BayouLife February 2017

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38 / FISHING WITH KENNY Before There Was Ever a Sweet Beaver, There Was the Bass N’Eel 40 / BAYOU ICON Brenda and Charles Marsala Reflect on Love and the Road to Success 46 / PINTEREST PAGE Printable Templates for Valentine’s Day Treats 62 / P. ALLEN SMITH Starting Your Own Garden 72 / CHILDREN’S COALITION Working Together To Help Children Thrive

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96 / PAINTING THE ROSES RED Red Haute Looks for Valentine’s Day 106 / LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL A Portrait of King Alan Barth and Queen Kelli Harvey 114 / BAYOU ARTIST Drék Davis Believes in Creating Art That Will Stimulate Conversations 130 / BAYOU EATS Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats 150 / LE JAZZ HOT Gatsby-inspired Looks From Area Boutiques Give a Glimpse Into Fashion Fusion

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160 / BAYOU HOME Linda and Sam Trinca’s Home In The Heart of Monroe

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BayouLife

EBRUARY IS A TIME TO

honor those we love, recognize the central role of AfricanAmericans in U.S. history and gather together to celebrate Mardi Gras and prepare for the Lenten season. It’s one of my favorite months, particularly because it is three of my favorite people’s birthday month. I’ll have a three-year-old and five-year-old at the end of the month and somewhere sandwiched between, my mom will turn sixty-something! We’ll be partying until March! We are so thankful that we were asked to promote this year’s Fashion Fusion on February 25th. The Children’s Coalition, in conjunction with DBK Dance and Performing Arts, will present this annual fundraising event at the Monroe Civic Center Arena. This year, dancers and models from local boutiques will participate in a Gatsby-inspired runway show. This event is always one of our staff’s favorite outings, and we were thrilled when the organizers asked BayouLife to coordinate a fashion shoot. We borrowed minks and bought wigs, found feather boas and fascinators; it was truly a group effort; and the shoot came out fantastic. We want to thank our models: Ellie Jackson, Mallory Lynn, Ashley Williams, Tyler Cating, Taylor Collins and Evan Ward, As always, Meka Bennett made our guys and dolls look flawless, and Martin G Meyers pulled off the the vision with perfection. We couldn’t have done it without the perfect location and thanks to Kathy Patrick and family, we were able to shoot in the beautiful and historic Biedenharn home. Our shoot is just a little taste of the efforts of those working tirelessly to pull together an amazing event to benefit The Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana. Tickets are available through the Children’s Coalition at the administrative offices located at 1363 Louisville Avenue in Monroe, or through their website at www. childrenscoalition.org. See our photo shoot on 150 and read about the Coalition on page 72. See you at the show! This month, I had the pleasure of laying out the pages for Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats. Every time I opened a photo, my mouth started watering, and all I could think about was ditching work and scrambling over to Antique Alley for a piece of pecan pie. Considering February is a time to indulge in sweets, we thought this delectable new diner was the perfect fit for this month’s BayouEats. Read about it on page 130. Before I started BayouLife Magazine, I was lucky enough to land a job at DeltaStyle in 2001 when Maré and Steve

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1201 Royal Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 Phone 318.855.3185 Fax 318.855.4645

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM PUBLISHER Cassie Livingston cassie@bayoulifemag.com

Brennan owned it. One of the first couples I met was Brenda and Charles Marsala. Here I was, slung into events where I had to learn people’s names who had NO idea who I was. Often, I felt like a complete stalker – I’d know all these people, and they would have no clue who the young, awkward girl was behind the camera. (That still happens sometimes, only I’m not so young any longer…still awkward.) But, no matter where I was, Mr. Charles would always speak to me and even knew my name. It didn’t take long before I saw Marsala Beverage on every event sign as a sponsor and quickly realized how much they did for our community. Married for fifty years, the Marsalas are a fixture in North Louisiana. We were thrilled to have them sit down with Kay Rector to talk about their road to success and reflect on a lifetime of love and service. See their article on page 40. A few years ago, I went to a collaboration of artists at the Masur Museum of Art. I just happened to meet Drék Davis that night, and he gave me his business card. When I saw his art at The Palace during a Downtown Gallery Crawl, I knew that I had to feature him in the magazine. Read about him on page 114. We have so many more great articles in this month’s issue. I want to thank all of our readers and advertisers for their continued support of our magazine. We are the only locally-owned and operated, monthly publication that is home delivered in North Louisiana, and we could not continue without the “love” that our community has shown us. Make sure to visit bayoulifemag.com for our Valentine’s Day templates on page 46. Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at BayouLife!

Cassie

EDITOR Maré Brennan mare@bayoulifemag.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Moffett melanie@bayoulifemag.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Taylor Collins taylor@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 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tara Ambrose Jen Bays Avis Nills Borquist Maré Brennan Dan Chason Kenny Covington Lou Davenport Dr. David Finley Cindy Gist Foust April Honaker

Paul Lipe Erin Love Meredith McKinnie Dr. Timothy Mickel Kay Rector Delia Simpson P. Allen Smith Beatrice A. Tatem Analeise Thomas Judy Wagoner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Arender Scarlett Garcia Martin G. Meyers ON THE COVER Le Jazz Hot. Join us on February 25th at the Monroe Civic Center Arena for this year’s Fashion Fusion - a fundraiser to benefit The Children’s Coalition. 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.

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Washington Wine & Spirits Getting in the Spirit for a Festive February

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HE MONTH OF FEBRUARY IS PACKED WITH THREE fun-filled events including the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, and the always festive Mardi Gras. The crew at Washington Wine & Spirits would like to offer a complete buying guide for each occasion that includes all your wine and spirits needs. SUPER BOWL SUNDAY Game day is always filled with great food and lots of fun, and red wine is a great pairing for both. If you are looking for a red wine with silky tannins, Fabre Montmayou Gran Reserva Malbec 2011 is a great choice. It is light enough to enjoy on its own, but it will also go great with that queso or rotel dip- the football version of cheese and wine! If you are looking for a heavier option, try the Substance Cabernet Sauvignon 2014. The bottle label has a clean, modern look, and the wine will go great with heavier side dishes like BBQ meatballs or anything wrapped in bacon. To pair up with those burgers and hotdogs, Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz 2015 is the way to go. This Shiraz was made for food and will hold up very nicely with any of the savory, cooked meats you plan to enjoy on game day. For a light and refreshing choice in wine, Blanc de Bleu is a game-changer. As you pour, the glass fills up with the bright blue liquid, and the infused blueberry flavors provide an easy-going sipper. For those seeking something a little more potent than wine, Plantation rum 5 year or Wheatley vodka are two great options. Choose your favorite mixer or have fun building a cocktail, and these spirits will give you a nice, smooth drink. VALENTINE’S DAY Planning your Valentine’s day can be hectic and choosing the perfect bottle of wine to go with a great meal can definitely add to that stress. Here is a list of some great red and white wines that can help make your evening stress-free and unforgettable. Tres Picos Garnacha 2014 received a prestigious ranking of #39 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List this year and is a terrific pairing with 8 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Italian dishes or pork. Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 shares part of its name with the holiday, has an elegant black and gold label, and drinks just as beautifully. This Napa Cabernet is a perfect wine to pair with steak or tamales. For those white wine lovers, Jules Melange Vin Blanc 2015 (white blend) or Martin Ray Chardonnay 2014 are excellent options for lighter fish dishes and citrus or white sauces. If you are looking to splurge a little more for that perfect food wine, Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 or Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch 2014 are guaranteed to impress. MARDI GRAS Mardi Gras is all about letting the good times roll, and this list promotes nothing short of just that. Slow & Low Rock and Rye is a cocktail in a bottle. This spirit is hassle-free and tasty; pour neat or over ice and enjoy. For a great whiskey option, you cannot go wrong with the Russell’s Reserve 6 year rye. This rye is aged in a #4 charred barrel, the highest char level. As a result, prominent flavors of honey, wood and cinnamon intermingle nicely with the spicy notes of the rye. If you are in the mood to mix your own drink, Bayou Rum and Satsuma are great local stand-outs. Combine the rum with your favorite mixer or blend into a punch or cocktail, or try the Satsuma as a floater over your Margarita to bring it up a notch. Flying Tiger’s Man at Arms amber ale is another way to show your local support. Sold as a 6 pack, this almost creamy amber ale is made with tasty caramel and biscuit malts. Clocking in at 5.3% ABV, the medium body beer makes for a great all-day sipper. For a great wine to pair with traditional Louisiana food venerating salty and spicy flavors, check out Willamette Valley Riesling 2015. Riesling’s go surprisingly well with Louisiana-style food. An alternative to the Riesling is Solena Pinot Gris 2014. This white wine is easy to sip on with lots of melon, honey, and fruit qualities and without the hassle of pairing. If you are looking to pop open a celebratory bottle of sparkling wine, the Chandon Etoile Brut is a great option that is not too expensive. The bubbles will definitely get those good times rolling.

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Glenwood Medical Group Quality Medical Providers You Expect. Compassionate Care You Deserve. CARDIOLOGY P. Thomas Causey, Jr., MD, FACC Nikki Fuller, NP 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

minimally invasive balloon sinuplasty. PH: 318-329-8458

CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY Harry Donias, MD Scott E. Henry, MD, PhD Dennis Fischer, PA Karen Sinclair, NP Dr. Donias and Dr. Henry’s services include mitral valve, tricuspid valve and aortic valve repair or replacement, on and offpump 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

GENERAL SURGERY David W. Norman, MD Dr. Norman is a robotically trained surgeon in minimally invasive techniques. He specializes in breast biopsies and therapy; wound care, acute infections and complications; minimally invasive treatment of bowel incontinence; incisionless acid reflux repair; evaluation and treatment of benign and malignant disorders of the breast, thyroid, gallbladder, skin, digestive and vascular systems; as well as advanced laparoscopic and robotic management of the appendix, spleen, colon, reflux disease, adrenals and hernias. PH: 318-329-8411

EAR, NOSE AND THROAT Brent Metts, MD, PhD Ellen Murray, NP Dr. Metts, one of the few surgeons in the nation who is fellowship trained in minimally invasive and endoscopic-assisted thyroid and parathyroid surgeries, provides treatment for sinus disease, thyroid disease, hearing loss, throat and voice problems, sleep apnea, tonsillitis and ear infections. He also performs

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 and diabetic foot care. PH: 318-329-8445

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FOOT AND ANKLE David Gardner, DPM Dr. Gardner specializes 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. PH: 318-322-5506

NEUROLOGY Jenny Guerre, MD Dena Novak, NP 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 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 Deanna McKee, NP 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: 318-329-8479 UROLOGY Edward Rutland, MD Hannah Morris, PA Dr. Edward Rutland is a board certified CONTINUED ON PAGE 129

Do it With Love Choosing To Live With Love

BY BEATRICE TATEM, PH.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS

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O IT WITH LOVE, BABY, DO IT with love!” On an initial glance these words can be read as though it is a statement expressed between a couple romantically in love with one another. In actuality it was the sentiment expressed during a recent counseling session in which a mother attempting to motivate her daughter towards making a decision exclaimed, “Do it with love, baby, do it with love!” In essence, the mother was encouraging her daughter to approach life with gusto, with passion, with love. In her opinion doing anything with love makes the task easier, more enjoyable and the person more fulfilled. The remainder of the session examined the importance of attitude, setting priorities, making decisions, choices and consequences, establishing and maintaining healthy relationships and the importance choosing to live with love. When we hear of love being communicated between people, we generally think of being in love in terms of a relationship, particularly a romantic relationship. Love is defined, demonstrated and expressed in a number of ways. For some, like the mother talking to her daughter in counseling, regard love as an attitude, an approach, a state of being, a key ingredient for happiness and success, a premise for living. Others describe love as an emotion or a state of mind. Some consider love to be as critical to the mind 12 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

and body as they view oxygen. To some, love is a choice more than a feeling. Some love unconditionally and others with limits. Good or bad, some believe love is what we make it, based on individual experiences, desires, thoughts and ideas. Mahatma Ghandi revered the world over for his nonviolent philosophy once wrote, “Where there is love, there is life.” Whether it is romantic love or love of people, ideas, things, acts or places, love is said to make life worth living. Everyone needs to know they are loved, and everyone needs to feel love. In my work as a therapist, I have witnessed the positive effects of love on one’s mental health. I recall a client jokingly declaring “love was their best anti-depressant.” Although joking, research findings have indicated the more love you have, the less depression you are likely to experience; enough love will save your life. Love brings its own kind of sanity, because it gives us the strength to face what we have to face, to feel what we have to feel. My clinical practice has shown me, love comes to people, in many ways, under different circumstances, in various shapes and forms. I have learned that it is important to make love a part of your lifestyle and to incorporate it in all you do. February is the time of the year designated to acknowledge the importance of love, and yet we know that everyone needs and deserves to experience love all

year. Love is more than manufactured materialistic, commercialized items purchased in the store. It gives us strength, provides hope, empowers and brings passion. Love enhances; love stimulates; love motivates us. It is energizing, comforting, healing and powerful. Love is about choices…look for what you can do for the special people in your life and remember why you love them. Identify the presence of love in your interactions and in the things you do. Love what you do and do what you love, be the love you want to experience… love by example. Go for love, seek the love, share the love, be the love. Heal past hurts with love and understanding. Work on your love, take time to love yourself when loving others. Seek to experience love in different forms. Embrace love and affection over hatred and rejection, it will be good for your mind body and soul. Envision love, embrace it and put it into action. Love openly, respectfully and genuinely; it costs very little, and yet the rewards are substantial. Whatever you do, wherever you do it, whenever you do it, whomever you do it with, do it with love. For more information, contact Dr. Beatrice Tatem at Wellness Initiatives, LLC 1900 North 18th Street, Suite 414, Monroe, LA 71201, 318-410-1555 or at btatem.bt@ gmail.com.

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Haik Humble Eye Center

First in Louisiana to Offer KAMRA™ Inlay– An Advanced Solution to Reading Glasses

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N OUR 40s AND 50s, WE BEGIN to experience the naturally frustrating effects of blurry near vision and turn to readers for help. This near vision loss is called presbyopia. Presbyopia reduces the ability of the eye to focus on near objects, causing blurry reading vision. An advanced surgical procedure to treat this condition is now available from Haik Humble Eye Center. The KAMRA™ inlay has helped thousands restore their near vision and reduce the constant frustrations of reading glasses. Drs. Raymond Haik, Thomas Parker and Baron Williamson were the first ophthalmologists to do the KAMRA inlay procedure in the state of Louisiana. Those patients tell us KAMRA is the best thing they’ve ever done for themselves. You can have that same experience as those first Louisiana KAMRA patients! Why does near vision fade? The lens in your eye is stretchy and flexible. With time the lens stiffens. As a result it can no longer bend into the right shape to bring close objects into focus. To compensate, you end up moving objects further away at just the right distance to focus. This is why you start holding reading materials at arm’s length. The clinical term is presbyopia, and it happens to everyone eventually. How does the KAMRA inlay restore near vision? The KAMRA inlay sits in the first few layers of the eye known as the cornea. Smaller and thinner than a contact lens, the inlay is a mini-ring with an opening in the center. By using this pinhole effect, the inlay focuses light coming into your eye. This restores near

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vision, while maintaining distance vision without blurry zones. Who can benefit from the KAMRA inlay? The KAMRA inlay is ideal for individuals who want to reduce their dependency on reading glasses and meet all medical criteria. It is important to understand there may be times when additional magnification is needed for small print, to see in dim light or to perform a near task for an extended period of time. What benefits does the KAMRA inlay provide? KAMRA inlay treatment: • Restores everyday vision, so you can see text messages, a computer screen and the time on your wrist watch, without the constant frustrations of reading glasses or contact lenses. • Provides a natural range of vision – from near to far—without blurry zones. • Offers long-term performance to help you enjoy clear vision over time. How long will the KAMRA inlay last? Do I need to replace the inlay if my presbyopia worsens? The KAMRA inlay is a long-lasting solution to presbyopia. Assuming your eyes don’t change, the effect of the KAMRA inlay will go unchanged. However, with the development of cataracts or changes in your underlying prescription you may need an enhancement (i.e. LASIK or cataract surgery). This will be advised by your eye doctor. If it doesn’t affect my far vision, then why is it put in only one eye? The KAMRA inlay is place in only one

eye allowing you to see up close, while maintaining your distance vision in both eyes. Your non-KAMRA eye is left untouched. Working together, the eyes allow you to see near to far. The inlay does not affect your side or peripheral vision. Will I feel the inlay in my eye? Unlike a contact lens, the inlay is placed within the first few layers of the clear part of the eye, also known as the cornea, so it is not felt. It is secured into place and does not move after it is implanted. How new is the KAMRA inlay? The KAMRA inlay has been around for more than 10 years. It is the number one prescribed corneal inlay in the world. It provides an excellent long-lasting, natural range of vision from near to far for those who have become dependent on glasses to read. Can the KAMRA inlay be removed? Yes, the inlay can be surgically removed if necessary. Will I notice an immediate improvement? As with any eye surgery, healing is a process. Recovery will depend on personal healing patterns. While some patients see an improvement within the first weeks to a month, others may require additional time. To determine if you’re eligible for KAMRA, your eyes will need to be assessed by an eye doctor. Please call Haik Humble Eye Center at (318) 325-2610 today to schedule a complimentary consultation.

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Audibel the Hearing Center Hearing Loss Affects More Than Just Those Suffering from It

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HEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE has hearing loss, it can be tough to address. However, it is important to deal with, because hearing loss doesn’t just affect the person who has it. It also affects spouses, family members and friends. Physically, the inability to hear warning sounds or the voices of dependents could potentially put lives in danger. Even emotionally, the impact can resonate throughout family and social circles — from frustration with repeating things over and over, to sadness at seeing a loved one isolate themselves from the people and activities they enjoy. Convincing someone to seek help for hearing loss is the right thing to do, but is not always easy. Being an advocate is hard, and when you’re an advocate for someone with hearing loss, it can be even more challenging. Hearing loss is connected to the misleading belief that only the elderly can have it and that hearing aids aren’t for the “young.” In reality, hearing loss affects children and adults of all ages, and according to the World Health Organization, over a billion teens and young adults are at risk for hearing loss as of 2015. That being said, it is very difficult to encourage someone with hearing loss to get the help they need without alienating them or actually causing them to wait even longer. Being an advocate for someone with hearing loss is hard because you aren’t trying to get someone else to help them but are trying to get them to help themselves. Here are five tips to be a great advocate for a friend or loved one with hearing loss.

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1. Let them come to you: Instead of constantly pushing them to get help or overwhelming them with hearing aid pamphlets and articles on hearing loss, let them come to you when they are ready. Everyone eventually reaches a point at which help is the only option left, so give them time to come to terms with their hearing loss and be ready to help when they ask for it. 2. “With” not “at”: Don’t talk at them about hearing loss. Talk with them. Let them know you are there to listen and encourage them to be open about difficulties they may be facing. 3. Sometimes, not all the time: When you notice them blaming their hearing issues on other things (people mumble, it’s windy, it’s loud, etc.), politely suggest that they should have their hearing checked just in case. If they get defensive and say no, let it go and try again at a later time. Be patient and pick your moments wisely. It’s better to mention their loss every now and then instead of all the time. 4. Two minds think alike: If you have other friends who have hearing loss or wear hearing aids, consider introducing them to each other. Sometimes it takes someone else with hearing loss to help a person see how much he or she is really struggling and how much getting help could improve their life. 5. Be patient: Try not to get frustrated or impatient when communicating difficulties arise and you have to repeat yourself multiple times. Getting angry or annoyed will only make you less trustworthy as an advocate and may make the person with hearing loss

feel like you don’t support them anymore and consequently avoid interacting with you. 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 28 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.

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BayouLOVE

ON A CERTAIN mid-February

Certainly, there are clichéd paths to take. A couple can ride bikes holiday, one can find men hovering along the river, though February can near the floral department. Biting often be a warm month, so I’m not nails, running hands through hair, sure how romantic it is to have sweat eyes darting from one arrangement rivulets streaming down one’s arm to another, these men scrutinize the and pooling on one’s back. Perhaps multitude of flower assemblages to scratch that one. A second possibility determine whether to purchase the set is to hold hands while taking a walk with more red roses than white, or the downtown or through a park, but one with more lilies, or that one that is since it is not 1889, that might not on sale because of the slightest wilting sound that wonderful either. A third petals (please, gentlemen, for your own option is to hide a piece of jewelry in safety, skip that one). In another part of a food item, such as a cupcake, but the city, similar men are found rubbing Each year on Valentine’s Day, you may find men that always brings the possibility of, their eyes, beads of sweat gathering on at best, losing the expensive rock to a nervously perusing flower shops and chocolatiers their foreheads, as they channel their scheming baker, or, at worst, watching inner Einsteins, nervously taxing their to find the perfect gift. Nils Borquist suggests a loved one choke on an expensive mathematical skills trying to determine creating a tradition that will be meaningful rock. That sounds pretty rough as how they will afford their next several for years to come. well, and it could even result in one car payments while also affording the spending the next few Valentine’s finger-engulfing diamond rings they Days flipping through online profiles to find another potential love. just traded their lives for. Why do these guys put themselves through Perhaps the worst part of all of the above suggestions, outside such torture? To “show” their love, of course. of injury or loneliness, is that they are, as stated, clichés. They are not Not to sound like the Dollar Shave Club guy, but there is another true outings providing a person the opportunity to be him or herself way. I know it may sound novel, it certainly did to me many years while enjoying time spent with a special someone doing something ago, but those in a relationship can have a discussion about V-Day, unique and truly unforgettable. Setting aside the time to create a especially concerning gifts. Merely a few weeks removed from plan for how to get the best out of a day earmarked for couples is a Christmas, the day of gift mother lodes, Valentine’s Day can sneak great start for showing how much one cares about the relationship. up on people who have barely begun to make those yuletide Lexus In the end, it is investing time in the other person’s life and interests payments (those commercials make it look so great—and they use that shows love. This may mean cooking meals together, watching a those big car bows and everything). When faced with an empty wallet special movie or simply spending the day relaxing around the house. and an expecting significant other, what is a person to do? Have a If lucky, the creation of a holiday tradition that is meaningful for them talk. Discuss limits. Make a mutual plan. Do something to avoid to revisit and expand upon in the years to come may be discovered. setting up a third mortgage, the one on top of last year’s refinancing. All in all, it does not really matter what two people do on The notion of deciding to plan Valentine’s Day as a couple may Valentine’s Day, as long as they have a good time doing so. Meeting not sound romantic, but that’s only true if surprises are paramount. up to plan a day of fun and enjoyment could be something that In truth, creating a day together may be the most romantic route ensures a quality day without the stresses of spending too much people can take. If both people are involved, fitting in activities to be money, an unwanted trip to the emergency room or the dead flowers mutually enjoyed should not be difficult, nor should coming up with that you saved a ton on that will probably also result in a night eating gift ideas. With that in mind, there are hundreds of activities and/or a dinner for two all by yourself. presents couples can choose from to make Valentine’s Day 2017 one

TheValentine CONUNDRUM

to remember.

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Meet Oribe… Exclusively at Rain These are the Products of the Hair-Obsessed

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HE ORIBE COLLECTION defines luxury in hair care. Combining more than 30 years of styling heritage at the top of the editorial and salon worlds with old-world craftsmanship and cutting-edge innovation, the line delivers the highest possible levels of performance and luxury. INGREDIENTS Oribe Hair Care products contain topquality ingredients, sourced from locations around the world. The formulas fuse natural actives and skin care ingredients with advanced technology to give you products that perform at the highest level and offer UV protection. What won’t you find in Oribe Hair Care products? Sodium chloride and parabens. These Vegan/ Vegetarian, Gluten-free, cruelty-free products are naturally derived from corn, wheat and coconut and are kind to your hair. STYLING The styling range focuses on the demands of the most discerning users: top hairstylists and their clients. With the latest advancements in hold, luster and volume, Oribe brings a never-before-experienced sophistication to styling, creating beautiful looks and finishes while simultaneously repairing, strengthening, defrizzing and smoothing the hair. These are the products of the hair-obsessed. Oribe delivers truly original formulations: gels that condition, oils that hold, sprays that don’t flake or 20 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

clump, skin care-grade shampoos that prep hair for styling, while protecting it from the environment, all lightly scented with specially commissioned French perfumes. THE BRAND STORY Oribe Hair Care was founded by renowned editorial and celebrity hairstylist Oribe and beauty industry veterans Daniel Kaner and Tev Finger with the goal of creating a new kind of hair company. A company designed with the most talented salon professionals and the most discriminating customers in mind. When developing the line, they didn’t want to compromise on any detail. They leveraged skin care technology and natural actives to deliver high-performance, treatment-based products—all while never forgetting that healthy hair is the underpinning for sexy, glamorous styling. Each product has been tested at length on set, backstage and in the salon to ensure that it delivers results, leaving us with a best-in-class collection that truly meets the needs of the hairobsessed. THE FRAGRANCE Oribe’s signature scent, Cote d’Azur, runs through the line at the lightest levels, designed so that the products in each individual’s hair ritual work together… and build upon each other. Developed in collaboration with one of the oldest French fragrance houses, tracing its roots back to the 1800s, Cote d’Azur was conceived to be beautiful and bright, yet calming

and composed—the perfect morning wake-up call, afternoon pick-me-up and evening mood-setter. The signature scent awakens with hints of citrus-soaked Italian bergamot, pink lemons, white peach, cassis and muguet, balanced with Aomori apples and leafy greens. Cedarwood, white amber and musk lend their soft woody notes, while Cuba’s national flower, la mariposa blanca, creates a sensual and invigorating experience throughout the day. THE PACKAGING They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover…in our case, feel free. For Oribe, packaging is an immediate sign of what the consumer can expect from our brand: something elevated, sophisticated and fun. Oribe Hair Care’s award-winning packaging was designed to make the experience of using the products as beautiful as the formulas themselves. Every detail was carefully crafted and nuanced, from the shape of each bottle to the ecofriendly boxes sourced from well-managed forests and printed with vegetable inks. The architectural facets and striking jewel tones perfectly blend Old-World heritage with modern elegance. This packaging has established a new standard for hair care. Oribe products are truly a modern-day bathroom accessory. RAIN Beauty | Body 407 DeSiard Street, Monroe - 318.651.8088 raindowntown.com

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Jesus the Good Shepherd JGS Preschool: Where Learning is Fun!

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AN YOU IMAGINE A PLACE WHERE LEARNING IS FUN, your child is happy, content and challenged? This is the atmosphere we strive towards daily at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School. We understand that choosing a preschool for your little one can be a scary and stressful decision. For this reason, we encourage parents to come into our school, see what we do daily, ask questions, visit the classrooms, teachers and principal. We want our parents to feel comfortable and at home the minute they walk through the door. We want you, the parent, to feel confident that your child is being provided the best possible early childhood education, while thriving in a nurturing, safe and fun environment that is geared toward learning and creativity. Many parents struggle with the issue of their child starting preschool. Is he too small? Will she miss me? Am I pushing my child to learn too much too fast? Will too much structure cut into their playtime? These are all very legitimate questions, that every mother and father ask themselves during this time in their child’s life. Research shows that children who attend a high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies and stronger basic math skills than those who do not. At JGS, our certified preschool teachers with a combined 36 years of teaching experience and full time teacher’s aides work diligently to provide a warm and nurturing environment for each individual child that promotes their social, emotional and cognitive development. A weekly agenda with learning objectives and topics is sent home every Monday to keep parents informed about daily classroom activities. We find good communication helps build a close personal relationship between the child, parent and teacher. Our preschool program is regulated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). This is one characteristic that differentiates us from a regular daycare or childcare program. The BESE Bulletin 741 for nonpublic schools requires early childhood education teacher certification, mandatory rest and play times, class size, staff CPR and first aid training, school attendance, among other things. We take great care at JGS to ensure we maintain a manageable preschool class size with a current 12:2 student/teacher (with aide) ratio in Pre-K 3 and a 15:2 teacher (with aide) ratio in Pre-K 4. This is well below the BESE regulation of 20:2 and 30:2 respectively. A manageable class size gives teachers the opportunity to work closely with each child and to maintain structure within the classroom. Children will participate in circle time, where they will be exposed to many important educational priorities

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such as numbers, letters, shapes, music and much more. Circle time helps children learn to focus attention on the teacher, listen while others are speaking, wait their turn to talk, practice being respectful of others and most importantly strengthens socialization skills. Each preschool classroom is also equipped with play centers to promote imaginative play between students and their peers. These activities help build selfconfidence, independence, problem-solving and cognitive skills. At JGS, we believe that imagination fuels learning, which is why we focus on providing a well-rounded school curriculum with adequate play, work and rest time. We believe that a well-rounded curriculum should consist of faithfilled enrichment classes, playful learning and overall assessment to ensure that children are progressing academically. All JGS preschool students attend enrichment classes including art, library, P.E., organic gardening and computer weekly, as well as daily religion class. Our mission at JGS “is to instill a love of God, self and others,” and we try to infuse this vision into each thread of our academic foundation. Students also participate in Handwriting Without Tears (Get Set For School), an award-winning Pre-K curriculum that focuses on playful learning to develop coloring, drawing, counting, building and handwriting readiness skills. During each nine-week period, PK-K complete computer-adaptive STAR Early Literacy testing. STAR Early Literacy is an online adaptive assessment program developed by Renaissance Learning. The program uses a series of questions to assess a student’s early literacy and early numeracy skills through a simple process. The program is designed to support teachers with individual student data quickly and accurately. These are just a few of the many aspects of a JGS education. We invite you to come visit our campus, witness the camaraderie and faith within our school and hopefully walk away with a sense of peace and contentment. Our Preschool Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th at 6:00 p.m. with open registration for new families beginning Monday, February 13th. During the Preschool Open House, those in attendance will be entered to win one month’s free tuition, and the first five registrants in attendance will have their registration fee waived. If you are unable to attend the Open House, please feel free to contact our school office at 318-325-8569 for more information or to schedule a school tour. Tours are given every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. or by appointment with our principal, Mrs. Lisa Patrick.

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Fitzco Marine Group Serving the Waterfront of the U.S. Since 1979

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IKE FITZPATRICK, OWNER/FOUNDER OF FITZCO has spent all his life on and around the water. He started in business in 1979 at the age of 19. Having been instilled with values and principles from the beginning, he truly operates his business by the Golden Rule. Fitzpatrick has a passion for educating folks on marine construction, to help them get the best “bang for their buck.” Fitzco has recently partnered with Joe Terracina of River Marine Works on the Ouachita and Red Rivers, as well as local lakes, in Northern Louisiana to provide a level of quality unlike any other in the area. They offer unsurpassed customer service and quality for your marine construction needs. Mike’s message is that floating docks shouldn’t be unkempt looking structures with vegetation growing out of the “exposed foam” flotation. They shouldn’t have poorly painted steel framework and columns. The problem is with the original design of the docks, most of which are not repairable, as the concrete decking has been poured on top of the foam flotation with a steel frame around it. “At Fitzco, we do many things differently… for a reason,” says Fitzpatrick. “We believe that your dock should secure your boat, not the other way around. Over the years, we have developed equipment and processes specific to improving our finished product while increasing efficiency. This has led to unmatched ability and quality in the maritime construction industry in the areas of pile driving (we can even drill and install piles in bed rock), bulk heading, floating and fixed structures and underwater recovery of sunken vessels.” “With us, it’s about designing it and building it correctly…. once,” says Mike. “If it’s already been built and is not performing, we will redesign it and rebuild it correctly…. once. If you choose us for your next project on the water, whether it’s replacing pilings,

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installing a bulk head, building a new floating or fixed pier or an elaborate custom boat house, prepare to be impressed.” Their system features: • Encapsulated float modules that are replaceable should one become compromised (which will not allow vegetation to exist) • Galvanized steel frames with the floats attached thereto so as to prevent any direct exposure of steel to the water • Precast, steel reinforced concrete deck panels which can be removed to access utilities or to replace in the event one becomes compromised. • All galvanized steel components alleviates the need to paint anything resulting in a truly “maintenance free” design. “I’ve been designing and building floating dock structures, from small private docks to massive commercial marinas, as well as consulting for other marine contractors, for over 30 years,” states Fitzpatrick. “It’s simple,” he says, “Fitzco and River Marine Works want you to enjoy more time on the water! Contact Fitzco Marine today by calling Mike Fitzpatrick (318584-7003) or Joe Terracina (318-665-0190 or 318-614-2406). 323 Moon Lake Road, Monroe, LA 71203 P.O. Box 466, Shell Knob, MO 65747 • 417-858-BOAT (2628) 212 Flat River Road, Bossier City, LA 71112 • 318-584-7003 Fitzco Marine Construction • AirHoist Boatlift Systems Century Maritime • MariTow U.S. “Serving the waterfront of the U.S. since 1979”

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Bayou Pages

NIGHTSTANDS & COFFEE TABLES The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius R EV I EW B Y N I LS I. B ORQUI ST

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hen the New Year rolls around, lists of resolutions get scribbled with hopes and promises attached to every item. Unfortunately, by February, most dedicated efforts turn to mush and are quickly cobbled into a ball to be thrown away and forgotten until the next December closes. For many people having trouble staying focused, motivation can be difficult to find or maintain. In order to stay on task, some turn to words of wisdom or motivational quotes. Hundreds of books and websites have been composed wholly of such quotes, and many of the quotes have made their way into everyday speech, which can cause a problem when we realize that the words become hollow over time when constantly repeated. One possible way around this issue is to find a work recording the words and ideas of a single person. Although he lived around two thousand years ago, Marcus Aurelius is an individual who wrote such a text, commonly called Meditations. The translations of Meditations are commonly broken into twelve shorter books that are comprised of advice Aurelius wrote to himself. While his writings were most likely not meant to be read by others, many of his statements, all this time later, appear to be universally applicable. In fact, anyone can randomly select sections and find wisdom pulsating throughout. When flipping through the pages, one quickly comes to Book Two: “For we are made for co-operation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids, 28 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

like the rows of the upper and lower teeth. To act against one another then is contrary to nature.” This discovery, that the members of any group will only find contentedness by understanding that they must be cohesive, is essentially indisputable. Recognizing the good in others while holding them accountable for shortcomings is natural and to be expected for the betterment of all individually and as a collective. In Book Three, we find “Never value anything as profitable to thyself which shall compel thee to break thy promise, to lose thy self-respect, to hate any man, to suspect, to curse, to act the hypocrite, to desire anything which needs walls and curtains.” Just as Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet “To thine own self be true,” Aurelius penned this gem. “One should avoid selfish advancement if it means the shunning of self-respect and the respect of others. If we focus solely on the self, and especially if we wrong others when doing so, we should expect a difficult outcome.” Book Seven offers us these words: “The perfection of moral character consists in this, in passing every day as the last, and in being neither violently excited nor torpid nor playing the hypocrite.” Live each day to the fullest. Modesty is a necessary quality for one to possess, and to stay at an even keel provides positive foresight, reflection and adaptation. Finally, Aurelius provided, in Book Twelve, a simple yet powerful phrase that we should all adopt: “If it is not right, do not do it: if it is not true, do not say it.” When expanded into all

arenas of life, we can simply recognize that if something is wrong, we should eschew it. This may be easier said than done, but that view could also be considered a result of the usual difficulty, considering the world we live in, of being honest at all times, even concerning oneself. Marcus Aurelius put these hundreds of sayings together to act as a personal reminder to stay on task. While his primary task was seemingly to remain as virtuous as possible throughout the duration of his life, we can very easily use his words as motivation for us to succeed in the overall similar goal of staying focused. New Year’s resolutions are deliberated every year, most of which probably considered because people harm themselves through food, inactivity or overworking; the resolutions begin as a way for healing and recovery and to greater appreciate what a switch in bad habits could bring. Unfortunately, a great many people cut them loose quickly and indulge in their vices, which, ultimately, makes them feel badly about themselves. From there, all focus and motivation are potentially lost. Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is but one source for enlightenment, contemplation and a guide for self-appreciation. However, when we fully fathom the longevity of the work, we should understand that his words have lasted for thousands of years and have likely been used by thousands of people to help themselves become the best people they can be.

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Glenwood Surgery Center Bariatric Services Happy New You. Healthy New You.

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F YOU OR A LOVED ONE STRUGGLES with obesity and health problems associated with it, now is a perfect time to make the decision to do something about it. Choosing to have bariatric weight loss surgery could change your life forever. Research has shown that diet and weight-loss medications are of little use to people with extreme obesity. Their best chance for long-term weight reduction and improved health is bariatric surgery to promote weight loss. Even more than a decade after surgery, 90% of those who have undergone gastric bypass, the most common bariatric procedure, manage to keep off an average of 50% of the excess weight. HOW OBESITY CAN AFFECT YOUR HEALTH People who are obese, compared to those with a normal or healthy weight, are at increased risk for the following: • Type 2 diabetes • High cholesterol • Osteoarthritis • Hypertension (high blood pressure) • Sleep apnea and breathing problems • Coronary heart disease • Some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder and liver) • Reproductive and child-bearing difficulties • Depression • Urinary incontinence • Premature death Bariatric weight loss surgery, performed only on those who are severely overweight or for whom diet and exercise have failed, is a life-changing decision. It has the potential

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to resolve or improve many serious obesityrelated health issues and improve quality of life. Some studies also suggest that people live longer after weight loss surgery, compared to equally obese people who do not have surgery. Our Bariatric Services Surgical Weight Loss Program helps patients lose weight and keep it off. We specialize in the surgical treatment of clinically obese patients by offering Lap Bands and Sleeve Gastrectomy. The Lap Band System helps you gradually lose weight and keep it off by reducing the amount of food that your stomach can hold at one time. Gastric Sleeve Surgery permanently removes a large portion of the stomach, leaving a slim tube or “sleeve” that reduces the amount of food that it is able to hold. The procedure also removes the part of the stomach the produces ghrelin, an appetite stimulating peptide hormone. We provide you with a multidisciplinary team to help maximize your results. We go far beyond the surgery by providing a lifechanging program that includes nutritional, physical activity and emotional guidance, as well as support groups. Primary team members are Henry Zizzi, MD, Bariatric Surgeon; and Charlene Smith, RN, Bariatric Coordinator. We accept most private insurance. Financing is also available. ARE YOU A CANDIDATE? Below are questions you can ask yourself to determine if you are potentially a candidate for weight loss surgery. • Are you more than 100 lbs. over your ideal weight? • Is your BMI over 40?

• Do you have a BMI of over 35 along with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, related to being severely overweight? • Does your weight stop you from doing activities you enjoy? • Are you unable to achieve a healthy body weight for a sustained period of time, even with medically supervised dieting? FREE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY SEMINARS Our team believes that healthy lifelong weight loss begins with education. If you’re tired of yo-yo dieting, as well as the emotional rollercoaster of weight loss and weight gain, then we encourage you to register to attend one of our free weight loss seminars. At the seminars, we outline the different types of bariatric weight loss surgery procedures and programs that we offer. Bariatric Surgeon, Henry Zizzi, MD along with Bariatric Coordinator, Charlene Smith, RN present and answer any questions you may have. Spouses, family members and partners are also encouraged to attend. Seminar dates are posted on the GRMC.com website under Classes & Events. You can also call 322-1339 to register for seminars or to schedule a FREE consultation. Glenwood Bariatric Services is located in the Glenwood Surgery Center, a campus of Glenwood Regional Medical Center, at 1275 Glenwood Drive in West Monroe.

Krewe du Brew

The Best Beverages for Carnival Season and Beyond BY DELIA SIMPSON, CRAFT, SPECIALTY AND IMPORT MANAGER, CHOICE BRANDS, INC.

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EBRUARY IS ALWAYS A FUN, decadent month in Louisiana. Here are some great new and seasonal offerings to pair with your favorite King Cakes, gumbos, and other delicacies of the season. Abita Mardi Gras Bock Mardi Gras Bock is the first of Abita’s seasonal brews. Abita Bock is brewed with pale, pilsner and caramel malts and German Perle hops. Mardi Gras bock is similar to German maibocks with its rich malt flavor and full body. A perfect choice during Carnival season in New Orleans. Gruyére, Emmental and Swiss are nice cheese choices with Bock. Great with roasted beef or pork. Try it with Mexican food, too. Look for it in stores and on tap through February. For more information and to find Mardi Gras Bock near you, visit abita.com. Abita King Cake Soda All the goodness of King Cake - in an all-natural, non-alcoholic soda. Celebrate the sweetest treat of Carnival season with the flavors of frosting, candied sugar and cinnamon dough in this lightly carbonated soda. Made with pure Louisiana cane sugar and artesian spring water, King Cake Soda is naturally caffeine and gluten free. For more information and to find King Cake Soda near you, visit abita.com. Sam Adams Hopscape Four types of West Coast hops add bold notes of pine and juicy grapefruit to this deep golden wheat ale, for a crisp flavor that’s a refreshing escape from winter’s lingering

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chill. Hop varieties include Zeus, Centennial, Citra and Chinook, which are combined with Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, as well as white wheat. This slightly hazy beer (hazy because it’s unfiltered) has a bright, hoppy character with a light body that really showcases the tropical, citrus and piney notes from the hops. For more information and to find Hopscape near you, visit samueladams. com. Flying Tiger APL Monroe’s own Flying Tiger Brewery is keeping things interesting with some limited release brews that are available on tap in select locations. A current local favorite is the APL, or American Pale Lager. Brewed with English Pale and Vienna malts and heavily dry hopped with Citra, this beer is the perfect accompaniment to that spicy gumbo that we’re all craving this time of year. Also be on the lookout for one of the first beers they brewed, Nitro Bomb Milk Stout on select taps this month! For more information on the brewery, tours and events, visit facebook. com/flyingtigerbrewery. Leinenkugel’s Grapefruit Shandy A traditional shandy is beer mixed with a little something extra, like lemonade, soda or ginger ale. Leinenkugel’s Grapefruit Shandy is their take on this tradition. Each batch begins with the traditional weiss beer. It is then combined with natural white grapefruit flavor that adds a note of fresh-cut citrus, because, after all, refreshment is our greatest natural resource. Now available year round, this beer pairs well with marinated grilled

shrimp and cheesecake with fruit topping. To find Leinie’s Grapefruit Shandy near you, visit leinie.com. Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange Pale Ale When is putting fruit in a beer a good thing? When you’re answering the call for more intense citrus and tropical fruit character that is naturally found in hops. Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange Pale Ale does just that. Brewed with Magnum, Cascade, Equinox and Mandarina hops, this pale ale adds a hint of orange peel in the brew kettle and the fermenter that tweak the classic hop profile and add a zesty pop of bright orange flavor. Sidecar pairs well with grilled salmon, Brie cheese and most desserts. For more information, visit sierranevada.com. Be sure to like Choice Brands on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with local happenings and new product releases. In addition, you’ll find links to beer related articles, fun recipes and much more! As a bonus, we will be posting a trivia question each month for a chance to win cool, beer related prizes. This month’s question is: What is the name of the citrusy, fruity hop used in Sierra Nevada Sidecar Pale Ale which gives it the signature tangerine and citrus notes? Go to our Facebook page, post your answer in the comments section (the trivia post will be pinned to the top) and you’ll be entered to win (must be at least 21 years of age)! Find us at facebook.com/choicebrands, twitter. com/choicebrandsinc, and instagram.com/ choicebrands. Good luck!

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YOU CAN AND YOU WILL (KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS)

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tatistically, only eight percent of those who make resolutions for the New Year actually keep them. Despite all good intentions, many lack the motivation and dedication to follow through. But, how would you like to be one of those select few who can stick to their original plans for living a better life? Whether you aspire to have better relationships with friends or family, to be more organized or to improve your body or mind, the following tips just might keep you motivated and on course to complete those goals:

BE S.M.A.R.T!

The trick to reaching a goal, whether business or personal, is to be S.M.A.R.T about it!

SPECIFIC

The more specific you are about each goal the better. For instance, if your resolution (goal) is to “save more money,” simply stating that fact isn’t enough. Instead, consider the dollar amount that you would like to save – say $10,000.

MEASURABLE

Next, make sure you set up your goal so that you can tell if you are on track to reach it. Once you set the goal, work backward to determine what you need to save, for instance. If you want to have $10,000 by the end of December, you must put back approximately $833 each month. 34 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

by Erin Sharplin Love erinlove@panachebyerin.com

ATTAINABLE

A goal must be attainable, or within reach, for you to maintain momentum toward reaching it. If you set a goal of saving $100,000 this year and that amount is not realistic, chances are you will not be successful.

RELEVANT

Next, a goal must be relevant to you and your life right now. For instance, maybe a friend has made the resolution to get fit this year, and she has asked you to join in. You agree; but that isn’t really a priority for you right now, so the chances of your keeping this resolution are zero to none.

TIME-BOUND

Lastly, a “complete by” date is a necessity for staying on track to attaining your goal. Otherwise, the urgency is lost, and so is the momentum. So, to conclude, an example of a S.M.A.R.T goal is this – I want to save $10,000 by December 31, 2017. I will set aside at least $833 a month ($192 per week). This money will then be used for a family trip to Disney World.

BE PATIENT

You might not reach your weekly or monthly goal every single time, so be aware of this and commit to practicing patience with yourself. You will be able to make up for the shortfall, if you are calm and prepared.

FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER

Talk to that friend who wants to lose weight and see if she is willing to enter an accountability partnership with you. The best partners meet at least once a month and speak on the phone at least once a week. They ask questions and give advice on how to stay on track to meet your chosen goal. Statistics have shown that if someone is watching you and keeping track of how well you are doing toward reaching your goals, the more likely you are to maintain momentum toward meeting those goals.

REWARD YOURSELF!

Every completed action that supports your end goal should come with some sort of reward. It doesn’t have to cost money or be extravagant. In fact, I recommend that the reward be something simple but fun. I reward myself with a glass of wine or an extra-long soak in the tub. Or, I ask my husband to put the kids to bed for me, so I can enjoy my book a little longer. Your reward needs to refresh you, so that your mind is clear enough to continue your progress. Reaching your goals isn’t so much about willpower as it is about learning the skills it takes to master them. These skills can be used in every aspect of your life. You Can and You Will, so get out there and achieve your goals!!

BEFORE

AFTER

Caples and Robinson Orthodontics How Important Is Your Smile? “

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HE MOUTH IN ITS ENTIRETY IS AN IMPORTANT and even wondrous part of our anatomy, our emotion, our life; it is the site of our very being. When an animal loses its teeth, it cannot survive unless it is domesticated; its very existence is terminated; it dies. In the human, the mouth is the means of speaking, of expressing love, happiness, joy, anger, ill temper or sorrow. It is the primary sex contact; hence, it is of initial importance to our regeneration and survival by food and propagation. It deserves the greatest care it can receive at any sacrifice.” F. Harold Wirth DDS Your smile says everything about you … it is the first outlet for our emotions. When you meet someone or engage in a conversation — people look at your eyes and your mouth. Why? BECAUSE THEY MOVE! Think of emojis on your phone … all their expression is delivered through changes in eyes and mouth. They don’t look at your nose or ears … no action there. But the squint of an eye or crack of a smile gives an immediate reading on our true emotions. A bright, wide smile is immediately welcoming and invites people into your arena. When someone flashes a big pearly smile at us, we notice. We appreciate straight and well-aligned teeth that fit together properly. But what do we see when things aren’t perfect? First, we notice light and dark areas. This includes teeth darkened by decay, tobacco stains and coffee stains, etc. Nothing seems to catch our eye quicker than a missing tooth — the vacancy seems to wave a flag to our eyes for attention. White or brighter areas also catch our eyes — spots from poor brushing, congenital mottling of enamel and poorly matched dental restorations (crown, bridges, veneers), all of these things, either light or dark, are the first things we notice in a smile. The next thing to catch our attention is space or crowding of the teeth. A space or diastema, between the front teeth, has been sensationalized for years by mainstream media — TV, movies, magazines — as nerdy and a trademark of a simpleton. As we know, this is an unfair assumption, but it is hard to erase or undo decades of bad publicity for a gap between your front teeth. Of recent, we see models and actresses sporting the gap (Madonna, Lauren Hutton, Georgia May Jagger) — letting us know stereotypes can change, and everyone doesn’t want to rid themselves of a gap. 36 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Crowding is a bit different. If Hollywood wants to create a villain — they put as many teeth on top of one another as possible. Somewhere you will hear the line “watch out for the teeth!” The crowding and malalignment is not as much a visual challenge (although it really matters) as it is a hygiene and disease prevention issue. Crowded teeth are harder to clean and can sometimes lead to gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth and bone loss and recently discovered cardiac and other systemic issues. Luckily orthodontic treatment has become mainstream today. We rarely see crooked or poorly kept teeth in children due to widespread fluoridation, public health efforts through schools and greater access to excellent dental care. Adults who didn’t get treatment as children or adolescents have many options to get that perfect smile without conventional metal braces. The advent of ceramic braces (Clarity Advanced by 3M is the most popular offering superior aesthetics with maximum comfort) and Invisalign Clear Aligners give adults socially pleasing options to get the smile they’ve always wanted. Invisalign Teen opens the door for adolescents who can’t or don’t want conventional braces. Discolored, misshapen teeth often require crowns or veneers to make them look better. Missing teeth require implants (modern technology makes this the norm) or bridges to restore the mouth to its best function and appearance. But you don’t want to put expensive dentistry on top of crooked teeth — just as you don’t build your home on a crooked, twisted or broken foundation. The orthodontist serves as the “foundation guy” — we straighten things up, getting teeth in proper place over basal bone — allowing the restorative or cosmetic dentist to “do his magic” delivering the show-stopping smile. So as we begin the New Year — let this be the year you get the smile you always wanted. With modern, cutting edge technology, you can get that winning smile faster and easier than ever! Dr. Caples and Dr. Robinson are Northeast Louisiana’s Only Board Certified Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics — a distinction held by only 1/3 of all orthodontists. They are also Preferred Premier Providers for Invisalign!

Fishing With Kenny

Before there was ever a Sweet Beaver, There was the Bass n’Eel article by Kenny Covington

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can still smell the odor. Melting plastic has a stench all its own. There were times I would swear my father and uncle were addicted to the aroma, because it seemed to me they were always melting plastic worms down to a liquid form. Plaster of Paris was easier to find in our kitchen than a salt shaker. Bass fishing enthusiasts turned mad scientists in their own laboratories. The time was the early 1980s. I remember my father having a small bag of soft plastic lures and guarding them as if they were made of gold. “What are those?” I asked, as I took one from the bag. I heard a stern, “You need to put that back!” Without question, I did. This was my introduction to the Bass n’ Eel. It was my uncle who came up with the idea of making his own soft plastic baits. He and my father had identical molds that they made using the cut out bottom of a 2 liter coke bottle filled with the aforementioned Plaster of Paris. Each mold had three impressions of this new lure called the “Bass n’Eel” or as they simply called it, “the eel.” A few nights each week the process of making new “eels” would take place. Once they were poured, to the zip lock bags there were placed, where they were sprayed with a new stuff called “Fish Formula.” The “eel” was a four inch paddle tailed soft plastic. When Texas rigged, it was deadly when flipped/pitched around cypress trees. It was in the spring and early summer when the “eel” shined. The twisting/spinning fall that happened when fished with a light slip sinker and offset hook made it the perfect bait for vertical presentation. The spinning action looked like a dying bream or shad to the fish. The only drawback was the line twist due to how the lure worked, but considering the fish being caught, it was just a necessary evil.

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The late great Allen Butler of Winnsboro was to me, and always will be, the man behind the Bass n’Eel. Over the years, when I would talk fishing with Allen, I would always pick his brain about the eel and how he fished it. The when’s, where’s, why’s and how’s were always questions and being the character that he was, the answers and the stories were never ending. There seemed to always be a plug about “the eel.” I can still hear his voice in my head. “What you wanna do with that eel is use as light a sinker as you can. Make that thang fall; make that tail spin. Baby, they can’t stand it.” Hmmmm, small compact lure. Added scent. Flipping and Pitching. Great jig trailer. Sound familiar? Now let’s fast forward thirty some odd years... The number of small, compact soft plastics designed now for flipping and pitching are too numerous to name. Back then, the best colors for a Bass n’Eel were black neon, Christmas tree and Watermelon/red. Those are probably some of the most popular colors purchased for soft plastics now. I’m not saying the whole innovation of the small creature bait craze started with the Bass n’Eel but in our area, it surely did. I am quickly reminded that not only does history repeat itself, but sometimes we get this idea that newer is better, and that’s not always the case. February can be an in-between month in bass fishing. In some lakes, depending on the weather cycles, a few fish will already be spawning. On some lakes, there will be a strong pre-spawn bite, and still you will have some fish in their winter hideouts and haven’t even thought of moving shallow. I have a five lure approach to February bass fishing. These lures will allow you to

cover 95% of the fishing applications for this month. When you have fish in all three stages, you have to use lures that will effectively allow you to cover each stage. These lures are: a jig, a Carolina rig, a Rat L Trap, a spinnerbait and a crankbait. • The jig will allow you to flip trees and bushes, as well as fish deeper areas where fish haven’t moved up yet. Texas craw and black/blue are the best color choices. • A Carolina rig will allow you to fish from 1 foot down to 20 foot effectively, allowing you to catch fish in all stages this time of year. Most of the time, a lizard is my lure of choice this time of year. • A Rat L Trap is great for covering water and finding aggressive fish that are ready to bite. This lure is especially good on windy days, because it allows you to present a lure that its action isn’t hindered by the wind. Red is always a great pre-spawn color, but don’t overlook shad patterns either. • Spinnerbaits, much like a Rat L Trap, are excellent for covering water, but overall is probably a better big fish bait. Chartreuse/ white is always a great color, but early in the year is the best time to use a bigger blade, like a #6 willow leaf. • Crankbaits, especially squarebills, usually shine in stained to muddy water conditions. Crawfish patterns usually are good choices but firetiger can be a great choice, as the water continues to warm. Well, it looks like we have run out of space for this month. Please be extra careful in the woods and on the water. Take care and catch one for me. See you next month!

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BAYOU ICONS BRENDA AND CHARLES MARSALA REFLECT ON LOVE AND THE ROAD TO SUCCESS article by Kay Stothart Rector | photography by Martin G Meyers

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BAYOUICON

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t has been more than four decades since Charles Marsala began working at the Budweiser beer distributorship in downtown Monroe, sweeping warehouse floors, loading trucks and doing odd jobs to earn a meager paycheck. Marsala’s life has changed dramatically since those days, but in many ways it has remained unaltered. He is still married to Brenda, his bride of fifty years, who encouraged him to leave his job at Snyder’s clothing store in 1971 and give the beer business a try. He is still living in his hometown of Monroe, going to work each day in the same business, where he first asked for a job so many years ago. He and his family now enjoy a comfortable lifestyle that neither he nor Brenda knew growing up and could not conceive of having in the early days of their marriage. “We were both working, and we had enough money to pay our bills, but not a lot left over,” Brenda remembers. “We would sell our coke bottles at the end of the week, so that we could go to a movie on Friday night. But we were happy.” Brenda and Charles both grew up in Monroe. After graduation from St. Matthew High School, Charles attended what was then Northeast Louisiana University before being drafted for service in the U.S. Army in October of 1966. Although he had known her for years, he had just begun dating Brenda when he left Monroe for Basic Training at Fort Polk. While at Fort Polk, he proposed to Brenda over the phone, telling her that he wanted to get married as soon as he could come home. Brenda was working at South Central Bell at the time, and was in the telephone company locker room when she received his call. What his proposal lacked in romance, it made up for in sincerity. Before they could get married, the Army sent Charles to Fort Ord, California, on the Pacific coast near the village of Carmel-by-theSea. Brenda traveled to California to visit him, and they were finally married in Monterey County. Brenda describes being married by a judge, with a meter maid as their only witness. “The judge asked us where our witness was, and we didn’t have one,” she laughs. “So he went down and got the meter maid to come and be our witness.” “We got married on George Washington’s birthday,” Charles adds, “because that was my only day off from the military.” The Monterey County area is still a sentimental place for the Marsalas. They return to the Pacific coast to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea often. “It was years before we could afford to go back there,” Brenda says. “Now we go back there almost every year for our anniversary. It’s a beautiful place.” From Fort Ord, Charles was sent overseas to Vietnam, where he spent twelve months during the Vietnam War. Being apart as newlyweds was difficult, especially since communication was 42 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

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virtually impossible except through letters, which were sometimes slow to arrive. “I knew other girls whose husbands were over there, and their husbands were able to get phone calls through to them sometimes,” Brenda recalls. “Charles would write me and say to be by the phone on a certain day, because he was going to try to get a call through. So I would sit and look at the phone and wait for him to call. But he never was able to get calls through.” They were able to meet once during his year-long tour of duty, for a week in Hawaii during his “R and R” time. They wrote letters to each other every day. Brenda recalls that during the Tet Offensive, one of the largest military campaigns of the war, she did not hear from Charles for weeks, because no mail was getting out. “We were very fortunate that he made it home safe,” she says. After Charles’ stint in the Army was over and he returned home, the couple had their marriage blessed in a Catholic ceremony in Monroe. It was not long after he came home and they were settling in to married life that Charles interviewed for that first job with Budco Distributing, the local wholesale distributor for Budweiser and other Anheuser-Busch products. At Brenda’s urging, he met with the General Manager of Budco, whose cousin, Peggy Perryman, was Charles’ coworker at Snyder’s. “They really didn’t even have a position open, but he hired me as a favor to Ms. Perryman,” Charles says. “I will never forget, he asked me: ‘What would you like to accomplish in coming to work here?’ I said ‘I would really like to be sitting in the desk you’re sitting in someday.’” General Manager Reid Heflin, whom Marsala would one day replace, hired him to work in the Budco warehouse. While Brenda worked at South Central Bell, Charles went from loading trucks in the warehouse to driving a truck on a distribution route. He drove a route for six or seven years before eventually moving into a sales manager position. “My goal was always to become the general manager,” says 44 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Charles. Budco was owned by Shreveport businessman Les Cruvant, who also had distributorships in Natchitoches, Shreveport and Ferriday. Cruvant did not have any children to take over his businesses, so Charles imagined that there might be an opportunity for ownership in the future. “I kind of focused my sights on that, thinking that one day I might have a shot at it, never dreaming that I really would,” he says.

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hortly before Cruvant decided to retire, AnheuserBusch implemented an investment program that helped those with corporate approval and experience as a General Manager of an AB distributorship to buy into the distributorship and become an owner. Through this program, in 1992, Marsala was able to purchase a 15% ownership in the business in partnership with Anheuser-Busch, which owned 85%. In 2000, the Marsalas purchased the remaining 85% ownership interest from Anheuser-Busch and changed the name of their business to Marsala Beverage. Marsala Beverage currently employs almost 100 individuals in its two distribution centers in Monroe and Ferriday, Louisiana. The company distributes beer and other beverages in 15 North Louisiana parishes, delivering over 2.8 million cases of product annually to more than 750 licensed retail accounts. From its inception, Marsala Beverage has been a family business. Charles and Brenda’s two children, Damon Marsala and Mandy Marsala Pruitt, are equal stakeholders in the company with their parents and both have had active roles in the business. Damon started working at the distributorship when he was fifteen years old, mowing grass and helping in the warehouse. He now serves as the President

and General Manager, replacing Charles in that position. Charles is the CEO of Marsala Beverage and continues to have a hand in all aspects of the business operations, but to a much lesser degree now that his son is in charge. “It’s a great business to be in. It’s always been a fun business. We’ve worked hard, and we’ve played hard,” says Charles. He is thankful for the people he has worked with over the years. “We are fortunate that we’ve been able to hire some good people that do a great job for us,” he says. “We like to think that we are a great company to work for and try hard to take care of our employees.” When asked if he will ever retire completely, Charles says no. He does admit that he is slowing down a bit, though, enjoying life with Brenda and their children and grandchild. They travel often, sometimes with other couples and sometimes just the two of them. “We enjoy each other’s company. We really are best friends,” Charles says. When reflecting on his business success, Charles is quick to give credit to his wife. “Brenda has always encouraged me in everything I’ve ever done,” he says. “She’s always been with me, one hundred percent.” Brenda responds by demurring, saying “It’s easy to sit back and encourage. He did the hard work.” She recalls that when Charles first started at Budco, he would come home exhausted. At least once, when he was working as a helper on the truck in the heat of the summer, he wanted to quit, but each time, after talking it over, he would decide to stay just two more weeks. “As of September,” Charles says, “I have been there forty-four years.” They laugh when they look back now, but admit that it has not always been an easy road. A devout Catholic, Brenda attends Mass every day and enjoys visiting different churches when she travels. Charles jokes that he and his wife are the only people who actually attend Mass when they go to Las Vegas. “But that is Brenda,” he says. She is devoted to her faith, which she credits for getting her through any difficulties that life has brought her way. The Marsalas are grateful for the opportunities that they have had and for all that they have been able to achieve. “This business has been very, very good to us,” Charles recognizes. “We need to always remember that and give back to the community that has given so much to us.” They feel that donating to and participating in charitable events is extremely important. Marsala’s history of sponsoring and supporting community events is something else that Charles attributes to Brenda’s influence. She encouraged him when they became owners to donate generously to worthy causes, and Marsala Beverage continues to do that. Through direct donations of products and monetary contributions and through indirect donations of employee time and company resources, Marsala Beverage has been responsible for helping raise millions of dollars over the years for charitable organizations that improve lives in Northeast Louisiana. Charles and Brenda and their children also give of their time, serving on non-profit boards and opening their home to host fundraising events. “You get a good feeling when you know that the proceeds from something that you have done will help people,” Charles says. “We’ve also made great friends and gotten to know some wonderful people by participating in charitable functions.” “Brenda and I say that ours is a Cinderella story, in terms of where we started and what we were able to accomplish,” says Charles. Neither of them came from privileged backgrounds. Brenda’s mother was a widow with five children, and Charles was raised in a middleclass working family. “We didn’t have a lot, but we didn’t know that we didn’t have a lot,” he says. Charles attributes their financial success to the grace of God. He and Brenda acknowledge their blessings and good fortune and appreciate what they have been able to do through hard work and determination. As they celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary, they are grateful for each other and the family they created. As they pass on the business to their children, they remind them to work hard, pay attention to detail, treat others well and give back to the community that has given them so much. They savor their memories and look forward to more good times ahead.

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I REMEMBER article by PAUL LIPE

I REMEMBER being blind-sided

by my youngest grandchild, Lilly, who turned six just a couple of months ago. My wife and I were in Dallas tending Lilly, Anna Kathryn and Jon Paul, while Sarah, the oldest of the Lipe siblings, and her parents visited Ole Miss to take a look at their School of Pharmacy – “Hotty Toddy!” It was while we were there in Dallas that my little angel ambushed me with one of her penetrating questions. It all happened one evening, while we were sitting in the den watching one of her favorite shows on TV. Lilly crawled up in my lap, looked at me sweetly and asked, “Biddy, (her name for me) am I your favorite grandchild?” She surely did know how to put me on the spot. What in the world prompted this question? Well, the truth is that she may have had some reason behind the query, because I have been accused by certain members of my family of showing favoritism to this little Dear. I am sure that she had heard such talk and was just trying to confirm what others had suspicioned. So, she wanted to know, was she my favorite? I suppose that I can see how some may have reached that conclusion, because I do give lots of attention to Lilly. We play games together, go bike riding, enjoy jaunts on the golf cart, spend time at the park near her home and in the pool in her back year and

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have fun on the trampoline (actually, she is ON the trampoline, and I am, wisely, on the ground, watching her antics!). We also have established the favorite tradition of going for ice cream as often as an opportunity presents itself. I guess that I am guilty of spending more time with her than with most of the other Grands. But there is a reason why that is true. You see, all of the others are so busy with a multitude of activities that make it almost impossible for them to find a time on their schedule for their old Grandfather. In addition, they have their friends with whom they want to share their spare minutes. I practically have to make an appointment in order to have any meaningful moments with them. Lilly, on the other hand, goes to kindergarten three mornings a week, giving her lots of free time, which provides for opportunities to be with her Grandfather. Besides that, her summers are practically free of activities that tie her down, while the others are engaged in multiple pursuits. The simple truth is that Lilly has time for me that the others, through no fault on their parts, just do not have, so I am taking as much advantage of that fact as I can, knowing that soon, Lilly, too, will have little time for me as her schedule gets busier and busier. Nevertheless, I was still confronted with her question – was she my favorite. That was probably not a fair question, nor is it one that

most individuals would ever pose. The lone exception that comes to mind was when Jesus confronted Peter following the Resurrection. At His trial, Jesus had been denied by Peter who, in fear for his life, had said that he did not even know “the Man.” Earlier, this same apostle had sworn that, even though all the other disciples might forsake the Lord, he would be loyal to the death. This affirmation must have come to Peter’s mind when Jesus asked, “Peter, do you love Me more than these?” Was He asking, “Do you love more than you love these?” or “Do you love me more than these love Me?” Either way, the intent is to discover who is “number one” in the heart of Peter. In my view, only Jesus is justified in putting this choice before anyone. So, is He your Favorite? But what answer should I give to Lilly? Well, she is “number one” in my heart. But so also are Trey, Mary Hastings, Sarah, Anna Kathryn and Jon Paul. And who do I want to be their “number one?” I’ll be happy to occupy second place, if each of them will give the top spot to their Lord. So, allow me to put this question to you: Who is the most important person in your life? How we respond to that question will play a large role in shaping the kind of lives we shall pursue.

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St.Frederick High School SFHS Exceeds Expectations

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N NOVEMBER, ST. FREDERICK HIGH School kicked off its Annual Giving Campaign. This campaign helps to close the gap between the cost of tuition and operation of the school. This year the goal was $30,000, and with the support of our faculty, staff, Board of Directors, grandparents, area church parishioners and alumni, SFHS exceeded $40,000 in donations. “I cannot thank our community enough for their commitment to our students. We more than doubled our donations from last year. The love and support that our community has for our school is overwhelming. I am truly honored to be the principal of this great school, and I am proud to be a Warrior for Christ,” said Dr. Bob Webber. The money will be used to help with tuition assistance, general fund and building repairs and maintenance. With this support, St. Frederick will continue to excel in academics and extracurricular activities in a safe environment. The school will continue to build the STREAM program and enhance the newly added CAD (Computer Aided Design) classes and Engineering classes. The ACT scores from the graduation class of 2016 were some of the highest in the state. The school ACT average was 25.5. Not only do they excel academically, our students and alumni exemplify good character. These students are a great source 50 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

of pride in our school and are easily our greatest asset. SFHS builds students of character who do not conform but raise the bar. Our students excel inside and outside the classroom. SFHS is truly a school where students are not only allowed to choose their own paths to success, but where they are encouraged in a family environment to strive to be the very best that they can be. Come visit us and see what being a Warrior is all about. Enrollment for St. Frederick students, Jesus the Good Shepherd 6th grade students and Our Lady of Fatima 6th grade students began on February 1, and open enrollment begins on February 20. Begin your application process now by visiting www.stfrederickhigh.org. Come experience the great things St. Frederick has to offer by scheduling a visit with the school. One of the best ways for a student to experience St. Frederick High School is to come shadow. Prospective students are able to have a classroom experience and get to see and know the teachers. One of the advantages of St. Frederick is the fact that the faculty, administration and staff know each student by name. The family atmosphere allows for the students to build lasting friendships not only with other students in their grade but with students throughout the school. Call Shere May, Director of Admissions, at 318323-9636. “We saw this family connection when our Class of 2016 came back during break

to speak to our Juniors and Seniors,” said Webber. “The graduates encouraged the students to be thankful for the opportunities that are offered here.” These opportunities include dual enrollment classes that allowed them to succeed in college, leadership opportunities and the confidence to apply for leadership positions in college. Finally, the graduates encouraged the students to stay true to themselves and their faith. Coming from a Catholic school prepared the students to face some of the adversities in college and helped them to stay strong in their faith. As noted from the success of the Annual Giving Campaign, the community believes in the mission of St. Frederick High School. Call today to schedule a tour, arrange a shadow day or ask for more information. As noted from the success of the Annual Giving Campaign, the community believes in the mission of St. Frederick High School which is to nurture students to be living examples of the teachings of Jesus Christ in an atmosphere of academic excellence. The aim of education at St. Frederick centers around building community. We are striving to create a vibrant community of individuals who are working to attain their fullest potential-spiritual, social, intellectual, emotional and physical. Call today for more information.

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A Gathering of Gifts and Gardening Junior League of Monroe Presents Spring Market 2017

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PRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND FAST approaching is the Junior League of Monroe’s Spring Market. The 19th annual Spring Market is sponsored by Origin Bank. Friday, March 24, 2017, 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. Spring Market’s signature event, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun!,” is sponsored by Progressive Bank and 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 event, due to space constraints and crowd control. The 4th 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 25. 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 2016-2017 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. Last year’s raffle was such a hit, we decided to repeat it ($10,000

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Home Makeover)! Once again, the Junior League of Monroe is excited to partner with Sleepy Hollow Furniture and HGTV to bring you a home makeover: Customized HGTV Line Furniture, accessories to complete the Home Makeover with personal Sleepy Hollow assistance. In addition, Sleepy Hollow now has beautiful outdoor furniture, so the home makeover options are endless! 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 toward the close of Market on Sunday, March 26! 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. • “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” is 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 2426, 2017. We look forward to seeing you at the Market!

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LOOKS to

A. ALDEN’S MEMO

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Atlanta and Dallas based fashion sales representative for Reeves & Company, Analeise Thomas, gives her suggestions for the best V-Day outfits.

For some of us, Valentine’s Day is a day to look forward to; one in which to celebrate true love; one to celebrate your significant other (S.O.) and the impact they’ve had on your life. For others, it’s a day you’d rather get through as quickly as possible. No matter where you fall, Valentine’s Day is a great day to get dressed up and treat yourself to a yummy meal, a fun activity or a day of relaxation with your S.O. or your group of best friends! Here is some inspo for what to do and what to wear.

DINNER AND A MOVIE

edgy glam

If you plan to have a nice dinner out and enjoy a romantic or steamy movie afterwards with your S.O. or friends, then go for your absolute best. You’ll probably be seen by perimeter friends and acquaintances, so make sure your look is on point. Dressy or casual, it doesn’t matter. Wear a current outfit that reflects your style that you know you’re S.O. will love and you’ll feel confident in. Check out my picks for two on-trend, romantic looks:

soft & sweet

COZY NIGHT IN

Sometimes a quiet night in can be more romantic than anything else. Order a yummy Johnny’s pizza, open a bottle of your favorite wine and put on your favorite classic romance film. Or watch a new romantic comedy that you and your S.O. haven’t seen. Light a candle and enjoy true relaxation and simply being with each other. There truly is only one outfit appropriate for your special night:

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More is Better……Or is it? Heard McElroy & Vestal

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S CONSUMERS IN A WORLD of more is better, we are constantly inundated with consumer messages making promises their product will ease our discomfort. Buying more of something will make us more popular, get the approval of others and help the economy by creating more jobs. As a matter of fact, saving our disposable income is just downright un-American. We have come to believe we can buy whatever we want without first thinking about whether we really need it, will use it or even enjoy it. We work long hours and spend time away from what we really enjoy, putting our health and financial security at risk. If this sounds like you, take time now to discover your enough point. The point where you have everything you need to live comfortably and still meet your long-term goal of financial freedom. After you have met your basic needs for food, shelter, clothing and transportation, what other needs have not been met? To answer this question, I encourage you to keep track of your money, the inflows and outflows. Place each expenditure in a category and determine the level of satisfaction or fulfillment received from each. Were the new pair of black designer heels you purchased this month a necessity or do you have three other pair in the closet you simply forgot about? What about the new boat taking up most of the garage on which you are still making monthly payments – is this just an attempt to keep up with the Joneses? 56 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Or does the fulfillment you receive from owning it more than make up for the hours you work to keep it? Just simply being aware of where and why you are spending your money will help in determining your enough point. Once you have determined where your money is going and why, the next step is to minimize your spending. For many, this is learning to live within your means. Only buy what you can afford and avoid buying things on credit. This will require you wait to purchase something until you have the cash to pay for it, while also giving you time to discover you may not want to make the purchase after all. Don’t go shopping unless you have a purpose. Stay away from Internet and television advertising, enticing you to buy things you do not need or want. Avoid comparing yourself to others in terms of material possessions; it can only lead to self-destruction. Once spending is under control, your next step is to begin saving for your emergency fund. Generally, this is three to six months of your expenses. The purpose of the fund is to help cover emergencies and/or surges in expenses. Should you lose your job, have an unexpected home repair or the kids need braces you will have the money in savings to cover the expense. Spending is minimized, emergency fund is in the bank, so it is now time to begin paying off debt. Start with your consumer debt. Pay off all your credit cards, auto loans and any other personal debt outside your home mortgage. Start

with the smallest balances first, giving you the quickest results, and therefore encouraging you to stick with the plan. Finally, you may begin saving with long-term objectives in mind. This type of savings is not to be spent but invested. Assuming you invest this money safely, it will earn income whether you work or not. The ultimate goal – monthly investment income exceeding your monthly expenses. The point where your investment income and your monthly expenses meet is called your enough point, giving you the peace of mind you have been working for. As you save and invest your way to retirement, there will be distractions and detours along the way. But keep your eyes on the prize. The key to successfully reaching retirement with the resources you need is having a financial plan and the selfdiscipline to stick to it. Melissa Mitcham is a tax partner in the firm of Heard McElroy & Vestal LLC in Monroe, Louisiana. She is a practicing Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner with 20 years of experience. Their office is located at 2808 Kilpatrick Blvd, Monroe, Louisiana. Contact Melissa today for more information at (318) 388-3108.

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RELATIONSHIPS

Meredith’s Musings Viva Las Vegas |

By Meredith McKinnie

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n July 5 of last year, Boyfriend got down on one knee in the privacy of our living room and asked me to be his wife. We were both crying, though I wasn’t exactly surprised. We had felt married for years. And not wanting to wait after almost four years of dating, we decided we would exchange vows by the end of the month. We wanted our anniversary to fall at a time when we were both free to celebrate. And randomly one night I asked, “How about Vegas?” Three weeks later, we waited at the Monroe airport for a flight that would never come, and I began to panic. I remember crying to the lady at the desk insisting, “But I’m getting married tomorrow.” She just looked at me, nothing she could do. After my Mom picked us up and took us back home, to the place we had left seven hours prior with intense anticipation, we headed by car for Dallas to make a second connection. Boyfriend’s parents anxiously awaited us at the airport. I cried on the way over, thinking I had made a mistake in planning it this way, that fate was working against us. But oddly, I never doubted marrying him. He’s always been a definite, my constant. His mother hugged me and gave me a white, flower-embroidered handkerchief that

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had belonged to her mother for the ceremony. And it hit me; his family was now a part of it. Without the missed flight, we wouldn’t have seen them until a few months later. They were the last people to hug us before we boarded. And they were so happy. I’m so fortunate to have married into a family so established, so bonded, and yet so open to my coming in. Because we were standby passengers, we weren’t able to sit together, but we didn’t care. I remember watching his head from three rows back and smiling to myself. That’s my person, my sweetheart, my calm in the chaos that is life. Marrying him may be the most considered, most hoped for decision I’ve ever made. I felt firm. I felt thankful. I felt humbled. He wasn’t physically holding my hand, but I could feel the warmth of his touch from across the plane. When we landed at midnight, he said, “The Strip didn’t look so big from the plane.” I just chuckled. I’d been here three times before. Boyfriend was a Vegas virgin. The Paris hotel upgraded us to the LeMans suite. It was bigger than our first apartment with tufted furniture, French-country decor, and a marble bathroom with a bidet. I’d never actually seen one up close. In the latenight/early morning hours, we browsed the hotel, the cobblestone streets inside and pale

blue ceiling with painted clouds. It screams romance, but I hardly noticed. We were in our pre-nuptial bubble, chuckling at passersby, while we sampled the pizzeria and the chocolatier shoppe and bought Paris-themed trinkets for our bookshelves. It was heaven, as the painted clouds above kept reminding me. The next morning, our official wedding day, we awoke to a call from room service. I hadn’t ordered anything. But then champagne and strawberries arrived from my friends back home, and I cried. I cried, because here we were alone about to pledge our lives to each other, and our people back home are the best friends we could ask for, and they were thinking of us. After an hour soak in a bathtub I could barely see out of and applying my makeup just right, I walked into the bedroom and Boyfriend told me how beautiful I looked. I felt beautiful even before he confirmed it. I’d never felt more ready, no nerves at all. Our limo driver, Oscar, escorted us to the Marriage Bureau and then the famous Little White Wedding Chapel. It wasn’t busy on a Friday at 1 p.m. The building had low ceilings and red carpet and various shades of pink flowers in silver vases and chandeliers and quaint little chapels with five white pews lining each side. I walked without a bouquet towards Boyfriend. He was beaming. Words were exchanged, though I can’t remember exactly what they were. He just looked so at peace. He looked like home, and I knew it didn’t matter where we were, as long as he was with me, and then we said, “I do.” For a brief moment during the prayer I remembered, my mom isn’t here. And I teared up. But it was the choice I’d made. We kissed and took pictures and just like that, we were back in the limo. My five-inch heels hadn’t even started to pinch my feet. Oscar played Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Stay Together” on the way back, and we just held each other. It felt like it always does when he holds me, safe. That afternoon we walked the Strip, touring the Venetian with the gondolas in the canal and the gondoliers singing to the passengers, more romance. We went atop the Eiffel Tower outside our hotel, our timing impeccable, right before sunset. I remember feeling the wind on our faces while he held me around my waist. I felt a peace and security CONTINUED ON PAGE 124

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Neville High School Presents College and Career Awareness Night Tuesday, March 7, 2017

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ANY OF US HAVE PERSONAL STORIES OF PARENTS and grandparents who enjoyed great professional success with nothing more than a high school diploma. Not so many years ago, a young person could pursue high-demand, highwage jobs the day they finished high school. While a few of those sorts of positions remain, it is becoming increasingly necessary for young adults to acquire some kind of post-secondary credential or training before entering the workforce. In the wake of this information, educators recognize that we must offer students a wider array of opportunities toward their personal career goals and to prepare them—and their parents—for the best postsecondary training to meet their goals. Given the focus statewide on college and career readiness, Neville High School’s programming has evolved into a suite of offerings that engage students in both advanced academic pursuits and workplace applications. This evolution began almost thirteen years ago with the very first dual enrollment courses on campus. That modest beginning of eight students in a business course is now a robust program of twenty courses with approximately 200 students enrolled in one or more classes. Shortly after the dual enrollment “revolution,” the quest began to increase the number of Advanced Placement classes from two to the current seven and with an equal number of pre-Advanced Placement courses to ensure that students are primed for the level of writing, discussing and reading prevalent in AP. More recently, with the state’s JumpStart initiative and the national focus on STEM programming, electives faculty embraced expansion. A thriving business department and woodshop are now joined by 4-stroke Engine Repair, Manufacturing, Career Explorations, Career Skills, Career Readiness, Computer-Assisted Drafting, Robotics, Computer Science, Athletic Training and First Responder. These applications courses afford students the chance to investigate high-demand careers, practice real-world skills and work toward industry-based credentials. All of these changes can make navigating the future more puzzling than ever for both students and their families. “Gone are the days of a dual-tract education when you were locked into college-prep or voc-ed,” says Whitney 60 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Martin, assistant principal. To provide the most current and most relevant information, Neville High School invites area students and parents to its annual College and Career Awareness Night on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Topics will include financing post-secondary education/training; admissions requirements for selective universities, state universities, community colleges, vocational/ technical colleges and military branches; and the Taylor Opportunity Program Scholarship (TOPS), including TOPS University and TOPS Tech. Representatives from state and regional higher education institutions will be on hand to talk with students and parents. Neville Student Services professionals will also help parents and families make sense of course offerings and options available for local students. Accountability Specialist Clementine Lockhart, along with Dual Enrollment Coordinator Susan Stewart, will facilitate a session outlining dual enrollment requirements, as well as the pros and cons of pursuing these college coursework at the high school level. Sessions will be available to introduce parents of underclassmen to the benefits of rigorous coursework, such as Advanced Placement and honors, as well as the benefits of careerreadiness coursework, including pathways in health sciences, public service and hospitality, business and computer technology and industrial technology. TOPS Tech lead teacher Matthew Dickerson will be available to discuss these pathways and courses that serve the dual purposes of college preparation and career readiness. Christella Dawson, NHS principal, recognizes that today’s students sometimes worry about paying for post-secondary training, making decisions that affect their future earnings and careers. “Students have so many possibilities ahead of them,” Dr. Dawson says. “We want to make every effort to ensure that they and their parents can make informed decisions that are best for their specific situation.” College and Career Awareness Night is Neville’s way to make this information readily available to families with students across grades and across interests.

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STARTING YOUR GARDEN article by P. Allen Smith

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adies and gentlemen, start your seed orders. Even if the ground is still frosty in your area, don’t worry. Your spring garden can get off to a great start with some planning, so it’s time to look at cool-season vegetables like lettuce, collards, cabbage, broccoli, root crops and the appropriately named, snow peas. Many of these will grow well from seed. My favorites, and two that grow beautifully together, are arugula and nasturtiums. Don’t forget nasturtiums are edible! Both love the early spring and are no-fuss growers. Direct sow in a container or in the garden bed, and you’ll have delicious and healthy additions to your salad bowl in a matter of weeks. For the less-tolerant plants in your vegetable selection, once your seeds arrive, you can sow them indoors until your area shakes off the last frost. Look below to learn more. You can check with your county’s Cooperative Extension Service, local gardening clubs or online sites to determine the last frost date in your area. Cool season vegetables may prefer the chill, but they are still vulnerable to sudden, severe temperature drops – which is rare in the Deep South after February. Be ready to cover and protect them with newspaper, old sheets, or frost blankets, if a frost or freeze threatens. Remove them first thing in the morning. While vegetables typically need 7 to 8 hours of full sun a day, cool season varieties can get by on 6 hours. Some can even grow in partial shade. One more tip: Preparing beds in the fall will have them ready for spring. This can be important as it’s more difficult to work in wet spring soil. The ideal soil recipe for a framed bed is 50 percent existing garden soil, 25 percent aged manure, and 25 percent compost or humus. 62 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

photo by Mark Fonville

Now, the fun part: Growing your edibles! Get started with a few planting tips for my favorite cold-season vegetables: Cabbage Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date, then transplant after frost danger has passed. Keep an eye on them! These plants require fertile soil rich in organic matter and consistent moisture. Carrots Sow seeds in spring about two weeks before the last frost date. They need deep, loose soil, free of rocks, for best results. When the seedlings are two inches tall, thin them to about 1 to 4 inches between. Cover the shoulders with mulch or soil to keep them from turning green or bitter. Collards I love more than just the name of the ‘Bulldog’ Collard in the Home Grown Seed Collection. Its leaves stand tall and proud with high yield potential. While traditionally planted in the fall, it’s not too late to add them to your garden now. Kale Plant in early spring, about 3 to 5 weeks before the last frost date. Protect from severe cold with frost blankets or other coverings. Very fertile soil will encourage rapid growth and the most tender of leaves.

Lettuce Sow any time the ground is workable. It’s more sensitive to cold than other cool season vegetables and should be covered. The ideal day time temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees. Fertilize with fish emulsion, which is high in nitrogen. Lettuce will do fine in partial shade and appreciates a break from intense sun. Replace every two weeks for a continuous supply until temperatures become too warm. Sugar Snap Peas These peas will tolerate some frost, and they are far more sensitive to heat. Sow them in early spring, place a seed every two inches. They will need support from a string trellis or thin branches stuck in the ground. The more you harvest, the more they’ll produce. Swiss Chard The Bright Lights and Ruby varieties are favorites for adding color to the garden and the table. But I adore ‘Peppermint’, both for its flavor and beauty. Plant or sow seeds 2 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Thin to 6 inches apart when seedlings are 3 inches tall. Water regularly. Sources for Seed: Jung Seed Company (jungseed.com) Park Seed Company (parkseed.com) Rohrer Seeds (rohrerseeds.com) Twilley Seed Company (twilleyseed.com)

ARUGULA One of shining stars of my Home Grown Seed Collection, the ‘Astro’ Arugula is the bold and zesty leaf that can be added to spark life into any salad or pizza. Sow in the garden as soon as soil can be worked. Seeds germinate in 7 days, and leaves will be ready to harvest in 3 to 4 weeks. For continuous harvest, sow new seeds every two weeks.

NASTURTIUMS I’m a proponent of pairing flowers with your edibles in the garden, and nasturtiums have the added benefit of being edible as well! They’re very easy to grow, but they don’t transplant well. Direct sow into containers or flower beds after all danger of frost has passed. Cover with ½-inch of soil. The soil should not be too fertile, so the edge of the garden bed is perfect for them. Be careful of overwatering and grow in full sun.

BROCCOLI Put out transplants two weeks before the last frost date. Broccoli likes daytime highs of 65 to 80 degrees. Use a lownitrogen fertilizer three weeks after your transplant date.

RADISH Direct sow about four weeks before the last frost date. No feeding necessary, but soil should be fertile and well-drained. Radishes will mature quickly so check them regularly. Harvest as soon as they are an edible size. Replace every two weeks until it gets too hot. P. Allen Smith, an author, television host, entrepreneur and conservationist, has a passion for American style. He uses his Arkansas home, Moss Mountain Farm, which The New York Times hails as a “stunning estate,” as an epicenter for promoting the local food movement, organic gardening and the preservation of heritage poultry breeds. Smith created his farm to serve as a place of inspiration, education and conservation and provides visitors from around the country locally sourced meals to introduce them to an expression of the regional cuisine. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 63

DOWNTOWN GALLERY CRAWL Downtown Gallery Crawl’s Winter Celebration

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ebruary is known for Mardi Gras season, Valentine’s Day, President Washington and President Lincoln’s birthdays, and the first Downtown Gallery Crawl of the year! Held on the first Thursday of even-numbered months, each Crawl is a celebration of the visual arts but also includes musical and culinary arts. February 2, 5-9 p.m., is the time when the Crawl will be presented by ten galleries spanning the downtowns of both Monroe and West Monroe. Art-lovers of all ages will enjoy seeing a variety of art displayed in the historic districts in beautiful historic buildings. The whole family can participate in this totally free evening. The party extends through TEN art galleries, all members of the Downtown Arts Alliance. The Garrett House, curated by Brooke Foy, will show new work from a recent BFA studio (painting/installation) graduate from Louisiana Tech, Katie Minyard. She will be working with mixed media, painting and installation. Minyard works with imagery that reflects ideas about self, identity and all that surrounds this wife and mother of two. Minyard will to do a gallery talk at 7:30 p.m. Anna Rowan, curator of the Big Room Gallery, and Emily Caldwell, curator of the UPSTAIRS gallery, will present a joint show highlighting student art from Louisiana Tech. Professor Nick Bustamante’s BFA classes are the focus. The exhibit, called “Poiesis,” includes artists Janelle Cobb, Whitney Durrett, Catherine Hunter, Alaycia Moore, Reagan Pearson, Sarah Prescott, Danielle Reed, Kody Robinson, Sarah Smith and Christina Wong, all of whom are majoring in Studio Art. Their work will include installation art, photography, sculpture, printmaking, drawing and painting. ARENDER studio + gallery on Art Alley presents “La Rondeur,” a body of work by Courtney Payne Wetzel. Using traditional carving tools on wood or linoleum block to create prints, Wetzel explores balance and deconstruction of shape into curves and lines, into positive and negative space. Celebrating 64 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

the women she encounters daily, who maintain rhythm and grace while attempting to find that elusive balance, Wetzel showcases their ability to bend without breaking. Next door, at Sugar Gallery, the artists are Letting the Good Times Roll! Leah Reitzell will debut a new series of mixed media artworks entitled “Revelry,” which will feature scenes depicting partygoers and fun just in time for Carnival season. Chris D. Cox will show his lamps, tables and cigar box guitars made from salvaged wood. Melanie Douthit will have new Louisiana-themed paintings and will be sharing her space with her teenage daughter Arielle Douthit, who will be showing her newest drawings. Crawlers won’t want to miss Burg Ransom’s new photography pieces, Stacy Medaries’ mixed media paintings, and Scott Stone’s prints and unique decorative guitars. There’s something for everyone where it’s always sweet at Sugar! The Outside Gallery, curated by Ben Hickey, presents Vitus Shell’s work dealing with the black experience in America, often using “mainstream” white culture as a critical foil to convey meaning. Vitus Shell holds an MFA from the University of Mississippi, Oxford. He was a fellow at the Skowhegan School of Art Kama as well as the Joan Mitchell Foundation and is currently participating in the Studio Artist Program at the Masur Museum of Art. Shell has exhibited recently at Photo NOLA, He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. In West Monroe, on Trenton Street, Rumo’s Gallery will feature a show by child artists from around the community, with child-friendly snacks and drinks. Starring local sixth grade artist Abby Sims, this will be a fun, kid-focused show, with

the tag line “For Those Young at Art.” Also on West Monroe’s Antique Alley, the Ouachita River Art Gallery will feature art by Margaret Mays Ellerman from Winnsboro. Margaret has been a member of the gallery since 2002. She is a retired art teacher from the Franklin Parish School System and has taught art workshops for over thirty years in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi. Margaret has taught and painted in many mediums including watercolor, oil, acrylic and currently, mixed media, sharing those skills with her classes at the Old Post Office Museum in Winnsboro. Her latest show can be seen at The River Gallery during the Gallery Crawl on Thursday, February 2. Margaret will discuss her art with the public at 7 p.m. that night. Sikes Gallery on Art Alley, curated by Rick Sikes, will display work by Louisiana Tech graduate art students, while the beautiful, historic Palace Gallery on DeSiard Street shows its usual excellent variety of art by various artists. The artists and their appreciative public sincerely thank the always-generous DAA sponsors, including Louisiana Pain Care, Bancorp South, Fiesta Nutrition Center, Creed and Creed Law Firm, Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau, KEDM Public Radio, Sir Speedy, Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, The News-Star, DeltaStyle, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Rawls DeSigns, Cross Keys Bank, Lavalle Salomon Law Office, Warehouse #1 Restaurant, Antique Alley Merchants’ Association, Masur Museum, Choice Brands and Marsala Beverage. Sponsorships are still available. For information on levels of support and benefits, see the organization’s website at www. downtowngallerycrawl.com and Facebook page (search Downtown Gallery Crawl).

1) VITUS SHELL 2) MELANIE DOUTHIT 3) ARIELLE DOUTHIT 4) LEAH REITZELL 5) CHRISTINA WONG 6) MARGARET ELLERMAN

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his party, which will feature good food and drink and great performances by professional performers returning to Monroe from throughout the US, will take place in a fabulous new venue for the LA’Opera, the Ouachita Grand Plaza Ballroom, 501 S. Grand, just down the street from Restaurant Cotton on the Ouachita River, on Friday, February 24th at 7 p.m.. Performers include singing actors, who have been featured in LA’Opera Valentine fund raisers and productions that have been extremely popular in town since the Louisiana Opera’s first show premiered five years ago. Headlining the performance February 24 will be baritone Corey Mckern, joined by Betsy Uschkrat, Tyler Smith, Claire Vangelisti and Ron Ulen. Joining the cast and making her Monroe debut is April Golliver, who visits our town from Oklahoma, where she is on the music faculty at Oklahoma State University and has significant credits throughout the United States. These performers have sung leading roles in opera houses in the region, including The Shreveport and New Orleans Opera, as well as The New York City Opera and Opera Santa Fe. A vital part of the cast will be the ensemble, consisting of ULM’s voice majors. Many of these students had roles in the university’s October performances of Sweeney Todd-and are also cast in this Spring’s university upcoming March performances of Pippin. The pianist for the event is our own Richard Seiler. Conducting is Jeffrey Peterson, head of the Baylor University Opera, and the Director is LA’Opera founder Mark Ross Clark. Clark, who has guest directed for the Taiwan National Theatre, Dorset Opera in England, and in Brazil, began the Louisiana Opera five years ago, under the auspices of the University of Louisiana in Monroe, where he has been head of opera since 2006. The productions of

the opera are presented at ULM in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall and allow the university and community to enjoy live operas, performed by professional singing actors who enjoy singing in Monroe and returning year after year. The productions also serve as opportunities for ULM vocal students to both participate with and learn from the singers who come to town, many of whom are professors in Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and New Orleans. The mission of the LA’Opera has been expanded this year to include live performances for schools and also the retirement community in order to enrich the arts in the area. The fact that The Louisiana Opera in Monroe is producing such fine productions as one of only three opera organizations in the state has brought more acclaim to our town, Monroe, that already possesses an abundance of arts organizations. From the Trip Advisor online, a review after the Louisiana Opera performances of The Barber of Seville, posted on June 25, 2015: “I likely won’t look at opera the same way again. It strikes me that I have taken my big city venues for granted. I was moved by the appreciation that all of these people have for the art of opera. From the LA’Opera’s volunteers, to the production staff, to the singers and the audience, all people across the board made this a very exciting, stimulating and fun-filled experience for me and my family.” - Trip Advisor, 2015

Celebrate Mardi Gras With Excerpts From Fledermaus

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Come to see what the excitement is about, at the Louisiana Opera’s performance of Fledermaus on February 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ouachita Grand Plaza Ballroom. Join us to celebrate the joy of Mardi Gras with food and drink and memorable performances by a professional cast. You can purchase your tickets at Fiesta Nutrition on 1211 N. 18th Street in Monroe, or at the door. Individual tickets are only $40, and a greater bargain if you purchase a table for the event (seating eight), which costs $250. Call 342-3247 for more information.

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MAKING PROGRESS Learning to Let Go article by Cindy G. Foust

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ell, that was quick. January just sped by, and here we are embracing the month of love. I know I’m not the only one who thinks time is flying at warp speed the older I get. In my now 50th year of life, however, I wish it would slow down just a bit. I don’t want to get old, BayouLife nation. I don’t want to feel these creaks and pops and pains and twinges. I swear, I participated in my son’s pep rally a few months ago, and my hip flexor has yet to recover. Well, my hip flexor and my pride. I still shudder when I think back to that momentary lapse of good judgment in my life. In case you are wondering, 50-year old moms should never JuJu on the Beat, not even in the privacy of their bedroom, or their daughter’s bedroom. When I tried to audition my moves for my 11-year old little darling, and give her a private viewing, she promptly hid under the covers. That should have been my warning right there… DON’T DO IT! RUN, FOREST, RUN! Oh, but no, I had to JuJu on my Beat alright, and then to add insult to injury, I tried to do a toe touch above my head that morphed into the splits (or half-splits) depending on what angle your camera had. Hip Flexor? What hip flexor? I have permanently altered the way I will walk for the rest of my life, and both my children, not just my son, are currently living under an alias name in Seattle. Speaking of my children, and embarrassing them from time to time, I have had quite a few tough parenting moments lately. Does anyone else ever have those days when they just feel like they can’t do anything right? I’ve been a mother for the last nearly 19 years, a role I cherish more than anything else I have or will ever do in my life. But gosh, it has its challenges. Once such incident was a few weeks ago when I put my nearly 19-year old son on a cruise ship for a school-related trip. Shoot, when I was growing up in Butcher’s Hollow (I didn’t really grow up there, but it sounds so cool to pretend I did, because I love Loretta Lynn), the most extravagant school trip we ever took was to Skatetown (shout out to my good friend Kathy Porter) where our Moonlight Couple Skating was closely monitored, and we did the Hokey Pokey. Or that one time, when we got to go to the zoo, but I got so sick on the tea-cup ride that went round and round, that I threw up all the way back to the school. 68 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Believe me, that was a fun time that was had by all. Yeah, school trips have come a long way, wouldn’t you say? Anyway, here I am chasing a rabbit again and forgot where the rabbit hole was. Oh yeah, dropping my son off at the cruise ship port. I wrote a column last year, actually one of my favorites that I’ve ever written, about how hard I have to work to overcome the fear of losing one of my children. It’s a constant struggle for me, and one I have to bathe in prayer constantly. I actually thought I was making progress until I had to drop my son at the door of the Love Boat, and Julie the Cruise Director was no where in sight for me to ask would she please keep a close eye on my boy (or give me her cell phone number, so I could check in regularly, whichever would be easier for her.) I’m sure I’m getting the eye roll from some parents right about now, because what’s the worst thing that could happen on a cruise ship? In my mind, a lot could happen. But for me, it was also just the actual process of dropping him off and heading back home without him. It dawned on me that this is what college would feel like, so for one week, I walked by my son’s room everyday and smoothed the covers on his bed about 1,000 times. Also, I could only have very limited contact with him, because, well, as you know, there aren’t many phone lines in the ocean. Thank God for modern technology though, and I was able to SnapChat him every day, because you might be in the middle of the ocean, friends, but you can still access social media! It was a tough, long week at the Foust house, let me tell you. But as the week progressed, it dawned on me about mid-week, readers, that I was making progress. Progress as a parent, progress with a fear that keeps me in a death grip most days; and progress in learning to let go (just a little.) It’s been my experience that life is about choices (here I am quoting my parents again), and I had to make the choice about halfway through that week that I could stay in the place of fear or worry, or I could move out of that place and trust that my son was making good choices and he would come home safely to his family. And guess what? He did. He texted me on multiple occasions, and he was having the time of his life, snorkeling, swimming with stingrays, and being exposed to some pretty cool people who loved sharing their cultures with him. CONTINUED ON PAGE 124

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5th Annual Wig and Stache Bash Geneva Academy to Host Event February 17th

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HE PARENTS AND FACULTY OF GENEVA ACADEMY invite you to put on your dancing shoes and 1920s best and join us for an evening with all the fun and flair of “The Great Gatsby” era. The 5th Annual Wig and Stache Bash will be hosted at Vantage Banquet Hall in historic downtown Monroe on Friday, February 17 at 6:30 pm. All proceeds benefit the students of Geneva Academy, a pre-K through 12th grade classical Christian school, located on Oliver Road in Monroe, Louisiana. This year’s event includes a formal dinner catered by Waterfront Grill, beverages provided by Choice Brands, a live and silent auction, dance lessons and more. Those who make it to the party during the first hour are invited to try the signature drink of the evening, The Gryphon Gimlet. Tables will play to win their choice of dessert in our annual “Dessert Dash,” which is always a crowd favorite. Guests are encouraged to dance the night away in costumes and period attire from the Roaring Twenties. Ladies, don your flapper dresses, wigs and headpieces. Gents, style those moustaches—real or costume—and come dressed in your favorite gangster getup. Formal dress attire is also welcome. We will have a photo booth on site to capture you and your party looking your finest. Our live auction promises to be the highlight of the evening, offering bidders a chance to win prizes, such as a one week stay in a nine bedroom beach house on Pensacola Beach, a handcrafted ten-foot farmhouse table featuring sunken heart pine from 1815 and a weekend for two at the Viking Cooking School and the Alluvian Hotel and Spa, plus many more amazing packages. Guests will have opportunities to win more prizes in our silent auction, pay-to-play games and our raffle, which features a Kelly Moore Bag, a beach getaway to Gulf Shores, Alabama and an LSU weekend for Fall 2017. Raffle tickets are available for $10 each at rafflepages.com. Search “Geneva Academy” to purchase as many tickets of your choice as you like. Following the auction, guests may enjoy an after party featuring community vendors such as Governors Cigar and Pipe, Ouachita Brewing Co., RoeLa Roaster and Caster & Chicory. 70 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

“The Geneva family looks forward to this event every year,” says Director of Development, Aleta Eley. “Our event committee has been hard at work, putting together some amazing auction packages and planning all kinds of fun for community members to enjoy. We hope everyone will come out and enjoy this special evening.” General admission is $50 per guest. Reserved seating and other benefits are available through sponsorship. Our sponsorship packages begin at $500. Tickets may be purchased through the school office (318-805-0116), online at genevaclassical.org/auction or at the door. Contact Aleta Eley (318-805-1695) to inquire about sponsorship. Tickets are limited, so act quickly to take part in this unique experience. Follow Geneva Academy on Facebook to receive updates about the party, and visit the event page by searching “Wig & Stache Bash 2017.” Look for the hashtag #WSB2017. More about Geneva Academy: Geneva Academy is dedicated to equipping students with the necessary tools for lifelong learning, service and leadership in the community. All we strive for is rooted in the character and Lordship of Jesus Christ. As a classical school, we follow the trivium which is based on the Liberal Arts and Sciences. We focus on mastery of the basics of grammar and mathematics and the nurturing of the affections for great literature, music, the arts and language. Geneva Academy does not receive state funds and is primarily supported through the financial support of generous sponsors like you. The Wig and Stache Bash is one of two annual fundraisers. Each October, our students, faculty and families participate in a sponsored community service project called The Big Serve. In 2016, we conducted several beautification projects in downtown Monroe and sang for nursing homes in the area. Geneva has served the community of Monroe, Louisiana for 16 years. For more information about the school, visit genevaclassical.org.

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Children’s Coalition For Northeast Louisiana Working Together To Help Children Thrive ARTICLE BY KAY STOTHART RECTOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN G. MEYERS

Coalition. Collaboration. Alliance. These words are bantered about often by those involved with non-profit organizations and programs aimed at social change. Yet these concepts are not always easy to grasp or to implement. Cambridge Dictionary defines the word “coalition” as “a group formed of different organizations or people who agree to act together, usually temporarily, to achieve something.” Members of a coalition forge alliances and collaborate, working toward a common goal. An excellent illustration of this can be found in The Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, an alliance of educators, organizations, government entities and professionals who care for and about children. Coalition members come together in pursuit of a common goal, to help children thrive. They collaborate with one another to identify and address the needs of children within the communities they serve. They facilitate change through programs designed to help and educate children and those who care for them. Dr. Lynn Clark, who serves as Executive Director of the Children’s Coalition, describes it this way: “Our goal,” Clark says, “is for children and families in our communities to thrive. We meet that goal by connecting people who work with and care about children with the programs, organizations and people that can assist them and offer solutions to whatever issues they encounter. If a solution or program doesn’t exist, the coalition helps build one.” As Executive Director, Clark oversees this non-profit organization serving children in twelve parishes throughout Northeast Louisiana. Before coming to the Children’s Coalition, she was a professor in the Department of Education at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a published textbook author and editor, and former middle 72 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

school teacher. Clark beams when she discusses her work with the Children’s Coalition. “If a child in our area has a need, it is almost certain that the Children’s Coalition can meet it,” she says. Clark succeeded former Executive Director Lynda Gavioli, one of the Coalition founders. The Children’s Coalition was formed in 1998 by what Clark describes as “a group of powerful women in our community.” Along with Gavioli, the group included Janet Durden with the United Way of Northeast Louisiana and Judy Bell with The Wellspring Alliance, among others. From the beginning, the Children’s Coalition sought to address the needs of children, as identified at a Youth Summit held in Monroe in 1998 and by area taskforces that began to meet and brainstorm as a result of that summit. The needs identified include: a caring adult in every child’s life; a safe place with structured activities in non-school hours; a healthy start for children; access to health care; an effective education with marketable skills; and an opportunity to give back to their community. Using funds donated by the Mintz family of Monroe, the Coalition’s first Board of Directors commissioned a year-long study of the status of children in Ouachita Parish and the Northeast Louisiana region. Out of this study came the newlyformed Coalition’s plan for meeting the identified needs by creating a system of resources to support children, their families and their educators. Almost two decades later, the Coalition successfully operates programs that benefit infants, young children, preteens and teenagers in Northeast Louisiana. The Coalition now focuses on four important areas that impact children: Early Childhood Education, Healthy Living, Youth Development and Parenting.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Early childhood education is a core purpose of the Children’s Coalition. Earnestine Dunn serves as the Coordinator for the Coalition’s Early Childhood Education programs, recognizing the vital importance of providing educational tools and a proper foundation to children from birth to age three. Because a child’s environment during these formative years impacts future development, availability of quality childcare can make a huge difference in a child’s life. Early Head Start is a comprehensive child development program for infants and toddlers up to age three from lowincome families, led by Program Director Antoinette Hoard. As part of this program, the Children’s Coalition operates three Early Head Start centers in Ouachita Parish. These centers offer quality child care for children from six weeks to age three. Limited to sixty

children, with 10% of its enrollment reserved for children with disabilities, each center provides a learning environment as well as breakfast, hot lunch and a snack each day while parents are at work or attending school. Early Head Start also includes a home-based program for low income parents featuring weekly home visits and educational activities for the parent and child. Pregnant mothers can enroll in Early Head Start prior to their child’s birth and receive help with prenatal care and preparations for becoming a parent. In addition to direct service to children at its Early Head Start centers, the Coalition conducts training classes for teachers, child care providers and parents. “A huge piece of what we have done over the years,” Clark says, “has been to educate and support the directors of child care centers.” Education is at the center of the Coalition’s mission. “Our

theory of change,” says Clark, “is that we build adult capabilities to increase positive child outcomes.” For years, the Coalition has been training child care providers, with over 2,000 teachers attending its classes annually. Through a new pilot program, the Children’s Coalition Institute now instructs teachers working in publicly funded Early Learning Centers and confers the Early Childhood Ancillary Teaching Certificate. The Children’s Coalition Institute is one of only ten programs in the state chosen to do this. In May of 2016, in another new project, the Coalition partnered with the Children’s Museum to educate museum visitors about early brain development with “Baby Bayou,” a brain-building space for infants and toddlers.

HEALTHY LIVING Managed by Coordinator Mary Barrios, the Coalition’s Healthy Living services concentrate on positive mental and physical development with programs designed to address social development, mental health and literacy issues. “Literacy Plus is an exciting program that we do in conjunction with the Monroe Housing Authority,” Clark says. She credits Housing Authority Director Frank Wilcox with instigating and building this program. Wilcox saw a need to improve literacy among children within the housing authority and reached out to the Children’s Coalition for help in making sure that these children are reading on grade level by third grade. An after-school program at Berg Jones Elementary School works with over 200 children, while the Primetime Family Literacy program at the school serves adults as well as children. Other literacy programs for middle-school students go beyond basic reading and writing to offer arts and robotics.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT Jan Daniels, the Coalition’s Youth Development Coordinator, says that one out of every 5 teens in America suffers from emotional problems and most never get help. “Depression, anxiety, substance abuse and even suicidal tendencies are all common problems in our area,” Daniels says. The Coalition strives to insure that area youth are not only physically healthy but mentally healthy as well. “Signs of Suicide” is a program administered by the Coalition that includes screening and education in area middle schools. Students are screened for depression and suicide risk and referred for counseling, and trained to recognize the signs of suicide in their peers and how to respond.

“Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices” is another Healthy Living program aimed at promoting healthy decision-making and enhancing social skills. Tammy Washington, Early Childhood Life Skills Coordinator, works with preschool teachers in Ouachita and Morehouse Parish to implement this evidenced-based early childhood program. The goal of Al’s Pals is to build students’ social, emotional and behavioral life skills. Mental health issues are addressed through a number of community-based initiatives, including substance abuse awareness which addresses underage drinking and prescription drug abuse. Bullying awareness events are held each year, and information is provided for teachers and parents about fostering and supporting children’s mental health, all in conjunction with the Coalition’s Healthy Living component.

PARENTING Gatha Green serves as Parenting Director, heading up the Coalition’s many programs designed to educate and support parents as they raise their children. The information and training that the Coalition distributes to area parents is nationally recognized and evidence based. Green and her team lead workshops for parents, foster parents and grandparents to equip them with the tools that they need to positively nurture and support children. A special program for pregnant and parenting teens, entitled “Jus4Me,” works within the school systems

to encourage positive outcomes for teen parents. In 2016, the Coalition added the Family Resource Center for Northeast Louisiana to its repertoire, serving as a comprehensive parenting center for families and children involved with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services and the foster care system. Located at 300 Winnsboro Road in Monroe, the Family Resource Center offers weekly parenting classes, visit coaching and relationship assessment and intervention for parents involved with DCFS.

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As a non-profit agency, the Coalition depends on adequate funding for continued success. Grants and contracts are the primary funding sources, providing over two-thirds of the financial means for the Coalition’s programs and staff. Dr. Clark’s background in education and previous grant writing experience have proven to be valuable assets to the Coalition in seeking avenues for growth. Clark credits other staff members with grant writing talents, including Andrea Dyer, Director of Grants and Budgets, for help in securing available state and federal funding as needs arise. Additional funds are secured through School Readiness Tax Credits, which allow businesses to donate to Louisiana Child Care Resource and referral agencies, such as the Children’s Coalition, and receive a state tax credit. Any Louisiana business with a valid tax identification number is eligible to donate and receive a dollar-for-dollar refundable tax credit. School Readiness Tax Credits, implemented in 2007 as a means to support early childhood education in Louisiana, provide about 20% of the Coalition’s overall funding. SRTCs offer a unique opportunity for businesses to control and direct how their tax dollars are spent. Funds are donated directly to the organization which uses the funds to help local children. The funds generated by SRTC donations support the Early Childhood Programs, giving infants and toddlers the start they need in life to become successful, productive citizens. Lindsey Murry, Development Director for the Children’s Coalition, is always eager to discuss the SRTC program with businesses seeking to turn their tax liability into an investment in their local community. The smallest portion of the Coalition’s funding comes from individual and business memberships, gifts and sponsorships. While constituting a lesser percentage of the Coalition’s overall income and budget, memberships are still vitally important and their impact is significant. Clark estimates that over half of the programs in Healthy Living, Parenting and Youth Development are supported by membership dollars. Fundraising events also provide an important source of income for

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the Coalition, allowing it to continue its work within the communities it serves. On February 25, 2017, the Children’s Coalition, in conjunction with DBK Dance and Performing Arts, will present “Fashion Fusion— Where Dance Meets Design,” a fun and exciting evening of entertainment at the Monroe Civic Center Arena. Fashion Fusion has become an annual event featuring fashion from local boutiques and performances by talented dancers from DBK Performing Arts, directed by Debbie Bourg. “What is exciting this year,” notes Clark, “is that we are working with Debbie to integrate the stories of our constituents into the concert. We will have individuals who are actually part of our programs, telling their stories. It will also be a chance to showcase some of our staff. So, at Fashion Fusion you will be able to get a picture of what we do, who we do it for and why we do it.” Tickets for Fashion Fusion are available through the Children’s Coalition at the administrative offices located 1363 Louisville Avenue in Monroe, or through their website at www.childrenscoalition.org. Individuals and groups can also participate in Fashion Fusion and walk the runway to raise money to benefit the Coalition. Using a Peer2Peer site link from the Coalition’s website, groups can sign up and raise funds in support of their teams. On May 13, 2017, the Children’s Coalition will host the 5th Annual Dragon Boat Races on Bayou DeSiard. Teams and individuals can sign up to participate in the races through the Coalition’s website. All of the proceeds from the Dragon Boat Festival will be used to support the Children’s Coalition, its programs and constituents. The Children’s Coalition continues to grow and evolve, seeking out additional funding sources and utilizing those resources to improve the lives of area children. With Clark at the helm and a dedicated staff and Board of Directors, the Coalition has expanded its operation without losing sight of its mission. By working together with local businesses, governmental entities, non-profit agencies, churches, families and individuals, the Children’s Coalition is making a positive impact in the communities it serves every day, helping children and families thrive.

Fashion Fusion presents “Le Jazz Hot” Party Like Gatsby

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HE CHILDREN’S COALITION for Northeast Louisiana and DBK Dance and Performing Arts invite you to: Party Like Gatsby from Swing to Soul and even move with an Urban Groove. This time period was not only known for its fashion, style and opulence; but also its music and dance. Jazz performers were modern icons of fashion and style. They discovered the power of dress as a visual tool, shaping a new fashion and style aesthetic. The entire fashion industry targeted a society that revolves around a certain kind of music and dance. This fusion was to become Le Jazz Hot! Fashion Fusion 2017 will be held in the Monroe Civic Center Arena on February 25 at 7:30 p.m. The “Gatsby” inspired opening production will feature an Art Deco set with a sponsor segment that will make you feel as though you were invited to a party by the infamous Jay himself. The amazing talent of the Debbie Bourg Dancers will be fused with area boutique models in a high fashion runway musical extravaganza to benefit the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana. The Children’s Coalition is a membershipbased non-profit organization dedicated to creating communities where families grow and thrive. It was formed by the community to address concerns and implement programs relating to children and families in four key areas: Early Childhood Education, Parent Education, Youth Development and Healthy Living. The funds raised by the event will go toward the various projects of the Coalition, helping them serve the communities of northeast Louisiana. Many in the community have collaborated with their talents to make this year’s Fashion 78 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Fusion the best to date. Holly McCready and the staff of Rain the Salon will help to set the mood with hair and makeup for the models as well as the dancers. Mackenzie Salter will conduct the choreography for the show ith help from the talented Kelly Justice and Heather Guillot. The lobby and table design will be provided by Monroe’s own design guru, Clint Downing. Local culinary artist, Chef Pat Nolan, will be providing eats for the VIP Party. The evening’s fashion will be brought to the audience by contributing area boutiques. Choregraphed dance numbers will feature the area’s best in fashion, dance, art, and design. Participating boutiques: Cara’s Cutie Patootie Eleven 26 Fleurty Ginger Freebirds Hemline HerringStone’s His/Her Toggery If The Crown Fits The Loft Nude Nomad Ron Alexander Twisted Peacock In its seventh season, the show is set to be the largest and most elaborate to date. The Debbie Bourg Dancers always bring an incredible energy that makes Fashion Fusion one of the most entertaining events in the area! VIP Sponsorships are still available by contacting the Children’s Coalition at 318-323-8775.

Book your tickets and tables now, by visiting www.childrenscoalition.org/fashionfusion to use the new map system. Click and view the section in which you prefer to view the show. Hurry, as tables and seats will fill up fast before the event. Tables will come with different amenities depending on the section. • $ 1,000 - Table for 8 - includes 2 bottles of wine (1 white, 1 red) and heavy finger foods on the table • $ 800 - Table for 8 - includes snacks on your table and access to a cash bar • $ 100 - Individual Seat limit of 4, guaranteed to be together. • $50 - Deluxe General Admission • $25 - General Admission A very limited amount (less than 5) tables can be purchased for $1,500 in the sponsors’ section. Details for this table include: Seating for 8, entrance to the VIP party for 8 and food/ wine on the table. Contact Lindsey Murry at 318-323-8775 to purchase one of these. Walk for the runway for the kids! Whether you are already a model or dancer, or just have a heart to help the kids in our community - you can help to support the programs of the Children’s Coalition. 1. Free Table for 8 at the show for raising $1,500 2. Table for 8 and admission to the VIP for raising $3,000 3. Table for 8, admission to the VIP Party and walk the runway for raising $5,000! Find out how by visiting www.childrenscoalition/ fashion-fusion. Don’t miss out on being a part of a one-ofa-kind event for a wonderful cause! Photos by Steven Palowsky Photography, LLC.

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Kick Up Your Heels at the Shindig! Ouachita Council On Aging’s 9th Annual Fundraiser

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ON’T MISS OUACHITA Council on Aging’s 9th Annual “Shindig” fundraiser scheduled for Friday, March 24th, from 7 p.m. until midnight at MBH Farm, owned by Dr. Herschel and Mary Beth Harter in western Ouachita Parish. This year’s Shindig is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Rusty Wood, who faithfully served on the Council’s Board of Directors for many years and was dedicated to OCA’s planning and fundraising efforts, with the Shindig being his favorite project. Lisa Spann and Company will entertain the crowd with dance music, covering every genre from rhythm and blues to country to rock ‘n roll. Lisa is well known around town and surrounding areas and has a following of her own. Catering for the event will be provided by Catfish Charlie’s, offering a delicious spread of catfish, chicken, shrimp and all the trimmings! Shindig tickets are $60 for general admission, while a reserved table for 8 can be purchased for $600. By purchasing tickets to this event, you help support some 22 programs available for seniors in Ouachita Parish, including the Meals on Wheels Program and non-emergency transportation to doctors’ offices and dialysis, heart, and cancer centers. Back in 2008, the Board of Directors was looking for a way to pay off the remaining debt on the Carolyn Rose Strauss

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Senior Center and the Ouachita Council on Aging offices located on Ferrand Street in Monroe. The “Shindig” was thus born out of necessity to generate much needed revenue for retiring the building mortgage. After succeeding in “burning the note” in 2012, the Council now directs proceeds from the Shindig to the most vitally needed programs provided for our elderly. The fact that this event is one of the most anticipated in our region is just an extra bonus. Ouachita Council on Aging’s Executive Director, Lynda McGehee, reminds everyone to come prepared to participate in the Live Auction, which will take place midway through the evening. One item up for bid will be a Blue Dog print by the late artist George Rodrigue. According to McGehee, this will be a night of “fun, food, and fellowship,” with patrons dressing casually in cowboy boots, hats and jeans. The huge, gorgeous barn at MBH Farm is decorated in rustic style, with the resident Clydesdales getting ample attention from the crowd. Billy Justice, Marketing Director for Vantage Health Plan, says, “Vantage is proud to be the premier sponsor of this fundraising event for Ouachita Council on Aging. I’ve seen first-hand how the Council operates and how they utilize their funding. Federal and State dollars are insufficient to meet the need, thus local fundraising events, such as the Shindig, are

necessary to fill the gaps.” “OCA was established in 1967 with only 80 persons being served by the Meals on Wheels Program. Currently, noon meals are provided, Monday thru Friday, to approximately 500 homebound seniors, age 60 and over. More than any other time in our history, we are depending on continued donations from our community,” said McGehee. “Fortunately, we live in an area that is known for its generosity and concern. Approximately 36% of our total budget is made up of contributions from local businesses and individuals. We are so very grateful for their support.” Tickets for the Shindig are now available at the OCA office located at 2407 Ferrand Street, Monroe, LA, or call Lynda McGehee at (318) 387-0535. For information about the Ouachita Council on Aging and its services, visit their website at www. ouachitacoa.com or find them on facebook. If you cannot attend the Shindig, but would like to make a donation to OCA, go to the website and click on the “Make a Donation” button. www.ouachitacoa.com

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Stella Artois 600 Years of Belgian Heritage

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HE FOLKS AT STELLA ARTOIS® are extremely proud of their Belgian roots. Their story can be seen on every bottle of Stella Artois. If you look closely, hints of their origins are proudly displayed. By 1366, the roots of Stella’s brewing tradition had been established in the city of Leuven, Belgium – which is also where the original Den Hoorn brewery was founded. Den Hoorn laid the foundation for the quality taste and standards Stella Artois is known for. The symbol of the Den Hoorn Brewery is proudly displayed in Stella Artois’ cartouche to this day. Sebastian Artois Sebastian Artois was admitted to the Leuven Brewer’s Guild as a Brew Master in 1708, and only nine years later purchased the Den Hoorn brewery. In memoriam, you can find his last name on the brewery and every bottle of Stella Artois around the world. Originally Brewed for the Holidays The Artois Brewery was so beloved internationally and locally, a special batch was created as a Christmas gift to the people of Leuven. That special batch was the first to officially include “Stella” in its name. “Stella,” meaning “star” in Latin, pays homage to this original occasion, accompanied by a star on every bottle. So next time you see a bottle of Stella Artois, take note of the rich history paired with the rich flavor on and in every bottle.

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How to Pour Perfection The Stella Artois® 9 Step Pouring Ritual Pouring the perfect Stella Artois® is key to enjoying the perfect Stella Artois®. The brand’s time-honored nine-step ritual helps ensure that consumers everywhere are served as they would be in Belgium. After hundreds of years of brewing experience, there is only one way to pour a Stella Artois®, and it is important that all those who serve Leuven’s gold standard lager pay as much attention to serving Stella Artois® as we do to brewing it. The 9-step Pouring Ritual: 1. The Purification: Use clean and rinsed branded glass. 2. The Sacrifice: Open the tap in one quick action, and let the first drops of beer flow away. 3. The Liquid Alchemy Begins: Hold the glass just under the tap without touching it at a 45° angle. 4. The Head: Lower the glass to allow the natural formation of the foam head. 5. The Removal: Close the tap quickly, and move the glass away, so beer doesn’t drip into the glass. 6. The Beheading: While the head foams up and overflows the side of the glass, smooth it gently with a head cutter. 7. The Judgment: The right amount of foam is usually about 2 fingers . 8. The Cleansing: Clean the bottom and sides of the glass. 9. The Bestowal: Present the beer on a

clean beer coaster with the logo facing the consumer. Not only has it been proven that correctly-poured Stella Artois® results in satisfied consumers and increased brand loyalty, but bartenders, too, become true brand ambassadors, once they have mastered the art of serving Stella Artois®. The annual Stella Artois® World Draught Master Competition – established in 1997 - heralds the importance of this pouring ritual. Bartenders from around the world compete to demonstrate their beer-serving prowess before a panel of distinguished judges who carefully scrutinize each and every step. Say Bonjour to the Simple Life Imagine the taste of... A soft, fruity sweetness paired with a crisp, dry finish made with hand picked apples from wine-growing regions. A perfectly balanced and blended cider to awaken your senses. That is Stella Artois Cidre, my friend. Host Beautifully Discover the art of hosting with tips from experts in the world of food, entertainment and style by visiting www.stellaartois.com.

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Special Agents … On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Squire Creek & Big Brothers Big Sisters of NELA Present The Peachy Keen Caper April 2

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QUIRE CREEK COUNTRY CLUB WILL HOST THE 3rd Annual Peachy Keen Caper benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Louisiana Sunday, April 2 from 2-7 p.m. The fundraiser 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. Grab a team and represent! Each team is comprised of 6-8 people. A Peachy Keen Caper team is a great way to build collaboration among employees or treat business clients to an exciting afternoon. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for new businesses in the area to build a customer base, while investing in the community. A Peachy Keen Caper team would make a memorable girls’ or guys’ day out, or it could be an awesome outing for just for a group of friends who want to have a good time. How it works: Prior to the event, team captains will receive a hint sheet. Get your team together, and try to figure out what the hints mean. A simple Internet search might help you find a piece of the puzzle that will come in handy on the day of the event. But don’t get too confident … You never really know what awaits you and your team at each clue site! Check out the Peachy Keen Caper event page on Facebook for a chance to earn extra points. One point can make all the difference! The day of the event, each team will complete registration and attend a poolside opening ceremony, where teams and instructions will be introduced. During registration, each team may purchase one Peach Pass, which can be used to get the minimum number of points at a clue site. The team spirit competition begins upon arrival! Teams

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will then be chauffeured to clue sites in shuttle buses, limousines or luxury party buses stocked with peach baskets full of snacks and libations. Non-alcoholic baskets are available upon request. Once you arrive at the clue site, your team will be challenged with solving a puzzle or completing an activity for points. (Hint: Use your time in the vehicle between clue sites to work on the hint sheet. It may make more sense as you travel from site to site.) Remember, the goal is to rack up as many points as possible! Should you find yourself stumped at a clue site, there’s a handydandy Peach Pass! Teams arrive back at Squire Creek Country Club for a dinner reception while points are tallied. During the reception, answers to the clues are revealed, and then it’s on to the prizes! Prizes are awarded for Best Team Name, Best Team Costume and Most Team Spirit. Finally, the 2017 Peachy Keen Caper Top Team will be announced! 100% of proceeds from this event 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 provides impactful one-to-one mentoring and life skills programming to youth ages 7-18 in Franklin, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland and Union parishes. Don’t miss out on the fun! Grab up to seven people 18 and over, and form a team today! You can register by calling our Monroe office at (318) 323-9034 or our Ruston office at (318) 5481353. You can also register online at bbbsofnela.org/pkc2017. BIG thanks to our 2017 sponsors: Squire Creek Country Club, JPS Transportation, The Bridge Community Church, O’Neal Gas, BayouLife Magazine, DeltaStyle Magazine and Red Peach Radio.

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BayouTrends

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Happy Mardi Gras, ya’ll! Don your purple, green and gold and party all night long, or month long in these fabulous finds from area boutiques.

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1. HEMLINE 2. PAUL MICHAEL 3. THE LOFT 4. THE FLEURTY GINGER BOUTIQUE 5. THE NUDE NOMAD 6. MOSS EYE CARE 7. IF THE CROWN FITS 8. FIESTA NUTRITION CENTER 9. RON ALEXANDER CLOTHIERS 10. ABSOLUTELY ABIGAILS 11. HOLLIS & COMPANY JEWELERS 12. ELEVEN26 BOUTIQUE 13. K-SERA BOUTIQUE 14. SLEEPY HOLLOW FURNITURE & MATTRESS 15. BEEHIVE 16. FABULOUS FABRIC 17. CARA’S 18. ANITRA’S 19. SERENDIPITY 20. FREE BIRDS 21. STORK’S NEST 22. HAIK HUMBLE EYE CENTER 23. RAIN BEAUTY | BODY 24. MATERIAL THINGS 25. HERRINGSTONE’S 26. VIEUX CARRE MARKET 88 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

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FLOWERS

Ooh La La!

Inspired by love and haute couture (and who knows those two concepts better than the French!), floral designer Gregory Hudgins chose an ostrich egg hand-painted with “Je t’aime” as a unique container. With a nod to the avant garde, Hudgins created his arrangement with a succulent, dusty miller and a rose stem. Reminds Gregory playfully, “The rose stem is a nod to traditional sentiment of love, as represented by roses every 14th of February. But lovers beware! The rose is sweet and delicate; however, the stems and thorns can be prickly… just like love itself.” Photo by Martin Graham Meyers Arrangement by Gregory Hudgins

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FLOWERS

Fashionable Fleurs Like a couturier, designer Gregory Hudgins has created an arrangement of delicate snapdragon blossoms amid a structure of branches of manzanita with a flourish of an accent of variegated ti leaves. the crimson colored snapdragons are protected by the rigid strength and structure of the manzanita branches. Manzanita is the 7th hardest hardwood, and in Native American folklore is a symbol of protection and new beginnings. Photo by Martin Graham Meyers Arrangement by Gregory Hudgins

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Stampede at the Ike January 20th and 21st, Monroe welcomed the PRCA Rodeo to town with Stampede at the Ike. Crowds gathered at the Ike Hamilton Expo in West Monroe to watch the thrilling bull riders and rodeo clowns. A special group of contest winners were treated to the Best Seats in the House, courtesy of Choice Brands and Coors Banquet. They enjoyed the action up close in a special viewing section, as well as a VIP hospitality area hosted by Coors and Hooters. In the general crowd, children and adults alike marveled at the skill and poise of the professional bull riders, ropers, steer wrestlers and barrel racers.

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1 McKenna Greene, Miss Rodeo Louisiana 2 Braxton Parks and Chris Parks 3 Mike Wlkes and Kurt McEnery 4 Rylee Wilson 5 Bella and Harley Morales 6 Tripp, Angela and Kenzie Bragg 7 Kristal, Chris, Kaden and Cole Ramer 8P ete Carr, Buckshot Sims and John Gwatney 9 Brent and Lacee Cormier 10 Tiffany, Cason and Lance Hobson 11 Jadyn, Dakota, Taylor and Jordan Smith 12 F rank and Tina, Landon, Aiden and Nathan Pierce 13 A ddison May, Cathy Hendrix and Olivia Hendrix 14 Richard and Kathy Moore, Peyton and Carley 15 B rett, Jessica, Fisher and Logan Turner 16 R yan Atkins, Mary Gates, Nathan Howard and Celie Whitehead 17 Stephen Ying and Frank Elkins 18 Cameron Babusek and Jesse Guillory

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PAINTING THE ROSES

Red

MODEL: ANANSI THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY: MARTIN G MEYERS SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PALACE 96 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

K-SERA BOUTIQUE Want a luxe look for Valentine’s Day? This sleek, velvet shift dress is perfect for date night. Pair it with sexy caged heels and a sure-to-stun geode choker. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 97

BEEHIVE Paint the town red in this strappy, criss-cross shoulder dress. The simple black patent shoes add a sophisticated touch. This large hobo bag is versatile enough to carry day or night and features a detachable crossbody strap.

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ANITRA’S For a look that is red haute, this evening gown features an asymmetrical shoulder strap and high split. Add these gorgeous glitter ankle strap heel, layered rhinestone bracelets and stunning red chandelier earrings.

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Up on the Rooftop

On Friday, December 30, Monroe Renaissance hosted its annual “Up on the Rooftop Party.” This year’s event was a swanky soiree held at the recently restored Vantage State Building Rooftop Garden. It was the first opportunity to attend an event in the beautiful space, and partygoers were not disappointed. Along with the beautiful skyline view, guests enjoyed craft food and drink pairings from Cory Bahr of Heritage Catering, Cathead Vodka, Marsala Beverage and Choice Brands. The tunes of Early Ray Borden and Josh Ezell filled the air, and everyone loved getting their picture taken in the Bash Booth photobooth. This event raised money for Monroe Renaissance, a non-profit organization, made of individuals working together to develop downtown Monroe.

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On the BayouScene 1 Victor Che and Sharon Christine 2 Mashall Smith, Brandon Garcia and Victoria Smith 3C arrie Genusa and Jackie Guerriero 4 John, Nick and Teria Hamilton 5 Joy Hale and Clay Caissie 6 Ali Hijazi and Brad Arender 7 T onya Sanders, Andria Hall-Olby, Tonya Sweet, Shelia Grayson and Andrea Wright 8P atrick Murray, Austin Thomas, Chassie Laval and Chris Gordy 9 Ashley and Friday Ellis 10 Andrew and Elizabeth Besse 11 Kurt McEnery and Delia Simpson 12 T heresa and Tony Lawson, Trey Thibodeaux, Wendy Ryland, Lindsey Thornton and Heather Knous 13 E mery Thibodeaux, Theresa Lawson, Brook Foy, Aymee Stepp, Wendy Ryland, Lindsey Thornton and Heather Knous 14 Parker and Ford Finley 15 Caleb Wilkins, Hope Anderson and Seth Pryor 16 C hristie Echols, Byron Bailey, Brooke Foy, Kevin Caston, Kelsea McCrary and Michelle Martin 17 Katie Minyard and EmJ Cruz 14

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Trinity Diamonds

Direct

Wholesale Jewelry with Integrity

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ATHY AND SCOTT SILLS OPENED FLAIR JEWELERS of West Monroe in 1995. For over twenty years, their store was the premiere outlet for all of Northeast Louisiana’s jewelry needs. Flair Jewelers of West Monroe became the success it was, due to Scott and Kathy’s tireless efforts to ensure a quality jewelry buying experience. They prided their store on having the best in customer service and selection. It was the Spring of 2016 when Scott and Kathy decided to take a step back from all the demands owning one’s own business required. In an effort to reduce stress and spend more time with their growing family, Scott and Kathy made the decision to close Flair Jewelers of West Monroe and retire. It was after their retirement that Shane Ware and Newt Goings approached Scott and Kathy regarding Trinity Diamonds Direct. Shane and Newt realized that the Sills’ retirement left a void in the community for dependable, trustworthy service, something the two men wanted to offer at their new retail location. Shane and Newt have been in the wholesale business for ten years as Trinity Imports importing loose diamonds from all over the world. Scott and Kathy agreed to come on board at Trinity Diamonds Direct as Retail Consultants in order to provide the same service the community had become accustomed to at Flair Jewelers of West Monroe. Scott and Kathy look forward to welcoming back their former customers and continuing to help provide the best in service and selection. Trinity Diamonds Direct takes pride in offering stunning diamonds and fine jewelry for prices at or below published wholesale prices. They know that their customers are looking for honest, local people who care as much about them as they do their diamonds and jewelry. Stop by and visit, take a look around, and see what Trinity Diamonds Direct has to offer. And when you’re ready to buy that ring you’ve been looking at, you can bet they’ll offer you the best price in town and maybe even save you enough money to get that necklace you’ve been looking at as well. They are now open at 201 Blanchard Street in West Monroe, Louisiana.

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

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ARDI GRAS IS AN ELECTRIFYING TIME OF YEAR, especially here in Louisiana. We celebrate our 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 a traditional, cream cheese filling which is generously layered into the bread, and hand rolled into each King Cake. In addition to the traditional flavor, we also offer fruit topping for the cream cheese, available in strawberry, blueberry or raspberry. Now, the baking begins. We bake all 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 palates. 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 2017 103

Red Carpet Rendezvous GO CARE Presents Star-Studded Event

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N FEBRUARY 26, 2017, FROM 7:00 P.M. UNTIL 11:00 p.m., GO CARE will be hosting a Red Carpet Rendezvous coinciding with the airing of the 89th Annual Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award show. Our star-studded evening will include a seated dinner, a silent auction, viewing of key parts of the award show and entertainment by Robbie Turner, as featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8. Robbie will also be participating in our Red Carpet interviews, where all of our guests for the evening will have an opportunity to walk the red carpet, pose for the paparazzi and hopefully survive the scrutiny of our interviewers’ fashion queries! Our guests will have the opportunity to get dressed up as outrageously or as conservatively as they wish (black-tie optional), have a rendezvous on the Red Carpet and should come prepared for a show-stopping evening that supports an organization with a worthwhile cause. GO CARE, founded in 1988, has expanded its mission of providing comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals living with HIV and preventing the spread of HIV to include an array of services for individuals that are not living with HIV but who face many hardships as part of a minority group. We have recognized a need for an open, affirming environment for the LGBTQ community to receive general healthcare. Consequently, our clinic has begun to provide healthcare services geared toward these individuals. All you need is current healthcare coverage. This new endeavor allows GO CARE to provide an environment, where people can speak with a medical provider candidly and freely regarding their general healthcare issues, as well as issues including gender identity, gender expression, sexual activity, sexual identity or any other factors relevant to the LGBTQ community. We strive to be an affirming place where individuals can openly communicate with their healthcare provider, so they can be given the highest level of care to enable them to have the highest quality of life. Our Gay Men’s Wellness Center (“GMWC”) offers expanded STD testing, as well as HIV testing and counseling, prevention education, behavioral health services, outpatient medical care and sponsors social activities. Individuals can come to the GMWC to learn more about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), an approved medical intervention that greatly reduces the risk of becoming HIV-positive. We look forward to seeing you at the event and appreciate your support of what we believe to be a worthwhile cause in Northeast Louisiana!

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St. Francis Medical Center Sugar and a Healthy Heart BY JEN BAYS AVIS, MED, LDN, RD, CDE

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EALTHY FOOD HABITS CAN HELP YOU REDUCE THREE

of the major risk factors for heart attack -- high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess body weight. Choosing to eat healthy also helps reduce your risk of stroke since heart disease and high blood pressure are major risk factors for stroke. One immediate change that can have a huge impact on a person’s health and weight is the reduction or elimination of refined sugar from the diet. A study in JAMA published in 2014 found that too much simple sugar in the diet can significantly increase an individual’s risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Sugar in the diet is inflammatory, which can increase the risk of heart disease. The study also found that people who consume 17 to 21 percent of their calories from added sugar had a 38 percent greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to people who only consumed 8 percent of their calories from added sugar. Rachel K. Johnson, Ph.D., RD, Chair of the American Heart Association’s nutrition committee and professor of nutrition and medicine at the University of Vermont in Burlington stated that this is the first study to link too much added sugar to heart disease. This study showed that most American adults will consume 22 teaspoons or 7 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon of added sugar per day. That is almost a half a cup. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting the amount of added sugars you consume to no more than half of your daily discretionary calories allowance. For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day, or about 6 teaspoons of sugar. For men, it’s 150 calories per day, or about 9 teaspoons. To put things into perspective, that would be 8 ounces of a soft drink for women and not a full 12 ounce can of a soft drink for a man. Sugar-sweetened beverages are the single largest source of added sugars in the American diet. This does not include other hidden sugars that are consumed during the day. It would be worthwhile to document a normal day of eating to see how much sugar one is consuming. There are many misconceptions of what you are looking at when you read a food label. When you see grams of sugars listed on a label it may not indicate the added simple sugar present. To know what has been added to a product you must first look at the ingredient list. Here are some of the terms that you may see: agave nectar, evaporated cane juice, malt syrup, brown sugar, fructose, maple syrup, cane crystals, fruit juice concentrates, molasses, cane sugar, glucose, raw sugar, corn sweetener, highfructose corn syrup, sucrose, corn syrup, honey, syrup, crystalline fructose, invert sugar, dextrose and maltose. Some sources are healthier than others, but still should be limited in that they are sugars. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 105

Let the Good Times Roll KING ALAN BARTH AND QUEEN KELLI HARVEY REIGN OVER THE KREWE OF JANUS article by Kay Stodhart Rector | photography by Brad Arender

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eigning over the Mardi Gras festivities in the Twin Cities this month will be Alan Barth and Kelli Harvey. As King and Queen Janus XXXIV, Barth and Harvey will lead revelers in the Krewe of Janus Parade, scheduled to roll through Monroe and West Monroe at 6:00 p.m. on February 18, 2017. Elected months ago, the two have been representing the Krewe of Janus at events and making public appearances on television and in schools, nursing homes and civic organizations throughout the community since late summer 2016. The Krewe of Janus was founded in 1984 by the Twin City Jaycees and became an independent organization in 1989. The Krewe’s mission is to promote tourism in the Monroe-West Monroe area, with its main event being a Mardi Gras parade held each year. An estimated 180,000 people attended last year’s parade. The theme for Mardi Gras 2017 is “Janus Around the World.” In keeping with this theme, parade floats will depict scenes and decorations from different nations and cultures. King Barth and Queen Harvey and other Krewe members have been busy building and decorating

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floats and painting elaborate colorful murals for the various events and festivities, including the Grand Ball on February 4, 2017. In addition to the Grand Ball, a formal event featuring presentation of the King, Queen and members of their Royal Court, the Krewe holds a number of other parties throughout the year, which the King and Queen attend. A Half Way to Mardi Gras Party took place in August, a casual, informal affair. A more formal cocktail party was later in the year. The Queen’s Luncheon was in November, with all of the Queen’s Royal Court in attendance. Later that same evening, the King hosted a party his Dukes and Pages and other royalty and guests. A Twelfth Night Party was held on January 6, 2017. With the exception of the Queen’s Luncheon and King’s Party, all events are open to the public with tickets purchased through the Krewe’s headquarters or members. For the Grand Ball and Parade, as well as the public appearances that they make during the season, the King and Queen don traditional, elaborate costumes with heavily adorned high collared robes. Pursuant to tradition, King and Queen Janus’ costumes are all white, gold or silver. These costumes are obtained from shops in the New Orleans area specializing in Mardi Gras attire.

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rewe members elect a King and Queen each year from among members who have been in good standing for at least two years and have previously served as a Duke or Duchess, respectively. Elections are conducted by secret ballot. In addition to the King and Queen, the Krewe elects Dukes and Duchesses to assist them and serve on their Royal Court. In order to serve as a Duke or Duchess, a member must have been a part of the Krewe in good standing for more than one year. King Alan Barth is a relative newcomer to Northeast Louisiana. Born in New York, he lived in New Jersey during most of his childhood. He moved to Beaumont, Texas to attend Lamar State University, where he majored in Speech and Theater. His work in the restaurant business brought him to Monroe. During his 43year career, he worked with Church’s Chicken and as an executive with Wendy’s, traveling throughout Louisiana and living briefly in Opelousas, where he first experienced Mardi Gras. Now retired from the food industry, Barth is actively involved with Camp Quality, a camp for children who have been diagnosed with cancer. Camp Quality holds a summer camp once a year, and also reunions throughout the year so that the campers can keep in touch. Campers attend at no cost to the children or their parents. The camp is held at different locations each year. Last summer’s camp was held at King’s Camp near Mer Rouge. Barth attends the camp sessions each year, and acted as the Camp Director last summer session. Many nursing students act as camp counselors, giving them an opportunity to work with kids with illnesses and offer their skills, if needed. “Our motto at Camp

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Quality is ‘Letting Kids with Cancer Be Kids Again,’” Barth says. “We don’t talk about cancer. If they are in active treatment, we take them to their treatment sessions, but other than that and any necessary medical attention, we try to let them forget all that and just have fun.” Camp Quality is a non-financial sponsor of the Krewe of Janus, and a camper from Camp Quality will serve as a Page in the King’s Royal Court. In addition to his work with Camp Quality, Barth is also a member and past President of The Twin Cities Rotary Club. He is serving as an Assistant Governor with Rotary International this year. Barth is a member of Temple B’Nai Israel and is President of their Men’s Club. Barth enjoys being a member of the Krewe of Janus and is honored to serve as King. He was chosen as a Duke last year, and says that he had so much fun that when Kelli asked him about accepting the nomination for this year’s King, he readily agreed. Serving alongside King Alan Barth are Dukes Andy Harbor, Bill Levinson, Joe McCarthy and Wes Moore. Young Pages, serving the King at his selection, are Nathan Anderson, Noah Brewster, Tyler Brown, Adam Mock and Tristian Rushing. Chosen by the King as his Squire is Mike Healey. Queen Kelli Harvey is a native of Morgan City, Louisiana. She has lived in Northeast Louisiana since 1995 and is the director of education at McCann School of Business and Technology, formerly Career Technical College, where she has worked for 17 years. In her spare time, Harvey loves to hunt. She has two teenaged children, both of whom attend West Monroe High School. Harvey celebrated Mardi Gras growing up and has been a member of the Krewe of Janus for four years. For the past three years, Harvey has been the Krewe’s Party Lieutenant, in charge of all of the parties, arranging for caterers, decorating, setting up and doing whatever planning and implementation needs to be done to make sure each event is a success. She served as a Duchess before being elected Queen. As members of her Court, Queen Harvey has chosen Duchesses Gay Nell Barth, Amy Bayles, Louise Hakim and Alexia Danna. The Queen’s Princesses are Harvey’s daughter, Kristen Batten, along with Danielle Coble, Skylar Gambino, Kaitlynn Spradling and Mallory Spradling. Serving the Queen as her Lady in Waiting is Susan Boudreaux. A tremendous amount of work goes into the parade each year, and Krewe members meet, plan and labor year-round to make the event successful for the community. As both Barth and Harvey point out, the Krewe of Janus Parade would not be possible without corporate sponsors. Gold Sponsors include Monroe Coca-Cola Bottling, Scott Powerline and Utility Equipment, Chase Bank and the Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau. Green Sponsors are Marsala Beverage, Coast Professional and JPS Equipment Rental, and Purple Sponsor is 2Dudes Catering. Media Sponsors are BayouLife Magazine, KTVE 10 and Fox 14, The Radio People and DeltaStyle Magazine. Harvey expects this year’s parades and Grand Ball to be even bigger and better than last year. As in years past, King and Queen Janus will participate in the two smaller parades, which will be held on Saturday, before the main Krewe of Janus parade rolls at 6:00p.m. The Children’s Parade will take place Saturday morning at Pecanland Mall’s Center Court. The Krewe of Paws Pet Parade on Antique Alley in West Monroe, sponsored by the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter will be held early Saturday afternoon. Harvey says her favorite part of celebrating Mardi Gras with the Krewe of Janus is seeing the children each year on parade day. “Ours really is a very kid-friendly celebration,” she says. Last year, the Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade was recognized locally and nationally as “Best Family Festival” by Macaroni Kid, a popular eNewsletter and website that features events and activities for kids and families. As the Krewe of Janus celebrates Mardi Gras 2017, Harvey, Barth and their Royal Court hope to delight and entertain revelers, young and old, in Louisiana style. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 109

Let Kelsey Klean Love Your Home

Local Cleaning Service Specializes In Both Residential And Commercial Services

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OR OVER FIVE YEARS, KELSEY KLEAN LLC HAS consistently grown its cleaning capabilities for residential, commercial and industrial facilities. They have even expanded to offer a window cleaning division. The owner, Judy Kelsey Babb, will come to your home or office and prepare a FREE, no obligation quote, no matter what your needs may be. Because no two homes or offices are the same, many factors go into determining your customized price. Pricing depends on square footage, the level of cleaning required and frequency. No matter the job, you can rest assured that Kelsey Klean will offer a fair price for excellent work in a timely manner. They offer cleaning services on a regular or occasional basis, one-time house clean, move in or move out clean, builder or remodel job, and you can even purchase a gift certificate for cleaning for a loved one as a special gift. All supplies and equipment needed to completely clean your home or office will be provided. Additionally, Kelsey Klean is a green company and believes in doing their part to help the environment. They use green products and recycle all paper, plastic and cardboard items that come through their office. One of the unique things that Kelsey Klean offers is their crews.

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Rather than one person, they provide an entire crew to clean your home or office, making it all the more efficient. Kelsey Klean has several crews for day or evening hours. Each crew supervisor offers continuous training to all team members, inspects each home or office before completion and establishes a line of communication with the customer to ensure you will be provided with an attentive highly trained crew. Satisfaction is guaranteed! This month is special for Kelsey Klean, because they opened their doors on February 11, 2011 and will be celebrating their sixth year in business! For their anniversary, they will be offering a BIG Valentine GIVEAWAY that includes a FREE house clean, Double BB Farm products, dinner at Geno’s Italian Restaurant and movie passes for two. You can enter to WIN and keep up with this growing company by liking their Facebook page, Kelsey Klean LLC. You can also follow them on Instagram, Twitter or visit their website www.kelseykleanllc.com. Their offices are located at 504 Finks Hideaway Road, Suite 1, Monroe, LA 71203. We’d like to thank Jeffrey and Jennifer Morris for letting us use their beautiful home for our photo shoot and Keena Luffey for providing make up. While ladies pictured ARE actual Kelsey Kleaners, they might not actually come to work looking this glamorous everyday.

P&S Surgical Hospital

da Vinci Means More Precise Surgery

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ATIENTS AT P&S SURGICAL Hospital will now benefit from the da Vinci Surgical System, a tool with robotic, computer and optical technologies that allows the surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control. The da Vinci instruments have mechanical wrists that bend and rotate to mimic the movements of the human wrist – allowing the surgeon to make small, precise movements inside the patient’s body. The 3D-HD image is highly magnified, giving the surgeon a close-up view of the operative area. These advancements mean significant benefit to the P&S patient, said Bart Liles, M.D., chief of staff at P&S Surgical Hospital. Liles is now an advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon at P&S. “The da Vinci Xi robot is a game-

changer for certain types of surgeries. It expands our options for all types of hernia surgery, weight loss surgery and many other types. It gives the surgeon enhanced visual acuity, and it allows for a more precise surgery,” he said. “Recovery times are shorter, and return to work time is quicker. Our patients will benefit from this advancement.” The da Vinci Surgery is a less invasive technique than what is referred to as “open” surgery. With da Vinci Surgery, the incisions made in the patient’s body are much smaller than what is typical during open surgery. This technology is considered minimally invasive surgery and may result in a shorter hospital stay; less blood loss; fewer complications; less need for pain medication; and a faster recovery. Since its introduction, da Vinci Surgery has greatly reduced the number of open

LINDA S. HOLYFIELD, CEO AND PRESIDENT BART LILES, M.D., CHIEF OF STAFF

surgeries for common operations (such as a hysterectomy and a prostatectomy). As a result of the da Vinci technology, more patients have been offered minimally invasive surgery than at any other time in history. Hospital President and CEO Linda S. Holyfield said, “This robotic tool is yet another technology offered by P&S. We have performed extensive laparoscopic surgery at our hospital for several years. P&S was named a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology in 2014 and a Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery in 2010.” P&S Surgical Hospital is a joint venture among physician specialists and St. Francis Medical Center.

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A Guide to Loving Your Smile Your Heart Will Thank You

GIVE YOUR TEETH SOME T.L.C. Visiting the dentist on a regular basis is the key to good oral health. 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! BREAK UP WITH BUILDUP At NELA Dental, routine check ups include teeth cleaning by a dental hygienist and an examination by your dentist. Cleanings remove the buildup of plaque and tartar. Excess tartar can lead to problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay, because your body treats tartar like it would the flu or an infection. It is important to keep this buildup under control. If plaque is allowed to thrive for years, the damage may be irreversible. It is also important to have an at-home routine to maintain healthy gums and teeth. NELA Dental dentists recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day, floss regularly and rinse with mouthwash. IT MATTERS TO YOUR HEART Studies have shown a link between gum disease and your heart.

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Research suggests that those who suffer from gum disease may have an increased risk of developing heart disease. Inflammation caused by gum disease may be the link between the two. Signs of gum disease: • red, swollen or tender gums • bleeding while brushing, flossing or eating • persistent bad breath • gum recession TIME TO MAKE A MOVE Frequency of dental visits depends on the patient. Those with little risk of cavities and gum disease should visit their dentist once or twice year. Higher risk patients should visit a dentist every three to four months. Higher risk patients include those with a personal or family history of oral issues, pregnant women and those with heart disease. Call NELA Dental to schedule your check up. We offer flexible appointment times at three convenient locations. Our offices are located in Monroe, Farmerville and Oak Grove. Our dentists are ready to help guide you to your healthiest smile. Resource: American Academy of Periodontology

House of Carpets and Lighting Well Worth the Drive!

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ELLO! ALL OF US AT HOUSE OF Carpets and Lighting in Shreveport are excited to showcase our products to Northeast and North Central Louisiana, and hope you will make the short drive to see us. We promise you will not be disappointed! Remodeling your home? Building a new home? Looking to update a couple of areas in your home? House of Carpets and Lighting has what it takes to make your home look its best. We carry quality flooring, from beautiful hardwood to durable ceramic and porcelain tile, to plush carpet and so much more! We also have a huge selection of backsplash and tumbled stone. House of Carpets and Lighting is the only Shaw Design Center in the area, and we have other top name brands as well. When it comes to lighting, House of Carpets and Lighting combines quality and

selection. We offer a wide range of lighting products that provide the perfect blend of beauty and utility. From beautiful crystal chandeliers, decorative kitchen and bedroom lighting, to under-counter and LED lighting, you will find the perfect lights for your taste, style and budget! Whether you are looking to update your entire house, or just one room, we’ve got you covered! Let us make your home the gem of your street with the perfect exterior lighting solution to highlight the beauty of your home. From subtle lighting accents to landscape lighting and gas lanterns, House of Carpets and Lighting can help you enhance your home’s exterior to match the level of style and beauty of the interior. Accessories are the “cherry on top,” and you will find plenty of treasures at House of Carpets and Lighting. Artwork, lamps, home accessories, mirrors, accent furniture and

vanities – everything to update your beautiful home. However, what sets apart House of Carpets and Lighting is our customer service. Family-owned and operated, House of Carpets and Lighting’s staff is knowledgeable about all of our products. In addition, our design team can guide you when it comes to selecting the best look for your home. We look forward to serving you! We can’t wait for you to visit our showroom at 4344 Youree Drive. Take the Market Street exit off I-20. Market St. becomes Youree Drive, so you will be here in no time! Open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. House of Carpets and Lighting— Well Worth the Drive!

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DRÉK DAVIS

Drék Davis, an Associate Professor of Art at Grambling State University, believes in creating art that will stimulate conversations and stir a response in viewers. Davis likes to explore the way politics and spirituality are addressed in society and the influence of African American spirituality on southern culture. His works “make it real.” He is this month’s BayouArtist. IN 1926, W.E.B. DUBOIS WROTE, “All art is propaganda and ever must be, despite the wailing of the purists.” DuBois was addressing Harlem Renaissance artists, but Rodrecas (Drék) Davis believes the sentiment is still relevant today and is one shared by him and most of the creatives he knows. According to Davis, “DuBois understood that Negro artists have a responsibility to people who look like them—to serve some sort of larger purpose and create art that is not just aesthetically pleasing.” Davis, an Associate Professor of Art, has taught at Grambling State University since 2007. His work is inspired by many things, including the quote from DuBois. “I’ve always felt compelled to produce something that will stimulate conversations,” he said. He also believes that DuBois was calling artists to create work that stirs a response. “By igniting the conversation, you are changing the world,” Davis said, “even if only in a small way. Getting people to interact with each other can be magical.” Davis has always enjoyed creating things, even as a kid. While in grade school in Monroe, Georgia, he made crafts for his mom and completed paintby-number kits his grandparents gave him, but it wasn’t until sixth grade that Davis had his first real encounter with art. At the time, his art teacher Mrs. Adams noticed something worth nurturing in a

few of her students and invited them to participate in an extra art class during social studies. “She gave us the freedom to explore more in that special session,” Davis said. Before being invited to do more art, Davis was extremely bored in school. Nothing engaged him, and he was doing so poorly he’d been placed in a class for students with learning disabilities. This placement later turned out to be a mistake because, according to Davis, art ignited a passion in him that increased his feelings of self-worth and helped him approach other academic subjects in a different way. “Having access to the arts through grade school really changed my life,” he said. In high school, Davis began playing the alto saxophone and joined his cousin who played in the band. He surrounded himself with creative people and also took Advanced Placement (AP) art classes. “That was the fun time—playing music and acting a fool,” he said. Simultaneously, his art teacher, Dr. Nelyne Allan, encouraged all her students to take their work seriously, which included exploring options to further their education. Because of her, Davis participated in a statewide art exhibition, prepared a portfolio and visited Ken Williams, a professor in the graphic design program at the University of Georgia. After the meeting with Williams, Davis decided to pursue art. “It made sense to me that art is what I should be doing,” he said.

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ccording to Davis, his grandparents sowed the seeds of his career as an artist, but Dr. Allan and others watered and nurtured those seeds. Another root of encouragement Davis relied on in high school was a school-based organization called The Men of Distinction. The organization, which was advised by Dr. Getachew Belayneh, aimed to support the spiritual, emotional, social and academic development of young black men. Davis said the group strived to be socially responsible and have a positive impact on their peers and community. These motives carried over into Davis’ ambitions for his art. Having an uncle who graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta in photography also helped water the seeds planted by his grandparents. Through the “perfect confluence” of all these factors, Davis realized he could do more than create art; he could create art that reached beyond his family, friends and immediate community. When Davis entered college, he was attracted to studio art, especially drawing, and he focused on learning the basic technical skills that any working artist would need. Then one day a professor named Radcliffe Bailey walked into class and uttered two seemingly simple sentences that changed everything. He said, “We know you can draw. What else can you do?” Afterward, he walked out, leaving his students to grapple with answering the question. Davis took his words as a challenge and started experimenting with collage, mixed media, sculpture and found objects. What he discovered was that this type of work fit him better. “It just happened. I followed the 116 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

flow of things,” Davis said. “It was meant to be—how these strands combined and brought me to where I am.” Since Radcliffe’s challenge, Davis has earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia. Now a tenured professor, he said he’s always preferred media that give him a sense of immediacy. In the beginning, he was drawn to oil pastels, but he was never much of a painter. “Brushes always got in the way between me and the canvas,” he said, “and I never had the facility to work with clay, so the sculptural thing found me.” As a student, Davis discovered that sculpture and collage could carry the weight—the gravity—of the subjects he wanted to engage in a way that drawing and painting couldn’t. “I wanted to make work that could speak to the things I wanted to speak to, and now I can’t stop,” he said. “The subject matter has always been about social responsibility in some form or fashion.” Ideologically and stylistically, Davis’ work has come to be about fusing things that don’t seem to belong together. A class in Photoshop that Davis took as an undergraduate also helped him discover his affinity for unlikely combinations. After meticulously practicing all the traditional, basic skills, Davis said, “Photoshop exploded all that.” He started to think more about the critical side of art—how to choose subjects with magnitude that could be translated across multiple media, and he realized that technology could be another tool in his artistic arsenal. “It’s all about exploration. At least it should be,” he said. While in college, Davis not only explored by creating a variety of work. He also became a member of an artist collective in Athens called US that would take exhibitions into the community, an experience that has continued to impact his work today. “I’m trying to make work that speaks to the public, so I try to push back against the pressure to make it all academic,” he said. Striking a balance between personal and academic is important to Davis, who also strives to make his work approachable through the use of images and references that resonate. “Everything I’ve made and will make,” Davis said, “is a reflection of the reality of the America I live in. I want people to see themselves reflected in the work, especially young people and artists of color.” He wants them to think about how they see themselves, how the media sees them and whether they are being wholly authentic. Are they holding back due to fear? Are they afraid of physical violence? Are they afraid of being misunderstood? A collection of work Davis calls Post Modem Discourse or P.M.D. attempts to raise these kinds of questions by addressing the persistence of stereotypes in modern times. In the same way that a modem converts digital signals into accessible content, Davis converts used wooden chairs into stylized “pickaninny” heads with modern elements attached to convey a message. According to Davis, he is using the shape to reconstruct pieces as a kind of mirror to encourage viewers to reflect on how they see themselves and how society sees them. The chairheads, as he calls them, are inspired partly by the Hip Hop group K.M.D, and some of the modern elements attached to them include CDs and speaker parts. However, the inspiration runs deeper. In 1993, when K.M.D. placed an image of Little Black Sambo getting lynched on its “Black Bastards” album cover, the choice was so controversial that Elektra shelved the album. “These iconic images carry weight,” Davis said. The result of his P.M.D. collection and the K.M.D. album cover, according to Davis, “is a subversive statement about how black men are viewed.”

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avis said the P.M.D. collection, as well as some of his other work, is also a response to a speech he heard Bill Clinton give in which Clinton presented technology, especially the Internet, as a kind of panacea capable of bridging the gap and leveling the playing field across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines. However, Davis said, “We’ve seen that we can’t eradicate ignorance by giving people access to the Internet. The same stereotypes that existed before the Internet have persisted and in some cases worsened.” Much of Davis’ work draws heavily from music, especially Hip Hop lyrics and culture. For example, he finds ‘90s artists, such as Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls and Parliament-Funkadelic, inspiring for their politically relevant messages of freedom and liberation. In creating work that directly references this music, he acknowledges that “Hip Hop culture has in some instances synthesized hyper­masculine, anti-intellectual stereotypes that distort the perception of what it means to be an African American male.” Davis deliberately selects and combines subject matter and materials, so that they have the potential to incite strong reactions. One thing he has discovered in growing his body of work is the necessity of meeting challenges head on. “The thing you are trying to run away from is the thing you should be doing,” he said. As a result, the work produced not only challenges the artist but also the viewer. In an article he wrote for The Gramblinite in April of 2013, he said, “I’ve displayed and curated exhibitions that antagonized viewers with what some might call visually assaulting imagery.” According to Davis, “The personal is always political, even when you don’t mean it to be.” But Davis is a staunch supporter of freedom of speech. In fact, the primary purpose of the 2013 article was to defend students against censorship. “Depending upon the theme and subject matter,” he wrote, “I still believe that such works have a place in society.” He believes students and people in general need to be challenged on occasion to avoid stagnation. “To shield students at every turn,” he wrote, “insinuates on some level that they can go through life without having their ideas/ beliefs challenged, but who would want that?” At one point, Davis wasn’t convinced people would understand what he does. “Most people still see art as decorative,” he said. “They don’t see that it’s a part of the life we live—interwoven into everything.” As a student, he said, “I made a conscious decision not to fit into the glossy art magazine aesthetic—the celebrity side of art making. I knew it wouldn’t satisfy my soul, because it’s never been the kind of thing that drives me.” Nevertheless, Davis has been satisfied to have an impact on a more intimate level, and he’s since had experiences that reassure him the work he’s producing is having the right kind of effect. One of these experiences was an encounter with a white friend’s parents, while Davis was an undergraduate. Davis said they admitted to being somewhat bigoted before encountering a series of large pastels he’d WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 117

created. Afterward, they told him the work really changed their perspective. Around the same time, Davis also received some positive feedback from Jerry Cullum, an art critic who said Davis “makes (not keeps) it real.” He was responding to two church fans displayed in a student exhibition at the University of Georgia. One of the fans, “Good Hope I,” includes images of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. The second, “Good Hope II,” depicts Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls (a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G.). Cullum said the two fans “summarize a generation of changing expectations.” These moments of affirmation were pivotal to the confidence of a student preparing to enter the real world as an artist. As Davis has grown his body of work, he’s continued to be interested in subject matter he sees as socially, culturally, spiritually and personally relevant. He is especially interested in the way politics and spirituality are addressed in society and the influence of African American spirituality on southern culture. He shared that there is a wide range of material and traditions his work considers that are outside the realm of Southern Baptist traditions. These include Santería, Voodoo and the religion of the Yoruba people. Davis’ work often investigates how elements of these religions are reflected in popular culture and how they’ve been muted or corrupted over time. He’s interested in the history of things—where the symbols, beliefs and traditions come from—as well as how their meaning, like the meaning of song lyrics, movies and images, is often lost in translation. This subject matter provides space for interpretation and room to play with language and imagery. Davis said, “I like puns, and I like to play with illusion, fool the eye, make people question what is real.” He has even created digital works that look like collages and collages that look like digital works, but the end result, he hopes, is work that “considers what it means to be a citizen in the world, what spirituality means to us and how to navigate the world and family.” In terms of process, Davis said he facilitates the integration of ideas with the goal of helping others see the integration. “The materials do the rest,” he said. “They dictate the way things go.” He likes to use materials in the same way that Hip Hop producers do—by putting disparate things together in a way that makes them feel like they belong together. According to Davis, this process involves a lot of critical thinking, problem solving and sometimes revision. At the same time, it gives him a sense of freedom and peace. “When you’re in the zone,” he said, “everything else falls away.” Davis also works on more than one piece at a time, so he can see how they play off one another. “As long as the works continue conversing with each other, I’ll keep making them,” he said. “If that ever stops, something else will find me. That’s how it happens. It’s an exploration, and I’m riding the wave to see where it goes.” 118 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Family Eye Care

The Importance of the Yearly Eye Exam BY DR. ANTHONY LAMAR

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ANY PATIENTS ASK ME HOW OFTEN THEY NEED TO come in for an eye exam. We always recommend a yearly eye exam for several reasons. Perhaps the most important reason for an annual exam is to have the optometrist look for eye conditions that can be quite serious, but cause no symptoms at an early stage. Glaucoma is one example of a condition that causes no symptoms early, but can cause total blindness, if not treated. Optometrists look for glaucoma at every full eye exam, and often will run extra testing, if there is any suspicion. A common misconception is that glaucoma only affects older adults. In reality, most glaucoma is detected in people in their 40s. I even have a few glaucoma patients under 30. Glaucoma is typically easy to treat with medications or laser procedures, if detected in the early stages. Optometrists can also detect tears or holes in the retina (the inside lining of the eyeball) which could potentially lead to a retinal detachment. Retinal holes can happen at any age and are more common in patients with a high amount of nearsightedness. Many of these retinal holes have no symptoms and can be treated with a laser procedure to prevent future retinal detachments. Your optometrist can also detect systemic problems with a full dilated eye exam. High blood pressure, diabetes, high intracranial pressure and even certain tumors or cancers can all be detected by looking inside the eye. I recently made a diagnosis of a rare type of cancerous tumor in the back of the eye of a two year old. This tumor is called a retinoblastoma. It is a fast growing pediatric tumor that occurs in 1 out of every 20,000 children. Often the first sign of this tumor is the appearance of a white pupil in a photograph taken with flash. A white pupil can indicate several different conditions, and only rarely indicates a tumor. If you are concerned that your child’s pupil appears white, see your optometrist for immediate evaluation. This patient had a white pupil and ultimately underwent surgery to remove the eye; however, this case could have been much worse. This patient’s life was saved by having this surgery. The cancer was caught in time, before it spread to other parts of the body. This patient now has one functioning eye, but will now be able to live a largely normal life, because an eye exam was done and the tumor was caught early enough. Thankfully, this is a very rare condition, and the vast majority of eye exams that I perform have a very routine and happy ending. Here, at Family Eye Care, we recommend a yearly eye exam for patients of all ages. We look forward to providing excellent eye care for you and your family! Call us today to schedule at 318-807-2020. Dr. Lamar completed Optometry school at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and completed a residency in ocular disease at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 119

Grace by the Numbers Facts at a Glance

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OUNDED IN 1954, GRACE EPISCOPAL SCHOOL IS proud to be one of Louisiana’s A+ Schools and is now enrolling for the 2017-2018 school year. In addition to being a member of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools, Grace boasts some impressive statistics. • Average Class Size: 15 • Student/Teacher Ratio: 14:1 • Combined Years of Teaching Experience: 391 • Number of 8th Graders to STAR Test at College Level: 91% • 75% of Students Qualify for Duke Tip • 10 Different Sports Offered • 8 School-Wide Service Projects • 5 Weekly Enrichments • #1 Place to Be!

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MORE FACTS • Over the last 5 years, Grace’s standardized test scores have ranked in the 99th percentile in Math and English. • 75% of students at Grace make all A’s or A/B Honor Roll • 68% of Teachers at Grace hold an Advanced or Specialty Degree. Grace has been accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES) for 23 years. SAES is the only religious association recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools. SAES is a member in good standing with the National Association of Independent Schools and is recognized by state agencies, by eleven Episcopal dioceses in states served by SAES. Six former Grace Gators were named Neville High School’s Top 20 Students this year. These six represent 2/3 of the GES students that continued their path to Neville after graduating from Grace in 2013. 1. Katherine Burkett 2. Michael Marchman 3. Harrison Travis 4. Julia Trettin 5. Robert Williamson 6. Annabelle Yates

Breast Augmentation Frequently Asked Questions BY TIMOTHY J. MICKEL, MD, CERTIFIED, AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY

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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 new sundresses and swimwear when spring and summer roll around. I started my practice in Monroe in 1990 and over the past 27 years have done well over a thousand breast augmentations. Here are some of the more frequent questions asked at the preoperative evaluation. 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. 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. Are silicone implants dangerous? No. Multiple studies have failed to show a link between silicone implants and any medical illness. 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 - 4 weeks. 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) 3882050 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.

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Own a Piece of History 3600 Loop Road in Monroe

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AKE ADVANTAGE OF A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN a piece of north Louisiana history. 3600 Loop Road is a oneof-a-kind French Mediterranean home, nestled on over 4 acres in the heart of Monroe. Inspired by trips to the French Riviera, Bessie Biedenharn is credited with bringing the architectural style to Monroe, Louisiana in the early 1930s. Custom features of the beautiful home include a Venetian chandelier in the dining room, hand carved arched doors and cased openings, multiple marble mantles, five fireplaces, ten foot ceilings and deep crown molding. These are just some of the features that make this home a showplace. The coveted butler’s pantry has a built-in china cabinet and an extra sink, and the kitchen houses an AGA stove. The antique mirror in the living room adds an exquisite touch, while solid wood doors and plaster walls reflect the era in which the magnificent home was built. The large easily-accessed floored attic with cedar closet ensures storage will never be an issue. It features multiple walk-in closets, a silver-lined closet, custom built-ins in the family room and a large office. The home is topped off with a Ludowici tile freeze-proof, lifetime roof. An added bonus is that the property includes bayou access. The lush grounds of the property include mature landscaping with established plants. From azaleas to crepe myrtles to tropical palm trees, magnolias and more, the greenery adds an ambiance that mirrors the style of the home. The grounds are complete with a pool area as well as multiple decorative fountains that spill into ponds, creating elegant focal points throughout the yard. The property is a gardener’s dream with large potting shed. The large guest house behind the home is a must-see. The 1,265 sq ft, one bedroom, one bathroom property includes amenities, such as a wood burning fire place, a wet bar and office. This property is being offered for sale for $1,100,000. Please call Kathy Patrick at (318) 348-4665 to schedule your private tour of this historic home. Kathy Patrick - Realtor® Cell: (318) 348-4665 KathyPatrick@KW.com www.MoveToMonroe.com Keller Williams Parishwide Partners Office: (318) 396-2475 1390 Hudson Lane Monroe, LA 71201 Licensed in Louisiana, U.S.A. Each office independently owned and operated

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Warriors Wear It Well

St. Frederick High School Presents “Oh! The Places You’ll Go” at Annual Style Show

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HE 13TH ANNUAL “WARRIORS Wear It Well” Style Show and Luncheon will be held on Thursday, April 27th at the Monroe Civic Center, featuring the graduating Class of 2017. The theme this year is Oh! The Places You’ll Go. A buffet style lunch will be served from 11:00-11:30, followed by the style show. The senior class will be modeling fashions and trends from local businesses. The style show is a fun, family-friendly event that is the seniors’ last showcase before graduation. This year’s show will feature not only a fashion aspect but will incorporate each student’s personality and a look into their future ahead. As the show comes to close, the SFHS alumni walk will celebrate the tradition and continual support of the St. Frederick family. St. Frederick is a Catholic school with a diverse student body from many religious backgrounds and walks of life.

The style show has always been an important fundraiser for the school, and this year is no exception. Sponsorship opportunities are available for anyone who is interested. Each sponsor’s donation will help continue to provide the students of St. Frederick with an excellent education. Sponsorships: Sapphire Level for $1,500 with three tables seating 8 per table and lunch; Platinum Level: $1,000 with two tables seating 8 per table and lunch; Gold Level: $500 includes one table for 8 and lunch; and Silver Level for $250 with 4 tickets and lunch. General admission tickets are available for $25 each. To ensure sponsorship recognition in the event program and other media, please secure your sponsorship as soon as possible. For more information on sponsorships, tickets and tables, contact the school at 318-323-9636. Make sure to mark your calendars now for the 13th Annual “Warriors Wear It Well

Style Show: Oh! The Places You’ll Go! Don’t Forget Open Enrollment Begins Feb. 20 Enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year begins Feb. 1 for students already enrolled at St. Frederick or are currently 6th graders at Jesus the Good Shepherd or Our Lady of Fatima. Open Enrollment begins Feb. 20 to all accepted applicants. Begin your application process now by visiting www.stfrederickhigh. org. Come experience the great things St. Frederick has to offer by scheduling a visit with the school or arranging for your student to shadow another student. Come visit us today and see how your student can become a Warrior. Call Shere May, Director of Admissions, at 318-323-9636.

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MAKING PROGRESS Continued from Page 68 There was only that one time when he Snapchatted me and said they were in a storm and the boat was flipping and flopping through huge waves and everybody was getting sick that I got somewhat regressed with my progress. But, when I told my son I was worried that this might be the Titanic, he said, “Mom, we aren’t on the Arctic side” I did feel a little better. Or when the Captain came on the speaker and told the passengers they shouldn’t be worried, because he had actually driven through a hurricane before, I felt a little better that our Captain at least had Category 5 experience. So for you parents out there that lie in bed some nights like I do, and wonder if you are doing anything right, or wonder if you will ever get past your fears or your worries, or worry that your parenting skills need a rehab class, let me say that there are plenty of us out there with the same thoughts and worries. This parenting thing isn’t for sissies or for the faint of heart. But it’s the most rewarding

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thing and the most gratifying thing I will ever do in my life. Agree? When that big ole 6’4 kid got off the Love Boat and gave me a big hug, well, my heart just danced (not a JuJu on My Beat dance, but maybe a Breaker’s Only dance.) And I realized on the drive home, with my good friend, Pat, who also struggled with letting her son go “that far away from home to another country,” that rather than sulk and stew over the next few months while he’s still at home, that I needed to work really hard at trying to just enjoy these days we have left with my baby boy in the next room. Thanks again, dear readers, for letting me share my trials, my challenges, my shortcomings and my fears with you. I really think it’s better than therapy, and hopefully, just hopefully, sometimes my column reaches through these pages and gives one of you a little comfort or a little hope to know that other parents are navigating the same parenting trail with you.

VIVA LAS VEGAS Continued from Page 58 I’d never felt before, a contentment I didn’t know I needed, a husband beside me, one I believed in and one who believed in me. Of all the moments, sunset on the tower was the most memorable as we watched the Bellagio fountains just below, hours after our nuptials, just the two of us. The last full day of our trip was spent exploring, the Luxor, Mandalay Bay, the MGM, all grand, all extravagant, all luxurious, all Vegas. That evening we went to the Cirque du Soleil show, Zumanity. It’s an explosion of flesh, artistry, discipline, debauchery and talent. Boyfriend, now Husband was in awe, as I knew he would be. Vegas can’t be done properly without a Cirque show. One of our last pictures was taken selfie-style on a walking bridge across Las Vegas Boulevard. The entire strip is glowing in the background, but it’s just that, a backdrop. The real sparkle is our faces, basking in the happiness of a wedding, a honeymoon and the confidence of a good decision all in one. Viva Las Vegas, and cheers to my husband. I can’t wait to do life with you.

Give The Gift Of Beauty This Valentine’s Day! at Professional Laser Center BY JUDY WAGONER

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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 with filler alone. The procedure is less than 20% the total cost of a surgical facelift, and has virtually no downtime. Also offered under the ‘Vampire” umbrella is the ‘Vampire Facial,’ the ‘O-Shot’ and ‘P-Shot’ for sexual rejuvenation, and ‘Hair, Hand and Knee’ rejuvenation’ using PRP. Other hot trends this season are Botox and fillers. These are treatments sought by women of all ages. The adventurous ones

are 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 Dermapen Microneedling (collagen induction) to treat wrinkles, acne scars and stretch marks. Our newest procedure is the Dermapen TattOff, which removes tattoos with microneedling instead of laser, a safer, less expensive alternative. For a list of all of our services, visit our website www. professionllaser.com. From now until February 14th, take 15% off any procedure at Professional Laser Center. We offer beautiful gift certificates. Call 318-361-9066 to schedule a free consultation or to make an appointment. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Simply Lou

It’s Spunky Old Broads Month!

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ebruary. What is your first thought? Love? Hearts? Valentine’s Day? What can I say that hasn’t already been said before? At this point in my life, I sure don’t have much to say about “matters of the heart.” I have been madly in love before, and I have also had my heart broken into a million pieces, but I sure don’t have any advice to share. Maybe, you just “win some and you lose some,” but life just goes on. I have plenty of people and other things I love. I love my three great kids, who have grown up to be good people. I have a big crazy family. And, yes, I have cats. Four cats who drive me nuts, but I love them just the same. I am single right now, and that seems to suit me well. Now, I am not against love and romance at all. I just like being “me, myself and I.” I “never say never,” but for now, I don’t have any complaints. With that said, I had a hard time deciding what I could write that was “February” related. I did the usual thinking, grumbling, more thinking, whining, cussing a little ‘til “something came to me.” I was talking to my daughter, Paige, about this, and she reminded me that February wasn’t “just about Valentine’s Day.” That kid was right. I got to “googling” and found out there’s so many things that if you wanted, you could celebrate every day! I couldn’t use them all, so I picked out what in my opinion, were the most interesting and, of course, the whackiest and silliest out there. There are several worthy causes during

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article and illustration by Lou Davenport the month of February. There’s “National Heart Month,” “Black History Month,” and “National Children’s Dental Health Month.” There’s also one I feel is important, “Great American Pie Month.” How many us can make a real homemade pie? I can, but, I have gotten too lazy to make them! But, the very best of all to me is “Spunky Old Broads” month! I am not sure how it came to be or if it is a worthy cause, but why not? Finally, a month dedicated to all us “spunky old broads!” I am proud to be counted as one! I have earned it and all that it stands for. I think I know a song for this as well. Waylon Jennings’ “I might be old, but, honey, I ain’t worn out!” Being a “spunky old broad” entitles one to play “the age card” if you need to. I take full advantage of the Senior coffee discount at McDonald’s and any other “senior” advantage I come across. I did have an AARP card, but I didn’t use it enough to pay the dues anymore. If I get asked, “Ma’am, may I help you with that?” I just say, “You sure can, honey!” “Honey and Sweetheart” have become two words in my second nature vocabulary. Us “spunky old broads” do all kinds of crazy things. Just today, I got dressed and was way down the road from my house, when I discovered I had my dress on backwards. I’ve put one on “wrong side out” before, too. I figure that nobody notices anyway and just go on about my business. I have been known to go through “drive thrus” in my pajamas. I forget things and then forget where I put

things, thinking I put them in “a place I will remember.” I walk in a room and forget why I am there. I wear reading glasses, and I don’t see nearly as well driving after dark as I used to. (But, there’s not many places I need to be after dark) I know it’s age, but, “spunky old broad” sure does sound better! Us old broads do pretty much every thing we have always done, except much slower. I know exactly how I intend to celebrate my “spunky old broad-ness” in February. I’m going to get all my “spunky old broad cousins” together and have a party. We do that a lot already, and we always have fun. We don’t need much either, just some good food and sometimes, a few bottles of wine. And, off we go, laughing all the way. I decreed “no bras” at all family “get togethers” this past Christmas. Who cares anyway? I already wear my “big dresses” for these occasions, because who needs tight fitting clothes when you are going to stuff yourself into a near “food coma?” You might as well be comfortable! Here’s this “Spunky Old Broad’s” favorite days to celebrate in February. • Feb. 1 – National Freedom Day glad I have it • Feb. 2 Ground Hog Day oh, who cares! Our weather follows its own rules • Feb. 3 – The Day the Music Died...R.I.P Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and Big Bopper • Feb. 3 – Work Naked Day I’m not saying a word....

• F eb. 7 – Wave All Your Fingers at your Neighbor Day Be nice, ya’ll! • Feb. 9 – Toothache Day guess you can watch Steve Martin as the sadistic dentist in “Little Shop of Horrors.” Doc-tah! • Feb. 9 – National Pizza Day oh yeah! • Feb. 10 – Umbrella Day useful • Feb. 11 – Satisfied Being Single Day Oui Oui! • Feb. 12 – Lincoln’s Birthday • Feb. 13 – Get a Different Name Day I choose “Myrtle Mae” • Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day watch “Parks and Recreation!” • Feb. 14 – Binge watch “Vikings” Day I made that up! • Feb. 14 – Madly in Love with Me Day for narcissists • Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day I am aware! • Feb. 16 – Do a Grouch a Favor Day any volunteers? • Feb. 17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day be sweet! • Feb. 18 – National Drink Wine Day red or white? • Feb. 20 – Cherry Pie Day yummy! • Feb. 22 – Love your Pet Day I do this every day • Feb. 22 – George Washington’s Birthday • Feb. 22 – National Margarita Day top shelf for me, just one!

• Feb. 24 – National Tortilla Day ole’! • Feb. 25 – Open That Bottle Up Day I assume any kind • Feb. 26 – National Bacon Day YES! • Feb. 27 Polar Bear Day polar bears need love, too • Feb. 28 Fat Tuesday! Throw me some beads! There were a few that made “Honorable Mention” on my list, because some are a bit weird and some I question why there are “special days” for them. But, that’s what makes them so worthy of mention! • Feb. 7 – Dump Your Significant Jerk Day I think I would wait until after Feb. 14, then grab the candy and run! • Feb. 14 – International Extraterrestial Culture Day where is this celebrated? Area 51? Does one bring a Valentine? • Feb. 14 – Extraterrestrial Visitor Day why? I haven’t seen any, but “may the force be with you!” • Feb. 17 – My Way Day we “only children” understand this! • Feb. 27 – Cow Milked on an Airplane Day say what? • Feb. 27 – No Brainer Day yes, indeed. Wish they all were! • Feb. 28 – Public Sleeping Day after No Brainer Day I guess you need to sleep outside?

Third week of February is “International Flirting Week” for those who are uninformed. You may have to have a passport for this one. Do foreign countries have a great need for this one? I have no idea. The Westminster Dog Show comes on Feb. 15 – 16. I usually watch it even though the dogs I like never seem to win. It seems to me that the more grooming a dog needs, the more they win. So, I end up saying I will “never” watch it again, but, I do and still hope for a “sporting or working” dog to win “Best of Show.” I think that if you want, it’s probably alright to combine some of the “special days.” For the “Spunky Old Broads Party,” we could just grab some pizza and have some red or white wine or maybe, just make margaritas. Or we could have homemade pie. I’m not going to cook it, so my “cousins that still cook” will have to do the honors! I sure hope I’ve given you some options for celebrating February. Or, hopefully, made you laugh. That’s one thing about us “spunky old women.” We do crazy things, and don’t mind telling the things we do, because we can and do laugh at ourselves! Be good to yourself, and above all else, BE yourself! Drop by Facebook and like my very own, “Simply Lou” page. Yes, I do tell about my many misadventures as a “spunky old broad!”

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Nothing Runs Like A Deere 5K The first annual “Nothing Runs Like a Deere 5K� for charity was held on December 10 at Goldman Equipment in West Monroe. The participants of the one mile fun run began at 8 a.m., before having a short devotional led by Kevin Flattmann, Jr. The 5K horn blew at 8:30, and the runners were off on the chilly Saturday morning. Santa was at the event and got to hear what the children wanted for Christmas while sitting on the John Deere lawn mower in the showroom.

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On the BayouScene 1 Lori Tullos and Phillip Hattaway 2 Tommy McDougal and Julie Lewis 3 Shannon and Jason White, Gabriel White, Kerri and Ethan Hammond 4 Shannon, Kennedy and Jeremy Johnson, Josh Vines and Amanda Forman 5 Elizabeth Rials, Stuart Jaubert, Madeline Rials, Lilya and Kelly Jaubert 6 Cullin McCarthy, Lori and Mitchell Spence 7 Phoebe and Lissy Compton, Ana Vines and Pearson Compton

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Glenwood Medical Group Continued From Page 10 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: 318-329-8517 PRIMARY CARE CLINICS GLENWOOD FAMILY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE Roland Ponarski, MD Dr. Ponarski specializes in diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. He also offers routine physical exams and CDL license exams. PH: 318-329-8485 GLENWOOD INTERNAL MEDICINE and PEDIATRICS Billy G. Branch, MD Dr. Branch specializes in internal medicine, pediatrics and family care. His services include

minor illness and injury treatment, wellness exams, well-baby checkups, sports physicals, hormone replacement, allergies and rashes, family planning, pre-employment physicals, chronic disease and medication management and specialist referrals. PH: 318-665-0170 GLENWOOD INTERNAL MEDICINE AND PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY Alyce Adams, MD Dr. Adams is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has completed specialty training in preventive cardiology. She is also a certified diabetes educator and specializes in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, preventative cardiology and other chronic medical diseases. Tests offered include EKG’s, stress tests and echocardiograms. PH: 318-322-0458

Jenny Baker, PRN Pediatric, adult and geriatric care for minor illness and emergency, including inoffice labs, X-rays and EKGs. Primary care includes chronic disease and medication management, physicals, wellness exams and skin conditions treatment. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (M-F) and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Sat). Walk-ins welcome. PH: 318-396-3800 Schedule an appointment online anywhere, anytime and from any device at MyGlenwoodClinic.com. 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.

GLENWOOD STAT CARE Lynne Talley, NP Kim Kornegay, NP Ann Gray, PRN

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BAYOU EATS

NESTLED ON THE CORNER OF TRENTON AND PINE, ON ANTIQUE ALLEY IN WEST MONROE, MISS KAY’S SWEETS & EATS OFFERS RECIPE FAVORITES FROM MISS KAY ROBERTSON’S OWN KITCHEN.

Article by MEREDITH MCKINNIE & Photography by MARTIN G MEYERS

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ike most Robertson ventures, this too is a family affair, a combination of brand vision, culinary skills, analytical acumen, grandmother’s kitchen creations, love and most of all, faith. With a passion for cooking and baking that began in her Mamaw Kay’s kitchen, granddaughter Alex Mancuso is merging her creative talent with her grandmother’s dream of offering the sweet and savory to the public. Touches of Kay’s family history, the Duck Commander brand and uniquely crafted pieces from friends of the Robertson family are highlighted in the shop giving the feel of comfort and closeness, something the Robertsons have always been about. After years of prayer and intense planning, in December 2016, Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats was born. “Never trust a skinny cook.” Those are the words Alex heard over and over in her childhood while whipping up dishes alongside Mamaw Kay, or as we know her, Miss Kay. Noting her mother Lisa as also being a “fabulous cook,” Alex saw the traditions, the memories being made in the kitchen. She admired the craft, the skill, the process, and after a stint at LSU, her parents insisted she find a way to pay her own bills. Not knowing

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what she wanted to do, Chef Larry Maciasz, her boss at a local catering company suggested culinary school. Conveniently, The Louisiana Culinary School was located near her Baton Rouge apartment. After touring the new facilities at the school, Alex became a part of the first baking and pastry class. Since it was the school’s first year offering the specialization, Alex, her teachers and classmates “taught each other,” offering a structured, yet flexible environment. Alex worked at Ambrosia Bakery, the biggest in Baton Rouge, which provided “good, useful experience,” shipping tens of thousands of products, plus working in store. Around this period, Alex met her husband Vinny at New York Bagel Company. A finance graduate from LSU, Vinny had worked the numbers for Raising Cane’s in the purchasing department and managed several store locations for the last decade and left to try his hand at a music career. Surprisingly, Vinny wasn’t too keen on sweets early on, but he has since come around. For years, food

had been all business to him. The couple was married in Garyville, Louisiana, at the San Francisco Plantation in January of 2013, on her dad Alan’s birthday. After culinary school, Alex became the executive pastry chef at Latte e Miele, (Italian for milk and honey), a bakery, espresso and gelato bar. There she learned to manage ordering, products, sales and overall demand. The two owners from Rome gave Alex almost a “blank slate” to do what she wanted, allowing her to learn running a business alongside indulging her culinary skills. She enjoys finding her own version of food staples, her favorites being frozen desserts and cakes. Southern recipes are essential to Alex, stuff she can “put her own flair on.” Vinny and Alex moved to West Monroe in May of 2013. Her husband went to work in purchasing at Duck Commander, and Alex’s plan was to open a food truck with her Uncle Willie. Even though they had already purchased a fully customized Air Stream food truck, it was at the height of the Duck Commander/Duck Dynasty explosion, and the plan never materialized. Alex went to work at Whites Ferry Road Church of Christ doing administrative duties. Her focus was the World Radio Program, an organization that buys time on local radio stations in 160 countries to do gospel broadcasts. Alan Robertson, Alex’s dad, initially suggested the idea of the bakery. Having been a preacher at Whites Ferry Road for all of Alex’s childhood and only recently going to work at Duck Commander, Alan wanted to be “under the family umbrella, but also have his own thing.” With his preacher background, he became the family spokesperson, or

“With the help of family, the traditional love of good food, and a focus on faith, the Robertson family is again blessing our bellies, our hearts and our community.” “beard wrangler” as he calls himself. Alan knew his father, Phil, had always wanted to sell his pralines, and his mother Kay wanted a place to sell her recipes. Alex had the culinary experience, and Vinny had the numbers background and management experience. Alex insists, “The Lord put it all together for us.”

Kay Robertson and Alex Mancuso at the newly opened Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats on Antique Alley in West Monroe.

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fter two intense years of prepping, further establishing the Duck Commander brand, the bakery offers Miss Kay her own outlet. The feel of the place is “family-oriented, but less like a duck blind and more like a grandmother cooking for her grandkids.” The types of food served and the location were all crucial decisions. They wanted the business to be a part of the West Monroe community. The family members considered putting the bakery next to Willie’s Duck Diner on Constitution Drive, but it didn’t feel right. After some more praying, at a branding meeting at Studio 9017, a design house in West Monroe, the family heard about the Trenton St. location. Upon the first visit, they fell in love. The exposed brick, vintage feel and history of the building were ideal. As a child, Alex remembers shopping on Antique Alley with Mamaw Kay. The place felt like home. Built in the early 1900s, the building had been a gas station originally and then a car repair shop. The owner had considered turning the space into a banquet hall, going as far as to update portions of the building. But agreeing Antique Alley needed a place for visitors to sit and sip coffee and sample treats, the bakery possibility was just what Trenton St. needed. Alex loved the comfortable atmosphere, abundance of space, uniqueness and history. Contractor Tony Neal, a close family friend and fellow church member, added the back storage, plumbing and electricity to the building. He also built the tree stands and barn doors leading to the kitchen and bathrooms. Skip Couvillion, a handyman of Phil Robertson’s who had previously built duck ponds and worked on Phil’s land, happened to be an avid carpenter. In the shop, he did most of the woodworking, built the tin pieces framing the cabinets, the serving hatch, the long bar along the south wall and framed the large menu chalkboards. Alex wanted the design to be “down-home, without being too rustic.” The interior design was a merging of ideas between Alex and Rachel Marshall, a baker from Nashville, Tennessee. Now serving as the kitchen manager, Rachel had approached Miss Kay at a Duck Commander event, insisted she loved her recipes, and Kay hired her on the spot and told her to move to Louisiana. Like each step of the process, Alex insists God “brought them all together.” For the menu, Miss Kay has the most input. The staples are her family recipes like the seasonal sweet potato pie and chocolate cream pie coming soon. Her homemade crust is what she’s most proud of. And her pecan pie will be available year round. Phil’s pralines are a big seller, and he boasts they’re the best in Louisiana. Having always been a hunter, Phil was 134 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

The new space was ideal for Miss Kay’s family-oriented bakery. Originally built in the early 1900s as a gas station and then converted into a car repair shop, the open concept area offers visitors a comfortable place to sit and sip coffee and sample treats. the one to figure out the best way to cook wild game. His praline recipe required the same attention and is available at the shop and in the Duck Commander cookbook, also on sale at the bakery. The cowboy cookies are a blend of oatmeal, chocolate chips, pecans and coconut. Miss Kay’s homemade biscuits are always a crowd pleaser, and her chocolate chip cookies a permanent staple. Alex insists each recipe is taste-tested by the Robertson patriarch and matriarch. Miss Kay will make a few suggestions, adding this here or less of this there, and back to the kitchen Alex and the crew will go. The cinnamon roll recipe is adapted from Rachel, but Phil and Kay approved. Rachel also does her own granola. Phil is such a fan that he requests a pound every week to take to the duck blind. The carmelitas are Rachel’s grandmother’s own recipe, an oatmeal cookie base with chocolate chips, pecans and caramel. Adapting some recipes to mass quantities can be a challenge, and in some cases impossible. Phil’s pralines have to be made one small batch at a time. Coffee is important to the Robertson family. Their motto is: “Make it strong enough to put hair on your face.” Most prefer a double shot of espresso inside a dark roast. Coffee expert Dee Blake from Atlanta, Georgia, built the coffee program at the bakery from scratch. Trained in Seattle, Dee tested all the beans, perfected how to grind and how to serve. A whole world goes into the production and serving of coffee. Tea is also important to this area and to the Robertsons. Surprisingly, most

of them drink unsweet tea, but both varieties will be available by the gallon or cup. To-go pots of coffee are coming soon. The visual menu, featuring coffee cups showing how much milk, coffee, etc. is in each drink makes ordering easy. Come see what’s frothy and milky. King cakes are available through the end of February with three different offerings. The traditional flavor is cinnamon with traditional iced and sugar topping, then the traditional topping with cream cheese filling, and finally the cream cheese filling with praline topping. The bakery has been serving the holiday menu since the December 6 opening, hesitant to jump in with dozens of items at once. The pralines, biscuits, cookies, cinnamon rolls, carmelitas, brownies and pies are always available. They just started serving breakfast sandwiches with sausage, bacon, egg and cheese on a croissant or biscuit. Breakfast is served until eleven, or until they’re all gone. The cupcakes started shortly after the New Year with rotating flavors of birthday cake, almond and maple thus far. The crew plans to introduce petit fours, muffins, mini-bundt cakes, and possibly full-sized bundts, and seasonal layer cakes in the future. The bakery will feature monthly flavors with daily specials. With not a lot of fruits in season in the winter, the spring and summer will bring flavors like peach, blueberry and strawberry. Spiced flavors will be the focus of fall. Alex always wanted Miss Kay’s name across the front door. Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats was decided upon to leave room for expansion. Party trays named after all the brothers will be coming soon, and light lunches later on. Their online store selling Miss Kay’s merchandise, pralines, cookies, and mini pies opened the second week of January. The Robertsons know they have a national platform and room to grow the brand. The bakery will be like “your grandmother who bakes for you.” Seeing how they’re just starting, they’ve prayed for God to make it as big as he wishes it to be to accomplish His ministry plans for them. After signing the lease, the family and friends formed a prayer circle inside, covered the walls in scriptures, put prayer stakes in the ground, and prayed hard for God to bless the venture as he saw fit. Alex says church groups sometimes meet in the bakery, and she encourages other groups to do the same. The atmosphere is comfortable with free Wi-Fi and plugs at the bar for electronic devices. Alex and Vinny have two boys of their own. Corban is almost three, and Doc is just eight months. Being a mother with young children, Alex established the kid’s play area in the corner of the shop. It distracts the kids while the “adults get a few minutes of peace.” The hot chocolate and cupcakes are kid-tested and kid-approved. Right next to the kid’s play area is the Carroway Corner, a surprise for Miss Kay when the shop opened. Carroway is Kay’s maiden name, and the corner features pictures and relics from Kay’s childhood. Kay’s grandparents, William Thomas and Callie May Carroway, owned a general store in Ida, Louisiana, north of Shreveport in Caddo Parish. They sold everything from tires and meat, to medicine and cigarettes. Kay grew up running around in the store eventually owned by her own parents, and it stayed open for over 75 years. Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats is continuing that family tradition of small business ownership. With the help of family, the traditional love of good food and a focus on faith, the Robertson family is again blessing our bellies, our hearts and our community. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 135

Annual President’s Awards

The North Central Louisiana Arts Council Announces Awards Recipients

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he North Central Louisiana Arts Council held its Annual Meeting and Member’s Holiday Party January 10, 2017, at Co:LAB in Ruston. Board President Peter Jones announced the annual President’s Awards, presenting honors to: Becky and Jay Strickler– Patrons of the Year; Cheryl Sutton – Board Member of the Year; Josh Mitchell- Arts Innovator of the Year; Megan Troxel- Volunteer of the Year; Dean Dablow – Artist of the Year; and Driggers Outdoor- Corporate Sponsor of the Year. New Board Members elected to serve are: Roshunda Belton, Chris Broussard, Gary Faulkner, Bonnie Ferguson, Dr. King Godwin, Raluca Iancu, Reggie Owens, Scotland Stout, and Gale Reed. Peter Jones, Richard Lewis, Henry McCoy, Saul Zalesch and Kathy Stone were re-elected for another term. NCLAC welcomes aboard these new Board Members, and congratulates these President’s Award winners on the honor. NCLAC is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and administered by Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

L-R Megan Troxel, Josh Mitchell, Becky Strickler, Cheryl Sutton, Dean Dablow, Rodney Driggers (not shown, Jay Strickler)

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Breast Reconstruction A New Look for the New Year

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AYBE IT’S A LUMPECTOMY. MAYBE A MASTECTOMY. Either way, reconstructive surgery is often a next step. And as next steps go, it can be a big one. “With reconstructive surgery following a lumpectomy or mastectomy, our goal is to recreate a breast with the appearance, contour and symmetry the patient wants,” said Stephan Maguire, M.D., a plastic surgeon in Alexandria. “That can be achieved with implants or with the patient’s own tissue.” Sometimes, surgery on the opposite, normal breast, will be required to create symmetry with the newly constructed breast. “In some cases, women choose to have reconstructive surgery done immediately after mastectomy,” Dr. Maguire said. “But the procedure can be done at any time after mastectomy. Reconstruction has no known effect on cancer recurrence or screening.” Women often question whether or not insurance will cover breast reconstruction. The answer is, “Yes.” “Federal law requires that insurance covers breast reconstruction after mastectomy,” Dr. Maguire said. “Of course, we still have to check with their insurance company for authorization.” Questions patients may want to ask include: • Will my policy cover the costs of surgery, anesthesia and other related costs? • If it only covers a percentage, what is the percentage? • Will there be an increase in my insurance premium? • Will future coverage be affected? More than 102,200 breast reconstruction procedures were performed in 2014, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. While some women choose to have immediate reconstruction, others choose to delay the reconstruction process because of other health issues, additional cancer treatment or because they only want to focus on one thing at a time. Studies show that reconstruction can greatly improve a patient’s quality of life and self-image, said the ASPS, which is why they developed a Breast Reconstruction Awareness Campaign to educate, engage and empower women to make informed decisions about their healthcare following breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy. You can find that information at breastreconusa.org. “When I see patients considering breast reconstruction, I typically try to tailor the operation to the patients’ goals and needs,” Dr. Maguire said. “We will work closely with the oncologist and surgeon to best coordinate her care.” For more information about breast reconstruction with Dr. Maguire, call (318) 442-5800 or visit rapidesregionalphysiciangroup.com

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Blues Documentary NCLAC to Screen Shake ‘Em On Down

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he North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) will present Shake ‘Em On Down: The Blues According to Fred McDowell with director and producer Joe York as part of the South Arts Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers at Dixie Center for the Arts, Ruston, LA, on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7pm. Following a screening of the film, the filmmaker will engage the audience in a discussion about the film and his work, led by moderator Lesli Rambin, Instructor of English at ULM, and Co-Director of the Louisiana Blues Trail. Tickets are available for $5 ($3 student tickets) at the door or at nclac.org Shake ‘Em On Down is the story of Fred McDowell, the godfather of the North Mississippi style of blues and an important influence on the music of the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, RL Burnside, Taj Mahal and the North Mississippi All Stars. McDowell was working as a cotton picker and tractor driver when he was first recorded by Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins in 1959. Those recordings launched McDowell into the upper echelons of the burgeoning folk movement on the 1960s and carried him around the globe in the thirteen years between those first recordings and his death in 1972. Shake ‘Em On Down was produced by The Southern Documentary Project, an institute of the Center for Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi. SouthDocs students engage in community-based documentary work throughout Mississippi. Shake ‘Em On Down is the first installment of SouthDocs’ new Highway 61 Film Series initiative. Joe York is a documentary filmmaker based in Water Valley, Mississippi. He earned his master’s degree in Southern Studies from the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi and his BA in Anthropology from Auburn University. In addition to filmmaking, York produces a weekly radio spot, Highway 61 Radio, which airs on Mississippi Public Broadcasting. NCLAC thanks the Ruston-Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau, Louisiana Tech’s College of Liberal Arts, and Catherine and Winston McVea for their support of this film series. Thanks as well to Cathi Cox-Boniol and Tom Boniol and Studio 301 for their support of Shake ‘Em On Down. For more information, visit nclac.org or call (318)255-1450. The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a program of South Arts. Southern Circuit screenings are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. South Arts, founded in 1975, is a nonprofit regional arts organization building on the South’s unique heritage and enhancing the public value of the arts. Their work responds to the arts environment and cultural trends with a regional perspective, through an annual portfolio of activities designed to address the role of the arts in impacting the issues important to our region, and linking the South with the nation and the world through the arts.

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Key Millwork and Supply Your KEY to a Beautiful Home

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N 1971, V.J. AND PEGGY CASAMENTO opened Key Millwork, providing our hometown with cabinets, windows and doors. Well known for its custom cabinetry and kitchen design, this local business has become Northeast Louisiana’s premier location to find the most elite in home appliances. Designed to elevate your lifestyle, the most modern lines of kitchen appliances are on display in Key Millwork’s newly renovated showrooms. Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Dacor, ASKO, KitchenAid and Sharp are just a few of the brands carried by Key Millwork. Supplying the Twin Cities with the newest, highend appliances, while creating an exciting atmosphere is their ultimate goal. Their qualified staff will assist you in selecting the most innovative, chic products to ensure you achieve your dream kitchen. They specialize in an Integrated/Flush design, which

furnishes a clean, classic look and feel. A modern twist can be added to any kitchen with the Island Lift, providing functional access to smaller appliances while freeing up needed counter space. Looking to entertain or simply socialize with family and friends? The Galley Workstation will change the way you use your kitchen. Imagine being able to prepare, cook and serve dinner all in one space. Cutting boards, drain rack, colanders, bowls and a condiment board are all options for the Galley Workstation making it irresistibly functional. And cleanup is a breeze, as everything you need is located in the most practical space in the kitchen. The Galley is not only perfect in function but elegant in style. Your front door makes a statement about your home. It should be inviting and a reflection of the family living inside. Think

Andersen… one of the most trusted names in doors. Key Millwork and Supply is the only Andersen Products dealer in our area, who can offer you the greatest selection of 100, 200, 400 series, Architectural and all-vinyl products available. Preserve the character of your home by replacing old windows. Andersen replacement windows offer 21st century performance with a traditional style. Their rich oak, maple or pine interiors, combined with fine craftsmanship and authentic grille designs, maintain the charm of the home you love. Key Millwork and Supply is redefining ‘sophisticated life-style’ and making it easy for you to incorporate it into your home. Visit our website at www.KeyMillwork. com or call (318) 387-9995 to make an appointment to begin your life of luxury.

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Arthur-Christy Engagement

On Saturday, December 17th a celebration was held in the honor of newly engaged Victoria Arthur and Hunter Christy. Victoria is the daughter of Terri and Roy Arthur of Monroe, and Hunter is the son of Monica and Hunter Christy. The party was given by family and friends at Bayou DeSiard Country Club, where the couple was honored with a toast from the hosts before guests arrived, wishing them a lifetime of happiness. The mood for the evening was set by the musical stylings of Kenny Bill Stinson among gorgeous arrangements of white hydrangeas, roses, lilies and orchids. Guests enjoyed the fabulous spread prepared by the Country Club, including prime rib, coconut chicken, salmon and fried fish. Dinner was followed by a beautiful almond cake from Thurman’s.

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On the BayouScene

1 Blake and Debbie Herrington with Dr. Matt Sanderson 2K aren Watson, Allie Watson, Lily Barham and Kathy Barham 3 Victoria Arthur and Roy Arthur 4 Adam and Cynthia Nyquist 5 Forrest Sartor and Joy Loomis 6 Austin Ross and Caroline Scott 7 Tony and Veronica Bradley, Victoria Arthur, Hunter Christy, Ginny and Rey Yatco 8 Victoria Arthur, Rosemary Luffey and Hunter Christy 9 Paige Ensminger and Terri Arthur 10 Mandy Pruitt and Brenda Marsala 11 Teresa Shelton, Ginny Yatco and Barbara Trasher 12 A insley Anderson, Victoria Arthur and Ashley Anderson 13 K elsey and Jeff Laudenheimer 14 Victoria Arthur and Hunter Christy 15 C ynthia Nyquist, Roy Arthur, Victoria Arthur and Terri Arthur 16 H aley Herrington, Hanna Lavergne, Debbie and Blake Herrington

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articles by Meredith McKinnie | illustrations by Melanie Moffett

Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge E

xploring Black Bayou takes Ashley Hubenthal back to her childhood. Her dad Ricky Yeldell worked for Wildlife and Fisheries for thirty years and was in charge of the fish hatchery in Monroe for part of that time. His office was adjacent to Black Bayou, right behind CenturyLink, so many of Ashley’s days were spent exploring the area. Her dad always had beavers, armadillos and possums people found, so Ashley had constant access to animals. She explains, “I was the science teacher’s favorite kid, since I always had stuff for show and tell.” Ashley finds it most interesting that our community has this resource right outside the city limits, and yet many people don’t know about it or don’t take advantage of it. She and her husband, Andrew, enjoy taking pictures and kayaking and Ashley is “obsessed with bald eagles.” She’s seen the nest out there, but no birds yet. Other people have posted pictures, so she knows it exists. She will frequently kayak to the nest nestled high in the tree, but observers can’t get too close since it is a protected area. In addition to water adventures, the refuge will host other outdoor activities, such as walks during a full or super moon. The guides are educated on the creatures there, and the kayak trips are guided or you can go alone. The refuge has an educational center with live wildlife exhibits, aquariums, live snakes

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and small alligators and turtles in an enclosure. There are summer camps for the kids, and Ashley is excited for her newborn son, Cully, to go out there, even if he has to wait a few years. Andrew enjoys taking photos and they have collected tons with sunsets and views from the pier. The couple almost got engaged at the refuge, but Andrew realized it was closed after dark when they pulled up. However, they did get to have their engagement photos taken there and treasure them. Just five minutes outside of town, Black Bayou has the ever present and growing NELA feel, that vibe of wildlife and “sportsman’s paradise.” The check-in house is an old planter’s house from the 1800s that was brought in and renovated, preservation being another passion of Ashley’s. Visitors can fish, bird watch, soak up the calming effects of nature on the boat dock or the pier. Ashley’s favorite part is the section of the lake with overhanging cypress trees, creating a kind of cocoon over the water. In the summer, the shade is a nice reprieve from the hot sun, though Ashley cautions to always check the water level, as she did get stuck once. However, Andrew did find it amusing. One can see snakes, rabbits, deer, birds and various wildlife on each trip. A photography and bird watching blind was constructed, a raised building with a superb view for taking pictures

or observing the birds in their natural habitat. And while Ashley grew up around the outdoors, she doesn’t consider herself “outdoorsy.” She has no interest in sleeping outside and prefers air conditioning, but you don’t have to be outdoorsy to appreciate Black Bayou. Some events over the last few months have been the Black Friday Ranger Hike, guided paddles to the eagle’s nest, an informational lecture on winter birds, tadpole adventures and frog investigations. Regardless of your interest, the information to be obtained about our area and the animals sharing our space is impressive and its consideration of the environment is critical today. Opened in 1997, Black Bayou Refuge spans 4,500 acres with a 1,700-acre lake and scenic wetlands. With groups such as The Friends of Black Bayou and the constant online presence of visitors raving about the area, people are slowing catching on to Black Bayou’s magic and natural appeal. The silence and the selfreflection that occurs in the silence is essential to one’s growth and spiritual health. It’s good for the soul. Ashley sees it as her escape, a “way to break free from the hustle and bustle.” The quiet, the peace, she says “centers me, gets me back in check.” Since having moved to other places like New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Black Bayou reminds her, “This is why I live here.”

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oni Navarro is interested in the stories behind the pieces. Estate sales are her passion, and for her and her husband, John, the pieces tell the story of their home. Their eclectic style makes the rare finds in many estate sales prime targets for the Navarros. When they bought their home four years ago, they began filling it with their personal finds. Each collects different stuff. For Toni, it’s glassware, entertaining barware and art, which can be harder to find. She loves happening upon designer pieces that might be as cheap as a dollar. Her goal for the end of the year was to have her entire closet be made up of 50% vintage pieces, and while she might not wear each one, she’s close. For John, it’s old kitchen gadgets and tools. A former history teacher, one of his prized finds is a printout of the United States Constitution. Though Toni claims they’re basically full at this point and will often go and just look, before they would “ravage the place,” loving the search and discover method. Estate sales are made up of their own little community of people, fellow search and finders who revel in a good hunt or bargain. Some don’t know much about estate sales, and they can seem intimidating, going into someone’s home to pilfer through a stranger’s belongings. John was the first to go four years ago and got to know some of the people

Estate Sales who run the companies behind the sales. Toni joined soon after, and it has become a regular outing for the couple. Some of their best finds included two Dux (Swedish furniture designer) mid-century modern teakwood chairs. They go for a lot of money, but Toni didn’t have to pay much for them. She’s learned a lot about furniture, as the people on the circuit are incredibly knowledgeable. She also is positively giddy when talking about her Prince Charles and Princess Diana in bed slippers, which are just that. The royal faces that wobble when she walks make her giggle. For those interested in getting involved with estate sales, follow estatesales.net, one of the main hubs online. It is universally used, and Toni and John log on when they travel to see where all the sales are. Figure out your style. Some companies do pre-sales online, and some items are half-priced on Saturdays and Sundays. Remember that rarely does anyone have your exact taste or want what you want. It’s not a competition, but it is a rush. The best sales to attend are ones where the owners are not there, as some can be sentimentally attached to the pieces. Most companies will come in and take over the house for a few days and do the pricing and organizing. Some sales have been so dense with finds that Toni and John have gone to the same location four days straight. And while they’re not

usually the people standing at the door when it opens, they are seasoned sale hunters. Many finds can be tailored to one’s specific hobby. If you sew, you can always find fabric. If you fish, sometimes full tackle boxes are available. If you’re interested in the history of a piece, and you wonder, “Why did someone buy this?” Some companies will tell you the story behind certain pieces. Toni insists the local companies are top-notch, with four or five companies that the Navarros frequent. Each company tends to represent a certain type of house. The owners will often get to know you as a buyer and suggest sales and houses you would like. If perusing antiques is your thing, don’t be afraid to dive right in to estate sales. Some of the good buys are: silverware, furniture, dishware, glassware and jewelry. And though sales are generally less busy at the end of the day, opening time provides shoppers with the best selection. Most sales are final, and cash is recommended. Some companies even allow you to look at photos of the items beforehand. Don’t be afraid to wander into bathrooms, attics, closets and bedrooms, spaces normally thought of as private. And do ask about outdoor items, as most stuff is for sale. The deals are appealing, the hunt is exciting and rare finds can be rewarding. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 143

Kiroli Park F

or Melanie Moffett, Kiroli Park is a staple from her childhood that she is now enjoying through the eyes of her own children. Melanie attended Kiroli Elementary in West Monroe down the street from the park and often went on field trips that included hiking the trails and running around the playgrounds. And since then, the experience is still the same. It’s still the kid-friendly, big, open space full of exploration opportunities for Northeast Louisiana residents and visitors to the area. The 160-acre park features playgrounds, a dog park, tennis courts, picnic areas, fishing ponds, hiking trails, a conservatory and gardens. Most of the area is wooded with numerous trails tracing throughout the park with bridges, towers and elevated walkways. For kids and adults, an appreciation of nature, the realization of the bigness of the landscape and our own small place in it is essential to understanding one’s place in the world. Kiroli Park offers the experience right in our own backyard. Melanie and her husband, Andrew, live about three miles from the park and often take their daughters, Georgia and Sydney. Besides just getting out of the house, it’s good to go meet someone on a play date. “Georgia always wants to go,” says Melanie. The safe, clean atmosphere fostered by a dedicated and passionate staff makes Kiroli the ideal family outing. With separate pavilions for birthday parties and family gatherings, it is often the choice of those seeking privacy while still feeling that sense of pride in one’s community. Kids can stay entertained, while adults soak up the beauty and breathe in the fresh air. Local events are often hosted in the park, such as Ballet Under the Stars, Celtic Fest, Painting at the Park and even marathons and bicycle parades. The Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions Clubs originally purchased the land in 1925 to serve as a Boy Scouts of America camp. Dorothy Christmas Norris was one of the original founders of what is now called Kiroli Park. She helped raise funds for

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the establishment in and for the West Monroe community and also assisted in the park’s design and supervision. The Dorothy Christmas Norris Pergola and Garden now stands in Kiroli Park, built over three days by a local Boy Scout in her honor. Some other recent additions to the park include the Raising Cane’s Dog Park, opened in October of 2012, which is located in the Northwest corner of the park and includes rolling hills, covered pavilions, benches, chairs and a pond for the canines to play. The park is divided into two sections, one for larger dogs and one for smaller dogs or dogs with disabilities. The Civitan Smiles Park is under construction, supported by the West Monroe Civitan Club and the City of West Monroe Parks and Recreation with the mission of providing an inclusive space for children with disabilities. “The park will be the only one of its type in North Louisiana,” said Douglas Seegers. The vision of promoting social inclusion for all children is just one of the ways Kiroli Park is progressing our area. The “Little Free Libraries” started popping up in the park in June of 2016 with the “take one, leave one” method. With the intent of advocating literacy, the libraries help keep books in circulation. In a world becoming more digital and less printed, the feel of a book left for a fellow resident to appreciate fosters the park’s sense of community, of helping one another and engaging in shared interests. With all the park has to offer, no wonder it remains one of the highlights of our community. The trails are akin to stepping into some place else, shaded and open and often quiet. Most of the trails include a fork early on with the choice of a shorter or longer path, ideal for romantic walks or stretches of solitude. The drive into the park immediately sets the atmosphere, ascending the hill and back up again and then through the front gate. It is like driving right into a post card, except it’s real, accessible, and while constantly evolving, manages to retain its initial charm, character and frank appreciation and preservation of nature.

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Louisiana Tech Tailgating

hen it comes to her tailgating experience, Amanda Singley, a 2013 Tech graduate in marketing, appreciates simplicity. With a “homey feel,” Tech on game day is “not so overwhelming. No one gets lost.” It’s a fun, all-day activity with food and good family fun. Amanda says you “can bring your hot dogs in your ice chest” and see familiar faces all day. Walking to the game is part of tailgating, and it isn’t a miles walk, lined with RVs in the parking lot, people sharing in the anticipation and revelry of the sports community. You can see the stadium from wherever you are. With Ruston’s general “hipster vibe,” the people are friendly and welcoming, both a family and college environment. Amanda calls tailgating her “daycation.” For a Tech student or a lover of Tech, the experience is inviting and familiar. One can often see the mascot Tech 21 and even pet the beloved bulldog. Behind the stadium, all different school groups set up from Agriculture to LGBTQ+. It’s a way for students and curious parties to introduce themselves to people of shared interests. Claire Goudeau Cox, a 2015 Animal Science graduate and current Master’s candidate at Tech, claims it’s like “Facebook searching by group.” The fraternities and sororities primarily dominate the wooded area, Hideaway Park, where they meet under wooden pavilions, grill and play corn hole. It’s social hour for males and females alike. People come and go all day, and some set up early in the morning. The Tech community is especially close-knit, an exclusive club of those who shared the Louisiana Tech experience. Amanda’s school days were spent in the Quad, Chick-Fil-A, The Dawghouse (a restaurant/bar off-campus) and “many, many nights studying in the library.” The new business building was constructed during Amanda’s years there, and she benefitted from the innovative teaching technology. Claire Cox is a Sigma Kappa, who was also involved in Alpha Zeta, Pre-Vet Club and a member of the track team. Because the school feels small, Claire claims they “see it and feel it more, an intense sense of pride.” 146 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

She immersed herself in the experience, aware the college days in the long run would seem brief. That feeling of familiarity brings Amanda back with her husband, Wes. At most home games, they’re there, and soon plan to bring along their son, Waylon. Wes is into football, and Amanda is into tailgating. It becomes generational, a tradition of sorts to pass on to Waylon. Kids need to feel a part of something bigger, get that early sense of community. Being limited on things to do, Amanda says, “You can only go to the zoo so many times.” They’ve taken Waylon to Tech basketball games before, and he enjoys the loud excitement of sports enthusiasts. Claire Cox fell in love with the town of Ruston. With its small size, “the population thrives on the college.” Oftentimes, Ruston citizens invite students into their homes, and in the case of her husband, Josh, to live with them to save money for college. “The town and the school are one big family.” Claire’s college experience extended far beyond “partying and education,” but rather the people she surrounded herself with, them and their families becoming her family. “Dinner was never lonely; coffee was always served. I think that is where my pride of Tech comes in. It isn’t just the university. It is the entire family of Ruston, and the way it changed me once I got involved.” Tech tailgating is just one aspect of that familial sense of community. People come together to celebrate their school, their sport, their sense of pride, and their appreciation of each other. They smile, they laugh, they cheer for the same team, they wear the same colors, they repeat the same chants and they are one group with a common identity, regardless of background or social standing. They win together, they lose together and they will show up to the next game regardless of the outcome of this one. They are Tech fans. Like the Louisiana tech fight song: “Fight! Fight! Fight! For ole red and blue! Show your might, and we’ll root for you!”

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articles by Meredith McKinnie | illustrations by Melanie Moffett

Downtown Gallery Crawl F

or Cassie Livingston, anything that combines the arts and culture of NELA is vital. With a background in Fine Art, Cassie enjoys going to local galleries, visiting with the artists and art enthusiasts and seeing what they’re creating. The Downtown Gallery Crawls adds to the development of the downtown areas of Monroe and West Monroe and is supported by the Downtown Art Alliance. Board member, Kelsey McCrary explains the “members are involved in many other community organizations and are arts advocates for both visual and performing mediums. The board is dedicated to ensuring the Crawls stay free and open to the public, while keeping exposure to and education about fine art at the heart of the event.” Gallery owners are local art enthusiasts and do their best to support the craft. The Crawls are bi-monthly on Thursday evenings. According to the Facebook page, the Crawl consists of a “community of artists working together to culturally enhance and revitalize our historic riverfront commercial district.” The vibe is “bohemian-chic,” says Vanelis Rivera, a frequent “crawler.” It’s laid-back, casual, yet inspiring. Most artists are on hand during the crawls to discuss their pieces or art in general. It’s not a stuffy atmosphere or the misconception of people talking about the philosophy of art. Some people come to buy, others to look, some just to expose themselves to the arts. Cassie admits, “Some pieces stick with you. And while you may not purchase a piece that day, you find yourself thinking about it months later.” The landscape is always evolving, a mix of different types of art, a good collaboration. “I get to see artsy people that I love so much, with a common interest. It’s the opportunity to see it from the inside out,” Cassie claims. For people who appreciate artistic collaboration, the industrial aesthetic of the downtown area provides a nice backdrop for the whimsical new pieces created by the artists. One can find canvas paintings, pottery, woodwork, sculpture, photography, jewelry and graphic art. Many pieces are inspired

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by living in Louisiana, the food, the culture and the Southern experience. Vanelis Rivera is quite fond of The Upstairs Gallery and The Big Room Gallery, two galleries sharing the same space, but with that same industrial backdrop. She gravitates toward the photography, because she does it and enjoys exploring other people’s perspectives. She says, “When drawing or painting on canvas, you’re usually creating something out of nothing, a blank slate, but with photography, you have to work with what is already there.” The challenge intrigues her, and she wants to get a glimpse through someone else’s eyes. Many galleries participate in the Crawl. Arender Studio and Gallery is owned by Brad Arender and curated by Kelsea McCrary, who insists, “The arts are a uniting force. We see this in our Crawlers, in the diversity found in downtown Monroe and West Monroe with every crawl we host.” Upstairs Gallery, Sugar Gallery and The Big Room Gallery are all located on Art Alley in Downtown Monroe with Palace Gallery at the foot of Art Alley and DeSiard Street. Drinks and food are usually available along with live music, a social and cultural experience. On Trenton Street, the Ouachita River Art Gallery (the oldest co-op in the state) and RUMO’s participate in the Crawl, with many shops on Antique Alley holding special hours in conjunction with The Crawl. A shuttle is available to transport crawlers back and forth across the river. Palace Gallery, where Portico Church does its ministries, is a location on the Crawl on DeSiard Street. Many galleries do themes. The Palace did an African American theme recently. Like the art scene itself, the evolution and creativity of the artists is not to be missed. “Guests discover multi-faceted talent while enjoying live entertainment, local cuisine, and social interaction set against the backdrop overlooking the Ouachita River.” Events such as these are essential to the revitalization of our area and are paramount in the recent growth of Monroe and West Monroe, the places we call home.

Ruston Farmers' Market T

aylor Collins has called Ruston home for the last four years, and she is committed to investing herself in her community. Taylor is a believer in healthy, organic, sustainable living. She likes access to seasonal foods and vegetables. Farmers’ markets allow consumers to buy local, to support local, to taste local. The Ruston Farmers’ Market brings people together on Saturday mornings for the same goal. Taylor enjoys not only feeling more a part of her community, but also giving back to it. She has a strong respect for the environment and wants to do all she can to protect it. She appreciates fresh produce and homemade goods. The personal touch is especially appealing to her. In college, Taylor learned to make her own decisions, and diet and overall health became more important. She started exercising, doing yoga and weight lifting. She began to see health as a lifestyle, a combination of decisions that also benefit her surroundings. She prefers seasonal vegetables, eco-friendly, not transported items that aren’t typically eaten that time of year, with bad effects on the environment. Fresh produce simply tastes better, and she would prefer all products come that way, perhaps one day. On a typical Saturday, Taylor will peruse the booths, frequently picking up flowers, squash, zucchini, perhaps a muffin and some Railways coffee. Besides vegetables, the market offers jams, jellies, various

food booths, chicken salad, sometimes crafts and flowers, which Taylor loves to “put in vases for the week.” Ruston has grown a lot over the last few years, but still retains that “small town feel, without feeling too small.” And with that comes a sense of community pride. The market is a way to celebrate that pride, reinvest in her town. Taylor is also involved in The Bridge Community Church, where she works with eighthgrade girls and attends Bible studies. She continues that small community investment, like the Farmers’ Market. Most of the Ruston market visitors have the same interests and values: gardening, farming, recycling and sustainability, to name a few. Like the vegetables they sell, the market openings are seasonal. In the spring/summer months, it’s usually April through July. In the fall/winter months, it’s October through December. Some bigger cities will open year-round, depending on climate. This is the Ruston Farmers’ Market’s first year in an actual building, located in the downtown area of Ruston, making shopping more convenient and weatherproof. The market does accept SNAP funding. Sometimes yoga and live music are offered while the doors are open. A personal touch Taylor appreciates is the mural painted on the outside of the large building by the School of Design at Tech. It continues the motto of keeping it local. And why is it important to buy local? Well, first is taste; it’s fresh, always

superior. It keeps residents’ money in their town. Small farms are abundant in North Louisiana, and it keeps those family farms producing. There is less pollution with locally-grown food, and it provides tourists and locals the tastes of Ruston, enriching the small-town experience. According to the Ruston Farmers’ Market webpage, the mission is to “provide a dedicated space for the development of a sustainable food system allowing Louisiana vendors to sell their goods and community members to directly purchase local and wholesome products.” You not only get to see your neighbors on Saturday mornings, you get to support your neighbors. Small, close-knit events such as the farmers’ markets allow all of us to come together for a common goal, one that benefits us all in various ways. We can do our small part for the environment, we give back to those who share our space, we get to look our neighbors in the face, a simple concept becoming ever rarer in the bigger picture. We can talk to the farmers themselves, hear the stories behind the products and the farms and the creativity of those who create. We can see the worn hands of the man who sanded the cutting boards, or the delicate fingers who wrapped the ribbon sealing the kernel corn bag. It’s personal, it’s simplicity, it’s connection to what we consume and select. The Ruston Farmers’ Market allows us to give back while rewarding ourselves. WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 149

HEMLINE

Glitzy beadwork dazzles in hand-sewn clusters on this silver cocktail dress cut in an easy slip silhouette with a soaring side slip. This statement necklace is a fashionista favorite and perfected blends this modern Gatsby look.

PHOTOGRAPHY MARTIN G MEYERS MUAH MEKA BENNETT MODELS: ELLIE JACKSON, MALLORY LYNN, EVAN WARD, TYLER CATING, TAYLOR COLLINS AND ASHLEY WILLIAMS This fashion shoot is a promotion for “Fashion Fusion – Where Dance Meets Design,” a presentation by the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, in conjunction with DBK Dance and Performing Arts. Special thanks to Kathy Patrick of Keller Williams Realty and her family.

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ELEVEN 26

Mallory is a smarty in this flapper-inspired sequined dress. The zig-zag hemline and fringe will make you want to dance the night away. Pair it with a black sandal with high heel and allover straps with a cagelike appearance for an ultra-chic look. Accessorize with these gorgeous Brighton earrings and bracelets.

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HERRINGSTONE’S

Mallory looks like a doll in this tailored white dress with black trim and ruffled sleeves and hemline. A black strappy lace tie shoe features an acrylic heel for a modern touch. Add a wide pearl choker and black satin gloves for a look that is reminiscent of days past. 152 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

IF THE CROWN FITS

Ellie looks hip to the jive in this stylish black lace sports bra with deep v mesh cutouts in the front and back. A champagne-colored tank is layered over the bra and features a quick drying lightweight spandex/jersey blend. We adore these sassy leggings which feature multiple mesh panels – showing skin in all the right places.

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THE FLEURTY GINGER

A very jazzy combination of leather and lace begins with a slim leather-like legging paired with a peep toe bootie. Layer on a flowy white blouse with statement bell sleeves topped with a black lace kimono accented with dazzling silk fringe at the sleeve and hem. Coordinate a metallic clutch and cameo pendant for a look that’s Gatsby gold.

RON ALEXANDER CLOTHIERS FOR MEN

Hey Sport! Tyler is soireĂŠ-ready in a Michael Kors white linen sport coat paired with tall twill pants. The details make the difference. A custom sport shirt with brown stripes adds interest beneath a khaki linen vest and is paired with an ivory diamond print tie and tan oxford shoes by Cole Haan. Evan is jazzed in a PrivĂŠ by Baroni suit paired with a striped sport shirt. Haute accents include a black and white polka dot bowtie with matching cummerbund and a white satin pocket square with black trim.

THE NUDE NOMAD

Sheer lace shapes this stunning sheath dress featuring a mock neckline and long, flared bell sleeves. The partially lined bodice has a two-piece look. This dress is perfectly accessorized with an elegant pointed toe pump with slim buckle straps. Very au courrant jewelry choices include a gorgeous body and chain and headpiece.

THE LOFT

This knit dress features a flared cut with drop waist and dramatic bell sleeves. A chocolate sandal with fringe detailing and hand stitching is a great transitional heel and adds a little pizzazz. Accessorize with layers of necklaces and a gorgeous bracelet.

CARA’S

You’ll turn heads in this crushed velvet dress with cross back detailing. Add a little glam by layering necklaces. This rhinestone choker is paired with a black wrap necklace and a gold and black stone necklace for a luxe look. 158 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

FREE BIRDS

Make him swoon over you in this sophisticated satin halter top. We love these blush and gold sequined and scalloped shorts for a fun, swanky combination.

Southern Comfort Linda and Sam Trinca’s home in the heart of Monroe, has quite an extraordinary history. ARTICLE BY MARÉ BRENNAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN G MEYERS

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UILT OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO in 1912 by Captain R. L. McRaney and his wife along the banks of the Ouachita River near the Forsythe boat dock, the home was moved to higher ground on Park Avenue when the Ouachita levee system was built in 1934 after the Great Flood of 1927. Somewhere, Linda Trinca says, there is a photo of a mule train pulling and rolling the home atop giant logs to its final destination on Park. Can you imagine that sight! Once the home was moved to its present location on Park, the house was sited perfectly to take in summer sun on the north side of the house, with winter sun facing and warming the home’s sunroom. Owned by the McRaney family until the Trincas bought the home 42 years ago, there is no mistaking the indelible impact the Trinca family has made on the house and the house to the family. “We have had a huge emotional attachment to this house,” said Linda of their time spent raising their 5 children within its walls. “When we bought the home, we reinstalled the railing above the garage after noticing it in an old photograph. The house was dated to at least 1912 based on the original fixtures, like the chandelier in the home’s central foyer, according to the homeowner. Shiplap beneath all the walls made it easy to hang artwork and mirrors with ease. After they moved into the home, a neighborhood friend once took them to see the original piers where the house was located in a big bend of the Ouachita.

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he original home had a small kitchen which was renovated and expanded a little over six years ago with help from Sandy Sartor from Key Millworks. “My husband is the easiest man in the world. I took pictures to Sandy for the kitchen renovation and called Jeff Carbo to help us with an outside kitchen and landscape plan, explains Linda, whose stylish red-rimmed eyeglasses, long turquoise necklace and fringed poncho create her unmistakable signature look, casually chic and pulled together to perfection. The outdoor living area at the Trinca home is a natural extension of the couple’s entertaining space. “This is where we watch a lot of football,” exclaims Linda of the seating area cozied up to the outdoor fireplace with a large flatscreen television above the substantial mantle. “Sam loves his green egg cooker and his football by the fire.” The entire area outside is wired for flush mounted heaters, so the space can be used in any season. Underfoot brick pavers unify throughout the space. Dr. Trinca’s outdoor kitchen is luxurious by any standard, with SubZero fridge drawers, a Gaggenau fish fryer, gas ranges, an outdoor dishwasher and a trash can that locks up so that critters stay out. The piéce de resistance is a Hoshizaki “Sonic” ice maker. Linda had a New Orleans artisan create a cypress top for a wicker base of an old library table to create an outdoor dining table for the space. Vintage wicker furniture from Natchez mixes with a wicker rocker found in North Carolina for a very comfortable are for lounging. Beside the oversized fireplace, Spanish cedar louvered shutters are stained a deep green. Big birds of paradise bring a touch of New Orleans to the outdoor space. A mosquito system in the backyard uses an all-natural marigold extract to keep pesky, biting insects at bay. The Carbo-designed gardens feature a pathway lined with Jananese maples that on this particular day radiate with red energy as sunlight kisses their fall-tinted leaves. A little girl fountain adds a focal point to a serene water feature surrounded by lush plantings of calla lilies and ferns. The couple added the fountain as a remembrance of a child they lost. A backyard neighbor was so loved that the Trincas could never bear to build a fence, instead planting a hedge of ligustrum. Linda also added a whimsical fairy garden for her grandchildren to enjoy.

A little girl fountain adds a focal A little girlserene fountain adds feature a focal point to at water point to at serene featureof surrounded by lushwater plantings surrounded by lush plantings calla lilies. The couple added of calla lilies. The couple added thethe fountain fountainas asaa remembrance rememof brance a childof they lost.they lost. a child

The windows over the kitchen sink roll out make it easy to communicate back and forth from outdoor living space to the kitchen.

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he equally innovative and breathtaking kitchen has many state-of-the-art features while retaining a historic look in keeping with the age of the home. For instance a kick plate below the generous farmhouse sink, makes hands-free operation of the faucet a breeze. The windows over the kitchen sink roll out make it easy to communicate back and forth from outdoor living space to the kitchen. The chandelier above the island was custom sized to the perfect proportion by designer Julie Neal. The center island is covered in a sleek, marble fabricated to 6 cm by bonding two pieces of marble together; while soft closing drawers with built-in dividers for utensils leave nothing to chance. Glasspaned upper cabinets display the family’s crystal and china. Artwork plays prominently throughout the Trincas’ home. In the kitchen, a large painting by Louisiana artist Robin Hamaker adds a punch of color in the mainly neutral space. Titled “Healing Tears,” the artist related that the dripping paint on the canvas symbolized her personal triumphs after surviving a divorce and cancer. A colorful Mackenzie-Childs pillow echoes the colors of the Hamaker painting and rests in a comfortable seat in the kitchen. Another painting by a Delgado Community College art professor was a New Orleans purchase. “I love her attitude,” says Linda of the figure in the painting from 1976 which was painted on an old paper windowshade. “She makes me happy!” Beyond the kitchen, the inviting breakfast room with its endearing Chinoiserie Toile wall covering with windows topped with green checked valances is filled with meaningful furnishings. The center table was sourced from Traditions Antiques. The rug is a remembrance of the late Clowe Wright, a local interior designer who was known for her brilliant use of color. The ambience of the breakfast area is enhanced by a very New Orleans vibe, says Linda. On the northwest corner of the home, the location of the breakfast room allows one to hear music from nearby Neville High School and the light sounds of traffic as it passes along Park.

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uests love to congregate and gather in the Trincas’ sunroom. A step down to the deep green carpet with a discreet beige diamond pattern takes one into the light filled space. A ventless fireplace with a slate surround and substantial mantle was added around ten years ago, along with built-in cabinetry. “I wanted it done like an older house,” says Linda of the shallow built-in shelves and pocket doors. Linda, who leads a women’s Bible discussion group, BSF, loves the space for intimate gatherings with family and with friends. A landscape painting, “Eroding Marshland,” by Baton Rouge artist Rhea Gary, is found in the home’s living room, which was renovated at the same time as the sunroom. “I love Rhea Gary’s use of color but it just didn’t go in my house. Then I saw this painting which conveys how saltwater encroachment in the marsh is killing it,” says Linda. New Orleans artist Shelly Rosenblum’s canvas with cypress trees hangs above the neutral sofa. “Art is so personal, but my kids are always wanting me to pick it out for them,” laughs Linda. The living room’s fireplace is also ventless and can be operated with the touch of a button adding to the convenience of the space. The Trinca home is really a tale of two houses with the downstairs as the public, entertaining spaces and the upstairs reserved as a quiet retreat for the couple. Upstairs, hardwood floors lie beneath plush carpeting. In the master bedroom, a lamp which had been her mother’s rests on a bedside table. The antique brass bed features layers of luxe bedding The homeowner, who grew up in El Dorado, Arkansas met her husband, Sam, when his family moved from Mayfield, Kentucky to her home town. Describing their lengthy and loving marriage and time together raising a family, says Linda, “Sam and I practically raised each other.”

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Upstairs, hardwood floors lie beneath plush carpeting. In the master bedroom, a lamp which had been her mother’s rests on a bedside table.

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ne of the couple’s girls bedrooms is outfitted in a repurposed Chintz from the home’s downstairs living room. Linda created twin headboards and dust ruffles, along with drapery and even had enough fabric to reupholster a favorite chair for the adorable room. Explains Linda, “When we bought the house, there was an apartment upstairs that the McRaney’s daughter had rented out. Renovations to that section resulted in a new guest bath with very stylish concrete tile where the apartment’s kitchen and bath had been located. A second bedroom features an antique iron bed. The carpet is a trellis pattern in blue on a cream background. A third guest bedroom upstairs is a light-filled space that feels more like a treehouse and was the Trinca’s older two girls’ room. A staircase connects the room to the back of the home and the kitchen. Memories of raising five children in such an iconic and historic home are abundant. In the home’s large hall near the handsome central staircase hangs a drawing commissioned by the couple’s children and executed by Houston artist Jim Harris in 2000 of their childhood home. “This artist puts a cross in all of his drawings,” adds Linda. “Our family is pretty tight knit because we never take ourselves too seriously. We used to have screen doors leading to the back of the property. I can still hear the kids running in and out, sliding down bannisters and the screen doors squeaking and slamming shut. The sounds of the city are never far. I love hearing a train whistle, Parkview’s church bells and cars swishing by.” Another favorite memory centers on their daughter Jennifer’s wedding reception which took place at the home. “We had a caterer cook brunch the day after the wedding and just watched the world go by,” says Linda of the magical memory. When their

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youngest daughter, Kacey, became engaged, she said she wanted her wedding to be just like the day after Jennifer’s wedding. The search for a destination that could recreate the same vibe was on, and a trip through Cashiers, NC led Linda to the perfect location at The Farm at Old Edwards Inn, where the couple married in the garden and had their reception in the barn. Christmas has always been a special time at the Park Avenue home and the source of many of the family’s happiest memories. The Trincas are known for their multitude of windows hung with Christmas wreaths, 24 to be exact, which have acted of a harbinger of the holiday season. Hung with care from every window, the wreaths and the 23 stockings for each family member add up to a lot of love, for their neighbors and each other. “Usually at Christmas friends will come over and we would gather around the piano and sing Christmas carols,” according to Linda. During Christmas Eve gatherings Sam was known for cooking Italian sausage, and Linda would do a gumbo. Oftentimes, Linda describes finding her oldest grandson at the piano filling the home with music when he is visiting. There is no doubt that the couples’ 5 children and their 11 grandchildren have left their mark on the history of this home. Says Linda of the couple’s impending move from the home, “Last year, the day after Christmas, I told my kids to take their ornaments off the tree. We had decided that we were finally ready to sell our house.” A tiny home on the lake is calling and will be the Trincas’ home base “until God show us His plan.” But for now, Linda says, “There are no plans, just freedom to do whatever.” The wreaths in the windows tradition is one the homeowners and their children hope will continue for years to come waiting on whomever the home chooses to be its next owner.

Calendar of Events For a full list of event happenings in Northeast Louisiana, see our website at www.bayoulifemag.com

February 1-4 The Ike Futurity and Classic Don’t miss this exciting competition. Cutting is a sport where a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a single animal from a cattle herd. Venue: Ike Hamilton Expo Center Arena Admission Cost: Free to the public Phone: (318) 325-9160 Web: http://www.nchadella.com/ February 1 2017 Northeast Louisiana Job Fair Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Northeast Louisiana employers are searching for good employees at the 2017 Northeast Louisiana Job Fair. This event is free and open to any area job-seekers. Venue: Monroe Civic Center Admission Cost: Free Phone: 318-329-2225 Web: ci.monroe.la.us/calendar/ month February 2 Downtown Gallery Crawl Time: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Presented by the Downtown Arts Alliance, ten 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. Admission is free. Venue: Downtown Monroe and West Monroe Admission Cost: free Phone: 318-503-5125 February 4 Variety Time: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Come out for the Masur Museum’s first ever Variety Art Show. The Variety Art Show will be an inter-generational cultural experience that every member of the family will enjoy. Various art related activities will take place at the museum from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. This is one event you will not want to miss. Venue: Masur Museum of Art

Admission Cost: Free Phone: 318-329-2237 Web: www.masurmuseum.org February 7 Photographers’ Roundtable at Black Bayou Time: 6:30 p.m. Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge invites all Commercial, Professional and Amateur Photographers who utilize Black Bayou Lake to come and meet with the refuge staff. This meeting will be an open forum to discuss increasing number of photographers using the area and any potential conflict with refuge purposes. Venue: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Admission Cost: free Phone: 318-387-1114 Web: www.fws.gov/northlouisiana/ blackbayoulake February 10-12, 16-18 “Boeing Boeing” at Strauss Theatre Time: Friday and Saturday 7:00 p.m., Sunday 2:00 p.m. Fasten your seatbelts for this riotous farce! Swinging bachelor Bernard couldn’t be happier: a flat in Paris and three gorgeous stewardesses all engaged to him without knowing about each other. But when Bernard’s friend Robert comes to stay and all three stewardesses are in town simultaneously, catastrophe looms. Venue: Strauss Theatre Center Phone: 318-323-6681 Web: www.strausstheatrecenter. com Big Creek Trade Days in Dubach Time: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday Shop a mix of unique gifts, antiques, hand-made items and more treasures from a huge variety of vendors! Admission Cost: $5 for parking Phone: 318-680-1304

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February 10 Monster Truck Destruction Tour Time: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The nation’s most competitive monster trucks are invading the IKE Hamilton Expo Center. See these incredible 10,000 pound, car crushing giants compete in racing, wheelie contests and amazing freestyle action during the MTD Tour! Come early, meet the drivers, get autographs and take photos with the drivers and their Monsters. Venue: Ike Hamilton Expo Center Arena Admission Cost: Adults $20, Kids 3-12 $10 Phone: 318-325-9160 Web: theike.com February 11 Monroe Symphony Orchestra Presents: “The Glorious Clarinet” Time: 7:00 p.m. Join the Monroe Symphony Orchestra for a night of great music. “The Glorious Clarinet” will be an ode to the world’s most popular woodwind. Venue: ULM Brown Auditorium Admission Cost: $5-$25 Phone: 318-342-1568 Web: www.mymso.org/ February 17 Geneva Academy presents the: Wig and Stache Bash Time: 6:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. The parents and faculty of Geneva Academy invite you to put on your dancing shoes and 1920s best and join them for an evening with all the fun and flair of “The Great Gatsby” era. This year’s event includes a formal dinner catered by Waterfront Grill, beverages provided by Choice Brands, a live and silent auction, dance lessons and more. Venue: Vantage Tower- Banquet Room Admission Cost: $50 February 18-19 NELA Homebuilders Expo Time: Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00

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, Decor, Insulation, Roofing, Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies, Lawn Fencing, Animal Control Fencing and much more! Venue: Monroe Civic Center Phone: 318-329-2225 Web: www.ci.monroe.la.us/ monroe-civic-center February 18 Krewe of Janus Children’s Mardi Gras Parade Time: Registration-9:30 a.m.; Parade-10:30 a.m. It’s that time of year! Laissez les bon temps rouler! The Children’s Mardi Gras Parade will be held at Pecanland Mall Center Court. Children up to age 10 are invited to walk, roll or ride with the Krewe of Janus. Trophies will be awarded in 3 divisions. Individuals ages 0-4, Individuals ages 4-10 and Group. A grand prize trophy will be awarded for the best entry. For more info, call 732-7229. We hope to see all of you there! This is a FREE event! Venue: Pecanland Mall Admission Cost: Free Phone: (318) 322-4635 Web: facebook.com/KreweOfJanus ChildrensMardiGrasParade Bird Fun for Families at Black Bayou Time: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. In celebration of the Great Backyard Bird Count, Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge invites you to come out and participate in bird themed activities, learn more about local birds and paint a milk carton bird house to take home. Venue: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Admission Cost: free Phone: 318-387-1114 Web: www.fws.gov/northlouisiana/ blackbayoulake

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11th Annual Krewe of Paws Pet Parade Time: 1:30 p.m. See a twist on the traditional Mardi Gras festivities with pets of all sorts in costumes, floats, and of course plenty of beads! Venue: Antique Alley Admission Cost: $20 per registrant and $5 additional per pet. Free to watch parade. Web: www.pawsnela.org Jester Jog Time: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Put your running shoes on and come out to the 1k Fun Run or the 5K Jester Jog through Historic Antique Alley and other great areas of West Monroe. Venue: Antique Alley Admission Cost: $22–$40 Email: contact@dirtysouthrunning. com Phone: (318) 366-4188 Web: www.eventbrite.com/e/ jester-jog-tickets-29388735499 Downtown River Jam Mardi Gras Party Time: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Jim Taylor Auto Group presents Downtown River Jam featuring Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas live on the Skent-N-Dent stage! Enjoy music, food, a full bar, free beer samplings by Choice Brands, and MORE while you wait for the parade! Enjoy a front row seat on Walnut for the parade without camping all day. Venue: Old Coca-Cola Building Admission Cost: $10 Phone: 318-329-3254 Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade Time: 6:00pm It’s that time of year when king cakes are enjoyed, beads are thrown, and the music is loud, it’s Mardi Gras 2017! Join the Krewe of Janus in the parade. Families will marvel at the spectacular floats and colorful creations! Venue: Monroe-West Monroe Admission Cost: Free Phone: 318-323-0230 Web: www.kreweofjanusonline. com/ Krewe of Allegro Mardi Gras Ball Time: 7:00 p.m. - Midnight Celebrate the season with the Dixie and enjoy cocktails, entertainment from old school funk 172 FEBRUARY 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

band Windstorm, silent auction from the North Central Louisiana Arts Council and much more! Proceeds benefit the sustaining building fund for the Dixie Center for the Arts in Downtown Ruston. Venue: Ruston Civic Center Admission Cost: $60 Phone: 318-255-1450 February 20-23 Stained Glass Workshop for Adults Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. This workshop will teach the student how to build a small stained glass panel using the Louis Comfort Tiffany method. Students will learn a brief history of stained glass, pick out a pattern, learn to cut glass, put together a panel using copper foil, and solder their panel. The class will be (4) two-hour sessions, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Registration includes stained glass and basic supplies. Space is limited and reservations are required. No prior experience is necessary. Venue: Masur Museum of Art Admission Cost: $160 Museum Members / $180 Non–Members Phone: (318) 329-2237 Web: www.masurmuseum.org February 24 Mardi Gras Opera Fundraiser Time: 7:00pm Join The Lousiana Opera for delicious desserts, champagne and divine entertainment at their Mardi Gras Opera Fundraiser. Venue: Ouachita Grand Plaza Admission Cost: $40 Individual tickets, $200 table of 8 Phone: 318-329-1381 Tokyo’s OTONANA TRIO Live at Sal’s Saloon Time: 8:00 p.m. OTONANA TRIO tour the U.S. this winter in support of their album, Space Power Delight. Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, they are beloved a live band, known for their expertly-played party-funk, crazy costumes, and ability to make their fans dance. www.otonanatrio.com Venue: Sal’s Saloon Admission Cost: $10 Phone: (318) 322-7100 Web: www.facebook.com/ SalsSaloon

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February 25-26 “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Time: Saturday 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Sunday 3:00 p.m. The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Joseph, his father’s favorite son, is a boy blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. Venue: Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts Admission Cost: $12 Adult, $8 Student Phone: 318-812-7922 Web: www.straussyouthacademyfor thearts.com February 25 Northeast Louisiana Heart Walk Time: Check-In 8:00 a.m.; Walk starts at 9:15 a.m. Join the Northeast Louisiana American Heart Association at the 2017 Heart Walk. This year’s walk will take place a ULM’s Malone Stadium. Come out and join in on all the fun while building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Venue: ULM Malone Stadium Phone: 318-342-1000 Web: www.ulmwarhawks.com 36th Annual Black History Parade Time: Line up- 7:00 a.m.; Parade begins- 10:00 a.m. Enjoy marching units, schools, churches, car clubs, motorcycle clubs and horse clubs! This year’s theme is “Freedom is never given. It is won.” The parade rolls down Washington Street to North 4th to DeSiard Street and will end at Eastgate Plaza. Venue: Downtown Monroe Admission Cost: Free Phone: 318-789-6474

boutiques from the Monroe area and promotes shopping local, while promoting the work of the Children’s Coalition. Venue: West Monroe Convention Center Admission Cost: $75 general admission Phone: 318-396-5000 Web: www.childrenscoalition.org/ fashion-fusion February 26 Red Carpet Rendezvous Time: 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Join GO CARE as they host a Red Carpet Rendezvous coinciding with the airing of the 89th annual Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award show. This event will include a seated dinner, a silent auction of items ranging from travel packages to pieces of original art and entertainment by Robbie Turner. Venue: Go Care Admission Cost: $40 Phone: (318) 325-1092 Web: www.go-care.org/ Enjoy your stay in Monroe-West Monroe! We at the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitor’s Bureau hope you have a great stay here! Please feel free to call us at 800843-1872 if you have any questions. You may also stop by our offices at 601 Constitution Drive, West Monroe for brochures, coupons, and additional information. Visit www.monroe-westmonroe. org for information about events in Ouachita Parish and visit www.rustonlincoln.com for events in Lincoln Parish.

Fashion Fusion 2017 Time: 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. This high energy, runwaystyle fashion show is infused with dance performed by the Debbie Bourg School of Dance and is a benefit event for the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana. The show features local fashion WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 173

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