ABOUT | March 2020

PEAK LEADERSHIP

March 2020 • www.aboutrvmag.com

Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley

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LESS FILLING

RUSSELLVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 2020-2021

Children should be registered in the attendance zone in which they currently live.

Registration for Crawford, Dwight, & Sequoyah Elementary will be Monday, April 13, 2020.

Registration for Center Valley, London, & Oakland Heights Elementary will be Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

Please bring the following information with you to registration:

Russellville School District will hold kindergarten registration on April 13 & 14, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

For more information regarding the registration process, please contact Karie Turney, Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning Curriculum and Instruction, at (479) 968-5216 or karie.turney@rsdk12.net

Child’s Birth Certificate Immunization Record Current Physical Examination Record Social Security Card ARKids First/ Medicaid card- if applicable Guardianship paperwork- if applicable

220 West 10th Street ■ Russellville, AR. 72801 ■ 479.968.1306 ■ www.russellvilleschools.net

March 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Peak Leadership Looming like a sentinel over the Arkansas River, Petit Jean Mountain’s broad plateau offers fantastic vistas, intriguing folklore, a state park, and is also home to the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. Executive Director Dr. Marta Loyd has led the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute since 2014, finding ways to utilize the organization in making significant improvements around the state.

A starter kit of concern Stand up. Stand out.

Kids and teenagers usually look forward to school assemblies because they get out of class for an hour. It’s a stretch of time when they don’t have to focus on anything.

But assemblies for Way Beyond Measure, a nonprofit ran by Coach David Verdu and his wife Ranaye based in the heart of Russellville, are different.

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The River Valley Citizen Tastes great and less filling With spring peeking around the corner, thoughts often turn to shedding the winter pounds we probably starting packing on around Halloween. It’s not just our vanity pushing us toward a lifestyle change. It’s concern for our health as well.

A garden in every yard

FEATURED MERCHANT Peters Family Living |

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10 things ABOUT...

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ABOUT THIS MONTH’S COVER Dr. Marta Loyd enjoys one of the rare sunny days that the River Valley has experienced lately. Behind her, the signature silos of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute are the remaining reminders of the original farm that the namesake governor owned and operated atop Petit Jean Mountain.

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MARCH 2020

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EDITOR’S LETTER

A needed change We didn’t plan it, but as story ideas for 2020 coalesced into a general vision for our eleven issues, an unofficial theme emerged: ABOUT 2020 would be the year of the influential woman.

We’re kicking off that unofficial theme this month with a profile on Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Executive Director Dr. Marta Loyd. Through the year, more women in leadership roles will be featured on our cover and in our pages.

Like I mentioned earlier, we did not plan this. And I’ve debated, both with ABOUT staff and with myself, about the need to say out loud that this is what we’re doing. It’s not like influential women need our recognition for validation. And it’s not like influential women haven’t been shaping our world and individual lives since the dawn of history… and even in prehistory, I’m sure, we just don’t have records of it.

But the bitter truth is that, despite the demonstrated power of capable women through the ages, there has been a distinct lack of acknowledgment. This lack of acknowledgment is actually most glaring when we shift our gaze from the most visible accomplishments and instead focus on disparities found among the more mundane.

For example, here in 2020, decades beyond the Women’s Movement, a gender pay gap still exists with women earning (on average) 79 cents for every dollar earned by a man.

To be clear, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Sally makes 79 cents to Bob’s dollar while they work side by side with the same level of experience. What it really means is that barriers have been and still are in place that prevent more women from higher-paying opportunities. The gender pay gap is really a gender opportunity gap.

As a man whose life has been, and continues to be, shaped and enhanced by intelligent, commanding women, I find this state of affairs both appalling and ludicrous. From my Granny, perhaps one of the strongest people I’ve ever known; to my granddaughter, whose razor-sharp mind is already a force to be reckoned with to my wife, without whom I would be utterly lost; to Liz Chrisman, whose courage and wisdom have buoyed my spirit countless times; to my daughters, who endlessly impress me with their incredible insight — when I consider the women in my life, I find myself in a continuous state of awe.

Influential women are a fixture in my day to day existence, and it sure doesn’t require the declaration of a theme to substantiate this truth. But needed change will happen only after we acknowledge the need for change.

Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley since 2006 A Publication of One14 Productions, Inc Vol. XV, Issue 2 – March 2020

DIANNE EDWARDS | founding editor JOHNNY CARROL SAIN | managing editor johnny@aboutrvmag.com LIZ CHRISMAN | photography editor lizchrismanphoto@gmail.com BENITA DREW | advertising benita@aboutrvmag.com MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS | freelance meredith@aboutrvmag.com JILL MCSHEEHY | freelance jill@aboutrvmag.com SARAH CLOWER | freelance sarah@aboutrvmag.com LYDIA ZIMMERMAN | columnist lydia@aboutrvmag.com CHRIS ZIMMERMAN | layout/design chris@aboutrvmag.com CLIFF THOMAS | illustrator maddsigntist@aboutrvmag.com

ABOUT… the River Valley is locally owned

and published for distribution by direct mail and targeted delivery to those interested in the Arkansas River Valley.

Material contained in this issue may not be copied or reproduced without written consent.

Inquiries may be made by calling (479) 219-5031.

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

March 2020 1st

— Collegiate Competition Gallery Reception at the River Valley Arts Center from 1-3 p.m. For more information contact 968-2452.

6th

— Downtown Art Walk in historic downtown Russellville from 6-9 p.m. For more information contact 967-1437.

7th

— Archeology Day at Petit Jean State Park. Spend a day finding out about the archeological treasures of Petit Jean Mountain including the genuine American Indian pictographs of Rock House Cave.

Admission is free. Contact the park for a schedule at 501-727-5441.

10th — Vet to Vet Café at the Arkansas

Hospice Outreach Building meets the second Tuesday of each month. Vet to Vet Café is honoring veterans and providing a space and opportunity for fellowship and sharing experiences of their service. For more information call Rhonda at 264-3109

13th — O.W.L.S. — Nature Journaling at Lake Dardanelle State Park from 6- 9 p.m.

O.W.L.S. (Outdoor Women Learning Skills) is a program series designed to give ladies the opportunity to explore the available recreation at Lake Dardanelle and the surrounding areas, by learning skills and knowledge that they need to enjoy nature. The series will run from 6-9 p.m. one evening a month

Find up-to-date information and future events @

www.aboutrvmag.com/events

for 6 months. Registration is $30 per night.

For more information contact 967-5516.

14th — 2020 Bash at the Ballpark. The 7th

annual event will bring music, food, prizes and other activities in conjunction with the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys’ baseball game at Baswell Field against the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm. Festivities will begin at 11 a.m. and last until 1 p.m. First pitch for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Admission to both Bash at the Ballpark and the game will be free and open to the public. For more information or sponsorships for this event, please call the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce at 968-2530.

19th-21st - The Whirlwind Theatre presents Frozen Jr, based on the 2018 Broadway musical bringing Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life onstage. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film and starts at 7 p.m. For more information contact 498-6600.

24th

— Forget Me Nots Alzheimer’s Support Group at Brookdale Senior Living in Russellville meets the fourth Tuesday of each month. The Forget Me Nots is a welcoming support group offered at no charge to people caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. For more information call Rhonda at 264-3109.

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22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 *Unless otherwise indicated, all area codes are 479. To have your event included in the ABOUT Calendar of Events, email: editor@aboutrvmag.com or fax to (479) 219-5031. Deadline is the 10th of the month preceding publication.

28th — Wagon Road Wander at Mt Magazine State Park from 9 - 11 a.m. Meet at Will Apple’s Road Trailhead near the Visitor Center. Spring begins to show itself with the slightest drop in elevation. Search for butterflies, birds, and flowers along a 150-year-old wagon road. Examine evidence of bygone days of mountaintop settlement. For more information contact 963-8502.

29th — The Center for the Arts will host Dallas Brass in Concert. Theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information contact 498-6600.

MARCH 2020

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ABOUT the the RIVER RIVER VALLEY VALLEY ~ ~ ABOUT

MARCH 2020 2020 MARCH

Looming like a sentinel over the Arkansas River, Petit Jean Mountain’s broad plateau offers fantastic vistas, intriguing folklore, a state park, and is also home to the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.

Executive Director Dr. Marta Loyd has led the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute since 2014, finding ways to utilize the organization in making significant improvements around the state.

Story by KENZIE SAIN | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN and provided by WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE

MARCH 2020 2020 MARCH

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MARTA’S ORIGINAL CAREER PLANS WERE MUCH DIFFERENT from what she is doing today.

She graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Marta spent 15 years in that field before her ambitions led her in a new direction. “I just wasn’t fulfilled. I felt like I had something else to offer,” she says.

While working as a program coordinator at then Westark College (now University of Arkansas Fort Smith), Marta had the opportunity to help with the founding of the dental hygiene program at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS). Her pivotal role in that project led to an employment opportunity at UAFS in the university advancement offices.

Accepting a position at UAFS allowed her to help with the growth of the university. She was part of the team that transitioned the school from a community college to the four-year university that it is today.

That same year, Marta became the vice-chancellor of university advancement. As vice-chancellor, she was responsible for fundraising and marketing, a job that honed her networking skills. “During my time there, I had the opportunity to work with a lot of generous people and leaders in the community,” she says. Her efforts raised the endowment from $20 million to $80 million. Marta also helped to create the university’s alumni association. “They did not have an alumni association when I came to work there, they’d never had one as a community college,” Marta says. “So I led the effort to start one.”

Even after her professional successes at UAFS, Marta felt she could push toward loftier goals. “I was at a place in my career where I felt like I wanted to do one more thing,” she says. While seeking new challenges, it was suggested that she pursue the chancellor position at a university. But Marta wasn’t sure it would be a good fit. She was looking for something that was a better complement to her skill set.

Marta had driven up Petit Jean Mountain and visited the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on business trips. “I loved coming to the mountain and the idea that up here you can kind of leave the world behind and face the task at hand,” Marta says. She describes it as an ideal environment to build productive relationships and accomplish significant work. When her husband told her that the executive director position was open, Marta knew that she needed to apply.

“All of the experiences that I’ve had and the oppor10

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tunity in leadership at the university had prepared me for this,” she Mark Jansen. Dr. Jansen wanted to address the lack of medical says. By this point, Marta had earned her doctorate in educational care available in some parts of the state. “New physicians are not leadership. That, along with her networking and organizational moving to the rural communities and physicians currently living skills, made her a prime candidate. in rural communities are retiring,” Marta says. Six counties in Ar The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute’s official mission statement kansas do not have a doctor. is: “We continue Winthrop Rockefeller’s collaborative approach The Institute ’s approach to this issue was to unite organizations to creating transformational change.” Winthrop Rockefeller came such as the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Hospital Asto Arkansas with the intent of making a valuable impact on the sociation, Delta Dental, and several more that were already workrural areas of the state. Since her hiring, Maring in the area of rural health. The Institute or“I’ve always looked at ganized a summit for the organizations where ta has become a student of the late Arkansas governor and namesake of the Institute. “He hardships and try to find agreement on primary goals and specific steps really appreciated working alongside the needed to attain those goals was reached. a way to grow from them common man,” Marta explains. “He appreMore than 60 participants attended the first ciated and understood the value of his famor find a way to become summit. “We like to bring diverse viewpoints ily name and he loved Arkansas because he together,” Marta says. “So with all these peostronger,” was able to bring his name, his wealth, and ple that were working in rural health, some his collaborative problem solving skills to a place where he felt of them could have been working together but didn’t realize they like he could really make a difference.” The focus of the Institute had common goals until they convened at the summit.” After three is to solve the problems impacting Arkansas using Winthrop’s in- years of work, the coalition received a federal grant of $100,000 clusive approach. “He always believed that you couldn’t solve a from Health Resources and Service Administration grant to form problem unless all voices were at the table,” Marta says. an organization solely focused on rural health in Arkansas. “What One big issue that the Institute has taken on is the rural health they’ve recognized is that there should be someone that wakes up crisis across the state. Three years ago, Marta was approached every day thinking about rural health and the challenges and the by the Chair of Regional Programs at UAMS at the time, Dr. opportunities,” Marta says. >> MARCH 2020

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Dr. Marta Loyd’s leadership abilities have been recognized by two Arkansas media outlets in 2020.

Dr. Loyd is part of the inaugural class of Arkansas Money and Politics Top Influencers. She joins a diverse group of people whose work betters our state.

Another project of the Institute is called Beyond Civility. This program brings in high school students from Arkansas communities to discuss the importance of respectful dialogue. The values of Winthrop Rockefeller himself are used to teach students how to have conversations with people who share a different opinion.

“We teach them that it’s okay to disagree. And we teach them how to respect how the other person’s viewpoints are formed and why they feel the way they do,” Marta says. The program has been extremely popular.

Of course, there are challenges in Marta’s line of work. The biggest of which is deciding what problems to tackle. “There’s

Dr. Loyd is also a finalist for Nonprofit Executive of the Year from Arkansas Business magazine, with winners of this category and others announced March 11.

no shortage of issues that come our way that people feel we could be instrumental in helping with,” Marta says. The Institute uses a rubric to determine what projects they will act on.

They question the issue’s importance and to what capacity they can help. “I tend to push too hard and too fast, so that’s one of the things I’m working on now is trying to be realistic about what’s possible,” Marta says. She is also focused on recruiting and retaining employees who have a passion for the work. She needs dedicated people who truly want to make a difference… and who are willing to make the drive up Petit Jean Mountain every day.

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One of the most captivating things about Marta is her optimism. “I’ve always looked at hardships and try to find a way to grow from them or find a way to become stronger,” she says. In 2008 Marta was in a head-on collision with an eighteen-wheeler. Her car was completely totaled, but Marta walked away unscratched. It was a miracle. “I think that experience was probably the one defining moment where I stepped back and reexamined my life and really evaluated what I was doing,” she says. “I remember that and use it to give me strength and move forward because I believe there is a reason I’m still here.”

Marta also shared one of her children’s struggles that impacted her as well. Her youngest son Bryan was born with bilateral club feet, and at the time, the ultrasound equipment was not able to detect it before birth. Bryan went through a series of surgeries and fully recovered but had another setback at age six when he lacerated his cornea. Bryan recovered from both challenges, but having an injured child definitely takes a toll on a mother. “He made a deliberate choice, even as a child to not give in to those challenges, but to be a leader. I learned a lot from him,” she says.

Marta says that her success can be directly credited to her people skills. “I’m really a peacemaker and a problem solver by nature,” she explains. “I am good at bringing people together around a table, talking through things, and helping people solve their

own problems.” Marta’s success has earned respect for her work across the state. “Because of the network that I’ve built and the organizations that I’ve been able to be a part of, I have built up some trust through the years,” she says.

The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute is flourishing under the direction of Marta, and their work will impact our state for years to come. “I’ve just always had this pull to make a difference, to be a part of something that will outlive me,” Marta says. She has most definitely found her niche in helping make Arkansas a better place. l

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EVE RY DAY L I F E

A starter kit of concern Story by SARAH CLOWER | Illustration by CLIFF THOMAS

ANY WORKING MOM CAN RELATE to having to bring their child(ren) to their workplace from time to time, and the dilemmas that can occur once they are there. I’ve been a hairdresser longer than my son has been alive, so he has basically grown up in my hair salon. Raff is now old enough to entertain himself pretty well, but it was much more difficult when he was younger. I’ve dealt with tantrums and meltdowns over everything from not being able to cut my client’s hair himself (when he was about three) to him getting into some nail polish and giving the salon bathroom a fresh paint job.

Life with Raff is never boring, to say the least.

One day last week, I had to go back to the salon after I picked Raff up from school for one last appointment. When we got to the salon, he was excited to see that I had received a few Amazon deliveries.

He offered to open them for me, making swift work of freeing my orders from their boxes. Then he announced that he wanted to make a “hut” out of the empty boxes. I was just pleased he was keeping himself busy.

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Over the next hour, Raff occupied himself with cutting the boxes into different shapes so that the four of them fit together quite nicely. I was genuinely impressed with his craftsmanship.

He worked continuously on his hut until I finished my work at the salon for the day.

“Mom, do you have any duct tape?” he asked.

“No, I don’t have any here,” I said, as I looked out the window and noticed that it was raining quite heavily.

“Can we stop on the way home and pick up some supplies for my hut?” he asked.

“Well, do you have any of your own money left?”

“Yes, I do. I think I have $20 in my wallet.”

“Then, yes, we can go by Dollar General, and you can go in by yourself. It’s freezing outside and now it’s pouring, and I don’t want to get out of the car.”

“Deal,” Raff replied.

Raff gathered his boxes and slung his backpack over his shoulder, then made a run towards my vehicle. I switched off the lights and locked up the salon and did the same. By the time I got into my SUV, I was completely drenched.

“Are you sure you still want to go by the store? It’s raining cats and dogs out there,” I said as I grabbed some spare napkins out of my center console and tried my best to dry myself off.

“Yes I’m sure! I really want to build a hut!” Raff responded defensively.

I rolled my eyes, but still drove in the direction of the closest Dollar General.

When we got to the store, I pulled into the parking space directly facing the front doors. I rummaged in my purse to find Raff’s wallet (I always keep it in my purse so that it doesn’t wind up misplaced) and checked to make sure he did indeed have money in it before handing it to him.

“You have $18 in here, spend it wisely,” I lectured to Raff as

he opened his car door and made a beeline for the front doors of Dollar General.

After about five minutes, I saw the store’s front door swing open and Raff ran back to the vehicle through the rain that was hammering down mercilessly.

“Oh my gosh, I’m soaked!” he exclaimed as he slammed the door closed.

I handed him some more napkins from the console to dry off with.

“Did you get what you needed for your hut?” I asked, as I put the car into reverse.

“Yes, I did. That woman in there asked me if someone was making me buy this stuff,” Raff said, motioning to his yellow plastic DG bag.

“What woman?” I asked him.

“The cashier in Dollar General. But I told her no, that I wanted to buy this stuff for myself because I have some cardboard boxes that I want to make into a hut so I can sleep in it tonight.” he stated.

I glanced over at him while I was waiting for traffic to ease up so I could pull out of the parking lot.

“Hand me your bag,” I said.

Raff obeyed. I glanced inside and was quite shocked to see that he had purchased a box cutter, some thin white rope, and a huge roll of black duct tape.

I groaned with embarrassment and looked into my rear view mirror, making sure the DG cashier wasn’t writing down my license plate number. I just knew that she either thought Raff was part of some nefarious kidnapping plot or that he was a poor, neglected, homeless child. Probably both!

“Raff, next time you want to make a hut, please don’t tell people you’re going to sleep in it. Or if you do, please make sure they know you’re going to sleep in your hut INSIDE your bedroom!” l

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MARCH 2020

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STAND UP STAND OUT Kids and teenagers usually look forward to school assemblies because they get out of class for an hour.

It’s a stretch of time when they don’t have to focus on anything. But assemblies for Way Beyond Measure, a nonprofit ran by Coach David Verdu and his wife Ranaye based in the heart of Russellville, are different.

David generates a buzz.

Story by ALEXA KNOX | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN and provided by David Verdu

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RANAYE SAYS THAT ONE KEY TO THE PROGRAM’S SUCCESS IS THAT DAVID HAS A SPECIAL BOND WITH KIDS. “In between programs he talks to them, has lunch with them,” Ranaye says. “He plays on the playground. He makes connections with them in a way where he can inspire, lift up, and encourage them, not just with themselves but also with other people.” It’s a rare gift, and it’s amplified by the Verdu’s dedication.

“We never push things underneath the rug,” David says. “We take everything very seriously. We stick with them and never bail on them to ensure that they’re on the path to better themselves.”

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon I sat in the Verdu’s cozy kitchen, their hearts and hopes spread out on the table in front of me. We had an easy banter (and I got to pet their cats) before getting down to business.

Coach David and Ranaye are an animated and loving couple who spread positive, character developing messages to help stop the spread of bullying in schools. They’ve reached students from California to 18

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Pennsylvania and many other schools in-between. During our conversation, it was easy to see that David is a natural at captivating his audiences. “We teach them and show them how to be of good character.” David says. “I want them to understand who they are and what they can be.”

The inspiration for Way Beyond Measure can be traced back to Ranaye who noticed that bullying seemed to have become more widespread and aggressive than when she was in school. The Verdus experienced it firsthand with their children as well as the kids they foster — children who were different from what was determined normal at the school. “[The schools] didn’t know what to do with it either,” Ranaye says.

“Teachers don’t have the time to individually help everyone, and they don’t know what to do. And so we try to give them answers and the tools to help them with that.”

David’s and Ranaye’s tools include character building programs, after school programs, summer programs, teacher programs, teacher training

“Teachers don’t have the time to individually help everyone, and they don’t know what to do. And so we try to give them answers and the tools to help them with that.” and much more. The Verdus are committed to helping communities, schools and individuals alike. They even have educational videos on their interactive website with a text and chat number to contact if immediate help and guidance is needed.

David’s work within the schools sometimes involves recruiting students to change other’s lives. In one instance, the teachers told David and Ranaye that a little girl had no friends, so the Verdus recruited other girls to make her day better. The teacher wrote them the next day: “You changed this girl’s life. She smiled all day and had friends for the first time, and it was life changing.”

The Verdus also ask teachers at many other schools to have teens help them unload for the Way Beyond Measure presentation and then David and Ranaye eat lunch with the students. This helps young people see that they can easily get help and develops a bond that fosters trust between the kids and David.

For elementary classes, the Verdus have Super Character Dude. “He’s there to squish all the rumors and the echoes in the hall,” Ranaye says. The kids do a Super Character Dude Pledge and sign a banner that stands as a reminder of their promise to “stand up and stand out for myself, my school, and my community.” >> MARCH 2020

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The banners also serve as a reminder that Coach David and Ranaye will return. “If possible, as soon as we can,” Ranaye says.

“We come back to them.”

The high school program is a little more heart wrenching with a few more tears, as the program really gets to the core of bullying and the effects it can have on others. “We have stories from every place and kids coming up with things that have happened,” Ranaye says. This openness points to the connection David has with the kids, that they’re comfortable enough to talk about darker things that have happened to them. The Verdu’s offer the comfort that children need to make that last push for help before the worst happens, ensuring that the children don’t feel left behind or forgotten. They make special connections with the kids and remember them when they see them again. Trust built during these

thoughtful interactions leads to solutions.

Dissolving old misconceptions is one of those solutions The stigma attached to seeing a counselor is something the organization is fighting against. Shedding this stigma is important because the alternative is terrible. Children who are deeply hurt emotionally, and unequipped to deal with the pain, are often children who hurt themselves or even end themselves. Ranaye says that professional help is the best possible way to avoid these tragedies. Helping young people uncover their repressed feelings is the first step on the road to their recovery. It’s not tattling if it’s saving their lives.

The Verdus have ideas for expansion within Way Beyond Measure, some of them not too far in the future and already in the works. Right now, they’re working on recruitment of young

Dr. Rolando Cheng

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Call now to schedule your appointment with Dr. Cheng.

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adults to train in Way Beyond Measure’s programs. Having multiple teams means they can travel to many places almost at the same time across the country.

It all boils down to simply providing children with the tools to stand up for their friends and for themselves. It’s also a program designed to inspire young people, to encourage kids to strive to be who they want to be. Stand up and stand out— it’s a message for everyone and every day. David did a radio show about the program during the holidays and was asked what people could do for others during that time, specifically. “It’s not just that time,” David says. “People talk about making sure you get out and say Happy Holidays, but what about January 17? What about February 4?”

“I don’t think our goals will ever be achieved until I know that

Best wishes to all the newly engaged couples throughout the River Valley.

Contact us today for your bridal registry needs!

Mike & Margie Smith, Owners

all the schools are safe,” David says, “until people’s lives, hearts, minds and attitudes have changed for the positive.” The Verdus are pleased with how far they’ve come ,though. They’ve never given up, and tell everyone they see the same thing: Don’t give up. Strive for your dreams and for what you believe in. It’s a message of love and self-development.

And the message is spread with hope and enthusiasm. As a nonprofit organization with plans to grow, donations are always appreciated. Funds are used to further the knowledge of students and communities to help whether it be through individual character development, anti-bullying programs or teacher assistance. Even, as David said with a teasing smile, birthday parties.

Fittingly, the last thing the David and Ranaye said before I left their humble home — Don’t hesitate to call. l

Congratulations Hannah Grace and Rob! Thank you for choosing Rose Drug for your bridal registry needs!

Hannah Grace Knight and Rob Branscum

3103 W Main Place, Russellville AR | (479) 968-1323 • www.rosedrug.com MARCH 2020

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

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COMMUNITY

“They decided to do something about it” Gov. Asa Hutchinson and approximately 125 representatives from the Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas River Valley communities gathered on the ATU campus in Russellville Wednesday, Feb. 5, to view and reflect upon an exhibit of portraits by photographer Gay Block.

The exhibit opening event for “Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust” provided those in attendance with an opportunity to view portraits and learn the stories of individuals who risked their lives to save the lives of European Jews during World War II. “These portraits honor those who, through the light of their own souls, protected a persecuted people,” said Hutchinson.

“We are grateful for them. The rescuers represent the best of humanity, and they chose to protect others from the worst of humanity. These are people who tended to describe themselves as ordinary, but they displayed extraordinary courage in the face of evil. It is encouragement for all of us who consider ourselves ordinary that when the moment

calls for extraordinary, we can act.

“We hope to find the will to do the right thing,” continued Hutchinson. “Most of us will never be faced with the circumstances, thank God, that these rescuers were faced with. But when you look at this exhibit, you cannot help but ask, would I have the courage of these people? Simply by thinking about it, we are more prepared to serve others. Ms. Block requires us to consider the risk of acting. She also requires us to consider the cost of failing to act.”

Block and her collaborator, Malka Drucker, traveled the globe during the late 1980s to photograph and interview

approximately 100 non-Jewish Europeans who stepped forward as rescuers during the Holocaust.

The resulting exhibition was featured at the Museum Modern of Art in New York in 1992. A separate traveling show traveled to 50 venues over 11 years.

During her remarks at ATU on Wednesday, Block described the rescuers she interviewed as a widely diverse group that had some commonalities.

“Most possessed a serenity, and it is that serenity that we covet,” said Block. “What we learned from them was that one way to feel some peace in one’s old age is to have

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

MARCH 2020

served others…to have done whatever we could to alleviate the pain we see around us in our immediate families, in our communities and in our larger world.

Rescuers shared some common characteristics. They had extraordinary courage, of course. They possessed compassion. Perhaps most important is that these people did not avert their eyes. They looked to see what was happening in the world, and they decided to do something about it.”

Block expressed appreciation to President Dr. Robin E. Bowen, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Barbara Johnson and Museum Director Dr. James Peck of ATU for the roles they played in bringing the exhibit to campus.

She offered additional gratitude to her son, Rabbi Barry Block of Congregation B’nai Israel in Little Rock, and Dr. James Moses, professor of history at ATU, for their assistance in making the display of her portraits at ATU possible.

“The systematic, state-sponsored persecution and execution of the Jewish people during World War II is, without question, the darkest period in human history,” said Bowen during Wednesday’s opening event. “But if humanity has proven one truth time and time again, it is this: even in the darkest of hours, there are remarkable individuals among us who employ their courage and their determination to shine a light of hope.”

“Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust” will remain available

for viewing at the ATU Museum, 1502 N. El Paso Ave. in Russellville, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through the end of March. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.atu. edu/museum or call (479) 964-0826.

Munchin’ On Main Committee Announces 2020 Date And Sponsor Opportunities

ENGAGEMENTS

List your engagement or wedding announcements in the pages of ABOUT the River Valley magazine at no charge. You can email yours to: editor@aboutrvmag.com or mail to: ABOUT Magazine, 220 East 4th Street, Russellville AR 72801. A phone number must be included for verification.

MARCH 2020

Main Street Morrilton and the Munchin on Main Street planning committee announce plans for the 2020 festival to return to downtown Morrilton. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 and the committee is currently soliciting sponsors and applications for food trucks and vendors.

Sponsorship opportunities are available from $100 to $5000. Space at the event is limited, interested vendors and food trucks may apply online at www.munchinonmain.com and will be contacted by a member of the event committee. The deadline for sponsor, vendor, and food truck applications is March 1, 2020.

The all day festival, now in its fourth year, is expected to attract upwards of 3,000 people to downtown Morrilton. The event committee works with local sponsors and non-profits to keep the live music and kids activities free to the public.

Continued on page 25...

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April 2020 Sarah Langston & Hunter Jackson (17th)

MAY 2020 Hannah Grace Knight & Robert Branscum (1st) Sidney Brandon & Jacob Taylor (10th) Grace Sykes & Jeremy Smothers (15th) Tori Lantz & Mason Buerer (16th) Tori Underhill & T.J. Glasse (31st) Lauren Kirby & Tripp Penney (TBD)

JUNE 2020 Madison Reasoner & Jacob Morton (6th) Hannah Key & Travis Farmer (13th) Lindsey DeSoto & Tyler Allen (28th)

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

23

T H E R IVE R VA L L EY C I T I Z E N

Your right to know Story by KRISTIN FOSTER

WITH A STATE MOTTO LIKE REGNAT POPULUS (The People Rule), it should come as no surprise that Arkansans are serious about government accountability. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was first signed into law by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller in February 1967 following a national trend to provide public access to government records. At that time, Arkansas was experiencing a shift in power aimed at overturning more than a decade of closed-door politics under Governor Orval Faubus.

While the FOIA has been challenged in courts and amended many times, the general premise has remained the same — public business should be conducted in the public domain. Recent letters from the AG’s office have many in Pope County wondering what public business actually means. The FOIA separates that issue into two categories: public meetings and public records.

PUBLIC MEETINGS Public meetings are most defined as any meeting of elected officials that is supported by public funds or will be expending public funds. Under the FOIA, all public meetings must be held with prior public notice and in an environment that allows the public to observe their government in action. The old school of thought was that anytime two elected officials were together it was a public meeting. Following that rule of thumb could certainly minimize issues, but it would also limit officials unreasonably in social settings. It is important to remember that limiting normal personal interaction was never the intention of the law and should be avoided if we want people to continue running for local office.

The best way to determine if a meeting should be public or not would be to examine the conversation that took place. For exam-

ple, if several officials were at the same Super Bowl party discussing a fantasy football league it is definitely not a public meeting at that time. Depending on where the discussion goes after football, it could become a meeting later on. If the topic veers off to include how to handle a troublesome county employee, then the social gathering may have just become a public meeting happening outside of the public domain. The courts have ruled that discussing an issue in passing does not constitute a meeting, but if the conversation progressed into deciding what action should be taken, it would likely violate the FOIA at that point. Since it’s doubtful anyone was taking minutes at the party, proving a violation occurred is even more challenging.

PUBLIC RECORDS Public records, on the other hand, are much easier to identify.

Any record in any medium that is produced by a public office or a public employee in the scope of their job is presumed to be a public record. Upon request, these records must be provided within three business days to any Arkansas citizen wishing to examine or copy them. Over the years, FOIA has been updated to include emails and texts in the public record. The law is meant to be applied broadly but certain documents are exempt from public disclosure. Generally, exclusions are only in place to protect sensitive personal or business information. Comprehensive information on the FOIA is available online at https://www.arkansaspress.org/ More than 50 years after being signed into law, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act still stands as a leading example of government transparency. As citizens of this great state, we have a mechanism to open up the books and hold public officials accountable to their constituents. Unlike the laws that keep us safe from crime, the FOIA is only truly effective if we utilize it. l

Spring is on its way and it's time to get out and play!

Be ready, with a visit to Sorrells

1903 S. Arkansas

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

(479) 968-3991

MARCH 2020

...cont. from page 23 Main Street Morrilton is dedicated to promoting downtown Morrilton as the hub of community life, to instilling a spirit of community through various events, and to promoting historical awareness, preservation, and renovation. Main Street Morrilton operates under the direction of Main Street Arkansas’ Arkansas Downtown Network Program. Main Street Morrilton is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. For more information, follow Main Street Morrilton on Facebook, or the event committee at munchinonmain@gmail.com.

Event: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Saturday, March 28th, 2020 • Food Trucks • Pop-Up City Market (nearly 30 vendors on hand last year selling products & services) • Rides (Rock wall, Ferris Wheel, & Pirates Revenge) • Children’s Activities (games) • Baggo Tournament • Beer Garden (featuring Arkansas made craft beer) • Entertainment on the main stage • Pie Baking Contest • CC Kruzers Classic Car Club will have classic cars on display • 2019 had 12 different food trucks (we won’t know this year’s number until March) • The winner of the “Food Truck Face-Off” will be announced at the conclusion of the event

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RUSSELLVILLE ANIMAL SHELTER

Featured Friends

Winnie

Just look into those big brown eyes and try to tell me you can resist Winnie. She’s a wire-hair terrier mix, and she’s still just a pup at about 3 months old. Winnie loves people, loves to be cuddled, and would love a nice, warm forever home.

To learn more, or to adopt this month’s featured friend, please contact the Russellville Animal Shelter at (479) 968-1944.

Photos by MADISON REVES

commercial art & portraiture

“valley virginia vine” MARCH 2020

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

25

THE RUSS NUTRITION (817) 458-6855 420 N ARKANSAS AVE RUSSELLVILLE

Tastes great and less filling Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN Story by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

MARCH 2020

WITH SPRING PEEKING AROUND THE CORNER, thoughts often turn to shedding the winter pounds we probably starting packing on around Halloween. It’s not just our vanity pushing us toward a lifestyle change. It’s concern for our health as well. Most of us would like to see as many springs as possible, and, though, no one is promised tomorrow, there’s a lot of science that says our days and our calorie intake are inextricably linked.

The options for a lighter lunch are vast — fruit, salads, fruit salads, steamed vegetables, and the list goes on. But, say, you’re craving something with a bit more heft.

And maybe even a little decadence.

If you’re jonesing for what seems the impossible combination of sweet-tooth and hunger satisfaction without feeling

stuffed, we know where to go — The Russ Nutrition.

Belly up to the bar and order a meal-replacement shake. Specifically, order the banana nut bread meal-replacement shake.

It’s full of protein — tummy gratifying , lean muscle building, energy producing protein. But it’s also full of flavor, so much sweet, banana nut bread flavor that you’d swear the friendly folks at The Russ Nutrition actually baked a loaf and pureed it. It is absolutely that delicious.

The Russ Nutrition offers flavored shakes ranging from peanut butter pancake to Fruity Pebbles to key lime pie and so many others. They also offer aloe drinks that can soothe a stomach and energy infused teas, but those shakes… Tastes great.

Less filling. Guilt free. l

MARCH 2020

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

27

CO U N T E RTO P C R E AT I O N S

March is National Deli Meat Month Story by LYDIA ZIMMERMAN, Food Editor Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN

M

ost people will find themselves at the deli counter in their local grocery market or at their local sandwich shop from time to time.

Deli meats are convenient and versatile choices, packed with protein.

Whether you like your deli meats sliced thin or thick — on bread, with crackers, alongside vegetables, in salads, soups, casseroles or rolled up and solo simply for the flavor — there are many choices to tempt taste buds all month long. And they’re available in a wide range of nutrition options including lean or low-fat, reduced sodium and American Heart Association certified.

So in celebration of Deli Meat Month, I have gathered together some tasty recipes for you to try yourself.

As always, enjoy!

Ham and Pineapple Breakfast Cups

HAM AND PINEAPPLE BREAKFAST CUPS ABOUT Magazine Featured Recipe ~ March 2020

1 can (8 count) biscuits 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1 c crushed pineapple, drained 1 c deli ham, chopped 1 T brown sugar Parsley for garnish

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Preheat oven at 325 degrees.

Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.

Remove biscuits from can. Roll each biscuit out into a flat circle.

Line each muffin tin with an individual biscuit, creating a cup in each.

In a medium sized bowl, place cream cheese and brown sugar. Use a fork to

whip it until smooth. Add crushed pineapple and ham to cream cheese, mix well.

Spoon cream cheese mixture into biscuits bowls filling each approximately 3/4 way full. Garnish with parsley.

Bake at 325 for 30-35 minutes or until biscuits brown and cheese mixture sets.

Ham and Cheddar O’Brien for Two

HAM AND CHEDDAR O’BRIEN FOR TWO 2 c shredded hash brown potatoes 1/4 c chopped green bell peppers 1/4 c chopped purple onion 1 egg, beaten 1 c deli black forest ham, chopped into pieces 1 c Rago Double Cheddar Cheese 1/4 c chopped jalapeños (optional) 1 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place hash brown potatoes in the bottom of a small cast iron skillet.

In a medium bowl place onions, bell pepper, jalapeños (optional), and ham.

In a small bowl mix cheese sauce and egg well. Pour over the vegetable/ham mixture and mix well.

Pour the cheese mixture over the potatoes, cover with foil and place into preheated oven. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Garnish with sour cream and serve hot.

CHEATERS’ BEEF STROGANOFF 5 oz dried egg noodles 1 lb deli roast beef, sliced ½-inch thick 2 T unsalted butter ½ c chopped onion ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 1 c sliced mushrooms 1 10.75-oz can cream of mushroom soup ¼ c water 8 oz sour cream

Cook noodles according to package directions in boiling, salted water. Drain. Cut beef into ½-inch cubes.

Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Cook onions until translucent. Add beef, salt, pepper, and mushrooms. Cook 1 minute. Add condensed soup and water. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in sour cream to combine. Serve over noodles.

Recipe courtesy of food.com >>

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

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ITALIAN BRUNCH TORTE 2 tubes (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls, divided 1 tsp olive oil 1 package (6 oz) fresh baby spinach 1 c sliced fresh mushrooms 7 large eggs, divided use 1 c grated Parmesan cheese 2 tsp Italian seasoning 1/8 tsp pepper 1/2 lb thinly sliced deli ham 1/2 lb thinly sliced hard salami 1/2 lb sliced provolone cheese 2 jars (12 oz each) roasted sweet red peppers, drained, sliced and patted dry Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square).

Securely wrap foil around pan. Unroll one tube of crescent dough and separate into triangles. Press onto bottom of prepared pan to form a crust, sealing seams well.

Bake 10-15 minutes or until set.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach and mushrooms; cook and stir until mushrooms are tender. Drain on several layers of paper towels, blotting well. In a large bowl, whisk six eggs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and pepper.

Layer crust with half of each of the following: ham, salami, provolone cheese, red peppers and spinach mixture. Pour half of the egg mixture over top. Repeat layers; top with remaining egg mixture.

On a work surface, unroll and separate remaining crescent dough into triangles.

Press together to form a circle and seal

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

MARCH 2020

seams; place over filling. Whisk remaining egg; brush over dough.

Bake, uncovered, 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°, covering loosely with foil if needed to prevent over browning. Carefully loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove rim from pan. Let stand 20 minutes.

Recipes courtesy of tasteofhome.com UNCURED SMOKED HAM FARMER’S MARKET PASTA 1/4 c olive oil 1 c sugar snap peas 1 c fresh asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces 1/2 c red onion, thinly sliced 1 c grape tomato halves 4 small zucchinis, cur lengthwise 3 cloves of garlic 2 tsp fresh rosemary, minces 2 tsp Thyme, minced 1 lb Boars Head Uncured Smoked Ham, diced 1 c carrots, shaved into ribbons 2 c Pasta, cooked al dente Salt and Pepper, to taste Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat.

Add sugar snap peans, asparagus, onions, tomatoes, zucchini and garlic to pan.

Saute’ for 2-3 minutes.

Add rosemary, thyme, ham, carrots and pasta to pan.

Season with salt and pepper.

Toss to combine.

Recipe courtesy of boarshead.com

BEST EVER TURKEY TETRAZZINI 6 oz spaghetti, broken into thirds 2 T butter 1 c finely chopped onion 3 c sliced mushrooms 1/3 c dry sherry 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, cubed 2 c chicken or turkey broth 3 c cubed JENNIE-O® DELI FAVORITES® Oven Roasted, Reduced Sodium Turkey Breast, from the service deli 1 c frozen peas 4 slices JENNIE-O® Turkey Bacon, cooked and chopped 1½ c panko breadcrumbs ½ c finely grated Parmesan cheese ¼ c thinly sliced green onions Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease large ovenproof baking dish. Prepare spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Set aside.

In large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add onion and mushrooms. Cook 5 to 7 minutes or until softened; stirring occasionally. Stir in sherry and cook until reduced by half.

Add cream cheese and stir until melted.

Stir in broth. Add turkey, peas, bacon, and spaghetti; stir until combined. Spoon into baking dish.

In small bowl combine breadcrumbs and cheese. Sprinkle over turkey mixture. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until hot. Sprinkle with green onions before serving.

Recipe courtesy of jennieo.com

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CREAMY CHICKEN HASH 2 T butter 1 sm onion, diced 2 tsp garlic powder 1 T all purpose flour 1 tsp salt 3/4 c half-and-half 2 c cubed, cooked potatoes 2 c roasted chicken breast, sliced thick then cubed chopped parsley (garnish)

angles in a ring with points toward the outside and wide ends overlapping. Press overlapping dough to seal.

In a large bowl, mix the remaining ingredients. Spoon across wide ends of triangles. Fold pointed ends of triangles over filling, tucking points under to form a ring (filling will be visible).

Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.

Recipe courtesy of tasteofhome.com

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter then add chopped onions. cook until tender, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in flour and salt. Gradually stir in half-and-half and cook, stirring, until thickened. Stir potatoes and chicken into mixture.

Reduce heat to low. Cover skillet and simmer about 10 minutes, or until mixture is heated through; stirring occasionally.

Garnish with parsley.

QUICK AND EASY GYROS ½ T olive oil 4 oz sliced deli roast beef 3 drops Worcestershire sauce 2 dashes lemon pepper 1 dash paprika 1 tsp garlic powder, divided 3 dashes black pepper 1 cucumber 1 (8-oz) container Greek Yogurt ½ red onion 2 dashes white wine vinegar ½ tsp dill ½ tsp salt 2 pita or naan 1 tomato, sliced 2 oz crumbled feta cheese 6 oz black olives, sliced

CHICKEN CORDON BLEU CRESCENT RING 1 tube (8 oz) refrigerated crescent rolls 2 c shredded Swiss cheese 2 c cubed cooked chicken 3/4 c mayonnaise 1/2 c cubed fully cooked ham 2 T honey mustard Preheat oven to 375°. Unroll crescent dough and separate into triangles. On an ungreased 12-in. pizza pan, arrange tri-

Heat oil in a medium skillet and add beef, Worcestershire sauce, lemon pepper, paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, and black pepper. Cook to heat through.

Finely dice half of cucumber, and mix with yogurt, one-quarter of a diced red

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onion, vinegar, and remaining seasonings.

Slice remaining cucumber.

Preheat broiler to high. Spray pita or naan with cooking spray, and broil until soft and warmed. Fill with beef, feta, tomato, remaining cucumber, and olives. Serve warm.

Recipe courtesy of tastykitchen.com LONDON BROIL SALAD WITH SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS AND GOAT CHEESE 1/4 c Shitake mushrooms 2 c mixed greens 4 slices Boars Head London Broil Top Round Roast Beef 2 oz goat cheese 2 T balsamic vinegar Asian pear, to taste Black pepper, to taste Slice the shiitake mushrooms and cook them in a non stick pan over medium-high heat until nice and golden on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.

Place mixed greens at the bottom of a shallow plate.

Arrange your slices of beef in the center of the pile of greens.

Add shiitake mushrooms and soft goat cheese.

Drizzle balsamic vinegar and lime juice to taste over the whole salad.

Sprinkle with freshly cracked black pepper and chopped asian pear if desired.

Recipe courtesy of boarshead.com

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

31

COMMUNITY COMMERCE

Peters Family Living

Story and photos by HANNAH BUTLER

WHILE STYLISH HOME DECOR likely brought your grand- products of modern design. “We get new, trendy items in every parents to Peters Family Living, quality products and customer day,” says Doug Williams, owner of Peters Family Living since service kept them coming back. That combination of old-fash- July 2019. “I don’t think people know that about us. We have great ioned integrity and an eye for timely styles is still the goal. Peters looking stuff. We really try to stay ahead.” has simply perfected the model of selling The store is filled with various dining, furniture that fits your needs, and they’ve bedroom and living room sets. Home acbeen doing it since 1944. cents such as lamps, pillows and rugs are Peters Family Living While the integrity of industry stanalways available. And, of course, Peters (479) 968-2929 dard brands like Ashley Furniture, Generhasn’t forgotten about your home office, 201 N. Arkansas Ave. al Electric and Maytag is a big hit, Peters entertainment centers, bathrooms and Russellville, AR Family Living showroom is filled with outdoor furniture.

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

MARCH 2020

3115 E. MAIN STREET, RUSSELLVILLE • (479) 967-5575

Doug believes quality products are the key to 76 years of success at Peters Family Living. “We may not be the cheapest place in town,” says Doug.“When it comes to your home and your family and yourself, is that what you really want? Do you want the cheapest thing that someone can build and sell you that’s not going to last two years?

At Peters, it’s not about buying fast furniture or a quick decision online. When it comes to furniture, you get what you pay for. And after more than 20 years working at Peters, Doug understands that finding

the best items for your home is a process that requires a relationship with the seller.

“People want everything to be fast, they want instant gratification,” Doug says.

“But when a customer comes in, they need to realize this is the number three biggest purchase they’re going to make.”

Furniture is an investment. “It’s a long term-use product,” Doug says, and uses mattresses as an example for why in-person shopping is so important. “We have different mattresses here, and when people lay down on those, they have trouble pick-

ing out the exact one they like. So, how are you going to pick one out that you’ve never even touched?”

This is why Doug and his sales staff want to know a little about the customer and their needs before guiding them to product options. “We want to take out any buyer’s remorse,” Doug says. “I want our salespeople to talk to you for however long it takes before we ever show you a sofa. We need to understand what you’re trying to solve.”

This is the process that makes for a satisfied customer. Doug says that Peters goal is to ensure a satisfied customer for years to come.

Purchasing options for Peters’ customers include in-house financing with zero interest for up to 18 months, and no credit application is refused. Peters also offers the Synchrony Financial Program through the Arkansas Homefurnishings Association which allows, with approved credit, purchases with no money down.

Peters Family Living is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To look at their selection online, visit their website at petersfamilyliving.com l

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

33

in the Garden

A garden in every yard A BEAUTIFUL LATE WINTER AFTERNOON beckoned me to the garden. I grabbed the pitchfork and plopped it into the wheelbarrow, guiding it to my compost pile. The wheels etched tracks in the soft winter ground. Arriving at the compost pile, my boots sank deeper. Unlike my children, playing in mud puddles isn’t my idea of winter fun. But the black mixture awaiting me made it worth the messy effort. All winter, this compilation of kitchen scraps, shredded paper, and other yard waste transformed into what would now nourish my raised bed soil.

With the wheelbarrow full and heavy, I grunted my way to the raised beds. Scoop by scoop, I spread the compost on top

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of the mostly bare soil. Now this pure garden space was ready for onions.

Filling three raised beds with green onion transplants the width of a pencil, I realized I wasn’t even making a dent in the number of onions I purchased. Three hundred onions don’t seem like a lot -- until you start planting them.

Still, I have room, and this year I’m determined to go further than ever in my quest of growing enough onions to last my family of four one full year. As these thoughts fluttered through my mind -- poke a hole, drop the onion in the hole, tamp the soil, repeat -- I felt my first swelling of hope for the new season.

Don’t Press your

luck Drive safely (479) 968-9732 • F: (479)968-0821 2731 S. Arkansas Ave, Russellville dwane.ahrens@gmail.com

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

MARCH 2020

Then another thought sliced through my peaceful moment. I’m not sure where it came from, but it unsettled me.

Why is this not normal anymore? Why has gardening become a specialized hobby for the few? Why do non-gardeners look at my garden as if it’s something special?

To me, everyone should be gardening in one way or another.

I’m a bit of an idealist, but I can remember the days when every home in the neighborhood boasted a vegetable garden. It wasn’t an optional hobby like scrapbooking or hiking. Gardening was part of the culture; it was a way of life.

During my childhood, though, society entered a trajectory where even those gardens were ones of tradition. Gone were the Victory Gardens of necessity. As gardening became optional, little by little we tossed it aside in favor of technology, innovation, new hobbies, and schedules tightly packed.

I was a casualty of that societal shift as well. What was the purpose of a garden when everything I need is available at the grocery store? And who has the time for a garden anyway?

I, along with the rest of America, became wholly dependent on large-scale farms. It’s not that I’m ungrateful -- a good portion of my food is still brought to me by hard-working farmers. But with a few exceptions, an entire generation now (maybe two) has no idea how to grow their own food if the necessity for it returned.

Don’t get me wrong. I hope we never return to the days where we only eat what we can grow ourselves. But wouldn’t it be a good thing, if it ever came down to it, that we knew how? And

wouldn’t you agree that our children’s physical and mental health would benefit if they spent more time with their toes in the dirt instead of their fingers on a screen?

My dream is that home gardening gets declassified as a “hobby” and returns to the mainstream where it belongs.

I am hopeful as I see the resurgence and emergence of home gardens, urban gardens, community gardens, and rooftop gardens.

I receive emails every day, everyone from young moms to newly retired couples embarking on their first gardens, excited to bring gardening into their lives. I believe this groundswell of Americans seeking to grow some of their own food will continue to increase, and it brings me great joy to watch it from afar and up close.

Earlier this year, I visited a local junior high school where I met a group of boys excited to grow a garden for the first time. Seeing the excitement in the eyes of these adolescents pulsed hope through my veins. Their goals were simple: learn how to grow food, and grow enough to enjoy and share.

My goals as a wife and mom may be a bit different from the goals of students growing in their school’s garden plot; or a young mom growing peas, cherry tomatoes, and carrots for her toddler; or a retired couple spending extra time connecting with nature outside the back door. But the common threads in all of us run parallel. Little by little, each person can grow something, and the more people we bring alongside us, the closer we can come to bringing small-scale gardening back to the masses and into everyone’s homes where it belongs. l

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1 mo $60 00 $20 per additional person 6 mo $210 00 $70 per additional person 9 mo $310 00 $90 per additional person 12 mo $380 00 $112 per additional person

Members with 12 month Indoor Pool Memberships, valid through August 11, 2019 $55 00 (use both facilities, summer only)

PARTY ROOM (Kitchenette) $15 per hour PARTY ROOM (Courtyard) $30 per hour

Membership prices/fees cannot be refunded or transferred Pool scheduling/hours will change periodically Pool will be closed for public swimming during swim meets, inclement weather and maintenance Notices will be posted whenever possible but could happen without notice Membership fees/prices will not change due to closings

PRIVATE PARTY (Kitchenette only) $300 PRIVATE PARTY (Kitchenette and Courtyard) $350

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2909 South Arkansas Ave (Hwy 7 S) Russellville, Arkansas • (479) 967-7439 www.russellvillelawn.com MARCH 2020

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Story & Photo by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN

A JOURNAL of our RURAL & NATURAL HERITAGE

Crawdads The most humble of waters call to me.

Chocolate-milk-colored seeps and tinkling rocky rivulets no wider than a long stride are the most persuasive. I know the denizens of those tiny waters, and they call as well. They whisper of a time that seems not long ago when all I wanted could be found at the end of a long dirt driveway or just beyond the next creek riffle.

I wanted crawdads.

A fondness for crawdads might seem odd for a boy born and raised in the River Valley and southern Ozarks of west-central Arkansas—crawdads are, after all, the totem of Louisiana folk—but maybe a Natural State upbringing is why my appreciation for crawdads goes beyond the palate. I caught thousands before I ate my first one.

I caught them for a closer look in an old pickle jar. I watched the swimmerets churning under their tails. I watched the multiple mouth parts in action as I fed them worms.

I watched them because they fascinated me. And then I set them free. While untold summer hours of my childhood were spent ankle deep in a ditch, creek or pond, there is no crawdad-catching genesis in my story. Like Mom and Dad, the Razorbacks and the Bible, crawdads are immemorial.

As I recall, the winding ditches along-

side Bells Chapel Road near Atkins carried the aroma of quintessential rural Arkansas summer—a complex mix of fresh-cut hay, mimosa trees, manure and mud. And the ditches were crammed with crawdads. My cousin Robert and I made daily expeditions through the Johnson grass and tickseed, hunting for pools of relative clarity and unsuspecting crawdads. With quarry sighted, the crawling stalk began until we were close enough to slip a hand toward the segmented tail—always the tail because even

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Valley Piano Co. 36

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

MARCH 2020

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the smallest claws were menacing. Success was a flapping mad dad pulled from the water with our fingers safely behind those pinchers. Our crawdad-catching repertoire was basic, and a capture was rare. But during my ninth summer of life, we would learn new methods peculiar to different environments and situations. And my relationship to the crawdads evolved as well.

The biggest revelation was when our uncle Terry demonstrated that a crawdad pinch didn’t hurt all that much. As he followed us down the ditch one hot summer day, Uncle Terry asked why we passed the deep holes because they surely held some whopper mudbugs. We told him about the feared “blood pincher” crawdads, the big ones with red-tipped claws that could nip a plug from our fingers. He guffawed, said something about no nephews of his being scared of a crawdad, then proceeded to reach shoulder deep into a nefarious-looking mud hole and feel around with predatory focus emanating from eyes to digits.

Soon, a wide smile cracked through his deliberate expression, and awe clutched my gut as he lifted his hand from the mud.

Falling globs of muck revealed a giant claw clasping his pinkie finger like a miniature vise with Uncle Terry’s grinning mug as a backdrop to the dangling crawdad. With this knowledge, catching deep-hole crawdads was a doable, though gritty, endeavor.

In contrast, catching mountain-creek crawdads, like the ones we found in the moonshine-clear Illinois Bayou and its tributaries near Hector, was almost mystical. With the flip of a rock, I could witness magic as the silt vanished in crystal current and a form materialized: a brick-red crawdad with fire-tipped claws highlighted in teal, a dazzling beast as compared to the plain-brown ditch variety. My young mind had never reckoned there were different types of these creatures, but here was distinction ushered by eons of tectonics and water bringing change to the land. Vibrant, yet cryptic, shades grew in intensity with every second as the water cleared. Then there was this magnificent and alien creature within my grasp, an ancient soul holding secrets that I would never be old enough to know but desperately wanted to learn.

I still yearn for those secrets.

Those summers have since evaporated, leaving only muddy trails of memories, but the crawdads are still part of my soggy, warm-weather pursuits. Inspired by Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River,” I’ve fished for smallmouth bass with crawdads caught as needed for bait. I’ve also pushed aside the smallmouth and enjoyed the crawdad as a meal, with my daughters, a nephew and a niece helping to fill the pot on camping trips. After all, passing on crawdad-catching tactics to the next generation is a family tradition.

Crawdads gave me a sense of place, a more intimate understanding of my home and the natural forces toiling beyond our perception that shape nature. They’ve helped me hold on to a sense of wonder every time I see semiferal puddles or a wild backwoods creek. But mostly, they take me back to a simpler time when my only concerns were pinched fingers and getting back to Granny’s while supper was still warm. l

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MARCH 2020

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

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COMMUNITY LEADERS

...

Lesa

WOLFE-CROWELL AGE: 51 OCCUPATION: Screenwriter and producer HOMETOWN: Dardanelle, Arkansas but grew up in

Scottsville Arkansas.

FAMILY: Race (life partner) Chace, oldest

son, lives in Fayetteville and is Chef de Partie at CO-OP Ramen in Bentonville, which I highly recommend. Zac, youngest son, lives here part of the time, works six months at Denali National Park, and travels the world in between. Chace and Zac have way more stamps in their passports than I do.

1

What is your favorite book and why?

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Most people just think of it as the mini-series. Read the book, or any book by him.

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. This one I have underlined so many times, and written in the margins of so many pages, I probably need a new copy. I also give this book out to people who are trying to figure their lives out. It is amazing.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu. I have worn out my copy of this as well.

Every single lesson in life are in Lonesome Dove, Shantaram, and The Art of War.

2

Dog or cat? Why?

Dog. I have a lurking black cat named Luna, but cats don’t really belong to anyone. My dogs‌ they are family.

3

What do you think is the most positive aspect of living in the River Valley?

Photo by LIZ CHRISMAN 38

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

MARCH 2020

The scenery. I grew up on Piney and the Illinois Bayou. Give me a creek and some mountains and I am in my element. If they ever try and dam the bayou I will be chained to a tree and will probably be in jail for protesting.

4

What’s something no one would ever guess about you?

Since April 26, 2019, I have been battling breast cancer and had a double mastectomy without reconstruction. It’s called going flat — Ha! I call it saving my life. Most women freak out at that, but you are so much more than your body. I feel more empowered and look at my scars as battle scars that I won a war on.

5

What is your favorite music genre and artist? Why?

I listen to everything. My fave singers of all time are Robert Plant and Prince.

Plant’s voice is ethereal and Prince is just a musical genius. His acoustic stuff is amazing. I just started listening to Holly Williams, Hank Jr’s daughter. Holy Hell! Her rendition of I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry gives me chills. Zac turned me on to Tyler Childers who I am loving. I am also a huge rap fan. It’s poetry and storytelling and I always have some blasting in house at some point during the day.

6

What do you nerd out on?

Star Wars always. I love documentaries. Ken Burns is a genius.

I binge watched The Witcher and its really good. So disappointed in how Game

of Thrones ended I can’t even talk about it. Ancient Aliens has changed my whole perspective on things. I listen to a lot of podcasts. Sasquatch Chronicles and Your Favorite Band Sucks are two of my faves.

7

If you could change one thing about the River Valley, what would it be?

A community is like water — we either keep flowing or become stagnant. If the churches don’t step out of the government, it is going to be the dark ages around here pretty soon. Don’t like casinos? Don’t go.

Don’t believe in drinking? Stay out of the restaurants that serve alcohol. Good grief it is 2020. And all the hate now. Just stop hating people. Everybody Love Everybody.

8

Where is the one location in the River Valley you would tell a firsttime visitor that they must go?

I live at the foot of Mt. Nebo, so always that. My hidden gem I escape to is Bayou Bluff. In the summer I will just take an inner tube and float around. It clears my mind. In the fall, you can’t beat it for the colors reflecting on the creek.

9

Pizza, tacos, cheeseburger, or fried chicken? Any particular reason why?

Can I say none of the above? My go-to is Quiznos — classic Italian on rosemary.

Robert just starts making that when I walk up to the counter. For something more, I will make the drive to Altus for a Wiederkeher Weinkeller filet mignon.

10

What is your favorite quote?

Could be from an inspirational person, could be an original.

“What do we say to the god of death? Not today.” I had that written on my mirror during chemo. I am about to get it as a tattoo. “Walk in like you own the place.” My dad told me that one at a very young age.

It’s a good piece of advice.

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MARCH 2020

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

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