SETTING THE MOOD

SMILE BIGGER THAN EVER WITH COSMETIC SERVICES AT NELA Dental! Our team can whiten, fill in the gaps, and make your smile stand out in the crowd. NELA Dental offers fast and affordable teeth whitening, veneers and resin bonding, multiple options for orthodontics, and more

Your Summer tan goes perfect with brighter smiles and teeth whitening from NELA Dental. They proudly offer Zoom Whitening, affordable treatments to whiten your smile in one visit. The treatment also includes take-home whitening trays to ensure the best results. By combining in-house LED technology and at home treatment, patients will see their whitest smile in a week’s time.

With NELA Dental’s Membership Plan, teeth whitening is just $99. For more information visit neladental.com

Resin bonding is another type of cosmetic solution for chipped, gapped, and stained teeth and fillings. The material is shaped and molded to your teeth to give the appearance of a straighter, whiter smile.

Bonding uses tooth-colored materials to replace missing tooth structure or hide cosmetically unappealing minor defects in a tooth — chips, discoloration, and even minor spacing irregularities. Bonding materials are called “composite resins” because they contain a mixture of plastic and glass, which adds strength and translucency. The composite bonds, or becomes one, with the rest of the tooth.

Resin bonding can be completed in a single appointment. Tooth bonding can usually be accomplished in a single visit to the dental office. Expect the whole procedure to take 30 minutes to an hour. First, we will clean the surface of the tooth to be bonded so it is plaque-free. The liquid resin is applied in a matching shade that is painted on in a thin layer, filling these tiny pores to create a strong bond. A special curing light is used to harden this bonding material. Once the first layer is cured, another layer is painted on and cured. We will continue to build up layers until the restoration has the necessary thickness. We will then shape the bonding material using a dental drill to give it just the right form. Once we are satisfied that the tooth not only looks great but fits perfectly with your bite, we will give the bonded tooth a final polishing.

Veneers are a wonderful option to improve your smile and it’s great for those with slight imperfections such as teeth that are stained, chipped, or have gaps. Veneers are custom-made thin shells that are attached to the front surface of your teeth to change their color, shape, size, or length.

They may be beneficial for people who want a long-term solution to persistent cosmetic concerns — particularly those that do not respond to other dental treatments, such as teeth whitening, braces, or retainers. During the placement process, a dentist will typically remove a small amount of enamel, which is the thin protective outer covering of the teeth. Because of this, once the dentist places the veneers, a person cannot remove them or choose not to use them.

Now with Teeth in a Day, you can get your dental implants completed in just one day! NELA Dental is your home for this One-and- Done, dental implant services. In fact, it is one of the few dental practices offering this procedure in the state of Louisiana.

NELA Dental always strives to utilize the best in advancing technologies. Through the use of CAD (Computer Aided Design) and 3D printing, dental implants can be placed, and long-term temporary teeth can be printed and placed in one day. This process allows for more chewing ability and much less pain while healing. It also allows you to test drive your teeth, so you get the teeth you want.

Call 387-5732 to schedule your cosmetic service at NELA Dental. In addition to offering flexible scheduling, NELA Dental wants to make dentist visits financially easier for all their patients. That’s why they offer membership plans to help alleviate the cost of some procedures. Frequent visits keep your smile healthy, but these visits may also help catch potential problems early. This could make treatments simpler and more affordable. Catching problems early is not only good for oral health and your wallet, but it may also boost your medical health too. The benefits of routine oral maintenance are seemingly endless!

NELA Dental accepts most major dental insurance plans, third-party payments, and offer flexible financing options. Call one of our convenient locations in Farmerville and Monroe, schedule your appointment. The NELA Dental team, is ready to help guide you and your family to a strong smile and healthy living. Start Smiling Today!

Black metal candle holders from Sonny Panzico Garden Mart, Chairs from Material Things, Fireplace from Ouachita Antique Woods, Gold drink cooler from Lauren Roebuck Designs, Custom rug from Custom Design Center, Raffia wrapped pitcher and glasses from Walsworth & Company, Book from Haven, Brass pots from Revival Design and Consign, Large faux plant from Sleepy Hollow Furniture.

Make your outdoor space as livable as your indoor areas. Comfortable accent chairs take center stage as a mid-century modern fireplace adds warmth to the space. Brass plants, a large faux plant, a custom rug and a terrazzostyle side table create the perfect ambience. Find this and more at area retailers.

Clockwise from left: Cheetah vase by Revival Design & Consign, White serving bowl from Haven, Gold-rimmed wine glasses from Lauren Roebuck Designs, Multi-colored knives from Parterre, Cutting board from Ouachita Antique Woods, Long-stem wine glass from Walsworth & Company, Leopard napkins from Material Things, Bone-colored flatware from Traditions on Trenton, Bowl and dinner plate from Walsworth and Company, Fabric runner from Fabulous Fabric, Blue wine glass from Palette House and Plume, Roux spoon from Max Porter Provisions

Time to dress up the table with new serving pieces for spring. Find beautiful linens, unique wine glasses, vintage vases and more at area retailers.

I REMEMBER that Mother’s Day was so special because our mother was so special! She was the expression of what love is as she gave herself in the care of her children. There may have been a number of things that my sisters and I did not have growing up, but there never was a lack of love; and Mother’s Day gave us the opportunity to express our deep appreciation for all of her sacrifices on our behalf.

My wife (and the mother of my children) was also one who was the epitome of what a child wants in a mother. I was blessed, not only to have a loving mother, but to watch and see how, in my wife, a mother showered her children with almost God-like love. Is it any wonder, then, that I have the best, most awesome children and grandchildren in the whole world – the product being nurtured by the love that only a mother can give! Love in its deepest mode.

I have mentioned in earlier “I Remember” columns that love, in its purest and highest form, desires the very best for its object. That is the way that God loves - as demonstrated by the sacrificial gift of His Son as the Savior - and mothers approximate that love better than any other group in our society. Most of us who are dads would probably “take a bullet” for our children, but even that pales in comparison to depth of the love of a mother. When God created mothers, He gave the world one of His best blessings. Mother’s Day provides us with the perfect opportunity to thank God and to honor mothers.

Unfortunately, not every child has the benefit of growing up under the care of the type of mother that I have attempted to portray. It takes more than giving birth to a baby to earn the designation of “mother.” I do not know why some who do give birth fail to measure up to the standard suggested by my earlier remarks, but obviously

that is the reality. Perhaps that is the reason that too many youth have no sense of appreciation for the lives and property of others. They missed out on the training of a Godly mother, and thus failed to develop values that are important in any society. I understand that being a “good” mother is a very challenging effort, but I believe it is a most worthwhile undertaking. The rewards of occupying oneself in the work of motherhood are manifold, chief of which is MOST OF US WHO ARE DADS WOULD seeing one’s child mature into a productive, loving adult. No PROBABLY “TAKE A BULLET” FOR OUR mother’s endeavors are wasted CHILDREN, BUT EVEN THAT PALES IN when her child turns out “good.” COMPARISON TO DEPTH OF THE LOVE The task of motherhood is so important that I think it is the wise OF A MOTHER. woman who looks to God for His assistance in fulfilling her role. I also am convinced that He is always available and ready to give His gracious help. Jesus said, “You can do nothing without me.” (John 15:5) He said this in the context of teaching His followers that their purpose was to bear spiritual fruit. The mother whose efforts produce good fruit in the lives of her children, is one who works in partnership with the Lord and who finds His grace sufficient for the task. So, as we pay tribute to our mothers, or to the memory of mothers who have gone to their rewards in heaven, some of us may want to do that in the context of our worship of the One who gave us such wonderful mothers and who helped them as they fulfilled their high calling. I do not think that it is by accident that Mother’s Day always falls on Sunday. What better way to pay tribute to mothers than to join them in the worship of the One who gave us mothers and who provides grace to each of them as they seek to fulfill His purpose for their lives. Thank you, mothers, for all you are and all you do; and thank the Lord for giving us such wonderful mothers!

article by PAUL LIPE

opinion expressed is that of the writer

Folks in the ArkLaMiss were mowing their lawns this year as early as late March. Actually, they were mowing weeds, namely henbit, speedwell, chickweed, and an onion-like plant called Nothoscordum. This month should see all of our Deep South turfgrasses coming out of dormancy and I’m sure that by then end of this month, the fertilizer will be flying! So, let me get on my soapbox and get my annual lawn rant out of the way.

New lawns can be established any time this month before summer temperatures hit. Both seeding and sodding can be done provided the area for the new lawn has been adequately prepared. This includes clearing the area of any existing vegetation, grading appropriately for runoff, and preparing the soil per recommendations of a soil test. In our area, a lime application will likely be required, unless Centipede is your choice for a turfgrass. It requires a slightly lower soil pH compared to the other turfgrass options. And, we don’t have that many choices for turfgrasses. Zoysia and St. Augustine are both good options if your lawn, or areas of it, experiences a few hours of shade during the day. Bermuda and Centipede are not shade-tolerant at all. All species and varieties perform best in full sun situations. Once seed or sod has been put down, provide adequate water until the new grass is established. Then, the typical once weekly water regime can be applied.

And speaking of watering your lawns…. folks, you water your lawns too much. Rains are frequent enough in spring to render irrigating established lawns unnecessary. Resist the temptation to water southern turfgrasses every day of the week even during the height of summer. Southern turfgrasses are adapted to hot, humid conditions. Excess water may lead to fungal issues like large patch and take all patch.

Preexisting lawns can be fertilized this month. Weed-andfeed products can be used now for warm weather weed control. Broadleaf weeds can be controlled with selective herbicides such as 2,4-D or metsulfuron, which is marketed as MSM Turf or Manor. An herbicide for broadleaf weeds in lawns is 2,4-D but be aware it may volatilize during extremely hot weather and damage desirable broadleaf plants. Be particularly careful if applying 2,4-D to St. Augustine and Centipede during the hottest summer months.

> If extreme soil fertility issues are present, lack of nitrogen in the soil will be evidenced by the heavy colonization of clover < Dollarweed and certain sedges like green kylinga may indicate a problem with surface drainage.

If weed infestations are particularly heavy in your lawn, an herbicide will be a short term fix. Very likely, the soil chemistry has shifted in some way to favor weeds that outcompete turfgrass for water and nutrients. A soil test may be necessary to determine what the issue is and how to correct it. More often than not, soil pH has been allowed to slip, but nutrients may also be in short supply. Another reason not to over water is nutrients will inevitably leach out of soil.

For fertilizing, look for lawn fertilizers with a ratio of 3-1-2 or similar and apply at a rate recommended on the bag. Sometimes, all three of the “the big three” (N-P-K) numbers on fertilizer bags aren’t necessary. A lawn may need only potash (potassium) but have plenty of phosphorous. In such a case, a balanced fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 13-13-13 isn’t necessary. Muriate of potash (0-0-60) may be applied by itself per the recommendation of the soil test results. Likewise, phosphorous is available as either super phosphate (018-0) or triple super phosphate (0-45-0). Assessing nitrogen is more difficult because it’s so mobile. Nitrogen concentrations may differ from soil, to root, to leaf. With as much fertilizer as is put down during the growing season, nitrogen is rarely in short supply. However, if extreme soil fertility issues are present, lack of nitrogen in the soil will be evidenced by the heavy colonization of clover (white, red, crimson, or yellow) and another weed called common lespedeza. These plants are legumes. As such, they are nitrogen fixers. This means they convert atmospheric nitrogen into useable nitrates to basically make their own fertilizers. Just as colonization of legumes may indicate a lack of nitrogen, other weeds may be indicative of other issues. For example, dollarweed and certain sedges like green kylinga may indicate a problem with surface drainage. Wild buttercups, genus Ranunculus, may also indicate a drainage issue. Crabgrass, a grassy weed in summer lawns, may indicate a thin lawn. Dallisgrass, another weedy grass in summer lawns, may indicate dry, compacted soil.

Early summer growth will require frequent mowing. Remember to keep mower blades sharp and adjust the height of the blade to cut at the appropriate height depending on the type of grass. Follow these recommendations: • Common Bermuda: cut to 1.5 inches • Zoysia: cut to 1 or 1.5 inches • Centipede: cut to 1.5 to 2 inches • St. Augustine: cut to 2.5 to 3 inches

Mowing too low may invite a number of issues, especially infestation of Virginia buttonweed, Louisiana’s number 1 lawn weed problem.

Insect pests generally aren’t an issue for lawns in our area. Armyworms, tropical sod webworms, and chinch bugs show up from time to time, but not on a consistent basis. By far, the most frequent lawn issues I help homeowners with involve water or soil.

So, as we transition into late spring and early summer, be leery of getting lawn information online and remember most disasters begin with these three words, “My lawn man...” Call us at the LSU AgCenter f o r

Tune in to Louisiana Living every Tuesday at 4:30 for In the Garden with Kerry Heafner of the LSU AgCenter.

THE ABC’S OF FISHING BIG TOPWATER LURES article by KENNY COVINGTON

Idon’t know of a single bass fisherman that doesn’t love the sight and sound of a topwater strike. To me, it is the best way to catch a bass with a spinnerbait being a close second. The anticipation of a good size bass busting a topwater offering just after dawn is the kind of scene Norman Rockwell would have easily made a painting of. For whatever the reason, anglers don’t use topwater lures like they once did, especially the larger ones.

For this article, let me explain what I mean when I say “larger topwater’s,” which will also be the ones we discuss. The Whopper Plopper, a Zara Spook, the P-60 Pop R, a Buzz Toad and a Devil’s Horse are the lures I would put into this category. These topwater lures fall into three categories: a steady retrieve type of lure such as a Buzz Toad or a Whopper Plopper, a cadence-based lure such as a Spook, or a twitching type of lure such as a Devil’s Horse or the Pop R.

Before I get into the how and where aspect of this month’s article, I want to talk about the equipment I use for these lures. First, I use 50 lb. braided line and a 7-foot medium/heavy rod for every lure listed except for the Devil’s Horse and Pop R. When using those two lures, I always use 15-20 lb. monofilament line and I use a 7-foot medium action rod unless I need to make shorter more exact presentations, then I go as short as a 6’6 version.

The Buzz Toad and Whopper Plopper

start throwing at the end of February and early March, depending on the weather patterns. The Whopper Plopper seems to gain steam more around the end of April into the month of May. I prefer the Whopper Plopper when the water has a chop to it and is a bit more stained. It is also my choice for low light or rainy days. I like using the Buzz Toad in cleaner water around vegetation or other grass scenarios. My favorite color in both lures is black regardless of time of year or where I am fishing, unless the water is extremely clear, then I go to more shad patterns. These lures will catch more size than numbers, so it helps to have that mindset while throwing them. Another thing to remember is most of the time the slower you can retrieve the lure, while keeping a consistent sound on top, the better they tend to hit it.

Zara Spook

If you told me I could pick one topwater lure to catch a bass over five pounds, it would be a Spook, however, it can be a hard technique to learn. The “walk the dog” retrieve is critical and takes a bit of practice until you get comfortable with it, especially when throwing it on a longer 7-foot rod. One of the interesting things I have noticed about a Spook is that certain colors do well on certain lakes. When I fish Darbonne, I have had better luck using a bream or the Arkansas Shad patterned lure. On Claiborne, the bullfrog color is my standard go to. On clearer water lakes like Caney, I do well with the Shore Minnow color, one my uncle Lannie used to refer to it as “old ugly.”

Devil’s Horse and Pop R

When Glynn Blankenship and I fished together we had a rule when practicing for tournaments on the Ouachita River system and it was quite simple: throw a Devil’s Horse until you start getting bit. I put a shad-colored Pop R in the same sentence with the Devil’s Horse because while fishing with Glynn, I discovered fishing the Devil’s Horse would catch numbers of bass, it seemed we always caught a bigger fish on the bigger Pop R. It became a deadly 1-2 punch, mimicking both bream and shad.

The number one rule for fishing both lures is patience. The slower you can make yourself move these lures, the bigger the fish will be that strikes it. I am not saying you won’t catch small ones or even numbers of bass, I am just telling you that your bigger fish will come on the retrieves where you are moving the lure painfully slow.

Well, it looks like we have run out of space and time once again. The weather is beginning to move from the new adventures of spring to the early signs of summer. With more and more people out there enjoying our waterways, please be mindful of those around you. It’s not too early to think about applying sunscreen and staying hydrated, even though the summer temperatures haven’t gotten to us just yet but most of all enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature and make sure you catch one for me! See you next month!

by Guy Miller, Vice Chair Emeritus, Chennault Aviation and Military Museum

It may not be as widely recognized as some other “monthly proclamations” but May is National Military Appreciation Month. Because several holidays in May focus on military recognition of some kind the U.S. Congress officially dedicated the month of May to Military Appreciation in 1999. The specific individual holidays have different recognition objectives.

MAY 1 - SILVER STAR SERVICE BANNER DAY: You might have seen Silver Star Banners in some home windows or at least pictures of them displayed during past conflicts. The Silver Star banner recognizes a family member(s) who has been wounded or sickened in combat.

A May 2010 Congressional resolution formally recognized May 1st as Silver Star Service Banner Day; the “Official Day to honor wounded, ill and injured veterans.” Families proudly wave the Blue Star Banner to show they have a member serving in the Armed Forces. If the member is wounded or contracts a serious illness or injury in a war zone the star is changed to silver. (Gold stars denote family members killed while serving.)

SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY: First recognized by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, this day was set aside to acknowledge the sacrifices and impact a spouse has on a serving military members. Typically, the sitting president issues a proclamation each year to recognize the holiday.

Military spouses are the support system for our nation’s military because they keep the home fires burning. They might also serve as single parents while their spouses are deployed. Military spouses take care of service members when they return home.

DAY: Prior to 1949 each major branch of the military operated separately and there were separate cabinet level Departments for War (Army / Army Air Forces) and Navy (Navy and Marine Corps). In 1949 the Armed Forces were unified under the Department of Defense.

With this unification, President Harry S. Truman wanted a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country. Accordingly, on August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the establishment of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. Armed Forces Day was first observed on May 20, 1950.

Armed Forces Day should not be confused with Veterans Day or Memorial Day. Those holidays respectively recognize those who previously served and those who died serving our nation in combat. Armed Forces Day celebrates those who currently serve across all branches of the military and sacrifice so much for our nation.

LAST MONDAY IN MAY - MEMORIAL DAY: Memorial Day is a national day of remembrance set aside each year to honor those who have fallen while fighting for our country. The history of Memorial Day is complex and some might be surprised at how recently the actual official holiday was established.

Decorating family graves with flowers has been around for a very long time but the practice of decorating non-family soldiers’ graves with flowers is also an ancient custom. United States Library of Congress records show Southern women began decorating the graves of soldiers before the Civil War’s end. By 1865, Mississippi, Virginia, and South Carolina all had precedents for statewide “Southern Memorial Day” recognition. These early Southern Memorial Day celebrations were simple, somber occasions wherein veterans and their families honored the fallen soldiers and tended to local veterans cemeteries. As time went on, the Ladies’ Memorial Association and other groups increasingly developed rituals for preserving Confederate Culture.

By the 1880s, post-Civil War ceremonies in the northern states were becoming more uniform due to the Grand Army of the Republic. This fraternal veterans association provided handbooks that set forth specific procedures, poems, and Bible verses for local post commanders to use when planning the local event. “Memorial Day” and “Decoration Day” were the two common names for the various State and local celebrations until after World War II when the latter began to fall in disuse.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs all of the various pre- and post- Civil War memorial ceremonies have resulted in approximately 25 places claiming to have originated the holiday. The roots of Memorial Day are so convoluted that Columbus [Georgia] State University has a Center for Memorial Day Research and the University of Mississippi’s Center for Civil War Research also performed thorough research into Memorial Day’s origins.

Many origination claims are unsupported by evidence, while others are due to one-time cemetery dedications or tributes. One research effort in 2014 attempted to separate the myths and onetime events from the activities that actually led to the establishment of the federal holiday.

Memorial Day was declared the official name by federal law in 1967. Then on June 28, 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved four holidays including Memorial Day from their historical dates to a specified Monday in order to create convenient three-day weekend holidays. This law took effect at the federal level in 1971.

On Memorial Day, the American flag is raised and then lowered to half-mast to honor the fallen U.S. soldiers who have died for our country. At noon the flag is raised again to full height to symbolize the resolve of the living to carry on the fight for freedom so that the nation’s heroes will not have died in vain.

BY ROBERT WRIGHT

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2022. YOU’VE reached a milestone in your lives. You completed the task that was placed before you and you have brought great credit to your family and your community. This should not be the last graduation season of your life. Never stop reading, studying, researching, exploring, and investigating the world in which you live. Education should be a lifelong commitment and it is your responsibility to challenge your mind, to seek adventure and set sail out for a journey of discovery.

It’s been twenty-six years since I graduated from high school. What an adventure it has been. I would have never imagined the world that I have been exposed to in such a short time. There I was, a little four-eyed skinny, suit-wearing nerd going out on this great journey, anxious about what was ahead. But rest assured, we’ve all traveled that road and have come to this point. You’ve probably listened to dozens of speeches about college and this new life of yours. Well, it’s May and you are at the point to see it for yourselves.

In college, you will have the opportunity to take an art appreciation course. In that course, you will likely analyze the painting “A Bigger Splash,” constructed by the British artist David Hockney. In studying the works of art, it important to look for themes and concepts. If you can locate a copy of this painting, take a moment to look at it. Examine the elements. You see a pool, a diving board, a modern style house, palm trees, a splash in the pool, and a director’s chair.

In my analysis, I notice an invisible swimmer and an invisible director. Whomever made a splash, made a bigger one than normal, thus the title of the painting. I would further describe it as someone who arrived on the scene in Hollywood, made a big splash, and then moved on. Attributing it to my own life, I have done this many times before and am destined to make more.

It is my advice to you to go out and make a bigger splash. Look back at what you’ve been able to do in your life. Do you want more? Do you want to make an impact? It can be done. You can travel. You can be an explorer. You can be a soldier. You can be a college graduate. You can be a movie star. Go make a splash.

At my college graduation from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2012, the commencement speaker was, then-Louisiana State Representative Katrina Jackson (she is currently a State Senator). The theme of her speech was “dance with time.” She encouraged me and hundreds of other graduates to go out into the world and do great works. She said that sometimes the music will change. This represents time and its many changing themes. She suggested that in order to keep up with the changes, we should move to the groove of time and continue the dance. Hearing her mention this theme in her speech made me think back to that art appreciation class when I first analyzed Hockney’s painting. Making a splash and dancing with time seemed to have a similar meaning.

So what’s next for you? College? Work? Military? There is a world of possibility that awaits you. Be careful not to get involved with people or situations which may prevent you from enjoying your journey. We all make mistakes, but the objective should be to not have “making mistakes” on your bucket list. Those mistakes will teach you a lesson, but just because a class is offered, it doesn’t mean you have to enroll in it.

Should you go to college? There are many who will say that college is not for everyone. To that I will advise you that it is better to have a college degree and not need the degree than to need the degree and not possess it. You’ve already proven that you are capable of a college education. Many before you in previous generations only possessed an 8th grade education. Even with that they were fluent in the English language, writing, and arithmetic. The fact that you undertook four years of high school should mean that you took advanced classes above that which previous generations were able to complete. As a result, it proves that you can handle the rigor of college courses. Remember the effort you put forth in high school to complete those classes. You did it once…you can do it again. Certainly, college is an experience of its own. When employers have to choose between two applicants of whom they don’t know for certain their professional capabilities other than what is listed on the application, they will most likely choose the applicant with the college degree. Doors will be available to you to open. Make sure you have the keys to unlock them when needed.

Graduates who may not be ready to dive right into college may consider the military. It offers job training, job experience, travel, adventure, and rewarding fellowships and networking opportunities. Many fear that joining the military will result in a fatal demise. However, there are thousands of veterans who can attest that they never met such demise and their lives have been all the better because they made the choice to serve their country. Once the military experience is completed, there are thousands of dollars instantly available for college education. This is one splash with the blast of two. It’s worth considering.

Remember, on this journey, one of your most important subjects to learn is yourself. You have to love yourself and appreciate the gift of life. Find out what your mission is and that thing you’re passionate about and become great at it. Go forth, young ladies and young men. I made a splash. You can make a splash. And with each splash…make is a bigger splash!

Robert Wright is a graduate of Carroll High School, a US Marine Veteran, and holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts degree in History from ULM.