Arkansas Times - October 2, 2014

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NEWS + POLITICS + ENTERTAINMENT + FOOD / OCTOBER 02, 2014 / ARKTIMES.COM

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OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

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COMMENT

Decriminalize drugs Arkansas is about to make a costly mistake. Its citizens seem willing to spend $100 million to build a new prison. For whom are they building that prison? A high percentage of the prisoners will be young black male nonviolent drug offenders. Black males now have a 30 percent chance of going to prison.

Is there anyone who thinks the new prison will end drug abuse in Arkansas? Has anyone thought of the consequences of incarcerating so many young drug offenders? $100 million is an unthinkable amount. However, that is the direct cost. Considerably more than $100 million will be spent to keep people in prison for years. The average cost for one year is around $30,000. The taxpayer never stops paying for a prison.

What happens when inmates leave prison? A more important question is what happens to these young people inside the prison? They learn to be criminals. When they come out they have no credit, no job and they cannot vote. At most, they might be able to get a minimum-wage job. With the misery inherent for an adult trying to live on minimum wage or, more likely, unable to get a job what is the possibility they will use the criminal skills learned in prison to survive? When ex-prisoners get to retirement age, they might get a minimum Social Security payment and certainly no retirement plan money.

There is no end to their misery.

Our taxes create better criminals.

When released and unable to survive under impossible conditions, many end up back in prison. In 2010, almost half the released prisoners were returned to prison. Instead of spending $100 million on a prison, we use money to rehabilitate nonviolent drug offenders. Once rehabilitated, we should help them get jobs with livable wages. For the small number (about 1.3 percent) unable to be rehabilitated, we should provide safe, affordable housing and some means to earn as much of their support as they are able to do. In simple terms, provide hope instead of depressive hopelessness.

Look at Colorado and Washington.

They legalized marijuana. The police no longer chase after marijuana crimes.

They now have time to investigate murder, rape, robbery and property crimes.

Decriminalized drug states make millions from taxation of marijuana. The drug is controlled and regulated by the state. All the illegal activity surrounding marijuana went away with legalization.

The citizens of Colorado and Washing4

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

ton benefit from marijuana instead of spending excessive amounts of money fighting a war against the plant that cannot be won.

Rather than build new prisons, Arkansas should follow the lead of Colorado and Washington. The governor should appoint a group of legislators to construct an amendment to legalize marijuana. We have the successful amendments of Colorado and Washington as models. As soon as the amendment is written and approved, it should be brought to the public for a vote. Further, the governor should free

every nonviolent drug offender in prison covered by the amendment. Doing this would provide prison space and make building another prison unnecessary.

Arkansas should follow the results of decriminalized marijuana closely so that they can make a wise decision on decriminalizing other drugs. There should be many public discussions about regulation and control of drugs. That is to be expected. Eventually, we could be in the position of regulating and controlling all drug sales. The drug cartels, criminals and gangs will no longer control the production and selling of

Let us find your underground utilities before you do.

drugs. Besides eliminating the criminal element, government control of drugs will make them safe for the user. The state will benefit from taxation of drugs.

Ending prohibition of drugs is not a panacea. Drug problems will continue.

We should fight drug addiction, just as we have fought tobacco addiction with sane regulations, good education, taxation, age restrictions, limits on usage, and clinics to help the addicted. Decriminalization will put the afflicted into the position of controlling their addiction rather than risking imprisonment to get their next high. Decriminalization cripples the cartels and gangs, reduces street crime, and that makes Arkansas a safer, more enjoyable place to live.

Richard Emmel Little Rock

Social Security’s future Most Arkansans I have talked to believe their grandchildren will receive little or no Social Security in the future.

This is puzzling because just 14 years ago, Social Security was in its heyday.

Our federal government had a budget surplus and so did Social Security. Did George W. Bush spend all that surplus and more?

Arkansans today are probably correct. Social Security may not be available in the future, mainly because most Arkansas politicians today are fundamentally opposed to socialistic government programs, and Social Security is the great white whale of government socialism in America.

As Arkansans have resisted Obamacare, our state could also reject Social Security. Conceivably, if our right-wing legislators could prohibit all Arkansas banks from processing Social Security payments, leaving such processes to the federal bank and outside state banks that allowed government socialism.

Of course, this would ruin the Natural State’s economy and send hordes of Arkansans clamoring to other states, but this would be a glorious victory against government socialism. This would be just one of the great sacrifices Arkansans would need to make in order to save our grandchildren from socialism.

Remember when George W. Bush tried to privatize Social Security?

Today’s crop of Arkansas politicians think like Bush. They are fundamentally against the principles behind Social Security and may continue to strive to make Social Security un-socialistic and insecure.

Gene Mason Jacksonville

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ADVERTISING SUPLEMENT TO www.arktimes.com ARKANSAS TIMESOCTOBER july 31,2,2014 2014 69 5

EYE ON ARKANSAS

WEEK THAT WAS

Beverly Carter found dead Real estate agent Beverly Carter, 49, went missing last Thursday after she went to show a house to someone who represented himself as a cash buyer.

The search for Carter ended tragically Tuesday morning when she was found buried in a shallow grave on Highway 5 in northern Pulaski County. Arron Lewis, 33, was arrested and is in custody. As he was being walked out of the Pulaski Sheriff’s investigations division, a television reporter asked if he had killed Carter. “No,” Lewis said. When a reporter asked, “Why Beverly?” Lewis said, “Because she was a woman that worked alone — a rich broker.”

The Rapert response Sen. Jason Rapert (R-Conway) reacted to Carter’s tragic death with a suggestion that parole in Arkansas be abolished. “As we mourn with the Carter family, let us take positive action,” he wrote on Facebook. “I don’t think Arkansas even needs a parole board anymore. Let these criminals serve every day, hour and minute of the sentences they have been given.” Lewis, whose criminal history was nonviolent but included multiple theft charges, was on active parole. Rapert did not comment on how to pay for his proposal.

TROJAN HORSE: A bipartisan group including Mary Bentley and Tachany Evans warns voters against Issue 3, a campaign ethics ballot initiative this November that would smuggle in looser term limits for legislators in the process. Bentley, a Republican, and Evans, a Democrat, are running for state representative in Districts 73 and 68 respectively.

sures designed to promote the common good.” — U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, from a 2000 Law Review article on the trouble with popular ballot initiatives in Arkansas. Guess who Cotton thinks is the wise, virtuous, honorable, ambitious man for the job?

The debates debate

Mazel tov!

Last weekend, Chelsea Clinton and husband Marc Mezvinsky announced the birth of their daughter, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky. New grandparents Bill and Hillary Clinton tweeted baby pics. Speculation immediately began on Charlotte’s plans for 2052.

The few, the proud “A small group of officeholders, selected for their wisdom and virtue, motivated by their honor and ambition, coming together to devote themselves without distraction to the management of public affairs, are much better situated to adopt subtle and refined mea6

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

The campaigns of Sen. Mark Pryor and his challenger, U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, have been trading tedious barbs all week over debates between the candidates. Cotton has criticized Pryor for passing on a debate hosted by KARK, Channel 4, which got a splashy bit of publicity when NBC “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd said he would be a moderator.

In the end, the Cotton camp caved and agreed to do an AETN debate in Conway preferred by the Pryor campaign, while Pryor declined the KARK debate. The final tally will be two debates: the AETN debate in Conway and a debate in Fayetteville sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Arkansans having trouble falling asleep should be sure to tune in to both.

Adventures in headline writing “Islamic State underrated, Obama says.” That was the headline in the Democrat-Gazette last Monday. They

meant that U.S. intelligence underestimated the threat posed by ISIS. But surely some Arkansas Tea Partier somewhere spit out his coffee that morning — his long-held theory of the terrorist-friendly, secret-Muslim President Obama finally confirmed! The Islamic State ain’t so bad, he says. It’s underrated!

No Second Amendment for the infidels

Mystery food A study by researchers at the University of Arizona examined 3.5 million tweets from October through May 2014 and conducted a state-bystate breakdown to determine which foods were most often mentioned on Twitter. What foods reigned supreme? In Texas: brisket, natch.

In ritzy California, caviar is king.

In New York ... prunes! Grits dominates in almost the entire South, but Arkansas? Oh, Arkansas. Entree!

That is, pretty obviously, the lamest winner on the map.

The proprietor of a Hot Springs firing range, The Gun Cave, announced on social media that she has banned all Muslims from her business out of concern for public safety. Jan Morgan said that because of the Fort Hood shooting, the Boston Marathon bombing and 9/11, she’s concluded that “muslims can and will follow the directives in their Koran and kill here at home.” Give them access to target practice, she reasons, and they’ll just be that much more deadly.

Of course, only a tiny sliver of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are behind the atrocities performed by groups like ISIS or Al Qaeda. Of course, bloody crimes are committed by individuals belonging to every religion and race on Earth. Of course, there are thousands of Muslims living right here in Arkansas who are American citizens and members of our communities. And, of course, somewhere out there, a civil rights lawsuit is surely headed down the pike toward Morgan’s blatant display of bigotry.

OPINION

What is Leslie Rutledge hiding?

L

eslie Rutledge, the Republican nominee for attorney general, is stonewalling attempts to understand why superiors said should she not be rehired after abruptly resigning as a juvenile court lawyer for the Department of Human Services effective Dec. 3, 2007. A supervisor, in a note added to her file 10 days after she left, stated the reason was «gross misconduct.»

An examination of Rutledge’s personnel file is limited by state law. Records that constitute job evaluations are exempt from disclosure under the open records law unless an employee has been fired or suspended. Employees may voluntarily release such records, however Rutledge refuses to allow release of all her personnel records. She also did not return calls after a limited document release produced emails to and from her that demonstrated she’d mishandled aspects of at least three cases — two adoptions and an appearance in juvenile court. Failure to call a subpoenaed

witness in juvenile court prompted a supervisor to ask Rutledge to meet with her Nov. 15, 2007. DHS records MAX contain no further BRANTLEY maxbrantley@arktimes.com e-mails by Leslie Rutledge after that supervisor’s final request for a meeting and Dec. 3, when her resignation took effect.

The Democrat-Gazette did get a response from Rutledge to calls from Democrats that she disclose all relevant information about her work history for the state.

“I have no confidence in those files and what is contained in those records,” Rutledge said. “The real concern [should be] how and why a state agency would change an employee’s personnel file 10 days after they resigned voluntarily.”

Does she have no confidence in her own e-mails, which reflect problems —

Voter ID law racist

O

n Thursday, the Arkansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging the state’s voter ID law. Circuit Judge Tim Fox ruled in May that the law is unconstitutional. If the court doesn’t agree and overturns Fox’s decision, the law will disenfranchise minority, elderly and economically impoverished communities all over the state. Arkansas will once again be on the wrong side of history and 50 years from now our children will wonder how such a law could be in effect. To pass a law that discourages voting and makes it harder for those on the margins to vote, is a betrayal to democracy just as preventing the Little Rock Nine from attending Central High School was in 1957.

The cornerstone of any democratic country is the right to vote. Voting is a time when everyone is equal to one another regardless of race, class, socioeconomic background, religion or polit-

ical ideology. Voter ID law is much more than a civil rights issue; it is a freedom issue and will again call into JOSEPH question the legitiJONES macy of American democracy and who is considered a citizen here in Arkansas.

Anyone who pursues the history of voting in American will quickly discover that it is a story of continued voter suppression. In Tracy Campbell’s “Deliver the Vote: A History of Election Fraud, and American Political Tradition-1742-2004,” he chronicles centuries of suppression from the election George Washington in 1758 to the election of George W. Bush in 2000. Campbell also highlights in detail another scandalous part of voting history — the systematic disenfranchisement of African Americans. From the constitutional convention that counted

perhaps minor, we still don’t know — in three cases? We do know that it is not unusual for employers to add notes to former employees files after departure, particularly when differences existed and repercussions were possible. Rutledge had been hired on an “emergency” basis while Mike Huckabee, a Republican was governor. Her father, Keith Rutledge, was a Huckabee supporter and his drug czar.

Here’s what we also know: • Leslie Rutledge seeks to be the state’s top lawyer, attorney general.

• On account of purported “gross misconduct,” Rutledge would not be eligible to be hired by a state agency the attorney general represents.

• DHS files contain more information about Rutledge’s mishandling of cases. Rutledge refuses to allow that information to be released.

• Rutledge has had at least nine jobs since graduating from law school in 2001 and the work has left few notable marks. Apart from a few months in private practice in Jacksonville and her establishment of a personal law firm in Little Rock when she returned from Washington after the 2012 election, her jobs have been in partisan political or government/patronage

enslaved blacks as three-fifths of a person to Jim Crow laws that instituted poll taxes, a grandfather clause and literacy tests, Campbell’s book is a sober reminder that individuals, political parties and governments have long sought to suppress voting rights among people of color.

Supporters of the voter ID law in Arkansas and elsewhere cite voter fraud as the reason. Yet, there is no significant empirical evidence to support the claim that in-person voter fraud is taking place in Arkansas or elsewhere in the country. With no evidence and a backdrop of an established history steeped in voter suppression, it’s easy to see racial undertones undergirding this voter id movement.

The voter ID law movement began after President Obama was elected.

Obama was the first victim of this movement when he was hectored to prove his citizenship by releasing a copy of his birth certificate. Like Obama, many African Americans and other minority groups experience a strong sense of citizen insecurity because of structural racism. There have been several examples over the past few years that support this claim. Look at Hurricane Katrina and how African Americans

positions. A family friend hired her as Court of Appeals law clerk; she worked for 14 months for a Republican prosecutor (on which she bases her campaign claim that she’s an “experienced prosecutor); she worked 10 months for Gov. Mike Huckabee before an abrupt departure (she had no new job and didn’t find one with the Lonoke prosecutor until a couple of months later), and she worked for the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee and the Republican National Committee. A search of the state and federal eastern district court databases turns up no cases in which Rutledge has participated as a lawyer since a divorce case in 2007.

Work history counts. To borrow from Rutledge, it’s hard to have confidence in her based on the sketchiness of her resume. She should open the doors to a full inspection of her work for children in distress. She won’t. Voters deserve better and should remember that in considering the deeper record of her Democratic opponent, Nate Steel.

Max Brantley is on vacation. This column appeared first on the Arkansas Blog.

and other poor people were described as refugees and not citizens. More recently, the murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Mo., by a white policeman has inspired similar insecurity. People of color here in Arkansas and around the country deserve to feel secure about their citizenship and the voter ID law further exacerbates these feelings.

Just like with those who opposed the integration of Little Rock Central High, the only rational explanation for supporting Arkansas’s voter ID law is racism.

If Arkansas is truly about the ideals of democracy, then the Arkansas Supreme Court should uphold Judge Fox’s ruling that the state’s voter ID law is unconstitutional. Moreover, efforts should be made to ensure more voting participation not less. Why not refocus efforts on creating a state holiday to ensure more people to vote? Additionally, why not allow citizens to register to vote on the day of elections as eight other states around the country do? Any lawmaker who is against any of these measures has to be taken to task.

Dr. Joseph Jones is executive director of Philander Smith College’s Social Justice Institute. Ernie Dumas is on vacation. www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

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ARKANSAS TIMES

hen we moved to our Arkansas cattle farm, a friend lent us a book titled “A Straw in the Sun.” Publishedin1945,CharlieMaySimon’sbeautifully writtenmemoirofhomesteadinghereinPerry County, Arkansas during the 1930s was long outofprint—partlybecausethehardscrabble existenceitdescribesistoorecentfornostalgia.

LikemuchoftheruralSouthbeforeWorld WarII,PerryCountywasessentiallytheThird World. So was Yell County, immediately to the west, home of U.S. Senate candidate Tom Cotton. Except for a lot of wasteful government spending he affects to deplore, it would still be. Cotton’s campaign against the Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Pryor reflects everythingupside-downandcartoonishabout Tea Party dogma and the tycoons who fund it.

It’s a local story with national implications.

Originally featured as New Yorker essays, Simon’sbookwasn’tintendedassocialprotest.

Even so, many forget that millions of Americanslivedassubsistence-levelpeasantfarmers within living memory.

Simon and her neighbors not only grew their own food and slaughtered their own hogs; they cut firewood, dug wells, built outhouses, made candles and fermented corn liquor. Electricity and telephones weren’t available; cash commerce was all but impossible. To file her essays, Simon had to walk hours to the post office, or hitch a ride on a mule-drawn wagon along dirt roads that became impassible in wet weather.

Thesimplelifeprovedterriblycomplicated.

Even the author’s husband, whom she wrote out of the story, found it too difficult — returningtohishomeinParis(France,notArkansas).

During the same period, writes historian S. Charles Bolton in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly, roughly one-third of black and one-fifth of rural white Arkansans emigrated to places like Chicago or Los Angeles. Others found work in town. Today, large parts of Perry and Yell counties are in the Ouachita National Forest. They had more residents then than now.

Buthere’sthething:ContrarytoTeaParty fantasies, it wasn’t plucky private entrepreneurs who paved the roads, strung the wire, saved grandpa from penury and made organized commerce across the rural South possible. It was federal and state investment.

Eventoday,suchprosperityasYellCounty nowenjoys—it’sthe64thwealthiestofArkansas’s 75 counties — derives from timber cutting in the forest and the proximity of three scenic lakes built and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Not to mention, of course, agricultural price supports from the 2014 Farm Bill that Cotton voted against.

In TV commercials and public statements, Cotton depicts himself as the dutiful son of a “cattle rancher” who taught him farmers can’t

spend money they don’t have.

It’s true that Cotton’s father ran cattle on his place near Dardanelle. HowGENE ever, it’s also a fact LYONS that Len Cotton retired as district supervisor of the Arkansas Health Department after a 37-year career. A public-spirited citizen, the senior Cotton also servedontheArkansasVeteransCommission, the Tri-County Regional Water Board, etc.

Thecandidate’smotherAvistaughtinDardanelle public schools for 40 years, retiring in 2012asprincipalofthedistrict’smiddleschool.

Career government bureaucrats, both. And more power to them.

SoI’mguessingLenCottonraisescattlefor the same reasons I do: because it’s an absorbing hobby with considerable tax advantages.

Meanwhile, the thing about the Farm Bill that urban liberals like Jonathan Chait don’t get, and that a poser like Cotton’s being disingenuous about, is this that it’s damn near impossible to farm without risking money you don’t have.

Farmers who have to pay for seeds, fertilizer, diesel fuel to pump water, to buy and maintain tractors and combines often more costly than the land. Farmers who borrow every spring in the hope of turning a profit in the fall. They also risk losing the entire crop to pests, floods, drought, tornadoes, cheap soybeans from Brazil, etc. If there’s fraud and waste,cutitout.Butit’sinthenationalinterest to keep agriculture strong.

But let’s head back to town, shall we? One of the fastest growing GOP strongholds in Arkansas is the college town of Conway, just across the Arkansas River from here. Tom Cotton’s sure to do well there.

WhydoesConwayprosper?Basically,government funding. Located along Interstate 40, it’s the home of the University of Central Arkansas, a growing state school. It’s got a brand-new, federally funded airport, two private colleges supported by state scholarships funded by the Arkansas Lottery, an excellent hospital (Medicare, Medicaid), etc.

The city’s biggest private employers are Internet-oriented Acxiom and Hewlett Packard. (Pentagon researchers, of course, created the Internet.) Furthermore, everybody Conway receives electricity, water, sewage, cable TV, Internet and telephone service from the Conway Corporation — a city-owned co-op beguninthe1920s.It’sasefficientanexample of municipal socialism as you’ll find this side of Copenhagen, Denmark.

All successful modern economies are mixed economies.

Any politician who tells you differently is not your friend.

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PEARLS ABOUT SWINE

So many chances

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ARKANSAS TIMES

We need to get stocked for the severe weather season.

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here. To. Begin.

At the outset, let’s point out that Arkansas, though recently liberated of the albatross of a 10-game losing streak that bracketed nearly a full year, still had not won an SEC game since pelting woeful Kentucky in Fayetteville all the way back in 2012. And the Hogs had not beaten a ranked conference team since dismantling South Carolina the November prior to that, when all seemed so rosy.

So this little statement game against sixth-ranked Texas A&M was one hellacious measuring stick on a schedule frontand back-loaded with them. Here was Arkansas’s golden opportunity to convince America how fast and how furious it has worked to launch itself from doormat. And guess what? The Hogs did genuinely succeed in that regard. You don’t check a Kevin Sumlin offense to 14 points for three quarters and display fearlessness in all facets of play over that same stretch and not consider it a pretty significant triumph. Arkansas had explosive plays in the passing and running game, and on special teams, and that translated to what appeared to be a commanding posture heading into the final minutes.

The spirited revelry ended there, though, and it’s that nasty aftertaste of another dodgy fourth quarter, debilitating errors and bewildering play-calling that still haunts Hog fans days after the Aggies finished off a 35-28 overtime win that felt so sickeningly familiar. Now, the postmortem has conventionally called out penalties, namely two massive mistakes

by Dan Skipper (whom, I might add, has a really hard time hiding from the officials) that negated a full field’s length of gains, cited A&M’s deep threats getting loose twice in the fourth quarter for long scores and pointed out that John Henson’s badly whiffed field goal attempt gave the Aggies the CPR they had to have in the waning moments. But this game wasn’t decided in the fourth quarter, and if you review the tape you’ll see that the Hogs should have had this contest well in hand much earlier in the afternoon.

They once again smartly executed the game plan and ate up 37 minutes of regulation with the ball. This columnist, never prescient about much, offered this basic prescription for accomplishment back in the summer. The problem? The offense only generated three scores (punter Sam Irwin-Hill’s long scoring run on the fake punt call before halftime being the other) and that’s simply not enough.

Yes, the Skipper penalties cut two more presumed touchdowns out, but there was something strangely erratic about the Hog offense in Dallas. The Hogs played behind the chains a little bit too much, and weren’t quite in sync even in building that two-touch-

down lead. Brandon Allen was very good once again, yet his receivers had little meaningful impact, as Keon Hatcher, BEAU Kendrick Edwards, WILCOX Cody Hollister and Jared Cornelius combined for seven grabs, 94 yards and no scores. That would’ve been serviceable against Texas Tech, but against the Raiders’ much deeper in-state brethren, it was paltry and evidence of an advantage that the Hogs didn’t exploit nearly enough.

It’s also beyond dispute that the quality of Jim Chaney’s play-calling went decidedly southward once that precarious lead was built. The largest offensive line in the free world, road-grading for a spectacular running back tandem to the tune of another 200-plus yards, was inexplicably called upon late to pass-block on second down three separate times in the fourth quarter. Yet when a deft play-action throw might’ve been called for on third-and-7 with less than three minutes remaining and the Hogs clinging to a 28-21 lead, Alex Collins got stuffed on a short run. That left it up to the untested Henson to pull a long attempt hard left, a situation in which the kicker frankly should have never been placed.

Therein lies the nagging pain that our long-nurtured inferiority complex has wrought upon us interested Razorback fans. Murphy’s Law seems to have this football program in a vise, and even as the Hogs seemed absolutely destined to shock the world Saturday in Arlington, they couldn’t escape their history. Bret Bielema correctly and astutely noted that all the failings on this particular afternoon were imminently fixable, but he’s having to wrestle with a culture and a long-held perception rather than a mere trend. What the schedule does afford the Hogs is the luxury of opportunity: The past two seasons, the Alabama game was a source of obvious dread, borne out by 52-0 scores in 2012 (that team quit) and 2013 (that team simply was overmatched). This year, though, it’s a chance at redemption, and a seemingly reachable one.

As a bye week is ahead, it’s easily the best-timed contest against the Crimson Tide in a while. The Hogs can spend a week doing what Bielema is pledging to do, which is right whatever wrongs surfaced in the late going against Auburn and Texas A&M. This Arkansas team is so much better equipped to play the Tide now, and Alabama will be coming off what theoretically will be a taxing game against Ole Miss.

THE OBSERVER NOTES ON THE PASSING SCENE

Yawp!

T

he Observer has been known, on occasion, to let the yard work go.

While we know there are those who simply live for perfecting their landscaping (“Out, damned crabgrass! Out, I say!”) Yours Truly has allowed The Observatory to be fairly swallowed from time to time. So, last week, after several sad, silent and judgmental stares from Spouse regarding the jungle-boogie condition of the side yard, The Observer finally went to Academy Sports, plunked down my $24.50, and bought myself a machete.

No, really. I bought a machete. Rubberized handle. Sheath with a belt loop.

Twenty-five inches of cold steel, my friend. You talkin’ to me? While leaving Freudian psychology and phallic symbolism to my betters, I will say that holding it does tend to make one feel like Conan the Barbarian — exactly the feeling The Observer had hoped for as a lad, when I begged dear ol’ Pa into buying me an Army surplus machete down at Bennett’s Military Supply on Main Street. I considered writing the War Department a stern letter about the quality of the goods being issued to the troops after being disappointed with the keenness of the thing. Only years later did Pa ’fess up that after Yours Truly had gone to sleep, he’d snuck out to the shed under cover of darkness and used his bench grinder to reduce the proud blade to an instrument with all the point and cleaving edge of a two-foot butter knife.

Pa no longer there to save me from myself, I got the sharpest one in the joint this time. Took it home, peeled the label covered in dire warnings off the blade, and then spent an hours wading around the yard laying waste to plant life, lacquered in sweat, “The Anvil of Crom” playing in my head. Oh, how the blade, swung in a high, devastating arc, zipped through branches and vines! It’s swashbucklingly glorious.

So to hell with your boring string trimmer!

My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my curb appeal. Prepare to die!

The neighbors will likely never make eye contact again, as The Observer may have loosed a few barbaric yawps. Still, the yard looks better, Spouse is happy, and it was a hell of a stress reliever. Pretty good for $24.50.

VIC FLEMING, TRAFFIC JUDGE BY day, puzzle creator the rest of the time, thought The Observer was after him for an ethics violation when we called the other day. Uh, no. The Observer was calling about the inspiration for his “I Swear Crossword” (Daily Record, Sept. 16) that called attention to the Thea Foundation, the nonprofit that promotes the arts in education. The puzzle is always paired with a column, related to the puzzle and usually about the law, but this “I Swear” column was about Thea Kay Leopoulos and the foundation the family created after her tragic highway death. Fleming’s intro: “THEA crops up in crosswords occasionally. In an easy puzzle, it’ll be clued as ‘Ellington’s “Take ___ Train.” ’ Or ‘Mr. T’s “___ Team”.’ In more challenging grids, THEA’s clues include ‘Actress Gill,’ ‘German author von Harbou,’ or ‘Mother of Eos.’ Snobby solvers don’t like any of these clues; thus, they don’t like THEA. That’s about to change. “Henceforth, a new clue for THEA will be available. I predict a change of attitude toward the answer.” So the accompanying puzzle, “Scholarship Awarder’s Eponym,” includes the clues as “First name of this puzzle’s honoree,” “Middle name of this puzzle’s honoree” and “Last name of this puzzle’s honoree.”

In the column, Fleming writes about the college scholarships that the Thea Foundation awards to high school artists, performing artists, poets, filmmakers and fashion designers, and he mentions the capital campaign the foundation has launched to create a $2 million endowment for the program (with an intriguing peer-to-peer component that lets folks invite funders on a specially created webpage).

Fleming, who met Thea Foundation director (and Thea’s father) Paul Leopoulos in 1992 at the Democratic National Convention, didn’t tell Leopoulos he was making the puzzle or writing the column, but he did call him to get his OK to run it. Leopoulos said he was “sort of blown away” by the puzzle’s creation. “It’s touched my heart,” he said in an email.

“It’s an honor to have a crossword puzzle

by Vic Fleming.”

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OCTOBER 2, 2014

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Arkansas Reporter

THE

IN S IDE R

Last summer, the state’s largest teacher union, the Arkansas Education Association (AEA), faced a potential identity crisis with the retirement of its 13-year executive director, Rich Nagel. The AEA found an energetic replacement a few months later in Tom Dooher, a veteran labor organizer and former president of the 70,000-member teachers union in Minnesota. Dooher came on board in February with an ambitious plan to revive the AEA, which in recent years has faced the threat of falling membership and a powerful education reform movement that’s often hostile to teachers unions.

But this weekend, to the surprise of both union staff and outside observers, the AEA’s 33-member board abruptly voted to terminate Dooher.

Dooher had a big vision for the AEA. He was determined to take the organization in a more assertive direction, hiring new staff with years of experience in Arkansas’s political scene and promising a renewed push for new recruitment and organizing. Dooher also imagined the AEA playing a bigger role in statewide elections and policy advocacy; the group invested heavily in a statewide organizing and field strategy for this November’s midterms. With control of the state House and the governorship (not to mention a Senate seat) hanging in the balance, the 2014 elections represent a pivotal moment in Arkansas’s partisan politics. A big ground game from the AEA could play a major role in the outcome of crucial races.

Brenda Robinson, president of the AEA, a position elected from union membership, said she couldn’t provide details on the firing.

“The only comment I can offer is that the AEA board of directors decided that top management needed to go in a different direction,” she said. “We have now employed Rich Nagel as our interim director as we go back out there for an executive director search.”

Nagel said he’s been hired on a 60-day contract with a possible 30-day extension, so the union will have to quickly find another chief.

Neither rank-and-file union members nor organizers at the National Education Association, the AEA’s parent group, were notified of the decision until after the closed-door vote by the board was over and done, according to sources. AEA staff expressed confusion and dismay at the ouster after 12

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

BRIAN CHILSON

AEA ousts executive director

MANNING THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: MEMS Brandi Johnson at the controls.

Trauma care: A medical symphony That’s how a long-time nurse describes the way the state’s new system is working.

BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK

T

he most important numbers — those that show definitively how well the state’s new trauma system is saving lives and sparing patients disabling injuries — are not yet in. The state’s Trauma Registry, a measure of hundreds of data points implemented in 2010, is being analyzed now to determine what deaths and injuries were preventable.

But medical personnel — including Dr. Todd Maxson, the trauma medical director at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the trauma consultant to the

Arkansas Department of Health’s trauma section — say the change has been “tremendous.”

And there’s a significant number the trauma care community does know: 7.

That’s the average of how many minutes it takes the Arkansas Trauma Communications Center to arrange transport for a seriously injured person to the most appropriate hospital to care for them. Before the creation of the call center, it took up to six hours or more for emergency departments caring for the injured to make arrange-

ments to get patients to the most appropriate hospital for care; meanwhile, the patient languished. Now, thanks to information relayed by the call center from emergency medical technicians and paramedics, emergency departments can have a trauma team ready and waiting when the patient arrives.

It means that Brittany Redding, now 21, survived a broken neck (she’d fractured two vertebra at the top of her neck, called a “hangman’s fracture”), skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, ruptured spleen and uncontrolled bleeding, broken ribs, multiple pelvis fractures and other injuries she sustained when her car was T-boned by another car in Fort Smith in June 2013.

Just two weeks earlier, Mercy Hospital at Fort Smith had devised a new procedure to handle patients with major injuries who needed to be stabilized before transport to a hospital that could take care of them.

When Redding arrived at Mercy at 3:36 p.m., the ambulance personnel had already radioed the emergency room the extent of her injuries and her trauma team had been activated. In the ER, she got a chest tube; in the OR she had a splenectomy and her bleeding was stabilized. When she came CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

LISTEN UP

THE

BIG PICTURE

THE HOUSE OF HILL, AND BACKWARDS

Banker J. French Hill, who is running for 2nd District Congress on the Republican ticket, lists his lineage among his other qualifications — “businessman, civic leader and ninth generation Arkansan” — for office. That’s damn near prehistoric, right? So we decided to check out Hill’s ancestral line, aided by online Catholic historical documents and information at arkansashistory. org, ancestry.com and other online sources. It starts out with a bang — and it’s French.

Generation 1: Don Joseph Bernard Valliere d’Hauterive Valliere, born in Languedoc, France, in 1747, came to Arkansas to take command of Arkansas Post in 1778. According to the Historic Arkansas Museum, which has a portrait of Valliere in its collection, the commandant stayed in the post until 1790 and was awarded a land grant of more than 6,000 acres. “Captain Joseph was known for his money-making schemes, both personal and civil, as well as attempting to elevate the level of commercial and cultural activity at Arkansas Post.” Valliere married Marie Felicite de Moran in 1763.

Generation 2: Marie Felicite Valliere, born to Joseph and Marie in 1771. She married Francois Nuisement de Vaugine, an officer in the Arkansas Post militia.

Generation 3: Eulalie Vaugine, born to Marie and Francois, married Creed Taylor in 1821 in Pine Bluff. Taylor was the first sheriff of Jefferson County.

Generation 4: Anne Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Eulalie and Creed Taylor, married Pierce Gracie, an Irishman who immigrated in 1835, in Bogy (Jefferson County) in 1848.

Generation 5: John M. Gracie, born 1856 to Anne and Pierce Gracie, was a cotton grower and vice president of the Bank of Pine Bluff. He married Sallie E. (maiden name unknown).

Generation 6: Mary Gracie, daughter of John and Sallie, b. 1879, married a man with the surname French. She was living with her parents after she married, according to the 1910 census, and was listed as the head of her household in the 1920 census.

Generation 7: Elizabeth Gracie French was the daughter of Mary Gracie French and born in Mexico about 1902. She married Joey (a.k.a. Jay) W. Hill, who was born about 1893. At one time, they lived in the Absolom-Fowler house on Sixth Street in Little Rock, which then became known as the Gracie Mansion.

Generation 8: Jay French Hill was born in 1926 to Elizabeth and Jay Hill.

Generation 9: J. French Hill, born in 1956 to Jay French Hill.

Democratic candidate Patrick Henry Hays has not made an issue of his Arkie-blood bona fides, but his campaign says he’s a fifth generation Arkansan. Seems like he was mayor of North Little Rock for several generations.

Tune in to the Times’ “Week In Review” podcast each Friday.

Available on iTunes & arktimes.com

INSIDER, CONT. Dooher’s short seven months on the job — especially with it coming at the peak of election season. Sources said personality clashes played a bigger role than any specific disagreement over policy, but no details are clear as of yet.

Robinson and Nagel said that the AEA’s election strategy would not be affected

by Dooher’s departure.

“Nothing changes,” Robinson said.

“We’re moving on as we would as if he were here. We’re ready to forge ahead, organize and win this election. We’re committed to continuing to serve our members and the students of Arkansas.”

Nagel agreed: “Pedal to the floor.”

Legislative committee punts on CAFO ban

Last week, the state legislative joint public health committee opted not to take action on a proposed ban on new controlled animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the Buffalo River watershed, instead pushing the matter to a joint hearing with the agriculture committee.

No date has been set; it will likely be a full-day hearing with testimony from both sides.

The new rules, proposed by the Arkansas Public Policy Panel and the Ozark Society, would prohibit the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality from issuing new permits to swine operations in the watershed with 750 or more swine weighing 55 pounds or more, or 3,000 or more swine weighing less than 55 pounds. The ban would only apply to new operations, and would have no impact on C&H Hog Farm, the controversial CAFO near a major tributary of the Buffalo River.

Normally the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality initiates the rulemaking process, but it is possible for a third party to do so. The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission granted petitions from the Panel and the Ozark Society to begin the rulemaking process back in April, which have now gone through public comment.

The rules have to go through review in the public health committee, the rules and regulations committee and finally Legislative Council. Lawmakers have previously told the Times that they believed the ban wouldn’t have trouble getting through the legislature, but it looks like things got stuck in public health. One big factor: Some thought the Farm Bureau would stay on the sidelines, but it has come out against the ban. A representative from the Farm Bureau spoke against it at the public health meeting. www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

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WAITING FOR RELIEF: The Dodson family.

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ARKANSAS TIMES

utism spectrum disorder, which affects an estimated 1 out of 88 children by age 8, includes a broad range of developmental conditions. For many people afflicted with milder incarnations such as Asperger’s syndrome, autism is simply a manageable part of their everyday lives.

Elsewhere on the spectrum, though, there are children like 14-year-old Nathan Dodson, who lives with his parents in Hot Springs. Teresa Dodson, Nathan’s mother, said her son’s mental development is “about on the level of a 4-year-old.” When upset, he tends to throw fearsome temper tantrums, which have become more and more difficult to handle as he’s grown larger.

“He’s unable to bathe himself. We have to prepare his meals, his drinks — he can’t even open a package of snacks without help.”

Other kids his age would be doing chores around the house, but that’s not an option for Nathan. “We’re responsible for his care all day long,” Dodson said.

Medicaid pays for a classroom aide to accompany Nathan throughout his school day, but at home his parents are on their own.

“Without having people trained to take care of our son, there’s no time away,” his mother said. “I can’t go to church anymore. We can’t go on vacations. We can’t even go out to dinner.” In 2011, it became clear she had to choose between working full time and providing care for her son. She decided to leave her 15-year career as an insurance agent.

“I began working from home and took a

Family vs. institutional care It’s cheaper to provide care for the disabled and elderly in their own homes than in institutions. So why is the legislature blocking reform?

BY BENJAMIN HARDY

60 percent pay cut,” she recalled.

Arkansas Medicaid guarantees couples like the Dodsons around-the-clock care for their disabled child — but only if the child is sent away to live in an institution. Arkansas maintains five Human Development Centers (HDCs) that house children and adults whose developmental disabilities are severe enough to qualify them for an “institutional level of care.” There are about 1,500 developmentally disabled Arkansans currently living in an HDC or a similar facility, their care paid for by taxpayers. That sets up a cruel choice for families like the Dodsons. Simply fill out a few forms, and Nathan would be placed in an HDC within a few months.

“Two years ago I had to seriously think about placing Nathan somewhere,” Dodson admitted. “His behavior had gotten so out of control that the school and myself weren’t sure what to do. But after much thought, much research and a lot of prayer I knew that my son would always be the most comfortable in his own home and his own community. Despite his struggles, he has formed strong bonds with family and friends, and just the thought of taking away everything he has ever known made me sick.”

Only a few months ago, it looked as if a federal reform initiative called the Community First Choice Option (CFCO) might change all of that. The CFCO would allow families like the Dodsons to pay for at-home care with Medicaid dollars. Then, in September, a committee of the Arkansas legislature

abruptly put the brakes on reform.

It would make intuitive sense to assume the reason Medicaid pays for institutional care but not home-based care is that HDCs are cheaper. But this is not the case. The Arkansas Department of Human Services says that the cost of providing home or communitybased services (think small group homes and assisted living) is generally between one-half and one-third the cost of housing a person in an institution like an HDC. There is an alternative — for some.

About 4,100 families statewide are served by a DHS waiver program that allows them to redirect Medicaid dollars to pay for home/communitybased services instead of institutionalization. That program, however, is capped. Another 3,000 families are on a waiting list for the waiver, including the Dodsons. They’ve been waiting for about seven years now, and movement is at a standstill. From 2010 to 2014, the family has progressed from 144st in line to 131st.

Dr. Charlie Green, who until recently ran the DHS division responsible for both the waiver program and the HDCs, said the backlog is unacceptable. “All these people are eligible to be in an institution, but they’ve chosen not to take those services,” Greeen said. “We have an obligation to serve these people and give them a choice.”

The Community First Choice Option

To deny them that option is to argue, in essence, that people who could live more cheaply and comfortably in their own homes and communities should be forced to live in institutions so that the institutions can continue to have a reason to exist. would do just that, by requiring that every family with a child who qualifies for entry to an HDC be given the option of receiving home/community-based services instead. No longer would institutionalization be the default for long-term care. The waiver program would cease to exist, since everyone would become eligible for home/community-based services.

Nor would this choice be extended only to the developmentally disabled: Elderly and physically disabled individuals who require a high level of care would also be guaranteed the right to obtain home/community-based services in lieu of entering a nursing home.

Because of the cheaper cost of home/ community-based care and an improved federal Medicaid match rate (see sidebar, next page), DHS said the change would save the state around $365 million over the next 12 years.

As a program of DHS, an executive agency, the CFCO does not entail a change in existing law, but its implementation still requires legislative CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

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DEMANDING CHOICE: Activists from ADAPT in Little Rock.

review. On Sept. 25 the Joint Public Health committee deferred action on the issue until the 2015 session or perhaps later. The committee cited the fact that DHS is still working out technical details of the program with its federal counterpart, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Democratic Rep. Greg Leding of Fayetteville, who supports the CFCO, said that was largely used as a fig leaf by legislators who want to kill the reform.

“Personally, I think it has more to do with legislative opposition than the questions from CMS,” Leding said.

“They’re using concerns from CMS as political cover, because they don’t want to come across as the bad guy. … I think there are legislators who are taking every opportunity to delay.”

Disability activists agree, and are outraged. Dodson and other parents rallied on the steps of the state Capitol in September and packed legislative hearings, pleading for lawmakers to approve the CFCO. Now, they are moving forward with a lawsuit against the state; Dodson says there will be at least 50 claimants and that they are seeking more.

In protest of the legislature’s intransigence, a national disability activist group called ADAPT staged three days of civil disobedience in Little Rock seeking commitments from the two men who are seeking to be Arkansas’s governor in 2015 — Democrat Mike Ross and Republican Asa Hutchinson — to

make the CFCO a priority if elected.

Ross’ camp was receptive, saying it supported the goals of the CFCO. After 21 protesters were arrested for trespassing at Hutchinson’s headquarters, his campaign declined to state a clear position.

ADAPT activists also targeted the two major interests that it believes are behind legislative resistance to the CFCO. The first is Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the Koch-funded conservative political nonprofit. The second is the nursing home industry.

Of these two groups, the objections of the first are more immediately clear: The CFCO is a part of the Affordable Care Act, and Americans for Prosperity is programmed to open fire on anything associated with Obamacare. That may be why the CFCO was pulled off an August agenda by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R-Rogers), an ally of AFP who co-chairs the Public Health committee.

On its website, AFP says the CFCO would give “more federal control” over who’s eligible for benefits and implies that the change would allow enrollment to balloon out of control. But state officials say that nothing in the CFCO would expand an entitlement to a new population. Rather, it gives a choice about how that entitlement is provided.

“These folks are already eligible,” Green said. He reiterated that home/

community-based services are generally cheaper than housing someone in an HDC. “The average is around $43,000 annually for someone on a waiver. It costs over twice that to stay in an institution.” Green explained that the higher expense of institutional care comes from maintaining a facility, including utilities, building upkeep and the cost of a roundthe-clock medical staff. Most families that receive care at home only require services for a few hours each day, not around the clock.

“We’re talking about services in the home to help with activities of daily living — basically attendant care and respite,” said Dianna Varady, the director of the Arkansas Autism Resource and Outreach Center at the University of Arkansas’s College of Education and Health Professions. “You can’t just leave your child, or your adult child, with the high schooler down the street who’s your babysitter.” An advocate for the developmentally disabled, Varady also has a son with autism who has been on the waiver waiting list for about seven years.

The second moneyed interest behind opposition to long-term care reform is the Arkansas Health Care Association (AHCA), which lobbies for the inter-

ests of nursing homes. The AHCA’s website says it represents 93 percent of the licensed long-term care facilities in Arkansas. Unlike Americans for Prosperity, the AHCA has been discreet in voicing its opinion on the CFCO; in an August legislative committee, the AHCA presented a list of questions, but did not state a position.

“I think the nursing homes have sort of identified legislators who can carry this issue,” Rep. Leding said. “They’ve been very stealthy in their opposition, and it took me a while to figure out why.

I think they see this as something potentially being a lot bigger.” Indeed, since the developmentally disabled are typically served by state-run Human Development Centers, why does the industry care about the CFCO? Varady said the answer lies in the fact that the CFCO also reforms long-term care for another population that nursing homes do depend on for business: the elderly. Like the developmentally disabled, elderly Arkansans with a sufficient level of need are entitled to institutional long-term care under Arkansas’s current Medicaid program. That typically means being sent to a nursing home, but there’s also a distinct DHS waiver program that allows the aged

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The Community First Choice Option The Community First Choice Option is intended to nudge state Medicaid policy away from default institutionalization and toward encouraging home/communitybased care. Much like the private option, the CFCO incentivizes states to make the shift by offering a more generous federal match rate on Medicaid dollars associated with the disabled and elderly.

Arkansas, being a relatively poor state, already receives a generous federal match rate on its Medicaid spending — a 70/30 match. That is, of every Medicaid dollar spent in Arkansas, 70 cents comes from D.C. and 30 cents comes from the state budget. Adopting the CFCO would bump up the federal match by 6 points, meaning the state share would decline to 24 cents.

“We get the extra 6 percentage points on the 4,100 people we’ve been serving [with the existing

developmental disability waiver], as well as everyone in elderly adults and physical disabilities — that’s a lot,” said Dr. Charlie Green of the state Department of Human Services. There are 7,300 elderly persons and 2,700 physically disabled adults currently on home/ community-based waivers who would otherwise likely be in nursing homes. Those extra 6 cents on every dollar add up quickly.

It’s true that the state’s higher match rate will be offset somewhat by the additional cost of paying for 3,000 families on the developmentally disabled waiting list. Those families currently do not receive long-term Medicaid at all — although they are entitled to receive it.

Still, the cost of home/community-based services is one-half to one-third the cost of institutional care. Even with those 3,000 additional clients, DHS estimates that the CFCO’s extra match would save $365 million out of state general revenue over a 12-year period.

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to seek home/community-based care, called ElderChoices. As of now, there is no waiting list for the ElderChoices waiver, because its cap has not yet been reached.

However, that doesn’t mean institutional care and home/communitybased care are equally easy to come by, Varady said.

“The way it works typically is that if, say, I’m in my 70s and break my hip, I’ll go to the hospital and then I have to make a choice about going into a nursing home or seeking a waiver. The process for transitioning into nursing home is

super easy and seamless. There’s no paperwork, no waiting. If you want care in your home you have to fill out a waiver application and wait for it to be reviewed.

“If the CFCO moves forward, that changes. Home care becomes an entitlement benefit.”

No more waiver process — instead, home/community-based care would be offered as an option for everyone. With the population of Arkansas aging, nursing homes stand to gain a great deal of business in the coming decades, but the CFCO potentially poses a threat to the

business model upon which the industry is predicated. To the nursing home advocates that oppose long-term care reform, this isn’t about the 3,000 people on the developmental disability waiting list at all. They’re simply collateral damage.

The Arkansas Times made repeated requests for a statement from the AHCA about the Community First Choice Option, but the only response offered

by Rachel Davis, the AHCA’s executive director, was the following: “Due to ongoing police investigations, I am not able to comment at this time on events

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ARKANSAS TIMES

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at our office last week,” a reference to the ADAPT protests. The AHCA did not respond to multiple phone calls and emails asking for a policy position on the CFCO itself.

For some families such as the Dodsons, it is apparent from a very early age that their children have a developmental disability. For others, that diagnosis comes later. Doug and Julia Siemens didn’t discover their son, Trenton, was autistic until he was in the fifth grade, when his difficulty communicating became more and more pronounced.

“As he grew and as his hormones kicked in, because of his lack of communication skills ... well, every kid on the disorder spectrum expresses things differently,” Doug Siemens said. “We just happened to have one who reacted with anger outbursts, and that was taking quite the toll on us. We applied for the waiver when he was a freshman or sophomore in high school.” That was in 2005.

Trenton remained on the list throughout high school, then after his graduation in 2009. He continued living at home for a couple of years afterward, and as his outbursts became more frequent and more violent, the Siemenses grew desperate for help. Placement in an institution seemed like their only option. They discovered that due to a quirk of DHS rules, Trenton would get bumped to the top of the waiver waiting list if he were housed in an HDC. “Then there was an incident that happened, and … we couldn’t have him at home any longer because of what was going on,” Doug Siemens said. The family got Trenton into the Jonesboro HDC — a long way from their home in Siloam Springs, but the Siemenses felt the facility was the best among what the state had to offer.

The family obtained their longsought waiver about a year later.

Trenton was placed in a transition group home, first in Jonesboro and then later back in Northwest Arkansas. He now lives in his own house in Siloam, which the Siemenses purchased with help from their extended family, and he’s assisted by aides and nurses from Arkansas Support Network, a nonprofit that provides home/community-based care for individuals with developmental disabilities. Doug Siemens said it’s been transformational.

Eventually, the Siemenses are hoping Trenton will be able to find a job.

None of this would be possible if he were still in an institution. “Now, I’m not saying HDCs aren’t needed,” Doug Siemens said.

“There are some people for whom that’s what’s necessary … but I can honestly say that if Trenton was in the HDC, he would have regressed.

He wouldn’t have had enough people around him who would have challenged him to grow. Here, he is progressing. He is doing better.”

It’s easy to forget that the developmentally disabled, like all of us, are works in progress. Though a person like Trenton may lack the full agency to make independent decisions about where he lives, his living circumstances make all the difference between growth and stagnation. The same is true of the elderly. A massive study published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association tracked 3,777 elderly people over the course of 22 years; after comparing those in nursing

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because they remember him not being that way.”

He’s also started playing team sports, something he could never do in school, said Doug Siemens.

“This is his fourth year playing softball with the development league over in Springdale. They’re adults from all across Northwest Arkansas and they have a blast.”

Chilson

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“ASN is very structured, and that’s what Trenton thrives under.

They’ve been able to get him out in the community ... he’s gone from a kid who wouldn’t look up and would just mumble hello, and now he’s one of the greeters at our church. He takes that job very seriously on Sunday mornings. He loves it, and people love seeing him,

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

19

homes with similar clinical conditions who remained outside of an institution, it concluded that “institutionalized elderly people present a greater cognitive decline than persons remaining in the community.”

But the need for home/community-based services is perhaps most pressing for parents of young children with developmental delays, as Julia Siemens pointed out.

“For the parents who have an 8- or 9-year-old, or even younger, it’s really going to help them to get services,” she said. “The sooner you can start getting children therapy, the better off they’re going to be, years down the road. We were not able to have that luxury for Trenton because we were trying to do everything on our own.”

The Siemenses have their waiver already, but they said the CFCO needs to move forward so others can get relief. “We’re pretty conservative, and Republicans,” said Doug Siemens, but, “we don’t see this as a partisan thing. I don’t care that it was attached to Obamacare or whatever. If it’s going to help families, then that’s not an issue for us.”

tions, which are major employers back home.

“We’re not going to shake peoIn addition to fiscal conservatives and the nursing home indusple out of HDCs — that’s not the try, there’s a game plan at third, more all,” Green, the DHS sympathetic source of official, said. opposi“We’re just tion to the giving them CFCO: some a choice. We parents of don’t have children any plans to reduce currently in budgets on the Human DevelopHDCs.” ment CenH o w ters. They ever, he conworry that ceded, “from the shift the numbers t o w a r d of people in home/comHDCs today, munitywe can see based care that demand will eat into has waned. If HDC budpeople don’t gets. Leghave to wait islators of for home and DELAYED CFCO: Sen. Cecile Bledsoe. both parcommunityties whose based serdistricts include HDCs are also vices for eight years, it might go fiercely protective of the institudown more. The demand for these

services all over the country has gone down. A lot of the parents of people in HDCs right now, their kids have been in there for 20, 30 years. There weren’t a lot of options back then.”

Leding, who in 2011 worked on a legislative study of care for the developmentally disabled, said that the state has to face the fact that long-term care is shifting away from places like HDCs. “We’re one of the last states to use them,” he said. “I do think their days are numbered … Nobody wants to shutter the HDCs tomorrow, but as far as directing more people to the centers — I think we should do more to promote the idea of independent, community-based care.”

With 4,100 families receiving waivers, another 3,000 on the list, and only 1,500 now housed in an HDC or similar institution, it’s clear that — given a choice — most families would rather keep their children at home or in their communities than send them to an institution. It seems likely that most elderly and physically disabled people would prefer the same. To deny them that option is to argue,

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OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

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in essence, that people who could live more cheaply and comfortably in their own homes and communities should be forced to live in institutions so that the institutions can continue to have a reason to exist.

The plaintiffs in the class-action case instigated by Dodson and others seem to stand on strong precedent. In a 1999 case called Olmstead v. L.C., the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Georgia had violated the civil rights of two disabled women by confining them in an institution for years after they asked to move to a communitybased setting. The court’s decision in Olmstead made two judgments explicit. First, “institutional placement of persons who can handle and benefit from community settings perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable of or unworthy of participating in community life” and, second, “confinement in an institution severely diminishes the everyday life activities of individuals, including family relations, social contacts, work options, economic independence, educational advancement, and cultural enrichment.”

Dodson said the state’s lack of action on the CFCO violates Olmstead. “We’ve already been waiting entirely too long. We should not have to continue waiting,” she said.

Lately, things have been especially rough in her household. Her older son, who helped out with Nathan, has moved out of the house. Complications from back surgery kept her husband away from work for an extended period earlier this year.

“We’ve got behind on our bills, further and further behind,” she said.

(Her husband has since resumed work after recovering from surgery.

Sending her child away to an institution, though, is still off the table.

“I decided [two years ago] that I would make any sacrifice I had to make to keep my son at home and living within his own community where he is loved and protected. If it had come down to it, I never would have been able to leave him anywhere. As a parent, could you move your child away from everything they’ve ever known?”

THURSDAY OCT 9, 2014 Begins 7 p.m.

Bless the Mic: Chopped and Screwed Arvin Mitchell, August 8, 2014 Arvin Mitchell, born in the heart of St. Louis, is known for Coming to the Stage (2003), Dance Fu (2011) and BET’s Comicview (1992).

Comedian Arvin Mitchell has hit the comedy scene running since his debut on BET’s Coming to the Stage in 2003. Arvin Mitchell has also starred in two gospel hit plays, A House Divided (Fox Theater- STL, Norfolk, Peoria) and If They Only Knew (Wichita, Oklahoma City).

He was the co-host of BET’s Club Comic View and host of Spring Bling 21 Questions.

in the M.L. Harris Auditorium, free and open to the public.

For more information call

501-370-5354.

No tickets or RSVPs required.

Season 10: Bless the Mic Opener Dr. Walter Kimbrough, August 21, 2014 Kimbrough has been recognized for his research and writings on HBCUs and African American men in college. In October of 2004, at the age of 37, he was named the 12th president of Philander Smith College. In 2012 he became the 7th president of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. In February of 2013 he was named to NBC News/ The Griot.com’s 100 African Americans making history today, joining another impressive group including Kerry Washington, Ambassador Susan Rice, Kendrick Lamar, Mellody Hobson, and RG III. Jasmine Guy, September 16, 2014 Performer, director, writer, and choreographer Jasmine Guy became a national sensation playing iconic southern belle “Whitely Gilbert” on The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World, for which she won six consecutive NAACP Awards. Her other television roles include the mini-series Queen with Halle Berry, The Vampire Diaries, Anne Rice’s Feast of All Saints, The Boy Who Painted Christ Black with Wesley Snipes, NYPD Blue, Melrose Place, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Parkers, Touched by an Angel, and Showtime’s hit series Dead Like Me with Mandy Patinkin. On the big screen, Guy’s first film work was in Spike Lee’s School Daze. She co-starred with Eddie Murphy in Harlem Nights and also starred in several independent fils including Kalsh, Guinevere, Diamond Men, and The Heart Specialist with Zoe Saldana.

Prentice Powell, October 9, 2014 James Logan High School alumnus and spoken word artist. Prentice is one of two poets that appeared on two episodes of Verses & Flow season one, and was brought back for season two. Powell uses poetry to speak on issues of race, social justice and fatherhood, often challenging stereotypes of black men. Powell was named the Best Poet by the East Bay Express in 2010, as well as 2007 Spoken Word Artist of the Year at the Black Music Awards.

Talib Kweli, November 6, 2014 Talib Kweli is a rapper from Brooklyn. His gain in popularity started when he rapped with Mos Def in a group called Black Star in the late 90s. Kweli has been in the rap game for more than 20 years, with songs like “Black Girl Pain”, “Broken Glass”, and “Brown Skin Lady”. He released an album in early 2014 called Grativitas.

2014-2015 Lecture Schedule Prentice Powell Poet

James Logan High School alumnus and spoken word artist, Powell is one of two poets that appeared on two episodes of “Verses & Flow” All events in and thewas BlessTheMic season one, brought back for season two. Powell uses poetry to series begin atrace, 7 p.m. in the speak on issues of social justice and fatherhood, challenging M. L. Harris often Auditorium, stereotypes of black men. Powell was named and the Best Poet bytothethe East public.

Bay are free open Express in 2010, as well as 2007 For more Spoken Wordinformation Artist of the Yearplease at the Black Music Awards.

call 501-370-5354.

No tickets or RSVPs required

Pooch Hall, January 22, 2015 Actor Pooch Hall didn’t get started with “The Game”; he began in commercials and then made his debut in the film Lift (2001). He played Derrick, a shoplifter. Pooch was in several movies, including the hit film Black Cloud (2004) written and directed by Rick Schroder. His latest acting role is playing Ty’ree Bailey in the new miniseries based on the book, Miracle’s Boys (2005).

Elaine Brown, February 11, 2015 Elaine Brown is an American prison activist, writer, singer, and former Black Panther Party chairman; she is the only woman to have held that position. As a Panther, Brown also ran twice for a position on the City Council of Oakland. Since the 1970s she has been active in prison and education reform and juvenile justice.

Amy Dubios Barnett, April 16, 2015 Amy DuBois Barnett is an award-winning print and online media executive, writer and motivator. She is the author of an empowering advice book for women, Get Yours! How To Have Everything You Ever Dreamed Of And More. Her vision has shaped the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Teen People, Honey magazine, and Ebony - the oldest and largest black magazine in the country where she was editor-in-chief until 2014.

900 Daisy Bates Drive Little Rock, AR 72202 900 Daisy Bates Drive www.philander.edu Little Rock, AR 72202 www.philander.edu

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OCTOBER 2, 2014

21

TRAUMA CARE: A MEDICAL SYMPHONY, CONT. out of surgery, an Air Evac helicopter was waiting to take her to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She was flown out at 5:30 p.m. It’s been a tough year for her, but she’s recovered.

“Under the old regime, she most likely would not have survived,” said Linda Nelson, the trauma coordinator at Mercy Hospital and an emergency department nurse for 28 years. In the past, Redding would have been brought to the emergency room and a doctor would have done a diagnostic workup. Then the surgeon would have been contacted. The surgeon would then pull his medical team together based on the injuries he was seeing.

Under the old system, had Redding been injured in a rural area, an ambulance would have been required to transport her to the nearest hospital, whether that hospital was equipped to treat her or not. Then, the ambulance would have left. “We were done. I did my duty,” said Tim Tackett, a paramedic for 27 years and member of the Governor’s Trauma Advisory Council, said about the old system. The rural hospital’s doctors and nurses would have had to take it from there — trying to reach doctors at other hospitals by phone and getting approval to send the patient on and arranging for transport. Hours could pass before arrangements were complete.

Meanwhile, Redding would have waited.

“In the past, we all acted in silos, not necessarily speaking the same language.

We were not necessarily coordinating our efforts,” Nelson said. Treatment “was sequential.” Today, treatment is “like a symphony.”

Redding believes the trauma team’s efforts at Mercy are the reason she is alive.

“I had a C-1 and C-2 vertebrae fracture. I shouldn’t even be walking, I shouldn’t be breathing, I should be on a ventilator. It’s a miracle. It has to do with how you are handled from beginning to end. Honestly, I believe that UAMS did an amazing job, but it was the first people to put hands on me, it was Mercy.”

The Arkansas legislature approved bills creating a trauma system and a tobacco tax to fund it in 2009.

At the time, Arkansas was one of only three states in the nation without a trauma system.

The system, with a budget of $22.7 million for 2015, has many parts: participating hospitals, designated as Levels I (the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital) through Level IV depending on the services they offer; the Arkansas Trauma Communications Center, which coordinates emergency transport statewide; and

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OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

continuing education for emergency medical personnel, from technicians to physicians. As those involved note, the system is only as strong as its weakest link. “If any part of the trauma system breaks down, lives don’t get saved,” surgeon Maxson said.

One of the trauma system’s best tools is the live dashboard operated at the ATCC

by MEMS, which got the state’s business to be the Grand Central Terminal of the system because it already had a dashboard in place for Pulaski County. Two employees dedicated to trauma are on duty around the clock, taking calls from ambulance EMTs and medics and manning computer displays that show what hospitals are available to provide which procedures, data that is updated in real time by the hospitals. Availability in each specialty — such as neurosurgery — is color-coded: Alpha (green) means the hospital has capability and availability. Bravo (yellow) means the hospital has capability but is operating at capacity. Charlie Temp (red) means the service is temporarily not offered. Charlie (orange) means that the service is never available at the hospital. “Arkansas has a lot of orange,” ATCC director Jeff Tabor said during a tour of the center.

To make the call center work as it should, Tabor said, “we had to offer a no diversion guarantee.” That means if a hospital says it has an orthopedic surgeon available, it has to accept a patient in need of one.

No longer do ambulances make “round robin” trips to ERs in Little Rock to find a department willing to accept their patients.

The dashboard, which also indicates helicopters in service, requires hospitals to stay on top of the information they put into the system and medics and other medical professionals to accurately describe the injuries of their patients so operators know what hospital is most appropriate to treat the injuries. Every ambulance in Arkansas now has a trauma radio, which allows EMTs and paramedics to communicate with the dashboard over the AWIN digital channel used by the State Police.

Part of the trauma system is making use of technology that some hospitals did not know they had: the ability to read CT scans and send them electronically to doctors at the receiving hospital. No longer must hospitals download scans of brain injuries to a disc — discs that may or may not open at the receiving hospital — to transfer along with the patient. No longer do patients have to undergo repeat CT scans. The system uses technology already provided to hospitals some time back for disaster preparedness (on computers sometimes forgotten and stuffed away into a corner of the ER) to upload scans to an image repository accessible to hospitals. “A dozen kids are alive because we’ve been able to get [the doctors] these,” Maxson said. He gave as

an example a patient of his who’d been struck by a car while on a bicycle and “had an epidural hematoma and was changing neurologically.” Films of the injury taken at a Level III hospital were uploaded to the repository, Children’s downloaded them (a transfer that took a minute) and had the trauma crew with neurosurgeons available when the patient arrived. “She spent 13 minutes in the trauma room and went up to the OR where she had her epidural evacuated safely and she is doing very well,” Maxson said.

The trauma system has also changed the way persons with serious hand injuries are treated. With only one hand surgeon capable of doing replants at one time and only a few other trained hand surgeons that took calls, patients were sent to hospitals out of state via helicopter, at great expense.

Sometimes, their injuries either couldn’t be helped by surgery or weren’t serious enough.

As part of the trauma system, Arkansas now has the Hand Trauma Telemed Program, and Tabor has seven hand surgeons he can call on to determine the severity of the injury.

The Health Department’s records on trauma fatalities showed a drop from 2009 to 2011 of 90 deaths. The number of fatalities rose again in 2012. Those figures are not adjusted for population, so it’s not known as a percentage what the change in outcomes was. A more important statistic, perhaps, is the number of times a trauma team was activated. In 2010, a trauma team was activated for 11 percent of all trauma patients.

In 2014 so far, that has risen to 22 percent — higher than the national average.

So is the system paying off? For legislators, “ultimately, all you want to know is am I less likely to die before you gave me the money,” said Bill Temple, branch chief for injury prevention and control at the Health Department. So what is a saved life worth? Economists say between $2 million and $6 million. As a trauma surgeon, Maxson sees those cases. Part of his job is to “take family into a very small room [and give them bad news]. I’m moved greatly by the impact of 90 people being alive. It’s an incredible gift.”

There are challenges ahead for the trauma system: Its budget has declined over the years and carry-over funds that helped created unanticipated but highly valuable parts of the system are disappearing as more of the system goes online. One of the trauma system’s best tools — and one which was not in the original trauma budget — is the ATCC call center operated

by MEMS. The Governor’s Trauma Advisory Council has begun looking at changes in the way it allocates its dollars in the future.

OCTOBER 10

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Live music by Amy Garland

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Fine Wine

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Lecture and book signing with Samuel R. Phillips, editor of Torn by War: The Civil War Journal of Mary Adelia Byers

FEATURED ARTIST BARRY THOMAS WINE & CHEESE TASTING 405 E 3rd • Downtown Little Rock 501-791-6700

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These venues will be open late.

There’s plenty of parking and a FREE TROLLEY to each of the locations.

Don’t miss it – lots of fun!

Free parking at 3rd & Cumberland

FREE TROLLEY RIDES!

Free street parking all over downtown and behind the River Market (Paid parking available for modest fee.)

www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

23

50 Breweries & Over 250 Beers The Arkansas Times along with the Argenta Arts District is excited to announce their third annual craft beer festival. We want to share the celebration of the fine art of craft brewing in America by showcasing over 250 beers.

One big night of fun, food, entertainment & tasting fine beer!

Local Live Music! and T-shirts!

10 Restaurants

Arkansas Ale House (Diamond Bear Beer), Cafe Bossa Nova, Cregeen’s Irish Pub, Crush Wine Bar, The Fold Botanas & Bar, Old Chicago NLR and Travis McConnell, Whole Hog North Little Rock, and

(included in ticket price)

October 24 - 6 to 9 pm th

RAIN OR SHINE!

Argenta Farmer’s Market Grounds 6th & Main Street, Downtown North Little Rock

TICKETS, BREWER DETAILS & MORE AT: Benefiting

arktimes.com/craftbeerfest Buy Tickets Early - Admission is Limited

$35 early purchase - $40 at the door

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(Includes tastings and food.)

Participants must be 21 years or older. Please bring ID.

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Abita, Anchor, Apple Blossom, Bayou Teche, Blue Canoe, Boulevard, Breckenridge, Caldera, Charleville, Choc, Core, Crazy Mountain, Crown Valley, Diamond Bear, Evil Twin, Finch ‘s, Flyway, Fossil Cove, Founders, Goose Island, Green Flash, Lazy Magnolia, Leap of Faith, Left Coast, Marshall, Moody Brews, Mother’s, New Belgium, North Coast, O’Fallon, Ommegang, Ozark Beer, Piney River, Prairie, Rebel Kettle, Saddlebock, Sam Adams, Shiner, Schlafly, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada, Southern Star, Stone’s Throw, Summit, facebook.com/arktimescraftbeerfestival Tallgrass, Tommyknocker, Vino’s

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OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

PRESENTED BY LANDERS FIAT ■ HOST SPONSOR: ARLINGTON HOTEL & SPA

THE 23RD ANNUAL

T

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

he 23rd Annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival will be held October 10-19, 2014 at the Arlington Hotel and Spa in the Historic Downtown District of Hot Springs. ■ Through screenings, panels, forums and special events, HSDFF brings cultural and social enrichment to all ages. The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF) is the oldest non-fiction festival in North America and an Academy-qualifying festival in the category of Documentary Short Subject. ■ The 2014 festival will also host several film juries, Spa City Best Documentary Feature, Spa City Best Documentary Short and Spa City Best Sports Documentary, made up of distinguished members of the international filmmaking community, including multiple Oscar®-winning filmmakers. ■ Panels and forums will include a short seminar with Oscar-winning producer Mitchell Block, “32 Short

Notes on Making Documentary Films” Discussions on shooting in combat zones, and on ethics in documentary filmmaking featuring the Spa City Career Achievement Award recipient, Gordon Quinn; and a forum by the Renaud Brothers with footage from their breakout Vice series Last Chance High. ■ In addition to films, filmmaker receptions and VIP parties will take place up and down historic Central Avenue and beyond at venues like the Quapaw Bathhouse, the Gangster Museum of America, the Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Ozark Bathhouse. ■ Be sure to reference the Film & Event Schedules located at the end of this section for the specifics. Plan your trip to Hot Springs using the special rates and hotels you will find within this guide, select the films and events you don’t want to miss and meet me in the beautiful Spa City this October to take advantage of all the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival has to offer.

DOLLAR PHOTO CLUB, © FLAS100 - FOTOLIA

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ARLINGTON! The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa is proud to serve as the HSDFF Host and Main Sponsor!

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Opening Night Event Glen Campbell...I’ll Be Me

SIC G LIVE M U FEATU R INR FOR MANC ES PE

James Keach | USA | 104 min | Arkansas Premiere This powerful portrait of the life and career of great American music icon Glen Campbell opens to the viewer the world of the singular talent who created hits like Rhinestone Cowboy, Wichita Lineman and Gentle on My Mind. Glen and his wife Kim made history by going public in 2011 with the star’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis – the first time a major American celebrity would share this experience with the world.

Campbell and his family then embarked on a short “Goodbye Tour,” but the three-week engagement turned into an emotional and triumphant 151-show nationwide tour de force. GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME is an epic human story of love, resilience and the power of song.

Director and producer James Keach, producer Trevor Albert and subjects Kim Campbell, Cal Campbell, Ashley Campbell and Shannon Campbell will attend for a Q & A, followed by a live performance by brother/ sister duo Ashley and Shannon Campbell. Music by more of the Campbell family at the Arlington afterparty provided by Billstown and Drew Henderson Band with guest appearances by Campbell’s siblings Barbara, Sandra, Jane and Gerald.

Ashley Campbell and Glen Campbell performing together on “The Goodbye Tour,” in a scene from GLEN CAMPBELL...I’LL BE ME, directed by James Keach. Photo Courtesy of PCH Films

WHERE UNWINDING

26

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I I I I I I Welcome to the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival!

Highlights

Discover who you can become at asmsa.org.

Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts

I I I I I

Digital Learning • Residential Experience • Enrichment Programs

Meet the Patels

#ASMSA

501-622-5100

D: Geeta V. Patel, Ravi V. Patel | USA | 88 min | Regional Premiere That would be Geeta, with the camera, and her brother Ravi, a lovesick Hollywood actor. And their traditional Indian parents – who’ve been enlisted to help Ravi find a wife the old-fashioned (and unwittingly hilarious) way. Audience Award Best Documentary Feature Los Angeles Film Festival, Best Documentary Film, Audience Award Traverse City Film Festival, Official selection Hot Docs Subjects Vasant and Champa Patel in attendance for post screening Q&A session.

Songs for Alexis

SIC G LIVE M U FEATU R INR FOR MANC ES PE

D: Elvira Lind | Denmark | 75 min | US Premiere With wild hair, lip ring, and T-shirts proclaiming his affinity for 70s punk and 80s hardcore, 18-year-old Ryan looks and acts the part of rock star in the making. He’s a talented, up-and-coming musician with a loyal following, a supportive family and a girlfriend named Alexis that he adores. He’s also a 21st century transman, out and proud, which is a problem for his 16-yearold sweetheart’s parents, who disapprove of their relationship. A modern day, coming-of-age tale that reminds us of what it feels to be young and in love.

Official selection Hot Docs, Frameline, Raindance (London) Filmmaker and subjects Ryan Cassata, Fran Cassata in attendance & Live performance by singer/songwriter Ryan Cassata.

E N A B L I N G S H O PA H O L I C S

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Sports Features

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Highlights

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MORE

Back on Board

Take Me to the River

SIC G LIVE M U FEATU R INR FOR MANC ES PE

D: Martin Shore | USA | 95 min A joyous celebration of Memphis music, bringing together multiple generations of award-winning Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians, and following them through the process of recording an historic new album, re-imagining the utopia of racial, gender and generational collaboration of Memphis in its heyday. Featuring Terrence Howard, William Bell, Snoop Dog, Mavis Staples, Otis Clay, Lil P-Nut, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, Yo Gotti, Bobby Rush, Frayser Boy, The North Mississippi All-Stars and many more. Executive produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads. Official selection SXSW, Nashville Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival Filmmaker will attend with songwriter, music producer and Stax Records legend Al Bell, music producer and head of Royal Studios Lawrwnce “Boo” Mitchell, followed by a Live Performance

by Stax Music Academy Alumni, soul artist William Bell and Memphis artist Al Kapone.

SIC G LIVE M U FEATU R INR FOR MANC ES E P

Mateo

FORUMS

D: Aaron Naar | Japan, Cuba, USA| 88min | Regional Premiere Matthew Stoneman is “America’s first gringo mariachi singer.” No, seriously. A prison stint led to his education in both the Spanish language and Cuban music – and now the unexpectedly talented musician is determined to invest every cent he has (and more) into the making of a Buena Vista Social Club-level album in Havana. If the lure of las chicas cubanas doesn’t get him first.

Filmmaker and subject Mathew Stoneman in attendance for Live performance.

DAZED, CONFUSED AND FEARLESS:

A Heart-to-Heart with Joey Lauren Adams Ask her anything from her first role in Dazed and Confused, joking with Adam Sandler on Big Daddy, her directorial debut on Come Early Morning, making the adjustment from North Little Rock to Hollywood and why she just can’t seem to ever really leave Arkansas.

See a short preview of upcoming doc 21 Years: Richard Linklater

D: Cheryl Furjanic | USA | 90 mins | Regional Premiere reveals, with unprecedented access, the complicated life of an athlete whose grace, beauty, and courage sparked a worldwide fascination with diving. This film chronicles Greg Louganis’ rise from a difficult upbringing to nearly universal acclaim as the greatest diver ever, and from pioneering openly gay athlete with HIV to an overlooked sports icon. An engrossing story of an American legend as he re-emerges on the world stage to combat prejudice, promote tolerance, and return to the diving world after a long period of absence to act as a mentor to the next generation.

Greg Louganis will attend the screening along with filmmaker Cheryl Furjanic.

Hoop Dreams 20th Anniversary

D: Steve James | USA | 175 min A special 20th anniversary screening of the universally acclaimed documentary Hoop Dreams tells the story of two African-American high school students in Chicago, William Gates and Arthur Agee Jr., and their dream of becoming professional basketball players.

The film was Oscar®-nominated and it’s many honors include the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, Chicago Film Critics and Los Angeles Film Critics Awards for Best Documentary.

HSDFF will welcome special guests Arthur Agee Jr. and producer Gordon Quinn for a Q&A after the screening.

When We Were Kings

D: Leon Gast | USA | 88 min Underdog challenger Muhammad Ali takes on champion George Foreman in this Oscarwinning look at the legendary 1974 heavyweight championship bout in Zaire.

Filmmaker Leon Gast and special guests Rasheda Ali-Walsh and Nico Walsh, daughter and grandson of boxing great Muhammad Ali.

WHERE GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT

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Shorts Of Many

D: Linda G. Mills | USA | 34 min Against the backdrop of 9/11, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the tension between Jewish and Muslim students on college campuses, a surprising and transformative relationship forms between an orthodox rabbi and imam, who serve as university chaplains in New York City. Executive producer: Chelsea Clinton.

Satellite Beach

Mocumentary Short D: Luke Wilson, Andrew Wilson | USA | 26 min Actor and Filmmaker Luke Wilson stars as Warren Flowers, a devoted and unlikely shuttle manager, oversees the journey of the Endeavour space shuttle as it travels through the streets of Los Angeles to the California Science Center and the final move of the Atlantis space shuttle to the Kennedy Space Center.

Filmmakers Luke Wilson, Mitchell Block, William J. Stribling and William Johnston-Carter in attendance.

JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR

BEST JAPANESE

BEST SUSHI

PRIVATE TATAMI TABLES & PARTY ROOM Full Cocktail Lounge Daily Lunch Specials 3954 CENTRAL AVENUE (BEHIND STARBUCKS) HOT SPRINGS · 501.525.9888 OSAKAHOTSPRINGS.COM LUNCH MON-SUN 11AM–3PM DINNER SUN-TUES 4:30–10PM FRI-SAT 4:30–10:30PM

Evolution of A Criminal

D: Darius Clark Monroe | USA | 81 min | Arkansas Premiere From executive producer Spike Lee, this one-of-a-kind documentary traces filmmaker Monroe’s journey from honors student to convicted felon by the age of 16. A probing look at how one teenager’s terrible decision can have lifetime consequences for both perpetrator and victims alike. Official selection SXSW, Los Angeles Film Festival

DAVID SHANKBONE ©

C

Flirt with the Darkside: THE MIDNIGHT ARCHIVE FILM SCREENING AND POP-UP MUSEUM

Historic Park Hotel Established 1929

ϔ

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW

An evening of films and objects of arcane beauty and mystery. Director Ronni Thomas, creator of the Midnight Archive film series, will screen selected films from the series as well as upcoming films all centered around the macabre, the uncanny and the sublime. In companion to the films, guests will be invited to view objects from his personal home ‘museum’ and guests will have the rare privilege of witnessing a ‘haunted’ antique ouija board, remains of a 3,000 year old mummy, 19th century 3D ‘Diableries’ and more. The event will launch the director’s new series, “The Morbid Anatomy Presents” film series which is linked to Brooklyn’s new ‘Morbid Anatomy Museum’ www.morbidanatomymuseum.com. The program includes Ronni Thomas’ new documentary Walter Potter: The Man Who Married Kittens. Filmmaker in attendance.

WHERE GOOD TIMES ARE

Give Code 1717 For Special Film Festival Rate $89. 99 plus tax Standard room per night.

Single or Double occupancy

211 Fountain Street Hot Springs, AR 71901 501-624-5323 • 800-895-7275 www.parkhotelhotsprings.com

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Closing Night Event F

the

Spa City

lowing out of the ground at an average temperature of 143 °F, the hot springs found in Hot Springs National Park, produce almost one million gallons of water a day and were such a coveted natural wonder that in 1832, President Andrew Jackson designed Hot Springs as the first federal reservation. Hot Springs Reservation was essentially America’s first national park, predating Yellowstone National Park by 40 years. The city’s colorful past as the 1930’s playground of Al Capone lingers in the air amidst the majestic turn-of-the-century buildings that make up Bath House Row. Hot Springs is also the boyhood home of our nation’s 42nd President Bill Clinton, who credits the resort city as being responsible for the early educational experiences that led him to a career in public service, first as Arkansas attorney general, then governor of Arkansas, and ultimately the Presidency of the United States. Use the guide below to explore the best that our friendly, historic city has to offer.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN Enjoy gorgeous hiking trails in the Ouachita Mountains, tour the historic Fordyce Bathhouse and Visitor Center, try a relaxing Hot Springs spa and fill up on the cool mineral water that flows from the springs at various locations throughout the city.

To Be Takei

D: Cheryl M. Kroot and | USA | 90 mins Over seven decades, actor and activist George Takei boldly journeyed from a WWII internment camp in Arkansas, to the helm of the starship Enterprise, to the daily news feeds of five million Facebook fans. Join our special guests George Takei and Brad Takei on their playful and profound trek for life, liberty, and love and then for an exclusive Q & A following the screening. Official selection Sundance Film Festival, AFI Docs, Seattle International Film Festival.

Film and discussions will be followed by an afterparty on the Arlington mezzanine.

George Takei and Brad Takei in attendance

Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA) located at 200 Whittington Avenue, is one of fifteen public residential high schools in the country specializing in the education of gifted and talented students who have an interest and aptitude for mathematics, sciences and the arts. ASMSA is unique in its mission and service to education. Created in 1991 by an act of the Arkansas Legislature, they have the distinction of being one of the nation’s top secondary schools for superior students. Stop by while you’re here to learn how they can help you obtain the education necessary to chase your dreams. (501) 622-5100 Downtown also includes Victorian architecture, world-class art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs and classic hotels, such as The Arlington Hotel and Spa, the host and sponsor of the film festival that will be offering special room rates of $92 per night during the festival. 239 Central Ave. (501) 623-7771.

The Park Hotel will be offering special room rates of $89.99 per night during the festival. (501) 624-5323. Call now to make your reservations and use code #1717 to receive the discounted rate, or www.parkhotelhotsprings.com Located at 211 Fountain Street and just steps away from the festival, this is the perfect place for those who want to be very close to the festivities, without all of the hustle and bustle.

The Park Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and exemplifies the architectural brilliance of the 1920’s and 30’s. While visiting, try their in house Italian restaurant Angel’s In The Park or check out their sister restaurant Angel’s for either lunch or dinner located at 600 Central Avenue on the main strip.

Just down the street from the Hotels make a stop at Lauray’s: The Diamond Center. Established in 1886 they know about the importance of quality and selection in addition to the four “C’s” – Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut. The quality of diamonds you’ll find at Lauray’s is extraordinary because of their relationships with cutters around the world. Lauray’s also has the one of the widest selections of diamonds in all shapes and sizes and the Lauradiant diamonds cut to Lauray’s

SEIZE THE 30

OCTOBER2,2,2014 2014 ARKANSAS ARKANSAS TIMES OCTOBER TIMES

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day spa.

exacting standards to enhance their brilliance. 402 Central Ave. Hot Springs, AR 71901 (501)-321-2441 www.laurays.com While you are on Central Avenue, stop by Steinhaus Keller, located in the grotto of Spencer’s Corner at 801 Central Avenue, Ste. 15 and only minutes away from the festival. It has a unique cave like atmosphere and a wide selection of your favorite German beers along with a full service restaurant and live entertainment, making this a stop you should not miss while in the city.

ARKANSAS’S NEWEST

MAN RESTAURANT GER& BIERGARTEN

A SHORT DRIVE AWAY Do not forget to stop by Arkansas Furniture and take in its large showroom that will offer you an array of options to color your home with beautiful unique furniture and accents. As soon as you enter the store you’ll know you’re in for an extraordinary home furnishings shopping experience. Great looks, plenty of color, and too much selection, that just about sums it up! They are one of Arkansas’s best kept secrets making this a stop you don’t want to miss. They are located at 1901 Albert Pike Rd. (hwy 270 west) less than ten minutes away from the festival. (501) 623-3849. www. arkansasfurniture.com Osaka, Hot Springs’ largest Japanese restaurant offers up a broad range of selections, with a menu that features delicious hibachi, tempura, teriyaki, noodles and sushi rolls.

Named for best sushi and Japanese by Arkansas Times Reader’s in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards, Osaka just added many new rolls to their menu of which the #1 Ichiro Roll, Doublr Trouble Roll, San Francisco Roll, and the Desert Rolls are favorites. The exotic atmosphere offers a variety of seating options, including private tatami, dining tables, a party room, sushi bar and the always exciting hibachi tables. 3954 Central Ave., (501) 525-9888.

FULL SERVICE BAR AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATIONS EVERY WEEKEND OF OCTOBER! TUES-FRI 3-10PM FRI-SAT 3PM-2AM SUN 3PM-9PM

FEATURING THE LARGEST SELECTION OF GERMAN BIER IN THE STATE!

501-624-7866 Lower level of Spencer’s Corner 801 Central Avenue, Suite 15 Hot Springs

facebook.com/SteinhausKeller

IF YOU LOVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS One of Hot Springs’ best features is believed to be its location in the Diamond Lakes Region of the scenic Ouachita Mountains. State and national parks in the area offer camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding and birding along scenic mountain trails.

World-class Arkansas golf courses in the Hot Springs area provide challenging play on lovely courses. When you go hunting for quartz crystals, you can keep all the natural treasures you find. Nearby Garvan Woodland Gardens, proclaimed one of the Top 5 arboretums in the nation, offers a 4 1/2 mile lakeside wonderland showcase of natural trees, plants, shrubbery and foliage.

STUNNING IS STANDARD

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND TOURISM

You’ll find the perfect combination of relaxing activities and kick-out-all-thestops attractions in the Spa City that make Hot Springs a popular group travel destination.

The Arlington Hotel and Spa

SHOP LOCAL

W H E R E F U N I S PA R T O F T H E

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Friday, Oct. 10

Opening Night Pre-Reception, Screening & Post Reception ($25 per person). Admission included for VIP Pass holders.

Priority seating for screening given to VIP Pass holders 4 p.m. – Donor Party & VIP Social at Pagoda Hill located in Historic Downtown Hot Springs. Open to festival Sponsors/Donors by invitation only. Please call (501) 538-2290 for info.

5:30 p.m. - Traditional Opening Night Champagne & Popcorn Reception kick-off on Mezzanine Level of The Arlington Hotel.

6:00 p.m. - Theater doors open. VIP passholders, including sponsors. donors and visiting filmmakers admitted first.

6:30 p.m. - Screening of Glen Campbell...I’ll be Me followed by a Q&A with filmmakers James Keach and Trevor Albert, Campbell’s wife Kim and children Ashley, Cal and Shannon Campbell, and a brief live performance by duo Ashley and Shannon that will include an original song from the film.

9 p.m. - Post-screening party on the Arlington Mezzanine and lobby levels with light appetizers and cash bar. Special music by the talented Campbell family in the Arlington lobby bar continues until midnight with groups Billstown and Drew Henderson Band, joined by Campbell’s siblings Barbara, Sandy, Jane and Gerald. Open to the public 10 p.m. - Opening Night After Party, at the private home of Chris Rix, “Pagoda Hill.” Open to VIP pass holders, filmmakers, sponsors, and by special invitation.

Saturday, Oct. 11

9 p.m. - Gangster Museum of America; Take yourself back to the days of the 20’s and 30’s. Try your luck at blackjack, craps, and roulette alongside filmmakers and special guests. A gallery exhibit of authentic mugshots from the personal collection of Mugshots director Dennis Mohr will be displayed. Open access to VIP pass holders, filmmakers, & sponsors.

11 p.m. – Soul Train Dance Party; Join us at Low Key Arts as we celebrate the sounds of Soul Train! DJ Schaffer spins hits of Soul Train from 1971 to 2006. Open to all festival pass holders and public.

Sunday, Oct. 12

Arlington Brunch; the hotel invites you to join their celebrated Arlington Brunch, served 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Venetian Room. (Also Oct. 19) 8:30 p.m. – Thermal Waters Party; VIP pass holders & filmmakers are invited to the historically acclaimed Quapaw Bathhouse. Sample mineral water from local natural springs. The legendary Adam Faucett, known for his powerful, almost operatic voice and intricate finger picking, plays on the Veranda. Open to public.

Monday, Oct. 13

9 p.m. –Pizza Party, at Deluca’s Pizzeria Napoletana. Enjoy a signature pie to the sounds of 2012 Songwriting winner of The Yonder Mountain Harvest Music Festival, Jamie Lou!

Tuesday, Oct. 14

9 p.m. – Brewhouse Dance Party; DJ Poebot will be spinning inside the historic Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery. A cash bar will serve craft beer. Open to all festival pass holders.

Wednesday, Oct. 15

7 p.m. - All Things Arkansas; Arkansas Filmmakers will mingle amongst products from, made in, and relating to Arkansas. Arkansas talent Amanda Avery will be playing her original music. Open to the public.

9 p.m. - Arkansas Made Party; Rolando’s Patio, carved into the Ouachita Mountains is the perfect spot to celebrate our Arkansas filmmakers. Dance under the lighted trees as Arkansas treasure’s Isaac Alexander and Bonnie Montgomery play alternating sets. Open to all festival pass holders.

Thursday, Oct. 16

6:30 p.m. - Vintage Emporium Traditional HSDFF Filmmaker Party with Rix Realty Courtyard Celebration; For more than two decades, Carolyn Taylor has been welcoming visiting filmmakers to her annualVIP Filmmaker event. Drinks and food are provided by some of the best venues Hot Springs has to offer. Music by Mateo, the Gringo Mariachi. As the evening progresses, move to the ground level courtyard of Rix Realty with nationally acclaimed musicians, TwiceSax playing their unique fusion of jazz, funk, and blues.

Open to VIP pass holders, filmmakers, & by invitation only.

Friday, Oct. 17

8:30 p.m. - Hot Springs Artisan Party; Ozark Bathhouse will feature curated art exhibitions from local artists. Wine will be provided. Hot Springs native Michael Schaffer will create an HSDFF inspired art piece LIVE to be raffled away at the end of the night. Dim the Lights an audio and visual art installation by Dwight Chalmers and Angie Carpenter will also debut. Open to the public.

10 p.m. – The Cabaret After Party; Maxine’s. The sultry burlesque troupes, Diamond Dames will perform a series of sets. Not for festival attendees under the age of 18. The show will have mild nudity. Open to the public. Stage-level seating available for VIP pass holders, filmmakers, and sponsors on a first come first serve basis

Saturday, Oct. 18

Closing Night Awards Ceremony, Film & Post Reception 5 p.m. - Join us in the Arlington Lobby Bar for a special performance by some of the stars of the documentary film Take Me To The River. The Stax Music Academy Aumni Band have performed for Oprah Winfrey, Isaac Hayes, Bill Clinton, and many other celebrities and dignitaries.

Legendary soul artist William Bell and Memphis artist Al Kapone will also perform. Don’t miss this concert celebrating the best of Memphis Soul music! Open to the public.

6:30 p.m. –Closing Night Awards and screening of To be Takei, with special guest, actor and activist, George Takei and Brad Takei.

Takei will take part in an exclusive Q&A at the conclusion of the film.

Seating priority to VIP Pass holders. Tickets at $25 a person. A limited number of advance tickets will be sold at hsdfi.org. Tickets also available while they last at the ticket box office located on the Mezzanine Level of the Arlington Hotel.

8:30 p.m. - Closing Night Dance Party in the lobby of The Arlington Hotel, the city’s favorite neutral ground for Chicago mobsters, will host the 2014 HSDFF closing night party. The Funkanites will bring their funk fusion sound to the pastel jungle of the Arlington Lobby followed by surprise guests. Cash bar. Open to the public.

F R O M G O O U T TO 32

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6:30 p.m.

Glen Campbell... I’ll Be Me

SATURDAY 10/11 9:50 a.m.

10 p.m.

11:05 a.m.

11:45 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

1:55 p.m.

2 p.m.

3:15 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

5:20 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:40 p.m.

9 p.m.

Kruschev does America Waiting for August Mugshot Back on Board HSDFF Family Shorts: Believe it or Not Little White Lie LIVE: Kevin Delaney’s Awesome Science Show Meet The Patels Kung Fu Elliot An Honest Liar Love Me Sidebar: Midnight Archive LKA Tomorrow We Disappear Stray Dog Songs for Alexis LKA

SUNDAY 10/12 9:30 a.m.

9:45 a.m.

11 a.m.

12:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

2:15 a.m.

2:35 p.m.

4:40 p.m.

4:45 p.m.

6:40 p.m.

6:45 p.m.

7 p.m.

8:50 p.m.

9 p.m.

9 p.m.

A Dress Rehearsal for an Execution SHORTS: Tricks and Treats When We Were Kings Stray Dog Mugshot SHORTS: Loves Labors Lost Songs for Alexis Penthouse North Mudbloods Hotline Farewell to Hollywood Chaperone 2D/ The Deadly Ponies Gang LKA Evaporating Borders Midnight Archive Kate Bornstein is a Queer and Pleasant Danger LKA

MONDAY 10/13 10 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

12 p.m.

12:10p.m.

1:40 p.m.

2p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:50 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:40 p.m.

7:45 p.m.

9 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

SHORTS: Artistically Speaking Love Me Vessel Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story SHORTS: Home Bittersweet Home Light Fly, Fly High Once my Mother SHORTS: Accidental Activist Let There Be Light The Longest Game Kung Fu Elliot Dress Rehearsal for an Execution Alfred and Jacobine Farewell to Hollywood LKA Happy Valley

TUESDAY 10/14 10:10 a.m.

10:20 a.m.

12:15 p.m.

12:20 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

2:20 p.m.

3:50 p.m.

4 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:45 p.m.

9 p.m.

9 p.m.

SHORTS: Mysteries of Life Penthouse North SHORTS: Tricks and Treats Hotline An Honest Liar The Longest Game SHORTS: Global Nightmares Wonder World of Ice Light Fly, Fly High Songs from the Forest Evolution of a Criminal The Ballad of Shovels and Ropes LKA Waiting for August Let There Be Light Mudbloods LKA

WEDNESDAY 10/15 10:00 a.m.

10:10 a.m.

11:45 a.m.

12:15 p.m.

1:50 p.m.

1:50 p.m.

3 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

5 p.m.

5:30 p.m 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

8:20 p.m.

9 p.m.

The Granny Globetrotter/ Alfred and Jacobine SHORTS: Global Nightmare SHORTS: Mysteries of Life Tomorrow We Disappear Songs from the Forest Mineral Explorers Buried Treasures: the Unseen Art of Robert Ross/ A Lens to the Soul: The Photography of Andrew Kilgore SHORTS: Home Bittersweet Home Champion Trees/ True Athlete Wicker Kittens Perfect Strangers All American High Revisited LKA Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger Bill T. Jones: A Good Man Guiseppe Makes A Movie LKA

THURSDAY 10/16 10:10 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

12:15 p.m.

12:40 p.m.

1:50 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

3:50 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

5:20 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:50 p.m.

8:15 p.m.

Loves Labors Lost Meet the Patels Wicker Kittens Little White Lie SHORTS: Artistically Speaking Alfred and Jacobine Emerging Filmmaker Student Films Once My Mother Wonder World of Ice Evaporating Borders The Winding Stream.

The Longest Ga.m.e The Deadly Ponies Gang

FRIDAY 10/17 9:55 a.m.

10 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

12 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

2 p.m.

3:10 p.m.

3:40 p.m.

4:50 p.m.

6:45 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

8:50 p.m.

9:30 p.m.

Evolution of Criminal Student-friendly Screening: The Homestretch First to Fall Vessel Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story Forum: Last Chance High 20th Anniversary: Hoop Dreams Forum: Dazed, Confused and Fearless: a Heart-to-Heart with Joey Lauren Adams Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and the New South Africa Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere (followed by book signing) Mock around the Doc Mateo Charlie Victor Romero

SATURDAY 10/18 9:15 a.m.

9:40 a.m.

11 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

12:35 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

3:10 p.m.

4:55 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

SHORTS: The Accidental Activist First to Fall Homestretch Krushchev Does America MOCK around the Doc All a.m.erican High Revisited Take Me to the River Charlie Victor Romero Midnight Archive AWARDS CEREMONY To Be Takei

SUNDAY 10/19 11:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

go all out.

Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story SHORTS: Believe It or Not Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere

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Events and Schedule

OPENING NIGHT FRIDAY 10/10

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OCTOBER 2, 2014

33

34

OCTOBER 2, 2014 — Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Times

WOMEN Entrepreneurs

E

arlier this year, the Arkansas Times asked if I would work on a project it was pursuing with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the goal of which was to encourage economic development in the state’s nonprofit sector. I spoke to the leaders of and wrote about the national and international nonprofits that have their global headquarters in Arkansas, asking why they located here and why other nonprofits should consider having their headquarters here, too. It was an opportunity for me to meet with and learn from a breadth of people I never would have had the chance to speak with otherwise.

And it made me think. If Arkansas is serious about economic development, I thought, we need to focus on entrepreneurs. In particular, women entrepreneurs. I approached the Arkansas Times about the idea, ticking off a few women-owned businesses that were still in operation and had been for decades. It was these women I thought should be promoted – the ones who started with nothing or very close to it, stuck it out in good times and bad, and are still here today. In addition or maybe because of a variety of reasons – marriage, divorce, having and raising children, a love for their profession – these entrepreneurs started or took over businesses that form the backbone of our communities.

It was the shortest pitch of my life. “Do it,” Alan Leveritt said.

After brainstorming with several people who have knowledge of the leaders in each category, we compiled a list of women in five different industries and selected about six to eight to portray in each. A priority for us was to feature women who Arkansans aren’t so used to seeing in traditional and social media, and our criteria for who is profiled is based on range — in experience, backgrounds, age and their particular takes on their industry. All of them have unique stories, all of them came to entrepreneurship in different ways, and all of them had one thing in common – never quit if what you are doing is your calling.

Each week in October, look for these women in food, professional services, nontraditional, retail and design, and assets industries. This week, we focus on women entrepreneurs in the food industry; those who own restaurants, bakeries and catering services. We hope you find inspiration in their stories and motivation in their successes.

Faith and family keys to two sisters catering success

John

Lennon said that life because we didn’t have any other choice is what happens when but to make it successful,” Cavin said.

“When the opportunity to open a cafe you are busy making other plans. In the arose, we were excited to be able to offer case of Faith Cavin and Sharon Brewer, Two Sisters Catering happened as a dine-in services and bakery options.” result of what life threw them.

Today, Two Sisters Catering has “We were expanded in similar sitto include a uations in our full-service lives,” Cavin restaurant said. “We and bakery opened Two in Sherwood.

Sisters CaterThe business ing because just recently began designwe needed a ing wedding way to make and other spea living for cialty cakes to our families, and food was complement AWARD WINNING: Two Sisters Catering has what we knew event catering become a lasting favorite for many. how to do. We and the cafe. never thought it would take off like this.”

Two Sisters Catering has won a numIn 2000, Cavin and Brewer started ber of awards for its food, including Best making lunches in the galley kitchen of of the Best for 2007, 2008 and 2010 by an antiques shop, using their teenage the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Best children to make deliveries.

Taste Award for 2010 by the North Little “At that time, I didn’t have a car so Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of the we used Sharon’s SUV to make all the Town. The sisters are considering expanddeliveries,” Cavin said. “My two girls and ing their service hours to Sunday, and they her two boys were a lot of help, but they may expand into the building next door were teenagers, and we knew we’d have to the cafe. to do something different with the busi“We had a wedding and reception ness, and soon. in the cafe recently,” Cavin said. “This “In the beginning, we would cater for would be an opportunity for us to pharmaceutical sales representatives really serve our customers who want who wanted to provide lunches for doca turnkey event.” tors’ offices and hospital staffs,” Cavin While Cavin and Sharon pursued said. “That’s what solidified our catering their catering business with only the business. Our specialty was hot meals, resources they had on hand, Cavin and if someone asked for a dish we didn’t says entrepreneurs shouldn’t go into serve, we would find the recipe and make a business with a lot of overhead. it for them. In fact, so many people would Instead, Cavin says, start small and drive out to our building to just pick up a grow as business allows. cake that we knew we needed to have a “Our business has grown because people liked what we made, and more convenient place for them. When we accommodated their requests,” the location for the cafe became availCavin said. “It’s really been by word able, we knew it was an opportunity to of mouth and our Cavin that we are better serve our clients.”

Two Sisters Cafe opened in October where we are today. Two Sisters 2013, which was always Sharon’s dream.

Catering is a reality because Sharon The sisters started this business, they said, and I are grateful. Grateful for the because they felt like God was impressing opportunity to serve, grateful for the upon them to pursue it. people who believe in us, and grate“It came at a time when we were both ful for the blessing it has been to us in need and dedicated to making it work and our families.”

KD Reep Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Times

OCTOBER 2, 2014

35

WOMEN Entrepreneurs

Bringing old school flavor to modern tastes

The

road to success can be crooked, and no one knows this better than Kristi and April Williams at Brown Sugar Bakeshop in Little Rock. The sisters pursued degrees at the University of Central Arkansas and Henderson State University before ever dreaming of opening their own bakery, and their career plans after college never included working together.

“April had graduated and was going to get her master’s degree when she learned she had lupus,” Kristi Williams said. “It was during her recovery that she decided to take cake decorating classes. She was helping out a friend who catered, and I would fill in when they needed help. That’s how the idea was born.”

Both Kristi and April learned to cook and bake from their grandmothers, who would make classic Southern desserts like sock-itto-me and red velvet cakes, banana pudding and sweet potato pie. It was when Kristi was in college that she began putting together these family recipes for herself.

“I missed home, and I would try to put together my grandmother’s pound cake, but it would never taste like hers,” Kristi said. “I didn’t get to come home very often so I couldn’t taste what she was doing. I’d call my grandmothers and say, ‘What am I missing?’ I just knew there was something they weren’t telling me that I couldn’t figure out to include.”

When she and April began catering more and more, Kristi approached her sister about opening their own shop.

“I kept telling April she needed to make smaller, individual-sized servings of the cakes she was making because people would buy that over a whole cake,” Kristi said. “I’d show her research on the cupcake trend, but we wanted to do something that would be unique to Little Rock. That’s why we went with an old-fashioned flavor with a modern approach.”

They opened their first shop in the River Market in 2009, then moved to their own space in the historic Tuf Nut Lofts building. In fact, Brown Sugar Bakeshop was the flagship business for those shops, which opened in 2010.

“We wanted people to be enveloped by the scent,” Kristi said. “That’s why we moved, because we knew the scent was our signature. When people come into Brown Sugar now, they stop just inside the door, take a deep breath and say, ‘It smells just like my mother’s or grandmother’s or aunt’s house.’ That is a huge compliment to us.”

The Williamses believed in their idea of 36

an old-fashioned dessert parlor so much that they spent every bit of their funding to open their first location. “I wouldn’t tell anyone to open a business on the amount of money we had,” Kristi said. “I think we had $200 left when everything was in place.

But, it motivated us to be a success. That leap of faith carried over when we opened our space in the Tuf Nut Building. There was nothing in the area at that time. We knew it was an opportunity to be one of the first in the neighborhood and watch it grow, and it was a solid decision.”

The sisters’ partnership works not only because of their dedication but also because each has a specific and equal roll. According to Kristi, she has the vision for Brown Sugar’s dessert parlor while April keeps the business grounded and focuses on making their cakes, cookies, brownies and pies look as good as they taste.

SWEET SISTERS: The Williamses

“The restaurant business is real and raw,” Kristi said. “It’s incredibly competitive, and everyone has an idea and an opinion about how you should run your business. We found that the moment we felt we weren’t enough was when we struggled. What we do now is keep it simple and listen to what we know to be true. We have always believed in our concept of being a dessert parlor offering old-fashioned sweets. If we don’t believe in what we do, no one else will.”

Right now, Brown Sugar Bakeshop doesn’t have any plans to expand into a franchise, but that doesn’t mean the Williams sisters don’t have plans to bring their desserts to as many people as possible.

“We are working with Chef Shuttle to deliver to a customer’s work or home address,” Kristi said. “And a lot of people have asked us – in particular, tourists – if we can give them recipes so they can make their favorites at home. We are working on pre-packaged mixes now so people can have those anywhere, anytime if they can’t get to the shop.”

OCTOBER 2, 2014 — Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Times

Hard work, ethics form basis of Kavion Wang’s success

Kavion

Wang chose served and a belief and exercise in sound to live in Little business ethics.

Rock after leaving her native Taiwan.

“Quality is why people come to FantasShe moved to the U.S. by herself, and tic China. Everybody has different tastes while she has no biological family here, and flavors they like, but the quality of her coworkers have become part of the the food is the most important thing for our customers. We keep all the same good tapestry of her life. quality for the people.”

Wang’s first job was as an editor at a In 2003, Wang expanded the restaupublishing house in Tainan City, Taiwan.

She then became the youngest restaurant rant into the space next door, more than manager in that city when she worked doubling its size. Unlike many other resfor the Silver Cartaurants in Litriage Dinner Music tle Rock, clienHouse, a restaurant tele didn’t drop that offered perforoff during the mances and a band recession. She that performed says she’s blessed American folk favorwith a steady ites. Wang went on stream of reguto become a manlars.

“Some say I ager and the CEO should increase of an automation machine manufacmy prices; turer before managthey’re afraid ing the Wang Yan Gu the restaurant Artistic Tea House, will go away. But and at night she we don’t increase taught floral design. our prices unless Fantastic China’s Kavion Wang finds her In 1988, she we have to,” place. came to the United Wang says. “We give back to the community as much as States to make her mark here. With no family and no real plans, she traveled we can, because we cannot survive withthroughout the country — Pennsylvania, out community support.”

Nebraska and San Antonio — to deterWang says she has considered expandmine where to live. A friend encouraged ing to another location, but the perfect her to consider Little Rock, but while she location hasn’t come up yet. Originally found Arkansas’s capital city nice, she thinking of a second Fantastic China, she thought it small. A trip home for three has decided that if the opportunity presmonths and a return to Little Rock to ents itself, she’d love to open a European visit her friend convinced Wang to stay. restaurant here, but only if she finds the “To me, it’s a small town,” Wang said. right location.

“But, compared to New York or Chicago, “Right now, there are so many resthis is the place to stay. I meet people, taurants — Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, and they say, ‘You don’t have family here? chain stores, local businesses,” Wang You are now part of my family.’ People are said. “It seems like there’s too much very friendly here.” competition. It’s more difficult, but I In 1989, Wang started working at Fortell myself, ‘Instead of competition, how bidden City when it was on Park Plaza’s about you challenge yourself?’ Every morning when I come here to work, I lower level. In 1995, she and her friends Steve Shih and Jhy Hae Wang created am very happy. People ask me if I am Fantastic China, which opened in the ventired, but I am not. I am here seven erable Heights neighborhood in Little days a week, and the people who work Rock. Wang attributes the longevity of here are my coworkers and family, not Fantastic China to the quality of the food just employees.”

Blue Cake Company in the black with artisan pastries, custom decor If

your happy place is where sugar, flour and butter come together in beautiful and delicious ways, you’d be hard-pressed to find a happier place than The Blue Cake Company in Little Rock.

Much like its owner, Jan Lewandowski, The Blue Cake Company is unassuming, welcoming and beautiful.

“My husband, Steve, and I have had the bakery for nine years, and when I began, I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll get to do whatever I want! I can make all the pastries and cakes and desserts I’ve always wanted to do.’ But what I learned was the bakery business is much more intense than that,” Lewandowski said.

Lewandowski began her small business journey in Arizona where she attended Scottsdale Culinary Institute and trained as a pastry chef. It’s also where she met her husband, who was originally from Little Rock, and who later would bring her to Arkansas.

“At first, I thought I wanted to be a nurse so I started school pursuing that,” Lewandowski said. “I didn’t know you could learn to be a chef, much less a pastry chef, so when I learned about the culinary institute, I switched gears.”

When she and her husband moved to Little Rock, Lewandowski worked for a few culinary institutions in Little Rock Capers, the Country Club of Little Rock and the Peabody Hotel among them. It’s when she worked at The Capital Hotel as a pastry chef that she first began to decorate cakes professionally. “We put together a wedding cake that was covered in sugar flowers, and when it was finished, it just glowed,” Lewandowski said. “I stood back and thought, ‘I want to do this all the time.’ When the hotel closed for renovations, I took the opportunity to make that come true.”

When Blue Cake opened initially, making cakes and fillings from scratch is what

set it apart. It was at the beginning of the artisan trend in bakeries, and customers were looking for cakes that weren’t made from mixes. As a pastry chef, Lewandowski liked to use mousses, ganaches and Swiss buttercreams to make the cakes not so sweet and also as a way to develop new flavors. As a business owner, however, she had to adjust to what her customers preferred. “With desserts and birthday cakes, customers tend to gravitate toward the familiar, and the majority of our customers like a sweeter style of frosting and traditional flavors,” Lewandowski said. “It’s in the cake decorating where everyone likes to mix it up and take chances.”

When The Blue Cake Company opened, no one in Central Arkansas was really pursuing the types of 3D cakes the bakery is now known for making. Lewandowski credits the Food Network’s Ace of Cakes for exposing cake sculpture to a broad audience. “Once people saw what was possible, our business took off,” she said. “Now, we have customers come in who have sketches of what they want, and it’s a lot of fun to help them realize their visions.”

But Lewandowski cautions that the creative side of the bakery isn’t all there is to being successful.

“If you want to open a bakery or pursue a culinary art business, be prepared for long hours,” she said. “When we opened almost 10 years ago, I was working 12 hour days – sometimes I worked 30 hours straight. It’s not something where you can come in at 8 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m. You have to be committed to doing everything yourself – from baking, decorating, taking orders and delivery to inventory, unloading trucks, payroll and other demands of daily business. You also need to have a strong support system of family and friends.”

TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT: Jan Lewandowski creates at The Blue Cake Company

Lewandowski advises aspiring bakers and decorators to work in their industries first to learn how to organize space and determine an optimal workflow. “You think, ‘Oh, this will be easy. We’ll just have everything wherever we want it,’ but it’s not that way at all. We’ve gotten that process down now, and we have a team of bakers and decorators who focus on what they do best, but it took us years to get that process down.”

Lewandowski also advises bakeries and pastry shops to focus on a few things they do well and find their niche. “I thought I would make all kinds of things in addition to custom cakes, and it was fun to have that variety, but you have to determine how much time that will take to make, how much to charge, how much display space it

will consume, etc.,” Lewandowski said.

“If it’s not making money for you, it’s not worth pursuing. Now, we channel that creativity in competitions and at bridal fairs.”

Today, Lewandowski says she’s in the “fun stage” of business ownership, one in which she can focus on the creative side instead of the day-to-day details.

In addition to her work at The Blue Cake Company, Lewandowski teaches cake decorating and is a pastry instructor at Pulaski Technical College’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute.

“It gives me a chance to help other bakers and pastry chefs grow and go on to open their own businesses,” she said.

“It’s nice to see employees and students move on to become master decorators and realize their vision.”

Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Times

OCTOBER 2, 2014

37

WOMEN Entrepreneurs

Pizza patriot Good

food, service and hard work have made up Judy Waller Breece’s life.

The youngest of 11 children, she spent most of her time in the kitchen helping her mother cook for the family.

At 13, her father drove her to Harrison where she started her first job as a car hop at the Fischer High Boy. In college at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, she followed her siblings to Aspen, Colo. where she worked for three summers for room, board and 50 cents an hour (plus tips) at Swiss restaurant.

“I’d do it all over again,” Breece said. “I learned so much in those three summers – how to multitask, how to organize my time, how to manage on a budget, how to provide customer service. All of that I still use today.”

It wasn’t until 1972 that Breece opened the first U.S. Pizza Co. with her first husband in Levy. That space, which was a total of 680 sq. ft., held 10 tables, a stone hearth oven, a freezer that did double duty as storage and where the pizzas were topped, and an old refrigerator that held one beer keg and had the taps in the door.

“My husband had worked for Pizza Hut during college, and he said, ‘We should open our own shop.’ So, we did

and made everyAs a result of U.S. Pizza’s thing by hand. approach to We chopped all fresh food, the the fresh vegcompany began etables by hand, made the dough to grow. In 1976, and hand rolled it opened a secit. My employond location in Sherwood, and ees and I had the roughest knuckfive years later, it moved into Little les from kneading pizza dough.”

Rock with the HillThat first U.S. crest restaurant.

Pizza offered two Breece oversaw all day-to-day sizes of pizza – a 10 inch and 13 operations.

DEMOCRATIC WAY: The customers influinch, one sand“My husband ence Judy Waler Breece’s menu moves at wich and a fresh and I were getU.S. Pizza. green salad. It was ting divorced, the customers who developed the salad and I knew I had to make a success supreme, which has become the restauof U.S. Pizza,” Breece said. “It was all rant’s signature salad, and Breece incoron a shoestring, and I would advise porated the gluten-free crust and veggie anyone going into business to put pizzas for people who were looking for together a budget and stick to it. healthier food choices.

Don’t borrow a lot of money.”

“You have to pay attention to what Today, there are 14 U.S. Pizza the customer wants,” Breece said. “We Company restaurants in Arkansas, started offering more salads and pizza and Breece and her husband, Randy Breece, are looking at another locatoppings like artichoke hearts because our customers wanted more hearttion in Chenal. Breece credits Randy healthy dishes. That was one of the things with the company’s growth over the that set us apart in the 1980s.” last 10 years, especially the renova-

tion of the Hillcrest restaurant and construction of the Rodney Parham and Heights locations.

“We would not be growing the way we have for the past 10 years if it weren’t for Randy,” Breece said. “In fact, I’ve always had an open mind to ideas from my husband, advice from my friend ‘Big’ Earl and attorney Sam Hillburn. Women who want to open their own businesses or are just starting out can benefit from the advice of people who have knowledge and experience. Definitely accept the help.

“At one time in the later 1970s, I wanted to open a tennis shop. Sam told me, ‘Stick with what you know: pizza and salad.’”

Today, Breece is in the midst of expanding Hillcrest Liquor Store on Kavanaugh as well as testing new recipes and opening additional locations. The key to success, Breece says, is a single-minded determination.

“If you believe strongly enough in what you are doing, you can accomplish anything,” she said. “It helps if failure isn’t a choice, too, but you have to believe in what you are doing more than anyone else.”

Mother knew best for restaurateur Diana

Bratton nearly went back to Texas after a year in Hot Springs. Facing divorce, living in a state she barely knew, it would have been easy to go home, but her mom’s suggestion to tough it out led to the creation of two of the Spa City’s favorite restaurants.

Bratton, the eighth of nine children in her Texas family, took an aptitude test in the 11th grade that indicated she’d best excel in fashion, art or cooking. Her dad didn’t want her working in a restaurant, so she went to school for fashion merchandising, but five years later she changed her path.

“I called my mom and told her, ‘Mom, I want to go to cooking school.’ And she said, ‘I just want you to finish something. I’ll be proud of you, whatever you do.’ “ Bratton enrolled at El Centro in Dal38

las while working at a microfiche company. “The dean of the cooking school told me, ‘You’re going to have to quit your real job. You can’t skirt the fence, you have to jump in.’ I was living in Dallas and couldn’t afford to quit that job and take a lower paying job with no benefits. So I worked almost full time, went to school full time and worked almost full time at City Cafe.

“After about six or seven months at City Cafe, they called me into the office and promoted me to sous chef while I was still going to culinary school. By the time I graduated I was promoted to chef. When I graduated top of my class, student of the year, my mom about fell out.”

Bratton later married and moved with her new husband to Hot Springs, where she worked at Diamante Country Club. Eventually, she decided to create

OCTOBER 2, 2014 — Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Times

her own restaurant.

“I had looked all over town and what I could afford needed way too much work. I saw Peter’s Paint Store, which it looked like a paint can, and I went and said, ‘I’m looking for a spot to put a restaurant. I came from Dallas, and I worked at Diamante, and I just want a shop.’ Unbeknownst to me, he went to Dallas to City Cafe to see if I was legit.

So he built on this whole thing for me to have this restaurant.

“People loved what we were doing at City Cafe, and I wanted to bring that to Hot Springs. My landlord and I were handing out menus at places around town. I opened the door that day and nearly passed out – I lost the color in my face and had to go stand in the walkin. There were people everywhere — standing and sitting and eating off the counter. It was nuts! We went from

four employees to twelve in a month.”

But Bratton’s marriage was starting to fall apart, and about a year after Cafe 1217 opened, it was over.

“I thought about going back to Texas.

But my mom told me, ‘Just stick it out for a year or two and see what happens.’ And within a year I met the love of my life. We fit together like a hand in a glove.”

Eight years ago, Bratton and her husband decided to buy the old hardware store next to Cafe 1217 and renovate it into Taco Mama’s, which was inspired

by Bratton’s mother. At City Cafe and at both of her restaurants, Bratton has believed in the same things.

“I love working at City Cafe, I felt like it was my place and treated it like it was my place. If you can get someone to work for you and take care of your place like it’s their own place, you got it.”

Southern girl brings worldwide influence to Little Rock

Passion, hospitality, hard work form Trio’s

Madame

It’s

C.J. Walker, rence in Oxford, Miss. who had just won this counthe James Beard Best Chef in the South try’s first female millionaire, said she award,” Jones said. “While at Kendall, got her start by giving herself a start. some of the chefs recommended a few In the case of Alexis Jones, owner and different places where I should go work, visionary of Natchez in Little Rock, she and one of those was in Little Rock at Ashley’s.” took that sentiment to heart.

Jones worked the lunches at “My family Ashley’s as well is not a cooking family,” Jones as banquets and, said. “My mother eventually, dinner. likes to joke that “It was a great I wanted to learn experience, and I early to cook so I had a lot of creative freedom could know what from developing a good homeco o ke d m e a l the lunch menu to was. My interest the daily amusebouche,” Jones and appreciation in good food said. “I respected was instilled at the chefs and a young age SOUTHERN STYLE; Alexis Jones owns had begun to feel Natchez. because of my acclimated with parent’s appreciation. We did a bit of the people of Little Rock; I could see traveling, and I was eating more exotimyself staying around for a couple more cally at a younger age than most. My years so I bought a house. I left Ashley’s first food memory is eating raw oysin 2012 and took a few stages around the country, I had really wanted to do ters with my dad at the age of 2. ‘Naila pop-up restaurant in downtown Liting a dozen’ was usually a weekly ritual shortly afterwards.” tle Rock and was approached by GraJones, 30, started working in the ham Catlett about a property he had industry 10 years ago, learning every in his building. I really liked the space, it reminded me of some of my favorite aspect of the hospitality industry. She switched college majors from political places in New Orleans and Chicago. I science and pre-law to hospitality manwas offered a deal I couldn’t refuse and agement. While in school at the Univeropened two months after.”

Jones signed the lease at the end of sity of Mississippi, she took summers to travel and work. After graduating, she August 2012 and opened in October. pursued internships and employment, When she opened, she was the only eventually starting at the O Street Manone in the kitchen and had only a few servers. sion in Dupont Circle in Woshington D.C. “If I had it to do over again, I’d give The mansion’s owner hired Jones to be a myself more time,” she said. “Because server, but she quickly started filling in as hostess, valet, bartender and hotel ,even after 10 years in the industry, management. Toward the end of her there was so much I didn’t know.” employment there, Jones worked as the Natchez, which is named for her wine steward while taking sommelier mother’s home city, operates on the classes outside of work and had input concept of daily specials with some on menu development. She had applied dishes offered every day. Jones is quick to several different culinary schools and to point out, however, that Natchez’s been accepted to start at I.C.E. in New success isn’t all because of her.

“The team here is what makes NatYork in the winter, but during that sumchez successful,” she said. “It takes all mer applied to Kendall College in Chicago and was accepted. of us to give our guests the experience “I took my internship with John Curof excellent food and service.”

a wise person who listens to it’s in culinary pursuits or managing her muse and follows that resources. guidance to success. Capi Peck, the “Both my mother and grandfather owner of Trio’s Restaurant in Little tried to talk me out of going into the resRock, is an artist at heart and uses food taurant business,” Peck said. “But it was and hospitality as her mediums. my passion. Nurturing people through “I grew up in hospitality. My grandfood was something I couldn’t not do, and I learned parents owned the from my parents Hotel Sam Peck from 1938 until and grandparents the early 1970s, that when you and I learned from treat people with them what it takes love and respect to have a success– be it customers, ful business – hard employees, vendors or partners work and vision,” said Peck. “I never – they will return. thought I’d be a We grew into restaurateur. In PASSIONATE: Capi Peck puts her all into catering a year or fact, I studied art Trios. so after we opened history, but I really didn’t know what I Trio’s as a restaurant because of that.” wanted to do.”

This philosophy has worked so well It wasn’t until Peck catered a party for Peck, in fact, that eight of Trio’s for her sister that she decided to try employees have been with Trio’s for food as a career. “I always enjoyed more than 20 years. “We have multiple cooking, and I would make the food generations of staff here, too,” Peck for friends and family gatherings, but said. “You’ll see servers and bussers it was at my sister’s party that sometoday who are children of our staff from one said I should consider catering as a when we first opened. We like to crecareer. I thought about that for days – it ate an ambiance at Trio’s that’s accomwouldn’t leave me. That’s when I knew modating and makes you feel at home, I should try it.” whether you dine here or work here.”

That was 1986, and Peck, her thenFor people like Peck who are conhusband, Brent Peterson, and two other sidering food as a career, she recomwomen opened Trio’s as the anchor mends they do something to set thembusiness in Pavilion in the Park. At the selves apart from other restaurants and time, Trio’s consisted of a gourmet shop food-related businesses. “At Trio’s, we and retail outlet that included cookfocus on what we call ‘good’ food, which books, coffee and cooking gadgets. means what we serve is good for the What happened was the retail aspect body, soul and planet as well as tastes didn’t really take off, but the food did. good. As much as possible, we buy locally “You have to be flexible in busisourced ingredients, and all the art we ness,” Peck said. “We recognized that display is from Arkansas artists. It’s a the retail aspect of Trio’s wasn’t really way to showcase just how unique and working, but our customers were askwonderful our community is.”

Peck also advises entrepreneurs to ing more and more for our dishes.

That’s what made us pursue a restauwork every position in the restaurant, rant where we served white-tablecloth food service or culinary retail outlet to food in a casual atmosphere.” understand just what it takes to operate.

Peck uses recipes from her family’s “It’s not glamourous,” Peck said. hotel, including the dressing for Trio’s “It’s early mornings and late nights. signature Peck salad, but she continIt’s heavy lifting, getting dirty, washues to pursue recipe development and ing floors and then cashing out cusresearches wines to pair with entrees. tomers with a smile on your face. But, if you love what you do, the work isn’t She emphasizes that in food, entreas hard.” preneurs must stay relevant, whether Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Times

OCTOBER 2, 2014

39

When girl meets restaurant: A success story Mary

Beth Ringgold and Cajun’s Wharf. It’s possible to have one without the other, but the result isn’t as captivating or nearly as successful. In fact, their history is almost like a novel. Ringgold’s roots were formed in West Virginia where she grew up in the food business — both her father and grandfather had restaurants — and it’s where she learned a strong work ethic.

“I went to the University of Tennessee to pursue a degree in banking and finance,” Ringgold said. “I was going to be a corporate attorney. When I left home, I said I’d never work in the restaurant business. But, life had a different plan.”

Late in her second year at college, Ringgold’s father had a stroke. Her mother phoned her and said Ringgold would need to find a way to supplement her income at school. She interviewed at the Cajun’s Wharf in Knoxville, Tenn. where she was hired as a bookkeeper.

“At that time, Cajun’s in Knoxville had a new cash register system that would fail, almost nightly,” Ringgold said. “I learned to get them back online, and no one else did. That’s how I worked my way into operations — I made myself indispensable.”

Cajun’s Wharf in Little Rock was the flagship restaurant, and Mike Warr, who was one of the first general managers, gave Ringgold her understanding and appreciation of process, procedure and systems. When she was sent to train as a manager in 1985, she started washing dishes, breaking down the machine and reassembling it, then moved on to the fry station, eventually making sauces ,then working every station in the kitchen.

“The owners at that time believed you had to understand every process in the restaurant so you could manage it effectively,” Ringgold said. “They were right, and I still believe that today. You 40

AN UNDERSTANDING: Mary Beth Ringgold still believes in studying every process to be successful in the restaurant industry.

have to be a subject matter expert if you are going to train other people.

Otherwise, why would someone listen to you about how to resolve a problem if you can’t resolve it yourself?”

Warr went on to open restaurants in Memphis and later purchased Cajun’s from its original owner, Bruce Anderson, in 1986. He made Ringgold a minority partner in 1987 where she served as general manager. She held that post until 1993 when Cajun’s was purchased by the Landry’s Seafood chain.

She then took a temporary position with a local attorney and entrepreneur, Graham Catlett, who was operating

OCTOBER 2, 2014 — Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Times

a food distribution company in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. Initially, the company focus was on selling American retail products to grocery stores.

Ringgold was hired to help grow the food-service division and train people on the differences of American products and how to best use them. That temporary position actually lasted for two and a half years.

“It was a really interesting study in business,” Ringgold says of her time abroad. “I was in my 30s and felt like I could do anything. When I came back to the U.S., I continued in consulting, but the restaurant business was in my

blood.”

In 1997, Ringgold formed a partnership group with her sister, Sandy Chance; Marilyn Green, and James Willis, who started at Cajun’s at 16 as a dishwasher. Together, they opened Caper’s in 1997 and purchased Cajun’s in 1999. Since then, Cajun’s has reclaimed its reputation for great seafood, an extensive and exceptional wine list and its 10,000-square foot bar and outdoor deck area. As a result, Cajun’s was awarded the prestigious Wine Spectators Award of Excellence in 2001 and every year since as well as the Wine Enthusiast Award of Distinction. In August, Capers was recognized with the prestigious Achievement of Excellence Award from the American Culinary Federation.

Ringgold and the Cajun’s partnership went on to open the Market at Capers, a gourmet-to-go market, in 2005, and Copper Grill and Grocery in 2007. Today, Cajun’s has expanded its service to include lunch, which is a first in the history of the restaurant.

“Copper Grill was an opportunity to grow our management team,” Ringgold said. “Many of our chefs, servers, bartenders and staff have been with us for years, and we try to cultivate that kind of loyalty through our culture.

“What I have learned in more than 30 years in this industry is to focus on why I’m in it. I love to serve people good food where they have a good time. That’s what makes the work worth it, what makes the long days and short nights fun. Anyone who wants to go into this business needs to get used to getting paid last and create a savings for the lean times.

They are going to happen, but if you are prepared for it, have a strong work culture and trust in your partners, you’ll get through it and see success.”

MOVIE REVIEW

‘EQUALIZER’: Washington stars.

Denzel, down tempo Otherwise, ‘Equalizer’ is run-of-the-mill, graphic revenge flick.

BY SAM EIFLING

T

hough it doesn’t immediately feel like one, “The Equalizer” is a Denzel Washington film by default. He’s by far the biggest star of note in the action thriller, with only his face on the poster. He’s in virtually every scene that does not feature Russian mobsters plotting to find and kill him.

And, relatively rare for any movies these days, he spends many of those scenes in solitude, reading books, riding the bus home from work, applying home remedies to fresh bullet wounds, strolling calmly away from gargantuan explosions.

This is harder work for an action hero than it may appear, because the tendency when shooting and getting shot at is to overact. Washington, who will turn 60 this year, is one of the most talented actors of his generation, and in this turn as an average lunchpail sort of dude who can, for reasons undisclosed, kick every variety of ass known to science, he plays it quieter than your typical shoot-’em-up hero. Quieter, in fact, than Washington himself tends to play his crime dramas. The obvious point of comparison is 2001’s “Training Day,” for which Washington finally won an Oscar for Best Actor. It, like “The Equalizer,” was aggressively gritty and directed

by Antoine Fuqua. Yet there, Washington brought a menace borne from braggadocio and sheer volume. In “The Equalizer,” he’s the only subtle element of the film, and thank goodness he’s so chill, because the rest of this thing is about as restrained as your average train derailment.

It is also, unabashedly, a crowd-pleaser.

Washington plays a widower named Robert McCall (fans of the ’80s TV series “The Equalizer” will recognize it) who lives a simple life in Boston, working at a homeimprovement megastore, helping his friends where needed. He shows compassion to a young prostitute in a diner (Chloe Grace Moretz, echoing Jodie Foster

in “Taxi Driver”) and is moved to intervene when some harm befalls her. Turns out the sleazebags who were pimping her are an arm of Russia’s most ruthless underworld kingpin. McCall’s response nearly sparks a gang war before the villainous fixer who arrives to set things in order (a delicious Marton Csokas, seething with savagery) gets a line on our hero and goes about trying to exterminate him, with spotty results.

“The Equalizer” lands on so many rote notes of this genre that it’s almost impossible to consider on its own merits. We have the reluctant, heavy-hearted hero with a shaded past. (We also have an endearing, everyman touch on the part of this hero, as he encourages a heavy understudy at the home center, played by Johnny Skourtis, to get in shape for a promotion.) We have crooked cops, and we have women, beautiful women, in clear peril. Also, we have cold-blooded criminal elements swathed in tattoos and in possession of menacing foreign accents. In this case, we’ve figured out a way to make them Russian, another callback to the action-movie heyday of the ‘80s, when the Cold War cast Soviets as foils to whichever vein-straining triggerman was wasting them in slow motion.

A few of the sequences in “The Equalizer” veer into that sort of stylized hyperviolence; McCall analyzing threats in a room recalls the numbers freezing time in “A Beautiful Mind.” Then he breaks faces, calmly and smoothly and, yes, a bit sadistically. (The variety of gruesome deaths delivered to bad guys in “The Equalizer” surpasses your average “Friday the 13th” installment, p.s.) It would be a stretch to call this movie “good,” by your usual metrics — it’s gratifying enough, as a revenge flick. But it’s fair to say that without Washington its ludicrous overindulgence would sink it. This is, it turns out, a Denzel Washington movie, or it’s not much movie at all.

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41

Arts Entertainment AND

Better reading than briefs A review of Mark Nichols’ ‘From Azaleas to Zydeco: My 4,600 Mile Journey through the South.’

BY NATE COULTER

O

ut of frustration or boredom with their practices, many lawyers at some point in their careers threaten to write a book. A few I have known have actually done it. When I scoffed at the narrow topic one lawyer chose for his tome, something like, “The Bankruptcy Laws of England Between the Two Wars,” he pointed out that virtually everything a lawyer writes winds up in the dumpster or shredder once the statute of limitations has run, but his esoteric tome would endure on library shelves.

Mark Nichols’ book, “From Azaleas to Zydeco: My 4,600-Mile Journey Through the South,” published by Butler Center Books in 2013, should be on shelves long after the author has quit practicing law. Nichols’ 400-page work deserves a broader audience than any of his legal briefs and pleadings. It’s entertaining, informative and provocative.

In large part, “Azaleas” is a travel journal Nichols compiled by retracing the 1937 path taken by another author, Jonathan Daniels of North Carolina.

Daniels visited large cities and small towns across the South 75 years ago and wrote about what he saw in “A Southerner Discovers the South.” Nichols stumbled across a tattered copy of Daniels’ book several years ago in a coffee shop that housed a used bookstore. The book caught Nichols’ eye because Daniels’ swing passed through Florence, Ala., where Nichols’ mother spent her high school and college years.

Between 2010 and 2012, Nichols visited 10 of the 11 states of the old Confederacy (not Texas), making all the stops Daniels had toured, and adding a few of his own. He concludes that “the South has changed mightily.” No lon-

ger “America’s backward, third-world region,” as it was when Daniels toured it, Nichols claims “the Southern states still make up a most distinctive region.” As both a literal and figurative son of Dixie (my mother’s name was Dixie and I was born in Southwest Arkansas), I have, in the past, dared to doubt that notion. But Nichols makes a compelling case.

Reading “Azaleas” calls to mind Bill Bryson’s “The Lost Continent.” Like Bryson, Nichols writes some laugh-outloud passages. But Nichols aims his wit at his Southern subjects without the sharp barbs that sometimes border on savagery in Bryson’s 1989 chronicle of his travels across the United States.

Nichols visits places like Huntsville, Ala., where he finds what he says may be America’s longest “fast food, big box” road, and Greenville, S.C., where he meets a store owner named Lester peddling produce.

Nichols brands Lester a “fairly typical cracker — friendly, generous, a wonderful story-teller” and outlines his delectable offerings. Lester insists some of these edibles are really “health foods,” like “Jerusalem artichokes,” pork rinds, fried peanuts and “bee brittle.” But in the kind of Southern Gothic surprise that Eudora Welty or Flannery O’Connor might invent in a short story and of which we might be skeptical, Lester has mounted on his store wall a Robert Kennedy quote: “Some men see things as they are and say, why. I dream things that never were and say, why not.”

Others Nichols encounters on his journey were not as friendly. His encounters with folks paranoid about strangers undermine the conventional view about Southern hospitality. From Friar’s Point, Miss., to Ducktown, Tenn., Nichols notes a scowling, unwelcom-

ing tone. That attitude was especially on display in Norris, Tenn., a planned community built by the TVA. “In Norris, I met the darker side of cracker culture,” Nichols writes. He tells about driving around the suburban town about 20 minutes north of Knoxville. He parks to take some pictures and is quickly confronted by a man in his mid-40s who demands to know who he is and whether Nichols has registered with the chief of police before driving around town.

Much of Daniels’ 1937 trek and Nichols’ subsequent journey led through out-

proximity of the bank spared the socialist owners of the station and dry-cleaners from having their place torched.

Nichols also visits better known spots like Hot Springs and Helena, where he interviews business operators whose livelihoods are tied to prominent local features. In Hot Springs, it is the water bottler using the constantly flowing natural springs. In Helena, eco-tourism on the Mississippi River is the draw. Nichols meets John Fewkes, a transplanted Chicago poet and painter cum river guide, who leads tours on the Mississippi.

Fewkes tells Nichols, “It’s like being back

NICHOLS’ ROUTE: His 4,600-mile journey.

of-the-way places in Arkansas. Daniels visits Tyronza, Marked Tree and Lepanto.

The Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union (STFU), formed in 1934, draws Daniels to eastern Poinsett County. Today, there is a STFU Museum in Tyronza, affiliated with Arkansas State University, located in a restored dry-cleaners and gas station that once shared a common wall with the local bank. In the 1930s, this was known as “Little Red Square.” Nichols writes that the

in a pre-industrial time” because “other than a few spots, you see the river as the Indians and the French explorers saw it.”

Nichols does not confine his interviewing to only the common folks. He sits down with the attorney general of South Carolina, who was at the time running for governor of the Palmetto State, and gets an audience with Gov. Beebe, who riffs eloquently on the importance of personality in Arkansas politics, and CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

42

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

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A&E NEWS THE DELTA CULTURAL CENTER has announced the recipients of the 2014 Sonny Payne Award for Blues Excellence, given annually at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena: Sonny Burgess and The Legendary Pacers, Arkansas natives best known for their rockabilly singles recorded at Sun Records in the 1950s, and Big George Brock, the boxer turned blues musician from Grenada, Miss., who led the Houserockers for decades in St. Louis. Nicknamed “The Sonny,” the award “recognizes individuals who have strongly influenced the blues music of the Arkansas Delta,” and is named in honor of the “King Biscuit Time” DJ Sonny Payne. In previous years, the awards have gone to figures such as Cedell Davis, Bobby Rush, B.B. King, James Cotton and Houston Stackhouse.

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ON SATURDAY, OCT. 4, the Arkansas Repertory Theater will host its Costume and Prop Sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 601 Main St. The theater will offer custom and hand-made items from its “expansive closet,” pieces from productions like “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Wiz,” “White Christmas,” and “A Chorus Line.”

THE LITTLE ROCK FILM FESTIVAL and the Clinton School of Public Service have announced that they will collaborate on a new film series to be held at CALS’ Ron Robinson Theater, focusing on “important political and societal issues of the day.”

The first screening is the documentary “Red Lines,” about two Syrian activists, at 6 p.m. Oct. 8. The event, which is free and open to the public, will include appearances by the filmmaker Andea Kalin and one of the subjects of the film, Mouza Moustafa.

SINGER AND “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” Season 4 winner Sharon Needles, who describes himself as a “stupid genius, reviled sweetheart and PBR princess,” will perform at Sway at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, as part of its Gay Pride festivities (which will also include a “Prince of Pride” party and contest). Needles released an album last year called “PG-13,” which included well-titled single, “This Club Is A Haunted House.” Get your tickets, $25 for ages 21 and up, $35 for ages 18-20, at clubsway.com.

www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

43

THE TO-DO

LIST

BY LINDSEY MILLAR AND WILL STEPHENSON

SATURDAY 10/4

HILLCREST HARVESTFEST

11 a.m. Hillcrest. Free.

BLOODSUCKER: Collin vs. Adam be at White Water Tavern Friday.

FRIDAY 10/3

COLLIN VS. ADAM

10 p.m. White Water Tavern. $7.

The band Collin vs. Adam started recording its second album in late 2012.

Originally a synth-pop two-piece, two guys named Collin and Adam, they’d added a bass player and a drummer.

Midway through the recording, while they were gearing up to play the first round of the Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase in January, bassist Mason Mauldin, a pilot and a fixture of the local music scene who fronted Sugar And The Raw and Big Boots, died in

a plane crash on a trip from Texas to Louisiana. “He was an equally serious and silly guy — and silly is the right word,” drummer Mike Motley said at the time. “He was an original thinker and he wasn’t afraid to do something bold musically or artistically and to make it work. He wasn’t afraid to stick his neck out.”

It took some time, but the band’s finished the album. It’s called “Bloodsucker” and will be released officially on Saturday via Max Recordings. It’s good — full of dark, desperate dance-punk that recalls the mid-aughts’ mutant-

disco revival of bands like LCD Soundsystem. “This is an important occasion for us,” Motley said in an email, noting that Mauldin played bass on most of the songs. He said for him, the record “represents the culmination of over a decade of playing in different bands with Mason, and it’s a way for us to make good on something that he started and wasn’t able to see completed.” Friday night, they’ll play a release show at White Water with Ginsu Wives, Sea Nanners and DJ Baldego. A copy of the new CD is included with the cover charge. WS

On Saturday, Kavanaugh Boulevard will be closed off from Walnut to Monroe streets for the annual Hillcrest HarvestFest, which includes a pancake breakfast, a car show, a rig orous and highly prestigious cheese dip competition, a massively popu lar fashion show, a bird walk and, maybe most importantly, its best live music lineup yet, which kicks off at 1 p.m. with The Casual Pleasures, followed by Bombay Harambee (2 p.m.), Pockets (2:30 p.m.), Sea Nanners (3:30 p.m.), Kevin Kerby (4 p.m.), Little Joe and The BKs (5 p.m.), The Frontier Circus (5:30 p.m.), Isaac Alexander (7 p.m.) and headliners Amasa Hines (8 p.m.). There will also be beer and wine and a kids zone, which I’m told will feature not one but two bouncy houses. WS

SATURDAY 10/4

MAIN STREET FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL 10 a.m. Main Street. Free.

If you’ve somehow missed the massive growth of food trucks in Central Arkansas over the last few years, you’ve been blowing it. But now you have a chance to catch up. On Saturday, nearly 30 trucks will gather on Main Street between Fourth and Eighth streets 44

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for the third annual Main Street Food Truck Festival. The participating trucks include Almost Famous, Blackhound BBQ, Bryant’s BBQ & Catering, Cheto’s Authentic Mexican, Eat Clean 101, Eat My Catfish, Fat Buoys, Food Commander, Garrett’s Funnel Cakes & More, Haygood’s BBQ Concession, Hot Rod Wieners, Jackie’s Mobile Cafe, Katmandu Momo,

King Boulevard, Kona Ice, La Herradura, Le Pops, Loblolly Creamery, Red River Catering, Roxie’s Hot Dogs, Southern Salt Food Company, Taqueria Jalisco San Juan, The Beast, The Pie Hole, Southern Gourmasian, Tiger Q BBQ, Waffle Wagon and Yvette’s Sandwiches. There will be a stage at Capitol and Main with music

by The Smittle Band (10 a.m.), Whale Fire (11 a.m.), Mark Currey

(12:30 p.m.), Ben “Swamp Donkey” Brenner (1:30 p.m.), Kirk and Quentin Blues Duo (2:30 p.m.) and American Lions (3:30 p.m.).

To capture some of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure early morning crowd, many of the trucks will offer breakfast from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. All vendors will accept credit cards and will stick around until 4 p.m. (or until they run out of food). LM

IN BRIEF

THURSDAY 10/2

SATURDAY 10/4-SUNDAY 10/5

ARKANSAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

7:30 p.m. Sat. and 3 p.m. Sun. Connor Performing Arts Center, Pulaski Academy. $19-$58.

BRIDGING THE GAP: Charlie Wilson will be at Verizon Arena Saturday.

SUNDAY 10/5

SATURDAY 10/4

CHARLIE WILSON

7:30 p.m. Verizon Arena. $49.50$82.50.

In the eleven-part Ken Burns documentary “Funk,” narrated by Snoop Dogg, the segment on The Gap Band begins with a photograph of the three brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson alongside fellow Tulsa native Leon Russell, who hired them as his backing band out of hometown loyalty.

The brothers, we are told, originally named themselves the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band, after the historically black business district then in the process of being dismantled by encroaching urban renewal. The Gap Band, Snoop intones dramatically, found a home in that space of surreal theatrics and post-soul experimentalism opened up by Parliament/Funkadelic (and pursued also by Cameo, The Bar-Kays, et al). They focused less on surface eccentricity, though — “Beep a Freak” aside — and more on glassy, perfect production, effortless danceability and intangible charisma.

We see a clip of the group performing “Outstanding” on “Soul Train,”

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, lately exiled in Maumelle on account of the Robinson Center’s ongoing renovations (which, incidentally, you can follow at RobinsonCenterSecondAct.com), will be holding its Acxiom Pops Live! Series in town this weekend, at Pulaski Academy’s Connor Performing Arts Center. Multiple Oscar- and Emmywinning composer Bill Conti will guest-conduct the orchestra for a program of Hollywood scores. This is something Conti knows about, having written the scores for films like “Rocky,” “The Karate Kid,” “For Your Eyes Only” and “The Right Stuff,” plus TV shows like “Dynasty,” “Cagney and Lacey” and “American Gladiators.” WS

the brothers wearing red and silver reflective cowboy suits that sparkle against the multicolored stage lights.

Further on in the episode, R. Kelly provides a short reading from his memoir “Soulacoaster,” picking up the story decades later at a Tuesday night pick-up basketball game in 2004. Charlie shows up unexpectedly says, “I’ll be honest with you, Bro. I need a hit.” By this point he has been nicknamed Uncle Charlie, and The Gap Band’s “Yearning for Your Love” is best known as the source for the beat in Nas’ “Life’s a Bitch.” He spent two years in the ’90s homeless and addicted to cocaine. The Associated Press: “He used a brick for his pillow, cardboard for a bed and shopping carts to surround him.” Kelly, though, is star-struck and immediately pens “Charlie, Last Name Wilson,” which will become the title track to Wilson’s next solo album, kick-starting his return to the limelight. The documentary briefly notes his subsequent work with Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, before proceeding to Chapter 7, “Zapp.” WS

TY DOLLA $IGN

8 p.m. Juanita’s. $15.

Ty Dolla $ign’s dad was in the funk band Lakeside (“Fantastic Voyage,” etc.) and his uncle played with the Isley Brothers. Along with DJ Mustard, YG and HBK Gang, he’s helped reinvigorate West Coast hip-hop, as a singer who compares himself to the killer whale Shamu and, in the music video for his biggest hit to date, “Paranoid” (ubiquitous on Power 92), delivers the entire song from the floor, lying in a puddle of his own blood. He is literally and figuratively obsessed with the beach, having now titled three mixtapes, “Beach House,” and he is responsible for the incredible 2012 single, “My Cabana,” which isn’t so much misogynistic as it is about misogyny, an absurdist, cathartic, libidinous nightmare.

“I’m not tryna promote being the best fucking American man,” he told The Fader earlier this year.

“I’m promoting partying and having fun and being that type of American. I don’t wanna hurt nobody’s feelings.” WS

The American Heart Association will host its Festival of Wines at Dickey-Stephens Park beginning at 6 p.m., $60 adv., $75 day of. Poet Jericho Brown, a professor at Emory University and a contributor to the Oxford American and the Iowa Review, will speak at the UCA College of Business Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., free. Jazz group The Bad Plus, best known for its facility with cover songs from Aphex Twin to Tears for Fears, will be at South on Main as part of the Oxford American Jazz Series, 8 p.m., $20-$30. Arkansas native and now Nashville songwriter Adam Hambrick will be at Stickyz with Cliff Hutchison, 9 p.m., $10. Arkansas expat Christopher Denny, who returned with the album “If the Roses Don’t Kill Us,” this year, will be at White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m., $5. Breakout synthpop duo Polica will be at Juanita’s with Web of Sunsets, 9 p.m., $15 adv., $18 day of.

FRIDAY 10/3 Fayetteville poet and musician Benjamin Del Shreve will be at Stickyz at 9 p.m., $7. Tyler Kinchin and The Right Pieces will play a two-night stand at The Afterthought, 9 p.m. Former Poison front man and reality TV star Bret Michaels still makes music — new music — and he’ll perform it at Juanita’s at 9:30 p.m., $40.

SATURDAY 10/4 The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, benefiting breast cancer research, begins at Arch Street and Capitol Avenue at 8 a.m. and will disrupt traffic throughout Little Rock for much of the morning.

Former Arkansas Gov. David Pryor will speak at the Ron Robinson Theater at 10 a.m. as part of the Conversations with Arkansas Governors series. The Argenta Community Theater will present its 4th Annual “Scary-oke” (karaoke benefiting Open Arms Shelter) at 6:15 p.m. The Oxford American annex will host the Tulsa Songwriters Showcase, a concert featuring some of that city’s best and brightest, including Jesse Aycock, Paul Benjamin and Wink Burcham, 7:30 p.m., $5. Local metal band Mothwind will be at White Water Tavern for the release of its new, sci-fi concept album “In the Clutches of the Novae,” alongside Peckerwolf and Jab Jab Suckerpunch, 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY 10/5 The Little Rock Pride Parade will start at the Clinton Presidential Center at 2 p.m. After the parade, the Pride Fest at the Clinton Center features drag queens and music by the likes of Big Bad Gina, Flameing Daeth Fearies, Zebra Lily and more, free. The Natural State Brass Band will perform at Immanuel Baptist Church, 3 p.m. Santana will perform at the Walmart AMP at 7 p.m., $39-$129, and Atlanta indie rock group Gringo Star will be at Stickyz, 8 p.m., $7. www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

45

AFTER DARK All events are in the Greater Little Rock area unless otherwise noted. To place an event in the Arkansas Times calendar, please email the listing and all pertinent information, including date, time, location, price and contact information, to calendar@arktimes.com.

swharf.com.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Tyler Kinchin and The Right Pieces. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, Oct. 3-4, 9 p.m. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

COMEDY

THURSDAY, OCT. 2

The Main Thing’s “Whatshisname?” The Joint, through Oct. 25: 8 p.m., $20. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

MUSIC

Adam Hambrick, Cliff Hutchison. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $10. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com.

The Bad Plus. Part of the Oxford American Jazz series. South on Main, 8 p.m., $20-$30. 1304 Main St. 501-244-9660. southonmain.com.

Band of Heathens, Charlie Mars. Revolution, 9 p.m., $10 adv., $13 day of. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Blackbird Revue, Michael Leonard Witham.

Vino’s, 9 p.m., $5. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

Christopher Denny. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m., $5. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www. whitewatertavern.com.

Demstock 2014. Featuring live music by Swampbird, Comfortable Brother and Fret and Worry, plus appearances by Tyler Pearson, Frank Shaw, Penny McClung and others. Kings Live Music, 8 p.m., $5 suggested donation. 1020 Front St. No. 102, Conway.

“Inferno.” DJs play pop, electro, house and more, plus drink specials and $1 cover before 11 p.m.

Sway, 9 p.m. 412 Louisiana. 501-907-2582.

Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Karaoke. Zack’s Place, 8 p.m., free. 1400 S. University Ave. 501-664-6444.

Krush Thursdays with DJ Kavaleer. Club Climax, free before 11 p.m. 824 W. Capitol. 501-554-3437.

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

Open Jam. Thirst n’ Howl, 8 p.m. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www.thirst-n-howl.com.

Open jam with The Port Arthur Band. Parrot Beach Cafe, 9 p.m. 9611 MacArthur Drive, NLR. 771-2994.

Polica, Web of Sunsets. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $15 adv., $18 day of. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

RockUsaurus. Senor Tequila, 7-9 p.m. 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-224-5505. www. senor-tequila.com.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Tragikly White (headliner), Chris DeClerk (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m.

2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

EVENTS

American Heart Association’s Festival of Wines.

Dickey-Stephens Park, 6 p.m., $60 adv., $75 day of. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR. 501-664-1555. www.travs.com.

Geocaching. The Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, 8:30 a.m. 602 President Clinton Ave. 501-907-0636. www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com.

Hillcrest Shop & Sip. Shops and restaurants offer discounts, later hours, and live music. Hillcrest, 46

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

DANCE

Ballroom Dancing. Free lessons begin at 7 p.m.

Bess Chisum Stephens Community Center, 8-11 p.m., $7-$13. 12th and Cleveland streets. 501221-7568. www.blsdance.org.

Contra Dance. Park Hill Presbyterian Church, first and third Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m.; Fourth Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m., $5.

3520 JFK Blvd., NLR. arkansascountrydance.org.

“Salsa Night.” Begins with a one-hour salsa lesson. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $8. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.littlerocksalsa.com.

IN THE CLUTCHES OF THE NOVAE: Mothwind will play a record release show at White Water Tavern with Peckerwolf and Jab Jab Suckerpunch 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

first Thursday of every month, 5 p.m. P.O.Box 251522. 501-666-3600. www.hillcrestmerchants. com.

BOOKS

Charles Krauthammer. Barnes & Noble, 1 p.m.

11500 Financial Center Parkway. 501-954-7646. www.barnesandnoble.com.

Jericho Brown. UCA College of Business Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., free. 201 Donaghey Avenue, Conway.

FRIDAY, OCT. 3

MUSIC

All In Fridays. Club Elevations. 7200 Colonel Glenn Road. 501-562-3317.

Benjamin Del Shreve. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 9 p.m., $7. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com.

Bret Michaels. Juanita’s, 9:30 p.m., $40. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www. juanitas.com.

Club Nights at 1620 Savoy. Dance night, with

DJs, drink specials and bar menu, until 2 a.m.

1620 Savoy, 10 p.m. 1620 Market St. 501-2211620. www.1620savoy.com.

Collin vs. Adam. White Water Tavern, 10 p.m.

2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

Every Knee Shall Bow, Buried Under Rome, Deadspell, Ringleader. Vino’s, 9 p.m., $8. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

Funkadesi. Walton Arts Center, 8 p.m., $10-$25.

495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600.

Gina Phillips and Picnic, Mountain Shore.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 8:30 p.m., free. 600 Museum Way, Bentonville. 479418-5700. crystalbridges.org.

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

Route 66. Agora Conference and Special Event Center, 6:30 p.m., $5. 705 E. Siebenmorgan, Conway.

Rusthaven (headliner), Alex Summerlin (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m.

2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajun-

EVENTS

Geocaching. The Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, 8:30 a.m. 602 President Clinton Ave. 501-907-0636. www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com.

LGBTQ/SGL weekly meeting. Diverse Youth for Social Change is a group for LGBTQ/SGL and straight ally youth and young adults age 14 to 23. For more information, call 244-9690 or search “DYSC” on Facebook. LGBTQ/SGL Youth and Young Adult Group, 6:30 p.m. 800 Scott St. Moon Wave Expo. A weekend of classes, crafts and live music. Best Western Inn of the Ozarks, Oct. 3-5. 207 W. Van Buren, Eureka Springs. 479253-9768. www.innoftheozarks.com.

POETRY

Prince of Pride Party. Sway. 412 Louisiana. 501907-2582.

BENEFITS

Power of the Purse. Womens’ Foundation of Arkansas. Statehouse Convention Center, 11:30 a.m., $100. 7 Statehouse Plaza.

KIDS

“Go, Dog! Go!.” Arkansas Arts Center, through Oct. 5: 7 p.m., $10-$12.50. 501 E. 9th St. 501372-4000. www.arkarts.com.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4

MUSIC

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: Bill Conti’s Academy Awards. Connor Performing Arts Center, Pulaski Academy, 7:30 p.m., $19-$58.

12701 Hinson Road.

Big Damn Horns (headliner), Richie Johnson (happy hour). Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m.

2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com.

Charlie Wilson. Verizon Arena, 7:30 p.m., $49.50$82.50. 1 Alltel Arena Way, NLR. 501-975-9001. verizonarena.com.

Club Nights at 1620 Savoy. See Oct. 3.

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band. Revolution, 8:30 p.m., $10 adv., $12 day of. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S.

PARTY AT OUR PLACE!

Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com.

Karaoke. Casa Mexicana, 7 p.m. 6929 JFK Blvd., NLR. 501-835-7876. Zack’s Place, 8 p.m., free.

1400 S. University Ave. 501-664-6444.

Karaoke with Kevin & Cara. All ages, on the restaurant side. Revolution, 9 p.m.-12:45 a.m., free. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-823-0090. revroom.com.

K.I.S.S. Saturdays. Featuring DJ Silky Slim. Dress code enforced. Sway, 10 p.m. 412 Louisiana.

501-492-9802.

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

Miniature Tigers, Skizzy Mars. Juanita’s, 9 p.m., $15. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

Mothwind (record release), Peckerwolf, Jab Jab Suckerpunch. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

Pickin’ Porch. Bring your instrument. All ages welcome. Faulkner County Library, 9:30 a.m. 1900 Tyler St., Conway. 501-327-7482. www.fcl.org.

Sharon Needles. Sway, 8 p.m., $25. 412 Louisiana.

501-907-2582.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 9 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG. Tulsa Songwriters Showcase. With Jesse Aycock, Paul Benjamin and Wink Burcham. Oxford American, 7:30 p.m., $5. 1300 Main St. Tyler Kinchin and The Right Pieces. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 9 p.m. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

COMEDY

The Main Thing’s “Whatshisname?” The Joint, through Oct. 25: 8 p.m., $20. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

DANCE

Little Rock West Coast Dance Club. Dance lessons. Singles welcome. Ernie Biggs, 7 p.m., $2. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-247-5240. www. arstreetswing.com.

EVENTS

40th annual Little Rock Farmers’ Market. River Market Pavilions, through Oct. 25: 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info.

4th annual Main Street Food Truck Festival.

Main Street, Little Rock, 10 a.m. Main St. 4th annual Scary-oke. Argenta Community Theater, 6:15 p.m. 405 Main St., NLR. 501-6766166. argentacommunitytheater.org.

Argenta Farmers Market. Argenta Farmers Market, 7 a.m. 6th and Main St., NLR. 501-8317881. www.argentaartsdistrict.org/argenta-farmers-market/.

Atomic Dogg Show. Clear Channel Metroplex, 10 a.m., $15. 10800 Col. Glenn Road. 501-2175113.

Chili Fights in the Heights. The Heights, 2 p.m., $5. The Heights.

Falun Gong meditation. Allsopp Park, 9 a.m., free. Cantrell & Cedar Hill Roads.

Geocaching. The Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, 8:30 a.m. 602 President Clinton Ave. 501-907-0636. www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com.

HarvestFest in Hillcrest. With food, vendors, a kids zone and live music by Amasa Hines, Isaac

Alexander, Kevin Kerby, Sea Nanners and more.

Hillcrest, 11 a.m., free. P.O.Box 251522. 501-6663600. www.hillcrestmerchants.com.

Hillcrest Farmers Market. Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Historic Neighborhoods Tour. Bike tour of historic neighborhoods includes bike, guide, helmets and maps. Bobby’s Bike Hike, 9 a.m., $8-$28. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-613-7001.

Moon Wave Expo. A weekend of classes, crafts and live music. Best Western Inn of the Ozarks, through Oct. 5. 207 W. Van Buren, Eureka Springs. 479-253-9768. www.innoftheozarks.com.

Pork & Bourbon Tour. Bike tour includes bicycle, guide, helmets and maps. Bobby’s Bike Hike, 11:30 a.m., $35-$45. 400 President Clinton Ave. 501-613-7001.

Book Our Party Room Today!

All American Food & Great Place to Watch Your Favorite Event

LECTURES

Conversations with Arkansas Governors: David Pryor. Ron Robinson Theater, 10 a.m. 1 Pulaski Way. 501-320-5703. www.cals.lib.ar.us/ron-robinson-theater.aspx.

BENEFITS

Susan G. Komen Race. Begins at Arch Street and Capital Avenue. Benefits breast cancer research.

Downtown Little Rock, 8 a.m.

KIDS

“Go, Dog! Go!” Arkansas Arts Center, through Oct. 5: 2 p.m., $10-$12.50. 501 E. 9th St. 501372-4000. www.arkarts.com.

SUNDAY, OCT. 5

MUSIC

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra: Bill Conti’s Academy Awards. Connor Performing Arts Center, Pulaski Academy, 3 p.m., $19-$58. 12701 Hinson Road.

Gringo Star. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 8 p.m., $7. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com.

Irish Traditional Music Session. Hibernia Irish Tavern, first and third Sunday of every month, 2:30 p.m. 9700 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501246-4340. www.hiberniairishtavern.com.

Karaoke. Shorty Small’s, 6-9 p.m. 1475 Hogan Lane, Conway. 501-764-0604. www.shortysmalls.com.

Karaoke with DJ Sara. Hardrider Bar & Grill, 7 p.m., free. 6613 John Harden Drive, Cabot.

501-982-1939 ‎.

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

Natural State Brass Band. Immanuel Baptist Church, 3 p.m. 501 N. Shackelford Rd. Santana. Walmart AMP, 7 p.m., $39-$129. 5079 W. Northgate Road, Rogers. 479-443-5600. www. arkansasmusicpavilion.com.

Sarah McQuaid. Faulkner County Library, 2 p.m.

1900 Tyler St., Conway. 501-327-7482. www.fcl. org.

Ty Dolla $ign. Juanita’s, 8 p.m., $15. 614 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-1228. www.juanitas.com.

EVENTS

2014 Little Rock Pride Fest. Clinton Presidential Center, 1 p.m. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 3708000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

Bernice Garden Farmer’s Market. Bernice Garden, 10 a.m. 1401 S. Main St. www.thebernicegarden.org.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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A Chicago style Speakeasy & Dueling Piano Bar. This is THE premier place to party in Little Rock. “Dueling Pianos” runs seven days a week. Dance & Club music upstairs on Wed, Fri & Sat. Drink specials and more!

Do it BIGG! Now Open For Happy Hour on Sundays For Football Season • 4pm Open 7 Days A Week • 8pm-2am Shows Start at 8:30pm

Located in the Heart of the River Market District 307 President Clinton Avenue 501.372.4782 www.erniebiggs.com www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

47

3 R I V E R D A L e

d e s i g n

d a t e

n i g h t

COME SEE US!

Riverdale shops and restaurants have banded together to present a monthly social evening of shopping and dining in the popular Riverdale Design District. These participating shops will be open until 8 p.m. the 2nd Thursday of each month.

A convenient wheeled trolley is offering free rides and will make the rounds between the Cajun’s warehouse area, Cantrell and the heart of Riverdale. Stops will be made at each participating business. Parking in the warehouse district and Riviera Condominiums.

D I S T R I C T

STOP ON IN!

1615 Rebsamen Park Rd 501.660.4040 maddiesplacelr.com

lifestyle.

PAT I O & G A R A G E DOORS OPEN!

Daily Drink Specials Happy Hour Tues-Fri 2-6pm • Open Late 3501 Old Cantrell Rd 501.916.9706 • thefoldlr.com facebook.com/thefoldbar • twitter - @fold_the instagram - littlerocktaco

providence

We decorate for your

DESIGN Trendsetting European Antiques & Home Furnishings

LIGHT IS THE ESSENCE OF LIFE! Lamps • Lampshades • Accessories Repair Work • Restoration • Custom Work

Come see us during Design and Dine!

2208 Cantrell Rd • 501-902-4200 www.theshadeabove.com

ELEVATE YOUR L IFESTYLE • Now Leasing • Innovative E-Urban Design • Elevators Next to Every Apt • Covered Parking

2222 Cantrell Road Little Rock, Arkansas 72202

501-221-2032

danddinteriordesign.com

48

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

Residences at Riverdale 2010 Rebsamen Park Rd 501.663.7777 residencesatriverdale.com

Open late for Design & Dine Mon through Fri 10-5 2212 Cantrell Rd • 501-372-1886 providenceltddesign.com

all shops open until 8pm OCTOBER 9 2O14 DED RO E FA SE T H RESTAURANT 

MY PAD... YOUR PAD...

MAKE IT...URBAN PAD

authentic new orleans cuisine

LITTLE ROCK’S MOST AWARD WINNING RESTAURANT 1619 Rebsamen Rd. 501-663-9734 www.thefadedrose.com

Join us for Fall

T he S howroom Local Art Gallery specializing in very large art and custom framing.

2313 Cantrell

(by Cajuns Wharf)

501-372-7373 sandyhublerfineart.com

Come Home To Riverdale

Live Music during Design & Dine!

Bash 2014

Featuring DJ Hollywood and Special Performances by Rodney Block aka Black Superman at 6 & 7pm 2314 Cantrell Rd • 501.366.8715 • tuftandtable.com

COME RELAX DURING DESIGN & DINE

One, Two & Three Bedroom Condos for Sale.

3513 Old Cantrell Rd 501.664.4202 urbanpad.net facebook.com/UrbanPadArkansas

Nina DuBois, Riviera Real Estate ON SALE OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST

$250 OFF

mertinsdykehome

501.349.2383

Riviera Condominiums 3700 Old Cantrell Rd www.RivieraLittleRock.com

Fabulous Finds

ANTIQUE & DECORATIVE MALL 2905 Cantrell Road 501-614-8181 20% Off Original Prices 5-8pm during D&D event

3400 Old Cantrell Road.

Little Rock 501.603.9200 www.aboutvase.com

We do more than just closets!

2216 Cantrell Rd 501.907.7105 www.closetfactory.com

Christopher Christopher Nolan Nolan Photography Photography

Come Explore Our Store

501.372.4278

www.chandlerassoc.com

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2 2 2 0 C A N T R E L L R OA D • L I T T L E R O C K • 5 01. 37 2 .14 0 0 • TA N A R A H L U X E F LO R A L . C O M 2 2 2 0 C A N T R E L L R OA D • L I T T L E R O C K • 5 01. 37 2 .14 0 0 • TA N A R A H L U X E F LO R A L . C O M

www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

49

Dining

Information in our restaurant capsules reflects the opinions of the newspaper staff and its reviewers. The newspaper accepts no advertising or other considerations in exchange for reviews, which are conducted anonymously. We invite the opinions of readers who think we are in error.

B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner $ Inexpensive (under $8/person) $$ Moderate ($8-$20/person) $$$ Expensive (over $20/person) CC Accepts credit cards

WHAT’S COOKIN’ FOOD FESTIVALS ARE OUT IN FORCE on Saturday, Oct. 4, from downtown to midtown: Nearly 30 food trucks will gather on Main Street between Fourth and Eighth streets from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for the Main Street Food Truck Festival (with many trucks serving breakfast from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.).

HarvestFest in Hillcrest, on Kavanaugh between Walnut and North Monroe streets, kicks off with a pancake breakfast at Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. A cheese dip competition runs from noon until 2 p.m.

The chili cook-off Chili Fights in the Heights returns to Kavanaugh Boulevard, between North Taylor and North Polk streets. From 2 p.m. until 7 p.m., a free trolley will transport people between HarvestFest and Chili Fights in the Heights. Teams begin cooking at 1 p.m., The Good Time Ramblers will begin performing at 2 p.m. and beer and wine sales begin at 4 p.m. For $5 you can buy a chili tasting kit. Proceeds benefit the Arkansas Foodbank.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi Ave., hosts its 10th annual Shrimp Boil Benefit from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. A drive-through will be open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $35; groups of eight or more get in for $25 per person, and kids’ tickets run $15. Greasy Greens will provide the music and there’ll be wine and beer for sale. Proceeds benefit St. Francis House.

BOSCOS, THE MEMPHIS-BASED BREWERY and restaurant mini-chain, announced the closure of its restaurant and brewery in the River Market.

It had been open since 2003. Last week, Boscos announced it was closing its Nashville outlet after 19 years in business.

PARIS CANDY ANTIQUES is not going to be a bricks and mortar home for Lauren McCants’ Southern Salt Food Co. food truck, but antiques shoppers and neighborhood nabobs will be able to enjoy coffee and sweet and savory pies when the transformation on the former liquor store at the northwest corner of 23rd and Arch streets is complete. “It’s a work in progress,” McCants said.

You can see McCants’ fondness for the vintage and funky in how she’s decorated Southern Salt, with its aqua shell and red door and plastic

50

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

Big on Brunelle Fresh is the word at West Little Rock cafe.

D

espite functioning as a large outdoor mall, West Little Rock’s Promenade Shopping Center has eschewed stereotypical mall fare in favor of an eclectic collection of excellent local restaurants, something that has made it one of the city’s top destinations for good eats. Despite an excellent selection of fine dining and fast casual joints, the shopping center has lacked a place to grab a decent cup of coffee, a situation that forces the caffeine-craving masses to grab some Starbucks in advance and then suffer through an inferior product just to get a fix. Into this dire state of events comes Cafe Brunelle, a warm and friendly coffee shop that’s locally owned and ready to pour — and it is a welcome addition indeed.

Cafe Brunelle isn’t a large place, but its tall ceilings, bright decor and comfortable seating make it easy to feel right at home. The coffee menu has all the greatest hits we expected, from old-fashioned drip coffee to mochas, lattes and multiple tea offerings. We decided to try two drinks, a hot cafe au lait ($2.45 small/$2.95 large) and an iced latte ($3.25 small/$3.95 large), and they were both mighty fine, with coffee made just like we like it: full bodied without being sour or acidic, with a robust flavor that never veers into the taste of burned beans. Even an addition of a shot of espresso (85 cents per shot) to our drinks didn’t overwhelm the flavor, leaving us happily sipping until the sandwiches we ordered came out.

We’d noticed from the menu that Brunelle is using local bread from Boulevard Bread Company and Dempsey Bakery, so when our sandwiches arrived on those crusty Boulevard baguettes we love so much, the cafe was already ahead of the game. Great bread is only part of a great sandwich, of course, and lucky for us, the meats and top-

pings on each of the sandwiches we ordered were fantastic. The thicksliced, oven-roasted turkey sandwich ($7.75) came with crunchy mixed greens and a very tasty red-pepper mayo. For our second sandwich, we decided to do the “Half and Half” ($5.50) and get half of the Mediterranean tuna with lemony mayon-

naise (regularly $6.95) and a half portion of the Caprese pasta salad (regularly $7.75), loaded with fresh cherry tomatoes, bite-sized chunks of mozzarella, perfectly cooked farfalle pasta and basil that looked like it had been picked that morning.

If there is one word that we could use to sum up our experience at Cafe Brunelle, it would be “fresh,” from the meat and bread to the pasta and toppings. Simple sandwiches were turned into something special by an attention to detail — each sandwich’s flavored mayo was outstanding without overwhelming the rest of the

SOMETHING SPECIAL: Mediterranean tuna sandwich with capresse pasta salad.

Cafe Brunelle

17819 Chenal Parkway (Promenade Shopping Center) Little Rock 448-2687 cafebrunelle.com

QUICK BITE

Good news for people who like to work from the coffee shop — Cafe Brunelle has a generous number of power outlets for laptops, phone chargers and other necessary gadgets.

HOURS

7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

OTHER INFO

All major CC, no alcohol

ingredients.

The salted caramel brownie ($4.25) we grabbed to go was also delicious, as were the samples of iced scones out on the counter by the cash register. It’s this dedication to fresh ingredients, including local bread and local ice cream by Loblolly, that makes Cafe Brunelle stand out from its chain competitors, and one that should guarantee it a spot on anyone’s quick lunch rotation. A lot of thought has gone into the menu at Brunelle, and the friendly service and comfortable surroundings make the place a winner, either for a quick lunch or just a coffee take-out.

BELLY UP

Upscale. .

Downtown

Check out the Times’ food blog, Eat Arkansas arktimes.com

WHAT’S COOKIN’, CONT. flowers and tin roof and frame windows. She’s been collecting antiques for years. Cuteness aside, Southern Salt is known for its eclectic Asian fusion cuisine — Asian tacos, marinated portobello mushrooms, kale salad with a helping of purple hull peas and cornbread on the side, for starters.

The truck will be parked outside Paris Candy at times, when it’s not at the Bernice Garden Farmer’s Market at Daisy Bates (14th Street) and Main on Sundays, the new Arkansas Yoga Collective at 7801 Cantrell on

ay

sday–Saturd

Piano Bar Tue e Bar Martini & Win

Thursdays or doing special events. But Paris Candy will “really be more of a shop and a gathering place. Our goal is to make that part of town a little more walkable,” McCants said. Also coming to the intersection, McCants said, is a master carpenter’s business.

Paris Candy and more businesses at the intersection would be a welcome change for the area that, while neighbored by beautifully restored historic homes, could use new investment and a facelift. More good news for SOMA.

Wine 335 Selections Of 35 By The Glass ld Across The Wor Fine Spirits From land ot Sc Of n gio Ever y Re Scotch List From urbons 6 Single-Barrel Bo

In The River Market District • 501.324.2999 sonnywilliamssteakroom.com

Free Valet Parking

DINING CAPSULES

LITTLE ROCK/ NORTH LITTLE ROCK

AMERICAN

4 SQUARE CAFE AND GIFTS Vegetarian salads, soups, wraps and paninis and a broad selection of smoothies in an Arkansas products gift shop. 405 President Clinton Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-244-2622.

BLD daily.

APPLE SPICE JUNCTION A chain sandwich and salad spot with sit-down lunch space and a vibrant box lunch catering business.

With a wide range of options and quick service. Order online via applespice.com.

2000 S. University Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $$. 501-663-7008. L Mon.-Fri. (10 a.m.-3 p.m.).

ARKANSAS BURGER CO. Good burgers, fries and shakes, plus salads and other entrees. Try the cheese dip. 7410 Cantrell Road. Beer and wine, All CC. $-$$. 501-6630600. LD Tue.-Sat. ASHLEY’S The premier fine dining restaurant in Little Rock. The menu is often daring and always delicious. 111 W. Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-374-7474. BLD Mon.-Sat. BR Sun. BELLWOOD DINER Traditional breakfasts and plate lunch specials are the norm at this lost-in-time hole in the wall. 3815 MacArthur Drive. NLR. No alcohol, No CC. $. 501-7531012. BL Mon.-Fri. THE BLIND PIG Tasty bar food, including Zweigle’s brand hot dogs. 6015 Chenonceau Blvd. Full bar, CC. $-$$. 501-868-8194. D: Tue.-Sun., L Sat.-Sun. BONEFISH GRILL A half-dozen or more types of fresh fish filets are offered daily at this upscale chain. 11525 Cantrell Road. Full bar, All CC. $$$. 501-228-0356. D Mon.-Sat., LD Sun. BRAVE NEW RESTAURANT Chef/owner Peter Brave was doing “farm to table” before most of us knew the term. His focus is on fresh, high-quality ingredients prepared elegantly but simply. Ordering the fish special is never a bad choice. His chocolate crème brulee sets the pace. 2300 Cottondale Lane. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-663-2677. LD Mon.-Fri. D Sat. BRAY GOURMET DELI AND CATERING

Turkey spreads in four flavors -- original, jalapeno, Cajun and dill -- and the homemade pimiento cheese are the signature items at Chris Bray’s delicatessen, which serves sandwiches, wraps, soups, stuffed potatoes and salads and sells the turkey spreads to go. 323 Center St. Suite 150. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$.

501-353-1045. BL Mon.-Fri. BUFFALO WILD WINGS A sports bar on steroids with numerous humongous TVs and a menu full of thirst-inducing items. The wings, which can be slathered with one of 14 sauces, are the starring attraction and will undoubtedly have fans. 14800 Cantrell Road.

Full bar, All CC. $$. 501-868-5279. LD daily.

BY THE GLASS A broad but not ridiculously large wine list is studded with interesting, diverse selections, and prices are uniformly reasonable. The food focus is on highend items that pair well with wine -- olives, hummus, cheese, bread, and some meats and sausages. Happy hour daily from 4-6 p.m.

5713 Kavanaugh Blvd. Beer and wine, All CC. $$. 501-663-9463. D Mon.-Sat. CAFE@HEIFER Serving fresh pastries, omelets, soups, salads, sandwiches and pizzas. Located inside Heifer Village. 1 World Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $. 501-907-8801. BL Mon.-Fri. CAPITAL BAR AND GRILL Big hearty sandwiches, daily lunch specials and fine evening dining all rolled up into one at this landing spot downtown. Surprisingly inexpensive with a great bar staff and a good selection of unique desserts. 111 Markham St. Full bar, All CC. $$-$$$. 501-374-7474. LD daily.

CAPITOL BISTRO Serving breakfast and lunch items, including quiche, sandwiches, coffees and the like. 1401 W. Capitol Ave. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-371-9575. BL Mon.-Fri. CATERING TO YOU Painstakingly prepared entrees and great appetizers in this gourmetto-go location, attached to a gift shop. Caters everything from family dinners to weddings and large corporate events. 8121 Cantrell Road. No alcohol, All CC. $-$$. 501-614-9030.

Serving meals to go: LD Mon.-Sat. CATFISH HOLE Downhome place for wellcooked catfish and tasty hushpuppies. 603 E. Spriggs. NLR. Beer, All CC. $-$$. 501-7583516. D Tue.-Sat.

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OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 7, 2014

Tanqueray Gin Reg $43.99 .................... Sale $34.99

BEER SPECIALS

WINE BUYS 750ML

Summit Sampler 12pk Bottles Reg $16.99...................... Sale $14.99

Clos du Val 2012 Carneros Pinot Noir Reg $33.99 ..................... Sale $19.99

750ML CONNOISSEUR SELECTIONS

Woodchuck Amber Cider 12pk Cans Reg $17.39 ...................... Sale $15.99

Clos du Val 2011 Carneros Chardonnay Reg $29.99...................... Sale $19.99

Balvenie 12yo Doublewood Single Malt Scotch Reg $61.99......................Sale $49.99

Unibroue Blanche de Chambly 4pk Bottles Reg $10.39 ....................... Sale $8.99

St. Francis 2011 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon Reg $24.99.......................Sale $17.99

No.3 London Dry Gin Reg $39.99 .................... Sale $33.99

New Belgium Wild Dubbel 22oz Bottle Reg $9.59.......................... Sale $8.59

St. Francis 2011 Sonoma Old Vines Zinfandel Reg $24.99.......................Sale $17.99

Karlsson’s Gold Potato Vodka Reg $32.49 .................... Sale $26.99 El Jimador Añejo Tequila Reg $22.99 ..................... Sale $19.99 *In Store Only • While Supplies Last.

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www.arktimes.com

OCTOBER 2, 2014

51

AFTER DARK, CONT. Geocaching. The Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, 8:30 a.m. 602 President Clinton Ave. 501-907-0636. www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com.

Little Rock Pride Parade. Clinton Presidential Center, 2 p.m. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 3708000. www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

“Live from the Back Room.” Spoken word event.

Vino’s, first Sunday of every month, 7 p.m. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

Moon Wave Expo. A weekend of classes, crafts and live music. Best Western Inn of the Ozarks, through. 207 W. Van Buren, Eureka Springs. 479253-9768. www.innoftheozarks.com.

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For the Love of Pasta. Pulaski Technical College -South Campus, 5:30 p.m., $85. Exit 128, I-30.

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“Go, Dog! Go!” Arkansas Arts Center, 2 p.m., $10-$12.50. 501 E. 9th St. 501-372-4000. www. arkarts.com.

MONDAY, OCT. 6

MUSIC

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

Monday Night Jazz. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., $5. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Richie Johnson. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf. com.

LECTURES

Little Rock Touchdown Club: Lee Roy Jordan.

Statehouse Convention Center, 11 a.m. 7 Statehouse Plaza.

“Resilient America: Electing Nixon in 1968, Channeling Dissent, and Dividing Government.” A lecture by Michael Nelson, Fulmer Professor of Political Science at Rhodes College. Clinton School of Public Service, noon, free. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www.clintonschool.uasys.edu.

TUESDAY, OCT. 7

MUSIC

Roy Rogers and Sonny Landreth

delbert mcclinton

jimmy vivino and the black italians

Bobby Rush • Earnest “Guitar” Roy • Reba Russell Anson Funderburg & The Rockets • Paul Thorn Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith Band, Bob Margolin, and Bob Stroger Andy T & Nick Nixon • James Cotton • and MANY more!

OCTOBER 8-11, 2014 HELENA, ARKANSAS www.KingBiscuitFestival.com 52

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

Brian and Nick. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf. com.

Gil Franklin & Friends. Holiday Inn, North Little Rock, first Tuesday, Wednesday of every month.

120 W. Pershing Blvd., NLR. Jeff Ling. Khalil’s Pub, 6 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com.

Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

John McAteer and Gentlemen Firesnakes, Sulac. White Water Tavern, 9:30 p.m. 2500 W. 7th St. 501-375-8400. www.whitewatertavern.com.

Karaoke Tuesday. Prost, 8 p.m., free. 322 President Clinton Blvd. 501-244-9550.

Karaoke Tuesdays. On the patio. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 7:30 p.m., free. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz.com.

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

Music Jam. Hosted by Elliott Griffen and Joseph Fuller. The Joint, 8-11 p.m., free. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

Tuesday Jam Session with Carl Mouton.

Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

COMEDY

Stand-Up Tuesday. Hosted by Adam Hogg. The Joint, 8 p.m., $5. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com.

DANCE

“Latin Night.” Revolution, 7:30 p.m., $5 regular, $7 under 21. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501823-0090. www.littlerocksalsa.com.

EVENTS

Geocaching. The Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, 8:30 a.m. 602 President Clinton Ave. 501-907-0636. www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com.

Job Fair. Statehouse Convention Center, 10 a.m.

7 Statehouse Plaza.

Trivia Bowl. Flying Saucer, 8:30 p.m. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-8032. www.beerknurd. com/stores/littlerock.

FILM

“Night of the Living Dead.” Vino’s, 7:30 p.m., free. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.

LECTURES

Wendy Young, president of KIND. Clinton School of Public Service, noon, free. 1200 President Clinton Ave. 501-683-5239. www. clintonschool.uasys.edu.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8

MUSIC

Acoustic Open Mic. Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com.

Gil Franklin & Friends. Holiday Inn, North Little Rock, first Tuesday, Wednesday of every month.

120 W. Pershing Blvd., NLR. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.

Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com.

Karaoke. MUSE Ultra Lounge, 8:30 p.m., free.

2611 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-6398.

King Biscuit Blues Festival. With Sonny Burgess, Bobby Rush, Guitar Shorty, Delbert McClinton, James Cotton and more. Downtown Helena, Oct. 8-11, $50. Cherry and Main Streets, Helena.

Live music. No cover charge Sun.-Tue. and Thu. Ernie Biggs. 307 Clinton Ave. 501-372-4782. littlerock.erniebiggs.com.

Open Mic Nite with Deuce. Thirst n’ Howl, 7:30 p.m., free. 14710 Cantrell Road. 501-379-8189. www.thirst-n-howl.com.

Radkey, Dead Anchors. Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, 8:30 p.m., $7. 107 Commerce St. 501-372-7707. www.stickyz. com.

Ted Ludwig Trio. Capital Bar and Grill, 7:30 p.m., free. 111 Markham St. 501-374-7474. www.capitalhotel.com/CBG.

COMEDY

The Joint Venture. Improv comedy group.

The Joint, 8 p.m., $7. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock. com.

DANCE

Little Rock Bop Club. Beginning dance lessons for ages 10 and older. Singles welcome. Bess Chisum Stephens Community Center, 7 p.m., $4 for members, $7 for guests. 12th and Cleveland streets. 501350-4712. www.littlerockbopclub

hearsay ➥ B. BARNETT will host a Trish McEvoy makeup workshop called “The Power of Makeup” on Oct. 7-9. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 501-223-2514. ➥ L&L BECK GALLERY’S October exhibit will be “Portraits.” The photo, “Afghan Girl” is the giclée giveaway of the month. The exhibit will run through the month of October, and the giclée drawing will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 16. ➥ CANTRELL GALLERY will host the premiere of a oneperson exhibit by Megan A. Lewis, titled “Painting.” This exhibit opens with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24. The reception is open to the public and is a great opportunity to be one of the first to see this wonderful body of works and meet the artist. The exhibit will continue through the end of the year. Lewis is a Kansas City, Kan., native who graduated from the University of Kansas with a BFA in painting in 1982. After traveling Europe and living in Colorado, she moved to Little Rock in 1990 with her husband, James. She laid aside her paints for a number of years while working in full-time ministry and raising their son, Drew. Lewis works primarily in oils. ➥ HARVESTFEST 2014 is scheduled for Oct. 4 along Kavanaugh Boulevard in Hillcrest. Sponsored by the Hillcrest Merchants Association, this all-day event features a pancake breakfast at Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church from 9 to 11 a.m., music all day and a fashion show from E. Leigh’s from 7 to 8 p.m., as well as activities for the kids, and the Hillcrest Farmers Market.

There will be a variety of food trucks, artists and craftsmen selling their wares in addition to all the great Hillcrest merchants and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds from the event go to support The Allen School and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit harvestfest.us.

OCTOBER 2, 2014

Announcing

Design & Dine The Riverdale Design District kicks off 2nd Thursday event

M

ake plans to come to the Riverdale Design District on Thursday, Oct. 9 for their first Design & Dine, a late-night shopping and dining experience. Individuals will have the opportunity to shop and socialize the second Thursday of each month.

The project was started when Tanarah Haynie, owner of Tanarah Luxe Floral,

3 R I V E R D A L e

d e

lifestyle items.”

Of course, Riverdale is rather spread out, so Gober suggested using a trolley to eliminate parking issues and also as an ideal way to get people between the areas of Riverdale, noting that the warehouse area in front of Cajun’s and Riviera Condominiums would be a great parking opportunity for people.

While the concept has been tried in the neighborhood in the past, it takes

group in an effort to create traffic, Haynie said. “These are all local people doing great things. There is so much talent in less than a one-mile radius. You’ll get inspired just going from shop to shop. And for all those customers that don’t have much free time during the work day — this late night event will give them the opportunity to visit our showrooms and see what we have to offer — and enjoy a glass of wine or two and then dinner!”

The Warehouse participants include Tanarah Luxe Floral, The Shade Above, Chandler & Associates, Providence Design, Debi Davis Interior Design, The Closet Factory, Tuft & Table and Hubler Fine Art. Fabulous Finds is on the way to the main district where you’ll find Distinctive Kitchens & s i g n D I S T R I C T Bath, Mertinsdyke Home, Urban d a t e n i g h t Pad and About Vase Florist. All these businesses will be open until 8 p.m. This is also a great opportunity to tour Riviera Condominums for beautiful high-rise condo living. Plus, just past The Faded Rose, a relatively new luxury apartment complex is available for apartment living at its an extreme amount of effort, cooperafinest — stop by the Residences at Rivertion and organization to make the event dale. Be sure to cap off your evening with a success. Partnering with Arkansas dinner and cocktails at the restaurants Destinations for the trolley service and supporting the neighborhood — Faded Rose, Maddie’s Place and The Fold.

Arkansas Times was the solution to make the idea work and mitigate some See the two-page ad spread on pages 48 of the obstacles of the past. and 49 for the individual plans these busi“The Cajun’s Warehouse district has nesses have in store for Oct.9. Grab some really grown over the years and the merfriends, park your car, hop aboard the chants have a great desire to work as a trolley and shop. We’ll see you there.

Open Late Every 2nd Thursday

ARKANSAS TIMES DESIGN & DINE: Look for these banners

started brainstorming with Dayna Gober, owner of Tuft & Table. They both knew about late-night events around town and they both thought, “Why not in our area?”

Haynie said. “Anyone in our line of business also knows about the design district in Dallas, and since Riverdale is home to more than 20 home design related firms, why not highlight this area as a destination for the latest and greatest sources for

ADVERTISING SUPLEMENT TO ARKANSAS TIMES

OCTOBER 2, 2014

53

BETTER READING THAN BRIEFS, CONT. specifically why Arkansas had elected a run of very talented governors before him — Bumpers, Pryor, Clinton, Tucker, Huckabee — who were all extraordinarily articulate and personable. No one would question that Beebe should have included himself in this talented group.

Nichols also ventures to Stuttgart, to take in the Duck Gumbo Cook-Off and World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest, the annual festival held on the weekend after Thanksgiving, with over 60,000 revelers showing up. It is a Mardi Gras for the Arkansas Prairie, and the highlight is the duck-calling contest. “Queen Mallard,”

the beauty contest winner, is introduced as a warm-up to the real contest, and does her own duck calling while wearing camo pants, camo jacket and tiara.

Nichols’ mention of non-Southerners at the duck calling contest evokes the question of whether parts of the South are more like the rest of the country now than they are like other parts of the South. Maybe the South is still a distinct culture in the U.S., but it is also true that people living in Little Rock and Minneapolis have more in common with each other than either group might have with their rural counterparts in their respective states.

Similarly, the common ties among rural cultures across the country are stronger, I suspect, than their ties to urban/ suburban areas within their own region.

This is surely an evolution over the 75 years since Daniels toured the South.

Like any authentic tale focused on the American South, “Azaleas” takes up two central issues never far from the center of life there — college football and race. Nichols checks out a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. He complains about the seemingly endless 54

OCTOBER 2, 2014

ARKANSAS TIMES

playing of “Rocky Top” during the game and compares the Vol fans’ incessant singing to his alma mater’s fans’ “woo pig sooie” cheer.

On the much more serious of these enduring two subjects, Nichols notes that it is only 40 miles from Montgomery, the capital of the Confederacy, to Tuskegee, the home of “perhaps the most influential private, historically black university in the country.” Nichols, who is white, compares the warm reception he receives while walking down the streets of Tuskegee to the suspicions he had evoked in lily-white parts

of Tennessee. He has no real insight into the reasons but calls it a stark difference.

He does have an object lesson about racial progress in the South to offer from a seemingly mundane event in Birmingham, when he was heading to visit the city’s Civil Rights Museum. A car rams into his car at an intersection.

An off-duty police officer happened to be nearby. She has a heated confrontation with the other driver, who doesn’t want the police summoned. A squad car shows up and the officers who worked the fender bender cited the other driver.

Nichols notes that the other driver, all of the bystanders, the off-duty cop, and the officers who arrive in the squad car are all African American. He then asks whether making that observation is “an act of racial prejudice?” He concludes it is not: “I figure that everyone else was aware of it, too. It’s not being conscious of the difference but exploiting it that creates the wrong. I don’t think the other driver expected to be treated better by a black policeman because of his race, and I didn’t fear being treated worse because of mine.”

That’s progress, as Nichols sees it, considering it happened in the same Southern city that unleashed Eugene “Bull” Connor and jailed Martin Luther King Jr. He ties this incident back to an interview he had with an African-American man from Mississippi about “race awareness in ordinary events,” something that seems very real in the South.

Nichols writes that they discussed how parents and grandparents can’t refrain from asking school officials about the race of the other children involved in episodes where their own children get in trouble. Nichols cannot say whether this reflects a basic prejudice or “just an understanding that race complicates those conflicts.”

The August news of a white police officer fatally shooting an unarmed black man in Ferguson, Mo., and white officers choking to death an unarmed black man in New York, underscores Nichols’ point about the complicating role of race in far more dangerous conflicts beyond the schoolyard. Such tragedies confirm that this is not confined to the South but is an American problem. They also fuel a pattern that Nichols observed. People are “much quicker to perceive racial prejudice than to celebrate those everyday occurrences when racial prejudices could occur but don’t.”

Could it be that places like Birmingham are in some ways ahead of places like Ferguson and Staten Island, N.Y., in coping with this problem? Can the South, despite or maybe because of its history, show the rest of the nation better ways to cope with racially complicated conflicts?

On a recent visit to Charleston, S.C., I heard an African-American musician greet her audience this way: “Welcome to Charleston, South Carolina, where the Civil War began, and where, eventually, it will end.”

One day we will quit fighting the Civil War. We will accept that preserving the Union was best, that the defeat of the Confederacy was better than the alternative, and not just for emancipated slaves. Then maybe another sojourner 75 years from now will follow in Daniels and Nichols’ footsteps and report that Southerners no longer view race as the complicating feature it so often is today. Maybe the next traveler will merely conclude that the South is less race-conscious than rest of late 21st century America. That would be a distinctive feature of the South that all sons and daughters of Dixie could celebrate.

BOOKS IN BRIEF

OCTOBER BOOK EVENTS PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE COLUMNIST Charles Krauthammer (1 p.m., Oct. 2) talks about his best-selling book “Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes, and Politics” at Barnes and Noble in West Little Rock. At the Clinton School of Public Service, Michael Nelson (noon, Oct. 6) will discuss the roots of today’s partisan divide and his new book “Resilient America: Electing Nixon in 1968, Channeling Dissent, and Dividing Government.”

NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JONATHAN MARTIN (6 p.m., Oct. 9), the author of “The End of the Line: Romney vs. Obama: The 34 Days That Decided the Election,” comes to the Clinton School. Spoken word poet Prentice Powell (7 p.m., Oct. 10) speaks at Philander Smith College’s M.L. Harris Auditorium as part of the Bless the Mic series. Virginia Postrel (noon, Oct. 10) talks about her book “The Power of Glamour: Longing and the Art of Visual Persuasion” at the Clinton School for Public Service.

Also at the Clinton School, former Arkansas congressman Ed Bethune (noon, Oct. 13) will discuss “Gay Panic in the Ozarks,” his novel about a hate crime committed in the Ozarks in the late ’60s.

FORMER NIXON ADVISER AND NOTED REPUBLICAN ABOMINATION ROGER STONE (7 p.m., Oct. 15) — he, for instance, founded Citizens United Not Timid, an anti-Hillary Clinton 527 group with a purposefully obscene acronym — comes to Barnes & Noble to talk about his Nixon apologia, “Nixon’s Secrets: The Truth About Watergate and the Pardon.” Rebecca Darwin (noon, Oct. 15), CEO and founder of the Southern magazine Garden & Gun, visits the Clinton School. University of Maryland professor Michael Ross (6 p.m., Oct. 22) discusses his sensational Reconstruction-era crime book, “The Great New Orleans Kidnapping Case.” Decorated novelist and short story writer Nathan Englander (7:30 p.m., Oct. 30) comes to Hendrix College’s Reves Recital Hall in Conway. Little Rock native Randy Oates (4 p.m., Oct. 30) returns to Little Rock to discuss his new memoir, “The Healing Begins Today,” at WordsWorth Books.

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF SALINE COUNTY, ARKANSAS PROBATE DIVISION

ARKANSAS TIMES MARKETPLACE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

63PR-14-248-2 IN THE MATTER OF FRANKLIN SNODGRASS, DECEASED NOTICE Last known address of decedent: 8515 Renee Circle, Benton AR 72019 Date of Death: September 27, 2013 Kay Snodgrass was appointed Administratrix of the estate of the above named decedent on August 28, 2014.

All persons having claims against the estate must exhibit them, duly verified, to the undersigned within six (6) months from the date of the first publication of this notice, or they shall be forever barred and precluded from any benefit in the estate.

This notice first published the 25th day of September, 2014.

Kay Snodgrass Administratrix of the Estate of Franklin Snodgrass 8515 Renee Circle Benton, AR 72019 Hilburn, Calhoon, Harper, Pruniski & Calhoun, Ltd. By: Debbie S. Denton; Scott Hilburn PO Box 5551, North Little Rock, AR 72119 Attorneys for Kay Snodgrass, Administratrix of the Estate

Join a team that supports you – professionally and personally CORRECT CARE SOLUTIONS LLC is currently seeking top-notch healthcare professionals to join our team in Tucker, Arkansas.

We offer generous compensation and a benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, 401K, FSA, tuition reimbursement and more.

HEALTHCARE OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE: Licensed Practical Nurse

UAMS HAS THE FOLLOWING OPENING:

BIOSTATISTICIAN

sought by University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR. Master’s plus 2 yrs exp.

Send resume to: Amber Sharp, Biostatistics, UAMS Dept. of Pediatrics, 1 Children’s Way, Slot 512-43, Little Rock, AR 72202; or Fax (501) 364-1431.

We invite you to take a look at our career opportunities and the benefits of working at CCS. Please apply online at: www.correctcaresolutions.com/careers

UAMS is an inclusive Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and is committed to excellence.

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OCTOBER 2, 2014

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JULY OCTOBER 31, 2014 2, 2014 ADVERTISING ARKANSAS TIMES SUPLEMENT TO ARKANSAS TIMES