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2 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
CONTENTS MAY 2013 • VOLUME 7 • NO. 5
| FEATURES |
58 HANDS THAT BUILD
Three people who are making a difference in their communities.
68 2013 GUIDE TO GIVING
Discover new ways to make an impact with our annual resource for causes and nonprofits in the MidSouth.
89 RISE & SHINE
A tour of the area’s best breakfast joints. Finally, a reason to drag yourself out of bed.
98 HAPPY CAMPERS
The summer camp experience, listing everything from science to horseback riding. A complete guide to keeping your little ones occupied this summer.
| OUT & ABOUT | 44 2013 FISHES FOR WISHES 46
TUNICA BIKE TRAIL RIBBON CUTTING & RIDE
47
DARS 3RD ANNUAL FURRY AFFAIR AT BONNE TERRE
48
ON A WHIM
49
MED NIGHT: A SOUL CELEBRATION
2013
50 9TH ANNUAL TASTE OF DESOTO 52
STARK YOUNG TRIBUTE
52
CLIFTON FARMS ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT
53
HUMANE SOCIETY PRESENTS “PAWS FOR ART”
54
BLUE OLIVE HOSTS SENIOR NIGHT
55
DESOTO ARTS COUNCIL “ART FOR AUTISM” EXHIBIT
MAy 2013
•
VoluMe 7
•
No. 5
| DEPartmEntS |
13 people
COntEntS
Anna Dickerson Northwest Mississippi’s Volunteer Matchmaker.
18 Food
Redneck BBQ Express An interview with the rowdy BBQ Fest veterans of Southaven.
22 music
Bright Lights, Bluff City
81
19-year-old Will Tucker’s journey to the neon and noise of Beale Street.
26 culture
Blind Ambition A loss of vision led to Como-based artist Sharon McConnellDickerson’s discovery of a gift for artistic expression.
30 books
A Million Wings Inside the unique culture and tradition of American
sportsmen.
32 in the mix
Going Green Grove Grill’s Terry Allen offers tips on the perfect Mint Julep.
35 style
98
89
Best Dress An array of silhouettes, fabrics and colors to suit every personality and occasion.
40 the knowledgable man Grill Master
A foolproof guide to grilling out this summer.
81 causes
Four for Feeding A group of local volunteers and culinary enthusiasts demonstrate the power of the plate.
108 on the money
Get Smart Quick About Your Money
110
Develop the know-how to make smart, informed financial decisions.
live well Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy Skin Good skin care and expert tips to delay the natural aging process.
4 may 2013 | myclickmag.com
in every issue: editor’s letter 6 Contributors 8 Calendar 10 Reader Recipes 107
26
myclickmag.com | may 2013 5
HALLIE MckAy
CLICK | editor’s letter
Good Starts On any given Sunday (sometimes Saturdays, too), you can find me in the good company of five or six friends with a plate of huevos rancheros, an order of truffle fries and a mimosa in hand. The place? Midtown’s most perfectly situated neighborhood restaurant and the MidSouth’s best-kept secret: The Beauty Shop. Friends, family, co-workers — really anyone who has been in my presence before 11 a.m. knows I liken the word ‘morning’ to that of a swear word, or worse, punishment. In jest, my mother once purchased a magnet that stated “I’d like the day more if it started later.” Well, I couldn’t agree more. If there is one morning or mid-morning event for which I don’t mind getting up and moving, however, it’s brunch. While our region of the MidSouth may not be one known for its large brunch crowds, it’s not for the lack of food or innovative cocktails. Turn to page 89 for contributing writer L. Taylor Smith’s all-you-can-eat guide to breakfast, “Rise & Shine.” On page 98, you’ll find our annual Guide to Giving, which includes a list of 22 local nonprofits, with causes that range from helping children and young adults succeed to improving health for adults and seniors to the prevention of animal abuse. Whether you’re looking to get involved or simply curious as to how local groups are impacting your community, page 98 offers a great read that is sure to warm your heart. If that doesn’t make you proud to call the MidSouth home, turn to page 58 and read “Hands That Build,” for a look at three outstanding individuals whose contributions are leading to sizable impact. As always, we want to know what you think. See a nonprofit we missed? Or, have a favorite breakfast spot we didn’t cover? Drop us a line or send us a letter. Click magazine loves to hear from our readers. Keep Reading,
Editor in Chief
Write To Us: Email editor@myclickmag.com or send us a letter and at Click Magazine P.O. Box 100, Hernando, MS 38632. 6 may 2013 | myclickmag.com
CLICK People | Parties | Places Publisher Jonathan Pittman jpittman@phpublishingllc.com
Associate Publisher Angie Pittman angie@phpublishingllc.com
Editor in Chief Hallie Mckay editor@myclickmag.com
Art Director Detric Stanciel Creative Design Director Crace Alexander
EDitoriAl Managing Editor Casey Hilder Events Editor Dale lilly
events@myclickmag.com
Copy Editor tonya thompson Media Contributor Maggie Vinzant
Contributing WritErS Doug gillon, Casey Hilder, Elizabeth link, Alisa nave, Samuel Praeger, Shana raley-lusk, Eugene Pidgeon, l. taylor Smith, tonya thompson, natalie troutt, Abby Vanderford, nanette Wiser
Contributing PHotogrAPHErS tina bailey, lisa Chapman, ivy Dover, Michael Hensley, Casey Hilder, Dennis Head, robert long, Jennifer Mullins, Kristena Saxton, Cassie Smith, Detric Stanciel
intErn Faith Ferrell
ADVErtiSing Advertising Director lyla McAlexander lylamc@phpublishingllc.com
Jamie boland
jamie@phpublishingllc.com
Melanie Dupree
mdupree@desototimestribune.com
Jeannette Myers
jmyers@phpublishingllc.com
HoW to rEACH uS 2445 Hwy 51 South | Hernando, MS 38632 website: myclickmag.com Customer Service/Subscriptions: P: 662.429.6397 | F: 662.429.5229 ©2013 P.H. Publishing. Click magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in Click magazine do not con stitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. Click Magazine is published monthly by P.H. Publishing, LLC.
SubSCriPtionS Call 662.429.6397 or subscribe online at myclickmag.com. Annual subscription rate: $32.95. Click Magazine is published 12 times a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to Click Magazine, 2445 Hwy. 51 South, Hernando, MS 38632. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Hallie McKay; Click Magazine, 2445 Hwy. 51 South, Hernando, MS 38632 or by email to editor@myclickmag.com.
SubMit your EVEnt Interested in having your next party featured in Click magazine? Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@Myclickmag.com. myclickmag.com | may 2013 7
CLICK | contributors
m ay 2013
L. Taylor
Smith
Colorado-born writer L. Taylor Smith was drinking coffee by age three, learned to read at age four, and required glasses by age five — all tell-tale signs of a future journalist. This month, Smith uncovers 15 morning marvels, from perfectly whisked platter-size pancakes to eyeopening egg dishes and everything in between in “Rise & Shine” (page 89). She will soon receive her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and plans to pursue her writing career as a reporter/intern for The Commercial Appeal this summer. When Smith isn’t sprinting toward a deadline, she’s working on her next screenplay, watching crime documentaries or thrift shopping for interesting knick-knacks.
Alisa
Natalie
A resident of Senatobia, Mississippi, Troutt is a frequent writer and photographer for Click magazine. This month, she interviews artist Sharon McConell in “Blind Ambition” (page 26) and captures a few of the region’s unique giving personalities in “Hands that Build” (page 64). When she is not writing, Troutt enjoys playing the piano, watching Law & Order and attending sporting events at her alma mater, The University of Mississippi. Troutt enjoys volunteering her time as a member of the Tate-Panola chapter of the Junior Auxiliary, whose mission is to render charitable services beneficial to the community, with particular emphasis on helping children.
Kristena
Casey
Hilder
A former editor-in-chief of The Daily Helmsman at the University of Memphis and a recent M.A. graduate, Hilder’s depth of writing and penchant for photography makes him a refreshing new voice in the MidSouth. This month, the 26-year-old assumes a new title as Click magazine’s Managing Editor. With a varied background in newspaper and magazines, Hilder brings to the publication seven years of experience in the fields of photography and writing. This month, he captures a different side to giving back in “Four for Feeding” (page 81). On page 32, you’ll also find his review of the ideal summer thirst-quencher “Going Green” (page 32). Hilder currently lives in East Memphis with his dog, Boomer.
8 may 2013 | myclickmag.com
Troutt
Nave
A native Memphian and a writer of more than 10 years, Alisa Nave is actively engaged in communications, public relations and journalism. She has experience in writing, producing and on-air work in the areas of broadcast, print and internet. She has written articles for various organizations including The Commercial Appeal. Nave received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin and her minor in Journalism at the University of Memphis. This month, Nave compiles a list of 20 nonprofit organizations from across the MidSouth that present a number of excellent opportunities to get involved; see “Guide to Giving” (page 68).
Saxton
A self-proclaimed former Marine Corps brat and former Marine herself, Saxton has always enjoyed making new acquaintances when moving about the country. After 33 years of traveling, in 1999, she took up permanent residence with her husband and children in Tipton County, where she found her passion for photography. With 12 years experience in family, children and wedding photography, Saxton continues to expand her craft and enjoy life. In her spare time, she loves visiting with her granddaughter and taking care of the many animals (chickens, ducks, dogs and cats) around her home. This month, Saxton attended the MED Gala: A Soul Celebration (page 49).
Shana Raley
Lusk
A lifelong reader and writer, Shana Raley-Lusk contributes frequently to Click magazine’s book department, where she reviews books with a special focus on Southern literature. A native of East Tennessee, Lusk has a unique and varied background in fine arts, interior design, creative writing and literature. She holds an English degree with a concentration in literature from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville and writes for a number of publications on a range of topics. This month, she reviews A Million Wings: A Spirited Story of the Sporting Life Along the Mississippi Flyway (page 30). Lusk currently lives in the greater Knoxville area with her husband and their two young sons.
BUILDING YOUR BACKYARD DREAMS
free estimates | fiberglass | vinyl liner | gunite | water falls and spas | poolhouse | gas firepits | outdoor kitchens
Olive Branch, MS 38654 butler poolandspa.com
662.781.7800 myclickmag.com | may 2013 9
CLICK CLICK | | dining calendar out
MAY 2013 Events
10 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
SOCIAL
CLICK | calendar
AGENDA
Your monthly resource for what’s happening around town.
myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 11
12 may 2013 | myclickmag.com
up front Arts, Culture and Personalities
people
Anna Dickerson Northwest Mississippi’s volunteer matchmaker story by Tonya Thompson photos by michael hensley
Current
myclickmag.com | may 2013 13
$
2,028,256.78
If you put a dollar amount to the number of volunteer hours that have been facilitated by Volunteer Northwest Mississippi in the past year, that’s the figure you get — and it’s a number that the Director, Anna Dickerson, hopes will grow exponentially in the future.
W
ith renewed focus on branding and getting the word out about who they are and what they do, her goal is inching ever closer. In an attempt to switch gears in a law career that made her feel “boxed in,” 29-year-old Dickerson, a Vicksburg, Mississippi native and former family law attorney, applied for the position of Director of Volunteer Northwest Mississippi in December of 2011 and knew immediately that she had made the right move. An articulate woman who is playfully labeled the “do-gooder” of the relationship by her husband, Dickerson found that serving her community became a life-altering decision that changed her own understanding of the needs of those around her. The couple currently resides in Southaven and has accepted the fact that although their career paths are divergent, they can still fully support each other. “I am so proud of Anna’s work at Volunteer Northwest Mississippi,” says her husband, Jake Dickerson, an attorney with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz. “From her coordination of the mobile food distributions, to her organization of countless volunteers for local nonprofits, to her nonprofit trainings, she has a very tangible and positive impact on the lives of thousands of people in Northwest Mississippi. I don’t know of any career that affords that much community-service-based satisfaction. Anna’s natural leadership abilities, combined with her hard work and determination, make her the best possible person to maximize the good that can come from her job.” That job, which consists of coordinating the influx of volunteers during the popular months, as well as reaching out to new recruits during the rest of the year, is something that the organization’s Director does with ease. Tom Pittman, President of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, has been particularly impressed with Dickerson’s hands-on approach. “We appreciate the warm and efficient way that Anna has expanded the work of our volunteer center,” says Pittman. “She has enabled thousands of local residents to make an impact on the lives of their community. It’s another way that we connect people who care with causes that matter.” t is through this role of connection point that Volunteer Northwest Mississippi makes such a significant impact. Housed in the office of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi in Hernando, Volunteer Northwest Mississippi was established in 2006 and became the first
I
14 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
Anna Dickerson poses with Walter Matlock, recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
volunteer center for the northwest region. Dickerson and her team currently work with more than 200 nonprofits in DeSoto County — as well as Coahoma, Marshall, Quitman, Panola, Tate, Tallahatchie and Tunica counties — providing volunteer recruitment, nonprofit trainings, volunteer management training and more. Through the scope of its services, Volunteer Northwest Mississippi is steadily pursuing an ambition of being the Match.com of volunteerism in the area, and they are doing it by matching willing volunteers to volunteer opportunities that are available across a wide range of nonprofit organizations. “Volunteer Northwest Mississippi is the volunteer center for DeSoto County,” says Dickerson. “Our mission is to develop, promote and support volunteerism by serving as a collection point for all volunteer opportunities in the area.” Among the many things that make Volunteer Northwest Mississippi stand out as an exemplary organization is the way in which it locates volunteers for organizations that might have a difficult time finding assistance otherwise. According to Dickerson, these volunteer opportunities at smaller, locally-owned and operated nonprofits might not be what immediately come to mind when people think of
CLICK | people
volunteering. “When people think volunteering, they automatically think of the larger organizations,” says Dickerson. “And don’t get me wrong, these larger organizations need volunteers. But sometimes, people don’t realize that there are also a lot of little ‘mom and pop’ places that really need their support, as well. Any amount of time is worth it to these organizations, whether it’s two hours a week or twenty hours a week.” When asked about the facet of her work that she is most proud of, Dickerson immediately referred to Volunteer Northwest Mississippi’s coordinated food distribution efforts, which take place each month at the landers Center in Southaven. “It’s a remarkable number,” says Dickerson. “over 16,000 families in DeSoto County have been fed through this program. I work with over 100 volunteers each month from Fedex Ground, Trustmark, Walgreens, Bancorp South,
church groups and school groups. Ninety percent of my volunteers are return volunteers — they give four hours of their time and get so much back. It’s helped us to expose a need in DeSoto County that many people think doesn’t exist. you can see the lines each month and see that it exists.” he need exposed by the food distribution program alone might be surprising to many who think of DeSoto County as one of the most affluent sections of the state. However, anyone who has ever worked in the local nonprofit sector understands firsthand that things are not always as they seem on the surface. In fact, according to the united States Department of Agriculture (uSDA), Mississippi and Arkansas have the highest food insecurity rates in the nation, with both states topping the chart at 19.2 percent of the population being food insecure. As one of several organizations in the area meeting this need, since May of 2012, Volunteer Northwest Mississippi has distributed 228,724 pounds of food to approximately 21,000 DeSoto County residents who stood in line to request assistance.
T
Volunteers working at the December Mobile Food Distribution at the Landers Center.
25.8 perCentage as of 2011 of Mississippi residents tHat did soMe Manner of volunteer WorK, totaling 574,850 volunteers and 83.4 Million Hours of serviCe. tHis ranKs tHe Magnolia state 35tH aMong tHe 50 states.
$
15.58
$
The estimated value of volunteer time in Mississippi per hour. Source: independentsector.org/ volunteer_time
71.1
# of NWMS opportunities for volunteers, with new opportunities added daily.
200
percentage of Mississippians that say they regularly do favors for their neighbors. Source: volunteeringinamerica.gov/MS
myclickmag.com | may 2013 15
CLICK | people
In addition to the extraordinary efforts required to hold the monthly food drive, Volunteer Northwest Mississippi has recruited approximately 11,443 volunteers during the past 15 months. According to Dickerson’s estimations, within that same span of time, these volunteers have donated 83,082 hours to nonprofit organizations in need within DeSoto County, as well as seven other surrounding counties.
So the question remains: How does one organization with six employees make that level of volunteerism coordination happen? The way Volunteer Northwest Mississippi operates, particularly its online database, facilitates volunteer “matching.” “We have an online database where you can create a username and password, and see in a calendar view everything going on over the next few months,” says Dickerson. “If you see something you’re interested in, you can click on it and it will tell you where to go, who to contact and what time to show up.” Dickerson adds that Volunteer Northwest Mississippi doesn’t do a lot of “hand holding.” When a potential volunteer is given the information and the required contact, it is up to him or her to reach out to that nonprofit and set up the volunteer hours. This increased accountability helps Volunteer Northwest Mississippi remain an important mediator but leaves it up to the volunteer to go through with the act. In addition to providing a user-friendly online database, Volunteer Northwest Mississippi also coordinates large volunteer groups, such as churches or schools, matching multiple volunteers to opportunities for a group-wide day of service. For a volunteer who has specific skills or expertise, Volunteer Northwest Mississippi will also assist with finding the perfect volunteer opportunity that makes use of those abilities. “We are the connecting point,” says Dickerson, reiterating the organization’s mission. “Volunteer Northwest Mississippi is here to help our community get involved.”
Volunteer Northwest Mississippi volunteers assisting with building a playground in Clarksdale, MS.
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CLICK | food
food
Long Parties Taste The Best Redneck Express BBQ Team continues its 35-year tradition of beer, broads and barbecue story by DOUG GILLON photos by LISA CHAPMAN
n 1976, Woody Coleman went to give his noisy neighbor a piece of his mind. A boisterous party at the Hickory Ridge Apartments was interrupting some alone time with his then-girlfriend. But instead of telling him off, Coleman joined the fun. The neighbor and apartment complex manager in question was Pete Gross, and that failed noise complaint eventually spawned the longest-tenured team, and by their account, longest-running party at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. It’s the Bar-B-Q Redneck Express. Named after the then-new Federal Express and boasting a roster that has consisted of more than 90 members in its 35-year existence, the focus of the Redneck Express remains unchanged from that first party in ’76: Have a blast.
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18 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
The team’s popularity inspired their decision to enter the first contest in whole hog in 1978. “More food for people to eat and more cook time for a longer party,” Coleman says. It inspired a list of other ‘firsts’ the team claims: first to have stickers, first to have a band, first to have T-shirts, first (and only) to have a billboard and first to party on Tuesday. The team’s dedication is popular but comes with its share of disapproval. “The first winner in ’78 was a little lady named Bessie,” Coleman remembers. “She set up with a little K-Mart cooker, a lawn chair and a gallon of iced tea. And she would just keep looking at us and shaking her head.” Coleman mimics the shaking and it is not vertical. But the Rednecks aren’t seeking approval — they seek fun, by almost any means necessary. It’s landed them it hot water a number of times. The stickers and bands have been outlawed, and the team almost got themselves banned one year for tossing empty beer cans at the judges’ stand.
CLICK | food
“We’ve been on secret probation lots of years,” says current president and fourth-year redneck Mark Kingsley. “One year, I think we were even on double-secret probation.” The Animal House reference draws a raucous laugh from the rest of the group. Controversy just adds to the party for these guys. And the party is popular. Coleman, Kingsley and vice-president Sean Kline note that by Saturday, they maybe only know half the people in their tent. But the more, the merrier seems to be the motto for the Rednecks. “There’s a little guy from England that always stops by the booth,” Coleman says. “He’s been coming for years and he always says the same thing.” Coleman attempts to
quote the foreign visitor in an accent that’s more Savannah than Sussex, and the laughs start again. While the party is pretty open, the team is not. Kingsley is the son-in-law of Gross, one of the co-founders. He waited in line 15 years to be offered a spot. “That probably had to do with him taking the blood oath,” Coleman jokes. “We value two things: fun and hard work,” Coleman says. “Some people want to be able to pay and show up on Saturday and eat and that’s it. But that’s not the Rednecks.” No it is not. The team considers set up, break down, trash duty, and all the arguments that come along with them as much a myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 19
CLICK | food
part of the party as the eating, drinking and troublemaking. “We pay to work our asses off,” Kingsley says with pride. And they do pay. The Rednecks’ estimated budget for this year is about $12,000, which requires about $600 from each of their 19 current members. The decision to keep that money coming from their pockets was deliberate. “When the casinos were first coming to Tunica we talked about sponsorship,” Coleman says. “We thought ‘let’s ask for $1,000.’ Then we thought ‘well, they might pay that.’ Then we thought $5,000, then $50,000, and we thought, ‘well they might even pay that.’” In the face of all that imagined sponsorship money, the Rednecks voted no. Because it’s never been about the money, it’s always been about the party. At the first contest, Coleman was able to recoup most of the team’s entry fee by selling extra T-shirts. He was so good at it that Memphis in May asked him to coordinate some of their merchandise. Coleman turned them down because “that sounded like work.”
“We pay to work our asses off.”
Pete Gross and Woody Coleman are the founding members of the Redneck BAR-B-Q Express, the bluff city’s self-proclaimed hard-partying kings of ‘cue.
Members must attend monthly meetings, but aren’t kicked out if they don’t (in fact, nonattendance is the fastest way to become head cook, according to the team). Women aren’t allowed to be official team members, but are considered “essential” to the weekend’s success. Arguments are heated and common, but always end with a shared beer.
That contradictory stream is the lifeblood of the Rednecks. Kingsley waxes philosophically about it. “It’s a state of mind, being a redneck. It’s about having the best time you can and making good food for your friends.” There is one thing that does not contradict with this team: dedication. Dedication kept them in the contest for this long. Dedication brought Coleman back to the tent while his wife was in labor. Dedication brings Coleman’s wife back to the contest every year despite suffering a stroke in 2003. Dedication made Kingsley work through a four-ligament injury in his foot last year. Dedication got Cline through his first three years on the team handling garbage duty without complaint. And that is not going to change. Coleman, only 58, wants the party to go on forever. To ensure that, he and Gross stepped back from active leadership to let younger members run the team. They aren’t going anywhere, though. “Even when I’m old and can barely move, I want these boys to wheel me out there, bring me some beer and some barbecue and change my diaper,” Coleman says. Kingsley and Cline shake their heads. This time the movement is vertical. “We’ll bring him the beers and barbecue for sure,” Kingsley says. “About the diaper though, well, we’ll tell him we changed it.”
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myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 21
CLICK CLICK | | music food
music
Bright Lights, Bluff City 19-year-old Will Tucker’s journey began with a dusty old Fender 60’s-reissue Stratocaster and brought him to the neon and noise of Beale Street’s legendary music district story by SAMUEL PRAGER photos by CASEY HILDER & DAVID BUNK
ften referred to as the forgotten folklore of Delta history, the blues still resides deep in the hearts of a century’s worth of veteran listeners at B.B. King’s Blues Club, and in particular, the soul of 19-year-old guitarist Will Tucker. Tucker has been playing a weekly spot in B.B. King’s Blues Club for more than half a decade, which is impressive when that encompasses more than a quarter of his life. However, it wasn’t always like this. It all started when Tucker’s uncle ‘Buzz Waddy,’ a respected Memphis musician,
O
22 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
passed away seven years ago, leaving this world with memories, an untapped passion and a final gift to his unsuspecting nephew: an electric guitar. “When I inherited the guitar, I figured I would learn how to play a little to justify having a nice guitar. I got on the Internet and started looking up chords, just enough to fake a song or two,” Tucker says. “I got hooked on it and just kept on going and going.” At the time, Tucker was only 12 years old and recently equipped with his uncle’s Fender 60’s-reissue Stratocaster when he was introduced by his father — as most curious, aspiring musicians of that age typically are — to the rock n’ roll greats. His father introduced him to the sounds of legendary musicians like AC-DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd and other bands of that caliber, but what stuck out to Tucker most was Led Zeppelin. “I went nuts over Led Zeppelin. I had to learn every song in and out. Eventually I ended up buying a biography about them. It talked so much about all
CLICK | music
of those guys, growing up in the UK and being influenced by Delta Blues musicians.” Tucker was so fascinated with Zeppelin that he was compelled to find where the origins, inspirations and raw energy of their rock n’ roll evolved. After a little research, Tucker found himself drawn to the blues and the deep culture that surrounded it, eventually realizing that it was the kind of music he was meant to make. “I dug Zeppelin but the blues just spoke to me. You know? I could feel it, I could relate to it, it moved me,” reminisces Tucker. As a few years went by, the then-14-year-old guitarist, who was now capable of playing more than just “a few chords,” was informed about an open jam night at Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. With his parents, Tucker took a chance, mustered up some courage and went. Barely out of middle school, a shaky Tucker nervously took to the stage and performed the classic blues tune, “Stormy Monday.” “I dove in right from the start, people went nuts and started cheering. A few measures went by and I thought, ‘man, this feels really good.’ Nervously, I started singing, and somehow or another I got through it,” says Tucker. “It was the first time I got that surge through my body, the chills.” A video of Tucker’s performance that night was taped by his mother and uploaded to YouTube. As if by fate, she met Tommy Peters, the manager of B.B. King’s Blues Club. Knowing he was the owner of one of the most notable blues clubs in the region, she made small talk by sending him a video of Tucker’s performance at Ground Zero. Much to Tucker’s surprise, as well as his mother’s, Peters invited the young strummer to come and sit in with the house band, along with longtime blues veteran, Corey Osborn. “I was growing slowly and still getting this great crowd reaction, I was just in awe,” says Tucker. “As you could imagine, I was digging every moment of it.” myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 23
CLICK CLICK | | music food
“Being from Memphis makes me feel a lot more authentic as a blues player. Everything around here has got the history, the soul,”
After that night, Peters had Tucker performing with the house band weekly for about a year, until the time came for Tucker to form a band of his own. With a little help from Peters and other Beale Street high-ups, the then 15-year-old blues enthusiast had a band of his own, a Saturday night slot at one of the city’s hottest nightclubs and a whole lot of momentum behind him. Four years later and Tucker can still be found spending his Saturday evenings performing at bars, playing for a generation of blues listeners decades older than him and fully equipped with a lifetime’s worth of blues appreciation. However, this intimidating thought doesn’t faze Tucker, who still isn’t old enough to go into the clubs he’s playing. “They love it and they respect it. They seem to always have. Every now and then, there is someone who’ll shrug and say, ‘You’re too young to be playing the blues — the biggest problem you have is keeping
your grades in school,’ but generally the reception is pretty good,” jokes Tucker. “Lately, however, I’ve been trying to implement different styles and come up with my own original vibe, which would be a little targeted toward all ages.” Being born in a city where blues is integrated with most aspects of daily life would be a simple answer to why a 12-year-old kid might fall in love with the music; however, Tucker says he personally is ingrained with the love of the blues and would likely have been devoted to the genre, regardless of where he was born. Being raised in Memphis is simply coincidental, though it surely does help with the authenticity. “Being from Memphis makes me feel a lot more authentic as a blues player. Everything around here has got the history, the soul,” Tucker says. “Sometimes in the Summer, I drive through the Mississippi Delta and go down the back roads, just to sit for a while, letting all of the history and atmosphere of the area soak in.” Tucker released his debut album, Stealin’ the Soul, independently in 2009. The album is available on iTunes. As well as being a regu-
lar performer at B.B. King’s Blues Club, the young musician has a private pilot’s license, works on building hot rods and attends the Memphis campus branch of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical School, where he is studying to fly the friendly skies. “I’ve got a lot of passions going on between flying, working on cars and music. If there is a happy medium somewhere, I’ll find it. I just want to do something I love to do. Whether it may be music, I don’t know,” Tuckers says. “We’ll just have to see.” With another album on the way, which has been in the works for about a year, the young musician plans to continue carrying out his passion for the blues. Along with his weekly gigs at B.B. King’s, Tucker will be performing at the Beale Street Music Festival for the third year in a row. “Regardless of what level of success I make with music. Whether I end up a pilot or something else, I will always be here on Beale Street playing music,” Tucker says. Tucker continues to keep the Memphian blues tradition alive and preserve the genre for a younger generation, while still keeping the veteran listeners happy. “There aren’t many places you can go in this day and age and hear live blues music. Memphis and Beale Street are the heart of the blues culture,” Tucker says. “All music is rooted in the blues; it dates back to the late 1800s. This is where everything comes from and, unfortunately, most people don’t realize it.”
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CLICK | culture
culture
Blind Ambition A loss of vision led to Como-based artist Sharon McConnell-Dickerson’s discovery of a gift for artistic expression. by NATALIE TROUTT
photos by CASEY HILDER
hen Sharon McConnell-Dickerson woke up in a Chicago hotel room with foggy vision while on a business trip, she had no idea how much her life was about to change. A flight attendant on corporate jets at the time, she was unknowingly about to embark on an entirely different career path. After her frightening discovery in Chicago, the petite, raven-haired McConnell-Dickerson returned home to New England to see a doctor and regroup with her family. She was diagnosed with Uveitis, a degenerative eye disease that eventually leads to total blindness. Stunned, but hoping to at least delay her loss of sight, the 27-year-old McConnellDickerson went through two surgeries and many drug therapies. While it did slow the process, she ultimately grew tired of being what she calls “a professional patient.”
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McConnell-Dickerson says that her parents had a particularly hard time dealing with her new condition. “Your parents want to fix everything and they couldn’t fix this,” she says. However, she credits her parents, as well as former first lady Barbara Bush, whom she got to know during her flight attendant years, with “lighting a fire” under her. Whale-watching with Bush and others on a private yacht after her diagnosis, the former first lady asked McConnellDickerson what she had in mind for the future after this unexpected turn of events. McConnell-Dickerson said she had no idea what she wanted to do or even what she was interested in. Bush responded that she had endless options despite her condition. She asked her to write to her when she figured out what she wanted to do and offered to write a personal letter of recommendation to any program that she chose. McConnell-Dickerson ended up moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she visited while working as a flight attendant. She fell deeply in love with the city because of its diverse culture and abundance of artistic expression. Although her mother was an artist, McConnell-Dickerson
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“Beauty is of the mind. I see very little but perceive a lot.” says art was not a big part of her life growing up. However, after a sculptor visited her parents’ beach home in Maine and introduced her to sculpting, she realized exactly what she wanted to do with her life. She applied to the art program at an area college in New Mexico and was accepted. After meeting with the director of the program, though, she quickly realized they were simply not prepared for a student with her needs. Instead of looking back on that time with bitterness, she says it turned out to be a positive experience because it upset her enough to motivate her. McConnell-Dickerson is not one to be easily discouraged. Naturally, she experienced frustrations due to her condition but has come out on the other side with an entirely new outlook. “I used to be pretty cynical but I’m embracing the experience now,” she says. Taking the money that she had for tuition, she sought teachers outside of an academic environment. After months of private tutoring with several artists who not only tutored her in technique, but also the business of art, her parents treated her to a trip to Paris, France. Accompanied by her mother, she toured many of the museums there, such as the famous art museum The Louvre, where she was allowed to study and to touch any of the works that she chose. Many times, she toured the museums on days when they were closed to the public, al-
myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 27
CLICK | culture
lowing her the privacy to really study the artwork. She says this level of accommodation was incredibly beneficial. It concerns her that museums in the United States do not provide the same accommodations to art patrons. Based on her experience with the museums in Paris, McConnell-Dickerson makes her work accessible to all that attend her exhibits. In fact, she has a sign at her shows that reads, “Please touch.” Portraits are installed at a level that children or someone in a wheelchair can easily access. Text is in large print for the visually impaired. She even provides braille books with full descriptions of the displayed pieces. After her return from Paris, McConnellDickerson worked on different art projects before beginning the project she is most known for: her life-masks of legendary blues musicians. This is the project that made her famous with blues fans all over the world and is also the reason that she moved to Como in 2006. A longtime blues lover, the life masks were her way of paying tribute to a music genre and a generation that she admired. “A life-mask is like a 3-D photograph to someone who is blind. It captures the flesh, muscle, bone, hair and the subtle expression of emotion. I wanted to discover the faces behind the music I love, so I went to Mississippi to map out the visages of the real Delta blues men and women,” she says. Over the course of the past 13 years, she has done casts of the faces of 55 legendary blues musicians, including everyone from Othar Turner to R.L. Burnside. Now, with more than half of those musicians deceased, the collection is considered historic. Although she has duplicates of the
28 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
masks, McConnell-Dickerson donated all of the originals to Delta State University, where anyone can view them in their permanent display in Ewing Hall. During the course of her work on the blues masks, McConnell-Dickerson made several trips to Como to meet with Othar Turner and others. While walking down the street on one particular visit to Como, she felt a sudden sense of calm, and was overwhelmed with the thought, “I am home.” Soon after, she bought one of the oldest homes in town, and soon after that, she met her husband, David Dickerson. She loves her home and her life in Como, and says that her home is her own little world. Although she does venture out every now and then, much of her time is spent at home in her studio. She says it is important for every artist to keep a clean studio but especially for someone who is visually impaired. She has some peripheral vision, but is almost completely blind. The fact that she can see at all is baffling to her doctors,
as both of her retinas are completely detached. The idea of losing her sight completely frightens her. Despite her limited vision, she says, “beauty is of the mind. I see very little but perceive a lot.” Although she is best known for her blues masks, McConnell-Dickerson says she is now headed in a totally different direction with her work. With the help of her mentor, fellow artist Helen Argo, she is now painting for the first time. She maintains a minimalist style and says her two completed works are very subdued in hue because it is pleasing to her eyes. After completing only two paintings, she was recently offered a solo show at the Northwest Missis-
“I want them to see that if I can do it, they can do it. No matter what, find a way to be happy.”
sippi Community College campus during October of 2013. McConnell-Dickerson says that she is deeply humbled and encouraged by the offer. While her career as an artist is rewarding, it’s her impact on others that is most important to her. “I want to inspire and encourage others. I want them to see that if I can do it, they can do it. No matter what, find a way to be happy,” she says. If you cannot make it to her show in October, there are plenty of other venues where you can admire her work. The Harrington Brown Gallery in Memphis, Tennessee; the Tunica Museum in Tunica, Mississippi; the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation (the site of the famous old Chess Records building) in Chicago, Illinois; and the Main Street Gallery in Como are just a few of the places where you can find her work. She will also be traveling to Cognac, France this summer with her life-masks for a show at the Cognac Blues Festival. A documentary about her work with the masks titled Blind Faith is also in the works. For more on McConnell-Dickerson, visit her website at mcconnelldickersonarrt.com. C
YIntensifi ou . . . ed. William L. Hickerson, MD Roberto Lachica, MD Edward Luce, MD
Robert D. Wallace, MD
Call 90 1- 866-8525 to make an appointment.
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Cosmetic surgery of the face, breast & body
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Take I-55 to France
toMONET
OLD MASTERS
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three centuries of french painting from the wadsworth atheneum
French Jewelry from the Petit Palais, Paris
The Annie Laurie Swaim Hearin Memorial Exhibition Series
March 23–September 8, 2013
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APRIL 28 - JULY 21
MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM of ART WWW.MSMUSEUMART.ORG n 601.960.1515 n 1.866.VIEWART 380 SOUTH LAMAR STREET n JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39281
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sponsored by
and f r i e n d s o f t h e d i x o n
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CLICK | books
books
Tales from the Mississippi Flyway A mission to give back, coupled with the goal of celebrating the unique culture and tradition of American sportsmen, culminate in Wild Abundance Publishing, a division of ArtsMemphis led by Susan Schadt. interview by SHANA RALEY-LUSK
true testament to the striking beauty of the sporting life along the Mississippi Flyway, A Million Wings takes readers to a world of stunning natural scenery. The book gives a detailed, firsthand look at the finest and most exclusive duck hunting clubs in the South. Through its 260 pages of incredible photography by Lisa Buser, the book displays for readers the ultimate in all that the great outdoors has to offer in this region. Personal stories from the owners and members add to the book’s insider appeal. A Million Wings is the third and latest release from Wild Abundance Publishing, which was launched by ArtsMemphis as a fundraising arm building on a series of connections within the Memphis area. The first two books, First Shooting Light and Wild Abundance, also focus on the sporting clubs of the South. Each beautiful and powerful in their own right, these books make beautiful and collectable additions to any home library.
A
Interview with Susan Schadt: How did the publishing company get its start? Susan Schadt: Wild Abundance Publishing grew out of an initiative founded in 2005, Conservation Through Art, which was a partnership between ArtsMemphis and Ducks Unlimited to commemorate the Federal Duck Stamp competition moving from its 72-year history in Washington, D.C. to Memphis. The event was a resounding success and we decided to continue holding it biennially, even though after 2006, the competition began moving to other sites around the country. In the course of planning for this unique, ongoing philanthropic program linking the arts 30 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
and habitat conservation, it has been my privilege to spend countless hours in the company of some of the most avid and wellknown duck hunters and conservationists in the world-famous Mississippi Flyway. Struck by the depth of their passion for the great outdoors and highly entertained by colorful stories of life at their private retreats, it came to me that we had the makings of the perfect arts initiative. ArtsMemphis would chronicle a rare peek inside these revered hunting clubs. Beautiful photographs, coupled with stories, history and ritual based on the hunter’s own words and recollections would surely capture the sporting culture. We launched First Shooting Light in the fall of 2008. Now, thanks to the cooperation of so many people, we have published two additional books, Wild Abundance (2010) and A Million Wings (2012). Over the last year, we founded Wild Abundance Publishing, a division of ArtsMemphis with its own brand and mission to chronicle, celebrate and preserve the unique culture and tradition of sportsmen and their intense devotion to land and wildlife. Wild Abundance Publishing serves as an earned income stream for ArtsMemphis, as well as an excellent way to engage a wide variety of stakeholders in the arts and wildlife conservation.
What is the aim of the publishing company? SS: Photography is at the very core of each book, as we are devoted to sharing the irrepressible lure of the natural world’s astonishing beauty and captivating expeditions.
What is your favorite aspect of the business? What makes working in this region special? SS: Surely it’s the relationships that develop and prosper through such a project. Hunters embrace a brand of camaraderie steeped in tradition and commitment to one another and their legacy of preservation. To be welcomed into this extended family, one is struck by a sense of home, belonging and trust. The lodge owners and club members become friends, mentors and partners, open to sharing their stories and hospitality. They embraced the vision, the spirit of abundance and the need to commit to preserving their culture. I have shared the pleasure and intensity of anticipation, the beauty of silence and the sight of the first flight of ducks along the Mississippi Flyway from St. Charles County, Missouri, to southwest Louisiana.
CLICK | books
I have journeyed far and wide and many a seasoned hunter has expressed the desire to ride alongside me and the Wild Abundance team. I have also seen firsthand the excitement that all hunters feel when they see the books; whether they hunt at a private club or a back bayou, they share the same emotions and are committed to preserving the wildlife. They share an authentic love of the outdoors and desire to pass it on to future generations. On the business side, I am extremely committed to the design process — from working with the photographers to editing, brand management, and now, even writing.
What plans do you have for the future? What is on the horizon for the company? SS: We are currently working on the concept and execution of our next book, which is on mission and celebrates the great outdoors and the pursuit but does not involve duck hunting.
Please talk a bit about A Million Wings. What was most enjoyable about the process? SS: A Million Wings is special because it features a wider geographic reach of clubs and lodges along the Mississippi Flyway. We began our journey in St. Charles County, near St. Louis, and followed the Flyway all the way down to the coast of Louisiana. Visiting the 12 clubs and lodges was a great experience because we witnessed a variety of kinds of duck hunting. The clubs and lodges in A Million Wings also have great histories. In St. Charles County, all three properties date back to the late 1800s and members are committed to carrying on the traditions of their founders.
Which book is your favorite so far and why? SS: That’s akin to asking me to choose my favorite child. I love all three of the books for different reasons. First Shooting Light was the beginning of Wild Abundance Publishing, even if we did not know it at the time, and opened so many doors into the duck hunting world. Wild Abundance was a fun project because the chefs and cooks featured on those pages are wonderful to work with and are truly visionaries committed to “sky-to-table.” A Million Wings is exciting because of its geographic scope and the unique stories that it tells.
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CLICK | drinks
CLASSIC MINT JULEP Ingredients:
1 cup shaved ice 10 Mint leaves ¾ oz Simple Syrup 2 oz Maker’s Mark or other bourbon Directions:
• Chill a tumbler or 9 oz mug. • Shave ice to pebble size. Fresh, clear ice works best. • Line bottom of glass with mint leaves. • Add simple syrup. • Muddle ingredients in glass—make sure to crush the leaves for extra flavor. • Mix ingredients together—don’t stir! • Top with ice and pack it in—fill to rim. • Pour bourbon over ice. • Garnish with mint leaves—2-3 sprigs should do.
Going Green
Grove Grill’s Terry Allen offers tips on the perfect Mint Julep. story and photos by CASEY HILDER
ew drinks invoke the fresh taste of Spring quite like the Mint Julep. This Southern staple packs a smooth and invigorating blend perfect for coasting into the steamy summertime months. And with the Kentucky Derby currently in full swing, Mint Julep consumption has reached peak levels around the MidSouth. The Mint Julep is an inviting, aromatic drink, perfect for afternoons on the patio and relaxing by the pool. Originally the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby horse races at the historic Churchill Downs racetrack, this clever concoction has since become the favorite summertime blend of many. When prepared by the hands of a crafty mixologist, this old favorite is one of the definitive cocktails of the South. And Terry Allen knows his cocktails. As bar manager of East Memphis’ upscale Grove Grill, he’s spent the past 16 years applying his accumulated knowledge to serve thirsty patrons. One of Memphis’ chief bartenders and mixologists, Terry’s knowledge and skill behind the bar puts most to shame. With a world-weary smile and a willingness to converse with young and old alike, it’s no wonder he’s been recognized as one of the city’s top bartenders by GoMemphis. While the Mint Julep is traditionally a seasonal beverage that comes and goes, Terry’s knack for finding the perfect combination of ingredients makes it seem like a daily affair. “There aren’t a whole lot of different recipes for it — you can manipulate it all you want but the drink remains pretty standard,” he says. The Mint Julep is a relatively simple concoction with just four main ingredients: ice; bourbon; simple syrup; and of course, mint leaves. However, the manner of preparation can mean the difference between a floral flourish and a leafy mess. Simple syrups are added to give a hint of sweetness. Some may substitute this with mint syrup for extra flavor or pure cane sugar for an authentic, if slightly grainy, taste. Although tradition dictates that enterprising mixologists use a Kentucky bourbon for this concoction, any kind will suffice. In fact, when the cocktail surfaced around the late 20th century, many would often substitute cheap
F
32 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
Terry Allen
Meet the Bartender
in the mix
Bar Manager Terry Allen has seen plenty in his 16 years at East Memphis’ Grove Grille. He learned the ropes working for Overton Square’s Public Eye restaurant, a well-known Midtown establishment that closed its doors in 2000. A master muddler, Allen specializes in aromatic cocktails that include fresh herbs.
brandy for fine bourbon during tough times. “This drink really started taking off in the 1950s,” says Terry. “But it reaches as far back as the late 1800s.” The mint leaves around the rim to accent are more than just a pretty dressing — they work in conjunction with the other ingredients to have a powerful effect on the presentation and taste, as well as the experience. “This is an important part that many people don’t get,” Terry says. “Not only are you tasting the drink, but you’re inhaling the mint as you do. When you take a sip of it, all you smell is mint — and that’s the bottom line of the drink.” The perfect Mint Julep offers just a touch of sweetness and a thick, flowery aroma that is comparable to leaning over a lush field of mint leaves and taking a deep breath: crisp, cool and refreshing. From humble beginnings as one of the United States’ first regional favorites, this cocktail has since become a symbol of class and affluence in the South — a classy drink for classy people.
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34 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
Best Dressed
Whether guest to a swanky summertime soiree or prisoner on a beach far, far away; these frocks are perfect for whatever the season throws your way.
Dress, $60
Dress, Bradlee Sloan $
Earrings, $24
Earrings, Center Stage $29
Cuff, $22
Sandals, Janie Rose $24
Belt, $17 BradleeSloan
Scarf $59, Stella & Dot
Bangle $39, Stella & Dot
Tropical Trends, $34 Center Stage
Bag, Keepsakes by Melony $25 Tote, $127 Center Stage
Wedges, Center Stage, $49
Sandals, Janie Rose, $24
myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 35
STYLE
Ladylike Lace
Dress, $49 Center Stage
Necklece and earring set, $30, On A Whim
Earrings, $24 Stella & Dot
Dress, $39 Sugar Plum
Clutch, $128 Center Stage Cross body bag, $148 Stella & Dot
Heels, $88 chromatic gallerie
Wedges, $34 Janie Rose
36 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
Bold Florals
Clutch, $52 Janie Rose
STYLE
Dress, $275 On A Whim
Soiree Studs, $24 Stella & Dot
Dress, $92 Janie Rose
Dress, $65, Wallis
Bag, $18, Wallis
Madeline girl, Center Stage, $49
Heels, $56 Janie Rose
Heels, $88 chromatic gallerie
myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 37
STYLE
Go-Anywhere Dresses Pink Bracelet, $18 Janie Rose
Clutch, $40 Janie Rose
Dress, $38 Frugal Frocks Dress, $122 Center Stage Dress, $89 Sumthin Savvy
Sunglasses, $16 Center Stage
Wedges, $69 Center Stage
Black bamboo flats, $24 Janie Rose Hobo Clutch, $118 Center Stage
38 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
Dolce Vita Shoes, $79 Center Stage
the Bradlee Sloan
210 E. Commerce St., Hernando 662.449.1520
Center Stage
324 W. Commerce St., Hernando 662.429.5288
Frugal Frocks
119 Ward St., Senatobia facebook.com/frugal.frocks.39
Janie Rose
210 E. Commerce St, Hernando 662.298.0047, janieroseboutique.com
Sources Keepsakes by Melony
2070 Clifton Rd., Hernando 662.429.7029
On A Whim
9067 Poplar Ave., Ste. 101, Memphis 901.751.0091
Sugar Plum
6100 Primacy Pkwy. #108, Memphis 901.763.7799, sugarplumconsign.com
Sumthin Savvy
2521 Caffey St., Hernando 662.298.3493, sumthinsavvyboutique.com
myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 39
T K M THE KNOWLEDGABLE MAN
FIRE IT UP!
Grilling is the perfect confluence of art and science, engineering and craft, mind and spatula. Grilling fish or fowl, mere wienie or edible plant life is a serious endeavor and requires the proper tools. Get your hands on this equipment and get to work. by CRACE ALEXANDER
BIG GREEN EGG Simply put,
one of the best grills out there.
WEBER CHARCOAL GRILL
A classic grill that is great for beginning chefs.
WEBER GAS GRILL
Gas grills are good for quick grilling… no waiting on coals to get hot to cook. Just fire it up and get to work.
14” LEATHER GLOVES for protecting hands and forearms from heat.
CHIMNEY GRILL STARTER A must-have for cooks using charcoal grills.
SMOKER BOX for using with any type grill, but mostly used with gas grills.
PORTABLE CHARCOAL GRILL
Perfect for a boys camping trip. Just fold it up and through it in with the camping gear.
COOK’S APRON Aesthetic and functional, a leather apron is one item a chef can’t go without.
BARBECUE ENTHUSIASTS DEMAND high-quality
tools that stand up to season after season of use at the grill. Fork, spatula (with serated edge), basting brush, knife and tongs. 40 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
FOOD THERMOMETER Always use a food thermometer to prevent illness from undercooked food.
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42 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
OUT ABOUT Around Town One Party at a Time
Shea and Chandler Brittany 2013 Fishes for Wishes
All Things Social
Photo by Cassie Smith
myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 43
CLICK | parties
fi JENNIFER CAPPS, SARAH BARKER, DAWN BLADE, MICHELLE HARP, KATIE MASK AND MARCY REESE
JOSEPH SEARS AND BRITTANY HALE
2013 fishes for wishes Benefitting Make-A-Wish MidSouth STEPHEN PITT AND KATHERINE SMITH
WILLIAM AND ALICE STINE
Snowden Grove, Southaven tormy weather was no match for crawfish and charitable hearts. The rain and cold didn’t stop 400 people from attending this year’s Fishes For Wishes at Snowden Grove House in Southaven, MS. Nearly two tons of crawfish were boiled while attendees listened to party band, The Millionaires. This event benefitted the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the MidSouth. As a result of the $25,000 that was raised, seven wishes have been granted to terminally ill children. photos by CASSIE SMITH
S
JEREMY JOHNSON, JEREMY HODGES AND STACY MUELLER
AMY LAY, DAWN MEYERS AND ASHLEY WADSWORTH
44 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
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ishes for wishes EMILY AND CARL CALARCO
ENJOYING SOME MUDBUGS
ROB RAMAGE, BETHANY PRINCE AND JENNIFER JOHNSON
CARMON HARWOOD, SALLY BLANCA, MELISSA O’QUINN, JENNIFER BOWEN AND TINA GREEN
DYLAN NELSON, KAYLE ABERNATHY, WHYNEY FOWLER AND JASON LAMBERT
DUSTIN WOODS AND ALLISON HUTCHINS
MELISSA MOORE AND EMMA GERMANO
NATALIE WOODS AND KEITH ROGERS
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AND ELIZABETH WHITTINGTON
TIFFANY READ
tunica bike trail Ribbon Cutting & Ride
DIANNE SOSEBEE, LYNN RYLES AND VICTORIA PRINCE
ELIZABETH WHITTINGTON, TIFFANY READ, REESE SIMMS AND PATRICK SMITH
KELLY KING KEVIN MCCARTER AND RICHARD NEERGAARD
SHO AND YORIKO SIDES
LISA AND ERIC KONUPKA
CHUCK AND JACKIE CARIKER
Rivergate Park, Tunica
BESS SULLIVAN AND LINDSAY BALLEW FRONT ROW; MAC AND KATE PRESTON, MASTON, MINOR AND BOWEN
unica Residents no longer have to envy the Greenline in Memphis. On Saturday, March 23, local cyclists gathered at Rivergate Park for the ribbon cutting and inaugural bike ride on Tunica’s two new bike trails. The 13-mile round-trip path begins at Rivergate and runs to Moon Landing Park; whereas, the longer 27-mile round-trip route starts at Rivergate Park and runs all the way to DeSoto County. These great additions to Tunica are expected to increase tourism, as well as promote a more active lifestyle for its residents. photos by IVY DOVER
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ERIC KONUPKA AND BYRON EARNHEART 46 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
CLICK | parties
TODD AND PATTI DEMERS
AN HUFF AMBER BLACK AND SUS
“a furry affair” JENNIFER BRATHER AND
PAUL EDDLEMON
Benefitting DeSoto Animal Rescue Society
JOANNA KELLY AND TIMOTHY STEINER
Bonne Terre Inn, Nesbit he third Annual Furry Affair at Bonne Terre provided an evening of food, dancing and fun for a good cause on Saturday, March 23, benefitting DeSoto Animal Rescue Society. DeSoto Animal Rescue Society is a 13-year-old nonprofit organization that provides foster homes, medical care and love to stray and abandoned companion animals until a permanent home can be found. Three Flights Up provided musical entertainment for more than 100 guests. The event was held at Bonne Terre Inn and Café in Nesbit at Ashley Hall. In addition to Bonne Terre and Three Flights Up, sponsors included Hernando Wine & Spirits, DeSoto Times-Tribune and Click Magazine. photos by CASEY HILDER
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JULIE MITCHELL, LELEANIA AND DAWSON MCCOWN
EMILY GRAY, KIM DERRYBERRY, MELINDA MCCARTY AND MARY DEE SWATZYNA
DARLENE AND KC JOHNS AND JOSEPH MALAUASI
KIRK STOCKETT, HOLLY RENEE SEYMOUR, SHIRLEY AND BOB SEYMOUR
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CAROLINE CARRUTHERS AND SANDY JACKSON
KATHERINE MYERS AND PATTI CHANDLER
A SHINING RECEPTION On A Whim Celebrates
Germantown, TN AYNE VOGEL AND PATTY CARRNAHAN
n a Whim recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its opening by hosting a jewelry show with Patty Carnahan, who has been in the jewelry business for 15 years. Guests were treated to libations and hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Curbside Casserole. More than 50 people attended the event to support On a Whim in style.
O
Making Your Visions Come to Life 48 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
CAROLINE CARRUTHERS, JO VAIL AND SANDY JACKSON
CLICK | parties
XXX, MAYOR A.C. WHARTON, XXX AND ERICA COOPWOOD
DR. PEGGY AND DR. BILL VEESER
WADE AND BARBARA WEST AND JAMI SMITH
MED Night A Soul Celebration STACEY AND THOMAS HUSSEY AND SUSAN AND DAMON ARNEY
Peabody, Memphis
he second-ever MED night was held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis on March 23. Guests were treated to a night of soul music and a gala auction. This event featured entertainment from funk legends The Commodores. Proceeds from this event benefitted the Regional Medical Center, an organization that works to support and improve health care practices in the area through funding new equipment and providing training to medical professionals. Sponsors included First Tennessee Bank, Avectus Healthcare Solutions and the Regional Medical Center. photos by KRISTENA SAXTON
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DR. REGINALD AND ERICA COOPWOOD AND DR. CARLGETTO
ADAM AND SHANNON ARTHUR CHAD SHURLEY AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER HEIDI SHAFER
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T BARRY AND JEANNE BOOTH
HUNTER CHILDERS AND CHERYL KINGSLEY
PETE PEPPER AND SAM
9th annual taste of desoto Iron chef of the South
BLAKE AND JACKIE RICHARDSON
Landers Center, Southaven early 1,000 people turned out for the 9th Annual Taste of DeSoto at Landers Center on Tuesday to raise funds for the Love Works 25:40 Foundation and Mississippi Children’s Home Services. More than 40 restaurants and caterers participated in the event. A larger venue and a panel of culinary experts selecting the first-ever Iron Chef competition winners helped make this Taste of DeSoto event the best yet, according to event cochairman Ricky McIntyre. photos by JENNIFER MULLINS
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ERICA HATCHETT, RONALD HATCHETT JR. AND ARECKO GIPSON JR.
AMANDA WILKES, MARVIN AND DENITA BOLEN AND JENNIFER MULLINS
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JAY AND SUE POFF
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Taste of Desoto Purchase pics at g.com myclickma
MICHAEL AND RENA MONTGOMERY
JENNIFER MULLINS, JENNIFER ARNETT AND AMANDA WILKES
PATTI RAY, JUSTIN WEBB AND JENNIFER WITT
SARAH BECKER AND ZACK COZART
AUSTIN SHEETS, BRITNEY MACKEY, TYLER CARAVLHO, TASSA STEWART AND AMANDA SULLIVAN
PATRICA HUGHES, DENISE PRATT, SARA PRATT AND SARA ELIZABETH PRATT
WILLIE SINGLETON AND JOHN WOODS
ANN VALDEZ, CARLAY DLUGACH AND KATIE EGLOFF
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DEKYLON WOOTEN, NEKIYA BIRGE AND EMARION REYNOL
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ANNE GILSTRAP
stark young tribute
ENJOYING THE FESTIVITIES
Emily J. Pointer Public Library
Como, MS anola County now has its first literary landmark as of March 28. United For Libraries designated Emily J. Pointer Public Library of Como, MS, a Literary Landmark in honor of Stark Young. Visitors gathered for a performance by the North Mississippi Storytellers Guild of “A Visit From Stark Young,” a speech by Karen Wilson on literacy in small-town, rural Mississippi, as well as readings from Chekov’s “The Cherry Orchard” by Igor Bosin. photos by DENNIS HEAD
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MYRNA COLLEY-LEE
KATELIN AND LINDSEY WILSON
BAILEY, EMILY AND ALLISON FORSYTH
JORDAN AND MICAH BURTON
SEAN AND KAYLA CARLISLE KRISTI AND MICHAEL HALL
Clifton Farms Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Hernando, MS undreds of area youngsters and their parents braved wet weather for Clifton Farm’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt held inside the spacious arena on the sprawling grounds of the MidSouth Dressage Academy on Robertson Gin Road. Face painting, games and other activities were all part of the day’s festivities. photos by ROBERT LEE LONG
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JASON AND SUSAN FERNANDEZ 52 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
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LAQUETA, ROB AND MARIA FERGUSON MILTON RUIZ, JULIE PURDY, ZULEIMA CERVANTES
AND HECTOR MARTINEZ
BETSY AND KINZIE BIRD
KELLIE CLARK AND CATHERINE HANNA
paws for art
KATIE PEMBERTON, DEBBIE NEWSOM AND LEAH WALKER
Humane Society of Greater Memphis
Saddle Creek, Germantown his furry fundraiser featured a selection of unique artists. Paintings by local artists were auctioned, along with original works by local shelter puppies and kittens at this year’s “Paws For Art.” This annual fundraiser benefits the Humane Society of Memphis. The event featured food, beer, wine and art from two-legged and four-legged artists. About 50 people attended this fun event at the Shops of Saddle Creek in Germantown, TN that raised more than $6,000 for the Humane Society of Memphis. photos by CASEY HILDER
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CHIPSY BUTLER
ERIN AND GREG STREET
MEREDITH AND BRANDON MCBRIDE
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KATE AND MADISON SMALLWOOD
SHELBY PERRY AND OLIVIA KETCHUM
MORGAN ARCHER AND RAYCHEL DURDIN
GIRLS’ NIGHT LEEANNAH STULL AND CHLOE JERNIGAN
Blue Olive Shop
Hernando, MS he Blue Olive Shop hosted a special event for graduating girls on Wednesday, April 17. Those in attendance enjoyed socializing as they registered for graduation gifts and participated in a drawing for a Ronaldo bracelet. photos by TINA BAILEY
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VERONICA RENTERIA AND ANASTASIJA MARKIC
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REESE AND SAWYER MASSING AND VINNIE HEENEY
BARBARA KENDRICK AND LAURIE JOHN SON
FRED LIPSCOMB AND GLADYS JENKINS
“art for autism” DeSoto Arts Council Lights it Up Blue JANICE SLUDER, ED HORNYAK AND CAROL MCGARRITY
Banks House, Hernando
he DeSoto Arts Council presented its “Art for Autism” opening exhibit reception on April 2, 2013. The reception featured several local artists and a variety of art geared toward raising awareness for autism, a neural development disorder that affects one in 88 children. The reception kicked off DeSoto County’s “Light It Up Blue” festivities on Hernando Court Square, in which blue light bulbs and ribbons were placed in select locations across town. Sponsors included Stern Cardiovascular Center, Fillin Station Grille, Grapevine Liquor, and the Desoto Times-Tribune. photos by CASSIE SMITH
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MARLIN MAYO, COURTNEY AND HENRY LOVINS
NICOLE LULOW AND BETH, CALLEIGH AND MISSIE SCHIELE
TYRONE, JOSHUA, WENDY, ABIGAIL AND SUSAN KING
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BUILDING HOPE AND HOMES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY VOLUNTEER LEE ASHCRAFT HELPS PROVIDE NEW HOMES FOR THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST
ALL ONE NEEDS ALL ONE NEEDS to do is look into the kind blue eyes of Habitat For Humanity volunteer Lee Ashcraft to know that he is someone who will go to great lengths to help others.
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shcraft, one of 16 board members for the Hernando affiliate of Habitat For Humanity, spends his days doing what he has always strived to do — assist others in times of need. Ashcraft’s experience with Habitat began in 2000 when his two daughters, Ruth and Betsy, asked him to accompany them and their Bible study group on a mission project. They ultimately decided to work with the local Habitat group, and Ashcraft, a retired military and commercial pilot, has been with the organization ever since. Ashcraft describes a fullservice organization when he speaks about the group. Not only does Habitat For Humanity build houses for the families that need them, they also offer other forms of assistance throughout the process, such as financial guidance. The goal is to help families become responsible homeowners, as well as proficient financial managers. Ashcraft considers this a very important part of the process because he says that it can be very easy to get in financial trouble if one does not develop good habits. Habitat For Humanity does not build these homes for free, which is a common misconception about the organization. The new homeowners, many of whom are people that do not qualify for traditional lending, assist in the construction of their new home, except in the case of disabled family members. They must put in a minimum of 300 “sweatequity hours,” as well as pay a mortgage like any other homeowner. Habitat For Humanity acts as the mortgage company, but not in the typical sense. They charge no interest, and if something like an injury or a loss of employment occurs, they are very understanding about potentially late payments. “We’re not trying to make money on the house. It’s very affordable. It’s usually less than they would pay in an apartment or certainly owning their own home any other way. We’re kind of like a mortgage company with a big heart,” Ashcraft says. Ashcraft says that the group usually follows a regular schedule each year. They generally build one home per year, save for a few years in the past when there were enough funds available to build two. Construction begins in September because of the typically good weather
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LEE ASHCRAFT
in the fall, and is usually completed in time for the holidays. Due to the many activities going on in the spring, that time is generally reserved for planning and meeting among board members. They meet once a month to screen applications and begin searching for land on which to build a home. Of the 21 homes that the Hernando Habitat group has completed since their founding in 1992, Ashcraft estimates that eight to ten of those homes were built on donated land. Aside from donations, Habitat For Humanity will purchase reasonably-priced land, or if the family receiving the home owns land, that land will be used. Although he loves his work, Ashcraft says that it does have its drawbacks. His least favorite part of the process is being able to choose only one out of a plethora of applicants. “It’s a tough call when you have to turn people away,” he says. However, he also says that they highly encourage the families that are turned down to reapply the next year, even going so far as to send them a detailed letter describing what they can do to
that quality work is done. They also contact the families twice a year to be sure they are aware of the free tax services available to them. Ashcraft says that the big tax companies sometimes take advantage of people and they want to be sure that kind of situation is avoided. The group is not hurting for volunteers, as sometimes they even have to turn people away to avoid overcrowding and chaos. However, Ashcraft encourages all who are interested to come out to a job site in the fall. “Anyone with a willing heart and willing hands can show up,” he says. Ashcraft’s daughters continue to be involved with the group as well as his wife, Ann. He says that they come to the building site several times throughout construction and always attend the closing ceremony. Ashcraft says that everyone, from the very young to the elderly, can help in their mission. He says they often have Cub Scout groups come to the building site. Although they are too young to build, they bring food and encouragement for the
stand a better chance in the application proceedings. Ashcraft’s favorite parts of the job are the very beginning, particularly framing day, and the closing ceremony when the house is officially presented to the family. The largest amount of volunteers is present on framing day, with 30-40 volunteers often present. “It’s very exciting on framing day because the walls start to go up,” he says. Ashcraft compares the experience to an old-fashioned barn-raising. According to Ashcraft, the closing ceremony is “one of the more moving experiences that people will have.” The community is invited to attend the presentation. Hernando Habitat For Humanity president Sandy Slocum opens the ceremony with a speech, generally followed by a member of the receiving family saying a few words. Then, the family is given a Bible, a hammer used in the construction of the home and a fire extinguisher (for safety and insurance reasons). Ashcraft says that the family is normally overwhelmed with emotion on this day and in a slight state of disbelief. Many of the families were previously residing in places that Ashcraft says should be condemned. Something else that Ashcraft treasures about his involvement with Habitat For Humanity is the chance to share his faith. “One of the gratifying opportunities that presents itself in this ministry is that it is a ministry. Habitat is a Christian organization and has been since its founding in 1976. We don’t beat people over the head with our beliefs, though,” he says. Each building day begins with a devotional and an opening prayer, and they always bless the food that is provided for lunch by various people and organizations. Families are far from forgotten once they are settled into their new homes. Habitat keeps in contact with all 21 of the families that they have built homes for. Often, families who received a home through Habitat For Humanity come out the next year to help build a home for another family. If any repairs are needed, the group tries to help the family get the necessary fixes they need at a low cost, as well as make sure
workers. The same goes for many elderly groups. The Hernando Habitat group has Habitat For Humanity Awareness Day each year, typically on the second Saturday of the month. The awareness day serves three purposes: to bring in homeowner applicants, to inform people about the organization and hopefully draw new volunteers. The group also holds their big fundraiser, the Homerun 5k, each year in October. Last year’s 5k brought in an impressive $22,000. Ashcraft says he is extremely appreciative of the county that houses this particular Habitat affiliate. “We’re blessed to have so many volunteers and a community that’s supportive. We’re also very fortunate to be part of a growing county. There’s a whole lot of growth going on in DeSoto County,” he says. If you would like to get involved with the Hernando affiliate of Habitat For Humanity, contact the group’s Volunteer Coordinator, Lance Peacock, by email at lance.peacock@hotmail. com, or you can reach Ashcraft at 662.393.0878.
“WE’RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE MONEY on the house. It’s very affordable. It’s usually less than they would pay in an apartment or certainly owning their own home any other way. We’re kind of like a mortgage company with a big heart.”
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WHEN WOMEN AND POLITICS COLLIDE HOW LORINE CADY HAS HELPED SHAPE SOUTHAVEN
SO WHERE ALL This BEGIN? SO WHERE DIDDID IT ALLIT BEGIN? question brought a warm laugh from Lorine Cady—a tall, elegant businesswomen who started her career in modeling school before answering a higher calling. After 28 years of service in political office, Cady has become one of the most reputable politicians in DeSoto County, and with good reason. by
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LORINE CADY
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ell, it goes way back to the 60s,” says Cady. “I started a girls’ softball league but since the boys’ team had grown so much, we didn’t have any place to play. So we played up behind Southaven Elementary School, with a backstop but no bases. I used my husband’s boat cushions for our bases because they had handles that would secure them on the ground.” This memory is one of several that Cady recounts in her early years as a Southaven resident, when the city only had a single elementary school and Rasco Road was just a stretch of gravel. “After many, many years of playing like that, we finally got our own field over at Greenbrook,” says Cady, who is also a mother of five
one was ill in the community, she was the first person they always called to go in and kind of take over the family and keep everybody going in the right direction. My father always worked in the elections and was someone with a lot of influence in the community. People respected him and came to him for advice or for help on different things.” It wasn’t just her parents’ influence that led her into a life of community service. Cady recounts a time when her father was ill and underwent surgery, which meant that he was unable to care for the livestock on the farm that the family owned. “I remember that the neighbors would take care of their tasks on their own farms and then they would come and milk all our cows,” says Cady. “I remember things like that. I was taught as a child and an example was set for me
children — four girls and one boy. “I was Chairman of Parks and Recreation of the City of Southaven at that time. We built Snowden first and then the Greenbrook softball field for the girls.” Cady’s recollections of Southaven before its growth spurt are of a small town that had much potential despite its size. “There’s one thing about Southaven that I learned quickly,” Cady says. “When you move onto other things, there’s always someone to step in. Southaven residents are very generous with their time and with their resources. It’s been a wonderful experience to live here so long and meet so many people over the years.” Throughout those years in which Cady has worked tirelessly to build up her beloved community, she has been personally responsible for pushing for the construction of the Southaven Arena, was elected as a delegate to the Republican Convention three times, was elected to serve on the State Republican Executive Committee numerous times, has served on the Executive Board of the North Delta Planning Development District for more than 20 years, and has served as an Alderman for 28 years. This has been in addition to starting House of Grace, a nonprofit faith-based shelter for battered women and girls that provides services for women in DeSoto County, as well as eight other North Mississippi counties, and helps approximately 1,200 victims of domestic violence each year. What makes a woman, who is also a wife and mother, devote this much of her life to service to her community? Cady answers that question by going back even further, to a dairy farm in Sunflower County in the Mississippi Delta. “The way I was raised is the only answer I know,” says Cady. “My mother and father were always generous with their resources in the community. My mother didn’t serve on a lot of things but if some-
that this is what we do.” While Cady’s early influences taught her to devote her efforts to helping others, in being a self-described “starter,” she also learned that facilitating a smoother road for everyone is a difficult task. “I know you can’t change everybody’s life and that’s not what we’re supposed to do,” says Cady. “We don’t meddle in people’s lives if they don’t ask for help. The Bible is clear that we’re a servant. I’ve been in office at City Hall for 28 years and I’ve always seen it as a ministry and a platform from which to serve.” Cady also credits her early success and political career to her late husband, Ralph Martin Cady, Jr. “He was the kind of husband that wanted me to be me, to let me do the things that I wanted to do,” says Cady, with a sudden quiet to her voice. “He was a very reserved person but he never discouraged me from doing the things that I felt like God was calling me to do. You can’t be all that you want to be without a good mate.” After her husband passed away four years ago, Cady discovered that it became more difficult for her to charge ahead like she once did. “When he was here, we would talk about things,” she said. It was during these talks that Cady could always gauge his reaction and know if she was on the right path. Having met him in Chicago while she was in business and modeling school, she immediately told her sister that she had met the man she was going to marry. The rest, as they say, is history. One might ask how a woman who had a strong and loving marriage might turn to helping abused and battered victims of domestic violence. To answer this question, Cady describes a series of events in which she was going door-todoor to canvas for votes and happened across a Southaven resident who asked her if she would be willing to help battered women. “I told her I
AS POLITICIANS, we’re supposed to solve problems. That’s our main task. We’re not supposed to create problems or play games with people’s lives.
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didn’t know any but that if she sent them, I would certainly try to help them,” says Cady. “You have to understand — I was playing tennis regularly and I was working in the community, supporting my family and my church, and I would say I was having a good time in life.” After organizing a few speaking engagements and donations to a battered women’s shelter in Memphis, Cady thought that particular road was behind her. However, she couldn’t shake the conviction that she should be doing more — that it was her job to reach out to these women to a greater degree. “I prayed about it but I honestly didn’t think I knew any women who fit that description,” says Cady. Later, however, Cady discovered that she was wrong. “It wasn’t something people talked about back then because…there was no help. Why should they embarrass themselves and come out with something like that when there was no public support for it?” As someone familiar with the long, arduous task of beginning a project with little to no public support, Cady was hesitant to move forward. “I called a meeting, thinking ‘If nobody shows up, that’ll be the end of this,’” says Cady. “But I worked against myself…I called the Health Department, the Police Department, the Sheriff’s Department…I called everybody I could think of and asked them to send somebody to the meeting. Lo and behold, the meeting was full. I had invited Dorothy Crawford, who was head of the Hope House in Oxford, to come and speak to us that night. She came and spoke and we moved forward from that point.” Since that initial meeting, Cady credits multiple “movers and shakers” within Southaven and among the “survivors” she has worked with for getting the House of Grace project off the ground. “It’s amazing the number of women who suffer from domestic violence,” says Cady, who now understands just how many women in the area are victims of it. “Serving in office does give you a platform to help people and to take up issues and work through them. As politicians, we’re supposed to solve problems. That’s our main task. We’re not supposed to create problems or play games with people’s lives.” Since opening House of Grace in 1998 on National Day of Prayer, Cady has continued to work tirelessly as a politician and advocate for abused women. Her legacy is, and has always been, one that inspires women to not be afraid to move forward and work toward a better life and community for their children. “You don’t leave anyone in need if you can help them,” says Cady. It’s a simple philosophy that she has embraced entirely and she encourages other women to do the same.
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VOLUNTEER THE BRIGHT WAY HERNANDO RESIDENT NATALIE BRIGHT TAKES MULTITASKING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
ATYPICAL TYPICAL A DAY DAY for Hernando resident Natalie Bright begins bright and early with a 5:00 A.M. wake-up call. As one of DeSoto County’s busiest volunteers, the early hours are key to completing all of the day’s tasks. by
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right is the event coordinator for DeSoto County Greenways and Parks (DCGP). Though her position with DCGP is her main job, it represents only a small portion of the work that she does for DeSoto County. Dedicated to the betterment of her home region, Bright also holds positions in various other local organizations like the Junior Auxiliary of DeSoto, the DeSoto County Community Health Council and the DeSoto County Earth Day committee. Bright’s mornings are consumed with emails, readying her two children, Parker and Payton, for school and attending meetings for the various organizations with which she is involved. Her busy mornings are followed by busy afternoons filled with collecting supplies for upcoming fundraisers and events; picking her children up from school, getting them to their individual activities (hockey for Parker, gymnastics for Payton); and still trying to get dinner on the table for her kids and husband Jason. Last year, after being a stay-at-home mom for eight years, Bright felt a pull to become more involved in the place that she and her family call home. She knew about the Junior Auxiliary and their work with local children, and thought that would be a great place to start. “I knew that being a mom was a really big job but I really felt like I could do more. That’s when I got involved with JA and fell in love with it,” she says. In 2012, Bright acted as chairman of the Public Relations committee. She received the Provisional of the Year award, the Finance Award, and an award for having more than 100 hours of JA work (she had close to 400 hours). Bright says that receiving these awards “lit a fire” under her and made her want to work even harder. This year, Bright is the Finance chair and is in charge of the DeSoto County JA’s annual fundraiser, Catfish and Khakis. The 13th annual Catfish and Khakis event will be on September 14 and attendees can expect good catfish, drinks, live music and auction events. The location for this year’s fundraiser will be the Snowden Grove House and tickets are $50. “It’s an honor that I’m being trusted with such a big project,” she says. It was through JA that Bright found her way to DCGP. She put the word out about looking for a part-time job and was delighted when a fellow JA member approached her about the event coordinator position. She began her work with the group in November. The DCGP is in charge of all the parks outside of the Hernando city limits. Their focus is developing these parks and green spaces into places where DeSoto County citizens can enjoy outdoor activities, as well as learn about nature. Bright is in charge of planning all DCGP events, as well as rallying volunteers for the organization. She says that she has always had a love for the outdoors and appreciates that she has a job where she can bring her kids along to work. “I still want to be that at-home mom. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do. When this came up, it seemed perfect because I was able to do both,” she says. A current project for DCGP is its partnership with Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. to develop the education building at the Ark trails in Arkabutla. The purpose of the building is to help educate visitors on animals and nature. It will also serve as a place to house animals in need of rehabilitation, many of which are currently housed at rehabilitators’ homes. Bright began her involvement with the DeSoto County Community Health Council (DCCHC) this school year. She has only worked on one project with the group so far — a series of health fairs in DeSoto County schools — but she looks forward to future projects. The DCCHC is under the Regional Health Council, which is a component of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi’s ‘Get A Life!’ program to combat childhood obesity. Last, but not least, Bright is on DeSoto County’s Earth Day committee. Earth Day is on April 22 and this year marked the third annual Earth Day event on the Hernando square. This year’s event, held on Saturday, April 20, offered plenty of fun activities, including geocaching, a booth where kids could make pinecone birdfeeders and a skit by the Horn Lake Fire Department Clowns about fire safety. It seems that Bright is busy enough but she says that she still has many interests for the future, including possible wildlife-related work. “I’ve always been an animal person. I grew up around animals and I could see myself learning how to be a rehabber,” she says.
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Bright’s reason for all of the volunteering that she does is simple. “I’m doing it for my kids. They’re going to grow up here. They see me volunteer and go to these meetings and do these projects, and they understand the reason why I’m doing it. They understand that there are kids who aren’t as privileged as they are,” she says. She added that her oldest, 7-year-old Parker, has already expressed an interest in volunteering, something she is very proud of. Bright is big on family and she credits her mother and great-grandmother for setting a good example for her. “My mom has the best heart and really goes out of her way for people. My great-grandmother was on every board you could think of. She was part of the march in Memphis for women’s voting rights,” she says. It takes a special person to put in as much work in their community as Bright has. She admits that she is a “yes” person and is open to whatever comes along. “As long as I have support at home and my kids are taken care of, I can do whatever,” she says. Last, but not least, Bright is on DeSoto County’s Earth Day committee. Earth Day is on April 22, and this year marked the third annual Earth Day event on the Hernando square. This year’s event, held on Saturday, April 20, offered plenty of fun activities, including geocaching, a booth where kids could make pinecone birdfeeders, and a skit by the Horn Lake Fire Department Clowns about fire safety. It seems that Bright is busy enough, but she says that she still has many interests for the future, including possible wildlife-related work. “I’ve always been an animal person. I grew up around animals, and I could see myself learning how to be a rehabber,” she says. Bright’s reason for all of the volunteering that she does is simple. “I’m doing it for my kids. They’re going to grow up here. They see me volunteer and go to these meetings and do these projects, and they understand the reason why I’m doing it. They understand that there are kids who aren’t as privileged as they are,” she says. She added that her oldest, 7-year-old Parker, has already expressed an interest in volunteering, something she is very proud of.
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2013 GUIDE TO GIVING A SPOTLIGHT ON PHILANTHROPIC NONPROFITS AND CHARITIES IN THE AREA by alisa nave & hallie mckay
The MidSouth includes a variety of communities with different ways of doing things but many have one thing in common – people with a caring heart and a willingness to help others. In this month’s issue, Click Magazine spotlights charitable organizations and foundations in the area that help to keep the caring spirit alive by reaching out to others.
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BORN OUT OF A COOPERATIVE PROJECT IN 2000 that helped place a computer in every DeSoto County public school classroom, the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi (CFNM) has grown to serve eight counties, managing 133 donor-established funds and distributing $11.2 million to support 420 charitable organizations and activities recommended by its donors, as well as charitable programs established by CFNM. The foundation, whose mission is to connect people with causes that matter, focuses its efforts on education, health and children. CFNM is governed by a board of 20 volunteer civic leaders and receives most of its funding through private donations. Last year, the Foundation’s grants and charitable programs jumped to $1.8 million. In collaboration with the Maddox Foundation, whose Challenge Grant to the Foundation matches 100% endowment contributions through 2013, CFNM has provided $7.2 million to more than 200 organizations since 2004 and has accumulated $11 million in charitable assets. You can volunteer for this organization through Volunteer Northwest Mississippi. Get more information at cfnm.org.
Volunteer MidSouth
Volunteer Northwest Mississippi
The Community Foundation of Northwes t Mississippi
VOLUNTEER COORDINATING ORGANIZATIONS
SINCE 2006, Volunteer Northwest Mississippi’s mission has been to place the right volunteer with the right organization. Through Volunteer Solutions, an online volunteer management system, the organization is able to match participants with opportunities based on their interests. Individuals, groups, businesses and churches can sign on as volunteers, and non-profits can sign on and list their volunteer opportunities. A program of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, VNM became the first volunteer center of its kind for the region. VNM is an excellent resource for anyone looking to get involved. In the past 15 months, 7,925 volunteers have committed 83,082 hours of service, contributing $2,028,256.78 to the state of Mississippi. One of VNM’s largest volunteer opportunities is the CFNM’s Annual Crystal Ball. The organization, with the support of funds from Entergy, also hosts the annual President’s Volunteer Service Awards each April, recognizing outstanding volunteers in the region. For a complete list of volunteer opportunities or to learn more about VNM, visit volunteernwms.org.
FOUNDED IN 1975, Volunteer MidSouth has called many volunteers into action. Originally known as the Volunteer Center of Memphis, Volunteer MidSouth works with more than 200 nonprofit organizations to provide opportunities to individuals, no matter what their age or schedule. Volunteers can sign up for onetime projects or projects that require a significant time commitment. Volunteer MidSouth has a number of events scheduled throughout the year in which individuals can donate their time and skills. For more information about Volunteer MidSouth and upcoming events, visit volunteermidsouth.org.
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Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County
DeSoto A nimal Rescue Society
ANIMALS FOUNDED IN 1998, DeSoto Animal Rescue Society (DARS) cares for homeless and abused animals and provides them with medical care, heartworm testing and vaccinations. Serving both DeSoto County and the Memphis area, in 2012 alone, DARS facilitated the adoption of 18 cats and 87 dogs. With the primary focus being a home for displaced animals, the organization holds regular adoption events at Petsmart Memphis and Petco in Southaven on alternate Saturdays. This month, DARS will hold an additional adoption fair on May 11 at the Hernando Farmers Market. There are many
WITH A MISSION STATEMENT of “Be Human. Be Humane,” the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County (HSMSC) provides shelter, food and medical care for thousands of displaced animals. With help from donors and volunteers, HSMSC is allowed to treat injured, neglected and abused animals, as well as promote humane education and responsible pet ownership. In a recent animal adoption event, HSMSC gave 156 animals a new home in 36 hours. Information about HSMSC and opportunities for involvement are located at memphishumane.org. Volunteer opportunities for ages
ways to get involved with DARS. Volunteers can walk dogs, work adoption events or help with planning special fundraising events. Although primarily funded through community donations and the occasional grant fund, DARS holds its biggest fundraising event, “A Furry Affair,” each Spring. This year, the event raised close to $6,000. All of the funds that they get goes to helping the foster families with vet costs like shots, spaying and neutering. For more information or to become a foster parent, visit freewebs.com/desotopetlovers.
17 and older include: walking dogs, assisting with adoption events, fostering a misplaced animal and helping to maintain the shelter’s facilities. Volunteers ages 13 - 16 have the unique opportunity to submit their own fundraising plan, such as a school can drive, bake sale or neighbourhood dog wash, as part of the Kids promoting Animal Welfare (KPAW) program. Children ages 7 - 12 can also participate in the Junior KPAW program. Annual fundraising events for 2013 include the Paw Prints party to be held on August 17, and the Fast and the Furious 5k Run & Walk scheduled for October 19.
Palmer Home for Children
Ronald McDonald House of Memphis
CHILDREN
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE is a 51-bedroom home away from home for families who are in Memphis while their children receive treatment for cancer at St. Jude. In 2012, Ronald McDonald House served more than 800 families. Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers provided services and support for these families through activities that involve cooking and
PALMER HOME FOR CHILDREN is a privately-funded organization with a Christ-centered mission to provide stable, long-term care for children who lack adequate family structure. Between the organization’s two campuses — one in Columbus, MS and one in Hernando, MS — nearly 100 boys and girls live in Palmer Home’s residential campuses year-round until three months after they reach their
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serving dinner for families, staffing the front desk, hosting a summer ice cream social or snow cone party, assisting with special events and holding a coin collection drive. Those interested in volunteering or learning more about Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) can call 901.312.7478 or visit rmhc-memphis.org.
highest level of education. Both campuses have qualified professionals on staff to assist with counseling, foster care and other related services which are also extended to the child’s family of origin. Palmer Home hosts between 500 and 600 volunteers throughout the year between the two campuses and thrift stores. Those interested in supporting Palmer Home for Children may do so by: donating
clothing to the organization’s thrift store, becoming a personal or prayer sponsor, tutoring, purchasing items from one of the 12 greenhouses, giving monetarily, and participating with a work group to help in construction and maintenance of the campuses. Log onto palmerhome.org for more volunteer opportunities.
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Impact Missions
Porter-Leath
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STILL SITTING on the same nine-acre plot of land donated by founder Sarah Leath, the Porter-Leath house has spent more than 160 years as a refuge for Memphis’ at-risk children and their families. The organization’s mission: to empower children and their families to achieve a healthy, optimal and independent lifestyle. Since July of 2012, Porter-Leath has served more than 6,000 children and more than 5,200 families. An important aspect of this organization, Porter-Leath Foster Care, provides homes to more than 100 youth in Shelby County. Through Porter-Leath’s six pro-
grams—Head Start, Connections, Cornerstone, CareerPlace, Generations and Spoonfuls—Porter-Leath participants form solid foundations essential to becoming healthy, optimal and independent adults. Each year, hundreds of volunteers spend time in their Head Start classrooms, helping children learn to read, assisting with dish washing in between meals and facilitating a game day among many other things. In tandem with such steadfast volunteers, Porter-Leath staff is able to serve over 10,000 low-income children and families annually in Shelby County each year. Numerous volunteers
OPERATING WITHIN A CHRIST-CENTERED VISION, Impact Missions has been a part of the MidSouth community for more than 30 years by functioning as a counseling center, a thrift store, a group home for at-risk teenage girls and a crisis care (emergency) shelter for boys and girls ages 10-21. Formerly known as Desoto Sunrise Homes, Impact Missions provides a faith-based home for abused and neglected children in eight counties across Northwest Mississippi. Reaching far beyond the scope of its original intent, which was to be a home for at-risk girls, now includes housing for at-risk boys. Staff members provide Biblically-based counseling each year to more than 120 children who come to Impact Missions from abused and neglected situations. Along with staff, which con-
of all ages donate hours of their time to helping those at Porter-Leath. Through the Porter-Leath Foster Grandparent program, volunteers age 55 and older devote an average of 20 hours a week reading, mentoring and spending time with children at schools, Head Start centers, hospitals, daycare centers and residential treatment centers in the Memphis and Shelby County area. For more information about Porter-Leath and its volunteer opportunities, visit porterleath.org.
sists of 18 full-time and 9 part-time members, approximately 50-100 volunteers donate their time each year to assisting Impact Missions with providing children individual and group therapy, anger and behavior management, life skills training, self-esteem training and more. Volunteers also help by sorting donations, pricing, restocking inventory, cleaning and providing donation pickup at the organization’s thrift store. Primarily funded through individual and church dontaions as well as private and public grants, Impact Missions raises additional funds through their annual “Hearts Cry” event held each April in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Information about Impact Missions and volunteer opportunities can be found at impactms.org.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY’S central goal is to build safe and affordable shelter for those in need. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, working with 2,400 volunteers, reached two important milestones in 2012. The chapter built its 400th home and completed its first allhabitat plan development — Trinity Park, the region’s first all-Habitat neighborhood, which has made homeownership possible for 38 more deserving families. Trinity Park is a unique housing community in that all of the single-family residences are built to be accessible by wheelchair and built to green standards, as certified through the local Memphis, Light, Gas &
Water’s EcoBUILD program, resulting in a 33 percent energy savings. The HernandoDesoto Habitat for Humanity chapter, founded in 1992, is also active, with an estimated 1,200 volunteers, including an all-volunteer board. To date, the Hernando-DeSoto Habitat for Humanity has built 21 homes in the Desoto County area. While only adults, ages 16 and older, may participate in the construction of homes, there are many opportunities for younger volunteers to get involved. Throughout the year, several youth-led fundraisers and special events are held as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Youth United program. Volunteers can also donate their time to
MidSouth Food Bank
Habitat for Humanity
HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS
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Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis’ ReStore, which sells donated home goods at a discount price. Annual fundraisers are another fun way to get involved. On October 21, the Hernando-DeSoto Habitat for Humanity will host their annual Home Run 5k Walk/Run, which raised $22,000 last year. For information on this year’s event, visit homerun5k.com. The opportunities to get involved with either chapter are endless. For a complete list of volunteer activities, call 901.322.3517 or visit your local chapter’s office.
THE MIDSOUTH FOOD BANK has been fighting hunger through education and advocacy since 1981. The organization works by collecting and distributing healthy food to more than 300 charitable funding programs throughout 31 counties in the MidSouth area. In 2012, MidSouth Food Bank distributed more than 12.1 million pounds of food and groceries with the help of more than 5,700 volunteers who logged in more than 35,700 hours of work. With support from partnering agencies, the MidSouth Food Bank was able to increase distribution of food in DeSoto County through its Mobile Pantry initiative for 12 months. The first monthly distribution that followed on July 31 provided food to more than 800 DeSoto County families in need. According to the program’s meal-gap research, more than 20,000 people, or 13 percent of the overall population in DeSoto County, are “food insecure.” That figure increases to 28 percent when examining the child food-insecurity rates. From May to December, the pantry in DeSoto County distributed 80,000 pounds of food to a total of 4,899 households. Each
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis
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THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS of Greater Memphis is all about creating opportunities for children through after-school education. Each year, more than 11,000 youth between the ages of 6 and 18 are served through membership with Boys and Girls Club of Memphis. Through a variety of academic and recreational programs, BGCM empowers members to make productive use of their time and wise decisions in their lives. Volunteers ages 18 and older support the Club through tutoring, shooting hoops, creating masterpieces or just spending time with members. Groups can also donate their time through volunteering at fundraising events, cooking and serving a meal at one of the Clubs or sponsoring a Club clean-up day. For more information on volunteer opportunities with BGCM, visit bgcm.org.
year, volunteers help by sorting and stocking received goods, assisting with clerical activities, participating in the Mobile Pantry and packing lunches for the Food for Kids BackPack Program, a program which feeds 1,400 children every weekend. Fundraising efforts such as Stamp Out Hunger scheduled for May 11; Operation Feed, going on from May 20-July 26; and Miles for Meals 5k Run/Walk to be held in September are great ways to get involved. To learn more about the MidSouth Food Bank and how to become a volunteer, visit midsouthfoodbank.org. myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 73
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Literacy
Number of people in Metro Memphis reading at the fifthgrade level or below.
DeSoto A rts Council
Literacy MidSouth
MOTIVATION for this organization to feed the need of literacy in the community comes from recent statistics showing that 26 percent of adults have low literacy skills that prevent them from filling out a job application or participating in a job readiness program. Additionally, low literacy skills are strongly related to crime: 70 percent of prisoners fall into the lowest two levels of reading proficiency.
Methodist Senior Services
120,000
WITH 12 LOCATIONS across the state, including one in Hernando and one in Tupelo, Methodist Senior Services has provided a special place for the elderly for more than 50 years. Each month, more than 1,400 volunteers donate their time in assisting with special dinners, parties, weekly worship services, visiting with seniors and much more. Volunteers also teach seniors new skills through the organization’s continuing education series. Several fundraisers are held throughout the year to help fund the organization’s services. The Sunday Fund, one program of great importance, helps seniors with shrinking finances to continue to receive care. For more information about volunteering or donating, visit mss.org.
LITERACY & EDUCATION
DeSoto Literacy Council
FEED THE NEED OF LI T ERACY
SENIOR SERVICES
ESTABLISHED IN 1981 by the First Regional Library in collaboration with area citizen groups, the DeSoto Literacy Council (DLC) provides education services to DeSoto County and surrounding counties with the goal of increasing the number of high school graduates in the state of Mississippi. Free of charge, DLC offers tutoring for adults who want to increase their basic reading skills and GED prep courses, in partnership with the Mississippi State Board for
BELIEVING that it is never too late to educate, Literacy MidSouth is an organization adamant about creating a community that is actively engaged in continuous learning. Formed more than 30 years ago, the organization has recently taken off with a three-year grant of $200,000 from The Plough Foundation in 2011; in 2012, $35,000 from Hilton Worldwide; $23,000 from Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority; and $10,000 each from International Paper and the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. In 2012, nearly 2,500 people were served through its programs — 550 people this year through the Adult Learning Program. Through programs like the Adult Literacy Program — a program for low-literacy adults in Mem-
LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC Banks House in Hernando, MS, the DeSoto Arts Council (DAC) began its work in 1999 to increase interest and participation in arts education among more than 144,700 DeSoto County residents. In its effort to offer a wide range of activities, DAC operates the Community Arts Center, home to concerts, plays, workshops, exhibitions and a gift shop with local artisans’ work. DAC special projects include Art for Autism, a series of art sessions conducted by Art Council member artists aimed to illuminate the art education experience
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Community College, United Way of the MidSouth, First Regional Library and the North Mississippi Literacy Alliance. Since July of 2012, these adult literacy classes and GED prep courses have produced at least 39 GED graduates. The DLC office includes 11 dedicated volunteers who work several hours a week. For more information about the DeSoto Literacy Council, go to desotoliteracy.org.
phis for which staff members and volunteers provide tutoring in reading, math, pre-GED and even ESL — Literacy MidSouth is changing people’s lives. There are many ways to volunteer, although the biggest two are tutoring in the Adult Learning Program and volunteering for special events. Most recently, the organization hosted a Tutor-a-thon, online fundraiser, in which $10,000 was raised to help fund the Adult Literacy Program. A newer event this year — Literatini, a martini tasting event with a literary twist featuring a silent auction, great food, music and other surprises — is scheduled for June 13th at the Booksellers at Laurelwood. For more information or a volunteer application, visit literacymidsouth.org.
for school-aged autistic children. Other special art shows just recently added include the Blooming Art event, scheduled for this month; the Children’s Summer Art camp, to take place in July; and fun events, such as the Grape Gatsby and Murder Mystery, coming this fall. DAC programs rely heavily on the service of members of the DeSoto County community. In 2012, more than 70 volunteers worked more than 2,800 hours. You can find out more about the DeSoto Arts Council, its programs and volunteer opportunities at desotoarts.com.
FOUNDED IN 1987, the mission of the Church Health Center is to seek to reclaim the Church’s biblical commitment to care for the human body and spirit. With core values based on trust, compassion, commitment and quality, this organization provides affordable healthcare for working, uninsured individuals and their families. The 1,600 volunteers at the health center come from all walks of life and are carefully matched with jobs they enjoy. Volunteers are always welcomed to assist with the health center’s special events, such as the 5k/10k Run, the Rock for Love Benefit and its 2nd annual night of theater at Playhouse on the Square. Members of the Church Health Center can also get more than just medical assistance. The center provides health education and prevention through personalized exercise plans and cooking classes, group exercise classes and various activities for children and teens. More than 125,000 member visits to the center are recorded annually and payment options are determined based on household income. For more information about the Church Health Center, visit churchhealthcenter.org.
SPECIAL NEEDS The Baddour Center
Church Health Center
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FOUNDED IN 1978, the Baddour Center provides a caring environment for those with intellectual disabilities to help them achieve goals, develop lifelong friendships and reach their full potential. Currently, 171 residents live on this 120-acre campus and are trained through a vocational services program to help them achieve a level of self-esteem that comes along with earning a paycheck. Working in the gift shop and custom packaging center are just two employment opportunities for both residents and outpatients. Baddour also hosts special events and fundraisers throughout the year. Along with
the center’s staff, Baddour received the assistance of 180 volunteers who worked more than 24,000 hours in 2012, contributing to the success of one fundraising event in particular, the annual fashion show. This event was held in August of last year and earned the center more than $45,000. Volunteer opportunities depend on an individual’s schedule and duties may include: painting, mulching flowerbeds, or assisting at special events and fundraisers. If you would like to find out more about the Baddour Center and volunteer opportunities, check out baddour. org.
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WITH CHAPTERS IN MEMPHIS and Mississippi and ran almost entirely by volunteers, Special Olympics is an organization which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Participants can try their hand at aquatics, track and field, basketball, bocce, bowling, canoeing, distance running, golf, powerlifting, soccer, tennis and volleyball. With more then 2,500 Special Olympic athletes registered in the Memphis chapter, it proves that no one, regardless of his or her economic situation, is turned away from participating. Volunteers work in a variety of areas such
as coaching, competitions, fundraising, medical, sports management and more. In 2012 alone, approximately 5,000 volunteers donated their time to Special Olympics Mississippi-area 16 (which serves DeSoto, Tunica, Cohoma, and Quitman counties). Special events and fundraisers are held each year to support the chapters. Upcoming events for both chapters include: June 22, Color Me Rad 5K benefitting Special Olympics of Greater Memphis and September 6, North Creek Golf Tournament benefitting Special Olympics Mississippi-Area 16. To learn more about the Special Olympics or to volunteer, visit specialolympicsmem.org or somsarea16.webs.com.
SRVS
Special Olympics
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DeSoto Health & Wellness
HEALTH & WELLNESS THE DESOTO HEALTH & Wellness Center provides primary health care and health education services for the working, uninsured citizens of DeSoto County. Fees for service are offered on a sliding scale based on the patient’s household income. In 2012, the Center provided medical care for nearly 3,500 patients. Established in 2002, the Center is able to provide medical services with help from local government, businesses, civic groups, grant funds and individual donations. Oppor-
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tunities to support the Center include assisting in reception, helping with special events, and various duties of office administration.Their primary fundraiser of the year, the Breath of Spring “Boot Scootin’ Gala,” was held March 2 at the Landers Center in Southaven and raised approximately $27,625. In 2012, roughly 20 volunteers worked more than 2,600 hours. For more information about the DeSoto Health and Wellness Center, call 662.393.9848.
FOR OVER 50 YEARS, SRVS (pronounced serves) has been at the forefront of providing services for people with disabilities. SRVS’ exceptional care for the people it supports provides family caregivers the flexibility to work and gives them the ability to balance other responsibilities. Services include residential living programs, a day center, community participation activities, sheltered workshop services, job training and placement, and a family support program. Those 18 years and older may volunteer in several ways. Spirit of SRVS is the organization’s annual fundraising event, which features a silent and live auction, delectable delights from some of Memphis’ finest restaurants, vintage wines, entertainment and unique artwork by local artists. This year, the event is scheduled to take place Saturday, July 27, and is an excellent opportunity for volunteers to help out.
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House of Grace
OTHER FOUNDED IN 1998, the House of Grace is a nonprofit, faith-based shelter for battered women and their children. The organization provides services for women in DeSoto County, as well as eight other North Mississippi counties. With an estimated 1,200 domestic violence victims served each year, the House of Grace supports women through providing temporary emergency shelter and counseling. In 2012, the House of Grace helped provide more than 580 meals to abused women and their children and provided shelter for 274 nights either at the temporary shelter or in motels. Volunteers are needed regularly for a variety of tasks, including special events, office administration, and assisting with thrift store merchandise, to name a few. Contact Lorin Cady, Executive Director, or Barbara Chambers, Community Relations Director, at houseofgrace1007@aol.com or 662-253-0252 for more information on how to get involved.
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FOUR FOR FEEDING four foodies with fine taste fighting hunger in the midsouth — one meal at a time. story and photos by casey hilder While the MidSouth is widely renowned for its regional cuisine, many never experience the down-home flavor of Southern cooking due to poverty, illness or disability. However, several organizations across the area have made it their mission to ensure that locals eat well and often. From those making a difference in the nation’s poorest state to the chef who serves at the country’s largest cancer research facility, these are the stories of four devoted individuals giving the gift of life through food.
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Jim
GLASS
F
SAMARITANS FOOD PANTRY – HORN LAKE, MS
rom a tiny headquarters just off Goodman Road, jovial and silver-haired Pastor Jim Glass heads the operations of Samaritans Food Pantry. Since 1998, Glass has coordinated eight volunteers a week to serve as many as 250-300 families a month in North Mississippi. The organization works in collaboration with the Mid-South Food Bank and USDA in Jackson to feed hundreds of hungry Mississippi mouths. Samaritans typically offers patrons a four-day supply of food, with the actual amount depending on family size. However, Samaritans’ charitable action doesn’t end with full bellies. Through monthly clothing drives, Glass and others ensure that patrons have warm bodies in addition to soon-to-be-hot meals doled out every Monday and Wednesday. “We’ll come in a lot of times and find bags of clothes on the doorstep waiting for us,” Glass says. “Usually from churches, but once we had a whole bunch of socks donated from the Dollar Store.”
The organization also assists with utilities, rent and medical bills. Samaritans utilizes salarybased applications to determine the needs of each individual family, a method that perfectly espouses their motto, “Offering a hand up, not a hand out.” “It began simply as a food pantry but over the years we’ve grown to a full-service social services sort of thing,” Glass says. “We saw that food wasn’t the only thing that people need help with.” Many of the group’s patrons are elderly citizens living solely on Social Security checks or fixed-income salaries and are forced into the difficult decision of choosing between food, utilities or medicine. “I would challenge anybody in DeSoto County to live on what someone makes for Social Security for at least three months,” Glass says.
Samaritans is mainly fueled through pledges and donations from members and volunteers, though sometimes the operational costs can be staggering. “We have every operational cost that any other business would have but we’re a certified nonprofit,” Glass says. “We have utilities and that can be pretty staggering — we can’t leave our food out of the right climate. We tend to have a good bit of travel costs with shipping — most of us eat that.” Samaritans operates in conjunction with several local churches of all denominations. “We’re not associated with any single church. We are supported by Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist — nearly all denominations,” Glass says. “We were all called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the sick. If you only focus on the preaching and the teaching, you’re only doing half your job — if that.” Volunteer duties at Samaritans include assisting with shipping, stocking, and cleaning and maintaining the facilities. The organization also draws members from Southaven’s all-volunteer firefighter team.
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Diana
O’ROURKE
OLIVE BRANCH FOOD MINISTRY – OLIVE BRANCH, MS
U
nder the watchful and motherly eyes of Director Diana O’Rourke, a dozen bright-eyed volunteers each week file through the doors of Olive Branch Food Ministry just off Highway 178. “We just celebrated our 25th anniversary,” she says as she glances toward a modest banner on the wall lauding the organization’s quarter century of service. Several area churches volunteer in separate shifts and O’Rourke frequently hosts “sorting parties” to keep track of the bevy of goods that pass through the Olive Branch Food Ministry. “If we don’t have it, we’ll go out and buy it. We just went out and got around 700 jars of peanut butter last week,” O’Rourke says. In addition to day-old bread courtesy of Sara Lee Bakery, Olive Branch Food Ministry is supplied with meat and produce through donations from local Kroger and Walmart stores. “Each group that comes in is responsible for providing a set of volunteers for the day,” says O’Rourke. “It’s a rotational schedule and different churches serve every three months.” The organization packs a much-needed commercial freezer, in which goods are rotated to ensure freshness. The freezers were donated two months ago courtesy of Lit Restaurant Supply in Memphis. “The freezers have been a lifesaver for us,” says O’Rourke. “Before this, we had to use three old chest freezers that were do-
nated to us and we ended up throwing out a lot of food due to poor cooling and temperature maintenance. But we had to make do with what we had.” Olive Branch Food Ministry sees up to 50 families during a single day of service, though O’Rourke says she often sees more, especially toward the end of the year as the holidays loom. Most of the group’s operations are funded by citizen donors. “The community has supported us every year. We receive funding from the Community Foundation of North Mississippi, as well as a number of private individuals who offer donations,” O’Rourke says. The growing organization operates with a little help from DeSoto County Alderman Jesse Medlin, who helped secure its current location at the old Fair Haven Fire Station. Olive Branch Food Ministry draws much of its operational inspiration from the good book, most notably the passage in Matthew 25:35, which states, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Unlike many pantries in the area, Olive Branch Food Ministry offers service during evening hours on Thursdays. “It took a while for the word to get around but now we see as many families on Thursday nights as we do on Tuesday mornings,” O’Rourke says.
HUNGRY, CLOTHE THE NAKED AND VISIT THE SICK. YOU’RE ONLY DOING HALF YOUR JOB — IF THAT.” myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 83
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Connie
JAMES
F
HEARTLAND HANDS – SOUTHAVEN, MS
rom its brightly-colored and inviting entryway to its wide-open communal sorting areas, Heartland Hands in Southaven doesn’t resemble the typical food pantry. Director Connie James welcomes more than 500 families a month to the converted Walmart shopping center on Stateline Road in Southaven. Heartland Hands began as a Hurricane Katrina relief group in 2006 and has steadily grown to become one of the largest food pantries in DeSoto County. James and her team build from monetary donations through dozens of volunteers and product donations from five area supermarkets to assist the organization with the nearly $100,000 a month in funding required to fuel operations. While the cost of upkeep is pricey, Heartland Hands operates with no administrative costs. “Most of our funding comes from individuals acting out of the goodness of their hearts,” James says. The Heartland Hands facility includes a full-service prep area
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where the 38 daily volunteers can prepare and package their own special brand of baked goods for nearly 600 new applicants a year, many of whom are not native to the area and have fallen on hard times after a big move. “Every volunteer has a job. Everyone knows where they are going,” she says of the front desk, office staff, team of interviewers and stockers. James says she is well aware of the challenges that come along with serving in one of the most affluent counties of the country’s poorest state. “Relative to the rest of Mississippi, I think we’re great—but we’re still Mississippi,” James says. “Fortunately, many of our families tend to drop off or get jobs every few months.” James says she tries to add a personal touch to services in an effort to build self-esteem and instill a hopeful attitude in her clientele. “We don’t just hand out bags of food and tell them ‘God bless you,’ it goes far beyond that,” she says. “Our volunteers really go the extra mile.”
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AC Curtis is one such volunteer. Curtis is a former Heartland Hands client and missionary, who has served in 13 countries and currently acts as a regular volunteer alongside his family. He says he was surprised at the drive and positive outlook of not only other volunteers, but the clientele themselves. “I spoke to a woman about our operations this morning,” he says. “While we were talking, she looked up at me and said ‘you mean if I start coming up here every week, I can be more like you guys?’” The organization’s chief needs include a walk-in freezer and nonperishable hygiene essentials like toilet paper, shampoo and soap. “When you have no freezer space, you have to be very cautious of what you can take in,” James says. “I’m not sure how we’d be able to pay for it but we’re very committed to not wasting product.” While freezer space is a crucial need for the members and patrons, the group boasts its own local claim to fame: Heartland Hands is the only food pantry with a loading dock. “Truckers love us,” she says. “And we’ve got plenty of volunteers to help us unload.”
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Miles
MCMATH
ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL – MEMPHIS, TN
E
ven among a staff of more than 4,000 at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Miles McMath stands out. The 42-year-old Hernando resident heads Kay’s Kafe, a 500-seat communal dining facility located within the largest cancer research institute in the country. With a kindly Southern charm and a reputation that precedes him, McMath has earned numerous accolades in the culinary craft, including five gold medals in several National American Culinary Federation competitions. McMath’s staff is comprised of 15 certified culinary graduates from across the globe, including experienced chefs who hail from Cambodia and Mexico. “We’ve got four certified executive chefs here and I’d say there are probably about eight in Memphis altogether,” he says. McMath lavishes in the hopeful atmosphere that permeates St. Jude, rising as early as 3 a.m. to begin preparations for the day. As a the former owner of the now-defunct Hernando mainstay Timbeaux’s on the Square, McMath brings a lifetime of restaurant experience to the table to offer only the best for St. Jude’s expansive cast of patients, staff members and guests. In addition to Kay’s Kafe, McMath and friends offer hotel-style room service and knowledge of nearly every dish under the sun to serve even the most discerning palates. McMath often invites patients to assist him during prep work for a unique and uplifting cooking experience. “I’ve found that if you let kids own their decisions and be a part of what we’re doing, they’re gonna’ eat,” he says. “Once they make a dish, they’re gonna’ wanna’ try it out—and that’s one bite ahead of where we were before.” The broad menu of Kay’s Kafe includes a variety of dishes like quiche of the day, sunflower butter and fresh-baked bread—a far cry from traditional hospital food fare. Most of the ingredients are culled from the MidSouth including beef, pork, veggies and honey that are all from within 100 miles of St. Jude. “It’s definitely got hospital food,” McMath says. “I’ve always said, ‘Just because you have a bad leg doesn’t mean you need to eat bad food while you’re being taken care of.’” McMath also maintains a 60-bed garden on hospital grounds where he pulls an all-natural selection of ingredients for a unique, earthy mix of healthy cuisine. “We do a lot of regional dishes, but mainly we focus on comfort food,” McMath says. “I never really notice until I stop for a bit and look around but we’ve got a lot of stuff going on here.”
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While many MidSoutherners are loathe to bring their work home with them, cooking has become a family affair for the McMath clan. He’s passed down much of his skill to his three children, who each work on his farm near the outskirts of Hernando and enjoy an all-natural diet specifically tailored to nourish growing bodies. A farmer at heart, McMath recently donated more than 200 pounds of turnips to help fuel St. Jude’s operations. Through a combination of his outgoing personality and invaluable cooking knowledge, it’s easy to see why St. Jude’s top chef has become a local authority of sorts on everything organic.
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RISE&SHINE THE ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT GUIDE TO BREAKFAST IN THE MIDSOUTH story by l. taylor smith There’s nothing better than a plate full of buttery biscuits, crispy bacon and fluffy pancakes. A savory spread at sunrise is enough to make anyone a morning person. There are plenty of places this side of the Mighty Mississippi that know how to cook the standard breakfast fare but these restaurants are infamous for being the best at what they do — reminding Southerners of how breakfast should be: hot, hearty and delicious. Each one brings something unique to the table but they all serve up bodacious breakfasts (and they even do the dishes).
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BROTHER JUNIPER’S 3519 Walker Ave., Memphis 901.324.0144, brotherjunipers.com College students are loath to get up
before noon, so it says a lot that they’re willing to get up at the break of dawn to wait in line for Brother Juniper’s. Nestled in the University district of
Memphis, this breakfast nook looks
and smells just like grandma’s house, complete with well-worn table tops
and freshly-baked bread. Even though
the wait may be lengthy — sometimes up to an hour and a half — it takes
about that long to figure out what to order. Their extensive menu offers
simple dishes with appetizing eggs,
Southern-style grits and toast, but if
you’ve got a long day ahead, the best
option is to dive right into one of their three-egg omelets. If you have a hard time choosing from their 23 tasty
options, Rachel Ray’s favorite is their
open-face San Diegan omelet with Por-
BLUE AND WHITE RESTAURANT
tobello mushrooms, tomatoes, green
onions, feta and cheddar cheese. The
restaurant has earned “Best Breakfast in Memphis” by the Memphis Flyer
1355 U.S. 61, Tunica 662.363.1371,
tion” by Citysearch.com, but they don’t
The Blue and White Restaurant has been a Tunica in-
their humble kitchen to their patient
changed hands but their slogan reflects their rustic
every year since 1999 and was even
blueandwhiterestaurant.com
let it get to their heads; they just want
stitution along Highway 61since 1924. Although it was
proclaimed “Best Breakfast in the Na-
to bring a scrumptious breakfast from patrons.
originally owned by the Pure Oil Company, it has since roots: “Provide the Ultimate Restaurant Experience.”
They are fast-approaching their 90th birthday but they certainly don’t look it. They continue to make diners
feel like family, whether they’re dropping by for a quick cup of black coffee or a savory, homemade breakfast
special piled with sweet biscuits and crunchy bacon,
just like they’ve always done. They know everyone operates on a different schedule, so they serve breakfast all day. They’ve been proclaimed the best family-style
restaurant and best breakfast by the Tunica Times multiple times throughout the years, and their light, fluffy
biscuits always rank high. They specialize in traditional
breakfast staples like steak and eggs, fluffy omelets and country-fried steak biscuits. And like any diner worth
their salt, they’ve got freshly-ground coffee that is hot, ready and bottomless for the next weary traveler to come through their wide-open door.
BIG BAD BREAKFAST 719 N. Lamar Blvd., Oxford 662.236.2666, citygroceryonline.com Big Bad Breakfast beefs up breakfast like no other. Their mouth-watering meals landed them on CNN’s list of the best breakfasts
around the world and it’s completely understandable how they garnered international
acclaim. The chefs have taken bacon, a staple long since perfected, and made it uniquely
90 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
irresistible. They smoke their sausage and
on the menu and have it put into an omelet.
basco pepper mash, which makes for a spicy
the curious “Smonk Burger,” described as “the
bacon on site in their Big Bad Smokehouse
and cure it with a brown sugar rub and Ta-
treat sure to make meat lovers drool. Their
cleverly-named cuisines aren’t all as mysterious as “The Secret History” omelet but each
dish is intriguing in its own right. They boldly offer a dish simply titled “The Awesome,”
where patrons can find anything they want
Even more fascinating is their decision to
include burgers on their breakfast menu, like big nasty with everything on it.” For anyone
looking for an adventurous morning meal, Big Bad Breakfast is certainly the way to go but
be warned: they aren’t kidding when they say it’s big and bad.
BEAN SCENE OTHERLANDS - Their claim that they are “an Oasis in the heart of Midtown” is dead-on; the brightly-hued walls provide a warm reception for caffeine-deprived crowds. They have a coffee drink for every taste from a simple, well-made mug of black coffee to a caramel café latte topped with a dollop of whipped cream. CAFÉ ECLECTIC – With the word “coffee” in their name, you know they have brews to boast about. Café Eclectic is the only place in Memphis that serves illycaffè, a brand of coffee produced in Trieste, Italy well-known for its distinct, delicious flavor. Even the aroma alone is sure to get anyone ready and raring to go.
OWEN BRENNAN’S 6150 Poplar Ave., Memphis 901.761.0990, brennansmemphis.com Owen Brennan’s jazzes up a Sunday brunch like no one else can. They specialize in Cajun and Creole cuisine, and their buffet-style brunch includes classic dishes
like spicy crawfish étoufée and pasta jambalaya. They
also have a “cooked to order” station where the kitchen comes to you. Guests can have an omelet crafted for
their palette right in front of them. And while they’re
waiting for the chef to cook up their delicious dish, they can groove to the live jazz band, The Lannie McMillian Trio. They bring the Big Easy sound to Bluff City the
same way their top-notch chefs make sure Memphians can get a taste of New Orleans flavor.
LOCAL GASTROPUB 95 S Main St., Memphis 2109 Madison Ave., Memphis 901.761.3333, localgastropub.com The Local Gastropub on Overton Square is a newcomer to Madison Avenue, and their brunch brings fresh flavor to visitors. The menu leads with their libations, including the Midtown Mimosa, a delicious mix of champagne,
vodka, St. Germain, and orange juice. Their dishes pay homage to American
icons like the “John Hughes Breakfast Club,” served on toasted brioche with a fried egg, tomato jam, and chipotle aioli, and the “Eggs Robert Johnson,”
a crispy pork tenderloin and poached egg on an English muffin with tasso cream. They make a bold statement with their brunch offerings, perfectly reflecting the tastes of Midtown Memphis.
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THE PANCAKE SHOP 4838 Summer Ave., Memphis 901.767.0206 The Pancake Shop, as its name denotes, deals mainly in fluffy, homemade
pancakes. Although they also serve
lunch and dinner, their kitchen cooks
breakfast 24 hours a day. They only accept cash but that may be a blessing in disguise, considering the wide variety
of delicious dishes on their menu. They have specials galore, including the
Dixie Pride breakfast, a plate crammed with Tennessee country ham steak,
farm fresh eggs, hash browns or grits, and two toothsome biscuits covered
with red-eye gravy. It is the only place
in Memphis that offers an “all-you-can-
B.T.C. OLD-FASHIONED GROCERY
eat-pancakes” plate that comes with as many pancakes as a belly can handle, along with two eggs and bacon or
sausage, so there’s no chance of leaving unsatisfied. The Pancake Shop is also the home of the infamous bacon chip
pancakes — a stack of pancakes with
crispy bacon bits sprinkled on top. The mix of sweet and salty is sure to slake
anyone’s breakfast cravings. Their generous portions and reasonable prices bring plenty of regulars but there’s
room for anyone with a hankering for flapjacks of every flavor.
301 N. Main St., Water Valley 662.473.4323, btcgrocery.com It’s true that no one should go grocery shopping
hungry, so B.T.C. Old-Fashioned Grocery is here to
kill two birds with one stone. Their quaint, country atmosphere is sure to set anyone at ease. The well-
worn storefront has seen many Mississippi mornings
but the B.T.C. Old-Fashioned Grocery is a relatively new addition to downtown Water Valley. “B.T.C.” stands
for “Be the change,” a nod to Gandhi’s famous quote,
“Be the change you want to see in the world,” and this home-grown shop has taken it to heart by bringing
fresh, organic produce within easy reach. In the short
time they have been open, a tight-knit community has
been cultivated. They are first and foremost a farmer’s
market, but their small kitchen started cooking up tasty plates with local ingredients delivered throughout the week, including freshly-cut bacon and sausage, eggs
straight from the roost and homegrown fruits and vegetables. The breakfast menu boasts simple Southern
favorites like sausage biscuits and grits. Cora’s Mississippi Mudd Bakery proffers up freshly baked muffins, cakes and pies. They constantly ask for community
feedback through their Facebook page to let regulars know what specials are coming up and when new
items have been delivered, so keep an eye out for this small-town breakfast venue.
YAZOO PASS 207 Yazoo Ave., Clarksdale 662.627.8686, yazoopass.com The recent addition to downtown Clarksdale
is quickly developing a reputation for its cozy, welcoming atmosphere; elegant breakfasts;
and chic espresso bar. They are a perfect rep-
resentation of first-class Southern hospitality. With hearty but healthy options like their
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Quiche Lorraine and customizable breakfast
something extra—a frozen yogurt bar. Visitors
outshines any coffee chain on the block with
just a little bit of crushed-up chocolate to start
sandwiches, it’s easy to feel right at home
amongst the cozy couches. Their espresso bar rich lattes and scrumptious frozen frappes.
The beans are freshly ground for each drink, so customers never have to worry about
getting stale or burnt coffee. Unlike other
breakfast places, however, Yazoo Pass offers
can personally prepare a healthy breakfast
parfait with fresh fruit toppings and maybe the day off right. This café offers the ideal
blend of Southern comfort and sophisticated
taste, showing that it’s completely possible to have your pancake and eat it, too.
Breakfast Drinks TOAST-WORTHY THREE ANGELS DINER – The Champagne Margarita with tequila, lime juice, Cointreau and champagne turns a morning meal into an afternoon in the sun. The salted rim brings out the sweetness of this “Liquid Brunch Special” (as if it needed any help.) LOCAL GASTROPUB – Mimosas are a brunch staple, but Local makes it, well, local. Their Midtown Mimosa has the standard champagne and orange juice, but they add vodka and St. Germain for a drink as unique as its namesake. BOSCOS – Though they’re known more for their handcrafted beers, the Boscos Bellini with peach puree, Cointreau and splashes of orange juice and champagne is fruity, fun and fabulous. Dull and dreary mornings are swept away with this delicious drink. SWEET GRASS – In the heart of Cooper-Young is a haven for Bloody Mary lovers. They use vodka infused with sundried tomatoes, okra, hot peppers, pickled green beans, anything to get the blood pumping. It may be spicy, but it’s sure to get your morning going.
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BEAUTY SHOP 966 S Cooper St., Memphis 901.272.7111, thebeautyshoprestaurant.com This Midtown attraction originally was
a full-functioning beauty shop, but now it operates as a restaurant and lounge for anyone aiming to grab brunch in a trendy hotspot. Take a seat in one of
their refurbished hair-dryer chairs and order a round of their handmade Bad
Boy Bloody Marys served with fresh
dill. Their brunch offerings are the most modern part of the eclectic establishment with dishes like their Lemon
Ricotta pancakes and the Egg Pizzette, a personal pizza piled with scrambled egg, Mexican cheese, chile, smashed
avocado and salsa. The vintage décor and the enticingly decadent cuisine
accurately reflect the Beauty Shop’s slogan: “Look good. Eat good.”
CAFÉ ECLECTIC 603 N. McLean Blvd., Memphis 901.725.1718, cafeeclectic.net This bistro has strived to bring fresh, local ingredients to urbanites on the go. Big Eclectic, the Midtown location, has seen plenty of foot traffic since it opened its doors in 2008. Their culinary creations are made to
order, so there’s not a soggy egg in sight. Akin to European cafes, multiculturalism is a main focus. Spanish
and French omelets, Mediterranean yogurt, and Uncle
Andy’s Scottish Porridge reflect their flair for diversity.
It is also the only place in Memphis that serves illycaffè, a brand of coffee produced in Trieste, Italy and well-
known for its distinct, delicious flavor. But no worries, they could never forget their Southern roots; biscuits
and gravy, applewood smoked bacon and Delta Stone Ground grits have their place in the “rebel sides” section of the menu. For anyone on the go, their home-
made donuts, scones and muffins are the perfect way to fuel up before a manic Monday. They’ve even got a
“Wacky Kids Menu” with mini-breakfast plates perfect
for little hands, like their silver-dollar sized buckwheat pancakes. They have something for everyone, so make it a point to pop into this casual café for a morning meal and peace of mind.
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BLUE PLATE CAFÉ 5469 Poplar Ave., Memphis 901.761.9696 The Blue Plate Café echoes a time when breakfast was still the most important meal of the day and calories didn’t matter much. They offer a kitschy,
comfortable place to feast with friends and family. Their menus are printed
newspaper style—just another small
way the café reminds patrons of days
gone by. For those with a sweet tooth,
their pancakes and waffles are sure to
curb those cravings. They’re made from scratch and served with whipped butter and hot maple syrup, just the way
they’re supposed to be. For bigger ap-
petites, the country-fried steak with two eggs, biscuits and gravy, and a choice of grits, hash browns or three buttermilk pancakes, is one of the most Southern, satisfying meals available. If that still
isn’t enough to fill you up, there’s a long
list of extra sides, including hot oatmeal, thick country ham and crispy bacon.
While busy-as-ever Poplar Avenue is buzzing with activity, diners at Blue Plate Café know there’s still a place
where they can get take a break from
busy city life to enjoy a good breakfast.
TACO FELIX 390 E. Commerce St., Hernando 662.449.1800 Mexican may not be the first thing that leaps to mind in the morning but Taco Felix is ready to
change that. With every dish made to order, it’s
not hard to see why it’s a local favorite. They have traditional American dishes like hearty biscuits,
eggs and bacon, but their main attraction is their breakfast burritos, stuffed with meat, eggs and vegetables. Their portions are generous, so it
might take two people to tackle one of their om-
elets. With warm weather fast approaching, their outdoor seating is a great place to enjoy both a filling meal and a beautiful day.
HONEY BEE BAKERY 2305 Jackson Ave. W. #202, Oxford 662.236.2491, thehoneybeebakery.com “Nestled in a shopping center on the far west side
of Oxford lies one of the most comfortable brunch experiences in a town where breakfast and lunch
are almost an art form. For a great experience get
a French press full of coffee and enjoy their delectable take on the classic BLT sandwich, topped off with an avocado.”
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Blue Daze Bistro 221 E. Commerce St., Hernando, MS 662.469.9304, bluedazebistro.com This quaint little restaurant located in Hernando, MS, known to many as the “Little Blue House�, Blue Daze Bistro has much to
offer. Blue Daze bistro features an eclectic inspired menu with
popular brunch items that include French Toast Casserole and
a Steak and Egg Sandwich. All food is made in house with fresh ingredients daily. The restaurant hosts laid back dining on the
bistro side which has high top tables, a TV, and a view of the open kitchen as well as al fresco dining on the wrap around patio. Blue Daze is open for brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo by Tina Bailey 96 may 2013 | myclickmag.com
Photo by Tina Bailey
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HAPPY CAMPERS
by Abby Vanderford
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CLICK | features
T
HE WARM MONTHS ARE STEADILY APPROACHING and despite the encroaching onslaught of modern technology in the form of smartphones and social media, summer camp remains a popular American tradition. The sting of mosquito bites, the smell of s’mores and the chilly water of the local creek all play a role in building memorable stories and friendships that last a lifetime. This collection of camps offers nearly everything under the hot summer sun for little ones in need of entertainment and excitement, from performing arts and outdoor activities to computer programming and karate.
DeSoto Family Theatre Summer Camps 2013
Landers Center Theatre, 4560 Venture Dr., Southaven
DeSoto Family Theatre Summer Camp offers three sessions for children ages 5 and up to learn about theatre and the performing arts. Programs are separated by age groups to provide each camp with the best experience. Children ages 5 - 7 can learn about performing arts by attending “Broadway in the Making: Storybook Tales,” directed by Heather Hooten June 3-7th. Marissa Newton will direct children ages 7 - 12 in The Aristocats Kids, July 2226th. From July 8-19th, children ages 8 and up will have the chance to experience the exciting world of Broadway by performing in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr., directed by Judy DeFrehn. To register online, visit dftonline.org or call 662.280.6546.
Camp Lake Stephens
117 Camp Lake Stephens Dr., Oxford, MS
In operation for sixty years, Camp Lake Stephens offers an assortment of outdoor play as well as faith-based activities (the camp is owned by the United Methodist Church). Mini, adventure and day camps are offered, as well as camps for Junior and Senior High students, including a Senior High Weekend retreat. Summer sessions start start May 27th and run through July 27th with camps for those in elementary school all the way to senior high. Campers can enjoy many activities, including rafting, fly fishing, hiking, swimming, playing in the creek and a ropes course. Arts and crafts, working in the garden, campfires and group games are also offered, along with devotions and praise and worship time. The popular tree house camps are being offered this year, allowing older campers to experience the camp while staying in a tree house. The cabins each house seven campers and a counselor. All counselors are CPR/first-aid certified. A camp for mentally challenged adults (age 18 and over) is also offered. This group participates in hay rides, a carnival, arts and crafts, and more. To register online, visit camplakestephens.com or call 662.234.3350.
OPC Summer Day Camp
Oxford Activity Center, 400 Price St., Oxford, MS
The Oxford Park Commission Summer Day Camp is offering a lot of fun for kids ages 5 -13 years, with a jam-packed schedule, including trips every week. The camp, which starts June 3 and goes through August 2, is divided into two four-week-long sessions and provides after care for parents unable to pick their children up when the day’s session is over at 3:30 p.m.. The OPS Summer Day Camp Schedule includes sports and indoor activities, such as tabletop games and arts and crafts. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, campers will go swimming; on Tuesdays, they will take a trip to the movies; and on Thursdays, they will go on field trips to various locations. For more information, call 662.232.2380.
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CLICK | feature
Bits, Bytes and Bots
Various Locations in Memphis Area
Bits, Bytes and Bots is an exciting program that provides children ages 7 - 16 years with an opportunity to learn cutting-edge skills in technology. From June 3rd to July 22nd, week-long sessions are offered at different locations in the Memphis area as half-day programs. Campers will learn the basics of computer skills, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Session topics include video game creation, Lego robotics and stop-motion movie making. Scratch programming sessions are offered for older campers, as well. For more information, visit memphistn.bitsbytesandbots.com or contact locations for each session.
Art Stew
Trinity Methodist United Church, 1738 Galloway Ave., Memphis, TN
Operating for over fifteen years, director Whendy Merryman has excelled in creating a fun and exciting study of different art techniques using several types of artistic media. The camp, which runs from June 3 through July 22nd, is fast-paced and challenging, and includes “messy art” days. Children ages 6 - 13 years are grouped by age with staff to supervise and will complete 2 - 3 projects per day. In the past, the camp has experimented in artistic media such as oil pastels, wood sculptures, acrylic painting, pottery and printmaking. All materials, drinks and snacks are included in the cost of the program. Sessions last one week each. For more information, visit artstew.com/artcamp.htm or call 901.626.6730
Maple Grove Farm Enriching Farm Camp
Maple Grove Farm, 4961Windsong Park Dr., Collierville, TN
Starting May 20th, Maple Grove Farm will offer campers ages 4 - 9 a beautiful day camp experience filled with a variety of activities for children, including animal visits, pontoon boat rides, grooming horses, line dance lessons, Bible study, a climbing wall, a zipline and fishing. Situated on a 17-acre farm, campers are continually surprised as they rotate through daily events. For an additional cost, swimming lessons and horseback riding lessons are also provided. Campers can attend the camp all day or part-time as part of the “round up gang.” The camp runs through July 8th, for more information, visit maplegrovefarm. net/camp.htm or call 901.861.7422.
SPARK Day Camp
Hutchison School, 1740 Ridgeway Rd., Memphis
This all-girls school offers a range of exciting summer camp activities for girls ages 5 - 14. Each week of the 11-week session has a different theme with activities, games and projects for campers to enjoy. Themes include Muddy Math, Hogwarts at Hutchison, and Creative Writing and Bookmaking. The camp, which runs May 28 through August 9, is held on the school’s 52acre campus, which boasts a pool and lake. This camp is not just for girls—a boys’ camp for grades Junior-K through Fifth is also held at Hutchison School. In addition to the camp’s variety of fun activities, campers also will be able to sign up for classes available at the Hutchison Center for Excellence. For more information, visit hutchisonschool.org or call 901.507.2460
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CLICK | features
Victory Ranch
4330 Mecklinburg Dr., Bolivar, TN
Piano Discoveries at Ole Miss University of Mississippi Campus, Oxford, MS
This camp provides an exciting and wonderful opportunity for young musicians in grades 7 through 12 to develop their pianist skills. The camp runs June 9 - 15th whereby campers will stay on site in Ole Miss dormitories and enjoy private lessons with faculty members, as well as group lessons on topics such as sight reading, music computer technology, music theory and more. Campers will be separated into groups based on level of skill. One 30-minute lesson will be included in the camp and for an additional fee, students may arrange lessons with the teacher of their choice. Recitals will be held in the evening; recreational activities will also be on the schedule, including a double-decker bus tour of Oxford, movie night and pizza night. To be eligible, campers must be playing at or above an intermediate level of skill (to be judged by the student’s current piano teacher). Fees cover housing and meals (if campers are staying on site), recreational activities, concerts and a t-shirt. To register online, visit outreach. olemiss.edu/youth/piano/; Deadline is May 15th.
Victory Ranch, a nondenominational summer camp located in Bolivar, TN, offers kids an outdoor experience that includes just about any sport they can think of. Founded by a minister wife team, the camp strives to combine outdoor fun with Christian values during the summer season. Campers can participate in numerous sports activities, including paintball, dirt biking and basketball. The rural location allows campers to try their hand at other outdoor activities, including rock climbing and zip lining; the camp also has an impressive equestrian program. Victory Ranch prides itself on engaging kids’ physical, social and spiritual lives during the week-long summer sessions. There are eight sessions starting May 28 through July 20th. To register online, visit: victoryranch.org or call 731.659.2251.
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Children’s Museum of Memphis Discovery Camp 2525 Central Ave., Memphis, TN
This popular museum has put together a range of fascinating camps for little ones ages 3 - 10 this year. The one-week camps start June 18th and go through August 10th, with each week having a unique theme. Space campers will learn about the planets, black holes and space travel. Magic campers will learn the concepts of magic and many interesting magic tricks. The last week of camp is for preschool-aged children, who will begin to learn the ropes of attending grade school. Several other camps are available this summer, as well. To register, call 901.458.2678, Ext. 221.
Kudzu Playhouse Summer Camp
Hernando Performing Arts Center 805 Dilworth Ln., Hernando
Starting June 17th, Kudzu Playhouse will offer theatre camps for ages 6 years and older. Camp One: Theatre Is Fun! runs June 17 - 21 for ages 6 - 9 years and will allow children to work towards a shortened version of Disney’s Mulan. Campers will learn blocking, choreography and music in this fast-paced camp where everyone participates. Camp 2: Arts Enrichment! Camp is for ages 9 years and up and will be held June 17 - 21 and again on June 24 - 28th. The camp will send participants back to ancient China with an action-packed stage adaptation of Disney’s Mulan. Visit kudzuplayers.com for more information.
SBEC Educational and Sports Camps
7400 Getwell Rd., Southaven, MS
SBEC offers a variety of camps, athletic clinics and workshops for students from Pre-Kindergarten through the 8th grade this summer. Children attending SBEC Summer Kidz Klinics & Workshops can participate in programs like Kitchen Fun, American Girl camp, Drama or Math Refresher. For students interested in sports, SBEC offers volleyball, basketball and football camps. Registration fees and deadlines vary. Visit sbectrojans.com for a complete list of camp dates and registration information.
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Camp of the Rising Son 444 Lake Rd., French Camp, MS
Camp of the Rising Son is a Christian faith-based camp offering six different camps for children and adolescents, ages 6 - 17, including a day camp, horse camp and an overnight summer camp. Campers will have the opportunity to participate in activities like campouts, swimming, singing and performing skits, as well as a rafting adventure trip and horseback riding for older campers. Campers can choose among a variety of activities with a number of camps offered between June 9 and July 20th. A complete list of camp dates can be found at campoftherisingson.com or by calling 662.547.6169.
Memphis Humane Society Summer Camp 935 Farm Rd., Memphis, TN
Memphis Humane Society’s Summer Camp offers a wonderful opportunity for kids ages 7 - 12 years to learn the basics of pet ownership and animal care. Campers will have a great deal of hands-on time with the dogs and cats, learning how to properly handle the animals. They will learn about dog bite prevention, owner responsibility and companion animal care. Campers will also learn about volunteering and how crucial that is for an animal shelter’s operation. Campers will receive a t-shirt and a daily snack while at camp. Two sessions, June 10 - 14 and July 15 - 19 are available this summer. For more information, call 901.937.3913
Memphis Botanic Garden
Memphis Botanic Garden offers a variety of experiences for preschoolers and older children, as well as events and programs for the whole family to join in together. On June 3 - 7, tweens and teens have the opportunity to get grooving and hooping in the Garden at the new Hoop Camp. Campers will go beyond waist-hooping by learning new moves and how to integrate the hula hoop into nature, science, gardening and nutrition. Campers will also make beautiful take-home projects including his/ her personal hula hoop. Call 901.636.4119 to register. A variety of crafts and exploration are available for those who are younger, as well. Nature camps held in My Big Backyard, a Nature Explore® Certified Classroom, are available from June 3rd to July 19th and offer an opportunity for kids in age groups 4 - 12 to connect with nature. These week-long day camps include themes ranging from “Things with Wings” and “Time Travelers” to “EcoAdventure” and “Nature Detectives.” Whether you’re looking for a kids’ summer camp or an after-hours campfire party, you’ll find plenty of fun ways for your family to learn and play at the Garden. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com/camps for a complete list of dates.
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CLICK | recipe
S U B M I TTO
YOURs@RmEycClicIPkmESag.com re ci pe
The Dish
Tried-and-true recipes from fellow readers.
SALTED CARAMEL BARS Ingredients for Dough 4 sticks salted Butter 1 cup white Sugar 1 ½ cups confectioners’ Sugar 2 tablespoons vanilla 4 cups all-purpose Flour Ingredients for Filling 114 oz. bag Caramel candies, unwrapped. 1/3 cup heavy whipping Cream ½ teaspoon Vanilla Directions: 1. In a large bowl, combine butter (at room temperature), white sugar, and confectioners’ sugar. Using a hand-held mixer on medium speed, beat together until creamy.
2. Add vanilla and beat until combined. 3. Gradually add flour to the butter mixture. Beat on low speed until a smooth, soft dough forms. 4. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. 5. Press one half of the dough evenly into the prepared pan to form a bottom crust, and place the remaining dough in the refrigerator. 6. Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are pale golden brown (about 20 minutes). Let cool for 15 minutes. 7. While the crust is cooling, make the caramel filling. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine one caramel candies (unwrapped), heavy whipping cream, and vanilla.
8. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and stir until smooth. If the caramels are not completely melted, microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth. 9. Pour the caramel filling over the crust. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt over the top. 10. Remove the remaining dough from the refrigerator and crumble it evenly over the caramel layer. 11. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is bubbly and the crumbled shortbread topping is firm and lightly golden (about 25-30 minutes). Let cool before cutting into squares. Note: After your first bite, you will likely forget about all of that butter. I did! Recipe courtesy of Dana Hall, Southaven
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CLICK | on the money
On the Money Get Smart Quickly About Your Money So, you’re no Warren Buffett. But even the average Joe – and Jane – can develop the know-how to make smart, informed financial decisions. Here’s how. by NANETTE WISER
H
ow can you safeguard and grow your family’s
make informed and effective decisions. Books, newspaper
financial health? Everyone worries about money
articles, online resources, magazines and workshops can help
regardless of his or her net worth. Here’s the
you and your children prepare for the future. According to the
secret: Knowledge is power.
Council for Economic Education, many schools and colleges
A smart fiscal roadmap begins with understanding your
now include personal finance education programs in their
finances, terms and options. Unfortunately, Americans trail
curriculum. By doing this, you can avoid the old adage and
behind Brazil, Mexico and Australia in financial literacy,
pitfall: “A fool and his money are soon parted.” “Most local
according to the 2012 Global Financial Barometer. However,
vocational high schools and community colleges offer a
it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Find a financial advisor
personal finance course where you can learn how to establish
or mentor to recommend useful news you can use. Join an
a personal budget and gain an understanding of different
investment or financial book club. Sharing financial wisdom,
investments,” says William Mahnic, associate professor of
especially how others survived hardships, can help you make
banking and finance at Case Western Reserve University in
good decisions. Start reading your local paper, Wall Street
Cleveland. That’s “a lot of bang for your buck,” he adds.
Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Smart Money, Worth, Fortune, Working Woman and Business Week, and start watching CNBC. Learning to understand money and investments helps you 108 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
Ask yourself how financially literate you—or your children— are. Do you know how to craft a budget and stick to it? Do you understand the basics of credit and debt? Are you saving
enough for retirement or for your child’s
earnings. Plan for your tax bracket
college education? When filling out your
bite and review the benefit of pre-
tax return, are you taking advantage of
tax direct paycheck withdrawals to a
every deduction you deserve? Do you
401(k), perhaps one with an employee-
know how to protect your portfolio
matched contribution.
from volatility in the markets?
Teach your children well. Get them
Make it your business to understand
involved early in saving for things
the basics of banking services, credit
they want and earning money through
terms, checking accounts, how to track
chores and small jobs, like raking leaves
your money, how to rebuild credit,
for neighbors and selling cookies. Help
how to keep your identity profile safe,
them create a budget based on their
and even the pros and cons of home
annual allowance. Take your child on
ownership vs. renting. If you’re looking
shopping trips and discuss what makes
to invest, it’s important to understand
things too expensive or visit your bank
the stock market, mutual funds, bonds
so they can learn to prepare deposits or
and other investment terms. Know
balance checkbooks, and even start a
the wealth words (trade confirmation,
savings account.
proxy) and read the annual report of companies before you buy the stock.
The
challenge
is
to
create
a
generation of smart savers and savvy
Financial advisors come in all shape
investors. There’s even a Financial
and sizes. Do you need a tax preparer,
Literacy and Education Commission
stockbroker, a CFC, CFP, LUTCF or
working
FC? Just because they have initials, it
Education to develop financial literacy
doesn’t mean they should plan your
modules for school. Call the toll-free
investments. Research the advisor, get
hotline (888-MYMONEY) to order a
references, check their credentials and
package of information.
with
the
Department
of
always make sure they empower you with knowledge to make good decisions.
learn to comparison shop—from banks to credit cards. Read the fine print on all disclosure documents from your bank, your credit card and your investment group. Understanding the important details about interest rates, late fees and how much cash advances cost helps you avoid unforeseen charges and determine if your financial institution is right for you. Set up a budget and learn to track your
spending,
either
with
paper
and ink or software such as Quicken, Microsoft Money or Mint.com. Make files for bills and financial records. Get a handle on how many accounts you have, how much money is in each and what rate of interest you are earning. It doesn’t pay to have cash sitting there, earning nothing. Learn the basics, such as living within your means and preparing for retirement. Develop good habits, such
as
consistently
saving,
and
putting aside 10 to 20 percent of your
what’s my
financial documents and resources and
RETURN?
Check and double check all of your
THE ANNUAL RETURNS ON VARIOUS TYPES OF INVESTMENTS FROM 1926 THROUGH 2011:
%
11.9 9.8 5.7 3.6
Small company stocks Large company stocks Government bonds Treasury bills
Source: Ibbotson Associates
myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 109
Live Well
Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy Skin Good skin care and expert tips to delay the natural aging process by JESSICA COX, DDS
nyone who is health conscious and wants to look their best desires healthy-looking and youthful skin and the face is the best place to start. Not too long ago, having a facelift was the only option to reverse aging, but today, there are many options to keep women and even men looking younger longer. A healthy lifestyle is key to having healthy skin. Common practices such as watching what you eat, exercising,
A
avoiding overexposure to sunlight, not smoking and maintaining a daily skin regimen of cleansing and defoliation are all things which lead to a good complexion. While genetics and father time cannot be helped, there are some factors affecting the aging process which can be stopped. Two of these factors with the most long-term effect on the skin are sun exposure and smoking. While a little sun is good for the complexion, too much has disastrous results. Overexposure leads to early lines, wrinkles, dark spots and even certain skin cancers. Smoking
After a healthy lifestyle, there are a number of solutions to fighting the effects of aging. Today, a number of home skin care products and nonsurgical procedures are available to prevent and correct lines, wrinkles and age spots on the face. LINES
DARK SPOTS
Botox injections can be performed in the office to block the lines formed from muscle contractions between the eyes (frown lines), on the forehead and around the outside of the eyes (crow’s feet). The effects of Botox are usually seen in about three to four days and last about three to four months.
Exfoliative procedures such as dermabrasions and chemical peels can be done in the office or at the spa to help get rid of fine lines and give the skin a healthier glow. More problematic lines and dark spots can be treated with various laser treatment options. Newer treatments, like laser 360, which can reduce dark spots, tighten skin, and resurface skin for a more even tone and texture, have a short recovery time of only 1-2 days instead of a week. Great results can usually be seen with the first treatment but optimal results are achieved with a series of three treatments spaced over about three months.
WRINKLES Products called fillers such as Juvederm and Juvederm Ultra Plus can also be injected in the office to fill in lines on the lower face around the mouth and the chin and between the mouth and the nose (nasolabial lines). These fillers can also be injected into the cheeks or the lips to give them a fuller look.
110 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com
is also a major contributor to lines and wrinkles. This is due to the lack of blood flow to the capillaries. Genes and the traditional effects of time are major factors in how one ages; however, by avoiding overexposure to the sun and choosing a smoke-free lifestyle, one can avoid premature skin problems. Before considering Botox injections, filler products, dermabrasions, chemical peels and laser treatments on the face, a complete skin care regimen should be the first line of defense. They not only help rejuvenate the skin cells, tighten the connective tissue and get rid of dark spots, they also prevent the damage from the sun and time before it happens in the first place. Using a complete skin care product with prescriptionstrength ingredients retinoic acid and hydroquinone is essential to reversing the effects of skin aging. Prescription skin care products such as Obagi are well worth the money, since used over time, they can make the skin look years younger and lessen the need for more expensive procedures and products in the future. Today, there are several nonsurgical options and products available to help minimize and correct the damage of the sun and time; however, there’s really no replacement for a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Foster has been a board certified surgeon for over 25 years and is credited with launching the first med spa in DeSoto County. For a consultation, visit DeSoto Laser Aesthetics at 5036 Goodman Rd., Ste. 116 in Olive Branch or give him a call at 662.420.7580.
myclickmag.com | MAY 2013 111
CLICK | see & do
SEE DO One Thing Not to Miss This Month
Mingle
S D
Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest The world-famous Memphis In May Barbecue Festival will be celebrating its 36th year May 16-18 at Tom Lee Park. Attendees can expect great beer, the hilarious Miss Piggie Idol contest and, of course, some of the best barbecue in the world. This festival has even been featured on TravelChannel.com. Don't miss out on this tasty Memphis tradition.
112 MAY 2013 | myclickmag.com