AY About You May 2025

Terri Wells, Owner/Clinical Director, APRN, FNP-BC

Top Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Suzanne Yee

• Breast Augmentation

• Tummy Tuck

• Arm Lift

• BOTOX Cosmetic

• Liposuction

• Endoscopic Brow Lift

• Facelift

• Clinical Hair Restoration

• Mommy Makeover

• CoolSculpting Elite

Dr. Suzanne Yee is one of the Natural State’s most accomplished cosmetic surgeons. Dr. Yee graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and was ranked 1st in her graduating class. She completed her surgery internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her facial plastics and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the University of Texas at Houston. Dr. Yee has been serving the state of Arkansas through her medical skills and fashion sensibilities at her cosmetic and laser surgery center since 2003.

Congrats, PCSSD class of 2025!

The Class of ‘25 is certainly leaving a legacy at Sylvan Hills High School. Your class produced a record SEVENTY-SEVEN Honor Graduates with at least a 3.5 GPA. You boast several Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship recipients. Eleven of your classmates were honored for their participation in attending Governor’s School, Boys State, and Girls State. In fact, Ka’Mya Tackett was selected as the governor for Girls State. Additionally, your class had six students earn the coveted Seal of Biliteracy.

For many, you conquered private challenges we could never anticipate. The Class of ‘25 excelled in the classroom and is prepared for whatever challenges are encountered in the future.

In addition, some of you contributed to our choir and band programs, receiving superior ratings, and the boys’ 4x100 track team set a new school record multiple times this season. You and your classmates excelled in all areas of school life, and I am certain you are prepared to conquer the next chapter of your journey.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors! Go Bears!

Tracy Allen

Sylvan Hills High School

From the very first day of your high school journey, you have shown what it means to embody Senator PRIDE—in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, and in every challenge you’ve faced. You are scholars, athletes, artists, musicians, and leaders. You set records, won championships, earned top scores on AP exams and the ACT, and demonstrated time and again that success is built on hard work and determination.

Beyond your achievements, what stands out most is the heart of this class. You were a joy to lead—fun, full of spirit, and always respectful. Whether in the hallways or during my daily announcements, your voices echo back: “Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.” That phrase was never just words; it is a reflection of the choices you make every day—to be excellent, to support one another, and to leave a legacy worth remembering.

This class will always hold a special place in my heart—not only because you are my last class as principal of Joe T. Robinson, but because you made this journey unforgettable. As a parent of a graduating senior, I feel the same pride and excitement that so many of your families do. You are ready for what comes next and I have no doubt that you will continue to make an impact, no matter where your path leads.

As you prepare to walk across that stage and into your future, never forget that we are Joe T. Robinson, where Senator PRIDE resides. Congratulations, Class of 2025! The choice is now yours—go make your future great. With pride and gratitude —

Michelle Camp Robinson High School

Can you believe you have made it? Can you believe that all of your hard work, dedication, determination, sweat, and tears have come to a close?

I’m excited to see you reach this wonderful milestone in your life. Enjoy this moment. Enjoy this feeling. Enjoy it so much that you set your next goal and moment of achievement to relive this moment with greater heights!

You will reach many more milestones in your lives. Some of you will finish a trade and earn a certificate; some of you will finish one or more college degrees; some of you will reach high ranks in the military; some of you will be promoted on your jobs; some of you will own a business; some of you will start a family and see success flourish within your children and grandchildren. Whatever your story looks like, I encourage you to go for it! Seek the best you can in life and live to the potential we all know you have. You are a Maumelle Hornet, and that is enough to know that you have precisely what it takes to be the beacon of light we all need in this world. So, go forth good people and conquer! This is only a stepping stone to what you have next. You are amazing and I believe I speak for the entire Maumelle High School staff when I say that we are with you, we support you, and we love you! With warm regards —

Dr. Nick Farr Maumelle High School

Congratulations! Today marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. You reached a significant milestone, and you should be immensely proud of all that you have accomplished.

Reflecting on your journey, think about the friendships you made, the challenges you overcame, and the memories that shaped you. From late-night study sessions to cheering on your classmates, from navigating new ideas in the classroom to discovering your passions, every experience played a role in preparing you for the future.

As you take the next step—whether it’s pursuing higher education, entering the workforce, serving your community, or charting your own unique path—remember the qualities that brought you to this moment will continue to guide you. Your resilience, your courage, and your willingness to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles, are what truly define you.

You are stepping into a world that is constantly evolving; your voices, your talents, and your dreams will help shape its future. Be bold in your aspirations and compassionate in your actions. Stay curious, keep learning, and never underestimate the power of kindness.

We believe in you, and we are excited to see how you will leave your mark on the world. As you go forward, carry with you the lessons you learned and the friendships you formed. Wherever life takes you, know that you will always have a community here cheering you on.

Congratulations once again, graduates. Go out and make a difference— you already have.

Damian

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Joe David Rice, born in Paragould and reared in Jonesboro, probably knows Arkansas as well as anyone alive. The former owner of an outfitting business on the Buffalo National River and the state’s former tourism director, his Arkansas Backstories is published by the Butler Center.

Chris Davis was born and raised in Sherwood but now resides in North Little Rock with his wife and son. When his son was born, his wife asked for a new camera to take pictures of their little one. From there, his love of photography grew, and he is proud to be one of the contributing photographers at AY About You magazine.

Margie Raimondo blends culinary skills with storytelling. She specializes in Mediterranean cooking classes that emphasize healthy eating and has authored two cookbooks: Mangiamo and Finding Your Path Additionally, she is a filmmaker. She produced the awardwinning documentary The Soul of Sicily

Lori Sparkman, owner of Lori Sparkman Photography, has traveled the globe to work extensively with beautiful brides and grooms, fierce fitness clients, and growing families, as well as high-profile and corporate clients. She prides herself in capturing their personalities with a sophisticated and lighthearted style.

Todd Traub is a freelance writer with close to 35 years of experience in Arkansas journalism and publishing. An Air Force veteran and father of three grown children, he lives with his cat, Scout, in Cabot, where he is a world-class dabbler in cooking and exercise, a so-so trivia player and a wildly successful gatherer of books.

Jamie Lee is a freelance photographer originally from southwest Louisiana who now resides in Little Rock. With a strong focus on portrait, branding and food photography, she loves capturing people’s stories and cultures through the lens, helping businesses build their brands visually, and showcasing the local food scene and small businesses.

Justina Parker has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and is the creator of We Belong, a blog that features women in leadership across Arkansas. She loves people’s stories of selfdiscovery and spending time with her two boys, and she has never met a dog or potato she did not like.

Steve Lewis is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High who moved away a long time ago. His accomplishments include jumping freight trains through the Canadian Rockies in the summer of ’97, finally getting a bachelor’s degree and surviving more than 10 years as a photojournalist before returning home to contribute to AY Media.

additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2025, and material contained herein may not be

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BIG DREAMS DESERVE A PLAN

We all have big dreams for our children and we know they’ll have dreams of their own.

No matter what type of education those dreams call for, we have a plan.

The Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan allows our education savings to grow tax-deferred. And every little bit helps.

Help their dreams become a reality whether they study in the U.S. or abroad.

Look into opening an Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan – their dreams deserve it.

The Big One is Here!

As you pick up this month’s AY About You, you might want to lift with your legs. With everything that is going on in May, this month packs a lot of stuff into one issue.

We start with the most anticipated news on the AY calendar, the reveal of our “Best Of” winners. The competition is fierce, and the candidates hail from all over the state, making “AY’s Best Of” the preeminent mark of quality and excellence in the Natural State. Unlike other publication surveys, we understand what a prestigious honor it is for a company or individual to land in the top three of our massive readers poll, and that is why the top three vote-getters are all listed as “winners,” which is what they are. Congratulations to one and all!

Also in this jam-packed issue, we take a tour of outdoor dining spots in the state, ideal for those late spring/early summer nights out, as well as Ozark Beer Co. in Rogers, the first craft brewery that opened in Benton County.

We also sample not one but two worthy nonprofit events this month — Wolfe Street Foundation’s Red Carpet Recovery Gala and CareLink’s Cupcakes for Goodness Sake — both of which we are proud to sponsor.

We also bring you a little taste of Hollywood with Arkansas flair as we meet not one but two natives involved in the hit reality show Farmer Wants a Wife. Last but not least, we take a look at the myths, facts and new treatment options available for menopause in our health section. All that and much more is waiting for you in the pages of this month’s AY About You

As the school year winds down and the weather heats up, we know many of you will be out at the lake or hosting backyard get-togethers, including for some very special people this month — our moms! From all of us to every mom, nana, step-mom and foster mom out there, we say, “Job well done.” Enjoy your wellearned day of rest!

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com

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READER FEEDBACK INSTAGRAM

EXCLUSIVE EATS: THE CAPITAL HOTEL — LITTLE ROCK

We loved chatting with Mak for this piece! Thank you so much for the feature.

The Capital Hotel

KEVIN KELLY TO SHARE RECOVERY JOURNEY FOR FIRST TIME AT 2025 GALA

Honored to have Kevin share his story at the Red Carpet Recovery Gala!

Kevin Issitt

EXCLUSIVE EATS: CYPRESS SOCIAL — NORTH LITTLE ROCK

It’s just fabulous!!! Just like anything else with Keet and/or Petit!

Kelly VanHook

AY TRAILBLAZERS OF TOMORROW: AVERY EVANS

Avery is top-notch — congrats and great article!

Rees Jones

DRESS REHEARSAL: MARLSGATE PLANTATION

A beautiful location for events.

Vickie Ferrell Barrett

HAPPILY EVER AFTER: GETTING TO KNOW COUPLES THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF DESIGNING WEDDING FLOWERS

What an absolutely beautiful wedding.

Dottie Griffin

HEATHER’S FAVORITE THINGS — DISCOVERING THE BENEFITS OF NAD+ INJECTIONS: MY PERSONAL JOURNEY

Love NAD…game changer.

Courtney Rector

PULASKI COUNTY FAIR OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Thank you so much, AY magazine. We love our partnership with you!

The Pulaski County Fair

ALL-STAR SUMO COMPETITION, HOT SPRINGS

We were there and we had a BLAST.

Shelly Joyner

TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM

Kevin Kelly to Share Recovery Journey for First Time at 2025 Gala

Heather’s Favorite Things — Discovering the Benefits of NAD+ Injections: My Personal Journey

Hot Springs to Permanently Paint the Town Green — Literally!

Pulaski County Fair Offers Something for Everyone

Taking Arkansas for a Spin, One Roundabout at a Time

A new restaurant is slated for the Heights in Little Rock, and a new hospitality retreat is coming to northwest Arkansas.

Chris

owned and operated by the family-owned Prime Hospitality Group, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new

Grammy Award-winning country group Little Big Town will bring their Summer Tour ’25 to the Walmart AMP in Rogers.

Ruth’s

Steak House,

Rogers location.

5Top

you just can't miss!

THE PULASKI COUNTY FAIR

May 16-26

North Little Rock Riverfront Park — North Little Rock

The fifth annual Pulaski County Fair, presented by Oaklawn in Hot Springs, returns to the banks of the Arkansas River for nine days packed with fun, food and entertainment for the whole family. A portion of the proceeds benefits North Little Rock Parks and Recreation.

RED CARPET RECOVERY GALA

May 29

The Venue at Westwind — Little Rock

Join Wolfe Street for a delicious meal, premium mocktails and stories of recovery — all to support the important mission of the Wolfe Street Foundation. The Wolfe Street Foundation serves as a headquarters for people seeking and sustaining long-term recovery. The 2025 Recovery Leadership Award honoree will be Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin for his efforts in paving the way to recovery for countless Arkansans.

CUPCAKES FOR GOODNESS SAKE

May 17

Argenta Plaza — North Little Rock

CareLink’s 10th annual Cupcakes for Goodness Sake invites local bakers, both amateur and professional, to create cupcakes inspired by an “Under the Sea” theme. The event is a sweet treat for a great cause.

MEMORIAL DAY FIREWORKS

May 25

Lake Hamilton — Hot Springs

Celebrate Memorial Day with a free fireworks display over Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs. The display, synced to music on 97.5 FM, promises to light up the sky in a salute to the holiday.

SYMPHONY OF HOMES

May 3 and 4

2 Pebble Beach Drive — Little Rock

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild’s Symphony of Homes will spotlight a lineup of designer-curated residences. Homes will be designed by Tom Chandler & Associates, M.N’Teriors by Miguel Newberg, Brandon Brown, partner at Encompass Realty Group, and presenting sponsor Sha Davari of Art of Design. Proudly sponsored by AY Media Group, tickets to the event are $75 in advance or $80 at the door. Visit arsymphonyguild.org for tickets and more information.

STORIES THAT INSPIRE

What is it about a great story that draws us in? There’s something in all of us that is captivated by masterful storytelling. It’s why we love books, movies, and entertainment. Stories help us find our way because we see ourselves reflected in the characters; finding hope in their triumphs and inspiration in their brokenness. Today, we have access to stories like never before. It’s easy to reach for devices that seem to have “all the answers” while our Bibles sit collecting dust. So how do we ignite a passion for God’s Word amid this struggle for our attention?

Sight & Sound’s founder sought to answer that question when he turned his gift of storytelling into a family business — growing from humble beginnings as a dairy farmer to producing live stage shows with a ministry focus. He was passionate about using stories, just like Jesus used parables, to help people understand scripture. What began as a traveling slide show has since grown into two live theater locations, an online streaming platform, and a feature film studio, reaching audiences around the world with stories from the pages of scripture and history.

There’s a reason the Bible is the bestselling book of all time—God is the Master Storyteller, and the Bible is His master script. For nearly 50 years, Sight & Sound Theatres ® has brought the Bible to life on stage because we believe in the power of these stories and the way they’ve been transforming peoples’ lives for thousands of years. We can’t take credit for them but do get to tell them in a new way! And this year, we’re debuting one of the Bible’s most legendary stories on our Branson stage…

Filled with towering giants, wild animals, and Philistine soldiers, DAVID is an action-packed adventure at every turn. From sets that soar three-stories high to a flock of animals grazing the aisles and a universe of Psalms brought to life on a state-of-the-art LED screen, this is not your average theatrical experience. But beyond the spectacle of the production, it is our hope that the message of the story shines brightest from the stage—throughout our victories and defeats, God is with us always.

DAVID is now playing live on stage in Branson, MO. Book your tickets direct at sight-sound.com.

Pure old-fashioned summer fun.

Discover a hidden gem in The Heart of the Ozarks, Silver Dollar City, America’s #1 Theme Park! Explore the 1880s mining town filled with unique rides and record-breaking coasters including the Heartland’s Largest Indoor Coaster—New Fire In The Hole.® Entertain your family with New Summer Shows like the Wild West Comedy Stunt Show or Silver Dollar Circus featuring world-class acrobats. Watch demonstrating artisans create handcrafted wares and taste down-home, country cooking. Plus, when summer nights get longer see the Night Sky get brighter with a New Drone & Fireworks Show.

Dream It… If You Can

BKC Home Builders builds reputation for creating spectacular homes

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos courtesy by BKC HOME BUILDERS

In the ever-more competitive world of luxury homebuilding, consumers have no shortage of ideas about what a dream home should offer. Massive floorplans, multifloor elevators and outdoor entertainment spaces featuring gourmet kitchens are just a few of the items that have moved from wish list to must-have.

Veteran homebuilder Bree Calley is not surprised much anymore at what his well-heeled clientele can dream. In less than a decade in business Calley, owner of BKC Home Builders in Hot Springs, has gained a reputation in the luxury home segment as a highly sought-after craftsman who can make just about anything come to life.

“We have one project right now that’s 14,000 square feet under roof. It has a golf simulator, it has a four-stop elevator, a theater room, a sauna — all the things,” he said. “Outdoor spaces continue to be big. We’re doing innovative things like putting in air curtains, which is a device installed over a door and it blows a stream of air that allows you to keep the door open while keeping the bugs out and maintain heat and cooling.”

Never one to have a lot of slack in his production calendar, Calley has had a steady stream of business following last fall’s national elections as people gained some confidence in the nation’s economic picture.

Luxurious extras are par for the course at BKC Home Builders in Hot Springs.

Outdoor spaces continue to be big. We’re doing innovative things like putting in air curtains, which is a device installed over a door and it blows a stream of air that allows you to keep the door open while keeping the bugs out and maintain heat and cooling.

— Bree Calley BKC Home

Builders

“We start talking to people a couple of years out before we begin building their project,” he said. “The clients we’ve been talking to are now energized and ready to go. We’re about to start several new projects where the owners were waiting around to see what was going to happen in Washington. Now everybody’s thinking, ‘Hey, we’re going to have a stable or a good next four years,’ and they’re ready roll.”

Calley worked his way up from remodeling projects, which he still takes on from time to time, albeit on a much bigger scale. Word of mouth from delighted clients proved a powerful thing.

“We have really been blessed in this business,” Calley said. “We went from having a couple of houses going to now where we’re carrying multiple projects at a time. I give God all the credit that our work has been recognized and led to the success we enjoy today.”

The bulk of the company’s work comes in between about 3,000 square feet and 9,000 square feet in size and costs from about $800,000 up into the $2 million neighborhood, not counting the land.

Given the surge in demand, project management ranks right up there with the company’s level of craftsmanship, Calley said, enabling the deployment of people and materials in a way that keeps projects on schedule. Communication is also of critical importance, especially when dealing with homes of such size and complexity.

“I’ve often said we are a hired gun,” Calley said. “Sometimes I’m presented with a set of plans that aren’t the architectural style I am accustomed to, and often there are site challenges of one kind or another that have to be managed. When that happens, we simply adapt.

“Other times, a homeowner might have a hard time squaring what they see in their mind with what they see on a job site. One special talent we have as a company is keeping the homeowner abreast of where a project is at any given moment. We excel at showing them how the plans on a page are coming together and, in some cases, even showing the customer how changing the plans slightly can actually work better in the finished product.”

Lakefront views making building in Hot Springs different than building in other areas.

Calley does the bulk of his work in Hot Springs which, with its pristine lakes and emerald mountain backdrop, is a magnet for luxury homes and a top notch roster of builders who create them. Projects there demand the highest in design, features and skilled craftsmanship, three things for which BKC Home Builders is especially known.

“Hot Springs is the perfect platform for us to showcase what we do,” Calley said. “Our client base is far-reaching with second home and outof-state retirees seeking the residence they’ve dreamed about all their lives. Our total focus is to build homes with that in mind, lending extraordinary touches throughout and delivering a low-stress experience for the homeowner start to finish.”

That mantra is a tall order for any builder to live up to in a market where maximizing the surroundings and upping the wow factor are standard expectations. BKC Home Builders’ skilled staff incorporates each client’s wants and desires into the overriding goal of delivering a dream home that lives as good as it looks.

“A luxury build is never what I would call easy, but there is a big difference between building in a typical gated community somewhere and building lakefront in Hot Springs,” Calley said. “A lake lot focuses on being aesthetically pleasing both from the front and rear view of the home, which are two totally different perspectives.

“The front design is meant to lend street appeal while building on Lake Hamilton or Lake Catherine demands emphasizing the waterfront view. That means we have to give the same attention to detail in design to create a blueprint that satisfies both.”

Calley, a Benton native, was born with building in his blood after his great-grandfather and great-uncle. His love and talent for the art of luxury construction takes some of the edge off of juggling as many as six projects at once, and his intuitive sense of customer service and deep pride in his work makes it clear that he is doing what he was born to do.

A luxury build is never what I would call easy, but there is a big difference between building in a typical gated community somewhere and building lakefront in Hot Springs.

— Bree Calley

The company works to meet most any homeowner’s demand while lending creative vision where necessary.

“We recognize that, ultimately, what we do comes down to the client’s decisions. However, they appreciate our ability and willingness to draw from our well of experience,” he said. “They empower us beyond being mere builders; we are their trusted advisor.

“The anchor of our company philosophy is a desire to build the very best. My greatest satisfaction is met when a finished product exceeds the expectations of what the client had envisioned.”

Sometimes I’m presented with a set of plans that aren’t the architectural style I am accustomed to, and often, there are site challenges of one kind or another that have to be managed. When that happens, we simply adapt.

— Bree Calley

Bree Calley, Owner

Lindsey Sabatini, APRN, Owner

Day Mom for florals

Flowers

Stunning bouquets deliver joy on

Mother’s

By CHRIS NORWOOD // Photos courtesy of NORWOOD-DAY FLORAL CO.

C

elebrated the second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day is a time for honoring Mom. Traditionally, churchgoers mark the holiday by wearing red roses if their mothers are alive and white roses if their mothers are deceased. Flowers also have strong associations with the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of Christianity’s most important mothers.

It is no wonder, then, that flowers are often the first thing people think of when it comes to Mother’s Day gifts. Late spring blooms can be found in abundance this time of year, bringing with them vibrant yellows, oranges and pinks, as well as pastel tones such as soft pinks and dusty magentas and purples.

This is one of the best times of the year to buy peonies, since the blooms are in season and, therefore, more affordable. Other seasonal blooms include hydrangea, hyacinth and viburnum, also known as “snowball.” Tulips are still popular in late spring, and of course, roses remain a timeless Mother’s Day gift.

One of my favorite seasonal arrangements involves

pairing viburnum with orange or free spirit roses and then adding some clematis to give a hint of purple to the look.

There are so many color palettes to choose from this time of year, from bright, jewel-tone and pastel mixes to all-white arrangements and mixed pinks and lavenders. Preorders can be a good idea for those who have something special in mind for Mom, such as an arrangement that features her favorite flower.

That said, most florists have plenty of flowers in stock for the holiday. Customers at Norwood-Day are welcome to browse our European-style flower displays to curate a special bouquet themselves or choose a premade arrangement online or in-store.

One of the great things about owning a local flower shop is that we can offer blooms customers might not find elsewhere, such as anemones and ranunculus. You might just find a new favorite flower while you are here.

We also help decorate restaurants, shops and country club dining rooms for brunches and other special Mother’s Day events.

Often, country clubs will request beautiful flowers towering above the buffets, along with arrangements on the tables. Such venues often provide every mother with a flower or bouquet when she leaves.

Moms — here is how to make those cut flowers last as long as possible. Change the water in the vase every day. Ideally, recut the flower stems every two days, and add a preservative to the water. I always say if the water in the vase does not look like something you would drink, flowers should not drink it either.

For mothers with green thumbs, there are also plenty of live plants that make great gifts. Potted violets, succulents, kalanchoes and azaleas can all bring a smile to Mom’s face on her special day. Hydrangeas are an especially versatile gift because they can be grown indoors or planted outside, depending on the variety.

Orchids are one of the most popular and striking potted plants for Mother’s Day. Here at the shop, we keep phalaenopsis, or moth orchids, in stock. The plants are generally 2 1/2 or 3 feet tall, and they come in waterfall varieties with cascading blooms or with two upright stems.

I always suggest using the ice cube method when it comes to watering orchids. Put one ice cube in the middle of the pot each week to water the plant. Orchids have an air root system, so they do not like to sit in water for long amounts of time. If the leaves turn yellow, the plant is probably being overwatered.

We are celebrating our first Mother’s Day in our new storefront at Norwood-Day Floral Co., and in addition to our cut and live flowers, we have put together a few selections of bath products, gourmet foods and specialty items such as stationary to pamper Mom for the holiday.

Be on the lookout for the Norwood-Day Mother’s Day collection, which will include a special container.

Flowers make moms happy. In fact, research has shown that flowers reduce stress and provide a sense of well-being. They are just an overall mood-booster, so why not thank Mom for all her hard work by giving her something that helps her relax and brings her joy?

Chris Norwood and Christina Day-Essary are co-owners of NorwoodDay Floral Co. in Little Rock. For more information, visit norwood-day.com.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Al Fresco in ARKANSAS

Check out these eight outdoor eateries around the Natural State

By ALEX HARDGRAVE

FFrom charming city terraces to serene lakeside patios, the state’s diverse dining spots provide an ideal setting for most any meal. Arkansas’ restaurant patios promise an experience that combines taste, atmosphere and beauty.

ith a massive patio right next to Osage Park and nearby waterways, Bentonville Brewing Co. is the kind of place where everyone from craft beer lovers to young kids can feel right at home.

Having occupied two spaces previously, BBC settled into its custom-built current location on 14th Street in early 2020. Designed with outdoor dining at the forefront, the space includes a dog run, lawn games galore,

and plenty of seating for groups big and small.

“The patio and outdoor space were a huge part of the design in the new space,” said Katie Boykin, CEO and co-owner. “We know that people who live in Arkansas, especially in Bentonville and who moved from other places, want to take advantage of the beautiful scenery and the lifestyle.”

The brewery offers 24 taps — eight core

Photos courtesy of Bentonville Brewing Co.

brews always available and the rest rotating. There is also a full menu from the in-house kitchen and a variety of food trucks to make almost every palate happy.

The space is also built for fun events, from night markets and live music to the occasional goat yoga session. Boykin said to check the brewery’s social media channels for the latest on its ever-growing calendar of events. Patrons can also get more information online.

“You can have a full day of enjoying nature, and then you can walk in here,” Boykin said. “It’s a really cool spot.”

Witha name like Bike Rack Brewing Co., it only makes sense one can find it tucked away in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. This local favorite blends Bentonville’s love for adventure with craft brews and chill patio vibes. The taproom spills out onto a sunny patio through giant doors.

“When we have great weather, this place is packed,” co-owner Jon Cadieux said.

The beer menu includes six or seven regulars, and the rest of the 24 taps have rotating flavors for those wanting to branch out. If beer is not one’s thing, the place offers wine and a few simple cocktails, as well.

A tradition for locals is to come

BENTONVILLE BREWING CO.

901 SW 14th St., Suite 100, Bentonville 479-903-7330

bentonvillebrewing.com

Monday: Noon to 10 p.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

hang on Wednesdays for $1 wing night.

“We’re starting to get a reputation for how good our wings are,” Cadieux said. “It’s grown to be one of the busiest days of the week.”

The place also gets really busy when live music is on the menu; see the website for a current lineup. For people who cannot make it to the brewery, its offerings can be found in various liquor stores around the state and on tap at many other watering holes.

BIKE RACK BREWING CO.

801 SE Eighth St., Suite 61, Bentonville 479-351-0440

bikerackbrewing.com

Monday through Thursday: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday through Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Bike Rack Brewing Co.

Photos courtesy of Bike Rack Brewing Co.

Hill Station

Hill Station in Little Rock is what happens when someone dreams up a space that checks every box. Is it dog friendly? Check. Is it family friendly? Check. Is it great for a post-lake day meal but also nice enough for a date night? Check and check.

“[The owner] wanted a place for people, all people, to be able to go with kids, if they wanted a quiet place to sit, bring their dogs, whatever,” General Manager Christin Bryant said about her brother-in-law, owner Daniel Bryant. “Just something at the center of the community.”

The menu is diverse. It includes a wide range of pricing and options from salads to hearty burgers to risotto. Offering its own in-house butcher, the restaurant’s fare is noted for its freshness.

The summertime cocktails are refreshing and fruity. Bryant said to expect some fan favorites on the drink menu but also a lot of new libations dreamt up by the bartenders.

The outdoor area takes up the majority of the seating at Hill Station, accommodating about 200, while inside seats about 75. Everything there begs patrons to come and stay awhile. Therefore, the restaurant does not take reservations. However, patrons looking to host a large party can rent the upper area of the outdoor seating, Bryant said.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” she said. “There’s shade in the summer, and we have fans to help keep you cool. We have heaters that we put out in the winter that keep you warm when it starts cooling off.”

HILL STATION

2712 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock

501-747-2230

hillstationhillcrest.com

Bar Hours:

Tuesday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Loca Luna

more intimate outdoor dining experience can be had at Loca Luna in Little Rock, since the selfdescribed “bold Southern bistro” boasts a charming courtyard for dining outside.

The tucked-away space is great for enjoying a cool drink, delicious fare and time spent with loved

A local favorite, Loca Luna’s menu consists of elevated options such as crispy garlic shrimp and jumbo four cheese ravioli, as well as pizzas, soups and calzones. In addition, the longtime neighborhood restaurant will serve the famous Red Door brunch while its sister restaurant Red Door is closed for renovations until early next year.

“It’s good offerings from all different types of people,” said Dani White,

Photos courtesy of Hill Station

Photos courtesy of Loca Luna

who runs marketing for the Remolinos Group, which owns the restaurants.

Loca Luna also offers a separate area that is great for accommodating larger parties that want an “indoor-outdoor” experience complete with a full catering menu.

LOCA LUNA

3519 Old Cantrell Road, Little Rock

501-663-4666

localuna.com

Lunch:

Monday through Friday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dinner:

Tuesday through Thursday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Brunch:

Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nestled in the historic downtown district of Van Buren, Pasta Grill offers a distinctly local take on outdoor dining. Located on Main Street directly across from the town’s iconic train depot, the restaurant’s patio provides a blend of small-town charm and relaxed elegance that appeals to both locals and visitors alike.

“We’ve got larger tables for bigger parties and smaller, more intimate two-tops out there,” owner Cathi Payton said. “We have beautiful umbrellas for when the sun is beating down in Arkansas.”

While the patio is not expansive, the layout is welcoming. The space accommodates a variety of weather conditions, and it is also dog friendly.

“Oftentimes, people bring their pups and sit out there and enjoy it,” Payton said.

The menu, as the name implies, has great pasta options, as well as other foods, such as steak and seafood. The restaurant also has a curated collection of wine and beer.

People can book the patio for events for a fee. Payton said the space is great for proms and engagement parties.

PASTA GRILL VAN BUREN

810 Main St., Van Buren

479-262-6225

pastagrillrestaurant.com/van-buren-1

Lunch:

Tuesday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dinner:

Tuesday through Thursday: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Pasta Grill

Photos courtesy of Pasta Grill.

Those craving a patio experience with green vistas, warm biscuits and farm-fresh meat should plan to make the scenic drive to Rabbit Ridge Farms in Bee Branch. The unique business launched after the owners decided to forgo farmers markets and sell their meat on the farm in a restaurant-style setting.

“We thought that the only way that we could be successful doing this was if we brought people to the farm and treated people the way we treat our friends and family,” said Alan Mahan, co-owner with his wife, Angela.

The idea has morphed from a creative way to sell local, farm-grown goods into a break fast, brunch and lunch dining destination.

Agemin Little Rock’s East Village, the Rail Yard has been polished to spar kle and shine through the two years of new ownership.

“It’s been great,” said Bran don Dorse, co-owner. “We love what we’ve turned the place into. We’re just growing, and we just love it.”

Rabbit Ridge Farms

There is indoor seat ing with a giant door to let the outdoors in and a beautiful open patio that begs for a brunch date.

“Aside from really extreme weather, you’re able to enjoy the es sence of the outdoors,” Angela said. “That’s the whole point. We’re connecting you to the farm.”

The menu is offered Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but Angela urged peo-

The Rail Yard

The Rail Yard offers a huge, paved pa tio with chairs and picnic tables for parties of varying sizes. Open every week Wednesday through Sunday, the Railyard welcomes the whole family until 8 p.m., at which point the business be comes 21 and up. Dogs are allowed, on leash, in the outside area.

The Rail Yard hosts a lot of events, including Singo (song bingo), occasional trivia, live music and Sunday brunch. The business is also home to the monthly East Village Arts Market, which welcomes 30 to 40 local vendors into the space to sell their wares to patrons.

food choices. Dorse said the catfish plate and smash burger get great feedback from regulars, but the whole menu is good. If nothing on Rail Yard’s menu strikes one’s fancy, there are also options from the food

Locals have also made the place a Sunday tradition, thanks to its offering of brunch food and mimosa

Alan said usually sells out. One can also immerse oneself in the farm experience for the whole weekend with rentable on-site suites or book the entire

484 Rabbit Ridge Road, Bee Branch 501-335-7777

rabbitridgefarm.com

Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Rail Yard is a good option for a wide range of

“I think here to come in the next six months to a year, Madi [Hamp, co-owner] and I, we’re going to take The Rail Yard to another level,” Dorse said, adding people can keep track of everything the team is doing through its website and social media.

Photos courtesy of Rabbit Ridge Farms

Photos courtesy of The Rail Yard

Whenlooking for a rain-or-shine spot, look no further than the Alley at Sterling Market in Little Rock. With a glass retractable cover, the alleyway can be used no matter the weather. Since it is temperature-controlled, the area stays cool even during the hot summer months.

The Alley is not open during the week except on the nights it has fun events — which is pretty often. Look for weekly karaoke and trivia, as well as art markets, movie nights and other special events.

Food-wise, the Alley has the full Sterling Market menu available, including skillet cornbread, sourdough-crusted pizza and even fried half chicken. If the food is not enough to lure people in, the craft cocktails will.

The kitchen uses as much local, farm-fresh meat and produce as possible on the menu, White said. The Remolinos Group also owns Sterling Market.

“We look forward to welcoming a lot of people out this spring and summer,” she added. “It’s a fun space.”

People can also rent the Alley for events that might include A-plus catering from Sterling Market.

STERLING MARKET

515 Shall Ave. 501-300-6938 sterlingmarket.com

Restaurant Hours: Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Alley Hours: Wednesday through Saturday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday

Thursday: 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sterling Market

Photos courtesy of Sterling Market.

Working HARD , Drinking EASY

Ozark Beer Co. an ambassador for Arkansas craft brews

By SARAH DECLERK // Photos courtesy of MARTY SHUTTER/OZARK BEER CO.

founded in Rogers in 2013, shortly after retail alcohol sales became legal in Benton County, Ozark Beer Co. was the introduction to craft beer for many in the area. That fact is not lost on co-owners Lacie Bray and Andy Coates, who have made it a point to ensure their beer is drinkable and approachable while creating a family-oriented space for the community.

“We took it very seriously, I think, that we were creating the beer culture in Rogers for ourselves,” Bray said. “You know, we had lived in Chicago that has a very, very old and very drinking culture and drinking establishments, but coming into an area and saying, ‘OK, the perception or the understanding that people are going to have is going to come from us, so what do we want that to look like?’”

The couple met while working as raft guides in Colorado, where Coats started his brewing career at Great Divide Brewing Co. in Denver. The couple then spent two years in Chicago, where Coats worked at Goose Island and Bray was a school teacher, before traveling to Walla Walla, Washington, to participate in the wine crush.

“During that time, we traveled all through Oregon and Washington and Idaho, and we just ended up hitting a lot of breweries,” Bray said. “By the time that we left that, Andy had the expertise in the brewing, and I was really interested in the taproom side of it, and so we had decided that we would open a brewery.”

The couple spent the second half of the year traveling in South America while researching the ideal location for their brewery. As it turned out, that place happened

to be where Bray grew up — northwest Arkansas.

Back then, the only operating breweries in the state were Vino’s Brew Pub and Diamond Bear Brewing Co., both in Little Rock at the time, and the now-closed Hog Haus Brewing Co. in Fayetteville.

Legislative groundwork laid by Diamond Bear founder Russ Melton that allowed for self-distribution coupled with the opportunity to grow the marketplace and early whisperings of the cultural mecca northwest Arkansas had yet to become brought the couple to the region in 2010.

Although the craft beer movement was just beginning to gain traction — Coates said there were about 2,000 breweries in the country at the time versus the nearly 10,000 there are today — Bray said the couple’s adventures in the Pacific Northwest had shown her the role a brewery could play in the local community.

“Taprooms were always a really interesting window into the communities where they were at,” she said. “We would go into these breweries, and we would sit at the bar, and we would always meet people that were from there and that were welcoming and that wanted to talk, and so to me, it was just such a great way to showcase an area.”

The couple planned to open in Fayetteville before the 2012 wet-dry vote allowed the sale of alcohol in Benton County, prompting them to set their sights on Rogers.

“Most breweries start in industrial areas, old, kind of run-down warehouses, things like that,” Coates said, “and we found our perfect run-down warehouse just south of downtown Rogers.”

Proving that in the Ozarks, hard work makes honest people, the adage that inspired the motto “hard work, honest beer,” Ozark Beer Co. started on a shoestring budget, first serving draught beer in the taproom before branching into cans a year later.

The first beer served was the Ozark IPA, an India pale ale still available today, and the first beer packaged was the Ozark Pale Ale.

“We’ve changed recipes and ingredients on nearly every single beer, and the only one we’ve never touched was the original Ozark Pale Ale, which you can still get today. It’s a nice little American pale ale, just over 4 percent,” Coates said. “Our kind of philosophy — we knew that being new in beer and being in an area where people had never, probably, ever been to a brewery or a taproom, accessibility was and still is paramount. Our question is, ‘Would you drink another one?’”

Lacie Bray and Andy Coates are the husband-and-wife owners of Ozark Beer Co. in Rogers.

Events are another way the couple worked to make the brewery more approachable, and since they had their oldest son about six months after opening, creating a family-friendly space took on added significance for the couple. The brewery still hosts a number of community events, from 5Ks and an Oktoberfest celebration to plant swaps, book clubs and more.

“Breweries are community centers,” Bray said. “The product they happen to make is beer but it’s not necessarily just a drinking culture that we’re after. It’s more of that community aspect of getting people together and a place to talk.”

The couple purchased the current facility in 2015. Built in the 1890s using longleaf pine milled at Van Winkle’s Mill at what is now Hobbs State ParkConservation Area in Rogers, the building was originally a flour mill and then later housed a moving and storage company.

The brewery still serves three of its four original year-round beers. In addition to the Ozark IPA and Ozark Pale Ale, the Ozark Cream Stout is still in production. However, the company’s Belgian-style golden ale has fallen by the wayside, replaced by the Ozark Lager.

Coates said lagers have become more popular as tastes have shifted away from extreme or novelty flavors.

“We wanted to kind of bring it back down and be like, ‘Hey, beer is beer,’” he said. “Obviously, Arkansas’ hot in the summer and in the spring and in the winter sometimes, and so if you’re going to be outside and we want you to have a second beer, lower alcohol drinkability is paramount.”

That is not to say Ozark does not provide unique quaffs for craft aficionados. The taproom usually has a barrel-aged option on draught, and the brewers have experimented with harvesting wild yeast. One of the most popular specialty brews is the Shagbark Brown made with hickory harvested at a cattle farm owned by Bray’s family.

“We bring it back, we roast it, and then we put it in a beer, and so I think it’s a really interesting snapshot of the Ozarks in a glass,” she said. “It tastes kind of like campfire, a little marshmallowy.”

The taproom also offers an assortment of cocktails and slushies, and Ozark also makes its own cider and

Breweries are community centers. The product they happen to make is beer but it’s not necessarily just a drinking culture that we’re after. It’s more of that community aspect of getting people together and a place to talk.

— Lacie Bray, co-owner

kombucha. As Americans have begun drinking less alcohol, the brewery has worked to provide more nonalcoholic options, as well, Bray said.

Reduced alcohol consumption is just one challenge affecting local breweries, however. Coates said costs have gone up due to rising commodity prices, something he expects to worsen as the U.S. enacts tariffs on foreign goods. While the company buys American-made products as much as possible, most of its barley comes from Canada, as does almost all the aluminum used for beverage canning in the United States.

Bray said she expects breweries to lean into the taproom side of their operations as distribution becomes more expensive.

“I do think that the taprooms are where breweries can really shine,” she said. “There’s been a big change in the kind of societal and drinking cultures that we’ve seen, and so where people would go to bars, now, when people go out, they want to take their kids. An option to do that is breweries, and so I think that taprooms will still be very, very successful, and I think that’s where a lot of people will put their energy as we go forward.”

Ozark Beer Co. is earning its reputation as an anchor in the downtown Rogers community by putting in hard work and serving honest beer to hardworking, honest people.

“Being in northwest Arkansas, it’s still a very blue-collar area, and so I think one of the greatest things for our area is we have construction workers and farmers that come in for a drink beside execs at Walmart,” Bray said. “It really is, I think, just a great equalizer. Anyone can come in and enjoy the same thing, and you just never really know who you’re going to talk to.”

While the brewery has created a few experimental brews, it is committed to producing beers even those new to craft brewing can enjoy.

LOVE Food is

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by LORI SPARKMAN

Of all the experiences and stories that can be gleaned from seven decades of life, the one that arguably defines Evette Brady quickest and best comes out in how she sees herself. Sitting down to talk with someone for the first time, she holds her hand up to stop the conversation after about the second time of being called “Chef.”

“You may address me as a chef, but I’m a cook,” she said politely. The visitor need not push back on that assessment — Brady ain’t having it. Despite the picture-perfect herb-encrusted rack of lamb resting to her right, despite time spent owning 1620, one of Little Rock’s best-loved and most-missed fine dining restaurants, and despite diners who have included presidents and prime ministers, her picture of herself is clear in her mind’s eye.

Besides, she despises the kind of titles that gain people something before the first course hits the table. In her career, every plate has been a resume, every bite a job interview.

“I’m just a basic cook,” she said again, this time more emphatically. “I marvel at what chefs can do nowadays, but that wasn’t me. For me it was always, ‘Hey, cook that steak like they asked for it. Put it on a plate. Clean the plate. Put it out the window.’

“When you do something that you really love, you develop a passion for it. Even at this age I’m in and this longevity that I’ve had, I still have a love for it. I’m in love with this job that I do.”

To Brady’s thinking, passion outdraws titles any day of the week because it demands the best of a person each and every day to live up to what he or she loves to do most. Asked the first thing she remembers learning to cook to perfection, she smiled.

“The very first thing?” she said. “Oh, I was a pro at scrambled eggs because that was the one thing I could cook for my dad. I was probably 5 years old, standing on a little stool in front of the stove. Back then, you know, you didn’t put your eggs in a bowl. You just cracked them and put them in the skillet.”

If scrambled eggs seem a pretty low rung upon which to start a decades-long culinary career, even for a 5-year-old, that misses the point. The answer demonstrates Brady’s philosophy of how overall excellence starts with doing basic things exceptionally well, especially when done for people one most cares about. Brady loves talking about the miracle of such dishes and does so freely as a way to connect, instruct and uplift. Not everyone can make even a passable croque monsieur, but with a little practice, anyone can delight a loved one with a flawless plate of eggs, and so she shares.

Chef Evette Brady discusses life, cooking and the heart of the matter

“If you do them the traditional way, like putting them in a skillet, you know, it needs to be a hot skillet,” she said. “Once you’ve cooked your bacon, you use that bacon grease. That’s the best in the world, even though almost no one does that anymore.

“What I do, you know, you break your eggs, and you beat your eggs, and I add just a little bit of cold tap water to them, and it creates the lightness and the fluffiness. A lot of people add milk and cream, but I think that’s a little bit too heavy. Adding water to mine makes a world of difference.”

Food has meant a lot of things to Brady over the years, from sustenance to subsistence, in ways that complement celebration and mourning alike. Food is a language, a dialogue that cuts through political, socioeconomic and even relationship barriers. Just as cooking helped her connect with her father, Orange, it also did so with her mother, Olivia. A longtime caterer, Olivia spent many hours at her craft, time Evette could only reclaim at her side in the kitchen.

“My mother was domestic help and worked in homes and would do the cooking for the families. If they wanted to entertain, they would have my mother cook more,” she said. “Someone else would call and say, ‘Well, can you do what you did at so and so’s house?’ and that’s how my mother’s business started. She would spend overnight sometimes, and it could be days before I would even see her when she had to do parties.

Chef Evette Brady went from cooking at her mother’s side to running one of the most iconic restaurants in Little Rock.

“In order for me to have a relationship with my mother, it was like, OK, I can be in the kitchen with her, and we would talk. I just loved being around her. She taught me so much about the love of cooking.”

Olivia inspired her youngest child to want to follow in her footsteps. Possessed of an entrepreneurial mind, everywhere Evette looked, she saw opportunity in the homes of Little Rock’s well heeled. She completed culinary training at a small school in Wisconsin with the idea of creating the mother of all catering companies.

“My intentions were to have the largest catering business in the state,” she said. “Catering as a name didn’t come to Little Rock until ’75, ’74. Everybody was just a cook, and it was these great Black women who were going into private homes in the Heights, Edgehill, Hillcrest — you know, money, money, money.

“I could never outdo my mother, and it was never my intention to outshine my mother or anything like that. I was just gonna blow it up.”

Instead, Brady was recruited into the kitchen of Little Rock’s groundbreaking Jacques & Suzanne, the first of a string of restaurants in her hometown, culminating in 1620, now home to Petit & Keet.

“I was blessed to be able to have a mother who worked hard, and I worked hard,” she said. “Nobody gave me anything. I put my dues in, and I worked in restaurants as though they were mine. First one in, the last one out. I truly loved it.”

In the mid-1990s, Brady did not have to imagine the place was hers, since she became owner of 1620. The transition to a Black female owner was largely a smooth one, though not entirely.

“I heard some hard things from some customers,” she said. “When I first bought it, there had been customers who came every Friday night or three nights a week, and they stopped coming. It got back to me they thought [the restaurant] was going to become ‘too Black.’ I had some customers who said, ‘I hope you go out of business.’”

Miguel Newberg, owner of M.N’Teriors, has been close friends with Brady for 30 years.

enter and exit, the “I love yous” rival those between blood kin in number and depth of feeling.

While it is clear Brady is doing what she was born to do, it does not lessen the demands of her profession, and that has her lately thinking of hanging up her apron for good. For every U.S. president she has cooked for — there have been a couple — there have been 100 others whose special occasion was accompanied by her food. For every foreign dignitary — such as a soul-food-craving prince of Monaco — there have been untold numbers of people who stop her on the street just to say thank you.

“ When you do something that you really love, you develop a passion for it. Even at this age I’m in and this longevity that I’ve had, I still have a love for it. I’m in love with this job that I do.

“I would have kids in my neighborhood and say to them, ‘Hey, you need a job? Come on, you can work after school. I’ll pick you up,’” she said. “I would load up the kids, put them in the back of my car, and they’d be dishwashing for me, and then I’d take them home. I would make them bring their report cards to me, give them $5 for an A or something — stuff like that. So many of them run into me today and say, ‘You saved my life because you took an interest in me.’”

Still, love takes a lot out of a person. Chasing her passion for cooking has cost her four knee replacements and countless singes and burns.

Brady recalled one diner in particular who insisted on speaking to the chef before he paid the check. It was ostensibly to pay his respects, but when she finally stole a minute to leave the kitchen, his attitude changed appreciably.

“I’m coming out of the kitchen, I have my apron on, and I’m walking up to him, and he’s, like, just looking,” she said. “I said, ‘Hi, I’m Evette.’ He said, ‘But, you’re Black, and this is really a good restaurant.’ I said, ‘Thank you.’ I didn’t know what else to say because that was such a shocker to him. I don’t even know if he ever came back anymore.”

Such was not the norm, of course. Miguel Newberg met Brady while dining at 1620 and struck up a friendship that has endured for 30 years. Once the restaurant closed, Newberg was one who enlisted the cook to cater parties and family gatherings alike, and from there, an entirely new chapter in Brady’s career emerged.

“It’s very much a connection of the heart,” Newberg said. “My father-in-law just passed away in October, and we had the reception here, and she prepared all the food for that. While we were at the service, she came in and set everything up. Everything she does, she does from the heart.”

Watching the two women interact underscores the connection Brady shares with the household. Advice — be it about cooking, entertaining or dealing with family — flows freely and easily. As family members

In September 2023, she suffered a loss for which there is no prosthetic, the death of her nephew and confidant Timothy Morton at just 48 years of age. The only salve for a loss like that is time, and not enough has passed to ease the ache of not having him here.

“It’s the worst feeling in the world,” she said. “Leaving a party, we would always call and say, ‘Hey, how was your night? How did your party go?’ I lost that. I have no one to call on that drive home to say, ‘Oh my God, everything was great,’ and ‘You’re not going to believe who was there.’ You know, I still love it, but it would be so much better if he was here with me.”

The savory aroma of the lamb had largely dissipated from the room by the time Brady got up to leave. She took off her apron and slowly, methodically folded it as she spoke. Retirement is not upon her, but she can see it from here, and that is OK.

“I’ve had a really good run,” she said. “God has continued to show favor on me and direct me into this. I have clients that I love to cook for, and to be honest with you, I could be busy every day, but I’m old. In this profession, you know when it’s time.

“Am I there yet? No, I’m about five miles from the border. When you get this close to the finish line, you know, you either decide to put that last kick in, or you just say, ‘Let me just cross this line.’ I can come in last. That’s fine. I just want make it over the line.”

Legendary Chef Evette Brady

Celebrating 50-plus years of Food Hospitality. Award

Winning Chef for 1620 and Food Hall of Famer.

Got Your GOAT

Bresaola salad with radicchio, radishes and fried goat cheese medallions is

a great lunch or starter.

By MARGIE RAIMONDO

Photos by MARGIE RAIMONDO

BRESAOLA SALAD WITH SMOKY CRUSTED GOAT CHEESE MEDALLIONS

INGREDIENTS (GOAT CHEESE MEDALLIONS)

• 6 goat cheese medallions

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs

• 1/2 cup ground smoked almonds

• 1/2 cup flour

• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Olive oil for frying

INGREDIENTS (SALAD)

• 4 ounces microgreens

• 2.9 ounces radicchio

• 6 radishes

• 2.8 ounces bresaola

• 2 cups butter lettuce

• 1 clove garlic

• 5 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

• Salt and pepper for seasoning

Bresaola della

Valtellina is a cured, salted beef from Valtellina in the Lombardy region of Italy. Bresaola is delicious and eaten as an antipasto on its own but can also be served with some cheese, on sandwiches or in salads. Bresaola is available at specialty stores such as Trader Joe’s and ALDI.

INSTRUCTIONS (GOAT CHEESE MEDALLIONS)

1. Pulse the smoked almonds in a food processor about 3 times. Then add the breadcrumbs, seasoning, cheese, salt and pepper. Pulse 2 more times. Set aside.

2. In a small bowl, beat the egg. Set aside, along with the flour in another small bowl.

3. Cut goat cheese into 1/2-inch slices using a string or knife.

4. Bring all ingredients nearby for easier handling. Dredge the goat cheese slices in flour, dip in egg mixture, and then dip in breadcrumbs. Refrigerate 15 minutes or up to 4 hours to help the breadcrumbs adhere.

5. To fry the goat cheese, heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the goat cheese slices for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove from the pan and place on a paper towel. Set aside.

INSTRUCTIONS (SALAD)

1. Add olive oil, vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper to a mason jar or bowl to make the dressing. Remove the skin from the garlic clove and pierce it with a knife. Add clove to jar, then shake until light and creamy. If using a bowl, add garlic and whisk until light and creamy.

2. Place butter lettuce in a large bowl. Slice the radicchio, finely slice the radishes and toss to combine.

3. Arrange the salad on plates and top with slices of bresaola. Add goat cheese medallions.

4. Add a tiny pinch of salt and pepper, then drizzle the dressing. Serve immediately.

Passing the achievement test T

he

The road to establishing a business or nonprofit is never easy. There are plans to develop, marketing strategies to enact, and bricks and sticks to build, and for every moment of joy garnered from seeing one’s dreams come to fruition, there are just as many sleepless nights and last-minute emergencies to take care of.

Once all the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed, there is still one final trial to pass: the achievement test. Some tests are literal, such as earning the necessary credentials to get one’s business up and running. Others are more subjective, such as cultivating the glowing reputation needed to attract more word-of-mouth and repeat business.

Consider being named a finalist in AY About You’s “Best Of” contest the ultimate achievement test. It is an honor that precipitates from an extraordinary amount of sweat, blood and tears, not to mention the enthusiastic support of AY readers.

Finalists CONGRATULATIONS!

The finalists for “AY’s Best of 2025” represent the most elite contestants in their respective fields. Consider that according to the Arkansas Hospitality Association, there are roughly 850 hotels in Arkansas. Only three are listed in the pages that follow. The same organization notes that there are more than 5,500 eating and drinking establishments in the state. Only a handful have the privilege of being included in the contest’s dining division.

Or consider that there are more than 11,000 members of the Arkansas Realtors Association and more than 5,000 members of the Arkansas Bar Association, yet only three Realtors and only three law firms can say they were finalists for “AY’s Best of 2025.”

Have we made our point?

Being named an “AY’s Best Of” finalist is a big deal, and the journey to earning a place among the top-tier rankings is a lengthy one. In January, AY asked the public to nominate their favorite nurses, restaurants, interior designers, events and more during the nomination phase of the competition.

Then came the voting round, during which readers choose the best from a five-name ballot and cast their votes for the best in each category. Hundreds of thousands of votes are cast during that period from late February to late March, making “AY’s Best Of” perhaps the most competitive of any readers’ poll in the state.

The sheer magnitude of the contest is astounding. There are nearly 250 categories across divisions spanning beauty and health; clothing; dining; entertainment and leisure; home, home services and finance; kids and education; media; people and places; services; shopping; spirits; sports; top employers; and vehicle dealers and services.

That is not bad considering the contest began in 2014 with less than 100 categories, more than half related to food and beverage.

From audiologists to wellness clinics and from auto dealerships to window tinting, the poll gives readers a voice to choose the best professionals, organizations and happenings across the state.

By the way, that really does mean across the state. “AY’s Best of 2025” finalists hail from communities both big and small, from the powerhouses of central and northwest Arkansas to tuckedaway communities such as Magnolia and Beebe.

As the saying goes, nothing succeeds like success, and the “AY’s Best Of” finalists proudly display the recognition as a badge of honor, plastering the blue finalist logo across billboards, trailers and other advertising from one end of the Natural State to the other.

The following pages list the three entries that received the most votes in each category. The overall winners will be revealed in next month’s issue. While there can only be one top dog, being voted into such a select group of finalists is an honor in itself, one that AY recognizes each May by listing the cream of the crop right here in the magazine.

Whether one’s occupation is dog grooming or running an art gallery, being listed in the top tier of “AY’s Best of 2025” certainly constitutes passing the achievement test. We here at AY Media Group salute our finalists, who we know give it their all every year to raise the bar for what it means to be the best.

Aesthetic Nurse

Allergy Clinic

APRN

Assisted Living Facility

BEAUTY & HEALTH

Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Sydney Mayo, RN, LE

Advanced Allergy & Asthma

Melissa Graham, M.D.

Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Kayla Sanders, APRN

Beyond Wellness (Little Rock)

Sidney Bennett, RN

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Paige Kelly, RN, BSN

Conway Regional Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic

New Path Mental Health & Wellness

Zack Coco, APRN

Renew Mental Health and Wellness

Danielle Lynch, APRN

Fox Ridge Senior Living Greenbrier Nursing & Rehabilitation Presbyterian Village

Audiology Clinic American Hearing + Audiology Arkansas Otolaryngology Center

Bariatric Surgeon

Baptist Health Bariatric Center-Little Rock

Eric M. Paul, M.D.

Roller Weight Loss + Advanced Surgery

Joshua Roller, M.D

Pinnacle Hearing

Saline Surgery & Weight Loss Clinic

Lewis Porter, M.D., FACS

Cardiology Clinic Arkansas Cardiology Arkansas Heart Hospital Clinic Conway Regional Cardiovascular Clinic

Chiropractor Chiropractic Health & Rehabilitation Little Rock Chiropractic & Acupuncture Pain Care Associates

Cosmetic Dentist

Implant Cosmetic & General Dentistry

Samuel F. Jirik, DDS

Cosmetic Surgeon Devlin Cosmetic Surgery

Michael Devlin, M.D.

Smile Dailey Modern Dentistry

Dr. Suzanne Yee Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center

Suzanne Yee, M.D.

Wisener, Cooper & Fergus, DDS

Jeff Wisener, DDS

English Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center

Jim English, M.D.

Thank you!

W e a r e , o n c e a g a i n , i n c r e d i b l y

g r a t e f u l t o o u r a m a z i n g p a t i e n t s

f o r c o n t i n u o u s l y c o n s i d e r i n g u s

“ T h e B e s t . ” E v e r y t h i n g w e d o i s

a i m e d a t g i v i n g y o u a D a z z l i n g

e x p e r i e n c e .

Amanda Martin

Voted AY’s Best Therapist Voted AY’s Best Therapist

We’re proud to celebrate Amanda Martin, LSCW, being named one of AY Magazine’s Best of 2025. As a Clinical Trauma Specialist and Human Trafficking Clinician at The Centers trained in EMDR, Amanda provides compassionate, expert care to youth recovering from exploitation and complex trauma, helping them reclaim their voice, rebuild their strength and rediscover their purpose.

Dr. Adam Norwood AY’s

Thank you to those who voted for our clinic for AY’s Best of 2025. It is an honor and privilege to treat the dental health care needs of children in our community. It has been a joy to see these kids grow up with healthy smiles. Kitchens Pediatric Dentistry will continue our goal of creating a fun and comfortable atmosphere for our dental patients. We also cannot thank our staff enough for all they do for our office and patients. – Dr. Brandon Kitchens & Dr. Michael Kitchens

BEAUTY & HEALTH

We are incredibly proud and honored to be named finalists in 10 categories for "AY’s Best Of 2025." This recognition is a true reflection of the dedication, passion and heart our team pours into every client experience at Beauty Boss Co.

— Kayla Sanders Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Dr. Monty Heathman DDS

Esthetician

Family Dentist

BEAUTY & HEALTH

Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Olivia Geater

Arkansas Family Dental

Family Practice Cabot Health & Wellness

Foot & Ankle Surgeon

Gastroenterology Clinic

Hair Salon

Hand Surgeon

Health Coach

Holistic Health Care Clinic

Hormone Specialist

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

Larry L. Nguyen, M.D

Conway Regional Gastroenterology Center

Bliss Salon & Boutique

Conway Regional Health System

Bryan Head, M.D.

Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

Hunter Little

Beyond Wellness

Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Kayla Sanders, APRN

STEPHANIE NEWCOMB IS UNLEASHED

Stephanie Newcomb is a wife, mom, trainer, and health coach who created Unleashed Health and Fitness to help people get strong, feel amazing, and show up with confidence—every single day! She offers no-fluff online health and fitness coaching that fits real life, not some unrealistic standard. And because looking good is part of feeling good, she brings the style with the Unleashed Health and Fitness store—where fitness meets everyday fashion.

Her programs provide sustainable, real-world strategies that deliver real results. Whether you're just getting started or ready to level up, she’s in your corner with energy, encouragement, and expertise. With Stephanie, it's not about perfection —it’s about unleashing the strongest, most empowered version of you.

Beyond Wellness

Madie Massey

Dunn Family Dental

Conway Regional Health System

Conway Regional Health System

James Head, M.D.

GastroArkansas

R.A.H. Hair Design

OrthoArkansas

Brian Norton, M.D.

Meg Green, RD

Copper Well Retreat

Beyond Wellness (Little Rock)

Christa Jackson, APRN

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Maegan Whitehead

Wisener, Cooper & Fergus, DDS

Little Rock Family Practice

Foot & Ankle Associates of Central Arkansas

Megan Herring, DPM

Saline Health System

Salon J‘adore

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Theresa Wyrick-Glover, M.D.

Unleashed Health and Fitness

Stephanie Newcomb

Meg Green, RD

Sei Bella Med Spa

https://unleashedhf.com

Anne R. Trussell, M.D.

One of AY’s Best PAs

Brooke Money, PA Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center

Voted One of AY’s Best Cardio Clinics

Ronak Soni, MD, Don Steely, MD, Rimsha Hasan, MD, and Yalcin Hacioglu, MD

BEAUTY & HEALTH

Hormone Therapy Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Kayla Sanders, APRN

Hospice

Hospital

In-Home Care

Long-Term

Massage Therapist

Copper Well Retreat

Dawn Eick, MMT, CNT, RYT

Beyond Wellness (Little Rock) Christa Jackson, APRN

Painted Rock Health and Wellness Pamela Volner, APRN, FNP-C

Brooke A, Slais, LMT, MTI THE SPA’AH R. Michelle Christen, BBA-M, MTI, CMLDT

Neurologist

Neurosurgeon

Nurse Injector

Nurse Practitioner

BEAUTY & HEALTH

Arkansas Surgical Hospital & Little Rock Neurosurgery Clinic

Brad Thomas, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

Ali Krisht, M.D., FACS

Arkansas Plastic Surgery

Amber Ward, RN, BSN

Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Kayla Sanders, APRN

Nursing Home Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation

OB-GYN Clinic

Oncologist

Ophthalmologist

Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center

CARTI

Jamie Burton, M.D.

Little Rock Eye Clinic (North)

John Russell Burks, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

Keith Schluterman, M.D.

Conway Regional Neuroscience Center

Regan Gallaher, M.D.

Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Taylor Steele, DNP, RN

New Path Mental Health & Wellness

Zack Coco, APRN

Greenbrier Nursing & Rehabilitation

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Health Women’s Center

CHI St. Vincent Ryan Hall, M.D

Little Rock Eye Clinic (West)

Susan Blair, M.D.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Robert Archer, M.D.

Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists

Dominic Maggio, M.D.

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Paige Kelly, RN, BSN

Renew Mental Health and Wellness

Danielle Lynch, APRN

Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at Good Shepherd

The Woman’s Clinic

Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute

Brad Baltz, M.D.

McFarland Eye Care

Evan Newbolt, M.D.

Voted One of AY’s Best Fook & Ankle Surgeons Surgeons (Lower Extremity)

James Head, MD

Voted One of AY’s Best Hand Surgeons

Bryan Head, MD

Voted One of AY’s Best Surgeons (Upper Extremity)

Jay Howell, MD

Voted One of AY’s Best Surgeons

Tony Manning, MD, FACS

BEAUTY & HEALTH

Ophthalmology Clinic BoozmanHof World Class Eye Care

Optometrist Clinic Arkansas Eye Care Group

Oral Surgery and Implant Clinic Arkansas Maxillofacial Surgery Center

Orthodontic Clinic

Orthodontist

Orthopedic Group

Orthopedist

Pain Center

Pain Specialist

Daniel & Jones Orthodontics

Daniel & Jones Orthodontics

John Daniel, DDS

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

Baptist Health

Adam Norwood, D.O.

Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management Clinic

Baptist Health

Little Rock Eye Clinic

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute

Legacy Eyecare McFarland Eye Care

Arkansas Oral & Facial Surgery Center Capitol Oral Surgery & Implant Center

Dr. K

Carmella Knoernschild, DDS

Owen Orthodontics

Clayton Owen, DDS

Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center

Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

William F. Hefley Jr., M.D.

OrthoArkansas

Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management Center

Mikio Ranahan, M.D.

Cabot Health & Wellness is a Primary Care Clinic that can take care of the entire family.

We are an independently owned practice that strives to give patients and their families the best care possible. Most insurances accepted. Our providers want to make sure patient’s concerns are heard and addressed in a timely manner. Call to schedule your appointment today!

Vondran Orthodontics

Wardlaw Orthodontics

David Wardlaw, DDS

OrthoArkansas

Conway Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center

Thomas Roberts, M.D.

Pain Treatment Centers of America

Pain Treatments Centers of America

Mikhail Ivanovsky, M.D.

+ James Reeves M.D. Thank you for voting us

+ Kimberly MacConaugha CNP-PC Pediatrics (Accepting New Patients)

+ Chloe Baldwin CNP-PC Pediatrics

+ Chelsea Hawley DNP (Accepting New Patients)

I thought it

“I was exhausted all the time. I couldn’t lose weight, my sleep was awful and I felt like a stranger in my own skin. I kept hearing, ‘this is just part of getting older,’ but that never sat right with me. Then I found Meg. We ran REAL tests. She listened. She knew what I was feeling before I even said it. Within weeks, I had energy again. I felt clear. Weight dropping. Like myself — only better.”

— Ashley, Little Rock

I’m Meg Green, MS, RDN, LD, IFNCP — Arkansas’ first and longest-practicing women’s health and hormone-focused registered dietitian and functional medicine provider. For 20+ years, I’ve helped women just like you: women who’ve been told everything looks normal while their bodies are clearly saying otherwise.

If you’re dealing with stubborn weight that won’t budge, exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix, mood swings, brain fog or cravings, or you’ve been dismissed, rushed or told “it’s just stress,” let me be clear: You’re not crazy. You’re not failing — and it’s not just age.

Your body is asking for support, and I know how to listen. I blend advanced hormone, gut and nutrient testing with personalized strategies that help you take control, feel like yourself again and finally see results.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start healing — let’s talk. meggreenrd.com | 501.420.2921 | MegGreenRD

Congratulations to medical oncologist Dr. Jamie Burton and the CARTI Urology team on being named to AY Magazine’s Best of 2025. This recognition is a reflection of their commitment to trusted, patient-centered care delivered with compassion, innovation and purpose—hallmarks of CARTI’s mission since 1976.

Photo by Danielle Keller

BEAUTY & HEALTH

Pediatric Clinic All for Kids Pediatric Clinic

Pediatric Dental Clinic Groovy Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

Permanent Cosmetics 7th Street Tattoos & Piercing

Cara Colclasure

Physical Therapy Clinic Advanced Physical Therapy

Arkansas Children’s

Physician Assistant

Eva Barlogie, PA

Place to Have a Baby Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock

Arkansas Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgeon

Podiatrist

Prosthetics

Zachary Young, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital & Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

Jesse Burks, DPM

Little Rock Pediatric Clinic Pediatrics Plus

Kitchens Pediatric Dentistry Small Bites Pediatric Dentistry

Beyond Wellness

Madie Massey, LE

I’Ambrace Beauty Permanent Cosmetics

Cyndi Phan Lock

Conway Regional Therapy Services Pediatrics Plus

Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center

Brooke Money, PA

Conway Regional Health System

Little Rock Plastic Surgery

Michael Spann, M.D.

Foot and Ankle Associates of Central Arkansas

Alex Dellinger, DPM

Prosthetics & Orthotic

Ortho Arkansas

Christina Byler, PA-C

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Health

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Eric Wright, M.D.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Podiatry Clinic

Terri Cohen, DPM

Prosthetics & Orthotics

Andrea Mabry, M.D.

Kayla Mohr, M.D.

Marla Wirges, M.D.

Alissa Huberty, PA-C

Chelsea Newey, PA-C

Voted one of AY’s Best Hospitals

Conway Regional has a vision. For more than a century, our team has brought together key service lines, providers, and technologies to create patient experiences that are highly intentional and refreshingly personal. It’s about blending access and excellence. Familiarity – and fierce commitment. Advocating for patients while providing the services our communities deserve.

SIX YEARS IN A ROW! 2023

Restoring Confidence with Custom Cranial Prosthetics

Due to alopecia, chemotherapy, or other medical conditions, we help clients regain their confidence with natural-looking, medical-grade solutions designed for comfort and style.

“Hair

— Nina Harris

Nina Harris, Founder

BEAUTY & HEALTH

Surgeon (Lower Extremity)

Surgeon (Upper Extremity)

Arkansas Surgical Hospital, Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

William F. Hefley Jr., M.D., FAAOS

Conway Regional Health System Jay Howell, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System James Head, M.D.

Saline Memorial Hospital Lewis Porter, M.D., FACS

Logan Lynch, M.D.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences C. Lowry Barnes, M.D.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences C. Lowry Barnes, M.D.

At Conway Regional, we provide all women and their newborns with the dignity and respect they deserve. Our expert providers, advanced technologies, and compassionate care come together to ensure you and your baby receive a truly curated care experience—one that’s intentional and personal. It’s about familiarity and a fierce commitment to your health and the well-being of your baby. We advocate for you to make informed choices, providing the care and services our communities deserve.

Bria r wo o d Nu rsing and Rehab is a 120 - bed s k illed fa c ility lo c a t ed in an u rban s e tting within the hea r t of Lit t le Roc k , in the neighborhood of B ria r wood . We a re lo c a t ed j u st mi n u t es f rom d ow n t own Little Ro c k an d a re only o ne bloc k off i nt e rst a t e 630 .

We p rovide long - t erm c a re and sho r t- t erm rehab c a re A ll reside n ts a re moni t o red th rougho u t the da y with assi st an c e in p rovi d ing daily c a re as is needed: bathing , d ressing , feeding and p roviding medi c ations B r ia r wo o d st aff also work at en s u ring the be st c a re for reside n ts th ro u gh individual c a re plans of reside n ts ' needs, as well as daily a c tivities, which all ow for a vari e ty of i nt e re sts and abilities .

Nearly all - 98 pe rc e n t - of o u r rehab reside n ts re t u rn t o the c om m u nity as a re s ult of p o siti ve, c arin g the rapi sts . Bria r wood's app roach has p rovided healing t o ma n y people in t he c om m u nit y.

At Bria r wood Nu rsing and Rehabili t ation C e n t e r, we a re c ommit t ed t o en s u ring that the be st p ossibl e c a re is gi ven t o you or your l oved one in an atm o sphe re that is c alm, qui e t and foc u sed on healing. We en d ea vor t o en s u re that all aspe c ts of your well-being — me n t al , p h y si c al and spiritual — a re c a red fo r in a pea ce ful an d sa fe e nvi ronme n t . O u r st aff stri ve t o p rom o t e dignit y, respe c t , and independen c e as m uc h a s p o ssibl e, in a b eautiful, so o thing e nviornme n t that was designed w ith o u r reside n ts' c om fo r t in mind . Bria r wo o d's servi c e-rich e nvi ronme n t is made p o ssible by its dedi c a t ed st a ff, f rom o u r n u rsing st a ff an d the rapi st s, t o our ope rations and admini st rati ve empl oyees. At Bria r wood , o u r reside n ts enj oy th re e gene rations of st aff and families. T hat is over 30 yea rs of servi c e t o the c om m u nit y ! 501 . 224.9000 • 516 S . Rodn ey Parha m Rd . , Lit t l e Ro c k • br i a r woo d n u r si n g and re ha b.c o m

BEAUTY & HEALTH

We try to promote total patient care and strive to make our patients’ experience one that is satisfying and sustaining. We try our best every day to make their lives what they would like them to be. Recognition for this is a well-deserved accomplishment for the team of hard-working individuals that make our program work.

— Dr. Eric Paul Baptist Health

CARMELLA MONTEZ KNOERNSCHILD

Tattoo Parlor 7th Street Tattoos & Piercing

33 Tattoo Love Spell Tattoo

Centers Amanda Martin, LCSW

Moore Psychotherapy Mindy Moore, LCSW

Path Mental Health & Wellness Joshua Lee, LPE-I

From Our Table to Yours,

Thank You for Voting

With award-winning dining and drinks, we're proud to be your Best of the Best.

The OAK room & bar as “Best Cocktails” and “Best Special Occasion”

CLOTHING

Children’s Clothing Clara Jane + Jax Children’s Boutique

Simply Sweet Kids The Toggery

Men’s Clothing Mr. Wicks: The Gentleman’s Shop Sage Boutique Southern Gentleman

Women’s Clothing Sage Boutique

DINING

Twisted Attitude Boutique

Willow + Grace

Asian Fusion Kemuri Mt. Fuji Three Fold

Bakery Boulevard Bread Co. The Croissanterie Oh Mylanta Sweets

Barbecue Blue Ember Smokehouse

Breakfast Big Bad Breakfast

Brewpub Flyway Brewing

Brunch The Fold: Botanas & Bar

McClard’s Bar-B-Q

The Buttered Biscuit

Wright’s Barbecue

Stoby’s Restaurant

Lost Forty Brewing Southern Tail Brewing

Lost Forty Brewing Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom

Burger Big Orange Crissy’s Pub Style

Lefty’s on the Square

Caterer DownHome Catering Rx Catering Vibrant Occasions Catering

Catfish Eat My Catfish

Cheese Dip Baja Grill

Chef

Cocktails

Brave New Restaurant Peter Brave

Lefty’s on the Square

Leon’s Catfish and Steak House Riverside Grocery & Catering

El Porton Mexican Restaurant Taco & Tamale Co.

Brood & Barley Brayan McFadden

Saracen Casino Resort’s Red Oak Steakhouse Matías de Matthaeis

Oaklawn — The OAK room & bar Petit & Keet

Coffee Shop The Electric Strawberry Gibson’s Cat Café

Guillermo’s Gourmet Coffee

Creole/Cajun Cypress Social The Faded Rose Purple Onion

Dessert Oh Mylanta Sweets Trio’s Restaurant Volstead Proper

Dining for Kids All Aboard Restaurant & Grill Gadwall’s Grill The Purple Cow Restaurant

Fine Dining Brave New Restaurant Cache Restaurant Oaklawn — The Bugler

Italian Deluca’s Pizza J&S Italian Villa Pasta Grill

Mexican Baja Grill

Pizza

Restaurant (General)

Restaurant (Newly Opened)

Lefty’s on the Square

Camp Taco at Lost Forty Local Lime

Oaklawn — Mainline Sports Bar

RŌBER :: Cocktails + Culinary

Deluca’s Pizza (Little Rock) The Springhouse Volstead Proper

Thank you for voting us as one of AY’s Best of Event Venues! With 18,000 square feet of open air event space, water features, covered “front porch, and permanent tie-downs; the Argenta Plaza makes for a great space to hold your events, festivals, and receptions!

Ladies Boutique

DINING

Steak Doe’s Eat Place

We’ve always believed you can get service anywhere, but true hospitality is something special — and that’s what we serve alongside the oysters. Being named a finalist in “AY’s Best Of” is a huge honor, and we couldn’t have done it without our incredible guests and crew.

— Michael Tanner The Oyster Bar

Seafood Oceans at Arthur’s

The Oyster Bar Who Dat’s Cajun Restaurant

Speakeasy

DONS Southern Social George’s Little Rock Lefty’s on the Square

Special Occasion

Cypress Social Oaklawn — The OAK room & bar

Sonny Williams’ Steak Room

Lefty’s on the Square

Sonny Williams’ Steak Room

Sushi Kemuri Mt. Fuji Rock N Roll Sushi

Sweet & Savory Indulge Sweet & Savory

The Popcorn Spot

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream

Wine Bar

Crush Wine Bar

Petit & Keet

Zin Wine Bar

Chef Peter Brave

& LEISURE

ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE

Being named a Top 3 finalist in multiple categories for AY magazine’s “Best Of” awards is a powerful testament to the excellence and passion that defines the Oaklawn experience. From hospitality and gaming to dining and wellness, these honors reflect our unwavering commitment to setting the standard in every facet of our resort.

— Chris Ho Oaklawn Hot Springs, Arkansas

HOME, HOME SERVICES & FINANCE

Thanks for making Oaklawn a Best of the Best winner. From spa days to unforgettable stays, we’re honored to be your top pick.

Best Spa / Best Casino / Best Event Venue / Best Hotel Best Local Tourist Attraction / Best Resort

Little Rock Montessori School

— Maria Montessori

PEOPLE & PLACES

I'm incredibly honored to be named a top three finalist for AY magazine's Person of the Year. This recognition truly belongs to our amazing Beyond Wellness team and the wonderful clients who inspire us every day. Thank you.

Voted One of AY’s Best OB/GYN Clinics

Voted One of AY’s Best Dentists

Gary Jones, DDS

Conway Regional Interfaith Dental Clinic

STACI MEDLOCK

Realtor RE/MAX

Education has always been at the forefront of Staci Medlock’s journey. The North Little Rock-based Realtor called education vital in laying the foundation for her work in real estate.

“While obtaining my real estate license provided me with the necessary technical knowledge, real estate is a dynamic and ever-evolving industry that demands continuous learning,” she said. “I have embraced a mindset of perpetual growth, seeking to stay abreast of the newest technologies, refine my marketing skills and adapt to the latest industry changes.”

One of central Arkansas’ top sellers, Medlock’s almost two decades in the business have shown her that invaluable lessons are learned through real-life experiences.

“This holistic approach has equipped me with the insights needed to thrive,” she said. “I have always had a passion for serving others, leveraging a diverse background in the beau ty industry and real estate to help individuals achieve their goals.”

Medlock said the most challenging as pect of her job is the shared disappointment when a client’s dream home appears out of reach in a fiercely competitive market.

“The most rewarding part is witnessing the eventual resolution and realization that things have a way of falling into place as they should,” she said. “Finding the right home for my clients and seeing their joy makes every hurdle worthwhile.”

Medlock credited the “many remarkable women” throughout her life for leaving a lasting imprint, and she strives to do the same for young women in her path.

“Just as the women before me have in fluenced and inspired my journey, I am

” SUCCESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU NURTURE AND THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

Thank you for voting me

committed to passing on wisdom, support and encouragement to the next generation of women,” she said. “I believe in the transformative power of mentorship, guidance and empowerment in nurturing the potential of those around me.”

Medlock’s advice to young women starting a career in real estate is to approach work with a genuine passion for helping others and to keep clients’ best interests at the heart of every decision.

“Uphold a strong sense of integrity, and always strive to do the right thing, even when faced with difficult choices,” she added. “Success is not just about personal achievements but the relationships you nurture and the difference you make in the lives of others.”

Medlock said she is most proud of her own personal journey that led to her becoming a Christian and her role as a mother and grandmother. On the professional front, Medlock is proud of the positive impact she has had on clients.

Medlock is also an active community volunteer through her church, local schools and a nonprofit dedicated to helping the homeless. She also serves as a Pulaski County Justice of the Peace.

“I aim to make a meaningful difference, foster positive change, and contribute to building a more compassionate, inclusive and thriving community,” she said. “I love what I do, and am very blessed to do what I love.”

CHRIS DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Celebrating the art of capturing moments that might otherwise slip by unnoticed. From pageants, portraits and commercial properties to the quirky and unexpected, my goal is to share the stories and emotions that each image holds.

me take the photos to retain the memories you make while you bask in the joy of the present!

Be sure and follow me on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with any mini sessions or specials! Email davisphotographybychris@gmail.com or message me on Facebook to book!

Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon

At the Law Offices of Katherine Blackmon, we are thankful and honored to have been voted one of the Best Lawyers in AY Magazine for 2025. This much-appreciated recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to zealously and empathically represent our clients as they navigate the complex and emotionally charged legal landscape of family law.

With almost fifty years of combined litigation experience, trauma-informed compassion, and a skilled understanding of the law, our dedicated team provides the highest caliber of legal representation. Equally important is our understanding that timely and personal communication is one of the basic building blocks of a trusted attorneyclient relationship. We know what it takes to make a difference in our clients’ lives and recognize how privileged we are to be able to continue to impact Arkansas’ legal landscape.

We are grateful for the respect of our peers in the legal community and our clients’ loyalty and support. We look forward to continuing to exceed your expectations.

Katherine Blackmon Carroll

Photographer

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Established in 1950, Capitol Glass Company Inc is the oldest locally-owned and operated glass company in the Little Rock area.

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MY MOTHER, MY HERO B 2025

ehind countless packed lunches, kissed scrapes and read bedtime stories, there are mothers.

They are quiet forces of nature, moving mountains for their children. Motherhood is late nights and early mornings. It is saying yes even though you are exhausted and no even when it breaks your heart.

Yes, we thank our moms in little ways every day with a quick text, a hug or a passing, “I love you,” but when May comes around, we are reminded to stop and say it a bit louder. Mother’s Day brings a time to pause and truly honor the women who make us who we are.

At AY About You, May is one of our favorite times of year because it means we get to shine a spotlight on women who work hard behind the scenes to create great lives for their families. These are women who hold households together, uplift communities and pour themselves into others.

The job of a mom does not end at 5 p.m. and it does not come with paid time off. Mothers are constantly inspiring, advising, teaching and nurturing the next generation of leaders, achievers and parents. Abraham Lincoln once said, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” It is a sentiment to which many can relate.

Moms are fearless and full of love. They juggle careers, philanthropy, side hustles, friendships and the never-ending demands of motherhood with grace.

They do not ask for applause, but they deserve it. That is why we are so excited to present this year’s class of Super Moms. They are an inspiring group of Arkansans who remind us daily what it means to lead with strength and compassion. Each of these women has a unique story, coming from different industries and walks of life, but they all share one thing in common: They show up for their families in meaningful ways.

Here’s to the moms — not only the ones featured in these pages but to every mom and mother figure out there. Thank you for all you do, seen and unseen. Happy Mother’s Day!

SShannon Bedore does not see professional development and motherhood as competing interests — in fact, they actually complement each other. Pursuing a career she loves has allowed her to show up for her family as her most fulfilled self, and “parenting with the best version of yourself is the best way to parent,” she said. Bedore has brought that kind of intentionality to her family in other ways, as well, opting for a more democratic style than the one she grew up with. While that approach is not without its challenges, Bedore wants to be sure her children feel heard and seen and are comfortable speaking their minds. “I’m focused on the outcome of raising highfunctioning humans who also feel supported,” she said. “There are lots of parenting styles that work, but this is the one that fits me best.”

2025 SUPER MOM

CHILDREN: Ava, 16, Ryan, 13, and Ethan, 18

OCCUPATION: CEO, Blue Elephant Food Group

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Work for tomorrow, live for today.”

Shannon Bedore

What are some of your family’s favorite activities?

We are a big water family, so anything that involves lakes, pools, rivers and oceans is what we all like best. This summer, Ethan and Ava are going to learn to drive the boat, and we’ll hopefully begin to sharpen up our bass fishing skills, which have been quite deplorable up until this point.

Does your family have any interesting traditions?

Our holidays are an open invitation to people that we know, which has always created a fun way to celebrate important times. As they get older and meet new people, I hope they continue this philosophy to make people feel welcome and included, especially during times where it is so easy for many to feel lonely and left out.

What is your favorite part of motherhood so far?

I love to show my kids new ways of doing things. We have camped in national parks, hiked mountains and travelled to third-world countries. I firmly believe my job is to show them lots of different ways to do things, which has manifested into different travel experiences. It’s a great life lesson to see the world in so many different ways, and it is really fun when we

all get to experience a new country or experience together — but they have asked that we never go camping again.

What do you hope to accomplish by the time your children are ready to head out on their own?

I’ve just completed my doctorate from University of Florida Warrington College of Business. This was a multiyear commitment for myself, and, unknowingly, even for my kids too. While it was a lot of work, I knew that when my youngest moved out, I was going to be looking for something to fill my time. I hope to be teaching supply chain classes in the fall in the hopes I can continue broadening my horizons on what successful careers look like outside of traditional pathways.

What has caught you by surprise about being a mom? How fun it is to see my kids morph into their own personas the older they get. I’m amazed at how superior they are in so many things, and sometimes I wonder how they have surpassed me at so many things at their young age. I continue to learn from them and hope I continue to learn from them for the rest of my life.

MMotherhood has reshaped how Caitlin Bornhoft approaches her time and energy, but it definitely has not slowed her down. Returning to work handling serious cases only a few months after the birth of her daughter, the chief felony prosecutor currently juggles the demands of raising a 5-month old with a packed courtroom schedule. In addition to the inspiration of her own mother, Bornhoft is surrounded by hardworking moms in the legal profession, from her boss and coworkers to fellow lawyers and judges. “I see them balance full-time careers while being advocates for their families,” she said. “Having other moms around me who can understand not only the importance of the work I do but who also respect and admire a healthy work-life balance has taught me that it is possible to achieve success in both worlds.”

MOM

Caitlin Bornhoft 2025 SUPER

What is a typical day like for you?

My days are full and fast paced. Mornings usually start early with feedings, snuggles and getting Savannah settled before I head into court. As the chief deputy prosecutor, my caseload includes everything from violent crime to sensitive victim-focused cases such as serious sexual assaults involving adults and minors. Evenings are for winding down with my husband and daughter. Whether it’s bath time or bedtime stories, these activities are important experiences I don’t want to miss out on, no matter what the next day has in store.

What has caught you by surprise about being a mom?

The emotional strength it brings. I’ve always been zealous in the courtroom, but the depth of love I feel for my daughter has made me even more resilient. It’s also surprising how naturally your instincts kick in — and how you continue to grow into the role day by day.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities?

Right now, our favorite activity is simply being together to watch as Savannah takes in the world around her, whether that’s stroller walks through the neighborhood, playing with our two pugs or watching Savannah discover new things every day.

CHILDREN: Savannah Quinn, 5 months

OCCUPATION:

Chief felony prosecutor, Garland County Prosecutor’s Office

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“The most powerful force on earth is a mother’s love. As a working mom, let that love fuel your dreams, inspire your actions and guide your journey.”

— Oprah Winfrey

Does your family have any interesting traditions?

One of our favorite new traditions is writing letters of advice to Savannah on different subjects — life lessons, career, relationships and personal values. The idea is that she’ll be able to carry those with her as she grows and one day pass them down to future generations. It’s our way of sharing not just memories but meaningful guidance. Of course, we’re also already indoctrinating her into all things Razorback. We can’t wait to take her to her first Arkansas Razorback baseball game at Baum Stadium and bring her along as our fall tradition of football Saturdays in Fayetteville continues. Woo Pig!

What is your favorite part of motherhood so far?

Watching Savannah learn the world. Every smile, every new sound, every sleepy cuddle — it’s all magic. Being her safe place and her biggest advocate is a feeling I never want to forget.

Is there anything else we should know about your family?

We’re a team. My husband and I are both attorneys, and while we work hard in our professions, our greatest role is raising Savannah together. We believe deeply in public service and in giving back to the community that has given so much to us.

AAfter years spent trying to have children, Brooke Brolo and her husband finally found out she was pregnant — just six months after opening her new business. Diving into both motherhood and business ownership at once was not exactly the plan, but it did turn Brolo into a master multitasker. She lives and breathes by her calendar, and she is grateful to have a true partner in her husband, who helps juggle work, parenting and everything in between. The pair makes sure to keep family at the top of their priority list. No matter how crazy the rotation of practices, games and other obligations might be, the Brolos find time for at least one family dinner each week. Still, there is nothing wrong with picking one’s battles. On busy nights, Brolo said, “Chick-fil-A saves the day.”

Brooke Brolo 2025

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

My parents were divorced, and while my mom had to work, she did her best to be there. Even if she couldn’t always be there, I knew she wanted to be. That shaped me, and it’s why being present for my own children is so important, and I try to never take those moments for granted. As a business owner, it’s important to me to give my team the same flexibility and the freedom to show up for their families.

What is the biggest misconception people have about being a mom?

That we’re supposed to have it all together all the time. The truth is motherhood is messy, unpredictable and full of learning curves and major “mom guilt” at times. I’m constantly juggling a million things and dropping half of them. I just try to make sure my kids know how much I love them and remind myself that it’s not about perfection. It’s about doing your best and giving yourself some grace along the way.

What has caught you by surprise about motherhood? How much I love being a boy mom. I love everything about it — the dirty socks, the sports, the chaos and their hilarious personalities. My boys may be tough on

SUPER MOM

CHILDREN: Briggs, 16, and Jax, 12

OCCUPATION: Insurance agency owner, Brolo Insurance Group

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Every day might not be a good day, but there is good in every day.”

the outside, but they can be sweet and sensitive. They always make homemade birthday or Mother’s Day cards because they know how much I love them. I never imagined I’d love having a house full of stinky boys that eat like an army, but I honestly wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Does your family have any interesting traditions?

Since the boys have gotten older and mostly ask for clothes or money for Christmas — so exciting, right? — we’ve started a new tradition of Christmas getaways to make memories together instead. We’ve done trips to New York City and gone skiing in Colorado and New Mexico. We love a good staycation here in Arkansas, too, because let’s be real — travel isn’t cheap. No matter where we go, it’s become something we all look forward to. The memories we make last way longer than any gift under the tree.

What is your favorite part of motherhood so far? I honestly love it all. It’s amazing to witness and experience life through the lens of someone you made. I truly can’t imagine not being a mom. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

MOM

CHILDREN: Morgan, 2

OCCUPATION:

AAvoiding the pressure to parent this way or that way and learning to trust her gut has allowed Lauren Cooper to prioritize what is truly best for her and for 2-year-old Morgan. For example, while Cooper worked right up until he was born, she had no qualms about putting her career on hold to dedicate all of her energy to raising him. “A job will always be there when I’m ready to go back, but my boy is only little for a short time,” she said. Though it is bittersweet watching him grow up so fast, Cooper said she is amazed at the person he is becoming day by day. “You grow up and wonder what your children will be like, but when you meet them, they’re even better than you could’ve ever imagined,” she said.

Lauren Cooper 2025 SUPER

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

My parents weren’t rigid, but I absolutely knew what was expected of me. They were extremely loving but firm. I think it’s your job to be their parent, not their friend. Eventually, you can be their friend when they’re grown. I respect how my parents raised me and feel as though I emulate that, even with Morgan as young as he is.

How do you make “you time” to recharge?

My husband and my mom really make sure that I get time, whether that’s a nail and hair appointment or even getting a night or two away. Having time to reset and recharge is crucial in being fully present and the best you can be for your child. It’s surprising just how little time you need to recharge. Even just a couple of hours helps. One thing I am able to do for myself is workout for one hour a day Monday through Friday. That allows me to de-stress and do something for me.

What other “moms” or mother figures in your life do you look up to?

My mother, simply put. She’s the best there is. I learned everything from her. I respect her not only as

Registered nurse

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“The time to do it is right now.” — Joe Morgan

my mom but as a woman. She is my best friend. I am not even able to put into words how incredible she is. She is the most loving, strong and selfless person. She inspires me daily to be the best I can be, and I can only hope to be half the mother she is. Seeing her with my son, the bond they have, it’s incredible.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities? We are lake people, so you will find us on Greers Ferry Lake during the summer. We spend a lot of our time outdoors. My husband golfs, and Morgan has already taken an interest in that. We are a big aviation family, as well, so we enjoy that too.

What do you hope to accomplish by the time your children are ready to head out on their own? I hope that when my child is grown, I have put a productive and level-headed person into the world. I hope that when he is grown, he wants to always come home and spend time with us. I hope he will be kind, respectful and a man of God. As strange as it sounds, I hope he grows up to not “need” us.

FFulfilling as it is, there is no denying that motherhood is work, and no one can expect perfection. As the general manager at her family business, Andrea Lawson is well aware of the overlap. Being a mom is a new job, she said, and like any new line of work, there is a learning curve to everything — from newborns to toddlers to teenagers. The time goes fast, however, and she is careful to cherish every moment. A high achiever who is always excited to set goals and proud to meet them, Lawson has also learned how much more rewarding it is to see her children work hard and do well. “I will just beam with pride when I see them win an award, make a great play in sports or even say their lines in an elementary school play,” she said.

Andrea Lawson 2025 SUPER

Did having children present any obstacles or speed bumps in your career?

I would not say it presented any speed bumps, but it did present some obstacles, trying to balance my work and family life. I have never wanted to miss a doctor’s appointment, awards assembly, school party or any other activity, but I also never wanted to get behind in my work, so it can be challenging at times.

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

I was raised in a Christian home where my parents were firm and required us to do chores, make good grades and always try our best. I have tried to continue that parenting style with my boys.

How do you make “you time” to recharge? Working out in the morning is my time to recharge.

What other mother figures in your life do you look up to?

My mom is my best friend. She is a hard worker and is always looking for ways to help others. She is an amazing mom, friend and nana to my boys. Growing up, I dreamed of being like her and still strive daily to

MOM

CHILDREN: Peyton, 10, and Parker, 15

OCCUPATION: General manager, Luxury Pool & Spa

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

follow in her footsteps. Several years ago, she was in town to help me when our oldest son received one of his cochlear implants. He had an extremely rough night. Our youngest was a baby and needed a lot of attention, and I ended up getting the stomach bug. It was her birthday, and all she did all day was serve the three of us.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities?

Hiking, swimming in our pool, playing pool baseball, traveling, going to concerts, riding side-by-sides and watching Razorback sports.

What do you hope to accomplish by the time your children are ready to head out on their own?

I hope to have them ready to succeed in whatever life throws at them. My husband and I preach mental toughness, so I hope they use their strength when they face adversity.

KKathy Pennington has completed a hat trick of maternal accomplishments, serving as a mother of two, grandmother of three and mother figure to hundreds. Over the course of her 30-year career at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Pennington helped scores of children and their parents navigate some of the most challenging circumstances a young family can face. Now retired, Pennington enjoys spending time with her husband of 40 years, Roland, and relishes her role as “Kiki” to Riley, Jack and her newest grandbaby, Hayes. Opinions may vary, but Pennington’s experience has taught her the true measure of motherhood. “I truly believe that successful mothers are not the ones who have never struggled,” she said. “They are the ones who never give up, despite the struggle.”

Kathy Pennington 2025 SUPER

How has your relationship with your kids changed now that they are older?

We have become best friends. I try to always be there for warranted advice and support them anyway that I can.

How did your upbringing influence your parenting style?

My parents taught me to be confident and hardworking, which also made me believe I could do or be anything I wanted. I have instilled this in my children by showing unconditional love and support while encouraging hard work and perseverance to accomplish their life goals.

Who did you turn to for inspiration, motivation and advice while raising your children?

My parents and the invaluable staff at the ACH Child Enrichment Center, where both of my kids attended from 6 weeks to 5 years old before starting kindergarten. They provided a safe, nurturing environment while accommodating my sometimes crazy hours as a health care professional.

Does your family have any interesting traditions?

We are a very sports-oriented family and love all things Arkansas Razorbacks. We enjoy attending games as a family, as well as cheering them on from home. The

MOM

CHILDREN:

Taylor, 37, and Katie, 33

OCCUPATION:

Retired nurse practitioner, kidney transplant coordinator, Arkansas Children’s Hospital

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Always my mother, forever my friend.”

absolute best as a Kiki is watching my adult children coach our grands and the excitement it brings to all.

How different is it being a grandmother?

So different. I am able to say “yes” so much more as a Kiki than I could as a mother. Being able to help as much or little as my kids need. Spoiling them is a given, and we’re so thankful that our adult kids allow us to do that whenever possible.

What is one of your favorite family memories?

Spending weekends at the ball parks of Arkansas and surrounding states with our softball family. It was such a sweet time with all the young families with our young kids cheering on the dads on the softball field. We developed lifelong friendships from this wonderful chapter.

What is your favorite part of motherhood?

The current chapter for sure. Being a supportive friend for my kids and loving Kiki to my grandkids is the best of the best.

If you could give your younger self some advice, what would it be?

Don’t sweat the small stuff!

HORMONE THERAPY NO LONGER A DIRTY WORD IN WOMEN'S HEALTH

By DWAIN HEBDA

na regular basis, Dr. Anne Trussell treats women who have come to her business, Sei Bella Med Spa in Little Rock, seeking regenerative and rejuvenating therapies for a host of maladies ranging from fatigue and lost libido to weight gain and brain fog.

Many of the first-timers she sees have never even considered the root cause of their conditions to be perimenopause or menopause; in fact, a good share have been explicitly told they did not have either of these conditions because they did not fit exactly inside the clinical definition.

“The main thing patients tell me is, ‘I feel like crap, but my doctor won’t do anything because I haven’t been without my period for a year,’” she said. “In the meantime, they get put on antidepressants to help deal with things.”

Trussell knows the frustrations her clients experience because she went through them herself. For her, menopause was an experience that did not check a lot of traditional boxes and was therefore difficult to get a doctor to relieve.

“When I went through menopause at 43, I never had a hot flash, never had night sweats. I’ve still never had one, and I’m 58,” she said. “I could not sleep, and I was so depressed that, I wasn’t suicidal, but if a semi had crossed the interstate and hit me head on, I wouldn’t have cared.”

Depression and inability to sleep are two of the more common things Trussell hears from her clients, far more than the stereotypical hot flashes and night sweats, and often trigger a pharmaceutical prescription by default to bring relief. She launched Sei Bella as a means to provide a wider range of medical options and introduce a more targeted approach to relieving clients’ symptoms, including using hormone therapy.

“The three main hormones — estrogen, testosterone and progesterone — don’t all just give out at the same time,” she said. “A lot of times, progesterone will decline first, and that’s why women have trouble sleeping. Then testosterone will decline, and they’ll have trouble focusing, and their sex drive is in the toilet, and they’re tired all the time. The last thing that usually drops is estrogen, and that’s what causes them to stop having a cycle.

“With bioidentical hormones, you can treat what they need when they need it. I may have a patient who comes in who just needs testosterone and progesterone, and after I’ve seen them for five or six years, it’s time to add in estrogen.”

The emergence of bioidentical hormones has given rise to menopausal hormone therapy as a popular option for many women to help put back what time and the conditions of perimenopause and menopause are taking out. Yet medical practitioners of both the institutional and alternative varieties nationwide have not always found the therapy an easy sell.

A 2024 commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association called menopausal hormone therapy “the most effective treatment for the relief of hallmark menopausal symptoms” while opining it is “vastly underused.” The piece detailed the findings of a recent study analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on usage of MHT in the U.S. among 13,000 postmenopausal women over 21 from 1999 to 2020. The statistics showed use of MHT plummeted from 27 percent to 5 percent over 21 years.

The analysis went on to note the trend was most pronounced among age groups of women where menopause most commonly sets on. Until 2002, MHT use was highest among women aged 52 to 65 years, JAMA reported, shifting to

We have more ways to give hormone therapy now instead of just a pill like we used to. We can give it via oral medicine. We can give it with patches, sprays, gels, vaginal rings.

— Dr. Andrew Cole, Conway OB-GYN

Dr. Anne Trussell

Emotional Changes

Urinary Urgency

Hair Loss or Thinning Vaginal Dryness

Changes in Libido

Irregular Periods

epression and inability to sleep are two of the more common things Trussell hears from her clients, far more than the stereotypical hot flashes and night sweats.

highest among women younger than 52 years after 2005. Both groups fell off sharply in their use of MHT, down 88 percent and 73 percent, respectively, over previous levels.

Experts point to the results of a Women’s Health Initiative trial published in 2002 as one factor for the drop. The study suggested hormone therapy’s health risks “exceeded benefits when used for chronic disease prevention in postmenopausal women” and “did not support use of MHT for the purpose of cardiovascular disease risk reduction.”

Since then, numerous studies have been done on the health risks of MHT, specifically its impact on the likeli-

hood of breast cancer. Healthline reported last month that one study, which combed through findings of 58 previous studies, included 144,000 postmenopausal women with invasive breast cancer and 425,000 who did not develop it. The study concluded that while the risk of breast cancer is higher for those who use MHT than for those who do not, there are many variables to be considered. For instance, the risk of breast cancer is very low for MHT use of less than a year and for women who use it within five years of menopause onset, among other factors.

Dr. Andrew Cole at Conway OB-GYN said he has seen the shift away from MHT, as well as a shift back, during nearly 30 years of practice.

“One of the big changes I’ve seen from when I first started was we were giving hormone therapy to, I’d say, the majority of people. Then when the Women’s Health Initia-

tive study came out, everybody kind of got scared,” he said. “Now we’ve moved back again to really being an advocate for hormone therapy.

“We have more ways to give hormone therapy now instead of just a pill like we used to. We can give it via oral medicine. We can give it with patches, sprays, gels, vaginal rings. For some people, especially for lack of sex drive, a lot of doctors now are using testosterone and testosterone pellets. That’s one of the things that we’re using a lot for their libido, and it also helps with fatigue and to give them energy.”

Cole said the medical field has also evolved in its treatment of gynecological conditions as it relates to hormones, such as being less aggressive in certain surgical procedures when appropriate. That trend has helped deliver needed medical care to patients without unnecessarily triggering early menopause.

“When I started, if a woman was over 35 and having a hysterectomy, a lot of times, we would remove the ovaries at the same time,” he said. “Now we do a lot more ovarian conservation where we usually leave the ovaries unless there’s a reason to remove them. We’ll leave the ovaries a lot of times up until age 45 or so, and then after 45, we may remove them. Ovarian conservation is one way that we avoid putting women in menopause as early as we used to.”

Some of the advances in traditional medicine have come about to keep up with wellness clinics and their so-called alternative treatments. Beyond Wellness is a leading provider of such services in central Arkansas. The company has grown quickly due to its patient-first model which delivers informed, individualized solutions for a host of wellness issues.

Nurse practitioner Christa Jackson said the company’s high-touch approach attracted her to the industry in the first place, after being disillusioned with what she saw in institutional medicine. She said she sees many patients coming in having been given the wrong idea of what menopause is, let alone the best ways to treat it.

“It’s unfortunate how many women truly suffer from menopause, and sometimes it’s because they have been told that there aren’t options, that this is part of life, that they just have to suffer and get through,” she said. “Probably the biggest misconception women have is that menopause is something they can ‘get through.’ When a woman stops having menstrual cycles, to their last breath, they’re menopausal. It’s not this short time period where they can just toughen up and push through it to the end. It’s really a state that a woman will be in for the rest of her life once she begins to experience those changes.

“That’s why when I have a patient who says, ‘I’m just going to get through menopause,’ it’s almost like nails on a chalkboard because there’s so much they can do to set themselves on a way better trajectory by addressing things head-on.”

Jackson also pushed back on the criticism some in the

People still have that fear, that negative, big bad wolf thought when they hear the word hormones.

— Christa Jackson, nurse practitioner at Beyond Wellness

medical community lob at wellness clinics, such as indiscriminately handing out hormones, claims that creates fear in women before they ever have their first appointment. She said patients are presented a full range of treatment options, including MHP when appropriate, accompanied by all the information needed to make an educated decision.

“People still have that fear, that negative, Big Bad Wolf thought when they hear the word hormones,” she said. “I always give my patients the analogy of fruit: If we have bananas and grapes, they smell differently, taste differently, look differently. Everything about them is different, but they’re both still fruit. When we’re talking about generalized hormones, there are synthetic hormones, which I do not recommend to my patients, and then we have bioidentical hormones that are biomolecularly similar to our natural hormone production. Those are generally very safe and very effective.

“At the same time, all hormones aren’t created equal. There are some that have risks, some that can be utilized for cardiovascular, brain, bone, heart benefit, and there are times where hormones may not be the best option for a woman at all. At Beyond Wellness, we offer multiple options in order to figure out the best approach.”

Jackson said even more than the menopause changes that can negatively affect a woman’s comfort, self-image and even relationships, the hardest thing about dealing with the condition is often taking the first step toward exploring options for relief.

“My biggest thing as far as advocacy for women is just knowing that you don’t have to suffer in silence and you shouldn’t stand for being dismissed either,” she said. “Know that there are options and providers who will listen to you and really address your health from the inside out, looking at root-cause solutions. I’m a big believer that we don’t want to just live a long life because lifespan means nothing if we don’t have a good health span and good brain span.”

Keep Changethe

New generation of health care pros dispel myths about menopause

By DWAIN HEBDA

Menopause, one of the less pleasurable facts of life for women, has long been distilled into its simplest elements. Moodiness, night sweats and hot flashes are symptoms well worn to the point of cliché, as are the age parameters of when most women start to experience them. As with death and taxes, there are few ways around menopause, and like these other unyielding certainties, the best one can do is just buck up and ride it out.

Wrong, say a new breed of health care professionals who are serving at the forefront of one of the oldest conditions known to the human female. Menopause and its precursor, perimenopause, are a new battleground in women’s health care, one where old medical notions are being challenged and patients are given new perspectives about the natural occurrence.

“I definitely think that just talking about [menopause] more and mak ing women more aware and making them realize that there are small side effects here and there to pay attention to is starting to add up,” said Terri Wells, owner of Infinity Signature Aesthetics in Hot Springs. First, the ABCs upon which all can agree is that menopause is formally defined by 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, but that is about as far as consensus goes. As

Terri Wells

outlined by Yale School of Medicine in an article last month, ovarian function begins to decline long before menopause, in some cases up to 10 years earlier, a transition period known as perimenopause.

I definitely think that just talking about [menopause] more and making women more aware and making them realize that there are small side effects here and there to pay attention to is starting to add up.

—

Terri Wells, owner of Infinity Signature Aesthetics

Medical experts like the ones cited in Yale’s article agree that perimenopause is harder to diagnose, given how gradual the decline in function is and how a woman’s hormones can fluctuate unpredictably. The range of symptoms that accompany it are a grab bag, and often starkly different from one woman to another.

Common medical thought — as well as patient statistics — places the age of most menopausal women in their 50s, although even then, a range of variables exist that can dramatically alter actual onset. According to Menopause Network, perimenopause can set on as early as a women’s 30s and 40s. Full-blown menopause has even been known to set on earlier in a woman’s life due to mitigating circumstances such as genetics, certain health conditions and some medical treatments.

As Wells noted, attempting to apply an overly formulaic method of diagnosis, the way medicine has treated women for generations, is a practice long overdue for modernization. Each woman’s system is different, and when providers are too dogmatic in their criteria for diagnosing conditions, she said, it opens the door for missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, which is arguably worse.

She contended a physician who does not account for such variables is likely to rule out menopause altogether and attribute symptoms — such as fatigue, weight gain, sleeplessness, receding sex drive and more — to other conditions in error.

“I think where we are now is women in general, in this broad age category where all these symptoms kind of start, we sound like we’re complaining,” she said. “Whenever we go to the doctor, we’re saying, ‘Well, you know, I’m exhausted, and I’m stressed, and I have anxiety that I’ve never had before.’ A lot of times, we’re told, ‘Yeah, your lab work looks great. There’s nothing wrong with you. See ya.’

“Well, now we’re looking into it, and we’ve found all of these things kind of add up. Once we became aware, people started going, ‘What can we do about it? We shouldn’t just have to suffer.’”

Unlike issues with male aging, menopause is far more nuanced, having tendrils that reach well beyond the menstrual cycle and reproductive system. Yet medicine has not always looked at the condition as having so many moving parts. The new school of thought seeks to consider these many variables, even those things that, on the face of it, seem counterintuitive.

“We’re so much more complicated, and it’s truly a balancing act,” said Kayla Sanders, owner of Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness, which operates locations in North Little Rock and Cabot. “For instance, with women, we automatically think about estrogen when, really, our ovaries produce four times more testosterone than they do estrogen.

“Testosterone is super important for women as far as cognitive function, brain health, memory, getting rid of that brain fog, not to mention our energy level, but nobody thinks of it that way because the amount is so minuscule when you compare it to what a man has.”

The medical community has turned a blind eye to it because ‘according to the research,’ you shouldn’t start treating [menopause] until the patient is over 50 or over 55 or whatever.

Many women have begun to push back on outdated thinking thanks to an unlikely ally — social media — where they encounter other women who look and feel like them talking about their health in ways that resonate.

“For a long time, it came down to lack of awareness,” Sanders said. “Today, we have social media, where women scroll through TikTok and they see a video of someone near their age talking about all these things that they’re experiencing. They’re like, ‘Hey, that’s what’s going on with me,’ and they bring it to their provider.”

Unfortunately, merely pushing back does not always yield a different result or closer examination. Many women are still told their symptoms are signs of something other than peri-/menopause and treated accordingly. Worse, they are told their symptoms are in their head, which can have consequences down the line.

“The medical community has turned a blind eye to it because ‘according to the research,’ you shouldn’t start treating [menopause] until the patient is over 50 or over 55 or whatever,” Sanders said. “In reality, we now know that the earlier that we take care of these issues, the more we can reduce the risk of bone loss, certain cancers and improve cognitive health.”

On the surface, the answer to improved care for women going through the life changes is pretty straightforward: better-trained physicians. The reality, like the condition itself, is far more complicated. The Yale article reports that despite the advancements in understanding of perimenopause and menopause, many doctors are not being educated accordingly. Even more frightening is the gap in medical training applies even for those studying to become obstetricians and gynecologists.

“A 2023 survey found that over 90 percent of obstetrics and gynecology residency program directors in the U.S. agreed that residents should have access to a standardized menopause curriculum,” the article states, “yet less than a third reported that their programs actually offer one. This critical knowledge gap risks leaving many health care providers ill-equipped to address menopause causes and symptoms effectively, ultimately compromising women’s access to appropriate care.”

In reality, we now know that the earlier that we take care of these issues, the more we can reduce the risk of bone loss, certain cancers and improve cognitive health.

— Kayla Sanders, owner of Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

Kayla Sanders

This is all a normal natural part of life, you know, but let’s make it less uncomfortable. Let’s make this an OK experience. As health care providers, I think we can make that happen.

— Lindsey Ponwith, owner of Revive Lifestyle Medicine

That, combined with generational attitudes about the subject that often impede mothers talking to their daughters about such changes, continues to make menopause a challenging condition, even as it has enjoyed unparalleled attention of late both online and in popular media.

“Menopause is very subjective, and I’d say for the 55-year-olds right now, they are kind of that last group of women whose moms probably didn’t talk about it a whole lot. They’re looking for people to talk to and professionals to talk to,” said Lindsey Ponwith, owner of Revive Lifestyle Medicine in Little Rock.

“I think that your 40- to 45-year-olds are a little bit more proactive in getting out there and coming to see providers about symptoms that they might be having, which is nice, but there’s still a lot of that misconception of, hey, nothing happens until you haven’t had a period for a year when, in reality, it starts much earlier.”

Ponwith said the slow pace of change in attitudes and medical protocols does more than prolong or intensify a woman’s discomfort. In some cases, it leads

doctors into diagnosis and treatment modalities that can have serious and even damaging effects.

“Emotional symptoms are often overlooked, just feeling very irritable, anxious, having difficulty concentrating,” she said. “At first, we would see a lot of patients kind of put on the triad of ADHD medicine to stay awake, sleep medicine to go to sleep, and then Prozac to help with depression and anxiety. That was what we used to see all the time.

“You know, it’s not just that we’re in a bad mood or we don’t like our families. We’re going through something major. Our hormones are decreasing. They are decreasing, but they’re also going up and down at a more rapid rate, so there’s a lot more shifting going on.”

Ponwith and those like her are helping to peel back decades of misinformation and misunderstanding. Wellness clinics employ alternative medicinal resources combined with thorough analysis of a patient’s state of being, options that are accepted like never before.

“We used to be like an antichrist, almost,” she said. “What we did was seen as voodoo medicine or whatnot. Thankfully, that’s changed, and it’s opened the doors, and the conversation’s a little bit more on ways to decrease the side effects of fluctuating hormones and create a kinder environment for menopause to take place.

“This is all a normal natural part of life, you know, but let’s make it less uncomfortable. Let’s make this an OK experience. As health care providers, I think we can make that happen.”

Lindsey Ponwith

When Orthopaedic Injuries Happen,

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by CHRIS DAVIS

Kevin Kelly sits at a table in a small conference room. He looks great, a 60-year-old who could easily pass for 10 years younger thanks to a grueling fitness regimen that has kept his athletic frame as lean and angular as the cut of his midnight blue suit.

His is one of the most famous faces in Arkansas due to a long and decorated broadcasting career that has thousands tuning in to Fox 16 news every night. Media personalities have a unique relationship with their viewers, especially the regulars who watch so religiously that, over time, they develop a chronicle of various tidbits about a journalist’s life, either from what sneaks onto the air or through meetings at public appearances.

Kelly has cultivated his share of such fans given his long tenure in the community, a curious kind of adoption that leads many people to think they know him better than they actually do. Case in point, the recent announcement by Little Rock-based addiction recovery resource Wolfe Street Foundation that Kelly will be the keynote speaker at its annual Red Carpet Recovery Gala in North Little Rock May 29.

Those familiar with the format of the event, of which AY Media Group is a major sponsor, knows the honor is reserved for someone with a story of addiction and recovery to tell. Most anyone who thinks they know anything about Kelly, it is fair to say, had no idea he would be a candidate for the role.

“The gift of sharing your story with others is priceless,” he said. “My goal is to share my experience, to share my strength and my hope because, sadly, there are too many people still out there, and it’s gotten worse with all the fentanyl. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but if I’m standing in front of 600 people on May 29, and one person comes up to me after that meeting and says, ‘I heard what you said,’ that is a gift you can’t put a price on.”

Asked how he decided to share his tale at this specific moment after all these years, Kelly just shrugged.

My goal is to share my experience, to share my strength and my hope because, sadly, there are too many people still out there, and it’s gotten worse with all the fentanyl.

— Kevin Kelly

Kevin Kelly, news anchor at Fox 16 in Little Rock, left, sits with Justin Buck, executive director of the Wolfe Street Foundation in Little Rock. Kelly will speak at the organization’s Red Carpet Recovery Gala May 29.

When people with a profile in the community are willing to speak, it tends to break down the stigma and the shame and the fear of sharing.

— Justin Buck, executive director at Wolfe Street

“I mean, nobody’s ever asked before,” he said. “He asked.”

“He” is Justin Buck, Wolfe Street’s executive director, who got tipped off to Kelly’s story by Laura Monteverdi, fellow TV journalist and friend. For Buck, having someone as recognized and successful as Kelly as the keynote is a gift from heaven, communicating a message in a way that makes people sit up and take notice.

“Kevin Kelly is a trusted newscaster, a trusted storyteller, and I’m really excited for him to be able to tell his own story and just spotlight what happens in our community,” Buck said. “When people with a profile in the community are willing to speak, it tends to break down the stigma and the shame and the fear of sharing. The other thing that is really important is that it shows people who are in that motel room, mentally in that dark place, not sure what their future looks like, that they have boundless potential and can realize that potential even though these things have happened.”

The ultimate irony of Kelly’s appearance is that it comes buttressed by the fame and notoriety he achieved in an industry he never aspired to growing up in San Diego. Back then, all Kelly cared about was sports, especially soccer, in which he immersed himself to try and quell the crippling loneliness and grief he felt after his parents’ divorce, the later entrance and exit of his stepfather, and the splintering of his siblings.

“There was a continuing theme growing up, by no fault of anyone’s, really, of abandonment,” Kelly said. “When I was 4, my parents got a divorce, and all of my older siblings even-

tually moved in with my father one by one.

“All of a sudden, I am left in this household with two younger half-sisters who are still in diapers, and I became the man of the house before I was a teenager. That is not a normal childhood. Looking back, I realized that really had a profound impact on me for the remainder of my early life.”

Kelly’s time on the soccer pitch was a respite from what was going on at home, a place where he could be just one of the guys. He was also a good athlete, which brought additional attention both within the team and from the outside world. It was, to his recollection, his first drug, but the next one was not far off.

“I dabbled with alcohol when I was about 13,” he said. “Didn’t care much for it, but when I was in middle school, I was playing on the soccer team, and I am hanging out with the cool people, and I wanted to be part of that cool group.

“When I was 16 years old, I still wanted so much attention and so much to be a part of something. I remember I was over at a friend’s house, and we’re listening to music, and I hear this.”

Kelly tapped his glasses on the tabletop, mimicking the sound of a credit card on a mirror.

“I’m looking over in the corner of the room, and I’m like, “What the hell are they doing?’ They turned around and said, ‘You want to do a line?’ Well, of course, I’m going to say yes because I have to be cool. I have to be included. I have to be wanted.

“I did a line of cocaine, and I’ve never felt anything like it in my entire life. I instantly fell

in love with that and wanted more — right there on the spot.”

So began a relationship with what, to Kelly’s young mind, checked all the things he craved most. Coke filled the void that had been scooped out of his insides by the disintegration of his family, it earned him status among his peers, and, in a cruelly ironic twist, it didn’t even detract from his athletic performance. Physical addiction would follow soon enough, but in the early days, Kelly went willingly, seduced by the allure of how the drug seemed to cure all the ills life had put in his way.

He attended two years of college, during which time he played soccer and snorted, not necessarily in that order. The destructive behavior and blossoming addiction that is so obvious in the retelling was just as easily justified in the moment.

“I’d go on two-, three-, four-day binges. I’d be off the radar,” he said. “My grades were horrible because of the partying. It’s easy to look back and see the denial, but at the time, you’re not thinking that this could kill me. That’s how far into the weeds you are. I just knew that it made me feel better, to feel normal, even though it was the farthest thing from being normal.

“I mean, it sounds almost insane, but I got tons of awards in soccer, statewide recognition, and there were games I don’t even remember. According to the articles and according to my teammates and my coaches, I played unbelievably even though I hadn’t slept in 24 hours. I was out there just going crazy.”

Kelly decided to take a crack at professional soccer and, despite his habit, landed a roster

spot as an unpaid reserve goalkeeper. It would prove a short-lived accomplishment after an auto accident ended his career and cleared his schedule to sink deeper into addiction. He landed and then lost a job after stepping away from his post to call his dealer and was soon writing hot checks to get some cash to score blow.

It is hard to say how his predicament finally got back to his birth father, who had remained present in his life following the divorce, but one day, the phone rang.

“He said two words: ‘Get home,’” Kelly said. “You can tell by the tone of my dad’s voice that the shit had hit the fan. Something’s going down. So I race home, I walk in the door, and I look down at the kitchen counter. There’s some kind of envelope on the counter, and he goes, ‘You leave tomorrow for Hazelden.’”

Hazelden Betty Ford in Minnesota awaited, the premiere rehab facility in the nation. Kelly did 30 days there at no small expense and earned sobriety that lasted the trip back to the west coast.

“I wore all the right masks, said all the right things,” he said. “I came back and immediately relapsed. I was actually on my way to a [recovery] meeting when it happened. For the next two years, I went right back down the rabbit hole.”

Kelly’s spiral included being kicked out by his father and a rock-bottom moment on which he failed to elaborate save for the fact that God gave him a five-second window following a three-day binge during which he was

convinced his life would end.

“We refer to it as a spiritual awakening, where all of a sudden I had a moment of clarity and I’m like, ‘What the [expletive] am I doing?’” Kelly said. “This is not what God wants or intended my life to look like or be like. I literally picked up the phone, I called my dad, and I said, ‘I’m ready.’”

Kelly took a second stint in rehab, this time in California and this time with a purpose. Over 90 days, he cleared his body, mind and spirit of the drug, as well as the underlying pain and trauma that led him to it. He has maintained his sobriety ever since, in no small part because of the transitional services that bridged rehab and reentering society.

In Arkansas, Wolfe Street is one such resource, providing services such as recovery housing, ongoing meetings and counseling, as well as broader intervention programs such as youth outreach and training peer support specialists, who help the addicted find help. These core programs, critical to an addict’s recovery, are all made possible in large part by funds raised through the Red Carpet Recovery Gala.

As for the demographics that benefit from those programs, Buck said they run the gamut from every walk of life, background and neighborhood, sharing in common only a challenging chapter of life and the resolve to write a fresh new one.

“This problem doesn’t care who you are. It doesn’t care how you vote. It doesn’t care how much you make. It doesn’t care,” he said. “I would love to meet a family who’s never been impacted by substance use, yet most families

in that situation are suffering in silence because they don’t know where to turn to or they don’t know what to do in those situations.

“I think it’s really important for people who are struggling or who are in early recovery to see that if I keep coming back and I keep working this program, if I keep putting one foot in front of the other, I can reach my full potential. If I have a dream to tell stories on TV and tell them about the news, or if I have a dream to own a lawn care company and be very successful, or if I have a dream to go back to college. Whatever that is for you, you can achieve it, I promise.”

Watching Kelly, one senses a restlessness about his upcoming speech, an unusual state of being for someone who broadcasts to multitudes for a living. Sharing the most personal and painful element of one’s life is something no one can take lightly, but for Kelly, the real tragedy would be someone not getting the help they needed because he kept silent and still.

“If it wasn’t for a halfway house during my recovery, an establishment that was like Wolfe Street, I would not be here today. There’s no doubt in my mind,” he said. “I could not do this alone. I tried too many times and failed miserably. I haven’t done cocaine since, but it wasn’t until I made that decision and said, ‘I’m ready,’ that my life changed for the better.

“In the end, it’s my decision [to talk about it]. It’s my choice. It helps. I can’t forget what I’ve been through. I can’t forget what happened because tomorrow, I could end up in that same spot. That’s how dangerous addiction is.”

If it wasn’t for a halfway house during my recovery, an establishment that was like Wolfe Street, I would not be here today. There’s no doubt in my mind.

— Kelly

Cupcakes

The 10th annual Cupcakes For Goodness Sake fundraiser slated for May 17 at Argenta Plaza in North Little Rock is more than just a sugary good time.

CareLink relies on sweet treats to care for seniors for a Cause

By DOUG CRISE // Photos by STEVEN LEWIS

R.J. Martino has been to “those” fundraisers.

“We’ve all been invited to the typical dress up, hear a speech, run out the door,” said Martino, owner of Little Rock businesses Scale Technology and iProv. “If you were to put a blindfold on, they're all the same. It’s hard to tell the difference.”

Martino is gearing up for his favorite event of the year. There are no black ties, no stuffed shirts and no antiquated surroundings. People can come and go as they please, shorts and T-shirts are perfectly fine, and everyone gets cupcakes.

Who could say no?

“This one is so much fun because it’s just a different event,” Martino said. “It’s a familyfriendly, fun environment. It’s a great location. You get to eat cupcakes — and I don’t care what age you are. Everybody likes cupcakes.”

The 10th annual Cupcakes For Goodness Sake fundraiser slated for May 17 at Argenta Plaza in North Little Rock is more than just a sugary good time. Yes, amateur and professional bakers from all over Arkansas will have their best mini-delicacies on display and available for anyone with a sweet tooth, and yes, Heather Baker, president and publisher at AY Media Group, will be on the event’s “stAYge” to award her pick for best cupcake, but beyond the fun and games is the money raised through tickets and sponsorships for CareLink, a Little Rock nonprofit dedicated to supporting senior citizens who receive in-home care.

Thanks in no small part to an army of volunteers, CareLink works daily to enable senior citizens to lead independent lives in their own homes. Among the services offered includes bringing meals, providing transportation, helping with housework, assisting with hygiene and providing support for family members acting as caregivers.

“They just provide a multitude of services for the community,” said Karen Yezzi, a retired insurance provider who, with her late husband, Dom, covered the startup costs for the first Cupcakes for Goodness Sake 10 years

ago. “Unfortunately, the federal government doesn’t have the grants they used to have. We have to provide these services, and often it is provided by donors through a nonprofit. People need to realize these are real people in our own community that desperately need some help.”

What began as a quirky and fun way to raise money slowly began to pick up steam, but it exploded a few years back when Kevin Shalin, creator of the popular Arkansas food blog The Mighty Rib, got wind of the event and its cause. Shalin began promoting Cupcakes For Goodness Sake to his readership, helping make it a must-see for sponsors and foodies alike.

“It’s a truly wonderful, family-friendly event with proceeds benefiting an even better cause,” Shalin said.

Indeed, there is very little separation between the participants, the patrons and the cause. Spend any time around the bakers who are presenting their wares, and one is bound to hear stories about how Cupcakes for Goodness Sake resonates on a personal level for so many.

Emily and Edward Niemczyk, owners of

“It’s a truly wonderful, family-friendly event with proceeds benefiting an even better cause”

— Kevin Shalin, The Mighty Rib

Emily and

According to a study by the AARP, 90 percent of adults older than 65 prefer to stay in their own homes

of

Red Bird Cookin’ in Little Rock, got wind of the event through Shalin and knew immediately they had to participate.

“I grew up in a broken household, I guess you could say,” Emily said. “My grandmother was the one who took care of us. I remember going back-to-school shopping, going to hang out with her during the summer. I remember, growing up, just spending time with Grandma.”

Emily began noticing changes in her grandmother once she began high school, but reality did not hit home until the day the older woman turned her car the wrong way on the bypass that cuts through Vilonia.

“My brother was in the car with her,” Emily said. “That was a terrifying situation. We kind of had to do something about it.”

Edward has a similar story about his own grandmother.

“Her mother had dementia, so she always knew it was a possibility,” he said. “It was just a lot of forgetting things — common everyday things, like turning the stove on and not turning it off, little things like that, like forgetting where things are. It started very small, just a lot of forgetfulness.”

The Niemczyks’ story is a familiar one. Both badly wanted their grandmothers to stay in their own surroundings for as long as possible. Both, along with other family members, embraced the responsibility of being in-home caretakers, and both, at one time or another, were pushed to the limit by all that had to be done.

“From the family aspect, it’s really hard,” Emily said. “It’s one of those situations where you just want two minutes to yourself, that type of thing.”

According to a study by the AARP, 90 percent of adults older than 65 prefer to stay in their own homes, and doing so has been linked to greater psychological benefits, but that does not change the fact that caring for an aging loved one can be a monumental and exhausting task. That is where CareLink comes in.

“A lot of people don’t think about it,” said Martino, who serves on CareLink’s board of directors. “It’s kind of a forgotten demographic. We all have grandparents. We all have parents. As they age, and as you become an adult, you realize how much care they need. What you don’t realize: CareLink is a nonprofit, and there are not enough government funds to provide the support that’s necessary.”

It has been dubbed the “silver tsunami.” The baby boomer demographic accounts for more than 73 million people, according to Forbes, and people 65 or older now account for more than one-third of the nation’s health care spending. That is more than enough to outstrip whatever government resources can offer, leaving nonprofits such as CareLink to fill the void.

Edward Niemczyk, owners

Red Bird Cookin’

“As soon as I found out about it, I wanted to be involved.”

– Brittany Green, The Root Cafe

That also means services for caretakers struggling with their own mental health as they try to provide care for their loved ones.

“I can’t explain the phenomenon that happens when you become a caregiver,” Martino said. “I didn’t even understand it until I joined the board and heard firsthand how difficult it is to continuously provide care for an aging family member. Emotionally, it’s difficult. Psychologically, it’s difficult, let alone the workload and financial stresses involved. It’s very hard and you feel like you’re the only one in that world. Nobody would understand. Some of the services we provide aren’t for Grandma; they’re for the people caring for her.”

Martino is quick to give credit to elder care homes and the work being done by the nurses and specialists in that area, but there is a financial cost involved with nursing homes, and not everyone has the access or funds to make it work.

“When I joined the board, my assumption was the best place for people who can’t take care of themselves is in a nursing home,” Martino said. “We’re grateful for the nursing home industry. It’s a necessary and important part of taking care of our aging Arkansans, but the quantitative data shows, overwhelmingly, that the longer we can keep people independent and at home, they live

healthier, happier and less expensive lives. It actually costs less for us to keep people in their house than to move them into a long-term care facility. All the quantitative metrics and qualitative metrics tell us the best thing we can do if we want to solve these problems is keep them in their homes. That’s what CareLink does.”

It is no surprise, then, that Cupcakes For Goodness Sake continues to grow. Almost everybody has an older person in their lives who is deserving of care and compassion, and just about everyone has a story.

“As soon as I found out about it, I wanted to be involved,” said Brittany Green, a professional baker who works at the Root Cafe in Little Rock’s Breckenridge Village. “I love CareLink, and I love what they do for the community. I was raised by my grandmother, so it was really important for me to help an organization that’s doing everything they can for seniors in our area.”

CareLink’s reach continues to grow, and it is now able to serve Faulkner, Lonoke, Monroe, Prairie, Pulaski and Saline counties. With more and more people being drawn to Cupcakes For Goodness Sake every year, CareLink hopes to continue that growth and support those caring for their loved ones.

To lend support to the cause, all one has to do is spend a springtime afternoon sampling cupcakes.

“We can’t wait to help give back,” Emily said. “It’s one of those we-are-the-next-generation-type things. It’s our time to step up.”

Brittany Green, baker at the Root Cafe

Photos courtesy of ARTFUL OUTSIDER STUDIO

aron Bleidt is a Fayetteville-based artist and entrepreneur who works primarily with freehand digital drawings. His pieces boast bright colors and simple visuals, balancing a playful feel with deep meanings.

It was only in 2018, while he had time off work for the holidays, that he dove into drawing.

“I just decided on a whim to try drawing and painting, curious to see what it would look and feel like,” he said. “Days later, I was already declaring the guest bedroom as a makeshift studio.”

He started by shyly sharing his work under an assumed moniker online. He then began giving some prints to friends and colleagues before gaining the courage to change his bio to his own name. In February 2020, he was offered his first solo show at Arsaga’s at the Depot in Fayetteville.

“I took the leap and was just so taken aback by how warmly it was received,” he said. “That initial exposure gave me the confidence to keep sharing my work more broadly.”

Just a few years later, Bleidt’s art has been shown in galleries around the South and even at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock during its 62nd Annual Delta Exhibition.

While growing up in Arkansas, he dabbled in creative pursuits, mainly writing and photography. His mother was a painter, and his uncle was a fine arts photographer, which influenced Bleidt.

For his recent visual pursuits, he cites many famous artists as inspiration, including Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

“I have always been fascinated by artists who could tell compelling visual stories with minimal elements,” he said.

He calls his drawings “vignettes” or “visual haiku,” meaning he tries to distill his wide range of themes into their simplest forms.

“It’s a creative challenge I love — saying more with less,” he said. “You want to say so much you have to reel it in sometimes. It’s so natural for me to go on and on in voice or writing, but in art, it’s equally natural to distill it down.”

Bleidt creates his art not with a brush but with an Apple pencil, being a digital freehand drawer. His canvas is his iPad. He said he has recently been creating works through a combination of both preplanned things he wants to draw and an open-ended vision. Thanks to the digital medium he uses, he is able to not only recreate earlier elements but actually copy them from one piece to another.

He said the process is almost like making collages, only from his own art rather than clipped from other people’s works. He works with a wide range of themes both tangible and imaginative and said he likes seeing what is around him in nature or the city and drawing from that, noting the “vastness of open landscapes” but also the “quiet beauty of everyday details.”

Bleidt is also inspired by the great beyond. Space, myths and abstract concepts such as escapism and wanderlust are

I want my art to entertain and beautify but also affirm, inspire, embolden and empower.

— Aaron Bleidt

Exalted Moon Crab

Gum Chucks

Unlock the Love

Sysiphus

infused into his works. Along with those themes, he also has incorporated many motifs, such as using “celestial bodies” throughout his art. That can often include a sun or a moon, portrayed both literally and in more abstract form, showing up in colors one does not expect to see a sun or moon take on.

“Give me an idea, and I’m going to run with it, but I’m probably going to put the sun in it,” he said, adding that using various visual elements creates a “consistent visual language throughout my work.”

Throughout his years of creating art, Bleidt has started to consider it a calling rather than a vocation.

“I have discovered that I have things to say and art to share,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve been as excited by anything that’s come before. This has given me

the opportunity to, really, more deeply find that voice than ever before.”

What started as a hobby has come to mean so much more to him as he has discovered his artistic voice and the fact that he has things he wants to say through his art.

“Especially in today’s world, if we have things to say or things to share, especially if they’re intended to be positive and uplifting to society, I think it’s incumbent upon us as humans on this earth to share whatever that is,” he said.

His artistic pursuits have created a balance in his life. Professionally, he said, he was always driven by the next goal and linear paths of success. Now he calls his position as co-owner and chief marketing officer at design and marketing firm DOXA/VANTAGE his “day job,” saying his art has taken on a larger role in his life than a mere side gig.

“It’s a personal and purposeful practice now,” he said. “It’s no longer just about creating something visually striking.”

He said his hope is that when people encounter his artwork, they are met with a wide range of emotions. He said he wants it to spark some sort of recognition in the viewer, whether it is a memory or emotion, but also likes to leave room for interpretation.

“I want my art to entertain and beautify but also affirm, inspire, embolden and empower,” he said. “Just seeing my art resonate with viewers — whether through an exhibition, a commission or even on social media — feels deeply rewarding.

“When someone shares how a piece made them feel or what it evoked for them, that connection is truly the most meaningful part of the experience.”

While he has been learning his craft, he has also taken away a lot of lessons about himself and life. As an “eternal optimist,” he said he hopes the viewer leaves with a smile.

“[My art is] proof that you can truly do whatever you set your mind to,” he said. “I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be on this side of the brush, so to speak, as the artist, much less actively exhibiting and selling my work. It’s never too late to take a leap and throw caution to the wind and follow your dreams.”

To view Bleidt’s work, visit artfuloutsider.com or catch his current exhibit, Beasts of Imagination, at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum from May 3 to Sept. 7.

Stuck aka Lean In Night Ride

Roots Origin Mama Like Nice Things

Minimalism infused with meaning is an apt description for the work of Arkansas artist Aaron Bleidt.

arts & culture

LIKE

OOnly in a resort destination as unique as Hot Springs could something like Stueart Pennington's World Championship Running of the Tubs take place. Spa City is home to attractions that, technically, can be found elsewhere.

to the core a race no other

After all, Hot Springs is not the only place in the world with a national park or bathtub races or bathhouses supplied by local hot springs or thoroughbred racing or full casino gambling or a world-famous parade or a world sake festival complete with sumo wrestlers or world-class dining and entertainment or outdoor recreation galore.

That is not to mention the city’s role as an historic haven for gangsters such as Al Capone or its role in the birth of Major League Baseball’s spring training.

Hot Springs is, however, one of the few places on the globe where visitors can find all those things and more in one spot. Hot Springs made its name not just on what it offers but how it offers the attractions that draw millions each year.

For example, Spa City is not just home to a racetrack — it is home to Oaklawn, one of the country’s first-tier thoroughbred tracks, which now includes a world-class resort and casino. Hot Springs does not just have a St. Patrick’s Day Parade; it hosts the annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In that vein, the city was not content to host another bathtub race at one of the multiple lakes that surround it.

World Championship Running of the Tubs is

Spa City

By MARK CARTER

For a resort city to which visitors from across the globe have flocked for well over a century to bathe in the thermal waters of Hot Springs National Park, bathtub races cannot be run of the mill.

“The World Championship Running of the Tubs is such a unique event,” said Alexis Hampo, special events manager at Visit Hot Springs and race director. “Not only does it celebrate the long-held Hot Springs’ motto, ‘We bathe the world,’ but the races are also held right on beautiful Bathhouse Row.”

Run of the mill, of course, does not fly in Hot Springs. The Running of the Tubs, started in 2006 and scheduled this year for June 6 and 7, entails decorated tubs on wheels being pushed down historic Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs. Each tub team consists of five members — four “bath attendants” and a

captain who steers from inside the tub, which is filled with water to start the race.

The event annually draws thousands of spectators, who are encouraged to spray participants with water for the length of the course. Hampo said the city expects roughly 5,000 for this year’s installment.

“The spectators are crucial to the event,” she said. “Spectators line Bathhouse Row donned in their best bathrobes, carrying water blasters spraying the teams. That’s one reason we get to claim it’s the cleanest and wettest fun around.”

Team members, for whom costumes are required, must face vari ous obstacles along the way while making sure at least 10 gallons of

The Spa Pacers finished first place in the traditional division last year and are looking to defend the title.

Photo courtesy of Visit Hot Springs

Photo courtesyofCry

water remain in the tub at the finish line. Plus each bath attendant must carry one of four items — a bar of soap, bathmat, loofah mitt or bath towel — throughout the entire race, and all items must be presented at the end of the race. And in typical Spa City fashion, race judges, distinguished by their bathrobes and clipboards, are encouraged to make up new rules on the spot.

“The tub races are an absolute blast for both participants and spectators — literally, a water blaster kind of blast,” said Mary Zunick, cultural affairs manager at Visit Hot Springs and the race’s former director. “It’s a thrill to cheer for your favorite teams, admire their wacky costumes and enjoy the antics of the bathrobe-clad judges. I remember taking my kids when they were small, and it is so much fun for the entire family — and what better way to celebrate Hot Springs’ rich bathing history than by racing actual bathtubs down Bathhouse Row?”

Race participants can choose to compete in one of three divisions — traditional (cast-iron tubs), modified (fiberglass/plastic tubs) or stock (reserved for nonprofits and for which tubs are provided). Tubs must be at least 48 inches long and 24 inches wide, and tub wheels cannot exceed 30 inches in diameter mounted on axles and may not exceed 44 inches wide.

Another component to the race is the annual Battle of the Badge, which pits the Hot Springs police and fire departments against each other.

The event promises a silly, sopping wet time that is fun for all.

Photos courtesy of Visit Hot Springs

“The World Championship Running of the Tubs is such a unique event. Not only does it celebrate the long-held Hot Springs’ motto, ‘We bathe the world,’ but the races are also held right on beautiful Bathhouse Row.”

— Alexis Hampo race director

her team is an actual running club that participates for the pure enjoyment of it.

Aside from all the good, clean fun the race provides for participants and spectators alike, the Running of the Tubs plays an important role in highlighting the Spa City’s unique story.

“The World Championship Running of the Tubs really highlights the history of Hot Springs as a bathing and resort town,” Hampo said. “It does a great job of telling that story in a fun, silly and equally competitive way. It also brings attention to the great businesses, hotels, restaurants and attractions in historic downtown Hot Springs, and it seems like everyone, visitors and residents alike, get into the event. It’s also a great way to cool down in the summertime and have some serious family fun. Plus it’s free to attend.”

The action kicks off June 6 at Bathhouse Row with the Judging of the Tubs at 6 p.m., followed by bracket selection at 7 p.m. The Parade of the Tubs will start at 9 a.m. June 7, followed by the actual race at 9:20 a.m. and the awards ceremony at 11:15 a.m. Race winners in each division receive a trophy and, more importantly, everlasting celebrity.

Last year’s winning teams were the Spa Pacers in the traditional division, the Austin Weirdos in the modified division and Princess Nora’s Warrior Foundation in the stock division.

Crystal Kennedy, team captain of Spa Pacers, said

“My tub team looks forward to this race every year. We are a little bit competitive, being runners, and, of course, we have a reputation to uphold,” she said. “For me personally, I jumped at the chance to be able to participate in this race a few years ago, when our last team passed the torch on to other members to volunteer to participate.”

Kennedy will captain the Pacers for a third year, and she plans to defend her team’s title.

“The real credit goes to my team members, who are fast as lightning and able to push me in a tub full of water at full speed down Central Avenue while having to stop at different obstacles to perform different stunts while getting soaked with water from the crowd,” she said.

Kennedy added that the race seems to get bigger and draw more spectators each year.

“It is such a unique fun race to come watch, and the crowd gets to participate by bringing out their best water guns and soaking the runners. I just hope they soak my team’s competition a little more to slow them down some,” she said. “I love this race, and I love Hot Springs, and I’m ready to steer my team to another win this year.”

For more information about the race, visit hotsprings.org or call Hampo at 501-321-2027.

Lookin’ for Love

Popular reality show boasts two Arkansas connections

By DWAIN HEBDA

A

rkansas has had its share of reality television stars, from singers to aspiring chefs to survivors to naked and afraid bushwhackers. Add to that list a pair of Arkies — one in front of the camera and one in the background — making waves on Fox's Farmer Wants a Wife

Colton Hendricks, a third-generation cowboy and sixth-generation Arkansan from Mena, is a real-life rancher looking to land his Princess Charming on the reality TV show. If he does, fellow Arkansan Jason Cornwell will be at least partially responsible, since the casting agent and native of Russellville landed Hendricks on the program.

“It’s like if you list what we’re going to do on the show, it kind of sounds like a bad joke,” Hendricks said. “One of your buddies is like, ‘Hey, we’re going to record you on five dates with five different women over five weeks, and you’re going to live in the house right alongside of them.’ It’s like that sounds like you lost a bet, you know, but it was a lot of fun.”

“Fun” is an integral part of what moved Hendricks to apply for the show after seeing a post on social media. The 28-year-old decided to give it a try for the adventure of it and because, he said, he always felt like he had a personality that lent well to TV.

“I’ve always thought, most of the time, the stuff that we’re doing, people wish that they could do. That’s the reason that they watch it,” he said. “I’ve always been a very outgoing person. Like, I’ll talk to anybody. I don’t care if you’re the CEO or if you’re a janitor — I’m going to try to make you laugh in a conversation.

“The best part about it for me is I’ve been doing dumb stuff my whole life, so people calling me out about it is not new to me. I’m dead serious. I’m there to have a good time and be the butt of the joke. Like, I don’t mind being the butt of the joke.”

In the world of reality television, there is no end to the wacky combinations and far-fetched plot lines that have graced the airwaves, making the third season of Farmer Wants a Wife relatively straightfor-

Photo courtesy of Colton Hendricks

ward by comparison. Four working farmers each select five single females from an original pool of hopefuls and bring them back to their farms for chores and a series of get-to-know-you dates and outings. Unlike The Bachelor/Bachelorette, on which contestants compete against each other for a mate, the four farmers winnow down their own stable of five women in the hopes of finding true love.

In Hendricks’ case, that presented some logistical problems. Given the relatively spartan accommodations he maintains on his acreage in real life, adding five more bodies was an immediate issue of space. To solve the problem, producers moved him into an RV in the yard and turned his small house over to the ladies.

“I’m, like, super country,” Hendricks said. “I wouldn’t say I’m poor, but I enjoy a minimalist life-

Jason Cornwell

“That means it’s going to be different. The shows in Australia are very — let’s just say the farmers don’t have to be attractive. They can be, but in America, on Fox, you’ve got to American it up. You’ve got to find goodlooking farmers, and you’ve got to find single, goodlooking farmers that want to go on a reality show, which is not easy. You’ve got to search them down.”

Even when the stars align, farmers that otherwise might have been hits sometimes pass on the chance to be on TV for a variety of reasons.

“They’re all legit farmers and ranchers, so first of all, they’re on their farm, working. They need to be able to shoot after harvest season,” Cornwell said. “I had another guy from Arkansas that I tried to put on the show last season or maybe the first season who’s a farmer in south Arkansas, and he’s got lots of equipment, and

I know there are characters in our state that are unlike anybody else in the world. There’s a style of humor that you could only find in Arkansas, and it’s good, and it translates to the rest of the world. It makes me laugh, so I know it’ll make other people laugh, so I’m always looking.

style. I don’t really see a big house and think, ‘That’s what I want,’ you know? I just look at it and say, ‘Dang, that’s a lot of cleaning,’ so I have a three-bedroom, smaller mobile home.

“I’ve had a camper before. I’ve had a pretty nice camper, and I was thinking, ‘Dang, this is going to be good.’ Well, they get me a camper about the size of a minivan. Like I said, I’m a minimalist, and I was like, ‘This is great. I love it.’ I get my son 50/50, and for one week, he was with me in the camper, and he loved it. He asks me all the time, ‘Daddy, are you going to get your camper back?’”

Hendricks’ son, Souther, was the icing on the cake for the casting company, and while the casting agents did not make the final decision, Cornwell did ensure Hendricks made it to the top of the stack. Cornwell, founder and partner of Cornwell & Collazo Casting, provides shows with people like Hendricks, the kind viewers care about that have the “it factor” people will tune in week after week to watch their progress. Farmer Wants a Wife is in its third season domestically.

“The show was really big in Australia, and so Fox decided, ‘Let’s try to take it to America,’” Cornwell said.

he’s growing lots of soybeans, but it didn’t work out. I couldn’t get him on the show.”

Cornwell learned the process of reality TV the oldfashioned way — by appearing on one of the earliest of such programs on American airwaves. He was a member of MTV’s The Real World: Boston in Season 6 of the groundbreaking series.

“The Real World was created by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. He was a documentarian, and she made soap operas. She was a producer,” he said. “They met, and they came together, and they formed The Real World. They did New York, LA, London, San Francisco, Miami, and then the sixth season was Boston.”

The Pope County native would also come back to appear on The Real World vs. Road Rules Challenge, a spin-off that pitted the respective casts against each other in competition reminiscent of the 1970s’ Battle of the Network Stars. It did not take long, however, for Cornwell to realize his future was not in acting, and he started working for Bunim Murray Productions, where he learned the casting ropes.

“I auditioned for pilots, and I shot a Fox pilot with Jason Priestley. I shot a movie, but I didn’t like doing it,”

he said. “It wasn’t a passion, I thought it was, but it wasn’t. I tried it, and I didn’t dig it.”

Since forming his company in 2005, he has spent the last 20 years on a variety of projects, mainly reality TV but also the occasional game show. He said Hollywood is so siloed it is hard to branch into other projects such as movies, but for what he does, he has got the formula down cold.

While some may call him a homer, he insists that an Arkansan is worth his or her weight in reality TV gold.

“I know there are characters in our state that are unlike anybody else in the world,” he said. “There’s a style of humor that you could only find in Arkansas, and it’s good, and it translates to the rest of the world. It makes me laugh, so I know it’ll make other people laugh, so I’m always looking. I told my team this season, ‘I want a farmer from Arkansas.’

“I just knew when I saw Hendricks. He is a handsome guy. He is, like, 6-4. He’s got the gift of gab. I was just praying that I could get through to the network, and I just pushed. You know, I can’t push too hard because I can’t show favoritism, but I can make sure that they do good coverage on him. I will pay a little special attention to an Arkansan if there’s something there and he’s legit and he’s got a great personality and he’s going to be great on the show.”

At writing, Season 3 was about half over, and Hendricks was, of course, tight-lipped about anything that had yet to appear. In general, however, he talked about the experience in positive terms, from the on-camera shenanigans to fielding a steady stream of propositions from the viewing public.

“You know, I really enjoyed the whole process of it. I had a ton of fun,” he said. “I didn’t think that the camera would be as much fun as it is.”

As for his future, he said he hopes to extend his 15 minutes of fame into something more lucrative, and he has honorable reasons for doing so.

“For the last couple of years, I’ve seen several people in the ranching industry and the Western industry switch to being influencers and things like that, and with my personality, I hope I can transition this experience,” he said. “One of the main reasons I did this show, other than finding a woman to share my life with, is my dad, who is the greatest man I know. He has worked his whole life to be able to own his ranch, and he’s paid for it three or four different times in different ways.

“I want to be able to showcase my dad’s hard work and show exactly what he’s been doing his whole life. It’s the goal of my lifetime to eventually have the type of money to buy back the place we used to have and put it back in my dad’s name. Becoming an influencer would also showcase what Arkansas cowboys do and that can help a lot of small towns, you know? That’s something I really want to push toward in the future.”

For the last couple of years, I’ve seen several people in the ranching industry and the Western industry switch to being influencers and things like that, and with my personality, I hope I can transition this experience.

— Colton Hendricks

Cornwell, left, and a friend with cast of Farmer Wants a Wife Season 3. (Photo courtesy of Jason Cornwell)

O RE RACE

By DWAIN HEBDA

// Photos courtesy of FRANK O'MARA

In competition and business, Frank O’Mara always found his way to the front. Now he is giving Parkinson’s a run for its money.

The video begins with a slight, graying man standing behind a kitchen island. Stacked before him is a pyramid of six silver up side-down cups, the top one crowned with an egg.

The man looks studious as he stares down the cups, his right hand unsteadily tugging at the bill of his base ball cap. A voice from outside the frame intones, “OK, Parkinson’s Egg Cup Challenge.”

The man takes hold of the top cup, his hand visibly wobbling. He lifts the cup off the stack as the tremor in his hand causes the egg to shift, then slide and ulti mately crack open on impact with the counter surface. The man’s face explodes into a laugh as he looks dead into the camera. Two seconds have elapsed.

Frank O’Mara has just failed the Stack Don’t Crack challenge, a promotion to raise money for Par kinson’s disease. The object is to stack the cups inside each other while keeping the egg on its perch and then, when all cups are nested, flip the egg into the air and catch it in the stacked cups. Those taking on the timed exercise are asked to film and post their efforts, challenge others to do the same, and even offer a bit of on-camera smack talk.

By the rules, O’Mara does not get afforded that perk, though flashes of intensity in his face show how much he wants to. Diagnosed with Parkin son’s disease in 2009, a condition he hid and lived in denial from for years, the progressive neurologi cal disease has taken its toll on his gait, his steadi ness and his speech.

However, like a runner who recovers from a slow start to emerge at the front of a pack, O’Mara’s work embracing his new normal shows the former Olympian still has consider able kick left.

His stepping out of the shadows of his disease, especially in the past few years, has reached more people than a hundred public service announcements about Parkinson’s or a thousand fundraising form letters generated using artificial intelligence.

“My self-worth stuff is caught up in achievement,” he said. “To not have that initially made me feel inauthentic or

runner Frank O’Mara is working to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease.

O’Mara was a runner for the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville before venturing into business at Alltel.

I contend you learn nothing from success except how to celebrate. The failures, you go back, recalibrate, reassess, work harder, change what you’re doing. You learn more from failure.

— Frank O’Mara

something. I read one time Michael J. Fox said, ‘Your happiness is directly proportional to your acceptance and inversely proportionate to your expectations.’ I knew I had to ramp down my expectations to dial up acceptance, but I had a hard time doing it.”

O’Mara was born in Limerick, Ireland, and came to the Natural State by way of the running program at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Running — and to a lesser degree, rugby — was just a way to stand out from the crowd until a seminal event in his youth put him on the path to greatness. While away at boarding school, his mother notified him his father had suffered a heart attack. O’Mara wrote him a letter, promising to win the All-Ireland Schools 1,500-meter in the hopes it would inspire his father to hang on. Sadly, his father died the following week, but the young runner kept his promise, as well as winning the 3,000-meter, leading St. Munchin’s to the team title.

When the time came to consider where to go to

college, O’Mara had several offers from established U.S. power schools back east but chose Arkansas, he said, “for the weather.” Today an acknowledged collegiate track and field powerhouse, the Razorbacks program was on the cusp of its legend when O’Mara arrived, following his countrymen Niall O’Shaughnessy and Gary Taylor to Fayetteville.

Together, the three helped form the engine under legendary U of A coach John McDonnell, also from the Emerald Isle, that would bring decades of national track and field championships to the Hill. Early on, however, O’Mara was winning nothing other than promises from the coaching staff of a one-way ticket back to Ireland.

“I was very unsuccessful my first two years,” he said. “My first year in particular, I did not live up to expectations. In hindsight, it was due to an increase in training. I went from 30 miles a week to 100, 110 a week. I was always tired, worn out. I went home in the summer, and I ran well in the summer. My second year, 114 miles a week and did poorly again.

“It was my third year; there’s a famous story where I was running a relay and McDonnell said to me, ‘If you don’t hand the stick off in first place, we’ll roll you home.’ I handed it off about 50 yards in front.”

His successes from there were many, including a NCAA indoor 1,500-meter win in 1983 and a world-record-setting mile relay slot in 1985 — and that part of his story is arguably not even the most significant. While lauded in the running community in the states, back home, he was a bona

fide symbol of national pride, running for Ireland in three Olympic Games, as a two-time World Indoor Champion at 3,000 meters and as a five-time Irish National Champion.

His commitment and drive to compete in one of the most unforgiving sports there is translated to other pursuits, particularly business. After earning degrees in engineering, business and law, he joined Alltel following his retirement from competitive running. He eventually rose to chief commercial officer after adeptly leading sales, marketing and customer service efforts for the Little Rock-based wireless carrier.

Many people who worked for the company knew of the “O’Mara Runs,” in which he and a group of fellow hardcore runners would take off from the company headquarters building for a jaunt that was equal parts exercise and alpha bonding. After Alltel was purchased by Verizon, O’Mara was out of a job, and it was during one such run with friends, the day after Version showed him the door, that he experienced an odd hitch to his gait, nearly tripping himself several times on the route.

O’Mara shrugged it off for a time but, at last, got tested, first in Ireland and then at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, which ultimately handed down the diagnosis — not that he accepted it.

“Total disbelief,” he said. “I just understood it to be an old person’s disease. I was 48, I think, and it seemed way too young to get. I knew about Michael J. Fox, but he was an anomaly.

“The testing didn’t seem to be very robust. I felt too young. Nothing else was wrong with me. All those circumstances meant, to me, false diagnosis.”

O’Mara had more than a Superman complex; he had also moved into a CEO role running Atlantic Wireless, a company made up of former Alltel assets divested by Verizon in six states. He kept his diagnosis largely a secret and hid symptoms with medication, toughing out side effects away from others, effects that sometimes included full-body tremors. He endured for four years until the company sold to AT&T, at which time he let pragmatism overrule pride when it came to his condition.

However, accepting he had the disease and bowing to its limitations were two very different things. As Parkinson’s progressed, he fought back, undergoing next-level treatment, including brain surgery and vocal chord augmentation, to stem loss of function. He has also tackled many things many people in their prime could not do, such as hiking Machu Picchu and journeying to Antarctica after his hero, Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton, post diagnosis. He even dreams of taking a dogsled to the last degree before the North Pole.

He has turned his considerable resolve to helping others with the disease, the ranks of which now include former NFL quarterback Brett Favre, by raising money through research. That brings the story back to Stack Don’t Crack, which he hopes will eventually grow to create a financial windfall akin to what the Ice Bucket Challenge did a few years back for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

He is also planning for the expanded second edition of his book, Bend, Don’t Break, released last year. A clear-eyed, pull-no-punches account of life before and after his diagnosis, he hopes his story inspires others to stay in the fight of life, no matter how long the race.

O’Mara is working on a second edition of his book, Bend, Don’t Break

“I would say that my goals were fairly self-centered before I got this disease,” he said. “Wanted to run faster, win more often, successful business — all about me, me, me. It’s not about me anymore. It’s about me trying to help a community of people who suffer. It’s a disease where you just get shut off to the side. You’re ignored. I’m suffering with that in Parkinson’s, too, so I feel now I need to speak for others.”

Irish culture is marked by several things, including a gift for lyrical storytelling and a taste for tragedy. Author Gillian O’Brien explained that duality, a commingling of Irish merriment and misery that runs to the bone.

“There’s no escaping the fact that Irish history is full of darkness, and perhaps it’s this history which encourages a fascination with the morbid, the melancholic, the miserable, the maudlin,” she wrote, “but if we took out all the melancholia, how would we navigate conversations with friends, family and strangers? There’d be long silences, and there’s nothing the Irish fear more than silence.

“Misery provides our conversational staging posts, our pillars of chat. … We delight in black humour and take pleasure in the laughter that often comes as a side order with grief.”

If that is true, then it solidifies O’Mara as a modern Irish legend of the highest order: the man who outran the world, amassed a fortune, and brought it all home by spitting in the eye of a disease that deigns to take everything from him but his humor and his spirit.

“Well, to me it’s more about you remember the regrets and the failures more than you do success,” he said. “Any runner or swimmer I’ve ever spoken to, they can recount the failure quicker than anything, but the failures make you who you are. I contend you learn nothing from success except how to celebrate. The failures, you go back, recalibrate, reassess, work harder, change what you’re doing. You learn more from failure.

“People say things like, ‘You were chosen because you could take [Parkinson’s],’ or that kind of thing, but I have found it has made me a different person, not a better person. I think I’ve slowed down, and I’ve smelled the roses a lot more. It hasn’t made me bitter. I would say, strangely, that if I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. Parkinson's is a life sentence, but it’s not a death sentence, you know? Fighting on a day-to-day basis is what I am now.”

To learn more about Stack Don’t Crack, visit stackdontcrack.com.

Rehabilitative

When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area.

When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area.

We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out.

We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out.

Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by certified activity directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.

Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by Certified Activity Directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.

To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.

To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.

We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient but the entire family.

We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient, but the entire family.

MURDER MYSTERY

The Boy Onli ne

The boy online was so cute. Pictured in the chat room profile was 17-year-old Dave Fagan, a long-haired surfer from San Diego, or so he said. Actually, he was a 47-yearold married father of two. David Fuller was also a predator; his chosen prey being a 12-year-old Arkansas girl.

Band, choir, school activities — the girl from Holland was good at lots of things, but she was the best at bringing the smiles. Kacie Woody was smart, too, excelling in advanced classes, though a bit precocious in a way fathers fear. Kacie wanted her very own boyfriend. Her dad, Rick, a Greenbrier police officer, knew she was online chatting with boys, but, hey, she was home safe and the boys online — well, they were out there somewhere. Better than wolves at the front door.

Yet there was a wolf at the door — or would be very soon. The child of upper middle class Mormon parents, Fuller had pushed back against their expectations, defiantly dropping out of school and spending his 20s playing guitar at one gig after another. In his early 30s, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and over time, the anger once masked by youthful partying began resurfacing. By 2002, the year this story unfolded, his wife was done. Their divorce came through at the end of the year.

By SARAH RUSSELL

His first arrest was for assaulting her — she was stunned that he had done that to her — and then there was a second arrest for exposing himself to two young girls. A report previously filed with California Child Protective Services had alleged Fuller was coercing his 7-year-old daughter into showering with him. In the child’s presence, he had adamantly denied it, but now his wife was certain a monster was emerging from her husband of almost 20 years.

Fuller’s employer cut ties with him, as well, after he was caught with porn at work. His appetite uncurbed, he pivoted in a way that would conceal his identity, and for the next several years, “Dave Fagan” trolled chat rooms created for teenagers. On Yahoo, in a Christian chat room, he found Kacie.

One sick ruse Fuller — aka Fagan — told Kacie was he had an aunt in Arkansas who was comatose due to a car wreck. It was a lie, but it served to create a special bond with the girl, whose own mother had died in a crash when she was 7. In a self-comforting sort of way, she told others her mama was an angel that she would someday join in heaven.

In mid-2002, Fuller said he turned 18, which, her father insisted, was too old for him to be messaging her. Kacie stopped the online chats, but with a wink, she and “Fagan” began calling instead. The predator continued to build trust with her by befriending some other kids online who were Kacie’s local friends.

For her part, Kacie had begun messaging Scott, a 14-year-old football player whose last name has been kept anonymous. On Oct. 3, Kacie jubilantly messaged they were officially a couple, describing him as “the sweetest, cutest, smartest, funniest, sexiest guy ever.” “Fagan” was chill, but Fuller then began to cross boundaries literally and figuratively. Barely a week later, on Friday, Oct. 11, Fuller flew into Little Rock.

On Saturday, Kacie was crowned seventh grade queen of Greenbrier

Kacie Woody

Middle School’s Fall Festival. The following week, she blew out 13 candles on her birthday cake. Still in Arkansas, Fuller made no attempt to contact her, nor did “Fagan” indicate he was anywhere but California.

Fuller made a second flight to Little Rock in early November. In California, he had been shopping — a gun, zip ties, chain, duct tape and chloroform. This trip, he rented the largest unit at Conway’s Guardsmart Storage, telling the manager he bought and sold vehicles in the region and would need a storage area sometimes. The manager did not much buy this guy’s story and made real sure his credit card was good.

The first Tuesday in December started as a mean, cold day, but things got hot fast at school when Kacie’s close friend, Samantha Mann, saw Scott’s picture on her locker door. Yes, Kacie admitted, she gave him her address so he could mail it to her. Though Samantha persistently warned her about those online types, in Kacie’s mind, they all were just friends, local and online.

Exasperated, Samantha went to the counselor’s office, hoping maybe an adult could get through to her friend. Kacie was summoned to the office, where she fibbed, assuring the counselor her dad knew everything she did, and no, of course, she would never meet in person anyone she met online.

The dust-up between the girls was over and quickly forgotten. Toward the end of the school day, Kacie asked Samantha and then two other girls if she could spend the night. It was a school night, however, and they all said no. Kacie played off any concerns, ending the day with a hug for each of them. It was Dec. 3, 2002, the day she would meet with someone she had met online.

The missing child alert hit before dawn. Close to midnight, her brother came home to find her gone. Immediately released from duty, her father was quickly joined in the search by officers from multiple agencies.

The first slight lift of the door drew fire, a single gunshot. When law enforcement made safe entry, they found themselves facing the front of the van, the engine still running.

Fuller was located at the rear of the vehicle, dead on the concrete floor by his own hand. That was the shot they had heard.

The officer who opened the back of the van, finding Kacie, would later say the scene replayed in his mind every night he put his own daughter to bed. Fuller had chained Kacie’s wrists and ankles to the four corners of the van’s floor. The predator had taken his prey, killing her when his depravity was over. Based on the amount of chloroform in her body, it is believed that from the time of her abduction to her death, she never regained consciousness. It was the only mercy Fuller showed the child.

It started at the Woodys’ house, the last one on an unpaved rural road. There was no sign of forced entry and no immediate evidence of a crime, but despite the below-freezing weather, her coat was still there. Her damaged glasses, tossed aside, spoke for her, as did the limp of her distraught Yorkie. Finally, there were two names on a crumpled piece of paper in a wastebasket. One was Scott’s. The other was Dave Fagan’s.

In an affluent suburb of Atlanta, Scott’s parents were shocked by the FBI’s request to establish their son’s identity, as well as his whereabouts the previous night. Their son had an online relationship with a missing girl, agents informed the stunned couple, and now that girl was the subject of a national manhunt.

Scott was not hiding. Concerned for Kacie’s safety, he had spent the night messaging and emailing her. As Kacie’s chat messages confirmed, she had suddenly dropped off while messaging him. Scott said she was on the phone comforting “Fagan,” who said he was in Arkansas, his family not expecting his aunt to survive the night.

Arkansas law enforcement dug in, one team locating a Buick Regal with California plates parked at Motel 6 in Conway. It did not belong to anyone named “Fagan” the manager said. David Fuller was the name. He was an older guy who had gotten really nasty because they were having trouble with their internet connection.

The guy had checked in the day before and reserved the room for a week. Authorities found his possessions in the room, but clearly, he had not spent the night. Now his credit card number became a bloodhound for officers, who traced it to the rental of a minivan and a storage unit — Unit 313 — big enough for any sized vehicle.

Cautiously approaching, officers heard the sound of a radio coming from within the unit. Had Fuller learned a massive effort was on to find Kacie? The unlocked door signaled he might now be inside.

Among law enforcement nationwide, Kacie’s murder is credited with being the case that brought law enforcement’s attention to this new form of predator, the online variety. Much was learned from the case that has gone to saving others, but stranger danger remains as close as the computer screen.

In Fuller’s California apartment, the FBI found multiple names, pictures, phone numbers and addresses. They included local Arkansas kids, as well as girls across the country who also thought Fagan was just a cute boy online. One item made clear who his favorite was — a framed collage of photos of Kacie.

At this very moment, there are close to half a million predators online whose appetite drives them to find someone’s sweet child, who could very well become an angel instead of a girlfriend. Beware the boy online.

Kacie just wanted a boyfriend of her very own, and even being in a Christian chat room for teens did not protect her. At this very moment, there are close to half a million predators online whose appetite drives them to find someone’s sweet child, who could very well become an angel instead of a girlfriend. Beware the boy online.

David Fuller

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Pirates

By Joe David Rice

Mention the word “pirates” to acquaintances, and one might get a variety of reactions. The older folks will likely think of Henry Morgan, Jean Lafitte or Blackbeard — and a few die-hard baseball fans might bring up the Pittsburgh Pirates. The younger ones may note Captain Hook from Peter Pan or, more likely, Johnny Depp’s swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow from Hollywood’s Pirates of the Caribbean series.

Few realize that back in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, bands of pirates regularly terrorized Arkansas’s East Coast (i.e., the Mississippi River). In those days, the Mississippi River was an international waterway, and law enforcement was pretty spotty. As boat traffic increased on the river in the late 1790s, bloodthirsty buccaneers frequently attacked crews manning the flatboats and keelboats headed downstream.

The most notorious of the lot was Samuel Mason, a Revolutionary War hero gone bad. He and his band of desperados began their crime spree along the lower Ohio River and operated from southern Illinois for several years before vigilantes forced them to seek refuge further south in the wilder regions of the Mississippi River valley. They continued their evil ways, hiding in the remote backwaters or among the river’s islands, before raiding unsuspecting vessels.

[throw] them in the bottom of the water, and after to plunder the flat boat … [and] then burn the flat boat.” The stolen loot — ranging from farm produce to whiskey to livestock to manufactured goods — would then be sold to unscrupulous merchants along the river for a fraction of its retail value.

When authorities eventually announced a lucrative reward for his capture, Mason and his clan decided to lay low and rented a house in what is now northeastern Arkansas. Neighbors soon became suspicious of the secretive and highly armed group and informed the Spanish officials, who arrested Mason and his gang. Shortly thereafter, a three-day hearing in nearby New Madrid, Missouri, ended with the conclusion that Mason was indeed the nasty pirate. The fact that he had $7,163 in bank notes in his possession — a tidy sum worth about $150,000 today — was a bit out of the ordinary, and so was the discovery of 20 human scalps in his luggage.

A squad of armed guards then transported Mason to New Orleans for the next round of legal maneuverings. The Spanish governor reviewed the case, determined that Mason’s alleged criminal acts had occurred on the east bank of the Mississippi (i.e., the American side), and ordered that Mason and his henchmen be turned over to American representatives in Mississippi Territory.

Mason’s M.O. remained fairly routine. According to the 1803 testimony of one of his cohorts in crime, the gang would “… stop a few flat boats and beat to death the master of the flat boat — and

What happened next remains a mystery. One legend holds that Mason overpowered his guards and escaped, perhaps fleeing to Canada. Another suggests that a pair of his cohorts, unable to ignore that big bounty, killed their leader and presented his head to authorities for the reward — but after a couple of travelers identified them as robbers and murderers, the two were tried, convicted and hung in short order.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, wrote Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state’s lesser-known aspects. Rice’s goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people — a story to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.

Each month, AY About You will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give readers a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase on Amazon and at the University of Arkansas Press.

Samuel Mason

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