Signature October 2012 by Hattiesburg Publishing, Inc.

october 2012

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Features OCTOBER 2012 Volume VII Issue 7

Go Gold! Celebrating Southern Miss Whether tailgating with friends and family prior to watching the Golden Eagles take the field, attending a gallery reception, an academic workshop or taking classes – no matter your age – the University of Mississippi is a great place to call home.

43 44

Center of Attention This month’s photo feature follows a black and gold theme – that’s USM.

54 Hollywood in Hattiesburg? USM professor/ producer wants to shoot film in Pine Belt

47 USM ‘Band nerd’ to Dallas Cowboys Joe Trahan was once a proud marching member of The Pride. These days he’s hanging out with ‘America’s team.’

59 black! gold! spirit! USM fans show their love of school.

Joan Easterling, a member of the Cameraderie Club, captured some Southern Miss spirit in these drops of black and gold paint.

OCTOBER 2012

Departments

27 Happenings

33 79

31 Neighbors

14 ARTeast Festival: Meador Homestead welcomes state’s artists.

23 JA Charity Ball: Women’s group does good things for community.

16 Events: The fall calendar is filled with fundraisers, plenty of ourdoors events.

28 Meet: Ricky and Mary Nobile.

21 Noteworthy: USM pregame concerts feature variety of entertainment.

84: The Signature Q&A: Jeff Hammond

31 Bits & Pieces: Pine Belt Quilters to blanket area.

Cuisine 33 A Mississippi menu: Meador Homestead cooks up menu honoring famous Mississippians. 37 Q&A: Chef Brad Cornett of Two Brothers Grill is big USM supporter. 39 Wine Dining: Rediscovering Riesling Noblest of Grapes

24 Downtown: October is awash in sea of events. 27 Empty Bowls: Fundraiser hopes to ‘shine light in dark places.’

Scene 66

Golden Eagle faithful: Tailgating fun at first game of the season.

Breakfast with Seymour: Chi Omega alums welcome birds of a feather.

Black! Gold! Black!: Fans flock to 17th Annual Eagle Fanfare.

Football 101: FGH Spirit of Women, USM football fun.

Whooooo’s painting? Pine Belt Chi Omegas gather to paint.

Polymer Exploration: Visitors from across the nation explore USM.

Welcome med students: WCU osteopathic students get Hub welcome.

And the winners...: SMP Awards Banquet honors the best.

Very hospitable: Hub City welcomes contestants.

Around the world: Miss Hospitality ladies party across the globe.

A winner crowned: Chandler Llana crowned.

Backdoor Coffeehouse: Enjoy coffee, entertainment

Women’s Expo: Taking care of you.

Realtors Poker Run: DAFS benefits.

– Page 47

On the cover: Nothing says the University of Southern Mississippi than the iconic Golden Eagle itself.

Prologue:

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CHLOE ROUSE, CAROLYN CRITZ, ROBERT GREENSTREET, MEMBERS OF THE CAMERADERIE CLUB: MATT BUSH, STEVE COLEMAN, KELLY DUNN, JOAN EASTERLING, BRENT WALLACE Reproductions in whole or in part, without written permission, is strictly prohibited. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited manuscripts, articles, or photographs. We reserve the right to edit submissions before publication. Signature Magazine is a product of Hattiesburg Publishing, Inc., proud publisher of The Lamar Times, The Petal News, Camp Shelby Reveille, HubCitySPOKES.com and PineBeltSPORTS.com and is distributed at more than 200 locations in and around Hattiesburg. Mail subscriptions are available for home delivery. For subscriptions or inquiries, write Signature Magazine, 103 N. 40th Ave., Hattiesburg, MS 39401, or call (601) 268-2331. Copyright 2012 by Hattiesburg Publishing, Inc. Find us online at:

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College town experience unique

ollege towns are college towns because so much of what goes on revolves around a college or university (or, in some cases, multiple colleges and universities). Boston has more schools of higher learning than anywhere in the country, but when was the last time you heard Boston referred to as a “college town”? That’s just not how it works. Hattiesburg, however, is a college town. I think we’re finding out right now just how much the community in and around the Hub City and throughout the Pine Belt supports Southern Miss University. If there’s one thing that brings a community together, it’s a football team, and the start to the Golden Eagles’ football season could be described as dubious at best. People here just aren’t accustomed to losing on the gridiron. Not at any level at which the sport is played, but especially not at the college level. But USM is struggling to perform at a high level through the first third of the football season, and scanning the rest of the schedule is probably ill advised if you’re prone to football-related depression. It could be a very long year for the Golden Eagles. When things go downhill on the field it is inevitable that some fans and supporters will lose interest. There’s no question that the stands at M.M. Roberts Stadium will be a little bit emptier if there’s not a winning team to watch. However, I get the distinct feeling that this community will still stand behind its Golden Eagles. Now, maybe that’s because losing is foreign to them. For many of the kids attending Southern Miss right now, they’ve never known a losing season. Even for those fans that are older, the memories of such a thing are probably a little foggy right now. And so in the wake of a dismal start to the year, I’ve seen fans continue to declare their support of the Golden Eagles and Southern Miss. In my experience, that’s something special and unique. The casual fans will find something else to do on Saturdays, but there are so many people that will continue to pull for USM — those that have a deeper connection to the university, which has roots that run deep. I went to school in Oxford, Ohio, the quintessential “college town.” Everything there runs around Miami University, and when school is in session the town’s population grows to four times its summer size. Miami football would love to have the deep-rooted support found here in Hattiesburg. Traditionally, Miami football is no slouch (ignore the recent standings, please). It’s known as “The Cradle of Coaches,” and some of the sport’s greatest leaders have found their way from Oxford, Ohio to greater national prominence. The football world is littered with Miamians. Even New Orleans Saints head coach — when they let him back in the game — Sean Payton found his footing at Miami. Yet the RedHawks (formerly Redskins) don’t have a fan base anything like Southern Miss’. Kids at Miami grow up rooting for Ohio State or some other Big Ten school and only turn out to watch the RedHawks when they’re winning, often still wearing their OSU sweatshirt. The only time the stands were consistently filled was when Ben Roethlisberger was taking the team to national notoriety. So while USM may not have a football season its accustomed to, never take for granted the importance the team holds in the community — with kids growing up rooting for the Golden Eagles, not Ole Miss or Mississippi State — and remember that Hattiesburg is a glowing example of a college town, through and through.

Josh Mlot PineBeltSPORTS.com

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ART

Festival

Meador Homestead to host palette of artists Oct. 13

hether you’re into fine art, handmade soaps and candles, or are a connoisseur of foods, then you need to make your way to the the 3rd Annual MS ARTeast Festival set for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Meador Homestead cabin in Hattiesburg. Admission is free for the public. The event will host various artists from across Mississippi including authors, honey and hot dog makers, photographers, soap and candle makers, recycled glass, fiber art, genealogists, wood turners, painters, print makers and potters. Each year at Meador Homestead, Dean Meador Smith and her family host the MS ARTeast Festival at the old family homestead. According to Smith, “This is an old country time gathering where we celebrate the arts and honor the artists of the greatest state in the USA – Mississippi. This one-day event allows artists from all genres to show off their talent and sell their treasures, which will hopefully be passed on to many generations. Booths are set up, artists proudly smile, customers browse and buy, and a good social interaction is had by all.”

About the artists.... Sandy Fortenberry Sandy Fortenberry of Columbia retired from a nursing career in 2004 and has since pursued her passion for photography. Her favorite subject is nature and more specifically flowers. She has honed her craft in photography classes at Southern Miss with 35 mm film cameras then switched to digital photography in 2004.

Michael VanPeski Michael VanPeski has been shooting pictures for more than 30 years. More than 90 percent of his photography has been with film. He worked in the aerospace program for 30 years until 2007 when he retired. His favorite subject to shoot is lightning. He has the help of his granddaughter, Tyler Renee Lee.

Lauren Thomas At the age 19, Lauren Thomas decided to learn to knit. So, with library

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books as her teachers, she learned to follow a pattern. Soon she began altering and ultimately writing patterns for her own original designs. Thomas eventually expanded into the art of felting, which is the process of turning wool fiber into felt fabric.

Dean Meador Smith In her new book, “Momma Dean’s Southern Cooking at Meador Homestead,” Dean Meador Smith, who once performed as Maria in Sound of Music, writes about “a few of her favorite things”—family, friends, faith, and of course – FOOD! These “favorites” have impacted who she has become in life – a music and English teacher, writer of nationally-acclaimed devotional books.

Melanie and Keith Dale Beelicious Honey is owned and operated by local honey makers, Melanie and Keith Dale and their three children. With apiaries in much of South Mississippi including Hatties-burg, Brandon, Petal and Lum-berton, Beelicious offers pure golden sweetness that only nature can provide.

Gus Bowering Gus Bowering, a genealogical researcher, will be in The Family Tree House at this year’s ARTeast Festival showing what he has done for the Meador Homestead. Also a stained glass artisan, Bower is a retired Special Educator and Educational Technology Specialist, who also is an avid gardener and enjoys assisting families in finding their “Roots.”

Janna Holbert With nearly 15 years in the publishing industry, Joanna Holbert has served as news editor for The News- Commercial in Collins. She is one of the founders and editor of Our South Magazine. She currently works with the City of Madison’s mayor’s office and is publisher of Madison’s City Magazine.

Martha Ginn Martha Ginn is a fiber artist who has taken quilting from the bed to the walls. Instead of paints, her palette consists of fabric and thread machine sewn artistically to create original landscapes, representational and abstract works. She often adds paint, crayons, cellophane and other unexpected products to achieve a look.

Laura Whitacre Treehugger Recycled Glass is Laura Whitacre’s eco-friendly product line created in 2009 in response to the absence of glass recycling in the Hattiesburg area. She specializes in recycled glass jewelry, art and tableware. Each piece is hand crafted from post-consumer wine, beer and liquor bottles recovered from the community.

Connie Bowman A resident of Picayune, Connie Bowman, a fan of nice bath and body products, as well as a teacher, began studying and researching ways to make her own. Friends, family and neighbors became her product testers. Upon retirement in the classroom, she devoted more time to her ‘craft.’ She now sells wholesale.

Ned McInnis Ned McInnis describes himself as a “hot dog artist.” His business, Gadsby’s Good Grub, was voted Best Hot Dog in the 2012 edition of FestivalSouth and Signature Magazine’s Best of the Pine Belt voting. Gadsby’s sells Nathan’s Famous Quarter Pound All Beef Polish Hot Dogs.

Vaughan Wilson Vaughn Wilson captured the true essence of horses that have inspired, encouraged and entertained their caretakers in the book, “Tell Me about that Horse: Stories from Exceptional People about Treasured Horses.” This is a compilation of 40 intimate profiles of devoted horse lovers and the horses that have influenced their lives.

Ramona Bridges Winner of the 2012 MS Library Assoc. Award for Fiction, Bridges weaves an unforgettable story about unfailing love, deceit, prejudice and forgiveness in her debut novel, Sweet By and By. Her second book is Standing on the Promises. Bridges lives n Seminary.

Janet Brewer This Water Valley resident owns MS SOAPS, products such as soap and shampoo which are made from olive oil.

Bill Norris Author Bill Norris is a retired Air Force fighter pilot. He has a BS degree and has expanded his education at the Air Force University on three assignments. He and his wife Fran have been married for 58 years and have 4 children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. He is an active member Oak Grove UMC.

october 2012

USM FOOTBALL SEASON

OCT. 5-7

THROUGH OCT. 28

OCT. 11

100 Years of Athletics

All Aboard Exhibit

Fiber Art & Quilt Show

“Girls Only”

@ The Rock, USM campus

@ Train Depot

@ Lake Terrace Convention Center

9am@ Southern Oaks House and Gardens

The Southern Miss Department of Athletics, in conjunction with the 100 Years of Athletics, have announced the themes for the six Golden Eagle football games for the upcoming season. The theme of this athletic year is "Celebrating 100 Years of Championships and Commencements." Each game is themed around a key word that has enabled the University to thrive over its first 100 years and one of the school's five colleges will be honored during a game. • Oct. 6 – hosts Boise State, time TBD – The "Champions" game. • Oct. 20 – Marshall comes to town for Homecoming 2012, 6 pm, in a game dubbed "Honor." The homecoming court will be featured at halftime of the game with the crowning of the king and queen during this ceremony. • Nov. 3 – USM welcome UAB, 6:30 pm – "Commencements." All Southern Miss faculty and staff are eligible to buy one ticket, get one ticket free in honor of their service and dedication for the university. It will also be Take a Kid to a Game for free. All children 12 and under will receive free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. • Nov. 17 – The Golden Eagles host UTEP for final home game of the season, 7 pm – Themed "Character," this game will serve as the annual Military Appreciation game where all branches of the military including retired, reserved, and active members will be honored for their service.

The All Aboard! Sculpture Exhibit pulled into the depot on Oct. 3 and will run through Oct. 28. It will be open 10 am till 4 pm Monday thru Saturday and 1 till 4 pm Sunday. The All Aboard exhibit is in its third year. Each year a theme is developed and sculptors are challenged to create their pieces using materials related to railroading. The first challenge winner, Spikeman, sits proudly at the entrance to the Depot. The exhibition began in 2010 in celebration of the Historic Depot’s Centennial. Partners in the project, along with the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association, are Hattiesburg Arts Council, VisitHattiesburg, and the City of Hattiesburg.

The Pine Belt Quilters will host the 14th Biennial Fiber Art and Quilt Show, at the Lake Terrace Convention Center, Oct. 5 7 in Hattiesburg. The show will feature judged quilt show, the famous Hoffman Challenge, silent auction, trunk shows, raffle quilt, boutique, lectures, and vendors of all types. Hours: Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm.

Forrest General’s Spirit of Women will host their annual exclusive “girls only” event filled with fun activities, fabulous food and prizes, dancing, massages, holiday decorating and travel tips, shopping and much, much more on Oct. 11! Attendees are encouraged to gather a group of friends and enjoy the opportunity to be pampered, learn about taking action for better health and get ready for the holidays – all in one event! Catherine Strange demonstrates easy seasonal wreaths and door hangers, gifts and more. Debbie Thornton, author of the Any Blonde Can Cook cookbooks, is also a featured speaker, guaranteed to keep attendees laughing with hilarious anecdotes. Thornton will have several of her cookbooks for sale and will sign copies. The Girls’ Day Out and Annual Holiday Decorating Event will be held from 9 a.m. until noon Thursday, Oct. 11 at Southern Oaks House and Gardens, 1246 Richburg Road in Hattiesburg. Tickets are $25 for Spirit of Women members and $35 for nonmembers. Limited space is available, and the deadline for registration is Oct. 8. To register, contact Spirit of Women line at 601-288-4968.

www.southernmiss.com/sports

www.pinebeltquilters.com

OCT. 6

Oktoberfest 11am-4pm @ St. John Lutheran Church

OCTOBER

Downtown Farmers Market @ Town Square Park, Downtown H’burg Come out each Thursday through the end of the month to listen to live music while picking up locally-grown produce, flowers and homemade goodies.

www.downtownhattiesburg.com

FRIDAYS IN OCTOBER

The 34th annual Oktoberfest held at St. John Lutheran Church in Hattiesburg gets underway Oct. 6 with authentic German food. This includes bratwurst, German potato salad and sauerkraut. A popular part of each year’s festivities is the popular oompah band. This year’s festival will include a delicatessen with homemade breads, desserts, preserves, etc., quilt raffle, silent auction and crafts. All of the profits are used for mission work in Africa, Mississippi and here in Hattiesburg. The church is located at 2001 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg.

www.saintjohnlutheran.com

Live at 5

OCT. 11, 18, 25

Brown Bag Concert Series

5-9pm@ Town Square Park, Downtown Live @ Five is a free, outdoor, music event held in Downtown Hattiesburg at Town Square Park every Friday evening from 5 – 9pm in October. The events are sponsored by local businesses and produced by Live @ Five Productions. Food will be sold by locally-owned restaurants. Beverages will be sold by Sacred Heart School to benefit the Speech & Debate Team. Bring a blanket, lawnchair, neighbor, and friend.

www.forrestgeneral.com

12-1pm@ Fountain Park, H’burg City Hall

OCT. 7-14

16th Annual Cruisin’ The Coast @ Mississippi Gulf Coast Cruisin’ The Coast 2012 will celebrate its “Sweet Sixteen” celebration Oct. 7-14 as it welcomes guestss from across the nation to America’s largest block party. The Mississippi Gulf Coast event began in 1996 as a festival to celebrate antique, classic and hot rod vehicles, nostalgic music and related events. This year will be no exception. Car enthusiasts from across 39 states and Canada drive to the Mississippi Gulf Coast once a year to showcase their rides and to cruise the beautiful 30-mile stretch of beachside highway with designated stops in Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, D'Iberville, Gulfport, and Ocean Springs.

www.cruisinthecoast.com

Come out each Thursday and enjoy great music. Brown bag lunches available for purchased. Sponsored by the Hattiesburg Arts Council. Free to the public.

www.downtownhattiesburg.com

OCT. 11-20

Crimson 7:30pm@ Tatum Theatre, WCU campus An original mystery play, Tickets are $10, General Admission; $8 for military and senior citizens. Box office will be open 1-4 pm Monday through Friday, beginning Oct. 8. For more information, call 601.318.6221.

www.wmcarey.edu/

OCT. 12

Roots Reunion 7pm@ Saenger Theatre Return to South Mississippi’s musical roots with the 14th edition of this traditional and live radio show featuring the talent of local musicians. FREE admission. For more information, call 601-584-4888.

www.hattiesburgsaenger.com

a love offering will be taken. Concert to benefit Edwards Street Fellowship Center Food Pantry. Doors open at 6 pm. For information call 601-544-6149.

Street, Downtown Hattiesburg. Times are tough... hunger is tougher. Join us as we raise awareness and support the Edwards Street Fellowship Center in Hattiesburg.

Entertainment will The Glitter Boys. For more information, contact Jennifer Parker or Whitney Sumrall at 228.896.0886 or email japarker@marchofdimes.com.

www.heritage-umc.org

www.esfcntr.org

www.marchofdimes.com

OCT. 13

OCT. 20

OCT. 13

Fall Art Walk

ARTeast Festival

USM Homecoming parade

9am-3pm @ Meador Homestead Cabin

10am@ Downtown Hattiesburg

This year’s Mississippi ARTeast Festival has been moved to October, in the hopes it won't be so hot. The event will be held from 9 am-3 pm Oct. 13 at the Simply TeaVine and Meador Homestead Cabin, 6775 US Hwy 49 N. Artists of all genres from throughout the state will be in attendance.

The University of Southern Mississippi will kick off Homecoming 2012 with a parade through the streets of downtown Hattiesburg. You’ll see Seymour and the cheerleaders, the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, members of the USM Homecoming Court as well as other university groups and organizations.

www.meadorhomestead.com

www. usm.edu

4-9pm @ Downtown Hattiesburg

OCT. 12

Benefit Concert 7pm@ Heritage UMC, Hattiesburg Jeff and Sheri Easter will be in concert at 7 pm Friday, Oct., 12, at Heritage United Methodist Church on Hwy 98 West at Barracuda Drive in Hattiesburg (Oak Grove). No admission charge, but

Presented by the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association, Fall Art Walk will encompass the Empty Bowls Fundraiser, Roots Reunion, music and artist booths along downtown streets and the All Aboard! sculpture exhibit.

www.downtownhattiesburg.com

OCT. 13-NOV. 21

Paintings by Amy Giust 5-7:30pm@ Hattiesburg Cultural Center Amy Giust, a native of Ohio, who now calls Hattiesburg home, will exhibit her newest collection of paintings. An opening reception set for 5-7pm Oct. 13 will be held at the Hattiesburg Cultural Center in conjunction with Fall Art Walk.

www.downtownhattiesburg.com

OCT. 13

Empty Bowls 6-9pm@ Main Street Books, Hattiesburg On Oct. 13, the Edwards Street Fellowship Center, in conjunction with Main Street Books, will hold The Empty Bowls Fundraiser. All bowls will sell for $20 each (which includes soup, bread, dessert and a beverage). In addition to the fundraiser, Main Street will also host a silent auction. All funds raised will go to the center and its outreach efforts in the local community. This event will take place at Main Street Books, 210 Main

OCT. 16

Night at the Opera 7:30pm@ Parkway Heights UMC Experience the joy and glory of Old Vienna with the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company’s new production of Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus (“The Bat”). This musical tale has been the treat of both operatic and Broadway stages for more than a century. Now, be immersed in a special production that literally intertwines audience and cast! Tickets are $20, general admission.

www.usm.edu/music/symphony

OCT. 27

Petal Fall Festival @ Hinton Park, Petal Plans are continuing for the Petal Fall Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 27, at Hinton Park. A number of last year’s vendors will be returning, with new vendors also lining up for the city’s second fall festival. Among the activities scheduled for the day include dog and car shows, activities for children and a variety of entertainment. Waylon Albright “Shooter” Jennings, the son of country singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, will close out the day with a free concert.

www.esfcntr.org OCT. 18

Signature Chef ’s Auction 6:30pm@ Thad Cochran Center, USM The March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction is the deliciously unique mustattend social event of the year. This gourmet extravaganza will feature the skills and creativity of 15-20 of the finest chefs and hottest restaurants in the Pinebelt. Guests will enjoy tasting the signature dishes while experiencing the opportunity to bid on incredible, creative and unique silent auction and culinary live auction packages. Auction packages highlight fabulous cuisine, fine wine, travel and entertainment, dinners, hotel stays and vacation getaways to raise funds to help America’s babies.

OCT. 26

Rocky Horror Picture Show 8pm@ Saenger Theater Let’s do the time warp again! With a jump to the left and a step to the right, the Rocky Horror tradition continues. Catchy songs and thrilling dance numbers are completed with audience interaction. You wear the costume and we’ll provide the props! Tickets are $10/$12 general admission. Call 601-584-4888.

www.hattiesburgsaenger.com

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Noteworthy

Get your groove on Southern Miss Tailgate Concert Series continues through Nov. 8

ith the second annual WUSM Tailgate Concert Series already in full swing, Southern Miss fans will have plenty of opportunities to get their groove on prior to each of the remaining home football games. The tailgate concert series is free event that is open to the public and held on USM’s Hattiesburg campus at the Centennial Green located next to Danforth Chapel. The series kicked off Sept. 15 with a pre-game performance from Hattiesburg’s own The King Fridays, and continued Sept. 29 with local favorites Doctor E and the Mississippi Voodoo Kings. Austin, Texas-based T-Bird and the Breaks take the stage early on Saturday, Oct. 6, for a morning game against Boise State. The tailgating fun begins bright and early at 8 a.m. and continues through the 11 a.m. kickoff. The Breaks play “chunk music,” which they describe as “a form of 21st Century American music consisting of equal parts funk, hip-hop, and rock and roll characterized by its rough sonic quality and energetic, visceral performance. Commonly served hot with a side of girls and brass.” Local heroes Southbound Crescent will headline the pregame party from 3 to 5 p.m. prior to the Golden Eagles Homecoming game against Marshall at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Led by Lanna Wakeland and Eric Rodgers, Southbound Crescent consists of a diverse group of musicians including Wayne Dawson (guitar), Joel Ingram (drums), Dana Simmons (bass) and Bill Singer (keyboards). They are all professional and/or self employed entrepreneurs by day and passionate

musicians by night. On Saturday, Nov. 3, Hattiesburg’s own indie-rock newbies, The Mount Rushmores, take the stage from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. prior to the game against UAB. The Rushmores, who are currently in the studio finishing up their first album, include Josh Stricklin (bass), Jeremiah Stricklin (acoustic guitar), Ethan Manning (electric guitar), Paul Howayeck (drums) and Charley Tynes (keyboards). Wrapping up the Concert Series on Nov. 17 is The Adam Doleac Band, led by former Southern Miss baseball standout Adam Doleac and including Trevor Ciongoli (keyboards/guitar), Nick Manton (drums), Kody Killens (bass guitar), and Adam McPhail (lead guitar). Doleac and gang released their debut album earlier this year that has been described as “toe-tapping, soul-searching, headnodding mix of country and Southern rock with the lyrical make up of some of the finest Americana albums out there.” The band is scheduled to perform from 4 to 6 p.m. prior to the game against UTEP. This year’s sponsors of the tailgate series include AAA Ambulance Service, The USM College of Arts and Letters, iTech at the University of Southern Mississippi, The U.S. Army, Villies Subs, Hattiesburg Coca-Cola and The Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. For more information about the Tailgate Concert Series or WUSM sponsorship, visit southernmissradio.com or contact Lesley Sanders-Wood at 601.266.5188. And don’t forget, WUSM can be heard anytime online at www.southernmissradio.com.

october 2012

Junior Auxiliary members work to pack backpacks before the start of the school year. More than 1,200 backpacks were distributed to area school children throughout the Pine Belt.

Giving love & growing legacies Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg works for community’s children

or 71 years, the members of Junior Auxiliary (JA) of Hattiesburg have been donating their time and resources to the children and families most in need in the Hattiesburg area. Through service projects last year, JA contributed 4,122 service hours to the community, but the organization could not do this work without the support of the community. “Through all of our projects, Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg is able to directly impact the lives of children in our community. However, none of this work would be possible without the outpouring of generosity from businesses and individuals who support our annual Charity Ball fundraiser,” said JA Finance Chair Kristie Fairley. Each year JA hosts Charity Ball, the one fundraising event which provides all funds for the 21 worthy service projects. Projects like Backpack, which provide backpacks and school supplies to more than 1,200 children; School Uniforms, which provided 130 children with uniforms last year; an abstinence education program called “Aim for Success;” and programs for mentally and physically handicapped children are a few of the programs that drive these ladies to do the work that is needed in the community. On Nov. 9, guests are invited to become a part of JA’s story as the organization presents this year’s Charity Ball, “Once Upon a Time,” at the Lake Terrace Convention Center. Featured entertainment will be Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster and one of the many highlights of the evening will be the silent auction which begins at 7p.m. Tickets are $100 per couple and can be purchased by calling 601.268.3220 or visiting www.HattiesburgJuniorAuxiliary.org. JA of Hattiesburg is a part of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries,

a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville.With a membership of nearly 100 women, JA of Hattiesburg is continually working to offer the children of our area the opportunity for a successful future. "The 95 members of JA of Hattiesburg passionately believe in helping children and making a difference in their lives which is the founding principle of the organization. Every project is carried out with love for these children and we strive to bring education and opportunity to them," said JA President, LeAnn Vance. To learn more about Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg, please visit www.hattiesburgjuniorauxiliary.org. To make a donation or purchase tickets to Charity Ball, please call Lake Terrace Convention Center at 601-268-3220 or email JaofHattiesburg@gmail.com. Improving conditions in the community, especially where children are concerned, is the foundation of the Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg, Inc. Founded in 1943, the Hattiesburg chapter of Junior Auxiliary continues the tradition of volunteer community service today, striving to fulfill the organization’s motto: Care today – Character tomorrow. Service projects include: Abbie Rogers Mother's Day Out, Aim for Success, Child Abuse Education, Civitan Camp Carnival, Dubard Design, Family Affair, Girl Matters, Girl Power, Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures, Hospice, Pennington's Night Out, Rock-A-Bye Moms, Smart Art, South Mississippi Children's Center, Vision Screening, Wardrobe Warehouse, Welfare, Provisional Project, Kids Culture, High School Heroes, Snack Packs, Annual Fundraiser – Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg Charity Ball.

october 2012

October awash in a sea of art events The buzz in Downtown Hattiesburg is all about the restoration of downtown’s two tallest buildings, the Carter Building, and the America Building. This has been a long-awaited announcement that was made recently. The project will bring to downtown a combined total of 62,000 square feet, to be divided as 55 new resident living spaces, as well as commercial, professional and retail spaces. As construction fences have gone up, the Downtown beat goes on with old standards and a few new wrinkles, which has made downtown buzz for years. The month of October is no exception. October events begin Oct. 3, with the All Aboard! Sculpture Exhibit at the Historic Train Depot. The exhibit will pull into the depot on Oct. 3 and continue through 28. It will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The All Aboard exhibit is in its third year. Each year a theme is developed and sculptors are challenged to create their pieces using materials related to railroading. The first challenge winner, Spikeman, sits proudly at the entrance to the Depot, for all to see. The exhibition began in 2010 in celebration of the Historic Depot’s Centennial. Partners in the proj-

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ect, along with the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association, are Hattiesburg Arts Council, VisitHattiesburg, and the City of Hattiesburg. Another month-long exhibit will be the works of Spence Townsend at the Oddfellows Gallery on Front Street. A reception will honor the artist on the evening of Art Walk. Meanwhile over in Town Square Park, “Live At Five” is on the schedule for Fridays in October. ‘Live’ is a free, outdoor music event held in Downtown Hattiesburg from 5 – 9 p.m. every Friday evening during October. Presenters remind the public to bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy this family-friendly series. Across on the other side of Downtown, the 7th edition of the Mobile Street Renaissance Festival will hold forth for a three-day run Oct. 5, 6, 7. The fest will provide an extraordinary opportunity to share the life and heritage of the Mobile Street area of Downtown Hattiesburg. The festival will continue to establish the Festival and Mobile Street as a destination place for blues and gospel music lovers all over. (www.mobilestreetfestival.com) As if that were not enough, the Downtown restaurants will feature their specialty menu items,

Craft Beer Tasting, and doorprizes with th Taste of Downtown from 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Historic Train Depot. ‘Taste’ is a ticketed event with the price to be announced. The following evening from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Historic Saenger Theater, the ever-popular Roots Reunion returns. Roots will feature a return to South Mississippi’s musical roots with the 14th edition of this traditional and live radio show featuring the talent of local musicians. About the middle of October, the granddaddy of all Downtown events, the Fall Art Walk, will be presented from 4-9 p.m. Oct. 13 by the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association. New on the Art Walk itinerary will be the Empty Bowls Fundraiser at 6 p.m. at Main Street Books. Bowls of soup (bread, dessert and tea) provided by local restaurants will be $20 and will benefit Edward Street Fellowship Center. The bowls are all locally made. As the Art Walk beat goes on, the Roots Reunion will take the stage at Town Square Park from 2 till 6 p.m. for an Art Walk afternoon of Mississippi roots music. As Art Walk-ers meander the streets of downtown they will enjoy music and artists booths along

Front, Main and Walnut Streets, including a street concert at Bennies Boom Boom Room. Streets will be blocked and parking will be plentiful. The regular Art Walk scene provides a setting for families and friends to enjoy a leisurely evening of fabulous food, great music, local artists and open house activities in all downtown shops, galleries and restaurants. To round out Art Walk, the artists for the All Aboard! Sculpture Exhibit will be honored with an Artist Reception from 5:30–7 p.m. at the Historic Train Depot. The public is invited to meet the artists and cast a vote for their favorite sculpture. Meanwhile up on the main drag, the Hattiesburg Arts Council will feature Amy Guist at an artist reception at the Cultural Center from 5:30–7 p.m. The Walnut Room on Walnut Street will host a USM and William Carey Student Art Show, and the Kress Gallery will feature works of the South Mississippi Art Association. On Front Street the Oddfellows Gallery will open a show featuring the works of Spence Townsend. A reception will be held in his honor during the Art Walk evening. His work will be on display throughout October. As another edition of Art Walk goes into the history books, a parade rounds the corner. On Oct. 20, as the Golden Eagles celebrate Homecoming on the campus, revelers will come to downtown and line the streets for the Southern Miss Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. There is no let up during the waning days of October. On Oct. 27, the

First Downtown BBQ Showdown will kick off at 11 a.m., hosted by the Walthall Park Neighborhood located in the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood. The showdown is designed to showcase the Downtown Historic Neighborhood and Downtown Hattiesburg and will offer great food and music in a family atmosphere. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Hattiesburg Youth Shelter located in Downtown Hattiesburg. Complete information about the BBQ Showdown is available at http://bbqshowdown.blogspot.com/ With the smell of BBQ still in the air, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Historic Depot, the Hattiesburg Concert Association will present a show. The concert is in association with the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association to honor the artists and commemorate the closing of the All Aboard! Sculpture Exhibit, concluding a month-long run. The concert is Spikeman free. Not for the faint of heart, but with an aire for the spooky, at 8 p.m. Oct. 28, the Rocky Horror Picture Show will be presented at the Saenger. According to the presenters, it’s time to say, “Let’s do the time warp again!” With a jump to the left and a step to the right, the tradition of Rocky Horror Picture Show continues at the Hattiesburg Saenger Theater. The presenters promise catchy songs and thrilling dance numbers, complete with audience interaction. The order for the evening will be, “You wear the costume and we’ll provide the props!”

AIDS Services Coalition fundraiser Nov. 4 Ribbons of Change, the AIDS Services Coalition’s seventh annual fundraiser will be held at the Train Depot beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. The annual fundraiser features great food, live and silent art auctions, and music performed by local artist Charles Carter. Individual tickets are $50, couples are $90. Students and active military with ID can obtain tickets for $35. Tickets may be purchased online at www.121havenhouses.org. Since its inception in 2002, the AIDS Services Coalition has always been about change…changing attitudes toward persons living with HIV/AIDS. ..Changing behavior so the pandemic will stop affecting our community... changing the lives of homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS through its housing facility, 1-2-1 Haven House. Just what is the event? The annual fundraiser features local cuisine, silent and live auctions, and entertainment. “This is a fun and exciting event – for everyone – that, in addition to raising funds for the transitional housing facility for homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS, raises awareness within the community,” said Kathy Garner, executive director for the AIDS Services Coalition. During the past six years, the art has been the star of the show. Sculpture, paintings, photography, cloth work and other media have graced the auction floor. Incredible offerings by nationally-known artists such as Cass Holly, Dollye Kirk, Kym Garraway and Joyce Bradley have been offered at the auction. Gus Bowering, a local glass artist, prepares a signature piece each year that is greatly prized by auction goers. “I hesitate to name artists,

because we have been fortunate to have more than 60 artists provide art for the auction of the past six years,” said Jim Dukes, AIDS Services Coalition Board Chair. We have more new and outstanding art, but also adding more out- of-the-ordinary offerings such as specialty trips, jewelry and other items. I want people to know that the AIDS Services Coalition is doing work in our community that would not be done were it not here. That is why this fundraiser is so critically important.” Last year, as a special tribute to David Sheley, the ASC Board of Directors - through local artist Denny St. John - obtained a fantastic oil portrait of The Turner House, David’s home in the Historic Hattiesburg Neighborhood. More than $2,500 was raised in memory of David for 1-2-1 Haven House and the portrait was donated by the Board to The Turner House for display. Beginning in 2003, the mission of the AIDS Services Coalition (ASC) was to provide housing, case management, and HIV education/prevention to those persons living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by HIV/AIDS. Other activities of the ASC include recognition of World AIDS Day in December of each year with memorials and services being held throughout the world. ASC – in collaboration with other agencies – coordinates the annual event with speakers, memorials and a candle light vigil. Participation is sought from community leaders, service organizations and elected officials from our service area. For more information, call the AIDS Services Coalition offices at 601-450-4286.

october 2012

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Fundraiser hopes to ‘shine light in dark places’ By Carolyn CRITZ mes are tough … hunger is tougher. Have you ever been hungry? REALLY hungry? Not, “I’m so hungry and cranky! I’m sure a brand-name candy bar will magically fix it!” Rather, “It’s 12:15 pm on Friday and I’m not exactly sure if I’ll be able to have much – if anything – to eat until breakfast on Monday.” Hopefully you haven’t – but many local folks can’t easily say the same. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mississippians are considered the most “food insecure,” or “hungriest,” state in the nation. Food insecurity is defined by the U.S.D.A. as “the inability to access enough food for an active, healthy life.” The statistics in the 2011 report indicate that while 14.9 percent of the U.S. overall meets the definition of food insecurity, Mississippians exceed that rate, topping the chart at 19.2 percent. In short, nearly 1 in 5 persons in the Magnolia State have “empty bowls.” We live in a proud state. We help our neighbors, friends and even strangers. Many Hattiesburg organizations actively help feed the hungry and local businesses are no exception. In an effort to help a local community center and food bank continue its mission, Main Street Books is inviting the community to help them help others in a creative and unusual way by hosting an extraordinarily cre-

ative and community-driven fundraising event “Fill Up the Empty Bowls” on Oct. 13.

“Butterbean Flats” Diane and Jerry Shepherd own Main Street Books in Historic Downtown Hattiesburg. They chose the Edwards Street Fellowship Center as the benefactor of the fundraiser due to Diane’s close ties to the ministry’s local neighborhood. “The mission of the Edwards Street Fellowship Center is to ‘shine light in dark places.’ While the ministry’s efforts reach far past its street address, I feel a certain attachment to the mission due to my family’s connection to the area,” Diane said. “Several generations of my family were raised in the house next door to the very church where the fellowship center’s mission began. That area of town used to be called ‘Butterbean Flats.’ I spent many a day at my grandmother’s house with my cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sister and parents. To this day, I have very strong memories associated with that church and the mission borne of its fellowship. It just seemed natural to give back to a place where I feel so inextricably connected.” The Edwards Street Fellowship Center outreach efforts include uplifting and supportive programs for girls and boys, adults, a thrift store, a community garden and a food pantry. Shepherd sums up the reason the Empty Bowls Hattiesburg team has faith in our community’s ability to come together through this unique opportunity to generously sup-

port the E.S.F.C. mission. “If you’ve ever had an empty bowl and lacked the resources to fill it, that’s probably a pretty dark place to be. If you’ve gone to bed with an empty stomach just once in your life, it’s not hard to imagine. Now take a moment to imagine hunger, true hunger, as a regular way of life. It is imperative we all come together as a team, that all of us give precious little, to make an enormous difference. We’re Mississippi. That’s just what we do. ”

A grassroots effort The Empty Bowls Hattiesburg fundraiser is a small part of an international grassroots effort to alleviate hunger. The original Empty Bowls organization was created by The Imagine Render Group, a North Carolina-based social activism organization. Members of the planning team set a goal of making 200 one-of-a kind handcrafted ceramic bowls to be sold for a $20 donation. In exchange for the donation, contributors can enjoy a cup of soup donated by local restaurants, bread, a small dessert a simple beverage and fellowship with others. They’ll also get to choose a bowl to take home as a thank you for their support and a reminder of how many go empty. For more information or to contribute to the fundraising effort, visit the “Empty Bowls Fundraiser Hattiesburg” Facebook page or contact Main Street Books at (601) 584-6960 or hattiesburgbooks@aol.com.

october 2012

Neighbors

Meet: Ricky and Mary Nobile

n the early 1970s, Ricky and Mary Nobile of Purvis were big fans of Southern Miss football, enthusiastically attending games and supporting the home team – just not together. That actually took awhile longer, but the University of Southern Mississippi , and USM sports, have continued to play an important part in their lives together. Originally from the town of Lambert in the Delta, Mary had ties to USM even before her family moved to Hattiesburg. “My sister was the only girl drummer in the 1960s,” not only at USM, but practically in the whole state, she said. “She was in Lions Band every year.” Mary said she and her father were always big football fans. When they lived in the Delta, they didn’t have a particular team that they supported, but, “We kind of went for the Bulldogs.” That changed when the family moved to Hattiesburg. “The first thing daddy did was buy season tickets” to the USM football games, she said. “I’ve still got my $5 junior pass in my scrapbook.” Ricky, originally from the nearby Delta town of Moorhead, was at USM during 1968-71, but his connection to USM football preceded that by about a year. “The first college game I went to was the fall of ’67. I saw Southern Miss beat Mississippi State at Starkville,” he said. After majoring in art at Mississippi Delta Community College, “I came here because Southern Miss has such a good art program. I thought I had died and gone to heaven,” Ricky said. “Mary was in high school at the time and I was a college student,” so the two didn’t cross paths at that time, he said, but, “We probably were at the same games.” After leaving USM, Ricky, who had worked as a cartoonist at The Student Printz, went to work at The Bolivar Commercial in Cleveland in advertising sales. It was at the newspaper that Ricky and Mary met. “It was just by chance,” she said. “I answered an ad from the paper and said, ‘I need a job.’” Mary was hired and went to work in production, but it would still be a number of years before they eventually got together. Mary moved to Hattiesburg in 1980. The two later reconnected and, after dating longdistance for three years, were married in 1999. “I got married, retired from the newspaper and moved down here,” Ricky said, adding that it was due to Mary’s encouragement that he then began cartooning full time. “The whole deal is a dream come true for me.” His weekly newspaper cartoons and his popular coloring books date back considerably longer, however. In 1970, Ricky started his weekly cartoon syndicate, which continues to the present day. “I’ve got 30 newspapers that subscribe,” he said, noting that his core market is countywide, community newspapers, including, locally, The Lamar Times and The Petal News. “I have a routine. I draw three political cartoons a week. Two are for the syndicate and one is for the Mississippi Business Journal.” His first coloring book came about due to his long-time love for everything Southern Miss. “The first project I did was the Southern Miss coloring book,” which

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included everything from the rose garden and Lake Byron to the Dixie Darlings, tailgating and a variety of sports, Ricky said. “I do them as people want them. I’ve done probably 25.” The coloring books, each of which takes about three months to produce, have covered a wide variety of topics, from schools to museums. He produced a book for USM’s Centennial two years ago and recently finished one commemorating Southern’s 100 years of athletics, which is due to come out this month. “I knew it was coming up, so I sent an email to the athletic association,” Ricky said of his most recent book. “We sat down and made a list of all the men’s and women’s athletics.” The book includes everything from the USM football team’s first game against the Boy Scouts, which was played in 1912 at Kamper Park, through their national championships in 1958 and 1962 to the present day. “There’s facts in the book about all the sports,” he said. “The athletic department is going to distribute it to schools in the Pine Belt area. We’re trying to grow some Southern Miss supporters. It’s a nice memento for all Southern Miss fans.” “Ricky’s done a fantastic job for us,” Brian Morrison, associate athletic director at USM, said of the coloring book. “We look forward to getting them out to the community. We’re going to try to reach as many kids as we can with it. This gives them some history and current information and is fun and educational.” The books initially will target students in first-through-third grade in Forrest County, and possibly other area schools, and then to the members of Seymour’s Sidekicks, formerly known as the Junior Eagle Club, a fan club for Southern Miss fans 14 years or younger. Information about joining that organization is available online, or by calling 601-266-5299. Any remaining copies will be available at no charge at the USM ticket office. For the Nobiles, though, USM means much more than just coloring books. Their early enthusiasm for USM football continues to the present. Since they started dating in 1996, they have been regular tailgaters at USM games, starting out of their car in the green area by the stadium. “We decided to buy a tent and then we put up two tents,” Ricky said. “For a 6 o’clock game, we try to get there at noon.” “We make it a nice, daylong event,” Mary said. “I don’t like to miss a ballgame.” And, of course, tailgating also means food, and Mary said she enjoys that aspect of it, too. “We always have to have boiled peanuts,” she said of her tailgating food staple. “I usually do finger food. I have done chili when it’s cold. I love looking for recipes. It’s got to be something that can set out all day. I try to do something different each time.” “It’s just a lot of fun,” Ricky said. “We try to encourage people to come by. It’s a good, family event.” For the Nobiles, family currently means daughter Emily, a USM grad, her husband, Boyd Germany, and three sons. Nobile, Hayes and Brodie. Ricky, who is also a caricature artist, plans to mix pleasure with business during the remaining home football games. “During Friday Night at the Fountain, I set up and draw the kids. I’ve done it for seven or eight years now,” he said, noting that he also does a lot of parties and other special events.

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Bits and pieces... Pine Belt Quilters to host largest quilt show in area

ne of the largest quilt shows in the Gulf States, and the largest in Mississippi, the Fiber Art and Quilt Show, will open in Hattiesburg in early October. The Pine Belt Quilters will present their 14th Biennial show Oct. 5-7, at the Lake Terrace Convention Center. According to Ellen Hall, co-chair of the show, quilters from more than 65 cities in five states have entered a total of 400 quilts to compete for special recognition in this judged show. Membership in Pine Belt Quilters is not required for Mississippi entries in the show. These in-state entries come from the Corinth and Burnsville area to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Out-of-state entries are required to be members of Pine Belt Quilters, and these are coming from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky and Wisconsin The three-day show will feature lectures, workshops and demonstrations. Special events will include shopping, a trunk show and the famous Hoffman Challenge. Events for the show will be held 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 6, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct 7. Three well-known quilters have been invited for programs on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening. At 6 p.m. Friday, Jodi Barrows, who resides in the north Texas area, will present a program on the "Square in a Square" system, a

process that anyone can implement in most any design. Barrows has written 14 books (10 of which have been on the bestseller list), produced four tools, two video/DVD's, and five teacher's books. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Gail Carlson Bachorik from Milton, Fla., will present a program on Custom Art Quilts. At 6 p.m. Saturday, Virginia Baker and Barbara Sanders from Tennessee and authors of the book, String Quilt Revival, will present a lecture and trunk show. “The purpose of Pine Belt Quilters is to encourage and promote the art and preservation of quilts, and our biennial show offers the public an opportunity to view outstanding examples of quilts and fiber art,” Hall said. Vendors for the show will be in a Merchants Mall. These vendors will be offering for sale all items for quilting – from machines to supplies and fabrics. The Pine Belt Quilters Boutique is a separate shopping area of handmade items which have been made by guild members during a twoyear time span. "Because of the large response for the 2010 show, we have decided to break the Youth Category into two areas – Youth ages 10 and under and Youth ages 11-15," Hall said. A special exhibit, The Hoffman Challenge, will feature one of the most prestigious collections of quilts in the nation. The Challenge has grown to more than 700 quilts since its beginning with only 94 in 1987. Each year the top entries are grouped into 12 separate traveling collections, which visit shows, seminars, and shops across the United States and several Canadian locations.

The Challenge will feature 40 wall hangings at the Hattiesburg show. “We are so very fortunate to schedule one of the collections for our Fiber Art and Quilt Show,” Hall said. Show judge will be Lorraine Covington of Clemmons, N.C. An avid quilter since the mid70’s, Lorraine credits her love of quilting to her two grandmothers, both of whom were skilled in many needlework techniques. A love of all quilting techniques led to Lorraine’s desire to become a certified judge, passing the tests for that NQA certification in 2001. Lorraine has been honored to judge quilt shows in several states, including the Appliqué Society Show, the National Quilting Association Show and many regional and local shows. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Lorraine then lived in Florida for 10 years, and recently moved to North Carolina with her husband of 31 years, Calvin. A member of NQA for many years, Lorraine served on the board as the certified judge coordinator and as the education dhairperson. Her latest venture is a column for the NQA magazine, the Quilting Quarterly and A Matter of Judgment. One of the unique features of the show is the Hattiesburg Visitors Center Challenge. A challenge has been issued to the quilters to produce a quilt using the theme of the state tourism slogan, “Find Your True South.” Representatives of the Visitors Center will select the quilt that best interprets the theme, and purchase the quilt from the quilter, for the Visitors Center.

october 2012

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Festival menu honors

Mississippians Cookbook includes a festival of food

n the late 1800s, artisans would travel the countryside selling their wares. In exchange for a night’s stay or a hot meal, they would make or repair a piece of furniture, weave a basket, or paint a picture. The artisan who came to the Meador Homestead cabin must have been given a piece of material and told to paint a picture of something the family had never seen before. Today, a painting of the northeast coast of America hangs above the mantel of the south room. Both artist and family could proudly proclaim the velvet cloth painting as a work of art. These kinds of happenings are still going on at Meador Homestead in Hattiesburg. Each year at Meador Homestead the MS ARTeast Festival is held. This is an old country time gathering where the arts and the artists of the greatest state in the USA – Mississippi – are celebrated. Artists of all genres such as woodturning, glassblowing, painting, photography, pottery, writing and food products come from across the state to the one-day event to show off their talent and sell their treasures to be passed on to many generations. Booths are set up, artists proudly smile, customers browse and buy and a good social interaction is had by all. A festival with food is even better and famous Mississippians love to eat as well. To honor those artists who have helped Mississippi distinguish herself from all others, the Meador Homestead family has included their favorite food for a menu. The menu is featured in a new cookbook compiled by Dean Meador Smith, who owns the Homestead and the Simply TeaVine Tea Room that’s located there, with her family. Alongside recipes you’ll find favorite family stories that in some shape or form are related to the good food you’ll find at the Meador homestead. “You can’t have a Mississippi meal without Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll, and his fried peanut butter and banana sandwich, can you?” asks proprietor and cookbook author Dean Meador Smith. “And who can forget Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise?” Writers such as Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner have helped show the world the true South and the heart of America in their works, and the Homestead honors them with their special dishes of Shrimp Eudora, barbecued chicken, and lemon iced box pie.” Besides preaching, Homestead owner Dean Smith’s great grandfather made his living by working the family dairy farm

on the hill. “After milking the cows, putting the clabber into the wooden churn to make butter and collecting the eggs, he and Mrs. Lena would faithfully load the old wagon with their dairy products and make their way down the dusty road to the city homes of Hattiesburg to sell their “art,” recalls Smith from the stories that have been passed down through generations. “Throughout the years the farm also hosted a pecan orchard, grew sugar cane from which they made wonderful molasses and raised cattle. Like most Southeasterners, the farm was self sufficient.” Smith said she was sure if her great grandfather were living today, he would proudly have a booth set up at the ARTeast festival to sell his products. “He would let you drink the excess milk and clabber, skimmed off from the top of the old milk churn.,” she said. “And if you were lucky, he might present you with a tiny beautiful basket he had carved out of a peach seed for a little girl’s necklace. Yes, it would prove there is an artist in all of us.” Smith and her Homestead family invite everyone to the festival where “we celebrate the creative spirit of Mississippians.” Enjoy art, architecture, landscape, history and good food, none like any other. “And if you take the time to stop, you’ll meet the greatest artist of all. He has painted a picture of spectacular cedars and crepe myrtles which change in color from dawn to dusk. We call His painting, “A Little Heaven on Earth.” For those wanting to attend the ARTeast Festival, the event will be held from 10 a.m-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Meador Homestead. (See story on Page 14 for more information.)

Shrimp Eudora (Eudora Welty) 2 cups milk 1 ½ lbs uncooked medium shrimp ½ cup butter, divided 4 cups fresh mushrooms 2 slices onion 1 loaf French bread, cut and toasted 2 Tbsp sherry 4 Tbsp flour 4 Tbsp whipping cream 6 dashes hot sauce salt ¼ tsp white pepper 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley 2 sprigs parsley ¼ tsp nutmeg ¼ tsp ginger 1 tsp dried green onion paprika Scald milk in saucepan with onions and parsley. Strain and set aside. Melt ¼ cup butter in a skillet; add flour, making a paste. Add milk and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in whipping cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, ginger, hot sauce, and green onion. Set aside. Saute mushrooms in remaining butter in skillet. Peel and devein shrimp. Combine sauce, mushrooms, parsley, and shrimp; cook over low heat until shrimp turn pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in sherry before serving. Serve over toasted bread and sprinkle with paprika. Yield: 6 servings.

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Chili (Brett Favre)

Peach Cobbler

Peach Cobbler (William Faulkner) 6 medium peaches, peeled and sliced 2 tbsp flour 5 slices white bread, crust removed 1 egg 1 ½ cup sugar ½ cup butter, melted Place peaches in an 8-inch square dish coated with PAM. Cut each slice of bread into 5 long strips, and place evenly over fruit. In a bowl, combine sugar, flour, egg, and butter. Pour over fruit and bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Buttermilk Cornbread (Faith Hill) 2 Tbsp vegetable oil or shortening 1 cup yellow or white cornmeal 1 ½ tsp baking powder ¼ tsp baking soda 1 Tbsp all purpose flour ¼ tsp salt 1 cup buttermilk 1 large egg Heat oil in an 8-inch cast iron skillet or muffin pans by putting in a 450-degree oven. Combine cornmeal and next 4 ingredients in a bowl. Stir together buttermilk and egg; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Pour into hot skillet. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

Lemon Iced Box Pie (Tennessee Williams) 1 box vanilla wafers 2 sticks lightly salted butter 6 egg whites 2 cans condensed milk 1 cup lemon juice ¾ cup sugar ½ tsp cream of tartar ½ tsp vanilla extract 2 egg yolks In a food processor, finely crush vanilla wafers. Melt butter. Pour vanilla wafers and butter into two pie plates and shape with fingers. In a large bowl, mix lemon juice, condensed milk and egg yolks. Pour mixture into pie plates. In another bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar, vanilla extract, and sugar until stiff white peaks form. Pour over pie. Bake in oven at 350 degrees to brown meringue, about 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature and put in refrigerator until ice cold.

4 lbs boneless chuck roast, cut into ½-inch pieces 2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste 2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce 2 Tbsp chili powder 1 (32 oz) can beef broth 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp onion powder ½ tsp ground black pepper ¼ tsp ground red pepper 2 tsp minced garlic 1 tsp salt 1 tsp oregano tortilla chips and sour cream shredded cheese chopped onion Brown meat in a Dutch oven. Remove meat. Add chili powder to drippings and cook. Stir in tomato paste and cook 5 minutes. Return beef to Dutch oven. Stir in beef broth and next 9 ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for 1 ½ hours or until beef is tender. Serve with toppings of chips, sour cream, cheese, and onion.

Fried Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich (Elvis Presley) 2 slices white bread 2 Tbsp butter 1 small ripe banana 2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter Place pieces of white bread in a toaster on light setting. Heat skillet over medium heat with butter. While the bread is toasting, in a small bowl, mash the banana with a fork until it reaches a smooth consistency. Using a knife, take both pieces of the toasted bread and spread the tablespoons of peanut butter, topping 1 side with the mashed banana. Place 1 slice of bread on top of the other forming a sandwich. Place sandwich in hot skillet browning each side, flipping with a spatula. Take out of skillet, slice on a diagonal and serve.

Barbecued Chicken (William Faulkner) 1 cup butter 2 Tbsp paprika 3 tsp salt 4 Tbsp mustard ¾ cup lemon juice 2 tsp dried oregano ½ tsp pepper ¾ cup vinegar 2 tsp garlic salt 4 chickens, halved ¾ cup ketchup ½ cup water 2 Tbsp Worcestershire Melt butter, and add lemon juice, garlic salt, paprika and oregano. Place chickens in pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour marinade over chickens. Cover and marinate 4 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Before putting in oven, pour ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, vinegar and water over chicken and mix. Cook at 350 degrees for 2 hours or until chicken is tender. Turn chicken frequently. Yield: 12 servings.

october 2012

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Brad’s Recipes Sweet Ritz Chicken 6-8 oz Boneless skinless chicken breast ¼ sleeve of Ritz crackers 2 oz of Tony Chachere’s 2 eggs Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Crumble Ritz crackers and add in the Tonys. Dredge the chicken in a beaten egg wash then batter with the Ritz and Tony’s mixture. Cook until you have an internal temp of at least 165 degrees.

Chilled Chicken Pasta Salad Rotini Pasta (Preferably colored pasta for an overall better look) Dice 2 red onions Dice 2 green peppers Dice 2 cups of Kalamata olives Dice 2 cups of green olives Crumble 4 cups of feta cheese 10-12 oz of Greek Vinaigrette dressing Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl, sit in cooler, and chill for at least 4 hours. Grill chicken breast or tenders, seasoned with, of course, Tony’s. Chill the chicken and place on top of the pasta salad and serve.

september 2012

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Rediscovering Riesling

The Noblest of Grapes By David WHITE If you ask a sommelier to name her favorite grape, there's a good chance she'll say Riesling. If you're surprised, then it's probably because you associate Riesling with the sweet, simple German wines of yesteryear, like Blue Nun, Liebfraumilch, and Piesporter. These wines were -and still are -- affordable and approachable. And they'll always have fans. But they do a disservice to true Riesling. Fortunately, that could soon change. New York City sommelier and restaurateur Paul Grieco is on a mission to make sure that Americans give Riesling the respect it deserves. Grieco's crusade began in 2008, when he announced a plan to focus on Riesling all summer long at Terroir Wine Bar in New York City's East Village. In a "single-minded attempt to get guests to at least try this noble grape," Grieco offered only Riesling as his by-the-glass white wine offering. As he tells it, "the staff was incredulous and the guests suspect, but with 30 different glass pours... we set upon a massive inspirational and educational scheme that was challenging and fun." His campaign quickly took off. In 2010, 14 wine bars in New York joined together to create a Riesling Pub Crawl; several well-known Riesling producers visited the city; and Grieco organized a concert where only Riesling was

served. Last year, about 200 bars and restaurants across the country took part by hosting events, offering specials, and agreeing to spread the gospel of Riesling. This summer, the "Summer of Riesling" attracted nearly 500 participants. Misconceptions still abound, but consumers are starting to recognize that Riesling is a serious grape. Over the past several years, Riesling sales have steadily risen. And sommeliers are finding that consumers are extremely receptive to the grape. Riesling's greatest strength is its versatility. First, there's its geographical diversity. While its ancestral home is Germany, where Riesling has been grown in the Rhine and Mosel Valleys since the 14th century, it's also the most planted grape in the Alsace region of France. The grape is also experiencing a resurgence in the United States, especially in New York's Finger Lakes. And there are sizeable plantings of Riesling in Austria, New Zealand, and Australia. There's also its sweetness. Some Rieslings are syrupy and lusciously sweet - and work as dessert. Others are bone dry, pairing best with raw fish, subtle cheeses, and other light dishes. Most fall somewhere in between, and are the perfect match for spicy Asian cuisine, like Thai and Indian. All are marked by high acidity, which is why it's such an adaptable food wine. And all are extremely fragrant. It's no wonder why so many

sommeliers love Riesling. Don't ever let Riesling's sweetness trick you into thinking it's not a serious wine. Sommeliers also evangelize about Riesling because it's so good at capturing terroir, or a wine's sense of place. In part, this is because most Riesling is fermented in stainless steel, so it isn't manipulated through oak aging or other winemaking techniques. The grape is remarkably transparent -- German researchers have found a link between soil type and flavor in Riesling. Riesling grapes sourced from slate vineyards tend to produce wines with citrus aromas, while grapes sourced from limestone vineyards typically result in more tropical fruit aromas. As Robert Parker, the world's most famous wine critic, recently explained, "If you want to talk about terroir, talk about German Rieslings or Alsace Rieslings, where the wines are naked -there's no makeup." Even though Riesling sales have been rising, Grieco and other Riesling proselytizers still have their work cut out -- Riesling accounts for just 5 percent U.S. wine sales. But it's not by accident that Riesling has long been known as the "noblest of the noble grapes." So don't be surprised if the next time you dine out, your waiter steers you towards a glass of Riesling. David White, a wine writer, is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com. His columns are housed at Wines.com, the fastest growing wine portal on the Internet.

september 2012

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october 2012

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september 2012

PHOTO BY MATT BUSH

PHOTO BY KELLY DUNN

PHOTO BY BRENT WALLACE

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Center of Attention PHOTO BY STEVE COLEMAN

PHOTO BY CHLOE ROUSE

Black & Gold Members of the Cameraderie Club, a Pine Belt photo club, were asked to submit photographs representing this month’s Signature theme – Go Gold! If you’d like to submit a photo (large format, high resolution) for the November issue of Signature, the theme is Thanksgiving. Send photo(s), along with name and phone number, to beth@hubcityspokes.com

october 2012

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Layne Murdoch Photo

Joe Trahan stands high above the playing field of Cowboys Stadium during Super Bowl XLVI which pitted the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.

Former USM ‘band nerd’ Joe Trahan scores big with...

Dallas S

2007. eptember 6 was a pretty good day at work for Joe Trahan and fellow This isn’t really a sports story, but one of a self-proclaimed ‘band nerd,’ who employees. Their Dallas Cowboys had defeated the Super Bowl champion New York Giants 24-7 in the 2012 NFL season opener on the Giant’s also happened to be a “sports kind of guy” and has made a career out of the latter....not participation, but promotion. home turf in East Rutherford, N.J. Joe Trahan grew up as “not necessarily a military brat,” “We are great,” said Trahan, a University of Southern but his dad was in the military for a number of years. Mississippi graduate, who works as a public relations assisAlthough Baton Rouge, Chalmette/New Orleans were all a tant for the Dallas Cowboys, from his Irving, Texas, office. part of his early years, he didn’t live there long...not long “It’s a great way to start the season. Everybody is pleased, enough that he could claim them. happy, smiling, going around high fiving everybody. It makes The family moved to Hattiesburg while his dad worked the job easier.” on his Ph. D at Southern Miss and shortly thereafter moved Trahan works for THE Dallas Cowboys? The team once to Chattanooga, Tenn., where Trahan attended middle and billed as America’s team, the highest valued sports franchise high school, graduating as a member of the Hixson High in the history of the United States and second in the world School Class of 2001. At HHS he played saxophone in the with an estimated value of approximately $1.65 billion, band for four years and served as drum major for two years. (according to Forbes Magazine), AND the wealthiest team With college looming, he sent out applications, but “the in the NFL, generating almost $269 million in annual revbig boys didn’t think I was smart enough,” remembers the enue? student who carried a 3.3-3.5 GPA, but whose ACT scores Yes, that would be them. One and the same. By Beth BUNCH weren’t so stellar. Trahan has been with the NFL organization since July

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He applied to USM, submitted a band tape, and was awarded a leadership he headed home. scholarship, about $500 a semester. Since his dad and cousin had gone to USM, “I’d always wanted to study abroad, but had no money for that,” he said. But they thought it was great. a position came available with NFL Europe as an American PR assistant workAnd Trahan became a proud Pride member under the tutelage of Dr. Steve ing with the Hamburg Sea Devils in Germany, which again he was lucky enough Moser and Dr. Gary Adam. to be selected for. “I enjoyed it a lot,” he said. “We did some really cool and crazy things.” NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from Trahan remembers marching before a crowd of between 85,000 and 90,000 at 1991 until 2007. Backed by the NFL, it was founded as the World League of the University of Alabama, as well as several bowl games in which they had the American Football to serve as a type of spring league or a “developmental” opportunity to strut their stuff. league where younger players could get some additional game experience and But “sports had always been my thing,” he said. With a dad who had worked coaching. for Army Public Affairs and has his own PR firm, Trahan pursued a Bachelor of So, prior to leaving for Hamburg, he tried to learn German or enough to get Science degree in Sports Administration with a minor in journalism, which he him by. received in 2005 and went on to get his Master’s in Public Relations in 2006. “It was the best professional experience of my life,” Trahan explains enthusiIt was at a sports conference in Washington, D.C., that he met a man who astically. “It makes you appreciate your country. It’s all so diverse.” worked in PR for the Washington Redskins. “There were a lot of big names Trahan took advantage of his overseas adventure and made himself get up there,” he remembers. “I encourage anyone to go if they think this is what they and out everyday and have a new experience. With what German he did know, want to do.” he’d go into Because of his newMcDonald’s and try to found love for what place his order in the would become his vocanative tongue of the tion, he volunteered and land. “The cashiers ususerved an internship with ally just smiled and the New Orleans said, ‘Our English is Hornets and also for the better than your New Orleans Bowl. But German,’” and he’d be that presented a probback to his native lem. Southern Miss was tongue. playing in the game and The team stayed at that would be Trahan’s the Holiday Inn in last opportunity to march Hamburg and Trahan with the Pride. found himself watching “I had to make the the children’s show, choice of marching in the “Bob the Builder,” but last game...the culminain German. “It helped tion of my college career me pick up on a lot,” he or working the game said of that and other where I might meet prochildren’s shows he’d fessional contacts to help watch before practice to me the rest of my life,” help with his new lanhe said. guage. The fact that He opted for working they were a slower pace the game, but admits “it and made simpler for was kind of hard to children proved to be a watch my fellow band learning experience. mates march during halfLiterally. time.” For the Sea Devils Trahan credits Mike Joe Trahan, front row left, performs with the Southern Miss Pride in the stands during a Golden Eagle football game Trahan served as the Montoro, who is now main contact for all during his college career. director of Football American media Communications at West requests and assisted Virginia University, but was once at USM, with getting him where he is today. with international requests, wrote weekly team releases, bios, set up confer“I begged and pleaded for him to put me to work doing something,” he said. ence calls and served as a contact for both home and away games. He answered And he did. “Tennis, mens and womens, which I never watched and knew to a German PR team. nothing about. I was responsible for the media guide, website and interviews.” He explained that the experience was very intense. “We did everything Basketball, baseball and soccer were later added. together as a team, we lived together, ate together, all went out together and “It was a great staff, who got me through, including Shirley Hall, who is still fought together.” there, and Mike Martinez, who isn’t, who helped me a lot,” he said. “I enjoyed Proud of what he was doing, he’d also send releases and stories back to his everything about it.” black and gold alma mater highlighting former Golden Eagle players such as He loved what he was doing and knew this was to be his life’s calling. So he Jeremy Parquet, Etric Pruitt or Thomas Jackson, who were then participating in opted for a Masters in Public Relations. the league. “Montoro offered me the opportunity to be his graduate assistant and offered He explained that football was by far not the most popular sport there. to pay for my schooling, books and give me a stipend on top of that,” said “You’d open the sports section of the paper and it was soccer, soccer, soccer, Trahan, who was on it quicker than you can return a volley. “He taught me all I handball, basketball, boxing and on the last page you’d find football,” Trahan know and got me here today,” he said. Following his Masters, Trahan got word explained. that the Detroit Lions had an opening for an intern, which he applied for and “So you had to do crazy stuff to get the attention of people, like have football was lucky enough to get. players take part in a a berliner-eating contest (Trahan explained that a berlin“Detroit was lovely,” he said rather sarcastically. “Here I was a Southern boy er is a German doughnut), have a hotel rooftop golf tournament or if they lost a up north, it started snowing on Oct. 15 and I was fretting. Not to mention we game, run naked through a river.” had a 3-13 season that year. But I learned a lot and got a ton of experience The Sea Devils, one of five German teams, were heavily covered, and won helping set up interviews, posting weekly releases and press advisories, media their first World Bowl Championship 37-28 over the defending champion guide and website work and collecting clippings.” Frankfurt Galaxy. It was also be their last as the league disbanded almost immeHe was there a year and wasn’t quite sure what his next play looked like. So diately following the championship.

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Joe Trahan stands with former Southern Miss Golden Eagles Austin Davis (9) and Ryan McKee (68), who now play for the St. Louis Rams. The photo was taken after the Aug. 25 preseason game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which the Cowboys won 20-19.

“I got a ring, got to touch the trophy. It was a lot of fun, especially leading up to the game and I had no idea what was coming.” Trahan had a college education with two degrees and had put in time overseas when an opportunity to serve as a media relations coordinator came open with the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League. His duties were pretty much the same as they’d been with his previous jobs and he was only with them for a year. It was then that internship possibilities became available with the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. “It would come down to Dallas and Chicago,” Trahan explained, “but Dallas made it happen. With family in the area, Trahan, being a poor public relations professional, bummed with them for about a year. “People think you’re on the fast track. You work for the most profitable team in the nation, players are signing $50 million contract deals, but NO, that money doesn’t trickle down to PR people like me,” he laughed. His choice proved to be beneficial. “To come to the Cowboys....the heritage, the history, the cheerleaders!” He admits that he grew up a Saints fan, hating the Cowboys, but that would quickly change. They were now his livelihood. With a limited number of these type jobs in the NFL, between 64-70, he felt lucky to be where he was. He admitted that Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones is “amazing. He’s always friendly and cordial and treats you the same whether you’re the janitor or CEO of the company.” The new $1.15 billion Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was only a year old when the 2.3

million-square-foot facility was chosen to host Super Bowl XLVI in 2011. It was Trahan’s duty to work with Jones’ daughter, Charlotte Jones Anderson, who serves as vice president and director of charities and special events, to plan the parties the Jones family would host – one at the stadium, which was more of a fashion show with lots of big name fashion and entertainment people and another at the House of Blues. “At that point is was not just about sports,” Trahan said. “I did a lot of fashion and entertainment research leading up to my blogging.” But it obviously went well because shortly thereafter he was hired full time. And so what’s a day-to-day work schedule like for Trahan? It depends on the season – off or on. From 2009 to 2011 he served as a PR contact at Cowboys Stadium where he assisted with various sports and entertainment events including Super Bowl XLV, the NBA All-Star Game, college football games such as the Cotton Bowl, Cowboys Classic and Big X11 Championship, Gold Cup soccer, boxing featuring Pacquaio/Clottey, and Pacquaio/Marvgarito and concerts from George Strait and Paul McCartney to U2. And he also served as the unofficial tour guide for the venue, while assisting with press conferences and video/photo shoots, high school football games and even weddings and receptions. “Sometimes it’s almost surreal and I have to stop and take it all in,” he said. Trahan enjoys the stadium tours and claims that if blindfolded he could find his way around. He’s given tours to everyone from NFL commentator crews to Chris Berman and international groups from England, China, Germany and most recently an influx of Japanese journalists, due to the Texas

Rangers, whose stadium is next door, signing of pitcher Yu Darvish. “Everybody wants to see the largest domed stadium in the word,” he said of the facility with the retractable roof, which can open in 12 minutes. Prior to the start of the season and training camp, Trahan made his way back to Hattiesburg and on to New Orleans. “I visited all the old Hub City thrill spots, like Leatha’s,” said Trahan, who is eager to tout to any football types heading in this direction, the Barbeque Inn on Hwy. 98 West. “Believe me when I tell you there is no good barbeque in Texas; don’t let them tell you there is,” he said. “Leatha’s is the best in the world and that’s what they come back telling me...how amazing it is.” For poor Trahan and the team, training camp meant spending a month in California (Cry me a river, said Trahan), Oxnard, to be exact. “It was 70 degrees every day, you had the ocean, the area where they grow strawberries and make wine,” said Trahan as he painted a picture of this “tough” time. Then there were two preseason games and the Alabama/Michigan matchup, which the Arlington stadium hosted. And now that the season is underway, there is no such thing as nights, weekends or holidays. “They don’t apply to me, it’s football,” he said, “where sometimes you are up 24 hours straight after a game.” In order to meet a 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline for posting stats, game stories, etc., imposed on all 32 teams of the league, Trahan said time is of the essence. “If you play a Saturday or Sunday game you’re pretty much O.K., but if you play a Monday night game that doesn’t start until 7:30 or 8 p.m. and isn’t over until 11, then you’re up all night pulling information to get out to the media.”

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At right, Joe Trahan stands on the sidelines during a game at Cowboys Stadium. “I’m just the good-looking guy in a suit with an earpiece on the sidelines,” says Trahan.

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“There are some days you look up as people are coming to work and you realize that it’s actually morning already. But if you enjoy what you’re doing it really doesn’t matter. And your typical routine is not your typical routine.” It also takes a toll on his dating life. “You have to have someone who really understands your schedule,” he said. “There are the ebbs and flows.” But during the off season his job is pretty much 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “With football you might be playing Jan. 1 in a playoff game, you lose, and on Jan. 2 you’re doing nothing,” he said. “It’s weird because you’re so used to doing something.” But for now he’s in full mode and will be “until January or February...until after we win the Super Bowl,” he boasted. Trahan doesn’t travel with the team to away games, but that’s not an issue, because there’s always something going on at the stadium, he said. This was a stipulation when he was hired fulltime, “but what a consolation prize,” he said, of getting to work high school and college games, concerts and other events. It’s also not a big deal when the team arrives back in town at 4 a.m. after an away game and he’s totally rested. And you can’t talk about the Cowboys without mentioning the cheerleaders. “I would love to say I deal with them, but not really,” said Trahan, who explained they have their own PR staff and do their own things. He mentioned that occasionally the players and cheerleaders might do something together, or the cheerleaders might help with some other non-football event. “They are great, beautiful, America’s sweethearts, who make you look good. I’d like to say I’ve dated them. I’m cool, but I’m not that cool. I’m just the good-looking guy in a suit with an earpiece on the sidelines,” he said. In addition to real football work, there’s also a variety of community services projects from the Salvation Army, Jerry Jones charity of choice, to children’s hospitals from Fort Worth to Dallas, school visits and camps. What’s down the road? Trahan would like to go as far as he can with the organization, but again, with a limited number of spots available, that can be difficult at times. “When and if the time comes to move up, I’ll be more than willing,” he said. And while serving as director of a sports franchise would be the ultimate job, “not a lot of people want to let go of those jobs,” he said. Trahan has also used his public relations experience to help train athletes on how to talk to the media. “I’d love to see that grow. I’m using a lot of what my dad taught me,” he said of the elder Trahan, who has his own PR firm in Atlanta. And what about his saxophone? A professed Halloween fiend, “I guess that goes back to my Louisiana and New Orleans roots,” he jokes, he picked up his saxophone this summer when he was home visiting. “There’s this internet sensation who wears leather pants and plays George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” on his saxophone in random places, like Walmart. That’s what I’m going to do for Halloween this year,” he promised his friends. He hasn’t played in years, but has picked it up recently. “I sound terrible, but it’s nice to get back in it.” And while his heart his deep in the heart of Texas, it’s also back with the black and gold. “I do check in on USM a good bit,” he’s proud to confess. “When they were here last year playing Houston for the Conference USA championship, I went and sat in the middle of the USM section, visited with the Pride, who sounded great,” he reminisces. “I was honored to remember those band days.” During the preseason when the Cowboys and the St. Louis Rams played, Trahan made his way onto the field to talk to Rams QB Austin Davis, who graduated last year. Ryan McKee, another former Golden Eagle, joined them on the field for a photo. “Even when Favre was with the Packer’s I’d go up and introduce myself as a Southern Miss graduate.” Passionate about his alma mater he lauds their programs and accomplishments to scouts and others who come through the Cowboys organization. “They have a lot of respect for USM players and I’m proud to say I’m from USM. I’m very proud of the university. I still bleed black and gold and still wear my USM college ring, which I get asked about alot. “I hope to one day be able to sit down and tell my grandchildren stories about how neat it’s been to be a part of all this,” he said. “While I may not be rich monetarily, I’m rich in the experiences I’ve had.”

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James D. Smith Photo

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Hollywood in Hattiesburg? USM professor/producer wants to shoot film right here in Pine Belt

ights! Camera! Action! Those are words Miles Doleac of Hattiesburg would like to hear next May or June in the Hub City. Doleac, who teaches history and Latin at the University of Southern Mississippi, is mounting an independent film project through his motion picture development company, Historia Films LLC. And he hopes to keep it local. The script for “The Historian,” which was written by Doleac, is about “the importance of education and much more. It’s based loosely on my experiences and represents the culmination of two deeply meaningful paths that I have travelled in my life, paths that have now, fortuitously in my view, converged,” he said. “I bring the lessons of both journeys to this project, to a community that has always been passionate about the arts. And I feel very passionately about its plea for education.” Russell Bailey serves as director and has extensive screen acting in such features as “How I Met Your Mother,” “The Sarah Silverman Show,” “NCIS” and “Iron Man II.” Bailey directed the orignal stage play, “Waiting for Jamie,” and has also directed short films and countless short and music videos.

He has recently completed post-production for his first feature-length film, “Barmy,” which he independently produced, wrote, directed and edited. “It’s rare that you come across a project with heart, sophistication and a powerful narrative,” said Bailey. “ ‘The Historian’ is one of those stories – one about conflicting ideals. As a producer, I’m thrilled to be given the responsibility and privilege of bringing this story to life. “With a great team already on board, and growing on a daily basis with additional talent, it’s a project that will allow and require each of us to go beyond what we’ve done before.” Bailey said he sees filmmaking as a great collaboration – “bringing together the best in each department, and pushing each other beyond even our own expectations, as well as accomplishing more than what we each could have done on our own.” Casting director Jodi Collins of New York, whose credits include The Chris Rock Show, Sweet Little Lies, Z-Rock and Strangers with Candy, has signed on to assist with principal casting. “She is currently reaching out to talent,” Doleac said. And so far, has landed actor Colin Cunningham of “Falling Skies” in a supporting

role. “He was exMiles Doleac cited about the script,” Doleac said. More offers are on the table and Doleac hopes to be able to name other actors who have signed onto the project in the coming months.

Pursuing a passion A native of Hattiesburg, Doleac first fell in love with movies and theater at an early age, “Fortunately for me, Hattiesburg provided wonderful opportunities for me to pursue my passion,” he said. A graduate of Hattiesburg High, he appeared in 12 shows between the ages of 15 and 18, taking advantage of what the school had to offer as well as Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera, where he performed in such productions as “Carousel,” “Big River” and “Camelot.” He won accolades at the Southeastern Theatre Conference for his performance in “The Dining Room.” His love of the arts carried him to the muchcelebrated North Carolina School of the Arts, one of the country’s top arts conservatories. Doleac has lived and worked as an actor and producer in New York and Los Angeles, and

By Beth BUNCH

most recently, in Louisiana. His credits include appearances and parts in both big movies and small ones and on television shows like A&E’s Breakout Kings and HBO’s Treme. While doing so he attained graduate degrees in history, studying in Germany, Italy and Greece, becoming both an educator and an artist. “I've long been impressed with the passion of the arts here in Hattiesburg,” he said. “I know what a boon film production can be to an area. It gives profile to a community. Take Louisiana, for example, which saw a boon in movie production following Katrina. There is no reason why the same cannot happen here in Mississippi.” And that's his hope for Hattiesburg.

On the forefront “We have an opportunity to be on the frontlines of what can be a booming film production industry right here in our state.” “Here in Hattiesburg, in the deepest part of the Deep South, the arts thrived to such a degree that a kid, who wanted to be an actor from age six when he saw “Raiders of the Lost Ark” for the first time at the Hardy Street Cinema, was given the opportunity to do four shows a year while in high school,” Doleac said. With tax incentives recently passed by the Mississippi Legislature, Doleac hopes production companies will take notice of what the state has to offer. “If you spend $400,000 then you’re going to get $100,000 back,” he said of a 25 percent tax break. He noted James Franco’s current filming of

William Faulkner's “As I Lay Dying” in the Delta. “It's virgin territory down here,” he said. He noted that Canton has been the sight for filming on several occasions, and “it didn't hurt that they built a soundstage, either.” With the initiative, energy and a driving force, Doleac hopes to be the person to bring film to the Hub City. Doleac was sucked back into the film vacuum while living in New Orleans. “I was traveling down St. Charles one day when I came upon production and gaffe trucks and the like where there was filming underway,” he said. “I auditioned and got a part.” He returned home several years ago when the University of Southern Mississippi was making cuts to university programs as part of money-saving efforts and both Latin and German were going to be axed. Doleac credits the heroic efforts of Phyllis Jestice, chair of the history department, with saving Latin. “I came to do a visiting appointment at that time and am still here.” Doleac said that every day he’s in class he “sees how far we’ve fallen. Kids don’t know the difference between a noun and a verb. We’ve got serious problems,” he said. “ It's happening at the secondary level. They just don’t teach English grammar. Nowadays it's all about testing. It's like trying to build a house before you build the foundation. Kids don't know the nuts and bolts.” But Doleac stresses that it's not just Hattiesburg or Mississippi, but all over the coun-

try. “There’s a dummying down of education. And we’re not just trying to build intelligence, but also social and intellectual awareness.” He hopes his movie will bring that to the forefront in a lot of people’s minds. Doleac says the screenplay, which he just completed this summer, includes some of everything – drama, conflict, romance, humor and humanity – all the things that will draw audiences and hopefully make it a booming success. “The Historian” is set on a college campus in anywhere USA, not Southern Miss, per se,” he said. “But USM is a great location and it would be a great advertisement for them, as well as other areas of the Hub City, such as downtown, where shooting might be possible.”

The plot:

Keeping things local Doleac said the diverse group of people he’s talked to around town have been very receptive to his project, which he hopes to make for less than $500,0000. “If I can make it for less than $500,0000, with what it has to offer, it will have very deep pockets,” he said. While the university hasn’t committed for filming to take place on campus, Doleac says it’s not a deal breaker if they say no. He said there are area junior colleges as well as nearby location possibilities in Louisiana that could be used for those portions of the movie. “I could go to Tulane tomorrow to shoot,” he said. “While it would make life logistically a little more difficult – to shoot onethird there and two-thirds here – it can be done. Also, he said a low budget production doesn't have the funds to allow for a lot of moving back and forth. Doleac has met with Betsy Rowell, director of the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association, and Rick Taylor, executive director for VisitHattiesburg about his project. “Miles Doleac is no stranger to the film industry,” said Rowell. “ He is approaching his project as a well-informed and well-prepared industry professional. Some of the most recognizable names from Hollywood have found Mississippi intriguing; we have a long list of successful films made in and about Mississippi. Miles is bringing his love for the industry to his hometown and we appreciate and

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Colin Cunningham, who has a role in Falling Skies, has signed on the project in a supporting role. Falling Skies is an American science fiction dramatic television series created by Robert Rodat and producted by Steven Spielberg.

encourage his efforts. Fortunately, Mississippi now has a competitive incentive package for film makers.” Rowell said Doleac has met with various business establishments in the downtown area, “concluding that many of the scenes will take place in our historic venues,” she said. “ It is an opportunity to show-off some of the unique places of our community. Miles is recruiting local clothing stores and restaurants to participate, offering an opportunity for locally-owned businesses to benefit economically as well as the great exposure. We know there is an economic impact from movie-making and believe this will be the first of many new opportunities for Hattiesburg.” Taylor concurs. “Hattiesburg Tourism supports Doleac’s endeavor to produce an independent film in the Hattiesburg area,” he said. “His local roots, combined with his experience and connections in Hollywood, give Hattiesburg the greatest chance it has had to see itself in a quality independent film.” Taylor feels that such a local shoot will expose other filmmakers to Hattiesburg as a location, along with the ease and value of shooting in South Mississippi.

“The incentives provided by the State of Mississippi combined with USM’s film curricula and shooting venues can set the stage for more productions in the future. Miles’ project can be that catalyst. This long-term potential and the short-term economic impact of his project leads us to support and advocate for our community to seize this opportunity.”

A designer’s dream Doleac said the location and surrounding areas of Hattiesburg are a production designer’s dream. “Hattiesburg can be anywhere,” he said. “It’s more interesting than Baton Rouge, where the topography and buildings are so bland.” Doleac said he felt film companies have become easily bored with Louisiana. “There’s a growing sense that Louisiana is shot out,” he said. “They’ve seen all it has to offer.” For the “Breakout Kings,” in which Doleac had a role, the story took place in New Jersey, but was shot in Baton Rouge, he said. Doleac’s co-producer is Mackenzie Westmoreland, who grew up in Neely, in south Forrest County, but is spending much of his time now between New York and Atlanta. Westmoreland has known Doleac for about 20 years. “I was

he Historian pits two brilliant and troubled professors of different generations against one another in a simmering conflict of ideals. Both these historians, each in his own way, feel a duty to impart the lessons of the past, even though they cannot seem to come to terms with their own complicated personal histories. They fight an education system infected by increasingly low standards, corruption, student apathy and misguided priorities. They believe in a classical education model that sought to mold better human beings by teaching the individual how to overcome the baser inclinations of human nature, yet they find themselves constantly tempted to succumb to the animal instincts they have been at pains to surmount. Between them is a bright, young, idealistic graduate student, who worships one and is smitten by the other. She will force them to reckon with one another for well or ill. One historian will rise, another will fall. Both will be shaken and changed by the experience and by the knowledge that all of history has something to teach us. This is a dark, funny, humane drama that puts academia under the microscope and finds a mirror of human nature.

an artist-in-residence at Hattiesburg High School and directed Miles in a couple of plays,” he said. Later in his career and after starting a small theater company in Sparta, Westmoreland moved to the Big Apple, where Doleac had also relocated to. The men joined forces and started a theater company together. But eventually the theater pulled Doleac to Los Angeles. While Doleac leans more toward the theater, Westmoreland said he’s more of a stage guy. Once ‘The Historian’ was real, Doleac contacted Westmoreland about helping him with the project. “Having been blind for about four years, I asked him what he thought I could do, being that theater is much-more visually oriented than the stage,” said Westmoreland. “Talk to people,” was Doleac’s reply. So, his long-time friend is helping orchestrate all the different parts, serving as a liaison for each aspect of the venture – from what Doleac needs to what the film needs. And that includes film, casting, photo directors, investors and brainstorming.” It’s a totally new adventure for the two, which Westmoreland says now seems like it’s been in the works for a long time. “In truth, there is so much to be done on a daily basis,” he said. While Westmoreland does get back to the area on occasion and he still considers Hattiesburg home, he’s excited about the opportunity to get back for what he hopes will be filming in the area next spring and to be around family and friends.” “Hattiesburg has as much to offer as other areas,” he said. “I’d love to help bring film pro-

duction to Hattiesburg and Mississippi, as well as help open doors for other producers, directors and investors.”

An investment in the Hub City The benefits for this film being shot in Hattiesburg could be substantial, according to Doleac. “There could possibly be as many as 100 cast and crew in town for four weeks or more,” he said. “That means hotel rooms, meals, rental cars and other general spending. That’s a big deal.” Doleac would also like to cast locals to be included in extra roles. “We want students from USM, in the theatre and art departments, as well as the local art community to be a part of the cast and crew. More promotion equals more publicity.” He said there was the possibility for a wrap party as well as a premiere at the Saenger Theater. “The Saenger used to be a movie theater. I think it would be fun to convert it back for a night.” But more than anything, Doleac wants this to be a community effort. “I want to make it a Hattiesburg project.” That’s why he’d also like to see it funded locally. Doleac is currently seeking investors for “The Historian.” While they do have some money in the coffers, it is being used to secure talent. Doleac explained that some stars ask for money up front to make sure you’re serious about the project and legitimate. “Being able to offer money up front is a big deal,” he said. “And more attachments equal more money.”

The only film he knows of that has ever been filmed in the Hub City is one about baseball pitcher Satchel Page that was shot at least 25 years ago. The ABC movie was “Don’t Look Back” The Story of Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige, starring Lou Gossett Jr. and was filmed in Hattiesburg and released in May 1981. “If I can make this move for under $500,000 and get it accepted in the can, then there’s a great opportunity to make money,” he said. “Due to the increased demand for American-made films worldwide and the development of new markets including pay, cable and satellite television, video ON DEMAND, Redbox rentals, downloadable video and Blue-Ray/DVD sales, there is a tremendous shortfall of quality products,” he said. With an assortment of film festivals out there, Doleac feels there is a good possibility of getting it accepted to the likes of film festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Magnolia, IFC, LakeShore, Tribeca or others. Doleac realizes that to many people in Mississippi $500,000 is a lot of money. “In Hollywood it's nothing,” he said. “And while I can go elsewhere to solicit the funds I need, I want this to be Hattiesburg's baby. “I want it to raise the profile of Hattiesburg and its art community, so once it’s done investors can say, ‘We did this, now let’s do it again, but bigger.’ ” For more information about Historia Films, e-mail Doleac at historiafilms@gmail.com

october 2012

black! gold! spirit! By Ashleigh JOHNSON

is exactly what they do. When you think of the sound of game day, you think of the fight song and various others that the band plays both in the stands and on the field. "I have so much fun in the stands when we play cheers and get the crowd excited," said sophomore Julie Gore. "I love that people stay afterwards Leighton Miller hasn't just to listen to us." missed a home game at Junior Pride member, Anna Broadhead agrees. "It's impossible not to have Southern Miss since 1976 school spirit when you're after gradumarching in the Eagle Walk," ating in she said. 1970. "One Along with hearing The day my wife Pride perform, cheerleader asked me, Allison Stennis finds that when we're ills W ea na another sound she is fond of is Ja , ille urv n Go too old to Nadia Nixon, Laure "hearing the words, 'Southern drive four hours to Miss' and everyone automatiHattiesburg for games what are we going to do? And I said, well, cally responding, 'To The we're going to buy a house and just move to Hattiesburg. So Top!'" that's what we did." Thirty-six years of dedication and he will Between all the different still be there, rain or shine. groups that aim directly Miller is just one excellent example of what being a Southern Jamie Page, Kellar McAllistar, Angie Elias, Paula Elias toward getting people excited Miss fan means to many Golden Eagles. and proud to be Golden Walking around the Southern Miss Eagles, it's no wonder the fans are dedicated. campus on game day is like walking "I'm a Southern Miss fan because from the moment I through a sea of black and gold. The was born, my blood was black and gold," jokes graduate school spirit is so thick it is literally student Molly McNeill. More seriously, McNeill adds, hard to walk through, though that "Getting involved on campus, tailgating and going to might just be from the mass amount of games is what makes your Southern Miss experience." people that came to set up the night Cheerleaders, by definition, do just that â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cheer on the before for the tailgating. crowd. Kelsey Culotta had dreamed of becoming a So what makes Southern Miss fans Southern Miss cheerleader and having the opportunity to different from all the others? cheer on Southern's large fan base. "I was blessed to The number one word that everyone become a cheerleader at the best university in said was "family." Being a Southern Mississippi!" says Culotta. "My favorite aspect is by far Miss fan provides you with thousands the wonderful atmosphere at the football games. The of new friends, all here to support the Courtney Ingle, Keona crowd is going crazy, the band is awesome and the footAnderson, Sydney Daugh ty same team and all having at least one ball players are playing their hearts out! There is nothing thing in common. like it in the world." "One thing Southern Miss excels in is tradition," Nadia Nixon joined the Southern say Alex Vanderleest and Ben Hollywood, current Misses this year as an opportunity to USM students. Tradition, atmosphere, support, comsupport Southern. "The student section munity, friends and spirit were other adjectives used is so alive and excited for the game to define what being a Southern Miss fan is like and The love they show is amazing," she why it is so significant. said. Nixon believes that Southern Miss Jamey Ferguson, a graduate of Southern Miss and fans are not just fans, but a family. She lifetime fan, expands on this, "The best part about has grown up a USM fan and says the being a USM fan is we are true, loyal fans," he said. love she feels from the school means "We're not fans because we went to Wal-Mart and the world to her. bought an Ole Miss shirt. We are real fans." With the combination of the Pride, Not only are the alumni invested in being avid the Dixie Darlings, the Southern Southern Miss fans, but The Pride, cheerleaders, Misses, the cheerleaders, the team itself Dixie Darlings and Southern Misses are all invested Austin Howell, Allie Solomon, Mitchell Havard, Marcus Ocmond and the fantastic fan base, USM is the in promoting Southern Miss and providing the campus with the atmosphere, tradition, community and place to be on game day, or realspirit that everyone described as a part of being a Southern Miss fan. ly any day. "The school spirit Laura Perry, a senior and current Dixie Darling, has grown up going to here is amazing. There is nothSouthern's football games and admiring the Dixie Darlings. ing in comparison," said USM "It is so much fun to interact with fans and promote school spirit," Perry says. student Allie Solomon. Senior "When you step out onto the field to perform at pregame or halftime, all of the cheerleader Jillian Brady says hard work you've been putting into making your dances look great, pays off. It the best part of being a is a great feeling to be performing for a large crowd on a team Southern Miss fan "is knowing that is part of Southern Miss history." that I will always have a bond The Southern Miss band, The Pride, is a nationally recognized band whose with USM." primary job on game day is to pump fans up and build the excitement, and that Mercedes Lee, Molly Mc Neill

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october 2012

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All that glitters....

s Southern Miss black and gold ..... Whether Eagle Fanfare, Breakfast with Seymour or an academic affair or tailgating, USM brings out the best.... See more, Pages 66-73

oc tober 2012

USM TAILGATING

Olivia Arrant

Ashton and Sonya Dykes

Larry and Andrew Allen

Marlee, Amanda and Cooper Calhoun, Molly Ferguson

Golden Eagle faithful!

he first game of the 2012 football season brought out the black and gold faithful to tailgate before the Southern Miss vs. East Carolina game.

Austin Jackson, Michael Gemelli

Lauren Bordes, Emily Bucher, Megan McPhail, Jessie Fortson, Olivia Chisom, Kayla Gauthreaux, Katie Methe

Pam Jacobus, Karen Hatten, Dawn Prach, Tammy Warren, Temple Floyd

Tyler Mitchell, Mary Thomas, Mary Claire Odom, Bettye Anne McNanarre, Rachel Kolak, Ryan Sutton

Bobby and Lisa Tanner, Donna Breaux, Stacy Chapman, Kathy Nevels

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Shelby Pizzolato. Miranda Levy, Sarah Catherine Poche, Ainsley Vaughan, Kathryn Miller, Olivia Vaughan, Mercedes Lee

Collyn Bassett, Kendra Kitchens, Sara Terry

Zoie Arnold, Jill Hays, Ruth Anne Jose, Lacey Carr

Kainbry Dupuy

Kim Bellipani, Sarah, Josie and Chris Price, Tim, Brandy and Shawn Weyenberg, David Lee and Lindy Parker

Lauren Atchison, Haley Straub, Charity Roberts, Kacey Breaux

Jacob and Michelle Bordelon, Logan Malone

Colton Riddick, Kelly Liles, Amber Williams

BREAKFAST WITH SEYMOUR

Sarah Babin, Victoria Long

Breakfast fun!

T Ethan, Abby, Amanda and Mark Hammons

Aaron, Sarah and Joey Lee, Deles Roberts

Tere Smith Riddick, Madison Smith, Ethan Riddick

Beth and Jim Green

Taylor, Caroline, Drew and Anna-Cooper Clayton

he Chi O alumnae chapter of Southern Miss hosted "Breakfast with Seymour" at St. Thomas Catholic Church prior to the first home game of the season. The chapter donated $2,000 to the local Make-A-Wish Chapter. Attendees enjoyed breakfast and a meet and greet with the USM mascot, Seymour, and the Dixie Darlings.

Virginia, Van, Zachary, Mariah and Zemyaah Smith

Caron and Kathryn Sibley, Merrit McLemore

Lila, Julie and Phil Roberts, Scott and Hudson Walker, Turk Hession

Leigh Anne, Catherine and Larry Ainsworth, Brooxie, Matt and Tyce Shepherd

Vickie and Mike Hanna

Chi Omega members

Megan Duncan, Mary Lois Hanna, Seymour, Alicia McLemore, Jennifer Smith

Joyce Smith, Alice Essary

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EAGLE FANFARE

Elizabeth Rinaudo, Jasmine Crowell, Kristen Fleming, Katie Steelman, Alex Phefferle

Lizzy and Loleeta Rhett

Will Weaver, Chris Marrow

Coaches Broderick Fobbs, Archie Gibbs II

Kristi and Steve Buckley

Amanda Berkley, Debbie Webster

Black, Gold! Black, Gold! Black! Gold!

he 17th Annual Eagle Fanfare, presented by ServiceMaster of Petal, was held at Lake Terrace Convention Center. New Head Football Coach Ellis Johnson, assistant coaches, players, Seymour and the Southern Miss cheerleaders were on hand to meet fans. The family-friendly event featured a fun jump for the kids and a large silent auction with proceeds benefiting the South Central Mississippi Chapter's scholarship endowment.

Kimberly, Shawn and Kade Roberts

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Kolbi, Keyaschei, Travis and Jace Reed

Jeff and Mildred McNeese

Faith Parish, Ryan Turner, John Nesser

Rick and Jack Thomsen

Jennifer Payne Bethanie Defatta, Eva Kate Defatta, Julie Russum, Eva Marie Defatta

Yvonne Boehme, Patti Guerry

Deedre and Anna Grace Coll, Stephanie and Alissa Menefee

Liali Tran, Trish Komitsky, Jada Jordan, Brittany Dearman

Rebecca Winters, Lauren Drake

Thomas Greene, Mary Anderson

Aaron and Kenadie Zumwatt

oc tober 2012

FOOTBALL 101: CHALK TALK FOR WOMEN

Brandy Hardin, Laurie Benvenutti

Whitney Clark, Debbie Caves, Ashton Caves

Lana and Michelle McIlwain, Dana Phillips, Brandy and Chloe Bice

Diane Crutchfield, Pamela Napier, Catye Crutchfield, Gabrielle Napier

Jessa Moreno, Amber Woyt, Kristen Guilbert, Nate Brooks

Shival McNabb, Karen Butler, Natalie Jones, Leslie Magee

Football 101

he Southern Miss football program, in conjunction with Forrest General Hospital, held its annual Football 101: Chalk Talk for Ladies Clinic in the Touchdown Terrace of Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberts Stadium. Female fans got a chance to learn about the game of football from Southern Miss Coach Ellis Johnson. In addition, Fran Ginn, chef and owner of the Back Door Cafe, provided valuable tips for creating a winning tailgate presentation. The Southern Miss cheerleaders and mascot, Seymour, were also in attendance. Other activities included a fashion show, photo opportunities with Coach Johnson, the opportunity to run through the tunnel with the fog like the football players and and be shown on the jumbotron like the beginning of every game at "The Rock."

Jamie and Kelly Roberts

Lisa Diaz, Hayley Bryant

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Brooke McWilliams, LuAnnâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Robinson

Catherine Bates, Kara Cochran, Shelly Russum, Kim Pittman, Bethanie Defatta, Julie Russum, Jenny Boudreaux

Jennifer Gunn, Michael Marks, Kathy Emmons

Lindsey Christian, Sandra Elliot Johnson, Charlie Johnson and Caroline Johnson

Kim Mathews, Katie Walley

Allie Stockstill, Kodi Atkins, Meagan Roseberry, Hope Maples, Ashlin Grant, Tracy Burnham with Seymour

Sandra and Rhyan Beaman

Heather Teat, Ashley Watts

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CHI OMEGA PAINT PARTY

Alicia McLemore, Leigh Canoy

Heather Odom, Cassidy Parker, Jenna Barton

Jennifer Fisher Smith, Alicia McLemore, Megan Duncan

Carol Lindley, Jere Clark

Whoooo’s painting?

hi Omega alums from the University of Southern Mississippi had a Night Owl painting party. Alumnae enjoyed an evening of hors d’oeuvres and painting an owl canvas

Lisa Bushardt, Jere Clark, Olivia and Joanna Bushardt

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Erin Bradley, Ginny Gregg Graham, Kristi Pierce

Julie Myers Uher, Loretta Myers McLaughlin

USM POLYMER EXPLORATION

Lou Ann Poynter, Evan Dillard, Jim McCarthur, Hyun Mo Koo, Derek Patton, Sandy Holifield

Arnie Williams

Getting to know us..... Greg Booth Jr., Greg Booth Sr., Dr. Shelby Thames, Dr. Sarah Morgan, Steve Parham, Johnny DuPree

Greg Booth Jr., Dr. James Rawlins, Greg Booth Sr., Dr. Shelby Thames

Robbie Ingram, Serge Hanoca, Keltoum Rowland

he University of Southern Mississippi held Polymer Exploration Event 2012. The event was a "familiarization" tour of the Hattiesburg area for decision makers nationwide to visit and see what the university has to offer. The event included dinner at the Odd Fellows Gallery and a tour of The Accelerator â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the technology commercialization center of Southern Miss. The event was hosted by Mississippi Power, Mississippi Polymer Institute and The School of Polymers and High Performance Materials at USM. In attendance was the leadership of USM, as well as economic developers from across the state and nation.

Jesse Smith, Sandyâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Holifield, Mitch Stennett

Dr. Aubrey Lucas

oc tober 2012

WCU RECEPTION

Barbara Hamilton, Tobyâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Barker, Sam Sackler

Dylan, Samantha and Cliff Snellgrove

Dr. Francis Achike, Mason Dyess, Derek Hunt, Dr. Jeff Evans

Welcome to Hub City, WCU!

he Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association, the City of Hattiesburg, the Area Development Partnership, and VisitHATTIESBURG hosted the third annual reception to welcome new William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine students and faculty. The event was held at the Depot. The 108- member class includes 67 men and 41 women. Dr. T. G. Sarphie, Web Heidelberg

Dr. Tommy King, Betsy Rowell, John Brown

Web Heidelberg, Chad Newell

Rishi Shah, Dr. Everett Roark

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Lt. Col. Fred and Col. Sheila Varnado, Chad Newell, Betsy Rowell

Lisa Pabst, Selim Sheikh, Dr. Jim Turner

Lindsey Chasan, Dick Vogel, Sam Sackler, Sophia Curpill-Nilson

Kate Kuberg, Dr. Johnny Porter, Dr. Jessica Taylor, Guy Paul Cooper

Josh Holifield, Dr. Tommy King, Cory Lemoine

Jason Lee, Jutta and Joe White

Dr. Gabor Legradi, Karen and Sylvia Legradi

Jennifer Upton, Louis Swartz, Melissa Johnson, Debbie Blakeney

Vicki and Linda Gates

Lee Anne and Ronnie Venable

Kathryn and Tom Duncan

George Randolph, Debbie Holland, Leigh Ann Holland, Caren and Ernie Boudreaux

Jennifer Massey, Carolyn Jones-Primeaux, Susan Light

SALES & MARKETING AWARDS

Martha and Mimi Abadie, Kristen Brock

Jimmy McCay, Leighann Holland, Cherylâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Dale, Mike Madaris

Joanne Barthel, Rebecca Boyd

Debi Myrick, Vicki Gates

And the winners...

T Ellen Carty, Don Nace, Chip Grenn

he annual SMP Awards Banquet was held at Lake Terrace Convention Center. The evening included the installation of the 20122013 Officers and Board of Directors. The Professional Award winners, the Business Award winners and The SMP Scholarship Award winners were presented.

Lincoln and Sarah Gatwood, Connie Miller, Sarah Bienvenue

Bud and Virginia Kirkpatrick, Kristen Brock

Kristen Brock, Adam Myrick, Jason Le Viere, Kristie Fairley

Leah Moore, Phillip Pitts, Cindy Smith

Charles, Kenecia, Felicia Johnson

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HOSPITALITY PRESIDEINTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RECEPTION

Vicki Copeland, Chase Welborn, Barbara Ross

Ella and Dr. Aubrey Lucas

Ann Claire Reynolds, Randy Rolison

Dr. Aubrey Lucas, Ann Claire Reynolds

Terry Fleming, John Brown, Martha Lee

Katelyn Berch, Anna Morris, Amber Robinson

Very hospitable people....

H Amber Malone, Ashtin Giambrone

attiesburg once again played host to the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant. Young ladies from across the state visited in the Hub City for a week prior to the pageant. During the week they attended a reception hosted by Southern Miss interim president Dr. Aubrey Lucas and his wife, Ella, at the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home, toured areas of interest, did community service work and rehearsed a lot.

Bethany Crawford, Kaylie Rowell

Morgan Berry, Brittney Saulters

Anna Powell, Nicole Ruhnke, Jay Slaughter Whitley Tassin, Karlee Stewart

Savannah Brantley, Katy Coleman, Hannah Rice, Brittany Bounds

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Jana Ishee, Mary Alyse Jamieson

Kelcey Whitfield, Maranda Hutson

Kate Kaiser, Kay Staples

Lauren Tyler, Chandler Llana

Anna Powell, Holli Severson

Amber Robinson, Hannah Carraro

Ashley Neal, Jordan Parker, Amber Spann

Anna Claire Barrett, Maria Carraro

Bethany Crawford, Jasmine Graves, Bailey Thompson

Barbara Ross, Vicki Copeland

HOSPITALITY AROUND THE WORLD

Addison River, Chandler Llana

Lauren Tyler, Shelby Headrick

Around the world....

ommemorating 63 years, the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant celebrated “Hospitality Around the World,” as this year’s 35 young women from across the state chose their own special costumes to wear at a party at Lake Terrace Convention Center that carried out that theme. Katie Kaiser, Jerricka Smith

Chandler Llana, Martha Lee, Mary Alyse Jamieson

Katy Coleman, Shelbie Freeman, Savannah Brantley

Halen Whalen, Miranda Hutson

Brittany Bounds, Hannah Rice, Anna Catherine Hampton

Taylor Hathorn, Amber Malone, Karlyn Purvis

Kassadi Morris, Savanna Smith, Jouri Dixon

Cassidi Bush, Brandy Jarvis, Maggie Monroe

Kaylie Rowell, Gabbie Munn

Lauren Wolfe, Lex Anna Thompson, Mary Alyse Jamieson

oc tober 2012

MISS HOSPITALITY PAGEANT

Hospitable evening

he finals for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant were held at the Saenger Theater. Chandler Llana, 20, representing Panola County, was crowned this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner. She is a biological sciences major at Ole Miss. She was one of 35 contestants from across the state who competed. Jennifer and Aimee Horton

Ashley and Mollie Jones

Melanie and Hilary Beaty

Emily, Allison and Anita Humphrey

Taylor Stewart, Ramey Rimes

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Katie Pittman, Daija Green

Cathy Spears, Earline Vaughn

Gabrielle Graham, Claire Jennings

Roslyn Floyd, Brianna Dalcour

Anne and Claire Walley

Chandler Hamilton, Acie Smith

Emy and Canton Freeman

Kennedy Hudson, Anna Claire Barrett

Rochelle and Ali Blackledge

Elizabeth Bailey, Devin Hart

Harold L. Sr. and Dorothy Coleman

Erica Bennett, Jill and Jennifer Gunn

Joe, Dakota and Cynthia Bush

Ken and Jean Allen, Molly Burch

BACKDOOR COFFEEHOUSE

Mary Polk, Helen Netherton Bob and Chris Heath

David and Kim Walker

A cup of coffee & entertainment.....a perfect evening

niversity Baptist Church has served as the host of the monthly Back Door Coffeehouse since 1992 and continues to co-sponsor this prose/poetry/music experience along with the South Mississippi Writing Project of the University of Southern Mississippi. Local writers, musicians and poets are featured in an intimate and relaxed candlelight and coffee atmosphere on the first Friday of every month from 7:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:30 pm. Rose Mary Woullard, Connie Benedict, Pat Valadez

Larry and Linda Smith

Rusty Edward

Arianna Hanson, Aynsley Saucier

Paul Laughlin

Ashley Gill, Addison Edwards

oc tober 2012

WOMEN’S EXPO

Female fun

he Second Annual Women’s Expo was held at Lake Terrace Convention Center. Women's health, fashion, home décor and cooking were all part of the event, which featured more than 50 vendors. Seminars were also part of the event.

Amber and Alicia Sumrall

Christen Riley Mitchell, Theresa Erickson

Rhonda Wade, Lana Smith, Carrie and Lee Robertson

LeeAnne Venable, Gregory Clark, Alison Crumpton, Barbara McGilvery, Russ Hendley

Sharon Breland, Doris Masters

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Betty Jones, Peggy Putnam

Rose and Lea Ingram

Suzanne Lindsey, Meredith Lesher, Elizabeth Tullos

Lindsey Mickle, Brenda Blackwell, Breanne Sullivan

Marie Sennften, Rhonda Robertson

Patsy Herrington, Lisa Henderson

Ember Ahua, Amanda Lee

he Hattiesburg Area Association of Realtors held its Hub City Poker run with proceeds benefitting the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter. First place was $5,000.

Charles Greer, Donita Wade Singleterry

Betty Jo Ison, Ann and Bill Hurley

Becky Woodham, Glenn and Carol Gros

Rochelle Hopkins, Jocelyn Raimey

Paula and Carley Odom, Jacob Bullock

Brandi Slaven, Melanie and Wes Girod

Max and Megan Parker

Reid Corts, Keith Yawn, Ben Berteau, Johnny Downing

REALTOR POKER RUN

A good cause...

Joey and Zan Roberts

Tiffany Craff, Claxton and Debbie Bennett

Steve and Don Regan

Lori Christie, Gregory Ketchings

Bettye Pierce, Bernie Regan, Debbie Sinopoli, Barry Doleac

oc tober 2012

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