including the Masur Museum, the Cooley House and Layton Castle, the homeowner enlisted help from local designer Gregory Hudgins and contractor Thomas Woods to bring the house, which had seen better days back to the life it deserved. Says Hudgins’ of the project as he walks through the spacious foyer, “This is more a restoration than a renovation.” A generous brick-paved walkway lined with mounding boxwoods leads to the entry porch featuring four large Corinthian columns with terracotta caps, which were restored before the present homeowner acquired the property. The pedimented

entry with full and half columns is regal in proportion. Explains Hudgins, “What I like about the house is that the scale is right,” a sentiment echoed by the homeowner. A leaded glass fan light above the front door along with sidelights is unique in its crosshair details, which is mirrored in the crosshair detail on the balcony railing and the oval leaded glass attic window.

Hudgins replaced the porch light with a substantial blown glass fixture. First things first, the electrical and plumbing systems throughout the historic home underwent a complete overhaul. “We did a lot – more than originally planned. The home was structurally sound but we had to modernize the plumbing and electrical systems,” says Hudgins. Upstairs, an

integrated central heat and air system was installed. However, downstairs, the least intrusive system for temperature control was to turn to unobtrusive, European-style ductless minisplit air conditioning units, which preserved the home’s gorgeous 10 foot tall ceilings. At first conflicted about how far to renovate the kitchen, Hudgins and the homeowner debated about tearing WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

137

out the original marble slab flooring. In the end, the huge slabs of marble, which had been part of an old bank building downtown, were replaced with oak flooring to retain continuity throughout the downstairs spaces. Original oak floors throughout were refinished with a rich, walnut stain. In the foyer, a round, marble-topped clawfoot 138 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

table, a recent find from Traditions on Trenton, is positioned beneath a cloud-like blown-glass fixture. Distinctive Georgian pediments above double-folding French doors on either side of the foyer lead into the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living and dining rooms, which are mirror images of each other. Hudgins installed matching chandeliers in the living and dining rooms, as well as shutters to

control light. An unusually flattering hue, Dead Salmon, was chosen for the living room walls, offsetting a grid-like grouping of nine small paintings of pecan leaves in various stages of fall color by local artist and the homeownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend, Adam Davenport. A pair of sofas were acquired from Mrs. Curry, a next door neighbor of the

homeowner. Once a feminine pink brocade, Hudgins had the pair reupholstered in a classic grey tweed and added pillows sourced from Sleepy Hollow. A pair of brass and mirror cocktail tables are from Traditions on Trenton and hold objects dear to the homeowner, including a Bible which was carried by his uncle in World War II. Above the living room fireplace hangs a

large abstract canvas by Margaret Moses. A pair of Egyptian Revival brass funerial urns add interest to the fireplace hearth. An antique bookshelf from the Neville House features an inlaid marquetry garland. A colorful Mexican fertility mask is paired with a band poster by Kevin Martin, part of the homeownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection of graphic posters. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

139

Doors on either side of the fireplace lead to a bright sunroom with terracotta tile flooring overlaid with a natural jute rug. Eight enormous floor to ceiling windows topped with eight-paned transoms bathe the space in light. The small brick fireplace and the large plasma television above the mantle prove a focal point for the cozy space. A large wrought iron chandelier 140 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

provides illumination at night. Hudgins chose Hauge Blue by Farrow and Ball for the dining room walls with the trim painted a crisp white, West Highland White, which Hudgins calls “one of the best whites for a bright white.” An original fireplace is accented with marble. On the dining room table, Faience urns with goat head details are a find from Traditions on

Trenton. The mirror, table, chairs, buffet and china cabinet were acquired from a local family. Laughs the homeowner sarcastically, “Plaster walls are a dream to hang on. It literally took three guys, including two engineers, to finally get the mirror hung!” A friend of the owner painted the Modigianiinspired portrait above the buffet. A pair of arched built-ins trimmed in crisp white

molding and an arched opening into the butler’s pantry and breakfast room add a graphic punch to the room. The breakfast room, painted a light shade, similar to light blue sea glass, retains its original glass fronted cabinetry and marble countertops from the 1920s. A dropleaf Duncan Phyfe table is positioned to take advantage of the light from a large

bay window. The seat cushions were reupholstered in a grey Sunbrella fabric “just in case there is spillage,” says Hudgins. A painting by Adam Davenport, of St. Louis Cathedral in New Orlean’s Jackson Square, is positioned above a small china cabinet. The breakfast room/butler’s pantry leads directly into the reconfigured kitchen. Hudgins’ redesign called for removal of a WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

141

wall and incorporating space that had been used for a pantry. Counters are topped with Original Treasure granite, a bold choice with gold, cream, dark brown and subtle hints of metallic grey and opalescent hues. Timeless Shaker-style cabinets that reach to the top of the ten foot ceiling, created by Justin Wisenor of Woodlands Custom Cabinets, keep with the era of the home 142 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

yet add an air of modernity. GE Monogram appliances, including a six burner gas range, make this a culinary dream of a kitchen. Hudgins sourced the eclectic, distressed green painted island from Woodstock Furniture Revival. A petite Moroccan run in bright colors anchors the rug and adds an additional pop of color in the space. Fruit and vegetable paintings by

Adam Davenport echo the bright colors of the island and rug and are placed above the kitchen windows. Hudgins chose a Shaw Original farmhouse sink with an arched fixture in chrome. White subway tile creates a simple, era-appropriate backsplash. The back hallway features a blown glass and silver fireplace with a gilt Federal eagle bullseye mirror above an

original fireplace mantle. Kudos to Hudgins and the daring homeowner who brought dignity back to this historic residence. May they lead the way to a South Monroe residential renaissance as there are many more structures and neighborhoods of historic merit which are more than worthy of saving. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

143

Echols Fundraiser Over 100 friends and supporters gathered to honor Michael Echols at a recent fundraising event held at the home of Vickie and Bill Krutzer. Michael and his wife Christie greeted guests as they discussed the upcoming Monroe City Council Race. Echols presented his new vision for District 1 focusing on a new vision and fresh approach to city government. Michael was optimistic about the future as he will work towards improving strategies to reduce crime, continue to work with businesses to create an environment that grows jobs and enhancing the regions quality of life activities. Michael works as an Executive at Vantage Health Plan over business development. Along with his passion to restore historic buildings, he has worked to improve and grow downtown Monroe while serving in numerous non-profit roles throughout the state.

On the BayouScene 1 Bart and Leigh Liles 2 Victoria Krutzer Fisher and Anya Fulco 3 J ennifer and Heath Lord 4 Kenda Reed, Michael Echols and Beth Correro 5 Pam and Steve Hansen and Sherra Fertitta 6 Amanda Barry and Dr. Matt Sanderson 7 Ray and LaNell Armstrong 8 Carol-Anne Barnes and Grisham Lenard 9 Lois Hoover, Cathy Myrick and Christie Echols 10 C aity Echols, Michael Echols and Daniel Echols 11 Dianne Cage and Phillip Brooks 12 Stewart Cathey Jr. and Tim Kane 13 Charity, Adam and Penelope Jones 14 Steve and Jeanne Taylor with Charles Marsala 15 Marion and Bill Wilson, and Kay Katz Kellogg 16 Vickie and Bill Krutzer 17 Charlen Trascher Campbell and Ashley Doughty

9 11

144 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

145

Acoustic Jam and Pre-Mardi Gras Bash

Music and beer enthusiasts gathered at Live Oaks on January 21 for the Acoustic Jam and and Abita Pre-Mardi Gras Bash. While enjoying samples of the new Bayou Bootlegger Hard Root Beer, guests signed up to win a trip to Mardi Gras 2017 in New Orleans, courtesy of Abita Brewing Company.

On the BayouScene 1 Delia Simpson and Kurt McEnery 2 Jake Owens and Camille Pearce 3 Dustin Underwood and Morgan Decelle 4 Mattie Henry and Ben Tidwell 5 Wendy Donald and Dianne Donald 6 Logan Lee and Ryan Windham 7 Chaz Wink and Colby Hines 8 Jennifer Morris and Mallory Wells 9 Jayrdon Gibbs and Christopher Bass 10 Destiny Black and Courtni Sonnier 11 Jon Brakefield and Sarah Spillers 12 D avid Alan Whitman and 7 Angela Everett 13 Devin Cooper and Tayler Sonnier

5 7

9 10

146 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Holiday Art Reception On December 1, Bank of Ruston held their annual Holiday Art Reception. The gathering was held in the main branchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office lobby in downtown Ruston. The festive and much anticipated event was a great way to kick off the holiday season. Guests mingled and viewed art from some of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest artists. Featured artists were Joey Slaughter, Nicole Duet, Jerry Berg and Sherry Owens. The art of the evening stayed on display through December 31 and a portion of the sales benefitted the North Central Louisiana Arts Council.

On the BayouScene 1 Rosemary Ewing, Dr. Dan and Linda Reneau 2 Paul and Johnnie Hogan, Kelly, Taylor and Bill Hogan 3N eal Walpole, Claudine and John Barker and Angie Biscomb 4 J essica and Joey Slaughter, Bill Hogan and Heather and Ronny Walker 5B rendan Owens, Ashley Harvey, Blain Owens and Loren Jarmon 6 Burt and Dani Jones with Randy Ewing 7 Christy Duncan, Cullen Bishop, Layne and Kristen Weeks 8 John and Sharon Wakeman with Randy Allison

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

147

Bayou Artist Vitus Shell

The works of Masur Museum resident artist Vitus Shell are a mixed media tour-de-force that bring the viewer face to face with the lives that are and the lives that might have been. When Vitus Shell watches the news or reads a magazine, he’s struck by the complexities that swirl about, lurking just beneath the surface and out of view. Layers of history and corollaries pile one atop the other until, at last, the neatness of story is lost amidst the chaos of realness. By the time Shell puts brush to canvas, the nuances and folds of events have woven throughout him, permeating him until he’s at once equal parts skeptical observer, empathetic spirit, and willing coconspirator. If there’s a subversive quality to Shell’s works--collages that are decidedly political, challenge the norms, and defy the conventions of contemporary young artists--that quality is underscored by a simple statement that could almost be his artistic mantra. “I don’t take things at face value,” Shell says. “They’re more layered than that.”

article by Michael DeVault photos by Brad Arender

Bayou Artist Vitus Shell

150 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Like the colorful, demanding collages he creates and the stories that inspire them, Shell’s life is a study in layers. At once a proud, Southern man and an African American artist, Shell epitomizes the challenging emotions shared by so many artists, poets and writers. It’s a relationship that the writer William Faulkner once described as “love-hate,” and Shell understands it all too well. “I’m proud of being from the south, but as an African-American, there is so much of being in the south--grandparents, parents, friends,” he says. The legacies of everything that came before infuse everything that happens today. When Shell hears talk of being proud of heritage, he thinks of his grandmother, Marion Lemons, who grew up near the border of Arkansas and Louisiana, in the tiny town of Jones. She was a sharecropper who, like many African Americans of the day, helped to raise the children of the land’s owners. When the father passed away, her life changed. “When the husband died, they kicked her off the land--the kids that she raised,” he says. When he speaks of his grandmother, he does so with a kind of affection and respect bordering on hero worship. Lemons brought up not only the landowner’s children, but six of her own as well. When the need arose, she took in her sister’s family as well. Shell returns to the circumstances of her eviction. “When you are talking about being proud of heritage, are you asking me to be proud of that time too, when my grandmother was a sharecropper?” he asks. The weight of that question is overshadowed only by the framed collage in the corner, the centerpiece of which is an enlarged news photograph of a civil rights march. Through the sepia tones, as if pressing down on the scene, a row of Confederate flags loom. Beneath the marchers, the photo fades into an empty sea of color, a vast unknown future for which the protesters march. Across the scene, a few scattered drops of red remind us the cost it will take for the marchers to reach that future. A native of Monroe, Shell attended Wossman High School, where he first took to painting, though he began drawing much earlier, at the age of three. Art provided him with a creative outlet and a place to channel his energy at that difficult time when kids are just starting to feel out the boundaries of adulthood. “Like most kids, I wanted to play sports,” he says of those days early on. “But I was too small for sports.” Two of his teachers, Ms. Snyder and Mr. Meade, fomented his creativity. Recognizing that their young student had talent and promise, they encouraged him to take the next step and apply to art school. Up until that point, only one cousin had completed college. His

mother had only completed a year before focusing on work and family. Nevertheless, Shell applied to three of the most prestigious schools in the south. He knew he wanted a Bachelor of Fine Arts as opposed to a professional certificate, and he sought admission to the Atlanta School of Art, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and Memphis College of Art. Atlanta and Memphis both accepted Shell, and he opted for Memphis, which was slightly closer to home. Even in 1996, art schools weren’t known for large numbers of African-American artists, and Memphis College was no exception. However, Shell’s freshman year coincided with one of the largest African-American freshman classes in school history, and 20 black students were among his classmates. Not only was he a young and gifted artist with a penchant for challenging norms, he was now in Memphis, one of the bastions of the civil rights movement. Marches happened there, and riots too. Martin Luther King, Jr. died there. And even today, the city retains a strong pull in the world of civil rights, with dozens of leaders, ministers and activists still living there. “It’s interesting that I did land in Memphis, meeting those people, being in those places,” he says. “Of course, that all had an influence on my work.” Civil rights efforts in the late 1990s were largely assimilationist, driven by the fond television images of the Huxtables and life at college in A Different World. Even the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air presented a portrait of a nontraditional, African-American family who

had assimilated themselves into the upperclass country club set. Today, though, with the nation again strained by racial division, Shell finds it interesting that the movement for civil equality seems to have come full circle. “It’s always about making the connections of the old and the new, completing the circle,” he says. Today, that circle finds him living not too far from where he grew up, near the family and friends who peopled his youth, “right in the middle of what’s going on,” as he puts it. As the artist in residence at the Masur, part of Shell’s job is to act as an ambassador for art and the museum in the community. During the time he’s been there, the museum has drawn a more diverse audience. That’s an important factor in his work there, if only because Shell views artistic ability as a tool children could use as a passage “out of the hood.” Recently, he gave a talk at Burg Jones Elementary and, as part of the talk, polled the students on talents. More than 75 percent of the kids demonstrated drawing skills. Talents that, if properly fostered and developed, could help improve the students’ lives and the community as a whole. “So many kids are missing out on the opportunity to change their lives,” he says. Speaking to those classes, pushing students towards paper and canvas, that’s what Shell sees as his primary responsibility. Consider it paying it forward. “Somebody came before me and encouraged me.” Though Shell’s works are decidedly confrontational and political, they aren’t WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

151

Bayou Artist Vitus Shell

all about the plight of racism. One series of works depicts young students from Memphis College of Art and the Univeristy of Mississippi. In each, a central figure is surrounded by the influences and dreams that take all of us to college. One features a young woman, a student at Memphis College. She’s standing tall, shoulders poised, arms cross defiantly. Around her head, sunbeams radiate outward, conjuring thoughts of enlightenment. In the background are obscured hallmarks of feminine frivolity from the past. Advertisements tout changing women’s fashions, accessories and hair styles. Farther down, an advertisement for washing powder and a new stove catch the eye. Yet, there she stands, proud and enlightened, over the caption “Raising Hell.” A companion piece tracks a similar trajectory for a young, black man. Befrocked in a black zip-up jacket, his head is tossed back, confident and strong. His head, too, is sun beamed, and behind those sun beams are the signs of the past. A white boxer is seen in an editorial cartoon pummeling a comically drawn black boxer. In another cartoon, a black man is collapsed back against a wall, his work broom tossed haphazardly aside, as he smokes a cigar. Ads for slave auctions and cigarettes hawked by Africanized Egyptians dot the perimeter. Along the margin, the young man’s back turned away, is the inscription, “Bad.” In these works, and in so many more, 152 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

the message is clear. Shell hopes the takeaway from his art is one of reflection and retrospection. “The purpose is to make both sides think about themselves,” he says. Through such efforts, Shell believes people will come together, not grow farther apart. And, along the way, if he inspires a few children, he’s thankful. Unlike when his grandmother was bringing up all her children and her sister’s children, black kids today have many role models, from people like Shell, (“I’m not the only one doing this,” he says,) to President Barack Obama, a man who Shell believes has done more to inspire youngsters than most people imagine. “Kids see that and know they can be more than a doctor,” he says of the president. The quiet subtext doesn’t go unnoticed, though, and one is left wondering what the lives of so many young, black men might have been like if they had been inspired in a different direction early on. One series of works in particular underscores the cost of life absent of inspiration. In painting after painting, young black men are shown with single word inscriptions--animal, beast, thug, and a halfdozen other epithets frequently lobbed at African-American males. In each collage, the portrait becomes a mug shot, once again forcing the viewer to confront those personal beliefs and biases, and in those moments of pause between each painting, Shell’s work becomes a subtle ellipses at the end of a long

discourse on the state of racial politics in America. The time in the Masur studio back through his MFA at Ole Miss, four years of a BFA at Memphis College, and into the classrooms at Wossman aren’t so long for Shell that he can’t imagine the road not taken. He recalls one afternoon, while he and a friend were walking home from school. They were approached by a man, well-known in the neighborhood for owning a fancy car, jewelry, and nice clothes. “He stopped us and asked us if we wanted to make some money,” Shell says. They knew what making money meant--five or ten bucks for delivering for the man. They ran home, and Shell never looked back. Such was not the case for his friend, who eventually turned to dealing drugs. Shell saw that friend not too long ago. “He’s been bitten by dogs, shot, stabbed, sent to jail a few times. One of us went one way, one went the other,” Shell says. “That’s where I’d be without art, without family, without influential people who encouraged me to do my art.” Shell is not one to dwell on the bad things that might have been. He’s got bigger challenges to face than ruminating on the road he didn’t take. “What wakes me up at night is not achieving what I want to achieve. My future keeps me up more than my past.”

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

153

article by Michael DeVault | photos by Martin G Meyers

NO MATTER WHERE we are or where we go, life in the Bayou State has one thing that nowhere else can lay claim to: our people. Our people are who make our lives feel fuller, our activities run a little smoother and our experiences just a little richer. Whenever you start making a list of our people, invariably you start seeing the names of individuals you know--but maybe not well.

Last year, BayouLife wrote about five extraordinary people we meet in our everyday lives, the individuals who touch us in some way special. Whether they were always there with a hot cup of coffee and a smile, or waiting at the counter with the perfect bouquet, the 2015 “People We Love” all had one thing in common. They each love what they do and we love them for being there when we need them.

This year is no different. The five extraordinary women who make up these next few pages exemplify all of the best parts of life in Louisiana, even though a couple of them are transplants. Looking back on the past twelve months, we quickly came to a conclusion. Life here is better, and that’s why these women are 2016’s People We Love.

LAURA WOODARD CLARK Commununications Officer, P&S Surgical Hospital

hen you’re faced with a health crisis, you want to know that you’re in the right hands, that the decisions you make are being guided by the expert of a qualified, robust medical staff. For Brooksings, South Dakota native Laura Woodard Clark, being a part of that team is not just a job. It’s a mission. Working in healthcare communications is something Woodard seems born to do. So it’s kind of surprising that this seasoned professional is relatively new to the P&S family, having joined the company in 2013 after eight successful years in media relations at ULM. With a degree in journalism from LaSell College, Woodard is uniquely prepared for the job. And her computer programmer husband, Tim, is a rock of support. When the couple welcomed their son, Weston, to the family two years ago, Woodard says the moment helped hone her powerful sense of purpose and empathy. “I like to think of myself as someone who has empathy and thinks of others. Having a baby has heightened all that. He’s definitely on my mind all the time.” Motherhood has also helped her maintain a strong drive and work ethic. “While he is my focus, I’m also working hard to be a good example for him when he’s older and to provide

well for him,” Woodard says.

On Her Positive Outlook

“Growing up, I was hard on myself a lot, always a worrier, wanting to do well, be perfect, that kind of thing.” A diagnosis of a rare form of Thyroid cancer changed all of that in 2005. “It was like hitting a reset button. It really gave me perspective. I remember when I was at my sickest, I thought, ‘as sick as I feel now, as miserable as I am, I’m going to live the best life I can when I beat this.’”

Favorite Part of the Job

A life-long student, Woodard credits boss Linda Holyfield with encouraging her to expand her horizons. “I’ve been pushed to learn new things by my boss. She knew my PR experience, how much I loved ULM, what I did there in media relations.” When faced with parts of the job Woodard didn’t know, Holyfield’s instructions were simple – go and learn it. “The sky is the limit,” Woodard says of the leadership at P&S Surgical. “That’s their outlook, especially as far as what their employees are capable of.”

“I’m probably saying that now because with a little one racing around time is somewhat sparse. Whether that’s going to a movie and hashing it out at dinner afterwards, just time together to appreciate your relationship. That would be ideal.”

Most Over-used Phrase

“You want a pop? When I got here, I was so surprised when I would say ‘I would like a coke,’ and then someone would ask what kind,” Woodard says. “It took a while to get used to that.”

Most Unique Characteristic

“I tend to get really passionate about any new project or any new thing to learn, no matter what it is. It doesn’t have to be something the public can see. It’s just a new thing and I want to tackle it.” Thankfully for us, her enthusiasm is infectious.

How She’d Like to Be Remembered

Woodard hopes people recall her as a kind, loving, and thoughtful listener. “That’s really what I strive for.”

Ideal Valentine’s Day Gift

It’s simple, really. She wants time with her husband away from work and parenting. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

155

SHEILA SNOW

Vice President of Communications, Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau

heila Snow remembers moving to Connecticut when she was a child. A Monroe native, her father worked for Howard Brothers retail chain in the graphic design department. When the company, the family had to relocate. All the while she was away, Monroe was still home. “We came back after about three years,” Snow says. After graduating from West Monroe High School in 1997, Snow attended ULM, where she majored in Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations. She found she liked working with the public, so she embarked on a career as a donor recruiter fro Lifeshare Blood Center. It was work with a mission. “I felt like I was really doing something good for the community, so that was a great experience,” Snow says. Her love of the northeast Louisiana community was evident, so it wasn’t too long before she found herself in a new role in the communications department at the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I really quickly fell in love with it,” Snow says. “Not everybody has a job where they get to talk about all of the great things in their community.” For fifteen years, she and her husband, Jimmy, have raised two kids, a 10 year-old son and a 7 year-old daughter. During that time, she’s learned a valuable lesson about love. “There’s give and take with everything. In time, you learn when to give and when it’s your time to take.”

On Her Positive Outlook

As one of the region’s biggest ambassadors, it’s Snow’s job to get out the word near and far about exciting happenings around Monroe and West Monroe. Almost everywhere she goes, people warm up to her friendly smile, and they sense she enjoys what she’s doing. She relishes the joys of small things, too, those kinds of things that make people’s lives just a little better. “There’s a lot to be said for the small things that are to be done, even if it just makes people smile. It’s important to focus on the small things you can do for people.”

Favorite Part of the Job

“I get to share the great things about Ouachita Parish, no matter what’s going on.” When she conveys new information about an event or happening, Snow finds tremendous satisfaction. “I get to see that little bit of spark of something that interests them. It kind of triggers a little bit more of their pride in knowing where they’re from.”

Ideal Valentine’s Day Gift

She’s a simple girl, and what would make her day is getting wedding rings resized. “Since I’ve had kids, I haven’t been able to wear my wedding rings because my finger size changed.”

Most Over-used Phrase

“It’s fancy!” she says -- of the cake and catering, of the new sweater, of the new advertising campaign. Any time something impresses her, it’s always “fancy!” We think she’s fancy, too!

Most Unique Characteristic

No matter where she goes, chances are when you meet her, you’ll come face to face with her superpower: an uncanny ability to pull off any shade of red lipstick. “The right red lipstick gives a little pep to the step. It’s the perfect thing to top off everything, and it gives me that little extra oomph to help make people smile.”

How She’d Like to Be Remembered

Snow hopes to have a big impact through those small things, and she hopes people take away from the meeting the idea that they matter. “No matter what was going on, when I left the room, they always felt better about themselves, that I always left things a little brighter than I found them.”

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

157

GINGER HUBENTHAL PADGETT Operator of the Lost and Found Dogs of Ouachita Parish A.K.A. The Crazy Dog Lady

“D

ogs are our children,” says Ginger Hubenthal Padgett of Tess and Piper, the two rescue dogs she shares with her husband of 25 years, Cole. A Houston native, Padgett has lived in northeast Louisiana since she was 12, when her parents relocated. One day, while still a teenager, Padgett was out on the Ouachita River. She remembers that day, 35 years ago, like it was yesterday. She dove into the water and, instead of being greeted by the endless cool of a refreshing river, she landed on a submerged sandbar. “I broke my C-four, five, and six vertebrae. Neurologically, I’m not supposed to be able to move my arms.” After four months of rehab in Denver, Colorado, Padgett returned home, confined to a wheel chair. She never let the chair deter her, though, and after completing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at NLU in community counseling, she and her husband are almost singularly focused on helping the helpless. “It doesn’t stop me. This chair gets me where I need to go.” Animal rescue is her passion, she thinks, in part because it gives her the opportunity to make a profound impact. “It comes from feeling helpless and hopeless,” Padgett says. “I’m giving these animals a voice. They need someone on their side.” Virtually, Padgett marshals an army of volunteers who will help capture, spay and neuter, foster, feed, nurse and, eventually,

transport strays to the eager embrace of their new owners. Animal rescue helps her lend her voice to the voiceless, an emotion she understands all too well. “Not that I was ever voiceless, but there was a time when I felt helpless. These animals are helpless.” She may be the “crazy dog lady,” as she calls herself, but she’s our crazy dog lady and it only takes the happiness and love of one set of big, dark eyes to understand just how much her work means to the region.

On Her Positive Outlook

In spite of challenges from her injuries, Padgett has never been deterred from pursuing her dreams. She drives a car and, as she puts it, “goes constantly.” In fact, when the lesser among us think it’s time to slow down, she’s usually just getting started. “I think God put me in this wheel chair to slow me down--not to punish me, because it’s not a punishment. But He kind of put the reins on me.” Those reins helped position her for the patience and stamina to engage in what she calls her ministry. “God created animals, too, and they need as much help as humans do.”

Favorite Part of the Job

Placing the animals in a loving home and seeing the animals spayed and neutered, rescuing them from the streets and other dangerous situations, Padgett feels a tremendous sense of accomplishment. One day soon, she

hopes to affect the local and state pet ordinances, too. “I would like it to be law that every animal should be registered, spayed and neutered and to do away with dogs on chains. Animals should be treated with more respect and not as tools.”

Ideal Valentine’s Day Gift

“Anybody that knows me knows exactly what I’d say, a rescued black puppy! I would so much rather have an animal that’s been rescued from the side of the road than a dozen flowers.” And maybe follow that up with a romantic dinner out, if you’re listening, Cole.

Most Over-used Phrase

“Spay and neuter your animals!” It’s not a typical answer, but then, there’s nothing typical about Ginger.

Most Unique Characteristic

Her chirpy, positive outlook infuses everything and everyone she touches. “I look for the good in everything. I start my day with God, with prayer and I try to live up to God’s expectations of what he asks of me that day.”

How She’d Like to Be Remembered

She hopes people see and know a loving, caring, sensitive person. “To me, that’s good, quality living. If you can achieve all of those things, you’re living a happy, blessed life.” WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

159

MARILYN ELLIOT Sales Associate, The Muffin Tin

hether you’ve been seeking the perfect gift for a loved one or just looking for a little company while out window shopping, chances are you’ve run across Marilyn Elliot, who has worked at The Muffin Tin for the last 12 years. A Monroe native, Elliot attended Carroll High School, graduating in 1984. The mother of two children -- son De’Erik and daughter Aaliyah -- Elliot has become as much a fixture in the lives of The Muffin Tin customers as the store itself. Being a part of a busy, successful retail establishment means a lot to Elliot, who is almost a constant presence in the store. “I get to know a lot of people, meet a lot of people. We become close. They’re like my family,” she says of Muffin Tin regulars. Over the years, she’s learned to watch trends, and she’s grown an appreciation for how tastes change. “It’s just like fashion. It changes every year.” From her perspective, Elliot sits at the forefront of those changes. Part of her job entails receiving and placing new merchandise, so chances are she’ll know what’s happening in the world of home goods long before you do. And that’s why people have come to rely on her advice and savvy. “I’m the first one to see new stuff come in,” she says. Over the years, she’s learned what people like, about their children and grandchildren, and these days, she’s learning all about a new generation of The Muffin Tin shoppers, too. And that’s one of the most exciting parts of what she does.”Everybody is so nice and sweet,” she says. We think she’s nice and sweet, and our world would be just a little bit duller if it weren’t for her smile greeting us when we pop by the shop.

On Her Positive Outlook

“My mom and my grandmother both always told me to be happy. Always have a smile on your face,” she says. It’s advice she took to heart, because she’s almost never without a smile. She says her optimism and positivity come from her upbringing, and from years of hearing her mother and grandmother drill home a single message. “Never let anything get you down. Treat others how you want to be treated. That’s how you get your blessings.”

Favorite Part of the Job

One aspect of working at The Muffin Tin that she loves is getting to meet new people every day, helping people fulfill their needs and desires and bringing a bit of comfort and joy into their lives. “If I can be a help to people, I love doing that. That’s what makes me happy,” she says. Genuine interest and a sense of pride help business, too. As Elliot puts it, “The customers keep coming back.”

Ideal Valentine’s Day Gift

For him or for her, one thing stands out in Elliot’s mind. When Valentine’s Day rolls around, there’s but one thing you should consider getting your love. “The Niven Morgan brand,” Elliot says. “Everybody loves the scent and the smell.”

Most Over-used Phrase

“At the end of the day, when I count down the register and it is where we are supposed to be – not over or short – I always say ‘Kool and the Gang,’” she says. And once the pennies are counted and everything is balanced, she uses another favorite phrase, “It’s all gravy!”

Most Unique Characteristic

When visitors come by the shop, Elliot goes out of her way to make them feel welcome, embraced, and, hopefully, to make them laugh. “I just say something silly and I always have them laughing,” she says.

How She’d Like to Be Remembered

Precious few individuals surpass Elliot’s loving and caring personality. At the end of it all, she hopes people remember that aspect of her personality. “And maybe I always had a smile on my face, making everybody happy.” It’s Kool and the Gang, Marilyn Elliot. Mission accomplished.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

161

REBEKAH GUADALUPE Supplements Specialist at Fiesta Nutrition Center

ebekah Guadalupe talks about growing up on Florida’s east coast like it’s ancient history, which kind of makes sense considering that her family moved from the area when she was 12. But that ancient history suddenly fades away when you realize Guadalupe is barely 22. Maybe it’s an uncanny maturity or her sense of enthusiasm, but it’s hard for us to picture Guadalupe anywhere but in the aisles of Fiesta Nutrition Center, helping guide us to the perfect choice for a healthy life. Homeschooled through high school, Guadalupe first entertained thoughts of working in education. “My first job was actually at Geneva Academy, as a teacher’s aide,” she says. She followed that up with a stint at Vieux Carré Gourmet as a baker. But it didn’t take her too long to find her way into Angie O’pry’s world, where she’s truly blossomed. “This is really my passion. I love it here. It’s not a job to me. I feel every day it’s a new experience,” she says of working at Fiesta. It helps that Guadalupe is a life-long student and loves learning. “This is a great place for me to learn about health and nutrition.” She’ll be celebrating a birthday in February, and look out fellas, she’s smart and single. And this is a young woman with a plan. According to her, she wants to take what she’s been given, work hard at her job and make something beautiful out of it. “Whether I’m going to be married, have a family, be single and a missionary, or whatever, I don’t know where the next 20 years will take me, but I want to take what I’ve been given and use it to help people, to make a difference in my space,” Guadalupe says. “If we all do that, we’ll make a difference in the world.” Good job so far, young lady. You’ve made quite a difference in our world.

On Her Positive Outlook

Guadalupe says God is her source of positive energy and optimism. She always feels blessed with her life, to be where she is and to do what she does. Part of her path is driven by that realization. “I want to be the beacon for what He’s done in my life,” she says. When people make an impact in her life, be it through a business interaction or while browsing a bookstore, when someone is upbeat and happy about what they do, it makes a mark. She hopes she’s the same way.

Favorite Part of the Job

Stand back and watch her interact with customers, and very quickly you’ll come to a realization. She’s great at listening to people. “I love to hear their stories, the trials they’re going through or their triumphs. I feel we, at Fiesta, are able to help people change their lives.” A genuine listener, she’s actively engaged in their problems and, more importantly, solving them. She credits Angie and her coworkers with the leadership and guidance that have helped her hone those skills. “I’ve never worked at such a place like Fiesta. Angie makes this the best place anybody could work,” she says.

Ideal Valentine’s Day Gift

She’s a simple girl, and she has simple desires. For Guadalupe, the most awesome and romantic day would mean being outside. Maybe it would be a day kayaking or hiking, but one thing’s for certain, walls are not allowed. “I’d love an adventurous, outdoorsy experience,” she says.

Most Over-used Phrase

“I say ‘Howdy,’ all the time!” she says. “People are always like, ‘Okay…’ They don’t quite know how to respond.” The southern greeting coming from a decidedly un-southern young woman will garner more than a few funny looks. “People think it’s funny because I’m not a southerner. I didn’t grow up in the deep south.”

Most Unique Characteristic

Unbridled enthusiasm carries Guadalupe far. She thinks that’s what people see, and it’s one of the things that make her excited to come to work every day. “I love my job and I try to be cheerful everyday.”

How She’d Like to Be Remembered

“I hope they remember me how I am now. The little short girl with brown hair. ‘She’s always so nice and helpful.’ I want to be remembered like that, for sure.”

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

163

TALENT SURROUNDS US

Downtown Gallery Crawl | Thursday, Feb 4th Every first Thursday of even-numbered months, residents and visitors have the opportunity to enjoy the incredible talent that surrounds us in Northeast Louisiana. The 318 area is chock-full of visual artists who generously share their works with art-lovers of all ages during the Downtown Gallery Crawls. Thursday, February 4, 5-9 p.m., is again time to enjoy art in the cultural districts of downtown Monroe and West Monroe. The party extends through eight art galleries, all members of the Downtown Arts Alliance, where the whole family can participate. Downtown River Jam will also present live music at Bry Park in downtown Monroe, 6-9 p.m., during the Downtown Gallery Crawl. Original art will be for sale, too, with no sales taxes charged because the galleries are in an official cultural district. Resident and guest artists will be on hand to talk with patrons about their art. On February 4, special group shows will be exhibited at both the Big Room and UPSTAIRS galleries on Art Alley in Monroe. At UPSTAIRS, We Can Do What We Want: Emerging Artists Creating Their Way will showcase a variety of media from Senior BFA candidates from Louisiana Tech University’s School of Design. The images and objects will feature their work and give insight to the inner workings of young artistic minds. The theme and cohesiveness of the show come from the artists all being within the same stage of their artistic careers. Their studio practices, like their lives, are in progress. Their distinct voices are influenced by their personal life experiences. The emerging artists bringing this exhibition to life include Lauren Eubanks, Kiersten Farlee, Anna Farris, Adam Garcia, Tyler Hawthorne, Allison Hopper, Avery Ingram, Katie Minyard, 164 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Hannah Spence, Jesse Suggs, Maggie Torbet, Rachel Vizza and Jordan Whaley. This exhibition is curated by LA Tech Studio Artist and Masur Museum Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, Benjamin Hickey, who will give an introductory talk at 7 p.m. The Big Room Gallery will host the Ad Club of NELA’s 3rd Annual People’s Choice Awards Competition. The exhibit will showcase some of 2015’s best advertisements, logos, photography and illustrations by marketing agencies and corporate marketing departments as well as free-lancers. Viewers will get to vote on their favorites among the entries in this local competition. Also at the Big Room, resident artists will have new art on display, including favorites Ricky Sikes, Anna Schriefer, Jenny Ellerbe, Amy Ouchley and Emily Caldwell, as well as guest LA Tech graduate student Daniel Moore. On the west side of the river, the River Gallery (Ouachita River Art Gallery at 308 Trenton) will feature local attorney and photographer Charles Heck, Sr. He will present a gallery talk at 6:30 p.m. Heck first became involved in photography while in the US Air Force, after graduation from La Tech University. His interests leaned toward nature photography, cameras and printing. Now, with the advent of digital photography, he is experimenting with high-resolution scenic images. He began the highly regarded Friends of Black Bayou Photo Contest and also helped develop the Refuge’s photo blind. His work has been published nationally and regionally, and has been included in many juried competitions and several museum exhibitions. He was also the featured artist in the January 2016 issue of BayouLife. Musicians Lisa Spann and Rod Allen Payne will perform at the River Gallery. Just down Antique Alley from the River

Gallery is a new space called RUMO’s, owned by Russell and Morgan Moore. RUMO’s will present Necessary Thinking for Nasty Perceptions by Luke Todd. Todd is a designer and illustrator from Ruston and has created new, original designs for this show. Luke is interested in the way that we express our emotions visually and tries to bring out those images with physical and emotional reactions. Affordable, first-edition prints will be available for purchase. Fay’s Fat Burger Food Tuck will be parked on the street during the Crawl, serving the best homemade burgers in North Louisiana. Union Mill coffee will be set up serving hot lattes, cappuccinos, drip cup coffees and more. RUMO’s will be the place to be during the Crawl—for good food, drink and art! Back in Monroe, just south of the RiverMarket, Crawlers will enjoy another new gallery--the Garrett House—which will feature works created by four local ladies. This show is a casual collaboration focused on color and immediacy. Collaborators are Bethany Wilkins, Kelsea McCrary, Emery Thibodeaux and Brooke Foy (curator). Other participating galleries in downtown Monroe are the Palace Gallery on DeSiard Street, Arender Studio and Gallery, and Sugar Gallery, both on Art Alley. Sugar Gallery will show new, original art by resident artists Melanie Douthit, Leah Smith Reitzell, Mary Thompson and Burg Ransom. Alyssa Guidry Posey is the new resident artist at the Sugar loft. She is a senior BFA student at ULM, primarily working in ceramics and sculpture. After three years of involvement in the art communities of ULM and downtown, Posey has attracted a loyal following.

I REMEMBER... PAUL LIPE TAKES US THROUGH SOME OF HIS MEMORIES IN A NEW COLUMN FOR BAYOULIFE

I REMEMBER...well, shucks, I forgot what I was supposed to remember! Does that ever happen to you? Consider the following: You are at the mall, or at church, or at a ball game, and a man is walking toward you with a big smile on his face. It is obvious that he knows who you are, and you recognize him, but you cannot remember his name. How embarrassing can that be? Or you are at the grocery store. The last words you spoke to your wife before leaving the house were, “I won’t forget. You can count on me.” But your memory is suddenly dysfunctional, and you don’t know what grocery item you were supposed to pick up for your spouse. You are in the dog house for sure. Our memories, or the lack thereof, can cause us problems. And when one reaches my age, those problems are constant companions, because my memory does not always get out of bed the same time the rest of me does. But memory failure doesn’t plague just those of us who are older. I suspect that we all are too familiar with these lapses of memory and with the impact that they have on our lives. A poor memory can be so frustrating. But, on the other hand, memories can add so much to our enjoyment of life. In fact, I consider the memory to be one of God’s greatest blessings to His children. Just consider how your memories have benefitted you. For one thing, memories can serve to keep us from repeating a bad mistake. The teen who got a ticket last week may be prompted to drive less recklessly and a little slower. Recalling his dad’s reaction to that ticket can serve to alter the offspring’s behavior. In addition, memories can provide motivation for us to repeat actions that have produced favorable results. Why are some people better hunters than others? There are a number of answers to that question, but one reason is that the good hunter remembers what has brought success in the past, and he repeats those things. But the most important benefit to me is that memories can bring lots of joy. I know that my heart is warmed by recalling special times I have shared with friends and members of my family - especially my grandchildren! These pleasant memories span everything from birthdays to hitting the game-winning shot with two seconds left on the clock. Reliving those good times can add so much to our enjoyment of life. And think of how empty our lives would be if we had no memories. I cannot imagine life in which memory does not play a part. Can you picture a day when you remembered nothing! Would that not be so sad? How glad each of us should be that we can say, “I remember…” As you can gather from what you have just read, I believe that memories are an extremely important part of our lives. Because of this, I have asked the gracious folks at BayouLife to allow me to share some of my memories with you with the hope that we all may be encouraged to live our lives in such a way as to be building good memories for our futures. I am so grateful to be able to encourage, and challenge you. I sincerely thank them for this opportunity, and I thank those of you who will read my musings. So, don’t forget to look for “I REMEMBER”. I just hope I can remember the deadline! Paul Lipe is a retired pastor from Delhi Presbyterian Church who looks forward to spending time with his family and writing a new monthly column for BayouLife Magazine titled, “I Remember.” WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

165

B AYOUKID Z

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS article by Cindy G. Foust

oes anyone realize what month it is? That’s right, it’s National Grapefruit month. No? Okay, so it’s Great American Pie Month. That’s it, and for the record, any of my readers that want to bring me a pie in honor of this great month, coconut is my favorite. I’m still not making the right guess, am I? Oh, that’s right, it’s the month of love and all things chocolate and rosy…now I’m in the vicinity. February is the month of the year where we celebrate Valentines and candy and wine. Well, I kind of made the wine part up, but it sounds like it might fit during this month of love and romance. I hate to admit it, but after nearly 21 years of marriage, our Valentine’s dinner generally consists of, if I feel real energetic, frying chicken strips and making mashed potatoes for the family. How’s that for romance? I do like to use the good china (the same set everyone else got when they got married and use once a year…maybe) and the good crystal. I even set the table, insist my family use the right fork, and forbid my husband and son from licking their butter knife. Anybody else get all Emily Post around Valentine’s Day? Well, in doing my typical research for this month’s column, I was trying to decide what would be more appealing to my readers. Would you want to know how to make marshmallow heart toothpick structures or candy conversation heart frames? Oh, the conflict was real. But then I stumbled across a cool article about all the different national holidays we have. Did you know there is a National Tooth Fairy Day and a National Thank Your Mail Carrier Day? If I were a mail carrier, I’d make sure everyone on my route knew about this holiday and decorate my little mail truck with flashing lights and sit in everyone’s driveway and honk until they brought me a treat,like a bag of M&M’s. Anyway, where was I? As I was scrolling through this rather fascinating list of holidays, I came across one that will always pique my interest, and that’s one about kindness. I couldn’t believe it, but there it was, in black and white, on the Internet, so it must be true, National Random Act of Kindness Day celebrated on February 17. You know, if you follow my column, this is a subject I frequently write about, because quite frankly, I don’t think you can talk about it too much, especially with children. In fact, my readers may get to this portion of this month’s column and think “there she goes again...” But before you pass me up and head to the next article of interest, think about what an opportunity you have with your children, no matter their age, to recognize a sort of non-traditional holiday that encourages us to be kind. I recently wrote about this similar topic in December, when I encouraged my readers to be someone’s Secret Santa. I apologize now for the repetition, but the fact of the matter is, I have two children, ages

166 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

17 and 10, and I want them to be the kind of grown-ups one day, that think of others more than they think of themselves. I don’t know how it is at your house, but as a parent, this is a monumental task at their particular ages right now. You know, to have them stop or slow down long enough to first, think of something they could for someone that is a good act or deed, and then, actually taking the time to do. That’s what’s so great about this holiday, it’s a day of the year that has been carved out to simply show kindness to someone who would appreciate it or might be in need. Let’s face it, sadly we all probably know someone who suffers from an illness or recent death in their family, or perhaps they are just aging and would love to have some company. A “random act of kindness” doesn’t have to have a monetary attachment to it. I know when my grandmother, Bitsy, was alive, an impromptu visit for a cup of coffee brought her the most joy. In my opinion, that’s probably the most giving thing you or your children can give, and that’s your time. Other examples might be to cook someone dinner or a sweet treat; make them a basket with a good book or some magazines, especially someone who might be homebound, or give them a gift card to a good restaurant. Again, it’s not the monetary value of the deed, it’s the act of kindness that’s attached to it. When Bitsy was alive, she was still mowing her grass and raking her leaves. My sister called and needed my son to come help them blow some pine straw off her roof, and even though I had a heart attack watching him walk down the top of her house with a blower, it gave me great pride that he would take his teenaged self to her house and help his grandmother. It gave her immeasurable joy to be able to work in her yard, something she loved to do, surrounded by her family. That my readers, is the kind of thing I’m talking about, as we approach this rather unconventional and not very well known holiday. I would encourage you to sit your family down, over dinner one night, and talk about someone you know that would delight in an act of kindness from your family. Get everyone in on the discussion as to what your family can do to create a special deed that would bring joy and happiness to someone you know, or may not know. And finally, execute the plan, as a family and take the time together to show love and kindness to someone that will be surprised and humbled by your kind actions. Trust me on this one, even if you can’t trust me on what color blouse matches your socks, after the warm reception you get from your “recipient,” you could quite possibly find your family wanting to do more “good deeds” throughout the year, and not just on this special February holiday.

GLENWOOD MEDICAL GROUP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

management, outpatient consultations, crisis management, acute psychiatric emergency management and referral, and consultations for psychiatric problems related to medical illness. PH: 318-329-4419 PULMONARY MEDICINE Ronald Hammett, MD Dr. Hammett specializes in critical care medicine, internal medicine and pulmonology. His services include treatment of disease and infection of the respiratory tract including cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema and chest infections. PH: 318-3298479 UROLOGY Edward Rutland, M.D. Dr. Edward Rutland is a board certified urology specialist and is one of the only robotically trained urologists in Northeast Louisiana. His services include the evaluation and treatment of bladder, kidney and prostate cancer, kidney stones, male and female urinary incontinence, enlarged prostate, vasectomy and erectile dysfunction. PH: 318-3298517 PRIMARY CARE CLINICS GLENWOOD FAMILY CARE CLINIC Rita Zuber, NP Ellen Gentile, NP Pediatric, adult and geriatric care including minor illness and emergencies, sports physicals, vaccinations, specialist referrals, medication management and DOT/CDL physicals. PH: 318-644-2573 GLENWOOD INTERNAL MEDICINE AND PEDIATRICS Billy G. Branch, MD Opening mid-February at 9052 Hwy 165N in Sterlington. Internal medicine, pediatrics, KidMed vaccinations, chronic disease diagnosis and management & minor illness/emergency care for the whole family. PH: 318-665-0170 GLENWOOD MEDICINE CLINIC Ann Gray, FNP Janet Morvant, FNP Christene Wooden, ANP Chronic disease management, diabetes and minor illness as well as medical testing for CDL license exams, in-house labs and EKG. PH: 318388-1400 GLENWOOD STAT CARE Daniel Trejo, MD Lynne Talley, NP Slade Dykes, NP Kimberly Kornegay, NP Pediatric, adult and geriatric care for minor illness and emergency including in-office labs, X-rays and EKGs. Primary care includes chronic disease and medication management, physicals and wellness exams, Kidmed vaccinations, and skin condition treatment. Open 7AM to 7PM, Monday through Saturday. Walk-ins welcome. PH: 318-396-3800 Glenwood Medical Group administrative offices are located at 503 McMillan Road, in Glenwood Regional Medical Center, West Monroe. For more information, call (318) 329-4200 or visit www.glenwoodmedicalgroup.com. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

167

Calendar of Events

For a full list of event happenings in Northeast Louisiana, see our website at www.bayoulifemag.com February 1-6 Robert Charles Brown Cutting Horse Show Time: 2:00 p.m. Come watch and enjoy as riders try to maneuver their horse to separate one calf from the herd at the Robert Charles Brown Cutting Horse Show. Venue: Ike Hamilton Expo Center Arena, West Monroe Admission Cost: Free Phone: 318-325-9160 Web: theike.com February 4 Downtown Gallery Crawl Time: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Presented by the Downtown Arts Alliance, eleven art galleries in downtown Monroe and West Monroe are open all evening for the public to enjoy great art, food, drink and music. Original art is for sale, tax free. Venue: Downtown Monroe and West Monroe Admission Cost: free Phone: 318-503-5125 February 5 Louisiana Delta Ballet presents Dancing with the LA stars Time: VIP party and seating at 6:00 p.m.; Show at 7:00 p.m. Now in its eighth season,

Dancing With The Louisiana Stars is the party of the year! Cheer on your local celebrities as they compete for the 2016 championship in a funfilled evening raising funds for the Louisiana Delta Ballet! Venue: Monroe Civic Center, Monroe Admission Cost: ticket and table prices vary Phone: 318-329-2225 Web: louisianadeltaballet.com February 6 “Chunkin’ in Chennault” Time: 10:00 a.m. Come out and “meet and greet” with OHPC members. Wannabe’s, novices, beginners, and even back yard pitchers, come pitch on 12 official horseshoe pits! There is plenty of parking, restrooms, a picnic area, and playgrounds. No shoes? Don’t hey have them! They will meet at Chennault Park, Shelter 4. Venue: Chennault Park and Golf Course Admission Cost: Free Phone: 318-376-7983 Mardi Gras After Party Time: 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Join in the party tonight featuring the Mike Mckenzie Band, along with your hosts Lottie Ainsworth and Mike Seastrom. You can even come dressed in your parade costumes if

168 FEBRUARY 2016 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

you want! Venue: West Monroe Convention Center, West Monroe Admission Cost: $15 per person in advanced, $20 at the door. Phone: 318-349-0316 Web: westmonroe.com/departments/convention-center February 12 Naomi and Jon- Love Songs, a Valentine’s Concert Time: 6:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of favorite love songs when two of NELA’s finest musicians, vocalist Nami Cordill and pianist Jon Baccarini, celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day in a performance at the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens. Venue: Biedenharn Musum and Gardens Admission Cost: $15 per person Phone: 318-387-5281 Web: bmuseum.org

student Web: dixiecenter.org February 19-21, 26 and 27 “Clue the Musical” Time: Saturday 7:00 p.m.; Sunday 2:00 p.m. The internationally popular game is now a fun filled musical which brings the world’s best know suspects to life and invites the audience to help solve the mystery: who killed Mr. Boddy. The audience receives forms to help them deduce the solution from clues given throughout the fun filled evening. Three audience members choose from cards representing the potential murderers, weapons and rooms; there are 216 possible solutions! Venue: Strauss Theatre Center Phone: 318-323-6681 Web: strausstheatrecenter.com

February 13 Battle-of-the-Bands Time: 6:00 p.m. Come out to the Enoch’s Irish Pub and Cafe to experience battleof-the-bands, presented by Up ‘til Dawn and sponsored by CAB. All proceeds raised at this event go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital! Venue: Enoch’s Irish Pub, Monroe Admission Cost: TBD Phone: 318-388-3662 Web: enochsirishpub.com

February 20 NELA Homebuilders Expo Time: Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Don’t miss out on the NELA Homebuilders Expo at the Civic Center. Shop a wide variety of indoor and outdoor Furniture and accessories,appliances, décor, insulation, roofing, lawn and garden equipment and supplies, lawn fencing, animal control fencing and much more! Venue: Monroe Civic Center, Monroe Phone: 318-329-2225 Web: ci.monroe.la.us/monroe-civic-center

February 18-21 “The Diary of Anne Frank” Time: Thursday-Saturday: 7:00 p.m.; Sunday: 2:00 p.m. Ruston Community Theatre (RCT) presents this stage adaptation of the book The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Her wartime diary documents her experiences hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Directed by Steele Moegle. Venue: The Dixie Center for the Arts, Ruston Admission Cost: $12 adult, $8

February 21 20th Annual Bridal Beginnings Time: 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. As you plan the most important life event, discover new ideas and trends to make your day complete. Here you will find the best local resources for food, fashion, flowers, invitations, photography, videography, entertainment and much more. Get a head start on making your special day fabulous! Venue: West Monroe Convention Center, West Monroe Phone: 318-396-5000 Web: westmonroe.com/departments/convention-center

February 25-27 2016 Bass Pro Shop Crappie Masters State Championship Time: Thursday: 5:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: All day This event is open to all fishermen at any level of skill. Registration will be held in Willie Davis Recreation Center in Farmerville on Thursday, February 25th at 5p.m. followed by a seminar at 6:30 p.m. Participating anglers will be able to fish both Friday and Saturday and weigh-in their catch on Friday and Saturday at D’Arbonne Point. Crappie Masters pays out over 100 percent of the entry fees in cash and prizes. Winners from this tournament qualify for the 2016 National Championship in Grenada, MS. Crappie Masters will also offer a free fishing rodeo for kids at Lake D’Arbonne for ages 15 and under. Venue: Lake D’Arbonne, Farmerville Admission Cost: $325 entry fee per boat with two fishermen Phone: 318-255-2031 February 26-27 North Louisiana Quilters Guild Quilt Show Time: Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Come enjoy a wide variety of quilts, demonstrations, a vendor mall and more. Venue: Monroe Civic Center, Monroe Admission Cost: Admission $5 for adults, $2 for children Phone: 318-343-3597 Web: nlqg.us/Quilt-Show-Information.php February 26-28 BMX Cajun Nationals Time: Friday - Sunday (All Day) The BMX Cajun Nationals are at the Ike Hamilton and you don’t want to miss out! Watch as the contestants compete in a race around the track with unexpected jumps and tricks that will sure to amaze the audience. Venue: Ike Hamilton Expo Center Arena, West Monroe Admission Cost: Free Phone: (318) 325-9160 February 27 Bookmaking Workshop with Frank Hamrick Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. In this workshop, participants will make two books. The first book will be a simple hardbound,

pamphlet stitch book. The second book will be a more complex Coptic hardbound book. All the essential bookmaking materials and tools will be provided. No previous experience is necessary. Students will have a good foundation in bookmaking after completing this workshop. There will be an hour break for lunch on Saturday. Venue: Masur Museum of Art, Monroe Admission Cost: $135 for museum members/ $155 for nonmembers Phone: 318-329-2237 Web: masurmuseum.org Ranger-Guided Hike Time: 11:00 a.m. Poverty Point World Heritage Site is offering a ranger-guided hike around the 402-acre prehistoric site. The 2.6 mile hike will include all of the prehistoric mounds and ridges located on the site, as well as the plaza and also give the visitors the opportunity to study the culture of these ancient inhabitants through interpretation. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes are needed for the hiking portion of the program. Venue: Poverty Point World Heritage Site, Pioneer Admission Cost: $4 per person Phone: 888-926-5492 Web: crt.state.la.us/parks/ipvertypt. aspx Visit www.monroe-westmonroe. org for information about events in Ouachita Parish and visit www. rustonlincoln.com for events in Lincoln Parish.

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2016

169