AY About You September 2025

we the future of cancer care

As executive director of the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation and vice chair of the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Board of Advisors, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable work happening every day at Arkansas’ leading cancer research and treatment center. From groundbreaking research to the most advanced treatment, the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute saves lives across our state.

That’s why I’m honored to serve as chair of the 2025 Gala for Life. I’m also excited to announce that this year, the Walker Foundation will be providing a 1:1 match of donations and sponsorships to establish the Nancy Jo Smith Endowment for Community Engagement and Patient Navigation. Jo will receive the Pat and Willard Walker Tribute Award and this new fund will honor her legacy by supporting vital community outreach and patient care programs.

The Walker family’s commitment to this mission began in the 1980s. Today, I’m proud to continue that legacy — and invite you to join me in supporting Arkansas’ cancer center.

Mandy Macke Chair, 2025 Gala for Life

INNOVATIVE HOME

Photo by Ryan Parker.

Photo by Jamie Lee

There’s so much to explore in Searcy! From downtown events and foodie approved eats to holiday lights and a high quality of life, our “big small town” is your perfect place for a weekend – or a lifetime. Get started at experiencesearcy.com today.

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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.

Jane Colclasure is a Little Rock native with more than 25 years of experience in product, architectural, and home and garden photography. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado and an associate’s degree from the Colorado Institute of Art.

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Please recycle this magazine.

Research tells us the most effective learning happens through play and positive interactions with family and educators.

Your family creates positive interactions when you hold your child and talk to them, play and read to them. When you focus your attention on your child, you help them learn and show them how important they are to you.

Quality early care and education uses research-based curriculum to help your child learn. Every activity is planned for learning.

Positive interactions and learning through play

“How is math play?” you ask. The answer is in the approach. Colors, shapes and sizes are learned through song and with toys.

Puzzles and blocks are tools for learning how things are different or the same. Differences and how things fit together are math concepts. See how easily it starts!

Better Beginnings is administered by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Learning math concepts is a natural process in quality early care and education.

Find out how it works.

Written by Kelli Hilburn, Early Childhood Program Supervisor

Words like big, small, tall, short, heavy and light lead to measuring. Using numbers to explain measurements helps to give meaning to numbers. Then comes counting!

Quality early learning lays the foundation for understanding the more complex concepts of math and other subjects to come. Your child’s quality early learning environment

Your child should enjoy warm, positive interactions with other children and staff. Quality early care teachers respond to your

Scan the code to find your early care and education partner at Better Beginnings.

child’s needs. They play with, talk to and read to the children in their care much like you do at home. The facility provides active play areas indoors and outdoors, and areas for quiet play and rest.

Interactions between your child and their teachers lead to a desire to learn more.

Be part of the experience. Ask your child’s teacher what they learned today and how you can extend the learning at home.

Find your quality early care and education partner

Click the orange banner at ARBetterBeginnings.com to find star-rated quality early care and education providers who can help your child start school with confidence.

The first five years build the foundation for your child’s future. Give your child the best start with Better Beginnings quality early care and education providers.

Where the Heart Is

At long last, the heat is starting to wane, the days are getting shorter, and many people’s favorite time of year is here. It’s fall, y’all.

Every season of the year in Arkansas offers its own charm and beauty, and the autumn months to come might just be the best. Dazzling colors, crisp evenings and Friday-night lights are all for the asking in the Natural State, and I, for one, am down for all of it.

This issue of AY About You has been designed to provide you, dear reader, with plenty to take in while you are relaxing this month. We start with my recent visit to one of the most amazing places in all of Arkansas — Eureka Springs. Words can barely describe the range of things to do in the one-of-a-kind mountain hamlet, from outdoor attractions and nightlife to shopping and dining. Read my article to learn what is happening, and use the accompanying list of attractions to create your own unforgettable visit.

September is also our Home Issue, which spotlights the place we all know and love best. If you are like me, your home is a sanctuary, a place to escape the hustle and demands of the world, and we bring you everything you need to make your current home its best — or even find a new one that matches your dreams.

Every issue, AY About You profiles a nonprofit doing important work, and this month, we have two for the animal lovers out there. Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs work every day to give animals a better life, from kittens to tigers. Read all about their impressive missions.

All that plus food, music, upcoming attractions and much, much more can be found in this edition. We hope you enjoy it as we cross the threshold into autumn in Arkansas.

Thanks for reading. Drop us a line, and let us know what you are up to this month!

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com

/ heatherbaker_ar

Heather Baker and husband Ryan Parker with SUP OUTFITTERS. (Photo by Dylan Buyskes)

WHERE GREAT SMILES

Providing the Best in Dental Care for Families throughout Little Rock and Stuttgart

Since 2000, our team has been 100% focused on your oral health. We offer our patients the very best that dentistry has to offer through advanced technologies and procedures. We provide personalized dental care with compassion and skill in order to provide a great treatment experience.

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READER FEEDBACK INSTAGRAM

AY MEDIA GROUP DOMINATES JOURNALISM AWARDS

Congrats and keep rocking it! Proud to know you.

Janell Mason, CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities

Wow. That’s so impressive. As an Arkansan and a journalist at heart, I’m so happy for you and for our community. You do indeed provide some wonderful work. You make us all shine and proud.

Erin Taylor, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Sowell Management

Thank you for sharing this exciting news, Heather! It’s fantastic to hear about AY Media Group’s well-deserved recognition and continued success in the journalism awards. The dedication and talent of your team are clearly evident in the quality of your publications, and it’s inspiring to see your commitment to informing and empowering readers across Arkansas. We appreciate you keeping us updated on these impressive achievements.

Courtney Wellborn, General Manager, Cache Restaurant

AY’S BEST HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS:

DR. HEATHER OWENS, WOMEN FIRST GYNECOLOGY & WELLNESS CLINIC

This is a fantastic physician!

Jill McCollum Flaxman

BIG BAD BREAKFAST COMING TO CONWAY THIS FALL Yay!!! Conway needs more breakfast/brunch places!

Linda Jones-Fraser

BAJA GRILL IN LITTLE ROCK TO REMAIN OPEN AFTER ALL

We love to hear this!!!

Meghan Pectol

AY’S BEST HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS:

DR. ERIC WRIGHT, CHANGE FOR BETTER

He’s a great surgeon!

Carrie Jarvis Rhone

FACES OF HOT SPRINGS:

BATHHOUSE SOAPERY & CALDARIUM AND VILLAINESS ALCHEMY

Absolutely my favorite store in downtown Hot Springs.

Shelly Joyner

Beignets & Brew expands into Arkansas market, bringing sweet treats to the Natural State

Jay Howard and Mark Martin debut McNelly Farms luxury retreat

Big Bad Breakfast coming to Conway this fall

Arkansas State Fair reveals 2025 opening weekend concert lineup

Tamalcalli coming to west Little Rock

Roller derby fans, mark your calendars: Rock Town Roller Derby is bringing the second annual ArkanBrawl Roller Derby Tournament to the Hot Springs Convention Center Sept. 13.

(Photo courtesy of Steven Davis Photography)

Joe Nichols to headline Searcy’s Get Down Downtown Festival Sept. 27.

(Photo courtesy of Pugh Communications.)

Local Luminary: Coach Tim Glancy, mentor for generations of Arkansas students

5Top

you just can't miss!

RED IN THE ROCK TAILGATE

Sept. 4

Park Plaza Mall — Little Rock

Celebrate the showdown between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Arkansas State Red Wolves with a rocking good time. This tailgate party will be held indoors and out of the heat. Bring friends, fans and team spirit!

SPA-CON

Sept. 19-21

Hot Springs Convention Center — Hot Springs

This multigenre entertainment and comic convention goes beyond comic books, sci-fi and fantasy to include pop culture and entertainment elements spanning virtually all genres, from manga and web comics to toys, action figures and collectible card games.

BOLO BASH GOLF TOURNAMENT

Sept. 15 & 16

Chenal Country Club — Little Rock

Pack a putter and come out to the Bolo Bash Golf Tournament. All proceeds support Baptist Health College Little Rock. The day will feature a lunch buffet, contests, prizes and a special gift for each participant.

A NIGHT IN VEGAS

Sept. 19

The Hall — Little Rock

Join AY About You ’s very own Heather Baker as she emcees a high-rolling, fun-filled night. The event will feature live casino tables, signature cocktails, auctions, music and more. All the proceeds will benefit families served by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana.

DOWNTOWN FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL

Sept. 21

The 30 Crossing Greenspace — Little Rock

Do not miss this day filled with delicious food served up by more than 90 Arkansas food trucks. The event, which goes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will also feature music, vendors and drinks.

home Superior CRAFTSMANSHIP MADE EASY

Southern Interiors in Sherwood simplifies services for new builds, remodels

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos courtesy of SOUTHERN INTERIORS

Having started in the construction supply industry at age 16, Brian Hagewood, founder of Southern Interiors, has spent a career in the business of helping customers beautify and improve their homes. From his first job working in a warehouse as a teen to the launch of his Sherwood-based company, Hagewood has achieved success by sticking to some inviolate principles of business: delivering the most value, the best products and the highest in customer service to his loyal and wide-ranging clientele.

“You know, we just keep it pretty simple,” he said of his business philosophy. “People buy from who they trust and who they like. I’ve always told my employees that we’re not selling anything. We’re honestly here to work with people, keep them within their budget and offer them sound advice.”

In an era when building products and home components have become grossly commoditized, Southern Interiors employs a refreshingly throwback approach to fulfilling customers’ needs in quality flooring and floor coverings, as well as other products and services throughout the house.

“Over the years we’ve grown and expanded our business,” Hagewood said. “We now have our own 8,000-square-foot CNC stone fabrication shop for countertops and we exclusively fabricate our own custom quartz shower pans for our all-custom showers. We have our own custom cabinetry shop right at our location where we build cabinets to the customer’s exact specifications. We also have our own glass and mirror department to go along with our core business of flooring and blinds.”

The company’s experienced and conscientious staff also walks clients through the design process for kitchens and bathrooms, helping homeowners envision the finished product before the first component goes in.

“Building a house or going through a remodel can be so overwhelming when you start from scratch, especially if you’ve never been through it before,” he said. “My philosophy is to provide

FLOORING

a true one-stop shopping experience, and that model has worked really, really well for us.”

Hagewood began his career by working as manual labor in a flooring warehouse and working his way up into sales and other roles. He launched Southern Interiors at age 27 after noticing how much customer service was lacking in the industry in the local marketplace. By that time, he had garnered such a reputation for fair dealing and expertise that many clients followed him to his new venture, getting Southern Interiors off to a fast start.

“I was fortunate in that I had a lot of relationships, and I had a lot of key accounts by the time I started my business,” he said. “It was a big risk to go out on my own, but I was blessed from day one to have that core clientele of those loyal customers. That gave me a leg up on someone who was just starting from scratch.”

The company expanded both headcount and square footage through the years, and today, Southern Interiors employs 22 and occupies about 30,000 square feet of showroom and fabrication space in Sherwood.

BEFORE

With a focus of providing quality, value and customer service, Southern Interiors in Sherwood works to be a one-stop shop for homebuilding and renovations.

The company’s comprehensive approach to its clients’ needs is something that sets it apart from competitors, Hagewood said. Years of refinement and tweaks have perfected the process, so much so that he has even applied his system to several side projects, the most recent of which was a complete remodel of a central Arkansas lake home a few years back. He sold it upon completion, and it is now in demand as a luxury Airbnb.

In fact, the Southern Interiors methodology is such a departure from the impersonal, big-box experience that new clients often need to be educated that there is a different,

Southern Interiors has expanded its products and services over the years and now boasts its own cabinet shop and many other inhouse services.

CABINETS

“I’ve always told my employees that we’re not selling anything. We’re honestly here to work with people, keep them within their budget and offer them sound advice.”

— Brian Hagewood, founder

CUSTOM BUILD

more enjoyable way of planning and executing a new build or remodel.

“I think one of the challenges of our business is there’s no other company in Arkansas that I know of that does everything that we do,” he said, “so for me, the hard part is the branding and the marketing side of things. There’s not another company where you as a homeowner can walk into a beautiful design center, pick everything out, from the floors to the countertops to the cabinets, and then that company builds and fabricates orders in-house and installs every part of your project.”

Hagewood said having control of every step of a job allows for tighter quality control and better management of timelines and budgets. It is a key element that sets the company apart in the construction and remodeling marketplace.

“In the past, we’ve subbed out our countertops and things like that, but we brought all that back in-house because it allows us to adhere to timelines and scheduling and quality better,” he said. “Everything about the customer experience is just elevated when there’s that unbroken process. We’re remodeling huge jobs in, like, 30 days not because we’re rushing or racing but because we are prepared and we are coordinated and we control every part of the process.”

When Hagewood says “every” part of the process, he is not exaggerating. Southern Interiors’ craftspeople create components from the ground up, cutting and polishing stone countertops to exacting customer specifications or producing custom-built cabinetry in the company’s well-equipped and technology-forward on-site shop. Employees then install the products according to the timeline dictated by the homeowner.

Getting his start in a flooring warehouse, founder Brian Hagewood had already cultivated a glowing reputation by the time he started Southern Interiors.

Hagewood said a comprehensive approach that provides for all its customers’ interior needs from selection to install helps set Southern Interiors apart.

“Start to finish, the process is seamless,” he said. “One day we’re building cabinets in-house. The next day we’re installing them, putting the countertops on. We’re not waiting for Bob up the street to come in and install; we’re doing everything.”

Southern Interiors’ value proposition makes the company a one-of-a-kind buying experience for homeowners, Hagewood said.

“I don’t really have competition when it comes to what we do and how we do it across so many different types of products and projects,” he said. “You know, there are other floor places, and there are other countertop places, and they do what they do, and that’s fine, but the downside of that is the homeowner goes to a cabinet place. Then they have to go to the flooring place, and then they have to go over here to a plumbing place. There’s no one place that serves all, especially with the expertise and experience we offer.

“I’m not putting anybody down; they are just not designed to do what we do, and they don’t have what we have. Our business has grown on the concept of being a place where people can truly walk in and getting everything done at once, and there’s nobody that can compete with us when it comes to that.”

“There’s not another company where you as a homeowner can walk into a beautiful design center, pick everything out, from the floors to the countertops to the cabinets, and then that company builds and fabricates orders in-house and installs every part of your project.”

— Brian Hagewood, founder

the of

ArT AutuMn

Neutral palettes a new trend for fall, but seasonal colors still have their place

By CHRIS NORWOOD, AIFD, PFCI, AAF

Photos courtesy of NORWOOD-DAY FLORAL CO.

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. Not only do the temperatures start to cool off, offering a refreshing change after the long, hot days of summer, but I really gravitate toward the traditional hues of fall.

An autumnal color scheme of maroon, orange, bittersweet, cantaloupe, deep peach and shades of green puts me in a joyous mood as thoughts turn toward fall entertaining.

Lately though, a new color palette has come to the forefront. Neutrals are becoming a favorite way for homeowners to decorate for fall. Whites, creams and ivories paired with chocolate and lighter shades of brown, along with various green tones, provide a sophisticated decorating style that can carry hosts all the way through Thanksgiving.

When it comes to flowers, chrysanthemums are an undisputed favorite this time of year. Not only do the hardy plants last throughout the season, but they are available in all the traditional autumn colors. Accent gold and orange varieties with pops of aubergine and eggplant, or create an alternative look with deep shades of purple punctuated by beautiful buttercream.

The bittersweet vine, with its stunning orange berries, makes for a wonderful embellishment. This is also the season when grasses, berries and materials with a clotted look, such as lotus pods, become popular. Another great option is dara, a burgundychocolate version of Queen Anne’s lace.

A wide variety of garden roses can be found this time of year, and antique green hydrangeas are a common addition to all kinds of arrangements. Look for sunflowers not only in traditional yellow hues but shades of orange and chocolate brown.

Pumpkins begin working their way into decorations around September, as well. Today’s choices go far beyond the big, orange pumpkins associated with Halloween jack-o’-lanterns, however. Gourds and what I call “ghost” pumpkins can be found in shades ranging from sage green to white.

This fall, I have been seeing lots of stacks of squatty, orange pumpkins — the kind Cinderella’s fairy godmother turned into a carriage — as well as groupings of squashes and gourds in all shapes and colors.

When designing centerpieces for fall, start with a base of a solid color. Cloth table runners can be used for the purpose, but another option is to use dried or silk tree branches to create the foundation for an arrangement. Long tables can be divided into thirds with taller arrangements on either side and shorter arrangements in the center or vice versa.

Some people prefer sparse arrangements, while others like their tables to look more filled in. In those cases, it helps to crisscross stacks of wheat down the table and work in some pumpkins for texture. Another option is to incorporate different kinds of candles to add height and variety.

For an effortless accent piece in any room, fill a wooden dough bowl with a messy assortment of pumpkins and gourds.

Fall wreaths remain a popular option for the front door. I like mine to be very full, like I just returned from a bountiful harvest. Some folks like to decorate with swags of wheat, fall leaves or other organic material. Others say it is not fall without mums or gourds lining the walkway.

A word about bright orange leaves that have been preserved with glycerin — the decorations tend to drip in humid weather, especially in Arkansas. I recommend more natural adornments, such as oak leaves or fresh herbs.

Decorations will likely be more muted this fall. Expect to see lots of beautiful neutrals and some color palettes that may not be as bright as usual. Bolder fall colors are being paired with muddy tones for a less vivid look. Oh, and do not forget to savor the sweet shades of brown offered by toffee and teddy bear roses.

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

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.

Home is one of the English language’s busier words. It serves as noun, verb, adverb and adjective.

Home is domicile, habitat and place of origin. Home is a final, ultimate position or objective — “I stayed home all day” — and it is necessary to distinguish the “home” office or the “home” team, for example.

Home is also used to describe the existence of action or occurrence in certain situations. The stray dog was homed. The missiles homed in on their target.

It is a busy little word, home. It is one of the innate concepts transcending human cultures — eat, drink, breathe, home.

Home is where the heart is.

Home serves as both physical refuge and abstract concept. Home itself is physical, of course. It is the place we lay our head each night, but it is also the place where we tuck away our hopes and dreams, where we are free to simply exist without outside influences or judgment.

Since the COVID-19 shutdown, the role of home has expanded. Americans converted their homes into offices, welcomed more guests and began investing more in their personal spaces.

Home is that one place where they have to take you in.

In this month’s “All About Homes” section, AY About You visits with builders, spotlights real estate agents and Realtors, speaks with mortgage lenders and title companies, and recognizes the 2025 “Innovative Home Award” winners, from gadgets and interior design to alarms and appliances.

AY’s Homes section this month has it all. Sit back and make AY your “home” this month as we feature the hardworking Arkansans whose work ensures our homes are the best versions of ourselves.

Home is where the Wi-Fi is free and connects automatically.

America’s residential housing market picture can be summed up in the words of the wellknown phrase, “Everything old is new again,” describing consumers’ recent preference for remodeling existing homes over building new ones.

“A lot of people these days are deciding they like their location, and they want to stay where they are,” said Keith Hardin, owner of KHC Design in Little Rock. “As a result, they are spending more to stay where they are and remodel.”

Between higher interest rates and lowerthan-normal inventory, virtually nothing in the real estate world is exactly a bargain right now, but as recent stats have shown, the

consumer’s appetite for established homes is still high and prices are commensurate with demand.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, existing home prices for the first six months of the year were up an average of 2.5 percent. While that was off considerably from the last six months of 2024’s average of nearly 4 percent, demand was enough to sustain prices well ahead of that for new homes. From July 2024 to June 2025, median price of new builds decreased every month but three.

The more modest increase in the price of existing homes may be signaling a levelling-off trend for the category, which has been red-hot for three of the past five years,

spurred by a combination of lower interest rates and stimulus money handed out by the government during COVID-19. To wit: Median prices jumped 9.3 percent in 2020, 19 percent in 2021 and 10 percent in 2022 before moderating last year.

The sustained higher sticker prices and interest rates currently in the 4 percent range — about double what it was in 2021 — have kept many existing homeowners staying put. According to NAHB, eight of the past 12 months saw existing home sales at or less than 4 million units nationally, a mark seen in only one other month in the past decade. In fact, between July 2020 and June 2021, median existing home sales never fell below 6 million units. Even during the period that

VS. New Home

Market conditions add new fuel to old debate

By DWAIN HEBDA

started the steep decline in sales volume — about midway through July 2021 to June 2022 — monthly units sold still never fell below 5 million.

“Homeowners have looked around and realized that they have a 2 or 3 or 4 percent mortgage and it doesn’t make financial sense to move,” Hardin said.

In almost direct correlation to the decline in existing home sales, remodeling spending has skyrocketed. Earlier this spring, the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies reported the U.S. remodeling market has experienced “phenomenal” growth, with spending reaching unprecedented heights in recent years.

Per the report, total remodeling spend in 2020 jumped $40 billion over 2019, another

$53 billion in 2021 and then took a massive $115 billion leap in 2022 to $611 billion, roughly four times what was spent in 1995. Spending has remained above or is projected to exceed $600 billion through this year.

All that is good news for professionals like Hardin, who also builds luxury homes but is happy to have the remodeling work to balance out shifts in the market like what is being seen currently. He said the lengths to which homeowners are willing to go to reimagine their living spaces ranges from relatively routine to spectacular overhauls.

“Some people are even moving out, and we’re completely redoing their houses all the way down to the studs plus rearranging the design,” Hardin said. “That’s one thing that many people

don’t understand; you can gut your entire house and redesign the whole interior of your house without tearing the house down. You can basically rework all your rooms inside or the majority of them to get a more open floor plan.

“Sometimes people are so stuck in what they have it is hard to envision what the interior could look like because they don’t realize they can move almost any wall they want. Now you’ve got to spend some money to do that, but it can be done.”

The boom in home remodeling is not just good for professionals such as Hardin, of course, but also for firms that supply the industry with various materials and components, be it to contractors or a notunsubstantial group of do-it-yourselfers.

“Sometimes people are so stuck in what they have it is hard to envision what the interior could look like because they don’t realize they can move almost any wall they want. Now you’ve got to spend some money to do that, but it can be done.”

- Keith Hardin

Luxury homes are still in demand, keeping builders like Bree Calley busy.

(Photo provided by BKC Home Builders.)

According to HomePros Verified, the average U.S. homeowner spends more than $7,500 on home improvement, led by millennials. Nearly half of people surveyed by the site said they were planning a home improvement project in 2025, about 6 in 10 hiring a professional to do the work. Millennials are the exception at nearly 3 out of 4 do-it-yourselfers in 2024 falling into the age group. Also of note, of those doing the work themselves, nearly 6 in 10 are women.

Barrett Mayo, general manager at the family-owned Natural State Wholesale in Cabot, said the business has benefited from the trend by opening a retail location last year to augment the wholesale trade upon which it built its reputation. Despite being open for a very short time, the new showroom had been buzzing.

“We primarily serve central Arkansas from Hot Springs to Searcy, but we’ve had people come from all over, honestly,” he said. “Earlier this week, I sold to some people from Mississippi, and we recently had some people in here from Oklahoma.”

Natural State deals in vanities and countertops, freestanding bathtubs, shower bases, and all manner of fixtures and components for the kitchen and bathroom. The store also prides itself on its selection of tile, laminate, hardwood and luxury vinyl flooring, plus wall tile and mosaics, sourced and bought strategically to give customers the best possible price. Judging by the stream of clients, the strategy is working.

“I mean, they come with trailers and get filled up on stuff because we have such good prices,” Mayo said. “Even coming all this way with a trailer, they still end up saving money at the end of it.”

Of course, a portion of Natural State’s clientele are residential homebuilders which, despite challenging market conditions, obviously have not ceased operations entirely. Even though the first half of this year has been 6 percent off 2024’s pace, the industry is still 16 percent above pre-pandemic levels, Zillow states.

Plus, the national overall decline is not universal across all metros and markets. Jacksonville, Fla., San Antonio, Boston, Denver and St. Louis are down the most, respectively, while Kansas City, Orlando, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Oklahoma City have been gaining steam.

The picture at the granular level is even more mixed when differentiating among locations and types of residential construction.

Bree Calley, owner of BKC Home Builders in Hot Springs, is a sought-after home builder who specializes in luxury lakefront lots and other high-end estates. He said 2025 started out a little off from 2024 but not by much, and judging from his workload of late, things have more than leveled out.

“We had a little bit of a lull after the first of the year, but now we’re picking back up, and we are as busy as we were last year,” he said. “We’ve got several clients that we’re about to build homes for, people who bought big acreages.”

Calley said not only is new business presenting itself, but projects are closer to business as usual. Many of the previous issues to be dealt with have improved, while what were feared to be some major new problems never materialized to begin with.

“The issues we had been dealing with we aren’t dealing with anymore,” he said. “We’re not waiting on windows. We’re not waiting on appliances. Tariffs kind of slowed us down a little bit, but really, we haven’t seen it to the level that everybody was worried and scared about.”

Such is not to say that Arkansas residential home building is an easy gig — far from it. Calley said labor and availability of quality subcontractors is as tenuous as ever, which is why he goes out of his way to maintain good relationships with quality craftspeople.

“Without good subs, we don’t have a company,” he said. “On these lake projects especially, we can build the biggest, prettiest house but without taking the landscaping to the next level, you really miss the mark on these homes, so I’ve got a great landscaper I’m working with right now, and I work with him because he knows the work we expect, and they can take on even really big projects, like what we have going now, and I know he’ll have the guys that’ll stay after hours and be artistic in their work.

“That kind of craftsmanship is a really big thing to have, and in fact, it is the biggest thing to the success of any project, which is why we take really, really good care of our subcontractors.”

home

MoneyTalks Talks

Mortgage rates stay higher, but not everyone is suffering

By DWAIN HEBDA

The headlines related to mortgage lending have been dour in 2025 as the White House and Federal Reserve spar over lowering interest rates. As of this writing, The Fed maintained rates at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent despite calls from President Donald Trump to lower rates in the interest of spurring the economy.

While higher interest rates are categorically bad for home lending, making borrowed money more expensive, the news from the front lines is not all negative. In fact, some mortgage lenders are decidedly — and surprisingly — upbeat.

“Regardless of what you might hear in the news that it’s all doom and gloom and people are not buying, we’re not really experiencing that at all,” said Michael Sparks, mortgage loan manager and senior vice president at Arvest. “In fact, we’re up about 23 percent from where we were last year.”

Sparks said the rationale for the unexpectedly brisk level of lending can be attributed to the somewhat counterintuitive nature of the current market. He said current rates are far more in line with history than the 2.77 percent low achieved during the first Trump administration. That number was artificially impacted by COVID-19 as one attempt to keep the economy from tanking.

In fact, borrowers should arguably be jubilant at the current rate, given mortgage rate trendlines going back decades and for the fact that rates hit a 20-year high of 7.09 percent during former President Joe Biden’s term in office, Newsweek reported.

“I think the perception out there of ‘normal’ needs to be talked about,” Sparks said. “I’ve been in this industry since 1998, and what we’ve experienced over the last five to 10 years is actually not normal. If you go back even to the 2008 time period, rates were in the mid 6s and prior to that, they were even higher.

“So when you look at a longer spectrum of time, where we sit today regarding interest rates is very normal relative to history, where what we’re coming out of is not.”

Within the spike in year-over-year business, Sparks said Arvest is seeing a high number of first-time homebuyers.

“There’s a lot of factors that go into that,” he said. “The average cost of rent’s going up, and there’s really not a lot of alternatives when you talk about housing — you’re either renting or you’re buying. People have different reasons for doing either one, but I think that’s why we see a lot of first-time homebuyers deciding that home ownership is the right path.”

In assessing current market practices in mortgage lending, Sparks said customization is key.

“You know, products have evolved significantly over time to meet the broader need of a more diverse range of home-buyer,” he said. “Lenders and investors recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach really doesn’t work in today’s market. For example, there are more options now than ever before for the first-time homebuyer as far as down payment assistance and closing cost assistance. I think there’s a stigma out there that says you have to have 20 percent down payment in order own a home, and that’s just simply not true.

“There are also more options for nontraditional credit borrowers out there to obtain financing. Again, there’s a stigma that says you have to have perfect credit to become a homeowner, and that is also not true.”

“So when you look at a longer spectrum of time, where we sit today regarding interest rates is very normal relative to history, where what we’re coming out of is not.”

- Michael Sparks, Arvest

Michael Sparks

“I think it’s a generational thing, but I don’t think [in-person attention] is ever going to go away.”

- Vernon Scott, Citizens Bank

The picture is not all rosy, since there are serious challenges in the current housing market besides interest rates. Vernon Scott, president and chief lending officer at Citizens Bank, described demand as “muted” for more reasons than just financing.

“It’s across the board,” he said. “I think that’s driven by the interest rates being kind of high for the last year or two, but home prices are also at a record high. We’re still seeing the higher-end, jumbo side of things still being fairly active, but in general, I would say demand is somewhat muted because of prices and rates.”

Scott said one thing that has helped the situation is builders taking an active role in helping buyers leverage various strategies to reduce the interest rate on a home loan.

“Builders out there are more willing to provide incentives,” he said. “Borrowers are more interested in buying down rates by paying extra points. We’re seeing builders come in and be willing to help buyers do that, something that’s happened more since interest rates have increased.”

The current market is also influencing which mortgage lenders prospective homebuyers are choosing to do business with as they sniff out excess fees and other costs that add to a transaction that is already more expensive.

“I think one of the most important things [in choosing a mortgage lender] is to not just look at the rate,” Scott said. “There’s more to it than that. You really need to look at all the terms, look at the fees and really understand what you’re getting.

“I think a lot of people go online and they just kind of do a mortgage calculator and say, ‘OK, here’s where I’m going to be. Here’s what my payment looks like,’ not thinking about the impact of taxes and insurance. We’ve seen insurance costs skyrocket, you know, because values are up, taxes are up. Understanding the full cost and the full payment that goes into that mortgage is very important.”

Another thing the current market is seeing is increased technology to help keep the process moving quickly. Scott said Citizens Bank is equally adept at digital and face-to-face interactions at the customers’ preference.

“I think it’s a generational thing, but I don’t think [in-person attention] is ever going to go away,” he said. “Your larger transactions and your more affluent customers especially want to know who they’re dealing with. My kids will probably not care if they see anybody, but as you get into that older cohort and you get into the higher dollar transactions, that relationship always matters.”

Mounting competition for mortgage lending is another indication of the industry’s health. Kevin Bratcher and John Kerr are co-producing branch managers for Valor Home Loans, which entered Arkansas earlier this year. Both men are veterans of the mortgage lending business and opened the Colorado Springs-based company’s Little Rock office as a high-touch alternative to what they say is becoming an increasingly impersonal client experience.

“I’ve been in mortgage since 1997, and John’s been in the business since 2010,” Bratcher said. “A lot of people go with the lender they use, not necessarily the institution where they got their last loan. That’s the trust you build, and both John and I are really good about creating a relationship. It’s not a transaction; it’s truly a relationship. I want to go have a cold beer after work with you. A year after close, I still want to be your friend.”

Both men said while that point of differentiation is important, it pales in comparison to performance and expertise, and here again, they said Valor provides a tangible difference in the communities where it operates.

“Our first client here closed in 17 calendar days, and that’s normally a 30-day process,” Bratcher said. “I mean, it was absolutely incredible, and that just tells you how fine-tuned Valor Home Loans is from start to finish. Clients want us to make it as stress free as absolutely possible, and honestly, everybody here shares that same goal.”

Other things the duo said customers should look for when shopping for a mortgage lender is diversity of lending products to match a variety of transactions and a mastery of technology that makes both paperwork and processes more streamlined and efficient.

“Decades ago, when we both first got into business, we exclusively did face-to-face transactions, and now it’s almost all a web-based type of application process,” Kerr said. “With [artificial intelligence] coming out, I think it’s going to have a big impact for our market. AI is becoming more and more real, and as people learn how to operate it, it will become more intelligible and understandable.”

“A lot of people go with the lender they use, not necessarily the institution where they got their last loan.”

- Kevin Bratcher, Valor Home Loans,

“AI is becoming more and more real, and as people learn how to operate it, it will become more intelligible and understandable.”

- John Kerr, Valor Home Loans

Vernon Scott

Kevin Bratcher

John Kerr

First National Title Co. Strengthens Cyber Fraud Protections for Clients

Buying or selling real estate is often the largest financial transaction most people make, which is exactly why it has become a prime target for cybercriminals. First National Title Co. is stepping up to meet that challenge, offering new tools and protections to safeguard clients’ funds, data and property.

Enhanced Owner’s Policy Available

To combat rising threats like forged deeds and seller impersonation, First National Title Co. now offers an enhanced owner’s policy that includes:

• 32 additional coverages beyond the standard policy

• Protection after the closing date in case something happens down the line

• Coverage for forgery and fraud

• Coverage that can increase with property value over time

BENTONVILLE 479-464-4995

EUREKA SPRINGS 479-253-5080

HARRISON 870-204-6890

FAYETTEVILLE 479-695-6100

HARRISON 870-391-8012

JASPER 870-446-2244

MOUNTAIN HOME 870-425-2264

MARSHALL 870-448-5450

GREERS FERRY 501-825-6800

FORT

SMITH 479-783-7793

RUSSELLVILLE 479-968-7454

DANVILLE 479-495-2281

GREENBRIER 501-679-0600

ARKADELPHIA 870-246-2821

• Survey-related protections — often without requiring a survey

All of this is available for just a 10 percent increase in policy cost.

Protecting Clients at Every Step

The company has also taken several additional measures to defend against fraud and identity theft during real estate transactions:

• Closing Lock identity verification for wire transfers, backed by $2 million in coverage

• Cyber fraud insurance through Lloyds of London, offering $1 million in protection

• Positive Pay technology to prevent check fraud

• Advanced cybersecurity tools, including:

• Multifactor authentication

• Email encryption

• Continuous system monitoring

Educating and Empowering Clients

— Jim Pender

HEBER SPRINGS 501-365-1260

CONWAY 501-327-6723 501-932-2828

BENTON 501-315-5900

MALVERN 501-332-5767

“The bottom line is that First National Title Co. is doing everything possible to make sure your closing is smooth, secure and protected, now and well into the future.”

“We’re willing to spend the money and take the extra steps to protect our clients,” said Jim Pender, President and General Legal Counsel. “So far, we’ve been successful.”

First National Title Co. also prioritizes education and transparency throughout the process:

• Realtors receive fraud prevention training

• Clients receive warnings about wire fraud risks

• First National Title Co. never sends wire instructions by email or text

“As soon as we know someone is a client, we educate them,” Pender said. “It’s vital they know who they’re talking to before they send any confidential information.”

BRYANT 501-943-5260 CABOT 501-259-9003

NLR / SHERWOOD 501-819-0212

LITTLE ROCK 501-221-0101

SHERIDAN 870-942-8084

EL DORADO 870-863-6053

STUTTGART 870-455-1083

DEWITT 870-455-1081

OUR SERVICES

• Residential Closing

Escrow Services

•

•

AmyMarie and Chris Wright

The Guardians

TITLE COMPANIES PLAY CRUCIAL, UNDERAPPRECIATED ROLE IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

After untold hours surfing Zillow, fielding promising possibilities from one’s agent and touring countless properties to find

“the one,” closing time has finally come. While not quite as thrilling as the feeling of having a new house key in hand, securing the title to one’s new digs — ideally with a minimum amount of hiccups — is a key pillar in the homebuying experience. Sealing the deal can often seem complicated, if not downright opaque, to buyers and sellers alike.

“The biggest misconception people have about title and closing is that we are in control of the whole process,” said Brian Perry, owner and executive vice president at Pro Land Title. “Our role is to provide title insurance and facilitate the completion of the transaction through all parties involved.”

Closing can only occur once all parties have completed their roles, Perry said. That includes final lender approval, completed

inspections and full agreement on any contract terms, along with other details depending on the particular transaction at hand.

“The average consumer’s experience with a title company may involve a few emails [and] phone calls, along with about 30 minutes of signing documents necessary to secure the transaction, which I refer to as the ‘closing ceremony,’” said Billy Roehrenbeck, owner of Pulaski County Title. “The reality is that the average transaction involves more than 18 hours of processing. Some complicated commercial transactions may take a year or more to process.”

A successful closing depends heavily on trust and communication, making transparency key when working with a title company. Perry said he and his team are not there to judge, but they do need to know about any problems as early as possible to get a head start on solving them. Realtors and prospective homebuyers

“Our role is to provide title insurance and facilitate the completion of the transaction through all parties involved.”

— Brian Perry, Pro Land Title

By MAK MILLARD

can also be proactive when it comes to identifying and troubleshooting potential obstacles.

“When we research the history of a piece of property, we can’t see encroachments on real estate descriptions at a courthouse, and the only way we’re going to know about an encroachment or access issues in some cases is if they get a survey,” Jim Pender, owner, president and general legal counsel at First National Title Co. told AY About You previously. “I think a survey is well worth the money people pay so that they don’t have any issues with their neighbors once they close on the property.”

Another important consideration is one’s choice of title company. A customer’s first line of defense, Roehrenbeck said, is the quality of the title search being performed. It can be difficult to know where to turn, especially since, as Pender pointed out, “people might buy and sell a home or refinance a home once or twice in their lifetime, so they don’t have a recent history of hiring title companies.”

While Realtors or banks might have certain companies they work with frequently and can recommend, Perry said it is ultimately the consumer’s choice as to who they would like to accompany them through the closing process.

“If a title company is recommended by a bank or Realtor, make sure to know if the title company is financially sound enough to protect the customer in the event of a loss and has ample cybersecurity measures in place to ensure a secure transaction,” he said.

“Use a reputable and experienced title company,” Roehrenbeck added. “Obtain title insurance when you are buying real estate, and inquire if enhanced title policies are available

“The reality is that the average transaction involves more than 18 hours of processing. Some complicated commercial transactions may take a year or more to process.”

— Billy Roehrenbeck, Pulaski County Title

to provide additional coverage for future postpolicy matters such as title theft.”

Roehrenbeck also recommended looking for trade association membership, such as the Arkansas Land Title Association and American Land Title Association, as markers of quality. Member companies, in his experience, tend to be more informed about ever-evolving threats to the industry and consumers.

The average buyer’s lack of exposure to the ins and outs of title work combined with the rising tide of artificial intelligence and other technical innovations makes the closing window ripe for scams, fraud and dubious characters. Even individuals not looking to buy or sell at all can find themselves and their properties under threat.

“There’s another issue that’s arisen in the last couple years where people will look for unimproved property or a lake [house] or something that might be owned by someone who lives far away, and they will file a deed or put up a sign saying that property’s for sale,” Pender told AY previously. “They impersonate the seller … by filing a fraudulent deed that puts them in title, and they will try to sell it quickly for cash.”

First National Title Co. strives to nip shady paperwork in the bud and is constantly looking out for any signs of suspicious activity. The company might even send a letter to the previous owner to confirm they did, in fact, sell recently, especially for unimproved properties or other cases where the owner is not likely to be keeping a close eye on the parcel.

“As technology advances, so do the criminals perpetuating real estate fraud,” Perry said. “Most recently, we have seen an influx of attempted fake buyers [and] sellers, as well as identity theft, fake deeds, fake notaries, cyber scams and bad actors compromising email systems.”

As in other lucrative industries, cybersecurity is a crucial element of keeping all parties in the transaction safe. In addition to its inhouse fraud mitigation team working to protect those involved, Perry said Pro Land Title combats cyber-based threats proactively with

free educational sessions for industry partners across the state.

“[That] allows us to raise awareness of the growing threat facing our clients and [helps] protect the integrity of every transaction,” he said.

Education is also key at First National Title. Pender explained the importance of keeping customers aware of scams and following proper protocols to a T. While it is imperative title companies utilize encrypted communi-

importantly, the company stresses from the start that those instructions will not change at the last minute — so if a customer receives a fishy message later on about sending money elsewhere, they should call and raise the alarm right away.

“It may not be our fault that people’s money gets stolen, but it’s still our problem,” Pender said. “It’s the title industry’s problem that we have to protect people who are vulnerable and are not experienced in dealing with these issues.”

Efforts are being made both inside the industry and outside of it to keep pace with evolving scams. This year, the Arkansas legislature passed Act 752 with new regulations for deed recordings. The legislation limits who can record real estate documents, Roehrenbeck said, and requires identity verification for the party recording them.

“I think a survey is well worth the money people pay so that they don’t have any issues with their neighbors once they close on the property.”

— Jim Pender, First National Title Co.

cations, firewalls and similar safety measures, there is still the issue of the recipient’s email, which is frequently not equipped with the same robust protections.

“One of the things we talk to real estate companies about is that a lot of Realtors will use a free email service instead of using their broker’s email, and these Gmail-type email services are very hackable — sort of like putting all your private information on a postcard,” he said. “There’s a lot of things that go into trying to protect people’s money in these transactions, but it’s just a big education effort that we try to do.”

Doing business in person is a great way to cut down on potential entry points for criminals. Pender said if his company can hand clients a check instead of sending a wire or explaining wire instructions in real life rather than over email, “we’d love to do that.” Most

“Other states have proposed similar legislation,” he said. “In addition, the American Bar Association and the American Land Title Association have assembled committees to evaluate the losses and recommend legislation when appropriate.”

While many methods could be implemented to reduce fraud, Perry said, they will only make a real impact if they are embraced across the real estate industry as normal practice.

“Most importantly, work with a title company that takes fraud seriously, and understand how necessary our verification processes are,” he said. “They are in place to protect the consumer, not to cause additional steps. Stay informed about common scams, and try not to rush. The biggest defense is simply slowing down, paying attention when something feels ‘off’ and knowing how to spot red flags before it’s too late.”

Susan Perry, founder and owner

Brian Perry, co-owner

Brian Dwiggins, co-owner

AINNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS

Fortresses of the Future

INNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS 2025

home is many things to many people. For some, it is a retreat, a place of respite and a fortress against the demands and stresses of the outside world. For others, it is a family album, a place where couples nest and babies are born and raised, a living collage of a million snapshots in the life of a family.

2025

INNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS

For still others, owning a home is a statement of pride and accomplishment, of entering into membership of the American Dream, be it a modest starter model or the long-dreamed-for estate on a lake. Americans, largely descendants of pioneering stock seeking to better their station in life, have a deeper connection to their homes than other people. It might have something to do with the residual spirit that sparked as their ancestors came westward, hewing the first homes, farmsteads and settlements from the wilderness with their own two hands.

It might have something to do with the American system of government, an experiment unprecedented in human history, that defended rights of property and made all equal in the eyes of God and government in terms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (and home).

Whatever the reason, Americans have created, improved, defended and generally had a love affair with their homes for more than a quarter of a millennium. That spirit continues today with every new home built or old home brought back to life.

AY About You’s “Innovative Home Awards” were established to recognize those companies that help improve communities one address at a time across a range of products and services. The winners listed over the next few pages provide the critical expertise and inventory necessary to transform any mere structure into the home of one’s dreams regardless of selling price or neighborhood. They represent the best in their field and have stellar reputations among their many happy clients for quality, craftsmanship and expertise.

The American Dream is alive and well in Arkansas’ tree-lined neighborhoods, sprawling acreages and addresses from one end of the state to the other. Here’s to this year’s “Innovative Home Award” winners, professionals who transform mere wood, brick and concrete into beautiful, energyefficient, technology-forward castles. Congratulations, one and all!

AY’s

Innovative Home AWARD WINNERS 2025

APPLIANCES

Metro Appliances & More

ARCHITECT

Sowell Ferris Architectes — Cody Ferris

ARTIST

Linda Harding

AWNINGS

Hot Springs Awning

BACKSPLASH

The Tile Shop

BATHROOM REMODEL

Lucas Construction

BRICK

Acme Brick, Tile & Stone

CABINET BUILDER

Shilo Cabinets & Interiors

CARPORT COMPANY

Arkansas Carports

CLEANING SERVICES

Molly Maid of Greater Little Rock

•

•

Cathy Tuggle

As

CLOSET / ORGANIZATION

Clutter Away NWA

COMMERCIAL PAINTER

CertaPro Painters

CONTRACTOR

Hines Homes

COUNTERTOPS

Countertop World

CRAWL SPACE CLEANUP

Dr. Lee’s Crawlspace Repair

CUSTOM GLASS WORK & INSTALLATION

West Little Rock Glass

CUSTOM SHOWERS

Southern Interiors

DECK DESIGNER

The Deck Co.

DESIGNER PAINTER

Visual Harmony Studios

DISASTER / WATER / FIRE

Metro Disaster Specialists

DOOR DESIGN COMPANY

Elite Entries Doors & Windows

DRIVEWAYS

Capital Infrastructure of Arkansas

ELECTRICIAN

Staley Electric

ENTERTAINMENT INSTALL

Sound Concepts

FABRIC

Cynthia East Fabrics

FENCE

United Fence & Construction Co.

GENERATORS

Gary Houston Electric Co.

GUTTERS

Garcia & Son Roofing & Gutters

HARDWARE

Fuller and Son Hardware & Lumber

HEAT AND AIR

Middleton Heat & Air

HOME ACCESSORIES

Down South

HOME FURNITURE

White Furniture Co.

HOME INSPECTOR

Bravo Home Inspection

HOME INSURANCE

State Farm — Charlotte Potts

HOME RENOVATIONS

Keith Hardin Construction

HOME SECURITY

Advanced Alarm Technologies

HOME WINDOW TINT

D&D Sun Control

HOME WINDOWS

Pella

HOMEBUILDER

Parkinson Building Group

INTERIOR DESIGNER / DECORATOR

Shine Interior Design Studio

KITCHEN REMODEL

Distinctive Kitchens & Baths

LANDSCAPING

Botanica Gardens by Chris H. Olsen

LIGHTING

TEC Electric

LUMBER COMPANY

Kaufman by Design

MORTGAGE COMPANY

Arvest

MOVING COMPANY

Sound the Alarm Moving Co.

OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES

Ninth and Co.

OUTDOOR LIGHTING

Curtis Stout

PAINT STORE

Farrell-Calhoun

PATIO FURNITURE

Congo Fireplace & Patio

PEST CONTROL

The Bug Man

PLUMBER

Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric

POOLS

Luxury Pool & Spa

RENTAL

Overnight Digs

RENTAL RESOURCES

Apartment Hunters

ROOFER

James Bolin Roofing

RUGS

Aladdin Rugs and Home Decor

SAFE ROOMS

Storm Safe Shelters

SHEDS / OUTDOOR STORAGE

Davis Portable Buildings

SIDING

Wilson’s Home Improvement

SINKS

Sanders Supply

SOLAR PANEL COMPANY

Central Arkansas Solar Solutions

SPAS/HOT TUBS

Galaxy Home Recreation

TILE

Daltile

TITLE COMPANY

American Abstract & Title Co.

WINDOW TREATMENTS

Made in the Shade

INNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS

INNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS 2025

INNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS 2025

LINDA HARDING

Girl in Poppies

Girl with Wings Behind the Curtain

Strawberries Fields

Linda Harding

Butterflies

The Lost Bird

home GoGo

HVAC, plumbing and electric companies keep pace with new technology

“Automation has definitely been gaining popularity both in commercial spaces and residential settings. Over the past few years, there’s been a noticeable increase in homeowners adding smart thermostats, security systems and even whole-home control systems.”

—Matt

Benton, Staley Electric

HOME GADGETS

By ALEX HARDGRAVE

Talking about gadgets may conjure up images of James Bond and Inspector Gadget, but with the continued evolution of technology, everyone — not just secret agents — have gadgets at their fingertips. Many of these devices are being used to make people’s homes safer, more energy efficient and more convenient.

Charles Coles, general manager at TEC Electric, said energy efficiency does not seem to be a big factor for buyers right now but that most light fixtures now use LED lightbulbs anyway, making homes more energy efficient by default. LED lights are also cooler to the touch and last longer.

Coles said his team has seen a lot of people turning to automation when it comes to lights and electronics. That automated illumination can connect to apps on smart devices and to home assistants like Alexa.

Matt Benton, vice president of service at Staley Electric in Little Rock, said when it comes to installing an automated lighting system, the company first holds a consultation with the homeowners about their goals. That includes identifying if customers want voice controls, smartphone control, preset lighting scenes or lights that integrate with other smart devices.

Once a plan is determined, technicians install the necessary gadgets, program them to the homeowners’ preferences, and then make sure the owner knows how to use the system and adjust it in the future.

“Automation has definitely been gaining popularity both in commercial spaces and residential settings,” Benton said. “Over the past few years, there’s been a noticeable increase in homeowners adding smart thermostats, security systems and even whole-home control systems.”

Jake Winchell, director of sales and marketing at Paschal Air, Plumbing and Electric, said generators are another gadget many people are adding their homes.

“We’re in tornado alley, so we get a lot of storms,” he said. “We get a lot of ice storms, too, so there is almost a nine-month season for prevention.”

He said one big reason people add generators to their homes is to not lose refrigeration if electricity is lost.

“People can have a thousand-plus dollars worth of groceries [in the fridge], and it only takes a day or so and you’re losing all of that,” Winchell said.

Benton said generators can be a smart investment in safety, comfort and home value.

“It ensures that essential systems like heating and cooling, medical devices and security systems stay in operation when you need them most,” he said.

Another advancement the Staley Electric and Paschal Air, Plumbing and Electric teams are seeing is people wanting vehicle chargers installed at their homes.

Benton said his company is seeing the increase as more people turn to electric vehicles, and Winchell said Paschal now installs three to 10 chargers a week.

“Homeowners are looking for the convenience and faster charging speeds that a dedicated 240-volt charger provides compared to a standard outlet,” Benton said.

There are also smart-home electric panels that many companies have been using to replace old, traditional

Charles Coles

Matt Benton

panels. The positive of the devices is that individual breakers can be monitored through an app, which can help show where in a home there may be appliances sitting idle but using a lot of power. Winchell calls them “power phantoms,” and by identifying them, people can save money on their electrical bills.

Benton said Staley Electric also recommends a few other gadgets to keep homes running safely and smoothly, including whole-home surge protection, smart security systems and energy-monitoring solutions.

“Surge protection safeguards your electronics and appliances from power spikes, while security systems provide peace of mind with cameras, motion sensors and remote monitoring,” he said. “Energy monitoring can help the homeowner track and reduce electricity usage, potentially lowering utility costs.”

Smart thermostats are among the most popular home gadgets when it comes to heating and cooling.

“Smart thermostats are not just popular; they’re rapidly becoming the standard,” said Dustin Osborne, vice president of residential at Middleton Heat & Air.

He said homeowners appreciate the device for its convenience, the ability to monitor usage and the money saved.

Depending on the smart thermostat, people can set home and away settings. That way, they save money on heating or cooling while they are out of the house. Some models even have geolocation, so they can automatically start changing the temperature in a home after getting a notification that the owner is driving that way, Winchell said.

Variable-speed or two-stage HVAC systems can also save people money through better efficiency and various features. They differ from traditional systems in that they adjust to match the home’s exact needs.

“This not only keeps temperatures more consistent but also uses significantly less electricity, saving the homeowners money on their energy bills while reducing wear and tear on the equipment,” Osborne said.

There are also monitoring devices for HVAC systems that catch things such as unusual temperature patterns and alert owners when it is time to replace the air filter. The products can also detect issues such as reduced airflow, unusual run times or condensation

“The home is getting smarter. Devices are getting smarter. We’re more reliant on technology.”

— Jake Winchell, Paschal Air, Plumbing and Electric

problems and alert the owner or the system provider about the problem, Osborne said.

“Not only are you setting things up front, but with communicating technologies, it’s going to tell you, the home owner, or us, the provider, that there is a problem with your system,” Winchell said.

He added that such equipment works well for homes people are not always occupying, such as Airbnbs, second homes and rental properties.

There are also monitoring systems for plumbing that can automatically shut off water if they sense leaks, saving people from flooded homes and high water bills.

Winchell stressed the importance of continued maintenance on the new technologies, adding that forgoing maintenance is like getting a new car but not getting the car’s oil changed when needed.

“A lot of these technologies are amazing, but they still might need maintenance and an expert to come in and update them,” he said.

Osborne said industry studies show most HVAC issues can be traced back to bad installation, which is why it is important to work with a trusted company.

“We believe there is no substitute for quality installation,” he said. “That’s why we hold ourselves to the highest installation standards in the industry.”

TEC Electric staff members stay knowledgeable about products in the company's full-service showroom so they can recommend the best one to each customer, Coles said. The team also delivers larger products to homes and recommends companies who can help with proper installation.

Paschal’s team has been keeping up with innovation for years. This has led its growth from an HVAConly company to a company's full-service heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical partner. The company’s goal is to be a whole-home service provider that is tech forward.

“The home is getting smarter,” Winchell said. “Devices are getting smarter. We’re more reliant on technology. As a home service company, if we don’t get out in front of that, we’re either going to be caught in the dust, or clients are not going to need us.”

At Middleton Heat and Air, the next generation of leadership is focused on combining proven value with modern tools.

“We continue to invest in advanced HVAC systems and smart-home compatible equipment while also building our training program,” Osborne said. “By pairing new technology with the honesty and work ethic which has always defined our company, leadership is making sure Middleton is prepared without losing sight of its roots.”

Benton said Staley Electric’s team also understands the importance of staying up to date with the latest innovations.

“Technology in our industry changes quickly, but at Staley Electric, we make it a priority to stay ahead,” he said. “We regularly train our team, research new products and test emerging solutions so we can confidently bring the most reliable options to our customers. While it can be challenging, keeping up ensures we continue delivering the best, most future-ready service possible.”

Jake Winchell

Where the

home Heart is Building product providers help

homeowners express themselves

By MARK CARTER

Aperson’s home has always been his or her castle, but the COVID-19 pandemic exasperated a trend toward home as refuge and workplace. Most workers are back in the office these days, but the shutdown changed how Americans view their homes.

In 2024, the number of Americans moving into new homes — not migration from state to state, which is up, but local moves to a new home within their community — reached its lowest point, according to research from Axios Even accounting for the moves related strictly to the pandemic, such as the ongoing exodus from urban areas, the percentage of Americans moving each year fell to 8.7 percent in 2022 from around 20 percent in the 1960s, the Brookings Institution states.

William Frey, a senior demographer at Brookings, told Axios that the trend was the result of several factors: Younger people, usually responsible for the most local moves, are living with their parents longer and waiting to get married and start families; the country as a whole is aging; labor markets shifted to accommodate more remote workers; and American households now typically comprise more than one wage earner, making moves more complicated.

Now more than ever, home is where the heart is. In Arkansas and beyond, homeowners are pouring their hearts into their homes.

Fortunately for those in the Natural State, there are plenty of award-winning builders, designers and building product providers around to make sure home castles reflect owners’ personalities, including the following building product and service providers that were named “Innovative Home Award” winners this year by AY About You readers.

SHINE INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO

Co-owners Stacey Breezeel and Natalie Biles like to keep things simple and clear. Founded in 2019, the Lonoke-based interior design firm works with builders, architects and others on residential and commercial projects throughout central Arkansas and even beyond the state’s borders.

Both Breezeel and Biles earned interior design degrees in college, the former from Harding University in Searcy and the latter from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and both are certified through the American Society of Interior Designers, as well as licensed through the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.

Breezeel, who is also LEED AP certified

Photos by Payton Perkins at The Editor's House

for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, said a Shine project starts out with a brief survey for the clients and an introductory call to get to know timelines and must-haves.

“From there, we review plans or photos and talk through what you need from your space — wellness priorities, durability and budget,” she said. “Based on scope, we’ll guide you to the best fit: our signature, full-service design — turnkey from concepts to install — or our express options, Designer for a Day or Virtual Design.

“Next, you’ll receive a clear proposal outlining scope, timeline and fees. Once approved, we book your kickoff. For full service, that means site measures or builder coordination, a concept presentation with selections, budget alignment, and then

Shine Acme

BRICK, TILE & STONE

procurement, project management and installation-day styling. For express services, expect a focused, high-impact session — or a virtual concept board and shopping list — that moves you forward fast.”

Breezeel said the goal is always the same — to weave beauty, function and wellness into a client’s “every space” and make the process feel calm and predictable from day one.

Biles, who actually founded the firm as Shine Home Studio, said the company works to make innovation practical and personal.

“During design development, we use 3D renderings so you can virtually walk your space, testing layouts, lighting and finishes before anything is built,” she said. “We also weave research-backed wellness strategies into every project, including healthy materials, acoustic comfort, fresh-air planning, ergonomic layouts and lighting for homes and workspaces.

“Because our entire team participates in ongoing continuing education on products, materials and building science, the solutions we recommend are both current and proven. The result is designs that look beautiful, perform better and support your well-being every day.”

Shine’s most challenging projects, Breezeel said, usually involve many moving parts, multiple stakeholders or longer timelines.

“Think historic renovations, custom millwork, phased installs in occupied spaces and tight lead times,” she said. “We genuinely love the puzzle, and we keep fitting the pieces together until everything clicks. The result is predictable progress and a space that looks beautiful, functions effortlessly and feels good to live or work in.”

Photos courtesy of Acme Brick, Tile & Stone

WestLITTLE ROCK GLASS

As more homeowners plant long-term roots, homes are more than ever a reflection of their owners. As such, the firm’s goal is for the work to reflect the client.

“We keep the process calm and the results unmistakably you,” Biles said. “We pair a clear design process with a wellness-first approach — healthier materials, better light, fresh air and acoustic comfort — so decisions are easy and the space works beautifully every day.”

ACME BRICK, TILE & STONE

For Chase Crabtree, district manager at Acme Brick, Tile & Stone in Maumelle, brick and masonry represent industry stalwarts that will never go out of style. Brick indeed is a timeless component in the construction industry, one that transcends trends.

That said, Crabtree said clients have been recently requesting more black brick.

“It’s been kind of a little spark of something we’ve been seeing,” he said. “We’re also seen a trend towards more white, silver and gray.”

“Brick” is in the company name, but Acme also offers hardscape materials, stone, porcelain, tile, glass mosaic products and more. Acme products can be found in all parts of a home, from mosaic tiles that serve as kitchen backsplashes to outdoor brick patios. Crabtree said Acme is also doing a lot of metal siding projects and pushing its Quality Edge TruCedar product line.

Quality Edge is designed to marry design and function and comes in multiple colors and textures, as do virtually all of Acme’s products. The key, Crabtree added, is to innovate.

“We’re constantly working on new product development,” he said. “We keep up with new products in general and make variations for in-demand colors and styles. We’re able to keep an edge that way.”

WEST LITTLE ROCK GLASS

For generations now, sitcoms and movies have used the, “somebody-runs-into-the-plate-of-glass-as-it-isbeing-carried-by-two-workers” gag, and why not? It is tried and true, after all.

West Little Rock Glass can be those guys who replace broken glass, but that team does so much more. The company installs glass storefronts, showers, cabinets, fireplace covers, pool surrounds, wind deflectors for outdoor sitting areas and custom glass handrails for stairwells and decks, as well as natural stone and tile and even custom, glass-topped coffee tables.

West Little Rock Glass worked on the popular outdoor dining area at Cache Restaurant in Little Rock’s River Market District.

Owner Gavin Higgins said the company’s custom glass solutions come with an “almost” infinite list of options for colors, thickness, finishes and sizes.

“We do a lot of work inside,” he said. “A lot of glass appliances and frameless showers. Frameless shower doors are

in. There’s a lot we can do inside a house, like glass appliances and wine cabinets.”

As Arkansans continue to invest further in their long-term homes, Higgins said West Little Rock Glass is there to accommodate them, noting that glass has been used for centuries to protect people’s investments and continues to do so today in new and exciting applications.

“We can make that look you are dreaming about in your head,” he said. “Our aim is to look good on you.”

Photos courtesy of West Little Rock Glass

American Abstract & Title, we proudly continue a family legacy rooted in tradition and dedication. Combining decades of experience with hyperlocal knowledge and the strength of a trusted regional partner, we’re here to support every real estate transaction. Trusted by Realtors, lenders and clients across Little Rock and North Little Rock, our dedicated team ensures every detail is handled with precision and care. You can count on us to be your reliable title and

home All the Details

Businesses

make it their mission to help clients feel at home

By DOUG CRISE

For many, simply the thought of moving into a new home can trigger a stress response in mind and body alike. Finding a new place to live can be a cause for celebration, but that celebration comes attached with a seemingly endless to-do list. Not only are new residents faced with the overall task of getting settled and getting everything up and running; they also have to take stock and figure out what is needed after move-in day.

Several entrepreneurs have seen opportunity in the misery of moving, whether it be the actual hauling of personal possessions, helping fill new rooms with the ideal style or guiding homeowners through unfamiliar purchases.

Steve Coop is one of those entrepreneurs. Together with his wife, Jolene, Coop owns Precision Garage Door in Little Rock. Because most homeowners do not think about their garage door until it breaks or requires replacing, Coop saw a need in the market and a way to take the pain out of an unfamiliar process.

“We started out as a garage door repair company because there was a need in the marketplace,” Coop said. “People will sell you garage doors, but they don’t really want to provide the service. After they give them to you, they’re good.”

That service is what Precision Garage Door starts with, training its technicians in-house to make sure installations go off without a hitch.

“We try to provide same-day service,” Coop said. “The garage door is so important to people

that you’ve got to fix it. They need it right now because they don’t use their front door. Our technicians really take the time to do it right. So many of the repairs we make are the result of somebody who just didn’t put the door in right, and it’s simple stuff as long as you do it right.”

What if a homeowner is looking to replace an entire garage door? Precision Garage Door has it covered, starting with a sales floor that offers several doors with modern looks that will fit just about any home.

‘We do a lot of sales now,” Coop said.

The process of moving and getting into a home is important, but so is what owners put inside. Since 1965, few have done that better than White Furniture Co. in Benton.

“1965 is when my parents purchased the company,” owner Bill White said, “but the company goes back to 1938. The day after my dad bought the company, I went to work. I was 10 years old. I came up and washed the windows every day and cleaned the restrooms. I had a ball. It was a lot better than doing yard work.”

Time has not dampened White’s love for the family business. After 50 years, he still clocks six-day weeks, and he still greets visitors with a warm personality and a palpable enthusiasm for what he

Steve and Jolene Coop

does. It takes more than that to keep a business running for generations, however. White Furniture Co. continues to thrive thanks primarily to reputation — customers know what they are getting, and they are almost always satisfied.

The secret is White’s insistence on quality. White Furniture Company works with furniture manufacturers as far afield as western Pennsylvania to provide products that are made in America and often made by hand.

“Last year, I think 97 percent of our purchases were domestic,” White said. “I like to go to the factories and personally go through everything. I go to the work stations and see what kind of components they’re using, what grades of lumber and things like that. It’s all important.”

The quality of materials ensures furniture that will last for decades, but that is only half the picture. Purchasing furniture can be daunting, especially for those who do not have a knack for interior decorating. Fortunately, the staff at White Furniture Co. works with customers every step of the way, ensuring that everything has that “just right” look.

(Photos by DeWaine Duncan)

The secret is White’s insistence on quality. White Furniture Company works with furniture manufacturers as far afield as western Pennsylvania to provide products that are made in America and often made by hand.

“We do a lot of custom sofas,” White said. “On our bedrooms and dining rooms, we do custom finishes. We do solid wood dining rooms and solid wood bedrooms in a variety of finishes. Some of our distributors offer five different types of wood and over 75 different finishes, and there’s no charge to change things.”

White Furniture Co. may have its roots in central Arkansas, but the company’s range goes far beyond.

“We just did two houses in south Louisiana,” White said. “We’ve got a lot of clients in east Texas.”

Yet even the best furniture does not matter if one cannot get it where it needs to go, and that is where Sound the Alarm Moving Co. in Benton comes in. Brandon Harper owner and founder, is a former firefighter who got the idea to start his own company after moving on his own. Like many who handle their own relocation, Harper was left worn out and miserable after the experience, leaving him to consider a better way.

“Originally, it started off just doing something extra for a little cash on the side,” Harper said. “It just seems like a snap of the fingers, and already, it’s been 10 years, but originally, I was just a firefighter looking for something to do on his off days.”

After an injury curtailed his firefighting career, Harper jumped into the moving business with both feet. He now oversees an extensive fleet that can handle moves big and small to practically any part of the country.

“We’ve actually flown to Miami and loaded up in Miami and went to Santa Barbara, California,” Harper said. “I mean, we literally

Bill White

go coast to coast anytime someone needs to go, as long as it makes sense on the front end. We’ve literally had people ask us to fly into Texas just because they’ve heard of a good experience we did for somebody.”

Sound the Alarm does not just carry boxes on and off trucks. Harper meets with clients and does walk-throughs of their homes in order to create a personalized moving plan. That can include packing, unpacking and even arranging furniture.

“I really do think that’s one thing that sets us apart from a lot of the moving companies,” Harper said. “When clients call, they’re going to get me. I’m the only one that’s going to answer the phone. I’m going to be the one that comes and does the quote. It’s always going to be me, and I’m always going to be the one working out the details of what the cost is going to be.”

When it comes to the actual moving day experience, Harper relies on a trained and experienced staff that puts clients at ease and handles every aspect of the process.

The home industry can be highly specialized, whether that means getting repairs done, decorating a new space or the actual move itself, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to a simple and timeless concept — outstanding customer service.

“We literally make it a mission to make it a really personal experience,” Harper said. “It’s not just strangers who are moving your house.”

Sound the Alarm does not just carry boxes on and off trucks. Harper meets with clients and does walk-throughs of their homes in order to create a personalized moving plan. That can include packing, unpacking and even arranging furniture.

Sound the Alarm moving crew

Redefining Outdoor Living

Award-winning designer Chris H. Olsen turns ordinary yards into extraordinary outdoor spaces. Through his company, Botanica Gardens, Chris blends plants, pools, water features, and hardscaping to create landscapes that inspire.

From design and installation to maintenance and irrigation, Botanica Gardens delivers innovation, beauty, and client-focused service across Arkansas and beyond.

“Plants are just part of the equation,” Chris says. “My job is to listen—and turn dreams into reality.”

home Finishing Touches

Companies help put a bow on state’s most beautiful homes

By DWAIN HEBDA

Whether one has lived somewhere for years or is finishing a new dream property, the difference between a house and home lies in myriad details. Appliances, fixtures and even power sources up the comfort, livability and cost-efficiency of any domicile.

Central Arkansas is replete with companies that are in the business of providing homeowners the ideal new or upgraded amenities for their living spaces. AY About You reached out to three such firms to find out the latest, the greatest and what is to come in their respective fields.

HEART OF THE HOME

Kitchens are the emotional center of many homes and the room around which life revolves, from showy Thanksgiving dinners to gatherings of friends and family to ordinary Tuesday-night cooking.

The important space is often the first thing homeowners envision when designing their dream new builds, since well-conceived and well-

appointed kitchens beckon people to congregate, laugh and share. The room also gets substantial attention in remodels, and with good reason — as Remodeling Magazine’s “Cost vs. Value Report 2024” noted, improving kitchens delivers one of the highest returns on investment.

According to the report, minor kitchen remodels, which average about $27,500 nationally, return about $26,400, or 96 percent of costs. Midrange improvements averaging $80,000 nationally return 50 percent, and upscale projects averaging $158,500 in upgrades return 38 percent, or a little more than $60,000.

One of the major elements of any kitchen upgrade involves the design, style and layout of cabinetry. Kitchen Tune-Up offers a wide inventory to match most any taste and price range and backs it up with design recommendations to make the most of clients’ square footage.

“We specialize in kitchen cabinetry, and we offer different levels of service that will hopefully meet the homeowner’s budget and overall goals,” said Susan Johnson, co-owner.

“We can update existing cabinetry with new drawer fronts and doors and hardware, or we can modify existing cabinetry to fit new appliances and organizational items.

“We also offer restoration of wood-stained cabinets to bring those cabinets back to life, and of course, we can totally demo the existing kitchen and design an entirely new kitchen if that’s the homeowner’s preference.”

While many people skip right to the look and finish of cabinetry, Johnson said the process of designing a kitchen, while less sexy, is considerably more important in order to maximize the room’s footprint.

“Ideally, as soon as the client starts the design process of a project, we need to focus on the kitchen,” she said. “Doing it on the front end allows us to incorporate all of those things that make the room more functional.

“One of the things that we’re really seeing with aging in place is homeowners are wanting drawers, rather than cabinets with a door, and a total drawer stack. It’s just easy to access, and you

Susan Johnson

don’t have to get down on your hands and knees to try to find what you’ve got in your cabinetry. We can convert existing cabinets to do that.”

Johnson said the cabinet industry has introduced a steady stream of other innovations to help make use of dead space, delivering maximum functionality to the homeowner.

“Over the years, the industry has certainly improved upon what’s available to make spaces much more functional. There are so many things on the market now, depending upon budget, that can be utilized to improve upon that space, from the new lazy Susans that are much better than your mother had to accessory devices, which go back into that corner and are easily pulled forward.

“If properly planned in advance, kitchens don’t have to have storage voids. The whole thing can be maximized to its fullest.”

NEW POWER GENERATION

With utility prices soaring of late, energy efficiency is becoming as much a part of sound home design as the interior floor plan or curb appeal. In addition to utilizing energyefficient windows and fixtures, homeowners have increasingly looked for alternatives for powering their residences that take a smaller bite out of a family’s monthly budget.

Jeff Hatfield, owner of Central Arkansas Solar Solutions in North Little Rock, said the industry has continually improved the mechanism by which homeowners can collect and harness solar power to off-load a portion of electrical usage.

“One of the things coming out now that is really pretty neat are solar shingles and things of that nature,” Hatfield said. “Tesla and GAF make those, and there are a couple other manufacturers.

These blend into the roof, and you don’t have the 3-foot-by-5-foot-tall solar panels on your roof.

“Personally, I don’t mind the traditional panel, but for some homeowners, aesthetics is the main thing they care about, and cost savings are second, you know? If it doesn’t look good, they don’t want it on their house, so while solar shingles are quite a bit more expensive, it gives them the aesthetic look that they want in a really sleek-looking design.”

Form factor aside, there is evidence residential solar systems are finally starting to gain the traction the industry has been seeking for decades. A combination of higher functionality and decreasing cost has driven wider adoption and, with it, higher customer satisfaction. Forbes Homes reported last year the results of a survey that found 7 in 10 homeowners installed solar for energy independence and/or cost savings,

Jeff Hatfield

Central Arkansas Solar Solutions also provides gutters and siding

(Photo courtesy of Central Arkansas Solar Solutions)

After remodeling (Photos courtesy of Kitchen Tune-Up)

Before remodeling

and a whopping 90 percent of homeowners were satisfied with their choice.

While the initial cost can be steep — national averages place most residential systems between $10,000 and $18,000 — homeowners say energy savings help recoup that cost much faster than other improvements. Plus, the cost of systems continues to come down. Forbes cited National Renewable Energy Laboratory statistics showing the cost of solar panel installation has dropped by more than 70 percent just in the past decade.

Hatfield, who launched his company in 2022, said homeowners still need to do their research when selecting a solar company to ensure quality work and avoid surprise costs.

“What I tell people is start by looking at the reviews and customer testimonials,” he said. “I post a lot on my social media accounts about satisfied people who vouch for us as a company you can trust. I also think transparency in a presentation is a really big thing. If you start asking questions and get a vibe that the

salesperson can’t answer you or something’s just not right, that’s a pretty big red flag.

“You want someone who is going to say, ‘OK, here’s what it is, this is how much this costs, apples to apples.’ Any business is going to have a markup in order to make a profit, but if you feel like someone is not being completely transparent with you, it’s time to keep shopping.”

MEET THE JETSONS

The 1960s cartoon The Jetsons provided a fanciful look at American life in the distant future in which flying cars, domestic robots and space-age home automation are the norm. Technology has not quite delivered flying cars — yet — but when it comes to other creature comforts, the typical home is becoming more space age with each passing year.

Christina Rhoades, who handles marketing and public relations at Metro Appliance, said the new features and gewgaws available on today’s appliances boggle the imagination, from next-gen materials to integrated monitors and computerized contents tracking.

“As far as, like, refrigeration, for instance, manufacturers are upgrading water dispensers or concealing them inside of the refrigerator instead of placing them on the exterior, and they’re even adding a cup where you can dispense hot water,” she said. “There are some models where you can tap on the refrigerator, and the glass becomes transparent so you can see what’s inside without opening it so many times.”

Frigidaire Oven

Samsung Stackable Washer/Dryer (Photos courtesy of Metro Appliance)

Christina Rhoades

Samsung Cooktop

Rhoades said the vast majority of today’s leading appliances are connected to an app, which gives the homeowner unprecedented control and ease of use.

“I would say something like 90 percent of the appliances come with an app,” she said. “You can turn your vent hood on. You can preheat your oven. You can start your washer. You can rewash your clothes, start the dryer. There are even some that update with cookbooks and recipe guides. Take a smart microwave: You can just throw your chicken nuggets in there, say you’re doing 10 of them, and just hit the button, and it automatically sensor-cooks them. That’s always upgrading, always changing.”

The new features also serve utility purposes, such as monitoring the appliance and notifying the owner when certain maintenance tasks need to be completed to keep it running efficiently.

“As far as laundry, they’re always fine-tuning machines, such as designing different ventilation systems in front-load washers so that gaskets are less prone to get moldy or different ways to drain the machine.

“Other things they have added give the ability to diagnose the appliance. There are sensors that easily diagnose all kinds of stuff. It’s all about delivering a much more user-friendly experience and keeping that machine long lasting.”

Not everyone is seeking the most futuristic features. Rhoades said there is still an appreciable segment of the buying public that is willing to pay more for machines that skip the electronics in favor of solidly-built construction that runs dependably and lasts a long time.

“Families like the more high-techy models because it’s got the one-step wash and dry feature where they can throw in uniforms for basketball games, leave it in overnight and then get up the next morning, and it’s washed and dried,” she said.

“The other one is the workhorse that isn’t nearly as fancy but is going to get the job done well and over a long period of time. Customers seem to favor one or the other by age group, but I think there’s plenty of demand for both types of machines in the marketplace.”

GE Profile Combo Closet

LG Country Range

GE Cooktop

LG Lifestyle Gas Cooktop

Bret Winingar, home inspector

Charlie Bravo

real estate 2025 AY ABOUT YOU

Best Realtors

It is said, “Home is where the heart is,” and at the heart of choosing the ideal home is the ideal Realtor. Good real estate agents are so much more than just people who handle the paperwork. They act as trusted friends and cheerleaders through a process that can be stressful, difficult and even a little scary, especially for a first-time home buyer. Houses are an essential part of the American Dream, and nearly 3 out of every 4 people who are currently renting hope to become homeowners one day, according to Prospect by Buildout.

These homes come in all shapes and sizes, from cozy starter homes to sprawling estates, but no matter the size, the home is the backdrop of life’s most important moments. They are where families gather, where kids grow up, where milestones are celebrated and simply a place to rest after a long day at work.

Commercial properties are equally important, providing Arkansas business owners with a place to run their companies, grow and thrive. When businesses are doing well, the community does well — and it all starts with real estate transactions led by trusted local Realtors. However, helping clients find the right property is no easy task, and real estate agents are staying busy. About 4 million people bought a home in 2023, and about 90 percent of sellers used an agent to sell their home, the National Association of Realtors states. This year, 15 percent of people are hoping to buy a new home, NerdWallet states, and real estate agents are there to help them achieve their dreams.

Through nominations, the AY About You team creates an annual list of the best Realtors in the Natural State. The carefully curated list is designed to be the go-to guide for anyone going through a real estate journey, helping to

provide clarity in a large pool of options. It is no small task to come up with a contained list, since there are more than 11,000 Realtors in the state, according to RubyHome. With the help of readers like you, we have narrowed it down to truly the best of the best.

AY About You is proud to recognize and celebrate these agents on the following pages. We believe these Realtors’ dedication, expertise and unwavering commitment to their clients deserves a shout-out, and being a part of this prestigious list is a testament to all their hard work.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees. Your contributions to your communities do not go unnoticed.

About 4 million people bought a home in 2023, and about 90 percent of sellers used an agent to sell their home.

real estate

Becky Finney

ONE TO COUNT ON

After more than four decades in the business, Becky Finney, executive broker and team leader at Keller Williams, has earned a reputation in Little Rock not only for her market expertise but for her cultivated, deep connections that often span generations.

Originally from Hot Springs, she attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where she majored in psychology and planned to become a psychologist. However, she started her family young and never finished her master’s degree — a credential she knew she would need to make psychology a long-term career.

When she and her husband returned to Arkansas to be closer to family, she found herself drawn to real estate.

“I use every bit of whatever I learned in psychology in real estate,” Finney said. “Everybody has a story, everybody has needs, and in this business, you’re bringing the buyer and seller together so there’s a win-win for both.”

Today, Finney wears many hats at Keller Williams: executive broker, mentor and team leader. While the brokerage has one primary broker, executive brokers such as Finney have the authority to sign off on contracts and oversee other agents.

decades. She has guided families through joyful transitions, as well as heartbreaking ones, such as moving after the loss of a loved one. Finney credits her psychology background for her sensitivity when approaching new clients and understanding their situation.

Photo courtesy of Keller Williams

Her team of four works closely with her, benefiting from her decades of experience while helping to manage showings, listings and administrative work. She prefers to keep her team small, focusing on a boutique style of service.

“I like to give a lot of individual attention to my clients,” she said. “Many have come back to me two, three or even four times over the years, and now they’re sending their children and other family members.”

That loyalty stems from Finney’s commitment to relationships over transactions. She works closely with past clients and referrals, many of whom she has known for decades.

Finney has seen the Little Rock market evolve dramatically since she first earned her license. During the early years, the “million-dollar club” — a local real estate association recognition — represented a huge sales achievement, since average home prices hovered around $75,000. Today, with rising property values, teams close tens of millions in transactions annually, and milliondollar homes are far more common.

While her initial motivation to enter real estate was the potential for financial independence, Finney’s purpose quickly shifted, illuminating the importance of service rooted in connection.

Over the years, Finney has walked clients through every life stage, from newlyweds buying their first home to retirees downsizing after

“As I started working with people, I realized my greater passion was helping them get into homes,” she said. “A home stabilizes families, helps kids in school and builds generational wealth.”

One of Finney’s favorite parts of her role is mentoring younger agents within Keller Williams and from other brokerages. She recalled starting in an industry in which newcomers often had to learn independently and enjoys how real estate has evolved into a more collaborative culture.

“It benefits us all when we grow together,” she said. “Real estate is a wonderful business, but it’s also tough. To do well, you can’t just care about the money — people will know if that’s all you’re after. You have to genuinely care about their needs.”

Despite a packed schedule, Finney serves on multiple real estate boards, is active in the Rotary Club and volunteers with organizations that give back to the community. In her minimal downtime, she enjoys reading and playing the piano.

After more than 40 years, Finney still finds joy in the profession that shaped her life. Her long career has taught her that success in real estate is not just about the properties; it is about the people.

For those lucky enough to work with her — whether as a client or a protege — her passion, dedication and people-first approach are impossible to miss.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to know my clients deeply,” Finney said. “I don’t form surface relationships. I love being part of their world, watching their lives change and learning from them along the way.”

ByMARYLESIEUR

“Real estate is a wonderful business, but it’s also tough. To do well, you can’t just care about the money — people will know if that’s all you’re after. You have to genuinely care about their needs.

BECKY FINNEY –TURNING DREAMS INTO KEYS

For more than 37 years, Becky Finney has been Little Rock’s trusted name in real estate. A top producer and life member of the Million Dollar Club, she is known for sharp negotiations, creative marketing, and a reputation built on integrity. Year after year, she ranks among Arkansas Business’

Top Residential Real Estate Agents, consistently earns the Diamond Award for Excellence, and is proud to be named an AY About You Best Realtor five years in a row.

Beyond closing deals, Becky is passionate about serving her community. She’s mentored countless young people, served on state and city commissions, and remains an active voice for fair housing and community growth.

At heart, Becky believes real estate is about more than property—it’s about people. She considers it a gift to help families find home, build wealth, and reach their dreams.

When you’re ready to buy or sell, trust the name Little Rock has counted on for nearly four decades—Becky Finney.

BECKY

Broker, GRI & CRS

License #: EB00012673

Mobile (501) 258-8867

Email

becky@beckyfinney.com

Office

(501) 907-5959

beckyfinney.kw.com

We are so proud of our agents who have been selected by their clients as top agents in the area based on customer satisfaction. We strive to create a better experience for consumers and we are delighted these agents have been recognized by AY and our clients for those efforts!

From left to right: Amy Landers (seated), Christy Scroggin, James Harkins (seated), Lindsey Blaylock, Joanna White (seated), Jessica Rogers, Kirt Thomas, Maggie Emerson

From left to right: Francesca Tolson (seated), Eddie Bailey (seated), Sarah Bailey, Barbara Jordan (seated), Jessica Baxter, Krystina Bullard, Rachel Furrer (seated), Jared Coleman

real estate

A LEGACY IN REAL ESTATE Laurie Henderson

Starting out in real estate in the late 1980s, Laurie Henderson did not necessarily notice she was often one of the few women in the room, or if she did, it never served as much of a distraction. Joining her mother, Lorna Nobles, she had a daily example of what was possible for someone with the necessary drive and work ethic.

“She’s been in [the industry] for almost 50 years,” Henderson said. “As a kid, I hung out with her while she was going to show properties. I sat in the back seat. They’d give me a coloring book and say, ‘Don’t make any noise.’ Depending on how you look at it, that’s how I started in real estate.”

As her career unfolded, Henderson said female agents were common, but women owners — such as her mother, who left a competitor to hang her own shingle in 2002 — were a different story.

“Real estate has always tended to be a field that presents itself to a lot of women, but back then, there were very few who owned their own company or managed the business,” Henderson said. “Today, that has changed. You see a lot more women who are the managing brokers.”

With her mother, Henderson opened Trademark Real Estate in Hot Springs, where she served as managing broker and later expanded into a branch office in Hot Springs Village. After a stint in politics serving six years in the Arkansas House of Representatives, she returned to her old stomping grounds and, with her husband, bought the Hot Springs Village branch from her mom. The company merged with McGraw Realtors in 2019.

contracts to make sure there’s no mistakes, making sure every I is dotted and every T is crossed to protect their clients and themselves.”

One might think that spells a comfortable routine for the industry veteran, and while Henderson said the fundamentals of real estate still apply today as much as when she started, time and trends have also evolved those fundamentals to keep up. Thus there are always new things to learn and new ways to learn it in the dynamic industry upon which she has built her career.

“When we merged with McGraw, it was because we saw what we could offer and not offer as an independent agency,” she said. “My husband and I had grown it from about 11 agents to 33 agents, and we needed to provide a few more resources to not only help the general public find a home but also for our agents. [McGraw] was a very, very good fit for us.”

As a Realtor and managing broker, Henderson works directly with her agents to educate, train and guide their efforts. She lends an experienced eye to contracts, sales procedures and necessary paperwork to ensure everything is done by the book.

“The responsibility of a broker is to make sure agents are doing everything in line with the law and make sure they’re performing at a level to help not only grow the company but also help grow the community,” she said. “I make sure everybody’s educated, that they know the basics of selling a house.

“I also spend anywhere from three to four hours a day just reviewing

“I guess it depends on how you want to look at it,” she said. “Certain fundamentals always stay the same, such as it’s a relationship business, and you have to build a rapport with your clients so that they trust you, but as far as the process of completing the sale, that’s changed a lot. I remember back when I first started, we got our leads by calling 10 people out of the phone book and asking them if they wanted to sell their house. Today, we don’t even have phone books.”

Through all the change and long hours, Henderson said she still derives great satisfaction out of her career.

“I think maybe I was just born to do this,” she said. “I love the people, I love the clients, and I love helping my agents and seeing them be successful. As a broker, I think that’s one of your main responsibilities because without good agents, you don’t have a company. I think the one thing I really like best about my job is seeing my agents be successful.”

ByDWAINHEBDA

I love the people, I love the clients, and I love helping my agents and seeing them be successful .

Photo courtesy of McGraw Realtors

Abbi Netzel, Allen Jones, Allison Gibson, Amber Bowers, Amy Baker, Amy Brown, Amy Gossman, Angela & Lance Pelton Team, Angela Banks, Angie MacFarlane, Ashley Layfield, Bob Sweeten, Blake Hudson, Cheryl Gentry, Jonathan Rowley, Karen Hudspeth, Kayla Jones, Kimberly Gaines, Lauren Smith, Lindsey Reeves, Lindsey Roddy, Megan Billingsley, Michael Mathes, Michele Woods, Paul Barkley, Paul Lafleur, Renee McDougal, Royce Duncan, Sheila Goslee, Sherry Hamby, Susan Bariola, Susie Cordell, Susie Sparkman, Svetlana Simmons, Tonia Hobbs, Tracy Cravey, Wayne Post, Wilson & Burton Team

LOCAL SERVICE, GLOBAL REACH

WLaura Labay

hen many real estate professionals in Arkansas speak of clients’ ideal properties, they describe a spot on the lake, a stunning vista from a mountain perch or a peaceful acreage nestled in a verdant valley.

Realtor Laura Labay at Team GoGo, an international group under eXp Realty, can speak to all of those and a few others that redefine the term “dream home.”

“I see a little bit of everything across the board,” she said. “I’m working with a listing agent in France right now. I have a castle in the French Riviera that I will put online and market.”

The idea that the internet has made the world a smaller place is the foundational element of Labay’s career in real estate. Through eXp Realty, she is part of an expansive network of other real estate professionals that gives her the opportunity for global partnerships in service to clients.

“The team I meet with regularly via Zoom, we’re from all over,” she said. “We collaborate. We share listings. We talk about the market — that kind of thing. If I have a client that is moving from here to Colorado, let’s say, I’m not licensed in Colorado, but one of my business partners is. Basically, I send the information, and my business partner will take care of them.”

the switch to real estate, since her background helped her leverage various communication platforms to market herself and build her brand.

Having been in the real estate industry for a total of nearly 20 years, Labay came up doing things the “old-fashioned way” but said it was not an adjustment to change to a cloud-based brokerage. In fact, it falls right into step with the bold attitude she has always had about building her career.

For example, after moving to Arkansas from Texas in 2011 she said she took one look at the State Capitol and made up her mind it was where she wanted to work.

“I saw the Capitol, and I thought it was beautiful and went in with my resume,” she said. “I got a job as a spokesperson for the secretary of state, worked there for a while and loved it.”

Labay had the chops to back up her fearlessness, having worked in television prior to coming to Arkansas, which made her the ideal person to ride herd over the secretary of state’s communications. In that role, she fielded calls from major news outlets and wrote internal newsletters and articles for the Capitol magazine.

Her broadcasting background also came into play when she made

“I knew the power of media, and I knew the power of social media,” she said. “When you first come into real estate, they traditionally teach you to go door to door, which people still do, and that’s fine. Today, though, you also need to have other ways to reach people, and I was very comfortable with that, using those options to reach out to people.”

Labay is considered an expert in commercial, residential and international real estate deals, having listed well-known properties such as the Town Pump in Little Rock and crafted deals with the Barnaby Group, a major industry player. As a part of Team GoGo, which brought in millions in sales last year, Labay has found a winning formula, and she is not about to slow down now.

“The beauty of having an international team is that in areas where I may not know the answer, I know where to go for the answer. I have a whole team of professionals who are there to provide just about anything I could need,” she said. “I find it exciting, and I love being able to venture beyond just this state, interacting and working globally with people from all walks of life and all price ranges. I like being able to jump in and help with whatever my client needs, from buying a home to investment properties.”

ByDWAINHEBDA

I find it exciting, and I love being able to venture beyond just this state, interacting and working globally with people from all walks of life and all price ranges.

Photo by Jamie Lee

KIM FLOYD, MARVA CALDWELL, INEZ REEDER, ANNA KAYE DOVER, KIM ROBBINS, EDEN ROBERTS, TARA NORWOOD, BECKY BIGGS-HARTIN, JERALD GARdNER, LA KESHA CROW, jamie grantham, thomas lipsmeyer, andrea bakewell, stephanie hurst, dana kellerman, kara kellerman, amber cullipher, clark marshall, allison pickell, ryann hilson

not pictured: eleanor foltz day, whitney elmore, sarah kemp, shelby norfleet, lynn pangburn, angelica rogers

real estate

FOREVER CLIENTS Robin Miller

FOSTERING

After nearly four decades in the real estate industry, Robin Miller knows the ins and outs of a transaction and has a knack for fostering “forever clients.” As CEO, owner and principal broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Little Rock, Miller has carefully curated a companywide motto of exuding grace, excellence and trustworthiness in every venture.

“Berkshire Hathaway wants to be the forever agent,” Miller said. “You don’t get a new accountant every time you need taxes done or a new doctor every time you’re sick. You stay with the one you trust. That’s what we want. We want to be people’s real estate experts for life.”

After a lengthy stint as president and principal broker at Coldwell Banker RPM Group and chief operating officer at RPM Group, Miller decided it was time for a change of scenery. In August 2023, Miller sold her RPM partnership and was approached by Berkshire Hathaway, a powerhouse franchise looking to expand to central Arkansas. As a company with values much like her own, she said it was an easy yes.

“The difference is how we’re very agent-centric,” Miller said. “A lot of real estate companies are, ‘Let’s offer a little bit of everything,’ but it ends up being basic, and the agents pay for it anyway. I’m very much like if I take care of the associates that work here, the money will come. My goal is to give them what they need and make sure they have the latest, greatest stuff.”

people, and I ask God to give me discernment about whether someone is a good fit for our team. I don’t want people on my team who aren’t honest. That’s not what we want. We want to be known as professionals and trustworthy.”

As a veteran leader, Miller said that a strong culture comes with a team that stands behind one another. Although her agents may be independent contractors, she works with her team every step of the way inside and outside of the office. For Miller, success is not measured solely in sales but in lives touched and trust earned along the way.

“I love helping people have their best year ever,” Miller said. “Sometimes it’s not about how much money they made — it’s that they felt comfortable enough to take their kids on a two-week vacation or had the support they needed to take care of an elderly parent.”

As she continues to grow Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in central Arkansas, Miller remains steadfast in her mission to create lasting relationships, equip her agents for success, and ensure every client feels cared for not just during a transaction but for life.

“At the end of the day, we’ve had a lot of success, but I really believe it’s because God blessed us,” Miller said. “It’s not so much what I’ve done or how great a leader I am. God blessed this little group of people.”

Photo by Jamie Lee

In January 2024, Miller opened the doors of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices to central Arkansas, and since then, she has carefully crafted a close-knit team of 27. Since the beginning, Miller said, she has selected team members who create trust within the office, a virtue she expects her team to live by.

“I want everybody to know, love and trust each other,” Miller said. “If one of us goes out of town, another can take care of the client, and you don’t have to worry. At some brokerages, people fear others will steal their clients. That is not the culture I want. … We’re a company of honesty and integrity, and we’re trustworthy.”

Building her brand on faith, Miller said success would not be possible without a team that exudes similar ethics, values and practices.

“I’m a strong woman of faith,” Miller said. “I pray before I talk to

ByMARYLESIEUR

Berkshire Hathaway wants to be the forever agent. ... We want to be people's real estate experts for life.

Front Row: Abigail Miller, Suzette Elmore, Jean Hurst, Meredith Elizondo Back Row: Mark Shoptaw, Amy Glover-Bryant, Scott Sandlin, Courtney Rice, Robin J. Miller, Nikki Funk, Kenny Van Patten, Kevin Daugherty

Front Row: Abigail Miller, Suzette Elmore, Jean Hurst, Meredith Elizondo Back Row: Mark Shoptaw, Amy Glover-Bryant, Scott Sandlin, Courtney Rice, Robin J. Miller, Nikki Funk, Kenny Van Patten, Kevin Daugherty

Front Row: Abigail Miller, Suzette Elmore, Jean Hurst, Meredith Elizondo Back Row: Mark Shoptaw, Amy Glover-Bryant, Scott Sandlin, Courtney Rice, Robin J. Miller, Nikki Funk, Kenny Van Patten, Kevin Daugherty

John and Jena Selva

POWER COUPLE

To John and Jena Selva, real estate is more than a transaction — it is a craft. As the first licensed partners to bring Engel & Völkers to Arkansas, they have cultivated a unique approach to real estate ventures by offering every client an exceptional and unparalleled experience.

Before the Selva name became synonymous with high-end real estate, the husband-and-wife team worked in separate industries. After years of service in the Navy and a short stint in the corporate world, John ventured into real estate during one of the most turbulent times in housing market history — the 2008 market crash.

“In 2008, the whole world almost collapsed,” John said. “We survived, and I like to tell people we survived because of the level of service that we gave our clients.”

Jena soon followed suit. After years of working as a full-time dietician, part-time agent and full-time mom, she decided to pursue her career as a Realtor fully. Her background instilled meticulous attention to detail and a gift for anticipating unspoken needs which became her trademark. The Selvas then started Pulaski Heights Realty in Little Rock in 2007, a brokerage they grew with dedication and a hands-on approach.

In 2018, they took a bold step by aligning with Engel & Völkers, a luxury real estate brand recognized globally for its refined marketing, network of elite advisors and white-glove service.

what a real estate team should look like. Instead of chasing numbers, they have built a collective defined by expertise, integrity and an unwavering standard of service.

Bringing the brand to Arkansas was a major move for the realty power couple due to the firm’s prominence on the East and West coasts. Opening in Little Rock made a bold statement, and they felt the brand was different from others who had approached them.

Signing on at the end of 2018, the pair launched in 2019 and opened their second office in 2021.

The Selvas said launching a new shop just months before the COVID-19 pandemic was a trial by fire, yet the venture did not just survive; it thrived. The couple’s focus never wavered from delivering exceptional service, no matter how unpredictable the market became.

“Markets change,” Jena said, “but the level of care you provide should never change.

“We knew if we kept our clients informed, protected and confident, they would trust us in good markets and in tough ones.”

At Engel & Völkers Little Rock, the Selvas have reimagined

Their approach extends to every property they represent. From timeless homes in the Heights to contemporary west Little Rock builds and expansive countryside retreats, each listing receives a customized marketing strategy via curated staging, magazine-quality photography and campaigns designed to capture the essence of a home.

“We’re very service focused on what the individual clients’ needs are, what their wants are and their aspirations beyond just selling a house,” Jena said. “We tailor our service to make sure we’re getting their questions answered and we’re looking out for things they might not be aware of that can become an issue.”

From their early days navigating market uncertainty to introducing Arkansas to one of the world’s most prestigious real estate brands, the couple has built more than a business; they have built a reputation for excellence, reshaping what clients expect from the home-buying and selling experience. As the Selvas expand Engel & Völkers Little Rock, one truth remains constant: Every client, every home and every story matters.

ByMARYLESIEUR

Markets change, but the level of care you provide should never change. — Jena Selva

Photo courtesy of Engel & Völkers

Front row: Myranda Grulke, April Findlay, Jonie Burks, Sheryl McKelvey, Courtney Corwin, Mandy Jackson.

Second row: Heather McNeil, Amber Gibbons, Jowaun Wright, Tiffany Lindsey, Jill Childers, Gayle Doll, Matty Ross, David Austin, Michelle Miller, Stacie Corbitt, Jenn Cook, Emily Young, Tami Cooper, Mollie Birch, Brandy Jones, Erica Ibsen, Margaret Holt. Not pictured: Jeff Ledbetter.

Mitsy Tharp and Holly Driver

With a combined 32 years of experience in the real estate industry, Signature Properties owners Mitsy Tharp and Holly Driver emphasize the importance of teamwork, community outreach and client satisfaction in every workday.

The woman-owned and woman-led group prides itself on looking beyond a transaction to what it can accomplish and offer within its community in both small and monumental ways.

“We want our agents to be involved in their community, whether it’s their church or some kind of other affiliations, like Rotary or on boards to help serve the community,” Driver said. “We focus our agents on doing things like community service.”

Prior to their careers in the real estate industry, Driver and Tharp operated in completely different professions. Tharp spent her early beginnings working in pharmaceutical sales and marketing but decided to switch to a career in real estate after considering investing in properties.

Driver was a teacher in the North Little Rock School District for nine years until she decided to join forces with her husband, a residential builder. Although she assumed she would return to teaching at some point, she fell in love with the real estate profession and pursued it.

A WINNING PARTNERSHIP

The pair met while working at Keller Williams, and after years of working in leadership roles, they pursued creating their own company. In 2014, Tharp, Driver and three other Keller Williams employees launched Aspire Realty in Little Rock, a boutique-style company that was the right fit for their skill sets and their personalities.

After cultivating and growing Aspire for eight years, Tharp and Driver were struck by a new entrepreneurial spirit. Bidding farewell to Aspire, the powerhouse entrepreneurs started Signature Properties, incorporating similar principles from Aspire with fewer owners.

“We took tons of stuff that we had there, but then we improved it,” Tharp said. “We wanted to spend money in different ways — better websites, better things to give to our agents. We just wanted to reallocate the way we were spending money.”

Leaning into the Little Rock market was their biggest goal, a characteristic their brand exudes in its community ties and outreach.

“We’re here to serve our community,” Tharp said. “It’s just so important to be really involved within the community that we serve. You get to know more about the city. You get to know more about how things work.”

The service-oriented duo organizes at least four volunteer projects a year, emphasizing their care for the community and eagerness to make change happen. Over the years, their team has worked on volunteer projects with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana, various food banks across Arkansas, veterans and active-duty military members, and local property cleanups.

Both Tharp and Driver have held various board committee

positions and have continuously won awards for their incomparable work. Their example of involvement and caring has become an ethos for the company, cultivating positivity and a willingness among employees to be team players.

“We’ve always said our culture is one of the most important things we can cultivate and protect within our company,” Tharp said. “One of the most important things Holly and I do is to make sure our culture is good and that we have an environment that our agents feel safe in.”

ByMARYLESIEUR

We’re here to serve our community. It’s just so important to be really involved within the community that we serve. You get to know more about the city. You get to know more about how things work.

Driver, left, and Tharp (Photo courtesy of Signature Properties)

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GET TO KNOW ME

Dana Patterson-Sims is an accomplished Executive Broker and one of the most respected real estate professionals in Little Rock and across Arkansas. With deep-rooted knowledge of Central Arkansas’ communities and culture, she pairs her expertise with a refined, strategic approach—delivering exceptional guidance to both clients and customers.

REALTORS® of the Year

Being a REALTOR® is about more than selling homes. It requires adaptability, resilience, and a deep commitment to the work. From latenight and weekend showings to fielding texts and calls around the clock, REALTORS® dedicate themselves fully to serving their clients. The individuals recognized here embody that dedication and so much more. Each has been nominated by their local board or association for Arkansas REALTOR® of the Year, in honor of their outstanding achievements and their service to the communities they proudly represent. Selection is made by the Arkansas REALTORS® Association, with the award granted to the REALTOR® who has contributed most to the advancement of the profession and the community during the year. The program honors members’ dedication, showcases their impact to the public, identifies future leaders, and inspires a spirit of healthy competition within organized real estate.

SARAH LEDFORD JOE TAYLOR

BRANDY CHAPMAN

REALTORS® of the Year

Harrison District Board of REALTORS®

United Country Property Connections

Hot Springs Village Board of REALTORS®

Hot Springs Board of REALTORS®

NEDRA PLUMLEE

Crye-Leike REALTORS®

Johnson County Board of REALTORS®

KELLY BURLESON CRYSTAL HARDERSON

McGraw REALTORS®

Little Rock REALTORS® Association

Century 21 Glover Town & Country

Mena Area Board of REALTORS®

SMALLWOOD MATTY ROSS

The Charlotte John Company

North Central Board of REALTORS®

LORI LAWHEAD

RE/MAX Mena Real Estate

Northeast Arkansas Board of REALTORS®

Select Properties

KEVIN

AMELIA J. HAY

Peglar Real Estate Group

JEFF PRATT

REALTORS® of the Year

Northwest Arkansas Board of REALTORS®

ALICIA DEMAREST

Lindsey & Associates

Searcy Board of REALTORS®

JAMES DILLARD

Texarkana Board of REALTORS®

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Infinity

Paragould Board of REALTORS®

Johnson Real Estate Group

South Central Arkansas REALTORS® Association

United Country Natural State Home & Land Warnock Real Estate LLC

JONATHAN DIXON

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy REALTORS®

Tri-County Board of REALTORS®

Western River Valley Board of REALTORS®

JANELLE DYER

LAURA SACKETT CLUTE

Ozark Gateway Realty OGW LLC

AMANDA ABLES

JOEY SEIBERT

Serving Central Arkansas from Hot Springs to Little Rock, Staci Medlock delivers expert negotiation, sharp style and relentless hustle. From luxury estates to first-time buyers, she provides personalized service and proven results.

Looking for the best? Call the name everyone remembers.

AY About You is proud to present its 2025 Best Realtors listing, celebrating the best that Arkansas’ real estate market has to offer. The following professionals occupy an industry that we are proud and humbled to admire. For as much as we staple ourselves on being about you, the best Realtors operate under the same mission, delivering families forever homes while at the same time turning partnerships into lifelong relationships.

AY’s Best Realtors is a list tallied from hundreds of nominations and votes cast by you, our readers. If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, these honorees will get the job done.

Congratulations to this year's honorees!

Kim Wilichowski

1 Percent Lists Arkansas Real Estate

Jeremy Cupp

12 Stones NWA, Brokered by Coldwell

Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette

Jeff Kennedy

1st Choice Realty

Shelly McDonald

1st Choice Realty

Tara Dixon

1st Choice Realty Hot Springs

Archie VanGorder

1st Choice Realty Hot Springs

Ana Bridges

AB Realty

Paul Amponsah Access Realty

Dennis Adkins

Adkins & Associates

Jennifer Adkins

Adkins & Associates

Belinda Burrier

Advantage Property Management

Lacey Gramling

Arkansas Elite Realty

Susan Penn

Arkansas Elite Realty

Melissa Glidden

Arkansas Home Collective Realty

Courtney McNally

Arkansas Home Collective Realty

Trey Clifton

Arkansas Land & Realty

Jonathan Stone

Arkanss Land & Realty

Kyle Hood

Arkansas Real Estate Collective

Eddie Bailey

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Sarah Bailey

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Jessica Baxter

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Lindsey Blaylock

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Krystina Bullard

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Jared Coleman

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Maggie Emerson

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Rachel Furrer

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

James Harkins

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Barbara Jordan

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Amy Landers

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Elisabeth Roedel

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Jessica Rogers

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Kirt Thomas

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Francesca Tolson

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Joanna White

Bailey & Co. Real Estate

Mary Bassett

Bassett Mix & Associates

Jesse Baxley

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Tom Baxley

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Jennifer Carter

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Mark Chilton

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Kim Creighton

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Jonathan Dixon

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Dan Moudy

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Charles Penfield

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Lance Penfield

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Layne Penfield

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors

Amy Glover Bryant

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Kevin Daugherty

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Meredith Elizondo

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Suzette Elmore

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Nikki Funk

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Jean Hurst

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Abigail Miller

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Robin J. Miller

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Courtney Rice

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Scott Sandlin

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Mark Shoptaw

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Kenny Van Patten

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Arkansas Realty

Amanda Ables

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Marion Aust

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Ellie Combs

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Natalie Edwards

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Mayer Team

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

DuWayne Futch

Big Red Realty

Lydia McCarthy

Big Red Realty

Ryan Blackstone

Blackstone & Co. Real Estate

Cody Burnett

Burnett Real Estate Team

David Erstine

CBRE — Fayetteville

Becky Allred

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Susan Desselle

Capital Sotheby’s International Realty

Maradyth McKenzie

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Chris Marsh

Capital Sotheby’s International Realty

Karen Moulton

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Dale Carlton, JD

Carlton Realty

Crystal Harderson

Century 21 Glover Town & Country

Amber Green

Century 21 Heartfelt Homes

Colista Cevela

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Amanda Powell

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Courtney Stott

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Justin DuBar

Century 21 Portfolio

Stacy Murry

Century 21 Portfolio

Patti Reed

Century 21 United

Vicki Templeton

Century 21 United

Leslie Morris

Chenal Properties

Michelle Sanders

Chenal Properties

Mimi DeVol

Coldwell Banker

Harris McHaney & Faucette

Sherry Hardie

Coldwell Banker

Harris McHaney & Faucette

Kelsie Hinson

Coldwell Banker

Harris McHaney & Faucette

Patsy Simmons

Coldwell Banker

Harris McHaney & Faucette

Andrea G. Bakewell

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Becky Biggs-Hartin

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Marva Caldwell

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

LaKesha Crow

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Amber Cullipher

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Eleanor Day

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Hallie Dennis

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Anna Kaye Dover

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Whitney Elmore

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Kim Floyd

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Jerald Gardner

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Jamie Grantham

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Ryann Hilson

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Stephanie Hurst

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Dana Kellerman

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Kara Kellerman

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Sarah Kemp

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Thomas Lipsmeyer

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Clark Marshall

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Shelby Norfleet

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Tara Norwood

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Lynn Pangburn

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Allison Pickell

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Melinda Purvis

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Inez Reeder

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Kim Robbins

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Eden Roberts

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Angelica Rogers

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Karen Upton

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Russell Wren

Coldwell Banker Village Communities

Jill Bell

Collier & Associates

Nicky Dean

Collier & Associates

Margaret Schloss

Collier & Associates

Jim Irwin

Colliers | Arkansas

Todd Rice

Colliers | Arkansas

Andrea Andrews

Compass Rose Realty, Jonesboro

Lenore Cottrell

Concierge Realty NWA

Amanda Gainey

Concierge Realty NWA

Toby Crawford

Crawford Real Estate and Associates

Joe Taylor

Crye-Leike Batesville Real Estate Center

Annette Gore

Crye-Leike Bentonville

Jean Lance

Crye-Leike Bentonville

DelRae Ricardi

Crye-Leike Brock Real Estate

Kim Ngân Phan

Crye-Leike Bryant

Brian Dandy

Crye-Leike Fayetteville

Delton Williams

Crye-Leike Gentry

Karol Bailes

Crye-Leike Hot Springs

Clark Kitchens

Crye-Leike Hot Springs

Nedra Plumlee

Crye-Leike Hot Springs

Scott Smith

Crye-Leike Hot Springs

Sherry Smith

Crye-Leike Hot Springs

Valerie Moran

Crye-Leike Kanis Road

Kristi Brawley

Crye-Leike Marion

Lisa Holloway-Sugg

Crye-Leike Maumelle

Donna Ibbotson

Crye-Leike Maumelle

LuAnn Campbell

Crye-Leike North Little Rock

Roe Team

Crye-Leike Pleasant Grove

Doug Gibson

Crye-Leike Rogers

Micah Carpenter

Curtis Realty Group

Brian Curtis

Curtis Realty Group

Adam Hubbell

Curtis Realty Group

Daniel Rodriguez

Daniel Rodriguez-Epique Realty

David Kirkland

David Dalton Real Estate, licensed under Danali Real Estate

Scott Deaton

Deaton Group Realty

Debbie Donham

Donham Realty

Amber Wilson

Donham Realty

Ashley Branch

Edge Realty

Caleigh Dumas

Edge Realty

Corbin Kidd

Edge Realty

Tamara Miles

Edge Realty

Shane Stogsdill

Edge Realty

Jim Young

Edge Realty

Greg Hughes

Elite Realty

Bethany Avery

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

JoJo Carter

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

Laura Gerstner

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

Victoria Killough

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

Jena Selva

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

John Selva

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

Ryan Stephens

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

Lindsey Talbert

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

Laura Westendorf

Engel & Völkers Little Rock

Sarah Meyer

EPIC Real Estate

Jen Meyer-Harper

EPIC Real Estate

Shelli Stine

EPIC Real Estate

Taylor Baker

Equity Partners Realty

Stephanie Hall

Equity Partners Realty

Ryan Russell

Equity Partners Realty

Kerri Turner

Equity Partners Realty

Beau Durbin

ESQ Realty Group

Shawna French ESQ Realty Group

Jerry Larkowski, JD ESQ Realty Group

Taylor Ransdell

ESQ Realty Group

Jeffery Vaughn

ESQ Realty Group

Mark Braziel Evermark Realty Group

Deanna Crook

Exit Realty Harper Carlton Group

Laura Labay

eXp Realty — Team GoGo

Cindy Cooper Trammel Fathom Realty

Jimmy Williams

Fathom Realty

Jill Beasley

First Star Realty

Shelley Dowell

First Star Realty

Brett Hash

First Star Realty

Melissa Sims

First Star Realty

William Payne

Flat Fee Realty

Clinton Bennett

Focus Commercial Real Estate

Ashley Cook Gateway Properties

Amber Latimer

Gibson Real Estate

Joseph Long

Gibson Real Estate

Nicholas Rhoads

Gibson Real Estate

Jared Smith

Gibson Real Estate

Kelly Dowdy

Goodwin & Herman Associates

George "G.T." Ikard

Grace Realty

Dione Jessup

Halsey Real Estate Benton

Cass Harris

Harris Heights Realty

Sarah Wingate

HomeQuest Realty

Anthony Walker

Homeward Realty

Hope Hartness

Hope & Co Realty

Bert Bailey Hot Springs Realty

Tammy Bates

Hot Springs Realty

Landon Carter Hot Springs Realty

Adam Casteel

Hot Springs Realty

John Cooksey Hot Springs Realty

Valerie Cooper

Hot Springs Realty

Scott Garibay Hot Springs Realty

Fay Garner

Hot Springs Realty

Audrey Gibson

Hot Springs Realty

Glen Hartliep

Hot Springs Realty

Joy Hayes

Hot Springs Realty

Harolyn Holmes

Hot Springs Realty

Mary Jo Johnson

Hot Springs Realty

Bob Pfautz

Hot Springs Realty

Robert Pfautz, Jr.

Hot Springs Realty

Brandy Chapman

Howell-Rickett Real Estate Professionals

Callie Bell

iRealty

Lora Blair iRealty

Sam Carrasquillo iRealty

Tamika Edwards iRealty

Austin Evans iRealty

Kelly Fernandez

iRealty

Austin Franks iRealty

Alexia Frederick iRealty

Denise Hipskind iRealty

Christine Johnson iRealty

Jon Kennon iRealty

Kristen Kennon iRealty

Alice King iRealty

Sara Lynn iRealty

Aleisha McIntire iRealty

Louis Petit iRealty

Brittany Rasdon iRealty

Rachel Rushing iRealty

Jennifer Smart iRealty

Blake Sumner iRealty

John Hagberg

John Sells NWA Real Estate/Collier & Associates

Joey Seibert

Johnson Real Estate Group

Donna Carlson

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Brandy Harp

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Rennie Jenkins

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Kelly McConnell

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Stephanie Tharp

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Jon Underhill

Jon Underhill Real Estate

The Duley Group

Keller Williams Realty

The Hagan Group

Keller Williams Realty

Carl Bell

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Langston Carr

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Tracy Cryder

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Kerry Ellison

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Becky Finney

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Karl Freeman

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Lolly Honea & Michelle Honea-Frueauff

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Johnny Mitchum

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Gwendolyn Parker

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Christy Robinson

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

The Sumbles Team

Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Monica & Jeremy Ibison

Keller Williams Platinum Realty

Trina Frank

Keller Williams Realty Trina Team

Carly Garland

Keller Williams Realty Trina Team

Kelley Cullen

Kelley Cullen Real Estate, Brokered by Collier & Associates

Kendall Riggins

Kendall Riggins & Associates

Kendra Murphy

Kendra & Co. Realty

Connie Alford

Lake Hamilton Realty

Deborah Libby

Lake Hamilton Realty

Dayton Myers

Lake Hamilton Realty

Heather Vaughn

Lake Hamilton Realty

Sally Adams

Lake Homes Realty

Rachelle McClard

Lake Homes Realty

Niki Frogg

Landmark Real Estate & Investment

Jim Gallagher

Landmark Real Estate & Investment

Aaron Hawes

Landmark Real Estate & Investment

Daniel Hawes

Landmark Real Estate & Investment

Rick Hawes

Landmark Real Estate & Investment

Jerry Noland

Landmark Real Estate & Investment

Lauren McClure

Lauren McClure Real Estate

Keith Marrs

Legend Realty

Brooks Jansen

Level Up Realty

Somer Adams

Lindsey & Associates

Alicia Demarest

Lindsey & Associates

Rachel Fulfer

Lindsey & Associates

Martha Haguewood

Lindsey & Associates

Angela Warner

Lindsey & Associates

Tabatha Davis Live.Love.Arkansas

Colley Bailey

LoneRock Realty

Chrissy Dougherty Lotus Realty

Tara Helgestad Lotus Realty

Main St. Team

Main St. Real Estate

Amy Baker McGraw Realtors

Angela Banks McGraw Realtors

Susan Bariola

McGraw Realtors

Paul Barkley McGraw Realtors

Megan Billingsley McGraw Realtors

Amber Bowers McGraw Realtors

Amy Brown McGraw Realtors

Kelly Burleson

McGraw Realtors

Wilson & Burton McGraw Realtors

Susie Cordell McGraw Realtors

Tracy Cravey McGraw Realtors

Royce Duncan McGraw Realtors

Kimberly Gaines McGraw Realtors

Cheryl Gentry

McGraw Realtors

Allison Gibson McGraw Realtors

Sheila Goslee McGraw Realtors

Amy Gossman

McGraw Realtors

Sherry Hamby McGraw Realtors

Tonia Hobbs McGraw Realtors

Blake Hudson McGraw Realtors

Karen Hudspeth McGraw Realtors

Allen Jones

McGraw Realtors

Kayla Jones McGraw Realtors

Lisa Kraps

McGraw Realtors

Paul Lafleur McGraw Realtors

Ashley Layfield

McGraw Realtors

Angie MacFarlane

McGraw Realtors

Michael Mathes

McGraw Realtors

Renee McDougal

McGraw Realtors

Abbi Netzel

McGraw Realtors

Angela & Lance Pelton Team

McGraw Realtors

Wayne Post

McGraw Realtors

Lindsey Reeves

McGraw Realtors

Lindsey Roddy McGraw Realtors

Jonathan Rowley McGraw Realtors

Svetlana Simmons McGraw Realtors

Lauren Smith

McGraw Realtors

Susie Sparkman McGraw Realtors

Bob Sweeten

McGraw Realtors

Haley Ward McGraw Realtors

Michele Woods

McGraw Realtors

Jeff McKenzie

McKenzie Realty Group

Mark McKenzie

McKenzie Realty Group

Kathy Namour

McKenzie Realty Group

Carla Scarbrough

McKenzie Realty Group

Michelle Hagerman

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Becky Looper

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Marilyn McKimmey

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Brooks McRae

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Connie Nutt

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Jessica Selig

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Chad Taylor

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Stan McLellan

McLellan & Associates Real Estate Group

Misty McMullen

McMullen Realty Group

Don McNaughton

McNaughton Real Estate

Tonya Bagwell

Meyers Realty

Shirley Anderson Jones

Meyers Realty

Tina Newsome

Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors

Lizzi Phillips

Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors

Michele Phillps

Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors

Karen Thornton

Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors

Terry Keck

Michele Phillips & Co. RealtorsThe Property Sisters

Gina Myers-Gunderman

Michele Phillips & Co. RealtorsThe Property Sisters

Kari Clay

Mid South Realty

Debbie Shamlin

Mid South Realty

Crystal Beatty

Modern Realty Group

Patti Bennett

Modern Realty Group

Amanda Mercer

Modern Realty Group

Tiffany O'Dwyer

Modern Realty Group

TJ Mohler

Mohler NWA Homes

Aaron Brewer

Mountain Vista Real Estate

Claire Brown

Move Realty

Eric Eby & Amanda Buck

Naturally NWA Home Team

Marcus Necessary

Necessary Real Estate Group

Heather Keenen

Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors

Stephen Brooks NWA Real Estate HUB Team

Ronnie Davidson

NWA Realty and Property Management

Aaron O'Neal O'Neal Real Estate

Brent Owens

Owens Realty & Auction

Laura Sackett Clute

Ozark Gateway Realty OGW

John Tate

Ozark Gateway Realty OGW

Jose Esparza

PAK Home Realty

Sarah Ledford

Patriot Co. Real Estate

Lori Lawhead

Peglar Real Estate Group

Ray Ellen Pixel Properties

Matthew Ferrell Pixel Properties

Amber McGoogan Pixel Properties

Sara Thorpe Pixel Properties

Monica Hale Plush Homes Co.-Realtors

Alicia Averitt Haley PorchLight Realty

William Michaels PorchLight Realty

Tonya Perkins PorchLight Realty

Lauren Boozman Northey

Portfolio Sotheby's International Realty

Dee Rodes

Portfolio Sotheby's International Realty

Tim Wang Team

Prestige Management & Realty

Mike Parker

Prime Real Estate & Development

Lindsay Ermann

Public Realty

Scott Vise

Rainbow Realty

Mandy Rawls

Rawls-Campbell Agency

The Moldenhauer Group

RE/MAX Associates

Megan Cain

RE/MAX Elite Conway

Matt Grissom

RE/MAX Elite Conway

Robin Jones

RE/MAX Elite Conway

Staci Medlock

RE/MAX Elite North Little Rock

Veolette Pennington

RE/MAX Homefinders-Jacksonville

Mindy Strand

RE/MAX Homefinders-Jacksonville

Patricia Bollier

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Susie Burns

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Jane Hollansworth

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Kevin Smallwood

RE/MAX Mena Real Estate

Val Hansen

RE/MAX Properties: Val Hansen Team

Jody Huffmaster

RE/MAX Real Estate Connection

Kimberly Minor

RE/Max Real Estate Results

Bob Dodson

RE/MAX Unlimited

MaryAnne Campbell

RE501 Realtor Partners

Lisa Coulter

RE501 Realtor Partners

Joanne Homeyer

RE501 Realtor Partners

Kathy Kane

RE501 Realtor Partners

Dana Patterson-Sims

RE501 Realtor Partners

Lila Pearsall

RE501 Realtor Partners

Allison Phillips

RE501 Realtor Partners

Tiffany Hoffman Smith

RE501 Realtor Partners

Andrew Webre

RE501 Realtor Partners

Lee Ward

Realty Concepts

Reagen Kirkland

Realty Studio

Courtney Kohrs

Resource Realty

Rebecca Seyller

Rice Realty

Jamie Hoffman

River Rock Realty Company —

Hoffman Team

Stephen Inman-Crawley

Rix Realty

Chris Rix

Rix Realty

Elizabeth Rowe

Rowe Real Estate

Reed Gibbons

RPM Group

Amelia J. Hay

Select Properties

Michelle Blalock

Signature Properties

Amy Bush

Signature Properties

Jay Calhoun

Signature Properties

Haley Davis

Signature Properties

Diana Dominguez

Signature Properties

Holly Driver

Signature Properties

Lanie Driver

Signature Properties

Tracy Norwood

Signature Properties

Ashley Parker

Signature Properties

Megan Seyler

Signature Properties

Lee Smith

Signature Properties

Mitsy Tharp

Signature Properties

Tracie Walker

Signature Properties

Ranae Ward

Signature Properties

Candice Whitlock

Signature Properties

Bill Williams

Signature Properties

DJ Williams

Signature Properties

Elizabeth Douglas

Simplicity Real Estate Solutions

Renita Trumbo

SoHo eXp-NWA Branch

Sarah Gersch

Southern Homes Realty

Gene Tabor

TABOR Real Estate

Sarah Barnett

Taylor Realty Group

Kimberly Taylor

Taylor Realty Group

Tyrone & Andrea Parmelee

Team Parmelee Real Estate

Calah Andelman

The Agency Northwest Arkansas

David Austin

The Charlotte John Co.

Mollie Birch

The Charlotte John Co.

Jonie Burks

The Charlotte John Co.

Jill Childers

The Charlotte John Co.

Jenn Cook

The Charlotte John Co.

Tami Cooper

The Charlotte John Co.

Stacie Corbitt

The Charlotte John Co.

Courtney Corwin

The Charlotte John Co.

Gayle Doll

The Charlotte John Co.

April Findlay

The Charlotte John Co.

Amber Gibbons

The Charlotte John Co.

Myranda Grulke

The Charlotte John Co.

Margaret Holt

The Charlotte John Co.

Erica Ibsen

The Charlotte John Co.

Mandy Jackson

The Charlotte John Co.

Charlotte John

The Charlotte John Co.

Brandy Jones

The Charlotte John Co.

Jeff Ledbetter

The Charlotte John Co.

Tiffany Lindsey

The Charlotte John Co.

Sheryl McKelvey

The Charlotte John Co.

Heather McNeil

The Charlotte John Co.

Michelle Miller

The Charlotte John Co.

Matty Ross

The Charlotte John Co.

Amanda Shue

The Charlotte John Co.

Jowaun Wright

The Charlotte John Co.

Emily Young

The Charlotte John Co.

Christopher Dinwiddie, JD

The Exclusive Real Estate Group

David Hall

The Goff Group Real Estate Co.

Haleigh Horner

The Goff Group Real Estate Co.

Lauren Muller

The Goff Group Real Estate Co.

Chris Polychron

The Goff Group Real Estate Co.

Molly Radhakrishnan

The Goff Group Real Estate Co.

Alyssa Scott

The Goff Group Real Estate Co.

Ashley Boyd

The Heritage Group

Dustin Turner

The Home Team at eXp Realty

Bob Bushmiaer

The Janet Jones Company

Shawn Clark

The Janet Jones Company

Tanya Craft

The Janet Jones Company

Mary Crismon

The Janet Jones Company

Donna Dailey

The Janet Jones Company

Lynn Dickey

The Janet Jones Company

Sarah Duke

The Janet Jones Company

Joanna Fureigh

The Janet Jones Company

Conley Golden

The Janet Jones Company

Kelly Johnson

The Janet Jones Company

We’re truly thankful for the recognition as AY’s Best Realtors. This honor is a testament to the trust and support of our incredible clients. Your success motivates us, and we look forward to continuing to serve you with the dedication that earned this recognition. Thank you for letting us be a part of your journey.

Casey Jones

The Janet Jones Company

Margaret King

The Janet Jones Company

Catherine Langley

The Janet Jones Company

Sarah Beth Lowe

The Janet Jones Company

Denise Luft

The Janet Jones Company

Susan Reynolds

The Janet Jones Company

Dawn Scott

The Janet Jones Company

Debbie Teague

The Janet Jones Company

Shannon Treece

The Janet Jones Company

Angela Rhodes

The Legacy Team

Phillip Bridges

The Property Group

Cara Hazlewood

The Property Group

Kristen Hinson

The Property Group

Hannah Howe

The Property Group

Margaret Bell Hughes

The Property Group

Nikolas Jefferson

The Property Group

Robert Klein

The Property Group

Nate Perry

The Property Group

John Porter

The Property Group

Abbie Stalnaker

The Property Group

Dana Yates

The Property Group

Megan Banks

The Sudar Group

Lily Dighero

The Sudar Group

Shelby Finch

The Sudar Group

Ravonne John

The Sudar Group

Brenda Maxwell

The Sudar Group

Mika McKinney

The Sudar Group

Rhonda Porter

The Sudar Group

Charity Stevens

The Sudar Group

Corrine Sudar

The Sudar Group

Alexis White Sullivan

The Sudar Group

Charlene Wade

The Sudar Group

Gina Washburn

The Sudar Group

Shannon West

The Sudar Group

MaKaila Wilson

The Sudar Group

Kate Gaffigan

The Summit Home Team Realtors

Ryan Hill

The Virtual Realty Group

Bart Hester

Third Street Realty Services

Rick Marshall

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Sharon Tremor

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Marsha Baker

Trademark Real Estate

Jenny Bledsoe

Trademark Real Estate

Bethany Brasfield

Trademark Real Estate

Tammy Browning

Trademark Real Estate

Melissa Chadick

Trademark Real Estate

Jan Culp

Trademark Real Estate

George Dooley

Trademark Real Estate

Ron & Jan Galloway

Trademark Real Estate

Cindy Gildner

Trademark Real Estate

David Hanson

Trademark Real Estate

Judy Hanson

Trademark Real Estate

Debi Jones

Trademark Real Estate

Wendy Landes

Trademark Real Estate

Debbie Mills Matlock

Trademark Real Estate

Rachel Mundy

Trademark Real Estate

Vianey Soria

Trademark Real Estate

Jeff Clifton

True North Realty Group

Cody & Kyndra Hill

True North Realty Group

Chris Hinkle

True North Realty Group

James Pratt

True North Realty Group

Daniel Short

True North Realty Group

Joe Barnett

Twin Oaks Realty

Sam Costner

Twin Oaks Realty

Stan Oller

Twin Oaks Realty

Clay Osbon

Twin Oaks Realty

Dan Schwieder

Twin Oaks Realty

Tracy Stephens

United Country NWA Real Estate

James Dillard

United Country Natural State Home & Land

Jeff Pratt

United Country Property Connections

Jeff Van Patten

Van Patten & Co.

Janelle Dyer

Warnock Real Estate

Zach Brothers

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Heather Campbell

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Marcy Chavez

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Yuliya Colvin

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Sandra Kelley

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Charlotte King

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Christopher King

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Brandon Long

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Beckie Seba

Weichert Realtors — The Griffin Co.

Lance Arguello

White Stone Real Estate

Keely Sanders

White Stone Real Estate

Care Team

White Stone Real Estate

Brittni Terlecki

White Stone Real Estate

Tracey Wheelington

White Stone Real Estate

Amber White

White Stone Real Estate

Destiny Wilson

White Stone Real Estate

Karen Wright

White Stone Real Estate

Connor Wilkerson

Wilkerson Real Estate Co.

From left to right standing are Gina Gunderman & Terry Keck (The Property Sisters), Karen Thornton, Tina Newsome, Lizzi Phillips. Seated is Michele Phillips.

DreamSweetS

are made of this

Dessert options abound throughout the Natural State

By DOUG CRISE

it is a late Thursday morning in Conway, and a summer shower spits rain on the windows of Julie’s Sweet Shoppe & Bakery. The sun will soon poke out and turn the air into a steambath, but inside Julie’s, cool air and pleasant smells wash over the staff. The breakfast rush, complete with regulars who have been coming by for years, has just ended.

A lone customer is at the counter picking up a custom order. She opens the lid of the box, peeks inside, and her eyes grow wide.

“Oh my,” she said, a smile breaking across her face. “You guys have gone above and beyond.”

Running a bakery is not easy — or at least, running one the right way is not easy. It is an upbefore-dawn commitment that requires creative thinkers, a skilled kitchen staff and a dependence on old-fashioned word of mouth.

“The donut team usually comes in at 1 or 2 in the morning,” said Jennifer Krodell, manager of Rick’s Bakery in Fayetteville. “The finishers and bakers, it’s about the same. They’re usually here by 2 or 3 in the morning. You’ve got to start early.”

When it comes to food in Arkansas, the traditional Southern-fried staples apply, but Arkansans have long held a deep love for fresh-baked desserts, as evidenced by the staying power of the state’s best bakeries. Rick’s opened its doors in 1980, and Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets in Keo started in 1993. Community Bakery in Little Rock, possibly the dean of Arkansas bakeries, started business in 1947.

(Photo courtesy of Rick's Bakery)

The food industry is full of transitions, restaurants opening and closing on a weekly basis, but the state’s best bakeries have been a model of longevity. When dessert lovers find a favorite place, they tend to stick with it.

“That’s why we do it,” said Steve Lewandowski, who co-owns Blue Cake Co. in Little Rock with his wife, Jan. “When somebody leaves a review or compliments us, it’s like you get chills. It’s a good feeling, even after 20 years.”

John Brandenberger and his wife, Juli, purchased Community Bakery in 2019. One of the things he learned quickly was that figuring out what customers wanted was the easy part. The challenge, he said, was in delivering the kind of quality customers have expected for decades and doing so on a day-by-day basis.

“No. 1 is consistency,” Brandenberger said. “Unfortunately, when people buy a brand or a business, often, those people want to put their own spin on it, and I get it. It’s my money, so I’m going to put my thumbprint all over this thing. Juli and I, when we bought the bakery, we recognized we’re just stewards of the brand.”

That does not mean there is not room for creative thinking — quite the opposite. Making the daily batch of donuts, cupcakes and pies is one thing, but bakeries often build their reputations on custom orders and that can range from simple cookies to full-on wedding cakes.

“They might want a glazed donut with sprinkles or a chocolate donut with Heath bar or something along that line,” said Whitney

Stodart, co-owner of Julie’s. “We just try our best to make it happen, whatever the customer is requesting.”

Custom cakes are a speciality over at Blue Cake Co. Lewandowski joked that the process has made him age prematurely, but the process is no joke. Hiring and training skilled decora-

tors is a time-consuming process, and it does not take much for a simple custom job request to turn into an all-nighter.

“We get a lot of orders,” Lewandowski said. “If someone were to get sick, I’m there all night. The first five or six years of the business, we were there Friday overnight into Saturday. We’d get a few hours of sleep and be done at the end of the day Saturday.”

Rick’s Bakery also does booming business with custom jobs. The key, Krodell said, lies in finding and keeping talent.

“We have six incredible decorators right now,” Krodell said. “We work really hard to train them here.”

All say the work is necessary to preserve hard-earned reputations. Some bakeries will maintain websites, and others depend on social media to get the word out, but their backbone is repeat customers who have been coming for years or even decades.

“For years, people did not know this place had changed hands,” Brandenberger said. “They had no concept of that, and that is by design, so consistency is a big deal for us.”

Nowhere does word of mouth matter more than Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets. Nestled in Keo, a hiccup of a town on the outskirts of Lonoke County, Charlotte’s sits in a tiny square that oozes small-town charm. It is by

“When somebody leaves a review or compliments us, it’s like you get chills. It’s a good feeling, even after 20 years.”

— Steve Lewandowski, co-owner Blue Cake Co.

Charlotte's Eats & Sweets (Photo by Sarah Reeves)

no means an outpost — a drive from downtown Little Rock clocks in at under half an hour — but it does rely on customers who are devoted enough to make repeated trips and tell their friends.

“Everybody thinks it’s a long drive out here,” said Kesa Sharp, who purchased Charlotte’s last September. “It’s just a really boring drive. It’s not very long. We’ve never done advertising. It is all word of mouth. People have eaten here since 1993, and they come in every day.”

Charlotte’s offers a selection of lunches, and Sharp recently made the move to serving Saturday-night dinners, but Charlotte’s reputation is built on desserts, especially homemade pies served in thick slices, usually under a towering layer of meringue.

“They’re made every morning, fresh,” Sharp said. “We get in at 5:30 in the morning. We roll the dough every morning. We mix the fillings every morning. Then we start the process of putting the pies together and putting the meringue on the pies.”

“These recipes are the same that they’ve been for decades because there’s a magic here.”

— John Brandenberger, Community Bakery

Running a bakery with decades of reputation to live up to requires a deft business touch. Nobody wants to fiddle with something that has been working for years, but even the longest-running bakeries can fall victim to stagnation.

The key is knowing what works and what does not. Community Bakery is not about to quit making iced sugar cookies — “We send those cookies all over the country,” Brandenberger said — and Charlotte’s does not plan to change their summer-seasonal strawberry pies, but skating by on reputation and predictability can be dangerous. That is why each bakery is constantly experimenting, offering up new sweets alongside the celebrated standards.

“We do a Pop-Tart that we started a few years ago during COVID[-19],” Brandenberger said. “A hand pie is essentially what it

is. Scones we started when we got here because we were shocked that we didn’t have a proper scone.”

The key is to evolve while sticking to what works. Brandenburg still has the original recipes from Community Bakery’s opening, recipes that are still used today. The others have a similar approach, relying on methodologies that are sometimes decades old.

It can add up to lots of hours on the job and very little sleep. Running a successful bakery is not for those looking for a 9-to-5 job, and it is definitely not for those looking to take shortcuts, but the rewards go far beyond merely making a profit.

“This place predates us all,” Brandenberger said. “These recipes are the same that they’ve been for decades because there’s a magic here.”

(Photos courtesy of Community Bakery)

Julie's Sweet Shoppe & Bakery (Photo by Jamie Lee)

(Photo courtesy of Rick's Bakery)

By MARY LESIEUR and MARK CARTER // Photos courtesy of GOTAHOLD BREWERY

In 2018, Vermont brewers Wendy Reese and Dave Hartmann were looking for a place to relocate and start up their own brewery.

A friend recommended Eureka Springs, the Ozarks’ very Victorian and very European tourist hideaway.

The Hartmanns had put together some quality-of-life wants for the relocation, and a conversation with a friend introduced them to Eureka Springs. Wendy said the couple knew that opening a business would be all-consuming, so wherever they relocated needed to be a place they truly wanted to live.

The quirky hipster haven immediately checked off many of those wants, so, they thought, why not give it a look?

“We looked up the town and thought, ‘What the heck? We need a little vacation,’ and came to visit,” she said. “Our first experience, about 15 minutes after pulling into town, was the annual Christmas parade. It was so quirky and lovely. Then we went to Brews and met a lot of people who were so nice, welcoming and encouraging.

“The next day when we actually saw the town, it reminded us of the things we loved about Vermont — minus the snow — and two towns I fell in love with while living in Arizona, Bisbee and Jerome. We returned home, discussed it, made the decision, put our house on the market, got

an offer in just a few weeks and moved here on April 1, 2018.”

The business actually opened in July 2020. Five years and the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown behind them, the Hartmanns’ Gotahold Brewing is a local mainstay. The couple named the brewery after an expression locals use to describe the draw of Eureka Springs: “This place got a hold of me.”

The Hartmann’s have fully adopted Eureka Springs, and their brewery serves dually as community gathering spot. It hosts live music, local art, an outdoor space called the beer forest, poetry readings, weddings, receptions and more. In collaboration with Opera of the Ozarks, Gotahold also hosts the annual Derby Day and Opera in the Beer Forest.

In addition to its diverse and award-winning local brews, Gotahold offers cocktails, wine, nonalcoholic drinks, snacks and branded merchandise. The Hartmanns, now Arkansans, found their sweet spot in the Ozarks, and their goal is to help others find the same.

Gotahold is about the beer — Dave studied the science of brewing at the University of California at Davis — the Golden State’s ag central — and under brewers in Bavaria. Wendy and Dave visited with AY About You about the brewery, dishing on the journey, the process and their discovery of Eureka Springs.

AY About You: How did your experiences — from UC Davis to brewing in Germany — influence what you are doing now?

Dave Hartmann: Life has a way of whittling down ideas to their most important aspects, and I suppose that speaks to my take on brewing beer here in Arkansas in 2025. As a young brewer coming out of UC Davis, I had some pretty fixed ideas about beer quality and brewing methods that I’ve softened on over time.

I learned a lot in university about the science and engineering aspects of transforming water and grain and hops into a liquid that yeast, when properly coaxed, can transform into the tasty beverage that we call beer. Fresh out of school, I might have been horrified at the idea of purposefully bringing some of the yeasts and bacteria into our brewery we use to make sours, kombucha and the funky beers we typically call ‘farmhouse’ styles. Nowadays, I hardly give it a second thought, but that rigorous mindset and scientific grounding has helped me manage the brewery so that we can have a super clean lager fermenting next to a funky sour beer without the one tasting like the other.

AY: Tell us about your time in Germany.

Dave: My time in Germany really taught me the value of discipline and consistency. Breweries in the part of Bavaria where I lived were masters of a very limited repertoire of beers, nearly all lager styles.

After a few months of drinking really incredible lagers, I started craving, on occasion, something different — a hoppy American IPA or a Belgian style, for instance. What I took away from that experience was the value of consistency as a contrast to variety and experimentation. Germans have been making many of the same styles for hundreds of years, and as a result, not just the brewers but the drinkers all know what they should taste like. Bavarian cuisine and beer grew up together so are exquisitely well matched for each other.

Dave: My career in brewing has allowed me to find purpose and meaning in life. In a roundabout way, a particular beer style did have an important impact on me and helped set me the path I’ve tread.

I began my journey into the world of beer in 1990. At that time, there were a very few American craft brewers, and something like 99 percent of beer consumed in this country was American light lager or an imported, slightly different version thereof — things like Budweiser, Miller Lite, Coors and Heineken on the import side. Nearly all of the jobs in American beer revolved around making, distributing and selling these lackluster products. Brewing jobs in production were repetitive factory jobs, and the production workers I met were mostly disinterested in the process. It was a paycheck for them. The only people bringing passion and creativity to this world were in advertising.

What I discovered as a seeker of beer with flavor and, later, as an apprentice brewer in a craft brewery was another world entirely. Beer wasn’t just one style; it came in myriad styles that paired well with different foods, for example. Further, I learned quickly that small breweries are not just a fountainhead of great products. They are also providers of work for craftspeople who are passionate about what they do and can derive meaning from what they do. If I were to write this up as an unwritten mission statement I’ve followed, it would be something like, one, create great beer to share with others because life is better with quality and variety. Two, advocate for smaller craft breweries because they create not just jobs but meaningful work, and they support communities.

German beer drinkers are ‘armchair brewmasters’ in that they are quick to point out when a particular beer or brewery’s products taste “off.” This kind of thing has great value in that it enforces quality in the marketplace. Back in my youth, many American drinkers thought the different flavors they could taste in imported beers like Heineken made them special and worth the higher price, but really, they were just off flavors caused by poor packaging or stale flavors caused by time spent unrefrigerated during the import process. That kind of thing wouldn’t happen in Bavaria. My sojourn through American craft beer has taught me the value of traditions and experimentation. Many of the styles I brewed during my career were simply recreations of styles of beer that had once been brewed in America but had been forgotten as breweries closed during Prohibition or were consolidated into larger breweries who generally would kill brands and styles over time. Beers like stout, hefeweizen, Belgian tripel and so forth are simply interpretations of beers based on modern examples I encountered abroad or historical recipes. American craft brewers, however, created whole new styles to explore the frontiers of flavor. New varieties of [India pale ale] with much bolder and more delicate flavors, for instance, and beers with nontraditional ingredients like chocolate or novel fruits have given brewers and beer drinkers alike room to roam.

AY: Which brewing style or recipe holds the most personal meaning for you?

AY: What made you choose Eureka Springs over other locations for your brewery, and how has it influenced your beer?

Wendy Reese Hartmann: Arkansas has good craft beer laws. Arkansas had less than 40 breweries when we started. We saw a potential for growth, but Eureka Springs specifically, besides the lifestyle — biking, hiking, paddling — was that it’s LGBTQ+ safe and welcoming.

Some people call it Eureka Magic. We’ve adopted it specifically within our team as a modern Southern hospitality, but it’s still Eureka Magic — serendipitous, quirky, beautiful, fun, unexpected charm.

AY: What’s next?

Wendy: We just celebrated our fifth anniversary. We started during COVID, which was not without some serious challenges. We’re finding we’re now facing new and unique challenges, from tariffs to a decline in tourism travel to a report this week showing the lowest percentage in 50 years of alcohol consumption. We are stretching our creativity muscles.

We just released our 10th farm-to-pint collaborative beer. Keen is a peach golden sour using 450 pounds of peaches from A&A Orchard here in Carroll County. Oktoberfest is coming soon. We have some beers aging in barrels. Dave and I have been collaborating on our kombucha flavors, which have been a big hit. I’ve been menucreating for our cocktails and mocktails.

Our dream is one day for Eureka Springs to be as bike friendly as Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville. Yes, our topography is more challenging, but we have a great foundation to become a Blue Zone one day, so maybe a collaboration will emerge at some point.

Wendy Reese Hartmann and Dave Hartmann

AY About You will never miss an opportunity to shine a spotlight on women, and the DECEMBER 2025 issue of our magazine is no exception. We want to hear from you — our readers — on who you think should make the cut. Be it a physician or pharmacist, nurse practitioner or CNA, if she represents exemplary work in any medium of healthcare, nominate her now at aymag.com!

Gnudi an unexpected dish that is (un)dressed to impress of the

The NAKED DUMPLING

By MARGIE RAIMONDO // Photos by MARGIE RAIMONDO

Spinach Ricotta Gnudi With Brown Sage Parmesan Sauce

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound (15 ounces) whole-milk ricotta

• 3 cups fresh spinach, steamed and finely chopped (or thawed frozen spinach, well squeezed)

• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

• salt and pepper to taste

• about 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (more for dusting)

• butter for finishing

• sage leaves for finishing

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prep the ricotta: If the ricotta is very wet, spread on paper towels or in a fine sieve and let drain for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

2. Prep the spinach: Boil fresh spinach in salted water until the spinach wilts. Drain in a sieve for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

3. Make the mixture: In a bowl, combine ricotta, chopped spinach, Parmesan, egg, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir until just combined.

4. Form the gnudi: Sprinkle a tray generously with flour. With lightly floured hands, roll tablespoonsized portions of the mixture into balls, gently dusting them in flour so they are lightly coated.

5. Rest: Let the formed gnudi rest on the floured tray in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours). This helps them firm up.

6. Cook: Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Lower the heat to a simmer. Cook the gnudi in batches until they float to the top, about 3 minutes. Transfer carefully with a slotted spoon.

7. Make the sauce: In a pan, melt butter and add fresh sage leaves. Once the butter has melted, add half of the Parmesan cheese and let it brown in the fragrant butter, which will enhance the nutty flavor. Allow the mixture to sizzle until it becomes aromatic. Spoon over the gnudi, top with additional Parmesan, and serve immediately.

Gnudi (pronounced nyoo-dee) are Tuscany’s playful little secret — delicate ricotta and spinach dumplings that go by the name “naked” because they are essentially ravioli stripped of their pasta cloak. Imagine the tender filling of one’s

favorite ravioli but served all on its own, melting on the tongue with a whisper of nutmeg and Parmesan. Rustic yet elegant, these dumplings capture the heart of Italian home cooking: simple ingredients treated with care that shine on the plate.

By ALEX HARDGRAVE

works hard for hilarity

Photos courtesy of FANS FIRST ENTERTAINMENT

Neon-colored uniforms, elaborate choreographed dances on the baseball diamond, bases run by a player on stilts — that may not be what one thinks of when it comes to baseball, but Banana Ball has changed the game.

An important member of the team is Drake Toll, a broadcast entertainer for the league.

Seeing Toll don his romper, fur coat and sunglasses, “humble” may not be the word that comes to mind, but the man behind the outfit comes from modest beginnings in Vilonia.

“I remember being 3 or 4 years old, growing up there out in the yard, playing in the mud, helping Dad with landscaping,” he said. “I just had the quintessential Arkansas upbringing.”

Toll hunted most weekends and watched Arkansas Razorback games. His family also travels to Branson multiple times a year and always goes to Silver Dollar City to see Santa Claus because his brother, Landon, loves going.

Toll credits his success to his family, especially his brother. Landon, 20, who is autistic. Toll said growing up with a sibling with special needs showed him a different side of the world, encouraging him to live life the best he could.

“Everything I do is with Landon in mind,” he said. “He’ll never be served the same opportunities that I get every day, so I like to live my life and my career in a way that he would appreciate and how he would have done had he been given the same chances that I have.”

Toll’s family are also all very sporty, which instilled a love for athletics in him from a young age. He has tried his hand at many sports throughout his childhood, including baseball. The game came naturally; Toll’s dad was drafted to play for the Toronto Blue Jays, although he instead went on to play football at Missouri State University.

Landon, meanwhile, started by playing baseball with Miracle League of Arkansas and was so good that the local Vilonia youth baseball organization reached out and asked him to play.

“He became one of the scariest players in the league because he was so good,” Toll said. “No one could throw as hard as Landon. He broke a lot of barriers in sports because he was so talented.”

Not to be outdone, Toll’s sister is a softball prodigy and is attending Baylor University in Texas on a full-ride softball scholarship.

“We’d either spend our weekends in Branson or somewhere across the country, watching my sister play softball,” he said.

The endless cycle of watching and playing sports sparked his interest in sports media. That, combined with a natural entertainer’s streak, led him in front of multiple audiences growing up, including in plays in elementary school and performing on the banjo in the school talent show.

“It was little nuggets like that that planted a seed for me to be an entertainer,” Toll said.

As time went on, his interest in entertainment and sports broadcasting continued to grow, and he dreamed of becoming the “voice of the Vilonia Eagles.” That was not to be, since Vilonia was dropped from play-by-play coverage, which many thought meant there was no longer a need for a “voice.”

However, Toll persisted and created the

he draws inspiration from his family, Landon, from left, Lila, April and Phillip.

EagleVision broadcast network with the help of the Vilonia Eagle Football Foundation when he was a sophomore in high school. EagleVision, which he said is still going strong today, gave him the opportunity to hone his professional broadcasting and play-by-play skills.

After high school, he went to Baylor University on a full-ride scholarship and landed a job doing a show there through ESPN Central Texas. What at first seemed like a dream job instead left him unexpectedly bored and unfulfilled.

“I found out everything that glitters isn’t gold,” he said.

While on a job search later, he asked an interviewer for feedback. The interviewer told Toll he should have been wearing a suit during the interview, which struck a nerve with the young Arkansan.

“That was, like, my villain origin story,” he said. “That began my arc of wanting to do things differently and be creative and outside of the box.”

He submitted a clip of himself doing a play-by-play of a Savannah Bananas game to a job opening with the league and got an interview. During his interview with Banana Ball founder Jesse Cole, Toll wore a suit — at first.

During the Zoom interview, Toll said, he pretended to have Wi-Fi problems while doing an outfit change. He came back on the screen shirtless and with a puffer jacket, Pit Viper sunglasses and a beer in his hand.

Toll said Cole was speechless.

“He was stunned, and when you’ve stunned that guy, you’ve done something right. I’d stunned the modern-day Walt Disney,” Toll added.

An Arkansas native, Toll said calling a game at BaumWalker Stadium in Fayetteville was “a childhood dream.”

Drake Toll, Banana Ball broadcast entertainer, center, said

“His first words to me were, ‘I knew you’d do something crazy.’”

In response, Toll took a sip of his beer. Cole asked if it was beer, and Toll thought he had messed up the interview, but then he got an idea. Toll had read Cole’s book the night before and remembered a quote from it.

“I looked at him and, with all the courage I had, I said, ‘It’s your quote: “Whatever is normal, do the exact opposite.” Cheers,’ and stuck my beer out towards him,” Toll said.

Needless to say, he got the job. The first person Toll called after he received the news was his high school coach, Brad Wallace, and the coach’s wife because Toll knew they were big Banana Ball fans.

“I knew they would get it, and they both cried,” he said.

Calling a game, broadcasting a game from the University of Arkansas is a childhood dream.

—Drake Toll

Next, he called his parents, who he said were excited but also “didn’t exactly get it.” Since attending a game in Oklahoma City last year, they understand the hype now.

Toll said his brother, who is usually scared of mascots, had so much fun, he wanted to take a picture with the mascot there. Toll also took his sister to meet her idol, Jocelyn Alo, a famous softball player who was a guest at the game that day.

“For my parents, they had never seen baseball so fast and so fun,” Toll said. “They were dialed in. They loved it because they started to see that Banana Ball isn’t a fad. It’s a real sport.”

Banana Ball is the fastest-growing phenomenon in sports right now and maybe ever, Toll said. The Savannah Bananas have amassed millions of followers on social media and are selling out stadiums nationwide.

“I’ll never forget the first time I walked into a sold-out major league baseball stadium to watch the Savannah Bananas vs. Party Animals game,” he said. “That’s just nothing that anyone could have expected.”

Toll said what makes Banana Ball click is that it is still a real game, even though there are stunts and entertainment throughout.

“It’s the Harlem Globetrotters for baseball except what gives Banana Ball longevity is the nature of competition,” he said. “It keeps constant respect for the game within the entertainment.”

Some of the games can even be watched on TV, Toll said. He added that his family was glued to the television when he was on ESPN.

“They thought it was the coolest thing in the world, as did I,” he said. “Moments like those started to further legitimize that I am working in a career, not a fad.”

While the games are all about fun and making memories for fans,

Toll’s most favorite memories have happened with the team outside of the games.

“I’ve been in the depths of the Grand Canyon,” he said. “I’ve hot air ballooned over New Mexico and jet skied on Lake Tahoe.”

He said wherever he goes, he takes Arkansas pride with him, wearing either a Vilonia shirt or hoodie or a Razorback hat.

“In each of these memories, whether it’s the hot air balloon or the jet ski, I’ve got a piece of Vilonia with me, and I’m always trying to take the town and the state with me vicariously,” he said.

The team even played a game in the Natural State Aug. 15 and 16 at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.

“Being in Fayetteville is a childhood dream. Calling a game, broadcasting a game from the University of Arkansas is a childhood dream,” Toll said.

On a game day, Toll does everything from rehearsing entertainment moments with players to meeting fans and even performing a stand-up comedy routine on the field. Once the game starts, he is live on air, doing play-by-plays for the Party Animals or field reporting. Between February and October, he is constantly traveling with the team.

“I’m a little tired, but I’m having a lot of fun,” he said.

He recently bought a home outside of Savannah, Georgia, on Wilmington Island that he has been fixing up in his free time. It is near a beach, which he goes to sometimes when he is home.

“I flew back from Montana and landed at noon and immediately drove to the beach and just sat for an hour and a half and recharged,” he said.

Beyond the Bananas, he also hosts a football podcast called Locked on Big 12, which just adds to Toll living his dream. He said he has no plans of giving it up anytime soon.

“I’ve always wanted to be in front of people,” he said, “to make them happy, to give them something that they can escape the rest of the world for a little bit.”

Above: Toll chats with Banana Ball athlete Reese Alexiades.

Right: Toll flashes a thumbs up with Banana Ball founder Jesse Cole in the background.

ollin Stone, an Arkansas native, is a pitcher for the Texas Tailgaters and often closes out games against rivals in the Banana Ball league.

Stone may have only been playing Banana Ball for two years, but he is not new to the sport or to making sports content for a large audience. He is ranked eighth in the world in Blitzball, which is similar to wiffle ball but with different balls and bats.

In addition to playing, Stone also makes videos of himself and others playing the sport for Jomboy Media. He said playing Blitzball is really what got him to the Texas Tailgaters team.

Before Stone played for Jomboy Media or the Texas Tailgaters, he was playing baseball with friends in his hometown of Lake City.

“I knew everybody,” he said. “Every day, me and my buddies rode bikes. We played baseball at the baseball field, and we did kid things. It was a dream, Sandlot-type childhood.”

Stone played baseball from about age 5 through his college years and then played a year of independent baseball after graduating from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in 2021. After his year with a team in Billings, Montana, a friend connected him with Jomboy Media and Warehouse Games.

He said he knew about the Savannah Bananas, and some family and friends had said Banana Ball looked like something he would be good at.

“The more I watched, the more I was interested in it,” he said.

Pitcher in

talks growing up in

Banana Ball League ARKANSAS

By ALEX HARDGRAVE // Photos courtesy of KOLLIN STONE

In 2024, he had a chance to play on the Visitors, a developmental Banana Ball team. This year, he was drafted by the Texas Tailgaters.

He said his family was excited when he joined the team and had already seen him play prior to the Fayetteville game. However, he added that he was excited about the game because it gave him an opportunity to visit with his family and allowed his friends to see Banana Ball for the first time.

To that end, Stone said he is working on some new tricks, but since he pitches later in the game, he has to focus more on that.

“The inning you pitch kind of determines what you’re able to do,” he said. “It becomes a bit more like baseball on the pitching side in the seventh, eighth, ninth innings.”

To play Banana Ball, Stone had to come to grips with some unique rules changes compared to traditional baseball. One such rule, the Golden Batter Rule, means a team can face the same batter twice in the ninth inning.

Pitcher Kollin Stone had a chance to play in front of his friends and family at the recent Fayetteville game.

There are also a lot of ways fans are brought into the game, such as the Fan Foul Ball Rule, whereby if a fan catches a foul ball, it is counted as an out. Another fan rule is that a designated fan, chosen before the game, can hold up a sign and challenge any call throughout the game. The pace of the game is faster, as well.

“As pitchers, we try to throw pitches in six seconds or less,” he said. “Banana Ball is a fast-paced sport. You have to get used to moving fast.”

Stone said he misses living in Arkansas now that he lives in Savannah, Georgia, where Banana Ball is based. However, he likes being close to the beach and will often go there in the free time he has off the road.

Throughout his time on the Tailgaters, he has made friends with his teammates, who help make the road feel more like home.

“We all get along well,” he said. “We’re all very similar in what we do, and I think we mesh better than any other team. It’s awesome being a part of the Tailgaters.”

Brandon Paul Eells has not had a day job for more than 30 years. A voice actor based in Little Rock, he knew he wanted to be an actor from the time he was 2 years old. He said he feels fortunate to be able to earn a living solely from his craft.

“There was just no doubt in my mind that that was the path that I was going to take,” he said. “I never wanted to be anything else.”

Son of the late Paul Eells, longtime voice of the Razorbacks, Eells joked that nepotism may have helped him break into the industry. A graduate of Little Rock’s Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School, Eells’ landed his first paid gig at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock when he was 17. However, his big break came during a

By SARAH DECLERK // Portraits by

Little Rock voice actor makes a living doing what he loves

I got to do the play-by-play for the games as my father, so that was really cool.

– Brandon Paul Eells

trip to a now-closed Little Rock studio called Soundscapes.

“On the way out, I stopped by the front desk and just said, ‘Hey, I would love to do this,’” he said. “I’m pretty sure my last name helped a little bit because they brought me in, made a demo tape for me, and just started putting me on commercials. For the first couple years, I was either a geeky guy or Dude No. 2.”

Eells credited engineer Scott Minor, now owner of Lucky Dog Audio Post in Little Rock, with teaching him everything there is to know about the industry.

“Brandon was one of those guys that the minute he was behind the mic, you were just like, ‘Oh boy, this guy’s going to be good,’” Minor said. “You know, you get a script, you try to imagine what it’s going to sound like, you

try to cast it carefully, and then you try to get a performance out of somebody that the client and everybody was happy with, but Brandon was a guy that would come in and just elevate whatever the material was.”

New York-based actor Ashlie Atkinson said she first met Eells at the Flying Saucer in Little Rock while he was performing with the band Leviticus Jones sometime in the late 1990s. The two have remained friends ever since.

“He is consistently the funniest person in the room,” she said. “He is very silly, but it is silly with a real underpinning of self-awareness and exploration. As an actor, he is playful and very clear and has a way of taking language that can be pretty but muddy and clarifying it.”

camera and with voiceover. All the auditions are primarily self-tapes.”

Eells moved back to Little Rock in 2021 to care for his mother, the late Vickie Eells. Although he and his wife are considering moving to Los Angeles, he said the couple may remain

said, so he encouraged those looking to break into the market to concentrate on the “acting” part of voice acting.

“I always say, ‘voice’ is the modifier, is the adjective, and ‘actor’ is the noun,” he said. “We’re actors, and that’s what you need to focus on.”

In 2002, Eells moved to Chicago with his wife, Rachel. By then, he already had a decade of experience and a couple thousand commercials under his belt, which gave him an edge in one of the best places in the world to work in advertising.

Eells has also appeared on screen in television shows such as Chicago Fire, and he is the voice of Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel video game universe. Eells also lent his voice to the video game series Watch Dogs. Acting in video games is more physically demanding than commercials, he said.

“We have to do things called ‘exertions,’ which are punches, death rattles, screams,” he said. “I remember doing Watch Dogs, there was so much audio. They would say, like, ‘OK, a vending machine falls on your left arm.’ It was a small one, a medium one and a big one, so we do that. ‘OK, now it falls on your right arm.’ ‘Now it falls on your legs.’ There was just hours of that. I gave myself a nosebleed from screaming.”

Although he has not acted in many films, his role in the 2016 film Greater was personally significant. Eells plays the voice of his father in the biopic of the late Razorback Brandon Burlsworth.

“I thought that was really cool,” Eells said. “I mean, it was just the voice. I got to do the play-by-play for the games as my father, so that was really cool.”

Eells moved to New York in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, his is a profession well suited for remote work.

“We had been trying to get producers on board for years that we can do this at home,” he said. “Finally, during the pandemic, they had to listen and realized it worked. Now the lion’s share of stuff is happening at home, both on

in Arkansas while their daughter, Lucinda, studies at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Eells said she is interested in becoming an actor, as well.

It is a prospect that both scares and excites him. Although he enjoys connecting with her over their shared interest, he said he does his best to warn her about potential pitfalls, such as how hard it can be to earn a paycheck as an actor.

If she is anything like her father, she may be able to make it work.

“The number of people that we run across that can make a living off it and not doing anything else is few and far between,” Minor said. “The ones that do kind of find a niche wind up being the rockstars of the biz. If you’re a musician, there’s lots of working musicians but not many that are making a living at it, and the ones that do, they’re outliers. They’re crazy good, and he’s one of those. Very few that I’ve known like that.”

When it comes to eking out a living doing what he loves, Eells chalked it up to good luck — and good timing.

“I got into this 30-plus years ago, when nobody knew what voice acting was,” he said. “Cartoons were for kids, and nobody paid attention. Commercials were nothing. Nobody ever thought about it. Video games didn’t talk.

“It wasn’t really until the actors strike in 2000 where celebrities couldn’t make movies or do TV anymore, so they all started doing voiceover and realized, ‘Holy crap, we can make money and not have to put on pants.’”

Now the market is saturated. Anyone with a USB mic and a laptop can be a voice actor, Eells

Agents in large markets do not find actors based on demo tapes, he added. They are looking for people acting in plays and performing standup and improv. For that reason, it is important for up-and-coming actors to try a little bit of everything.

“Just get on stage because this business really puts you where it wants you,” he said. “The more you do, you may find you’re interested in voice acting, but all of a sudden, you fall in love with theater, or you fall in love with improv. You never want to limit your opportunities as an actor.”

Cold reading is especially important, he said, adding that actors must learn to read what is in front of them quickly and in character because they often do not get a lot of time with scripts.

“I feel like we’re kind of polishing the brass on the Titanic right now with [artificial intelligence], which keeps getting better and better,” he added. “Pretty soon, I think we’re all going to get replaced, especially voice acting, so relax. Have fun.”

After more than 30 years in the business, Eells has mastered an easygoing mindset. There is not much at stake when it comes to making commercials, he said, which makes them the ideal medium in which to unleash his inner goofball. That kind of joy travels through an audio cable, bringing a smile to the face of anyone who hears it, he added.

“Don’t try to do what you think other people want,” he said. “Take a character on the way you do it. We’re looking for unique performances that are specific to you. Nobody else can do you.”

Jim Harris, from left, Sarah Dougan and Brandon Paul Eells perform in Don’t Dress for Dinner at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Paul Eells)

The California The California The California

Country star Jon Pardi headed for Arkansas

There is a lot about Jon Pardi that defies presupposition. Noting that he was born in California leads one to envision a kind of laid back, sandin-my-boots Pacific Highway sound, more America than Aldean and more Eagles than Eric Church.

A few seconds into any track on his five studio albums shatters that illusion. The 40-year-old’s songs of good timin’ friends and two-timin’ lovers finds a brash neo-country groove culminating with six No. 1 singles, 14 Recording Industry Association of Americacertified singles and four top-five albums plus 9.3 billion global streams and counting.

Named County Music Association’s New Artist of the Year and Academy of Country Music’s New Male Vocalist of the Year, both in 2017, he has had multiple song-of-the-year nominations for “Dirt on My Boots”; albumof-the-year nominations for California Sunrise, Mr. Saturday Night and Heartache Medication; and video-of-the-year nominations for “Heartache on the Dance Floor,” “Beer Can’t Fix” and “Longneck Way to Go.”

His latest effort, 2025’s Honkytonk Hollywood, finds him exploring more rock influences without sacrificing his sound and themes. In support of the record, Pardi is back out on the road with stops scheduled for Jonesboro’s First National Bank Arena on Sept. 20 and Rogers’ Walmart AMP on Sept. 26.

AY About You caught Pardi in between rehearsals to talk origins, influences and the ghost of Tom Petty.

Q

: Tell me a little bit about some of your musical influences early on and what steered you toward the country genre.

A

: Well, I mean, my grandmother’s the one that steered me toward the country genre when I was about 2 years old. She loved country, man. She listened to the radio for Dwight Yoakam, Randy Travis, Merle Haggard, George Strait — you know, that prime ’90s country era. It was a great time to be introduced to country music.

Q : Aside from her, as you were growing up, were your parents into other types of music? Listening to your music now, one can hear all kinds of great influences.

A : Well, my mom loved Motown — big Motown fan — and classic rock, for sure, so I had that aspect to it, little bit of soul music and rock ‘n’ roll. It never gets old, you know?

Q

: What do you point to as your first real performance that set the hook for you?

A

: Let’s see. It was probably playing at my dad’s 30th birthday party. I was 7 years old. I sang “Friends in Low Places,” and then I think I sang “Don’t Rock the Jukebox.”

Q

: Coming up, did you consider yourself a singer first or a songwriter first? I mean, people use those terms interchangeably, but they are two obviously very different skill sets.

A

: You know, I never saw myself as anything. I was just having fun. I was a singer, I was an entertainer, but I couldn’t really tell you like, oh, yeah, I’m this or that. When I got to Nashville, I wanted to focus on songwriting because I could do the entertainer stuff. I’ve done the cover stuff, you know? I moved to Nashville [in 2008]. I really focused on songwriting.

I got into the way the songs and everything were produced after a demo that I didn’t really like that much, so I started learning more about that but doing it my own way, doing it through songwriting and recording outside songs.

I don’t know. I’ve never been any one thing first. I’ve just been having fun. Life’s too short.

Q : Two years after getting to Nashville, you were an opening act for Dierks Bentley, which is a fairly short time frame to get that kind of attention. Obviously, it was not as easy as just showing up in town. What were the early days like?

A : I played at a bar called Losers in Nashville. They gave me a little home base to make friends and meet songwriters. It was right on Music Row. I was a small-town guy, and that was a small-town bar, especially back then. It was so different than what it is now. I was always working, always opening for somebody, headlining clubs. I just never stopped.

I got a record deal through my songwriting and just being different. It was a big deal just to get an album out, and we got to

Kid Kid Kid

By DWAIN HEBDA

Photos by EVAN DE STEFANO

top 10, but I remember that feeling of how, like, my first album didn’t do as good as I wanted it to. I went back to work and wrote California Sunrise. That’s a part of my career where I learned how to push myself to be better, and I still do.

Q: Were you what fit Nashville at the time, or were you part of something new that was happening?

A: You know, I don’t know what I was. When you’re real young, you really don’t know, and then you get a little older, you’re like, “I can be a little bit of everything,” except you can’t be everything, so I just decided I want to do what I do as best I can. My goal has always been longevity, and I mean, hell, I would say I’m still just getting started.

Q

: You’ve toured with some great artists — Dierks Bentley and Alan Jackson to name just a couple. Most people reading this have no idea what it is like being out on tour, and from that perspective, they think you have this unlimited access to these more established stars. What is it really like out on the road? Do you get time to talk music or talk business or get some sort of guidance, or is it not quite like that?

A : I mean, Alan’s a pretty private guy. He’s not much of a talker. If you’re ever around Alan Jackson, it’s, “Yeah, real good, man. That’s real good.” That’s about all you get out of Alan, but you know, he said really nice things about me, liked my songwriting, brought me on his farewell tour not that long ago. Those are things I’ll never forget. Dierks, Luke Bryan, those guys, I mean, those are my labelmates. I spent so much time with them. They’re true buddies, you know, true big brothers. Miranda [Lambert] is somebody I could text if I’ve

got a question, or Thomas Rhett’s another good one. I just opened for Morgan Wallen. It just keeps your dream alive and how it felt when you were a young performer, being on the opening slots.

Q: Personally, what is a bigger challenge — the getting started, just trying to get that notoriety, or dealing with success once you get there?

A: It’s always the same for me. I never say, “Oh man, we finally made it.” I might think a little different, but I never say that. I always say, “We’re really just getting started.”

Q:

So you do not recognize that you are one of those artists now that the young guy or woman who is coming into the business is looking up to, saying, “Hey, I want to be like Jon Pardi one day?”

A: A little bit, but I like to feel like what I’m doing is just scratching the surface, you know? I feel like I’ve got a lot left to sing about, and I’m always like, “Don’t look in the past. Look into the future.” Learn from your mistakes. Learn what you could have done different, but remember the future’s always there. Every day is a blessing, so just go after it. I’m reminded of that when I see opening acts come on, and I can see the light in their eyes where they’re like, “Man, this is fun.”

Q: How do you mentor those new kids like the people who mentored you?

A: We like to hang out. We’ve got a bar backstage for opening acts, so we’ll hang out after the show and talk and joke about how good we were or talk about how we messed up. I want our opening acts to come hang because it’s those little things you know? Those nights we all got to hang together, Dierks and Luke and me, those are the days that you never forget, and you don’t get a lot of them. I try to take everything I learned from the road and give it to my opening acts because that’s how I got it. I think the true artists are always trying to find another wheel to keep rolling.

Q: I read somewhere that you saw a documentary about Tom Petty, and he says something to the effect of, “You know, every couple or every three albums, I try to do something different just to keep my hand in it and show how I’ve grown.” In whatever I was reading, you talked about how that really struck a note with you.

A: Well, the Tom Petty deal, he’s one of my guys that I just look up to, like, such a legend songwriter, you know, so different but so good. I saw the documentary. It was this

little Instagram clip of him saying he liked to switch it up every three albums and get a new producer, and I’m like, “Well, Tom Petty from the grave coming to tell me some advice.”

We made Honkytonk Hollywood with Jay Joyce, and this was the first time we worked together, and it was really fun. It brought me, like, to that younger, 22-year-old era where music was fun. It wasn’t business, and it brought me back there, and it was just great.

I had big changes going on my record label anyway, and it was just a big blender going on, and I was stuck in it, and I had to pour my way out of it, but it worked out great, man. It’s one of my favorite records I’ve ever made. Tom Petty, you know, gave good advice, and I took it.

Q: Has there been anyone you got to perform with where you were star struck, or has it always been, “OK, we’re artists. Let’s go”?

A: One moment in particular was when I got to be on the first Reboot album with Brooks & Dunn. I got to go in and sing next to Ronnie Dunn, and it was like, holy crap, this is my childhood right here. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” “Brand New Man.” Like, Brooks & Dunn have always been a huge influence. I’ve always loved how they were kind of rock ‘n’ roll honky tonk, you know, and soulful — everything like that. Being around them and them being so kind and, like, telling stories, it was such a really fun experience, and that was my first time really doing something very personal and in person with, like, icons of country music.

Q: Not to change the subject, but how mindblowing was it when you found out you were the first Californian invited to join the Grand Ole Opry?

A: I mean, it was great. It’s a cool thing. We never really thought of ourselves as West Coast country, not like when Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam came out here and wanted to stay out west. I wanted to move to Nashville for the songwriting. I mean, I love going back. We love the West Coast, and we go back home all the time, so for California and the West Coast to be a part of the Grand Ole Opry, it was the right time.

The reach of the Opry is worldwide now through social media and streaming and TV shows. It was a perfect time to come up and represent the West Coast and California, and I was honored to do it.

Q: Are people surprised when they learn where you grew up? Listening to your music, it sounds a lot more like Tennessee than Malibu.

A: What’s cool is I represent, like, a neotraditional sound. The fiddle and steel aren’t your stereotypical what people think of when they think California sound. Where I’m from is very rural country — ag, hard work, construction. It’s a huge state, and there’s a lot of hardworking people and a lot of farmers and a lot of ranchers there that love country music, and they love bluegrass, and, like, they love fiddle. That’s what I grew up on. It’s nice to represent that instead of, like, a bro country sound or something. Going back to the Opry, I love it that I’m the first Californian, but I also loved playing the Opry for years before that happened. The Opry is special, man. When they say it’s family, they’re not lying. I mean, playing the Opry is like going to your grandma’s or grandpa’s house. It’s something you don’t think about at the time, but then it hits you, and you’re like, “Wow. It’s really cool that I can, like, make my own dent in this.”

Q: What can Arkansas fans look forward to this tour?

A: Well, we’re playing all the songs they know and a bunch off the new record. It’s very high energy. It’s a lot of fun. We do have pyro, which I think we can have in Arkansas — I’m pretty sure. It’s just very electric, it’s energetic, and it’s a fun show. We always thank our fans whenever they decide to come out because it means the world to us.

EurekaSprings

By HEATHER BAKER

(Photo by Dylan Buyskes, SUP Outfitters)

When I was invited to showcase Eureka Springs, I knew I was in for something special. What I did not expect was for the vibrant, soul-stirring town in the heart of the Ozarks to completely steal my heart.

Eureka Springs is a place where every street pulses with life, every corner holds a story, and every moment feels like a gift from the universe. Let me take you on my journey through this enchanting gem, where I fell head over heels for the city’s charm, its people and its magic. Trust me — you will be booking your trip before you finish reading.

My home base was All Seasons Luxury Properties, a collection of charming stays such as the All Seasons Inn, Daffodil Cottage, Briarwood Lodge and the whimsical Treehouse Village. Each property exudes its own unique personality, blending quaint elegance with modern comfort. The rooms? Absolutely adorable and filled with thoughtful touches that made every moment feel special. (Plus, the owners allowed our fur baby, goldendoodle Charlie Brown, to tag along.)

The customer service was impeccable — warm, attentive and genuinely welcoming, just like staying with friends who know exactly how to make you feel at home. Whether you are dreaming of a cozy inn, a charming cottage or a tree house adventure, the properties are a mustcheck-out when you visit Eureka Springs. They set the ideal tone for a trip filled with unforgettable moments. Every morning on our visit started with a quick stop at Java Dudes Coffee Co., a haven for any coffee lover. This little gem served up some of the best brews I have ever tasted — rich, bold and just what I needed to kickstart my day. Plus, the quick, in-and-out service was just right for my packed itinerary. If you are a coffee enthusiast, put Java Dudes on your to-do list — you will not be disappointed.

One of the absolute highlights of the trip was a private guided eco-tour with SUP Outfitters at Beaver Lake led by owner Dylan Buyskes and guide Emily Valentin. Gliding across crystal clear waters, paddle in hand, I felt completely unplugged from the world in the best way possible.

Waterfalls cascaded down lush, green cliffs, their gentle roar blending with birdsong, while Buyskes and Valentin enhanced the experience with their seemingly endless knowledge of the lake’s ecosystem and the rich heritage of Eureka Springs. Their passion for the area shone through, making every moment not just peaceful but spectacularly enriching. Whether I was paddleboarding or kayaking (my husband, Ryan Parker, and I kept switching), the cool breeze and serene beauty made it feel like we had slipped into a postcard. If you are craving peace and a deep connection with nature, this private tour is a requirement.

All Seasons Inn

Charlie Brown

Java Dudes Coffee Co.

The heartbeat of my trip was Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. The sanctuary for rescued exotic animals — lions, tigers, bears and more — is nothing short of extraordinary. (Look for a separate story in this issue!) I was overwhelmed by the team’s dedication to providing a safe, loving home for animals who have endured hardship.

Walking the refuge, seeing the majestic creatures thrive and hearing their stories of rescue stirred something deep in my soul. Turpentine Creek is a place where compassion meets action, and it is impossible to leave without feeling inspired. A visit here is an experience that will stay with you forever.

No trip to Eureka Springs is complete without indulging in its culinary scene, and my absolute favorite dining experience was Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking. Oh my gosh, I am ready to go back right now! You have to get there when the doors open to snag a table, but every single bite is worth it.

From the fresh, succulent mussels to the homemade lasagna and pasta, every dish was a love letter to Italian cuisine, and don’t even get me started on the Italian cream cake — pure heaven on a plate. The atmosphere was divine, buzzing with fun and warmth, and the service was top notch, making the whole experience feel like a celebration. This is a spot you cannot miss.

Another culinary gem we discovered was Rogue’s Manor, where the pride in the food and service shines through in every detail. We dined on their beautiful patio, serenaded by the smooth tunes of Frank Sinatra as a gentle breeze rustled through. The diverse menu was a delight, offering everything from pastas to steak and lobster. We savored delectable crab cakes as an appetizer, followed by a flawlessly cooked bone-in ribeye with potatoes and crispy fried oysters. Each bite was a testament to their culinary passion, leaving us hungry for more Eureka Springs flavors.

An enjoyable way to explore the town’s winding, picturesque streets is to hop on a trolley offered by Eureka Springs Transit. The charming ride lets you soak in the entire area, from historic homes to quirky landmarks, without missing a beat. It is a wonderful way to get the lay of the land and discover hidden gems around every corner. Jump

Rogue’s Manor

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Basin Spring Park (Eureka Springs City A&P Commission)

Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking

on, hop off, and let the trolley guide you through the heart of the vibrant town.

“Vibrant” also described the unique downtown, which buzzed with an energy that is hard to put into words but impossible to forget. Everywhere you look, the streets of Eureka Springs are alive with happy faces, eclectic shops, and a vibe that is both peaceful and electric.

I wandered through stores filled with handmade treasures, each one a piece of the town’s quirky spirit. One afternoon, I stumbled upon Basin Spring Park, where a drum circle brought together everyone from 3-year-old kids to an 87-year-old legend, all beating drums in impeccable accord. It was pure magic — strangers becoming friends, united by rhythm. I quickly appreciated the interlude as quintessentially Eureka Springs and anticipated more such moments waiting around every corner.

For a dose of spooky fun, I dove into the Crescent Hotel Ghost Tours, a must-do for anyone visiting Eureka Springs. Known as America’s Most Haunted Hotel, the Crescent delivers chills and thrills with its eerie history.

Our guide, a captivating storyteller, led us through haunted halls, sharing tales of spirits such as Michael, the Irish stonemason who fell to his death in what is now Room 218, and Theodora, who tidies up for guests she likes. The tour’s highlight was the creepy morgue, a chilling remnant of the building’s past as Norman Baker’s fraudulent cancer hospital.

Tripadvisor reviews rave about guides who bring the hotel’s history to life with engaging, eerie storytelling. Visitors enjoy capturing orbs and shadowy figures on camera, and the morgue visit is a fan favorite for its spine-chilling vibe. While waiting for the tour, I roasted s’mores at the hotel’s fire pits at the Frisco Sporting Club, a lively spot with lawn games that include cornhole and giant Jenga amid live music and a relaxed atmosphere well suited for soaking in the Ozark views.

This town begs you to park your car and get lost in the best way possible. Follow the whimsical Gnome Trails (those adorable gnome statues are everywhere) wander the winding streets, and let the surprises unfold.

I found serenity at the Blue Spring Heritage Center, where the turquoise spring and lush gardens created a cooling, almost sacred escape. The water’s tranquility felt like nature’s own reset button. I could have stayed forever. The gentle ripples of the turquoise spring mirrored the soft whispers of the surrounding garden, inviting a profound sense of peace. Each moment spent there felt like a quiet conversation with nature, restoring my soul.

Then there is The Great Passion Play, a generational cornerstone of Eureka Springs. The outdoor drama, set under the stars, brings the story of Jesus to life with a fervor that is deeply moving, no matter your beliefs. It is more than a performance; it is a celebration of faith, community and artistry that ties you to the town’s history in a profound way.

When it comes to attractions, Eureka Springs is alive with possibility — festivals, live music or just the everyday magic of the city’s welcoming spirit. My advice? Park your car, lace up your shoes, and let this town sweep you away. From the heartstirring mission of Turpentine Creek and the spooky fun at the Crescent Hotel to the unforgettable water tour and the cozy charm of All Seasons Luxury Properties, every view feels like a painting.

The next time you are looking for something completely different yet not far from home, plan a few days in this amazing community. From your morning pick-me-up at Java Dudes to a fabulous evening at Ermilio’s and all the fun-filled stops in between, every step in Eureka Springs feels like an adventure, and every moment feels like a reason to come back. See you in the Ozarks!

Crescent Hotel

Blue Spring Heritage Center

Christ of the Ozarks (Skeye Photography)

Shopping in Eureka Springs

TIGER

By

DWAIN HEBDA // Photos courtesy of TURPENTINE CREEK

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge a leading rescuer of exotic animals

Cheryl King, marketing director at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, has a job unlike almost any other job in Arkansas. Every day King reports to work, she passes by a brilliant array of tigers, jaguars and other big cats, not to mention Rambo the hyena, and Bam Bam the grizzly bear. To every child who overdosed on Where the Wild Things Are, it is a dream environment. Unfortunately, for each animal she passes, there comes to mind a sad, sometimes sickening backstory for the creatures prior to arriving at their forever home of northwest Arkansas. In the best cases, animals came from otherwise-loving owners who just underestimated the needs of an exotic pet or aged out of the zoo. In many cases, however, the majestic creatures were subjected to inhumane and illegal treatment at the hands of their captors.

King, who has worked there for more than five years, has a library of such stories that stretch the bounds of logic when it comes to what people will try to master.

“There are three types of people: the hope less romantics that just believe their love is going to overcome the [animal’s] natural in stincts, and the ego-driven and the crimi nal,” she said. “I can understand the first one. These animals are amazing. I look at a tiger cub and I’m like, ‘Oh, please let me play with it,’ but no, there’s nothing about that that is right or good or normal ,and there’s not enough love in the world that will replace an animal’s normal environment and obeying what Mother Nature tells it that it should do.

“The second kind of people who keep exotic pets, the egodriven, are the ones that think,

‘I’m more powerful because I control this beast.’ Well, no, you don’t. The third are the criminals, the profiteers.”

Thus does Turpentine Creek discover animals in some of the strangest situations. There was the puma that a woman was keeping in a dog crate in a New York City apartment, for example. There was the bobcat that a family thought would be more manageable due to its smaller size until it mauled a family member.

The sanctuary was even pulled into the world of popular media after the fall of Joe Exotic of Netflix’s The Tiger King fame, convicted of a murder-for-hire scheme and for violation of conservation laws the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act.

In September 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice raided the Indiana property of Tim Stark, an animal breeder featured on the series, seizing a variety of animals and bringing some

to Turpentine Creek. The following spring, the DOJ was at it again, this time confiscating animals from a compound in Oklahoma run by two other characters from the show who had taken over Exotic’s tigers after he was sentenced to prison. The confiscated tigers also made the trip to northwest Arkansas.

“We’ve been very much in the midst of the whole Tiger King thing,” King said. “In the first trip, we brought a total of 10 animals back, which became 13. Four females were suspected to be pregnant but only one actually gave birth.

“I think the big win from Tiger King was raising public awareness to where we were able to get the Big Cat Public Safety Act passed and moved into law in December 2022.”

The new legislation was a godsend for the nonprofit’s work and a sharp departure from the early days of the preserve. Back then, the founders saw big cats in horrific conditions, without much of a legal leg to stand on to remove them let alone prosecute abusive owners and breeders.

“The whole mission here started as a personal interest,” King said. “Don and Hilda Jackson acquired their first lion in 1978, starting out as ‘those people that had the lion in the backyard.’ In 1992 a former dealer in exotic animals showed up on their doorstep with 42 lions, tigers and cougars that were crammed into two cattle cars.”

The couple negotiated with the owner to adopt the animals and purchase her property to house them only to have the breeder renege on the deal and take the creatures back with the Jacksons powerless to legally stop her.

“The laws were against the animals. The laws have always leaned towards the people,”

King said. “That was when [the Jacksons] decided to establish a sanctuary.”

What put the enterprise on the map was the 2016 discovery and seizure of 115 animals housed on 15 acres outside of Colorado Springs in squalid conditions.

“They were mostly living in enclosures with a substrate of demolished, rotting wooden pallets with nails still in them,” King said. “It was really horrible.”

The Jacksons brought back 34 of the creatures and, in the process of finding homes for the others in accredited sanctuaries, established the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance. King said the alliance includes organizations that are happy to work together for the good of the animals and not the advancement of a profit agenda.

“You know, in our role, we don’t have competition; we have peers,” she said. “When an animal needs to be rescued today, they are directed to the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance res cue committee, which then matches it to the sanctuaries that have space and best fit the needs of the animal. That’s how we work to find placement for those.”

This many years later, despite the promulgation of laws tightening restrictions on exotic pets, the trade in and needs of such animals is bigger than ever. According to PangoVet, about 9 million U.S. households own at least one exotic pet, totaling 17.6 million such creatures owned nationwide. At least 7,000 tigers alone are kept as pets, of which only 500 live in accredited facilities.

While the reasons for people procuring and keeping such pets vary, the motive behind those feeding the market is not very

Worldwide, the global exotic pet trade is worth about $42.8 billion annually, only around $22.8 billion of that trade being legal.

complicated or hard to figure out. Worldwide, the global exotic pet trade is worth about $42.8 billion annually, PangoVet reports, only around $22.8 billion of that trade being legal. Sadly, the stress of transport and ill-fitting habitat and diet that await creatures often takes a deadly toll, some species suffering up to 90 percent mortality among relocated animals.

The problem is so far reaching that Turpentine Creek has expanded its mission in order to play a wider role in rescuing animals both today and in the future, giving them a safe, humane environment to live out their days.

“We changed our mission statement, which was previously to rescue and provide sanctuary

Simba

to abused and neglected big cats with an emphasis on lions, tigers, leopards and cougars,” King said. “We have now changed that to be a sanctuary and provide refuge for exotic captive wildlife. We did that because we did see the need to make a pivot and be prepared to help with other species.”

The sanctuary has already experienced that diversity, growing its bear population to seven resident ursas. That was done at no small expense, since bear enclosures and space needs differ greatly from that of big cats.

“Our habitats are all species-specific, designed for the animals that go in them,” she said. “Bears are a lot harder to keep than any of the cats. One, they’re harder to feed because they require such a diverse diet. They need produce. They need fruit. They need nuts. They need berries, They need meat.

“Second, a bear needs a large area to roam around in, and you can’t fully enclose it. It wouldn’t be economically feasible. Plus, bears climb, so we’ve had to electrify our big bear enclosures, which encompass several acres, to keep the bears from getting out or exploring. We have two of the largest natural bear enclosures in America, where they den, they forage, they climb trees, they live the life of bears.”

All of that — not to mention the cost of a 35-member staff that sees to the 459-acre sanctuary and all its resident animals — takes money, of course. That fact of nonprofit life has only become more acute given Turpentine Creek’s growth into international destinations and providing transport services for new rescues, a complex and expensive process in and of itself

“We are currently involved in two international rescues. We are working with Canadian officials, we have the permits approved, and we will be relocating some lions from a facility in Canada,” King said. “The animals were rescued and moved from Quebec to Ontario to a temporary sanctuary. We went up and actually did the transport because we’re one of the few sanctuaries that has transport resources to move these big cats.

“It’s not as easy as throwing them into the back of a truck and away you go, obviously. It’s complicated. You’re moving apex predators across borders and state lines, but it’s interesting. You should see the faces as you pull into a gas station and there’s a tiger in the back, making noise.”

Turpentine Creek pays for its work through myriad means of support from adoptions and sponsorships of resident animals — virtually, that is. Once an animal arrives at Turpentine Creek, they are home for life with even the occasional inquiry from a municipal zoo being given the polite but firm “no.”

Money is also generated from memberships, tours and even a lodging option that allows visitors to spend the night in quarters located near the animal enclosures. Through these means and other fundraisers, the group is able to fulfill its commitment to the creatures while serving an important educational function for tourists and school groups.

Speaking of education, the group is actively working toward expansions of various descriptions, from $4 million in habitat enclosures to a new $3.5

“It’s not as easy as throwing them into the back of a truck and away you go, obviously. It’s complicated. You’re moving apex predators across borders and state lines, but it’s interesting. You should see the faces as you pull into a gas station and there’s a tiger in the back, making noise.”

— Cheryl King, marketing director at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

million visitor’s education center. In that way, King said, the sanctuary can accommodate the needs of today and better position itself for the increased demand park leadership knows is coming.

“We hope the day will come — and hopefully the legislation — to close gaps of animals that are not protected,” she said. “Current law doesn’t protect bobcats, doesn’t protect cheetahs. We don’t see it as much in our country, but there’s a tremendous trade in cheetahs in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, where they are considered a status symbol. I was also reading somewhere recently where private ownership of lions in Pakistan is now a big issue, so there are issues worldwide.

“We’re hoping that we’ll make progress here in America with new laws, and in the meantime, we’ll continue to offer a forever home and our commitment to take care of these animals for the rest of their lives.”

Rambo, clockwise from top left, Bagheera and Lucy

travel 52Eureka Things to Do in Springs

By SARAH DECLERK // Photos courtesy of EUREKA SPRINGS CITY ADVERTISING & PROMOTION

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs has drawn visitors from far and wide to its famed mineral springs since the city’s founding in 1879. The city continues to attract tourists not just for its alleged healing waters but for its rich history, Victorian charm and quirky attractions. Regardless of one’s interests, there is something special around every corner in Eureka Springs.

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa

Built as a luxury hotel, 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa endured a tortured history before returning to its original purpose. The quack doctor Norman Baker used the building as a cancer hospital, one few patients left alive, during the late 1930s. Today, the Crescent Hotel offers some of the most luxe accommodations in town, including a spa and restaurants. Visitors who are easily frightened be warned, however; the hotel is said to be famously haunted and even offers ghost tours that pull back the veil on its spooky past.

Art Galleries

Eureka Springs is one of the best places in the Ozarks to be an art lover, and downtown visitors can find no shortage of unforgettable galleries. Wilson & Wilson Folk Art Co. is a favorite of many for its kitschy offerings, while relative newcomer The Heart Division is already making fast fans. Other popular galleries include J.A. Nelson Gallery, J. Foster Photography, Studio 34 and Studio 62. The Eureka Springs Art Walk & Expedition provides a great opportunity to visit the galleries.

Basin Spring Park

Nestled in the heart of downtown Eureka Springs amid shops, restaurants and galleries, Basin Spring Park provides a picturesque

spot where visitors can cool their heels while being immersed in beautiful surroundings. The park also offers a performance area for live music, making for festive evenings. For those who enjoy a good hike, a trail system takes visitors up the hill behind the park, providing access to Basin Spring and a lovely view of downtown.

Beaver Lake

A man-made lake built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Beaver Lake offers most any activity a lake lover can dream about. One of the best places for those visiting Eureka Springs to enjoy the lake is at Big Clifty Park. The park is a popular spot for fishing, swimming, hiking, picnicking and paddling. According to the Beaver Lake website, paddlers often launch from Big Clifty Park to go waterfall chasing at Hogscald Hollow.

Black Bass Lake

Within easy reach of downtown is Black Bass Lake. As its name suggests, the lake is ideal for fishing. There is also a scenic hiking trail and places where families can picnic. Offering a slice of nature apart from the hustle and bustle of the city, the lake provides a quick retreat for those wanting a break from the busy atmosphere.

Blue Spring Heritage Center

To understand the history of Eureka Springs, plan a trip to Blue Spring Heritage Center. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the center’s Bluff Shelter was used for refuge and ceremonies for thousands of years, and Blue Spring also played a role in the Trail of Tears. The center is also home to an assortment of gardens and an 1840s grist mill.

Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway

Christ of the Ozarks

In 1996, the seven-story-tall Christ of the Ozarks statue became one of Eureka Springs’ most notable landmarks. The grounds host The Great Passion Play, one of the most well-known performances of the Easter story in Arkansas. There is also a replica of the Holy Land, for which tours are available, as well as the Bible Museum, the Sacred Arts Center, a church dating from the early 1900s, an Israeli bomb shelter, a section of the Berlin Wall and nature trails.

Cosmic Cavern

Situated in nearby Berryville a short drive from Eureka Springs, Cosmic Cavern offers some of the prettiest natural scenery one can find underground. According to the cave website, Cosmic Cavern was discovered in 1845 and developed in 1927. Guided walking tours allow visitors to see such sights as a 9-foot soda straw, translucent formations along the North Lake Passage and two bottomless cave lakes.

Dining

Foodies can be foodies anywhere, but Eureka Springs is special. With so many unique offerings, diners are sure to find a new favorite restaurant to visit time and time again. Bubba’s Barbecue and Chelsea’s are casual classics, while Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking and Rogue’s Manor offer upscale fare. For a one-of-a-kind experience, consider Grotto Wood-Fired Grill and Wine Cave, housed in a historic stone building with a continuously running spring.

Eureka Springs Cemetery

Older cemeteries can be fascinating places, filled with incredible monuments and interesting internments. Eureka Springs Cemetery is no exception. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cemetery includes some of the most notable figures from Eureka Springs’ past. Cemetery tours are offered seasonally.

Eureka Market

Visitors to Eureka Springs who have dietary restrictions or nurture a passion for healthy food can stock up at The Eureka Market. The momand-pop health foods store offers a full line of grocery items and organic produce, as well as locally made products. According to its website, the establishment also provides a selection of soups and salads, as well as a covered patio with free Wi-Fi.

Eureka Rocket

From audio tours and historic tours to ghost tours and more, Eureka Rocket has guests covered. The tours provide an engaging way to learn all about the city’s storied past and get to know the lay of the land. In addition to shuttling patrons around using the “Eureka Rocket,” the company also offers do-it-yourself tours that allow visitors to drive around town while listening to audio about their surroundings.

Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway

Traveling by rail is an experience like no other, and the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway offers a memorable experience to passengers. Narrated by a conductor, the excursion train offers a 4.5mile round trip through Ozark scenery. The railway also offers lunch and dinner trains for a one-of-a-kind epicurean experience. Schedules are available on the railway website.

Eureka Springs Brewery

One of two notable breweries in the city, Eureka Springs Brewery closed this summer, but according to its social media, the brewery is set to reopen under the leadership of “a couple of young brewers from Colorado.” It will be interesting to see how the new owners shape the establishment. Craft beer lovers, stay tuned.

Eureka Comedy House

Laugh-out-loud fun awaits those who book a show at Eureka

Comedy House. According to the theater’s website, each show offers only 40 seats, making for an intimate experience rich in audience interaction. Comedy veteran Randall George, former owner of the nowclosed Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down, lends his expertise as proprietor of the theater. Shows are for adults only.

Fire Om Earth Retreat Center

Awash in arts and nature, Eureka Springs provides a wonderful setting in which to reconnect with one’s self. Perhaps no place is better suited to the task than Fire Om Earth Retreat Center. The center offers

Basin Spring Park

Crescent Hotel

Christ of the Ozarks

various classes, workshops and retreats, as well as the opportunity to book a cottage for a personal getaway, the minimum stay for which is one week. The center also offers handcrafted whistle flutes and ocarinas, along with the Skydancer Apothecary.

Fresh Harvest Tasting Room

A quality olive oil store is one of the hallmarks of a top-notch shopping district these days, and Fresh Harvest Tasting Room brings the experience to Eureka Springs. In addition to olive and specialty oils — including olive oil infused with blood orange, peppers and more — the shop offers an assortment of aged balsamic vinegars.

Frisco Sporting Club

Located on the grounds of 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Frisco Sporting Club offers outdoor pastimes for both children and adults, including fun yard games such as cornhole, horseshoes, bocce ball, and giant chess and checkers. The club also offers hatchet throwing in the afternoons and hosts live music in the evenings. Food and drinks are available courtesy of the Cantina Taco Truck.

Gotahold Brewing

Named for an often-uttered phrase about Eureka Springs, “This place got a hold of me,” Gotahold Brewing is a beloved watering hole for tourists and locals alike. Not only does the establishment offer craft brews and a community atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating; the brewery also plays host to a variety of live performances and other events.

Haunted Eureka Springs Ghost Tours

Those who hope to see a g-g-g-ghost while in Eureka Springs can take their chances with Haunted Eureka Springs Ghost Tours. The company offers a walking tour of the historic downtown area ending in the underground tunnels beneath the Ellis Building. There is also a ghost-hunting experience that unpacks the tools pros use to catch spooks.

Historic Hotels

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa may be the most famous historic hotel in Eureka Springs, but it is by no means the only one. Those seeking unique accommodations — and maybe a few ghost stories — can find them in abundance downtown. Fascinating lodging options include Basin Park Hotel, Grand Central Hotel, the New Orleans Hotel and Flatiron Flats.

I Am One Sky With Angel Guidance

OK, so not everybody “gets” psychics, but those who are curious about what their spirit guides have to say to them can find out at I Am One Sky With Angel Guidance. The business offers angel card and charm readings for both individuals and couples, as well as basic and deluxe energy balancing sessions.

Intrigue Theater

Featured on Masters of Illusion, Penn & Teller: Fool Us and America’s Got Talent, Sean-Paul and Juliana Fay dazzle audiences in Eureka Springs at Intrigue Theater. The theater’s latest production, Portal, transports audiences into a world of spellbinding illusions that explore mysteries old and new. The more than century-old venue, the Gavioli Chapel, is remarkable, as well.

Eureka Springs Transit

Looking for an effortless way to see the sights? Hop on a trolley, and go. The folks at Eureka Springs Transit are experts at getting people from Point A to Point B. The fixed-route service takes people past many local attractions, but the company also offers tram tours that shed light on the history of the uncommon city.

Eureka Springs Treehouses, Caves, Castles & Hobbits

Fantasy lovers can enjoy an imaginative getaway at Eureka Springs Treehouses, Caves, Castles & Hobbits. As its name suggests, the establishment provides a range of hideaways lifted from the pages of a novel. In addition to the fanciful accommodations, the company provides free downtown walking tours to guests on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Eureka Springs Working Bunnies

Two shops in Eureka Springs have a unique way of bringing in the tourists. East by West and Caroline’s Collectables are both home to the Eureka Springs Working Bunnies. The adorable rescue rabbits function as pint-sized cashiers, handing shoppers their change and receipts. Between purchases, the lagomorphs hang out around the stores, delighting patrons.

Eureka Springs Transit

Lake Leatherwood

Float Eureka

Visitors can find everything needed for an awesome excursion on the water at Float Eureka, which rents out canoes, kayaks, standup paddleboards and more. The business offers a shuttle service, as well, making for effortless outings to Beaver Lake, Lake Leatherwood and Hogscald Hollow. White River float trips are also available.

Keels Creek Winery

Although other states get more publicity when it comes to winemaking, Arkansas has its own quiet acclaim. Visitors to Keels Creek Winery can see what makes Arkansas-grown grapes special while sampling award-winning wines. The winery invites visitors to learn about the process from vineyard to bottle as they take the first steps to becoming connoisseurs.

Kings River Outfitters

Take in the stunning bluffs of the Kings River with Kings River Outfitters. In addition to providing everything needed for a safe and memorable float trip, the outfitter provides cabins and campgrounds for overnight stays. The knowledgeable staff can also guide families to the best fishing, swimming and wildlife-watching spots on the river.

Lake Leatherwood

An 85-acre spring-fed lake, Lake Leatherwood was created using one of the largest hand-cut native limestone dams in the U.S., the city website states. In addition to the many opportunities for fishing and boating that exist at the lake, Lake Leatherwood City Park provides a playground and more than 25 miles of trails for hiking and biking. The place is also a birder’s paradise.

Melonlight Theater

Situated in a historic ballroom downtown, the Melonlight Theater immerses audiences in tales of comedy and tragedy, offering a full season of productions that appeal to a wide range of tastes. Suspense is a specialty genre for the theater, which produces original paranormal and psychological thrillers. Private dance lessons are available, as well.

Missy’s White Rabbit Lounge

With quirky adventures around every corner, Eureka Springs is a place that can lead visitors down rabbit holes in the most unexpected ways. When it comes to nightlife, one of the best places to lose oneself in the moment is Missy’s White Rabbit Lounge. The establishment hosts a wide range of musical acts, along with open mics and karaoke.

Museum of Eureka Springs Art

Celebrating the tight-knit creative community in Eureka Springs, the Museum of Eureka Springs Art at the community center complex provides an ideal way to get to know local artists. Rotating exhibits keep the artwork fresh, and the museum also hosts a variety of familyfriendly activities suitable for all ages.

Onyx Cave Park

A short drive from downtown Eureka Springs is Onyx Cave Park. According to its website, Onyx Cave is the oldest toured cave in Arkansas and has been delighting visitors since 1891. An audio tour allows visitors to explore the formations at their own pace while learning about the features and history of the cave. Guided tours are also available. Above-ground activities include gem panning and ax throwing.

Opera in the Ozarks

Perched at scenic Inspiration Point on U.S. 62, Opera in the Ozarks, brings professional opera to the area while providing training for upand-coming performers. Now celebrating its 75th season in a new, state-of-the-art theater, Opera in the Ozarks provides an experience that is sure to inspire both seasoned operagoers and those new to the musical art form.

Missy’s White Rabbit Lounge

Palace Hotel & Bathhouse

Operating since 1901, the Palace Hotel & Bath House reminds visitors why Eureka Springs became renowned as a place of healing waters. The restored Victorian-era spa offers a robust selection of baths, massages and spa treatments, while the rooms provide historic ambiance and unbeatable views of downtown.

Pivot Rock Park

Witness the incredible rock formations sculpted by prehistoric seas at Pivot Rock Park, a privately owned park that has been featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! multiple times. The natural landmark has drawn tourists to the area since the 1920s. According to Tripadvisor, the attraction is closed for renovations but will reopen in 2026.

Razorback Tower

Go hog wild for beautiful views at the Razorback Gift Shop & Observation Tower. Surveying the mountainous landscape from the top of the tower has been a rite of passage for 60 years and is something that should not be missed by those new to Eureka Springs. The gift shop is a neat addition to the experience and even offers chances to make friends with the adorable shop cats.

Rowdy Beaver

Offering a full restaurant and bar, Rowdy Beaver is a home away from home for tourists, who visit the establishment to watch a game, listen to live music or play some pool. With an approachable menu of bar fare and a laid-back atmosphere, Rowdy Beaver is a place where it is easy to settle in but hard to leave.

Shopping

Whether for Christmas or just because, downtown Eureka Springs is one of Arkansas’ ultimate shopping destinations. Most everyone can find something to whet their wallets, whether they are embracing their inner child at The Magic Shop or KaleidoKites, picking up gourmet sauces at the Silly Chile, or enjoying the aromas at Soap Stop & Body Shop. Cap off the trip with a visit to Hats, Hides & Heirlooms.

Slane Tavern

The city’s premier Irish pub, Slane Tavern provides classic cocktails and a masterful list of whiskeys and scotches, plus the menu is provided by sister restaurant Grotto Wood-Fired Grill and Wine Cave. The music lineup is down to earth and includes a variety of performers from all genres.

Spring Street

The Springs

There is lots to see in Eureka Springs, but the springs themselves are the attraction that has drawn visitors since time immemorial. There are so many springs in the downtown area alone that visiting them all can take an entire day. In addition to Basin Spring, keep an eye out for Grotto Spring, Harding Spring, Sweet Spring, Laundry Spring, Magnetic Spring, Crescent Spring and Califf Spring.

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, St. Elizabeth has many distinguishing features, the most famous of which is its bell tower entrance. Also notable are the historic statues and stunning chandelier. Those who wish to learn more about the history of the church can book a private tour by calling 479-253-2222.

The Steampunk Inn

For a unique lodging experience, stay in style at The Steampunk Inn. The bed and breakfast currently offers accommodations at the Train Depot cabin. Guests receive a hot breakfast and have access to various steampunk-themed spaces around the inn, and the business has a number of unique games for sale, as well.

SUP Outfitters

Gear up for the adventure of a lifetime at SUP Outfitters, which provides standup paddleboard, kayak and mountain bike rentals for those looking to take advantage of the scenic spaces around Eureka Springs. Various floating rentals are also available, and the establishment offers guided eco tours and sunset tours at Beaver Lake, as well as standup paddleboard lessons.

Thorncrown Chapel

Perhaps one of the most iconic sights in Eureka Springs is Thorncrown Chapel, a glass cathedral designed by E. Fay Jones that opened in 1980. Offering stunning views of the wooded surroundings, the chapel continues to inspire visitors. Seating up to 100 guests, the chapel is a frequent venue for destination weddings.

Trigger Gap Outfitters

Situated on the Kings River, Trigger Gap Outfitters offers a wide variety of float trips, including one-, two- and three-day options. Canoes, kayaks, rafts and standup paddleboards are available for rental. Visitors can also get the inside scoop on accommodations and prime fishing spots.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Lions, tigers, bears and more await visitors to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, an organization that rescues exotic animals kept in captivity. Visitors can meet the animals and learn about the organization’s mission. Turpentine Creek also offers lodging options that allow guests to stay the night in the big cats’ backyard.

Two Dumb Dames Fudge Factory

Despite the name, whoever opened Two Dumb Dames Fudge Factory must have been a pretty smart person because the establishment has been doing a brisk business in Eureka Springs since 1979. The business gives today’s kids the good old-fashioned experience of picking out a favorite treat from the many varieties of fudge.

Underground Eureka Walking Tour

As interesting as Eureka Springs is above ground, its fascinating history extends below the streets, where an underground network of tunnels and now-hidden storefronts speak to both the architectural ingenuity and storied past of the city. Explore what waits below with an Underground Eureka Walking Tour, which reveals all the mysteries beneath the city.

Quigley’s Castle

Branded as the “Ozark’s Strangest Dwelling” Quigley’s Castle is one of the most beloved attractions in Eureka Springs, boasting one woman’s collection of eclectic items. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, visitors can take tours of the castle and its amazing gardens from March to November.

Zip Line

To soak in the natural beauty of Eureka Springs from the treetops, book a zip line tour at Eureka Springs Zipline or Ozark Mountain Ziplines. Either establishment promises an unforgettable trip as participants fly through the Ozark scenery and participate in other activities offered at the establishments.

The Steampunk Inn

nonprofit Fido Fido Finding

(Photo by Adeline Merrick)

BEST FRIENDS PET RESOURCE CENTER TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL SUPER ADOPTION EVENT IN OCTOBER

By ALEX HARDGRAVE

Roughly 7 million households will add a pet to their family this year, according to Best Friends Animal Society, a trend that is changing the lives of millions of homeless animals that might otherwise be facing a far more desperate fate.

A national organization, Best Friends Animal Society and its local chapters are committed to helping shelters reach “no-kill” status, defined as 90 percent or more of incoming animals leaving the shelter alive.

Such a goal was once thought far-fetched to the point of impossible, but it is actually within reach. When Best Friends Animal Society began work toward no-kill in 2016, more than 1 million animals were put down at U.S. shelters. As of 2024, that number has dropped nearly 60 percent to 425,000, according to the organization’s website. Overall, 2 out of 3 shelters in the U.S. attained no-kill status last year, and the society’s goal is to get to 100 percent this year.

Michelle Logan, executive director of the Bentonvillebased Arkansas affiliate, Best Friends Pet Resource Center, said an increase in adoptions of just 6 percent would be enough to meet the no-kill goal.

“We have seen such success in getting so many homeless animals into homes,” Logan said. “When we opened our resource center here in Bentonville, we wanted to bring this unique experience to the northwest Arkansas community.”

In an effort to help more animals find homes, Best Friends Animal Society will host its second-annual Super Adoption Event in Bentonville Oct. 11 and 12. AY Media Group is a sponsor of the event.

Best Friends Animal Society’s super adoption events started more than 25 years ago at the group’s Los Angeles location and have steadily grown in popularity.

“It’s an opportunity for us to bring pets from shelters and rescues all around the state together,” said Linda DeBerry, the organization’s senior marketing specialist.

The event will take place at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which the organizers said will make for a fun family day and boost awareness even among those not currently planning to add a pet to their homes. The

“Whatever we can do to get people to come and just look at all the wonderful animals that are available in shelters. You can save a life by adopting a pet from a shelter. Thousands of animals are dying in shelters in our country every day, and that’s because they don’t have space.”

- Linda DeBerry, senior marketing specialist

(Photo by Adeline Merrick)

(Photo by Russell Bloodworth)

“It gives them a chance to relax, unwind and remember what it’s like to be a pet and have a family.”

- Linda DeBerry

event will feature food trucks, vendors and activities, DeBerry said.

“Whatever we can do to get people to come and just look at all the wonderful animals that are available in shelters,” DeBerry said. “You can save a life by adopting a pet from a shelter. Thousands of animals are dying in shelters in our country every day, and that’s because they don’t have space.”

Since opening its doors in March 2023, Best Friends Pet Resource Center at 1312 Melissa Drive in Bentonville has found homes for more than 5,000 dogs and cats, the website states.

The organization works to save animals in a number of ways beyond adoption events, including pulling at-risk animals out of shelters when they are scheduled to be euthanized and transporting them to one of the Best Friends Animal Society pet resource centers. In addition to Arkansas, Best Friends Animal Society also has lifesaving centers in Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Utah.

The group also sends staff members to work at shelters to help improve health and safety protocols and offers support by donating medicine, materials and money to shelters.

The Bentonville resource center itself features a pet food and supplies pantry to help ensure no pet goes hungry. Visitors can also relax with the animals and get their caffeine fix at the same time at Third Space Coffee on the resource center grounds. The group also hosts weekly “meet-and-match” events.

“We invite our shelter partners and rescues

around the area to bring animals to our pet resource center and make them available to our center, where we have quite a bit of traffic,” DeBerry said.

The super adoption event differs from the weekly events in size and scope. Last year saw 253 animals from 20 different shelters and rescues adopted, DeBerry said, and about 2,500 people attended the event.

“We’re, of course, aiming even higher this year, hoping for more people and more animals and more animals going home,” she said.

Logan said the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville is also planning to expand its capacity prior to the event in order to bring in dogs from shelters that could otherwise not attend the event, such as ones that are understaffed or too far away.

“Events like this are amazing exposure, but for some of the shelters and rescues that really need a lot of help, like those in central Arkansas, it’s a really big undertaking for them to come all the way here for an event like this,” she said.

DeBerry stressed the importance of fostering, volunteering and donating to local shelters, as well.

“If you’re not ready to adopt, foster,” she said. “Fostering a pet saves lives in such a big way. Fostering is the heart of the Best Friends lifesaving mission.”

DeBerry said bringing a foster animal home increases its chances of being adopted.

“It just reminds them how to dog,” she said.

“It gives them a chance to relax, unwind and remember what it’s like to be a pet and have a family.”

Leadership hopes people consider adopting a pet from any of the group’s events or those local to where they live not only to save that pet but to make space for new pets coming in off the streets.

“The people who work in animal welfare in Arkansas and all over the country, they love those animals, and it is heartbreaking for some of them to have to die because shelters are out of space,” she said. “It’s a huge blow to a person who loves animals for that to happen.”

The event will take place at the Crystal Bridges campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 and 12. Those interested in getting involved beyond the event can visit the group’s website, bestfriends.org/northwest-arkansas/petresource-center.

“Pets bring people together. [The adoption event] is a great opportunity for people to come and just learn about animal welfare in general, the work that Best Friends Animal Society is doing, as well as in the other shelters,” Logan said. “I think it’s really critical for individuals, when they are looking to add a furry family member to their home, to really consider the adoption option.”

“Our community owes it to these animals to give them a second chance at a happy life that they deserve,” DeBerry said. “We are the solution. People are the only thing that are going to help these animals.”

(Photo by Adeline Merrick)

(Photo by Russell Bloodworth)

(Photo by Adeline Merrick)

(Photo by Russell Bloodworth)

(Photo by Russell Bloodworth)

Lhealth

Sticky SITU A TION A Navigating the world of pediatric vaccinations

ast month, school bells rang all over the Natural State as classroom doors were thrown open to welcome another academic year. Students marched to their desks, many of them clad in brand-new school clothes, clutching a supply of pencils, paper and glue.

Nearly every one of them also carried within them another prerequisite for attending public school — a required battery of vaccinations. These inoculations, administered at established intervals since they were born, have the stated purpose of protecting them against everything from measles and polio to chicken pox, rubella and mumps.

However, recent discussions in Washington have revived an age-old debate over how childhood vaccines come to market, as well as the startling growth in the number of vaccines administered to children practically from the day they are born. Politics, religion and conflicting scientific information have all contributed to a picture that is increasingly fuzzy for many people, especially parents.

AY About You reached out to officials and experts to get a basic primer on how vaccines are developed and what parents need to know about what is required by the public school system for what is going into their children’s arms.

BACKGOUND

In America, vaccinations have been as much a part of growing up as losing baby teeth, first crushes and zits for generations. The first vaccine, developed against smallpox, appeared in 1796. It, along with subsequent discoveries, has saved countless millions against the ravages of diseases that once tore through humanity like the plagues of the Bible. Diphtheria, polio, rabies, tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella just scratch the surface of diseases that have been beaten into submission. In developed countries, some have been all but eradicated.

Childhood immunizations have been key to that progress. According to Britannica, the worldwide infant mortality rate of vaccinated babies has dropped more than 70 percent over the past 50 years. In 1974, about 10 percent of vaccinated and unvaccinated infants died before their first birthday; by 2024, that percentage

fell to less than 3 percent for vaccinated babies compared to just under 5 percent of unvaccinated infants.

Dr. Robert Hopkins

Dr. Robert Hopkins is a professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and has spent nearly 40 years at UAMS. He described the manner in which new vaccines are developed, tested and approved.

“It really starts in the laboratory. Somebody identifies a disease that’s having a significant impact on a portion of our population, and so they investigate that disease and try to identify if there are some targets in that bacteria or that virus or that fungus that can be used to develop a vaccine, an antigen target that your body’s immune system can attack,” he said. “That laboratory investigation generally takes a significant portion of time. It may be one or two years, it may be 10 years, or in the case of a disease like HIV, we’ve been working on vaccines now for 20 years or more, and we still don’t have a solution.”

Hopkins said the goals of developing a vaccine are generally consistent regardless of what disease it is being developed to counter.

“That investigation process basically is to find a target that we can use to stimulate the immune system safely and effectively to reduce the impact of that disease on people,” he said. “The ability to actually prevent the disease altogether is kind of the holy grail. That happens sometimes, but more commonly, it’s to try to make the disease mild enough that it doesn’t put you in the hospital.”

CONTROVERSY

Vaccines have probably always had their share of skeptics — vocal or otherwise — concerned about what they contained, how they were tested, what entity was profiting from them, and what long-term side effects or health problems they might contribute to. However, it is safe to say that in previous eras, the public at large was far more willing to go along to get

By DWAIN HEBDA

along due to an inability to easily research such matters or find credible sources of dissenting opinions, doubts or fears.

Those questioning vaccines’ ingredients or the manner of their production and testing have moved from the fringe to gain more political clout. One of the leading organizations urging a revamp and reexamination of protocols and existing vaccines is Children’s Health Defense, which was formerly led by current Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy is on record insisting he is not anti-vaccine but that there is room for discussion and examination of protocols for new vaccines, as well looking at the need and safety of existing ones.

In August, Kennedy reestablished the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines for that purpose, a panel that had operated from the mid-1980s through the late 1990s. The purpose of the panel is to “improve the safety, quality and oversight of vaccines administered to American children,” HHS states.

One issue behind the move is the growth in the number of vaccinations children receive. According to Children’s Health Defense, children received five doses of vaccine addressing three categories of disease in 1962. By 1989, that had grown to 24 doses across five disease categories.

In 2024, the number sits at 77 doses plus 8 more recommended during pregnancy for a total of 85 doses between in utero and 17 years of age, including multiple influenza and COVID-19 inoculations.

IMPACT

The practical upshot lies in the vaccinations required to gain entry into various institutions, be it the workplace or the classroom. Public schoolchildren are required to be current on their vaccinations as determined by

the Arkansas Department of Health, the handbook of the Arkansas Department of Education states.

“ADH reviews the list of recommended vaccines for children published by [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to determine those mandatory for children in a public-school setting,” said Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, director of the Arkansas Department of Health. “The specific vaccine must be in the Rules Pertaining to Immunization Requirements in order to be made mandatory.

“Each state determines what vaccinations will be required in their state. There are no federal mandates for school vaccination requirements. Vaccines listed in the Rules Pertaining to Immunization Requirements are mandatory unless a philosophical, medical or religious exemption has been obtained.”

Families are afforded the opportunity to be exempted from the requirement on those grounds, Department of Education regulation state. Families seeking an exemption are required to apply for such annually along with providing other supporting documentation. Exemptions are granted only by the Arkansas Department of Health.

Dillaha indicated the list of required vaccinations was reviewed as the need arose and not on a set schedule.

“There is no established frequency [for review],” she said. “Consideration for revisions to the rules could include when a new vaccine is added or removed by ACIP, new research is published, a vaccine has been shown to decrease the risk of illness in children, or input from physicians providing medical care for children in Arkansas.”

Hopkins said parents are under bombardment from both sides of the issue, which can lead to a great deal of confusion and fear. He recommended consulting with their physician or pediatrician on the topic to allay any concerns and gain accurate information.

“I think if people have questions or doubts or need information, it’s healthy to have those discussions,” he said. “Clearly, we should not run roughshod over parents. If parents have questions about vaccines, we need to have that discussion about what their questions are, and we need to try to answer those questions to their satisfaction. That’s healthy.”

SHERWOOD

We are devoted to providing high quality care which celebrates the dignity and grace of every person who enters our facility.

At Sherwood Nursing and Rehab we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.

We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services. 245 Indian Bay Drive Sherwood, AR

Phone: 501.834.9960 Fax: 501.834.5644

Briar wood Nursing and Rehab is a 120-bed skilled facility located in an urban setting within the heart of Little Rock, in the neighborhood of Briarwood. We are located just minutes from downtown Little Rock and are only one block off interstate 630.

We provide long-term care and short-term rehab care. All residents are monitored throughout the day with assistance in providing daily care as is needed: bathing, dressing, feeding and providing medications. Briarwood staff also work at ensuring the best care for residents through individual care plans of residents' needs, as well as daily activities, which allow for a variety of interests and abilities.

Nearly all - 98 percent - of our rehab residents return to the community as a result of positive, caring therapists. Briarwood's approach has provided healing to many people in the community.

At Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we are committed to ensuring that the best possible care is given to you or your loved one in an atmosphere that is calm, quiet and focused on healing. We endeavor to ensure that all aspects of your well-being — mental, physical and spiritual — are cared for in a peaceful and safe environment. Our staff strive to promote dignity, respect, and independence as much as possible, in a beautiful, soothing enviornment that was designed with our residents' comfort in mind.

Briarwood's service-rich environment is made possible by its dedicated staff, from our nursing staff and therapists, to our operations and administrative employees. At Briarwood, our residents enjoy three generations of staff and families. That is over 30 years of service to the community!

murder mystery Cousins the

By SARAH RUSSELL

They were first cousins, and they came from a family with bonds that were seamless, the kind where trouble rarely gets in — until it did. First one cousin disappeared, then the other. Even now, the night is not giving up any of its secrets — none.

Tuesday, March 4, 1986: The officers at the door, responding to a requested welfare check, were met by a woman at the Gravel Ridge apartment of 25-year-old Darla Harper. The woman, a co-worker, said the conscientious young mother had not shown up for her job

statement that she heard shuffling, like furniture moving, in the apartment after 11 p.m.

Searches began, immediate and intense. Pulaski County Sheriff’s officers were shoulder to shoulder with the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal investigation unit, as well as family, friends and co-workers. About the only person not there was the soon-to-be ex-husband Barry Harper. It did not go unnoticed.

The divorce proceedings had not been contentious — quite the opposite. A few things were left to settle, but the negotiations

“Just driving around,”

-Barry Harper

at a Little Rock IRS office nor answered calls. Neither the co-worker nor the officers were able to get a response at the door until, from the other side of the locked door, a tiny voice was heard. It was time to go in.

Upon entry, officers found everything looked normal except for one bewildered little girl. The child told the officers three people came in, their faces covered, and they put Mommy in a bag. A tiny smear of blood on the door knob gave credence to the child’s story.

Not much blood was found in Harper’s 1981 Honda Accord, however. Located in a commuter parking lot that she never used, the car had been wiped down. The perpetrator — or perpetrators — did make a mistake though; fingerprints were discovered on the passenger door and rearview mirror. The car had not been there at 9 p.m., an employee at the adjacent convenience store told officers, but it was by midnight. That correlated with a neighbor’s

had been amicable. Barry had moved on to a married co-worker at Southwestern Bell. She had not been the cause of the divorce though. Drugs were.

Divorce was the last thing Darla had envisioned for herself or her child. She had tried to stay the course with Barry, but the drugs proved stronger than either of them. By that point, Darla was not the only one who knew about Barry’s problem either.

When questioned, Barry had an imperfect alibi. “Just driving around,” he said, which the cops translated as being out to score drugs. He also refused a polygraph test.

Another man — the shiny new thing Darla met following the break-up — passed his polygraph and had a solid alibi. The three painters who had been working at the apartment complex checked out too.

Authorities intensified their focus on Barry. With a money pit of a drug habit, police thought

he might have assumed that with Darla gone, he would get everything, including full custody of his child. Instead, a judge put the divorce on hold, meaning legally, Darla Harper was still a missing wife.

Darla Harper

Even when the divorce was granted in 1988, Darla’s share of the marital property still did not go to Barry. An escrow in Darla’s name was established for her portion, and her life insurance payout of $126,000 went into escrow for her child.

In the spring of 1989, Barry married his now-divorced girlfriend, a woman who had two kids and a drug problem of her own. The latter exacerbated her bipolarism, leading to erratic episodes. At one point, she insistently told officers that Darla was buried under the shed in the Harpers’ backyard.

Darla was not under the shed, but investigators and Pulaski County Coroner Steve Nawojczyk decided to make a go of the house’s crawlspace. A bone fragment was found but did not lead anywhere.

Nawojczyk, who went on to become the state crime lab director, would later create The Coroner’s Report podcast, along with Tracey Carrington. Their four-part series “When the Cousins Went Missing” is an intriguing listen. Not only were family and PCSO officers interviewed, but also, information sourced from a private investigator hired by Un-

solved Mysteries to work on the Pam Page case. Page was Darla’s cousin, the second one claimed that night. Page’s trouble started years earlier with one blind date following a breakup from a longtime sweetheart. Page was lobbied by her best friend, also her sisterin-law, to go out with her brother, Rob Page, on leave from the Navy.

The rebound was like a snapped rubber band. In six weeks, the former Pam Frisby was the new missus in the Page family. Despite a wedding-day meltdown caused by her jitters over marrying a man she barely knew, the two were still married 12 years later.

The marriage may have had staying power, but it also has turbulence. Very early on, Rob became frustrated about Pam’s weight, she told family members, which resulted in her being put on a diet, along with daily forced weighins.

Still, life looked outwardly sweet after his military hitch, and the couple settled in Arizona. On a 1989 trip home to Arkansas, Pam regaled family with reports of her Fast Forward video store business doing great and expanding. Plus, a new house was on the horizon, one with a nursery.

Early on the evening of July 20, Pam Page was seen alive for the last time. One of her employees told investigators they had walked

out to the parking lot together, Pam talking about Fast Forward’s new location. Almost a week later, her sister called, saying no one in the family had heard from her. Rob calmly told her Pam had not felt well, so the next day, July 21, he opened the store while leaving her at home.

He then dropped a bombshell, saying he came home to a Dear John letter detailing how she had a new lover, a woman. He even read the rambling, two-page, typed letter to Pam’s sibling.

Almost as soon as she hung up the phone, the sister mobilized the Frisby family, none of whom were buying the story. Once in Arizona, the police told them that contrary to what Rob claimed, he had not reported Pam missing. Between the investigative efforts of the family and the police, things soon got interesting.

Rob’s story began to fall apart as facts began to contradict his version. Not only was the signature on the letter not Pam’s, but the supposed runaway wife had left behind her identification, jewelry and yellow Corvette, a car that Rob had made a deal to sell while she was gone. That is not to mention that three weeks after she disappeared, Rob filed for divorce.

What of the woman in the supposed Dear John letter? Neither law enforcement, the media or the private investigator hired for Unsolved Mysteries could find the mystery woman. Nor had Pam’s employees, friends or family ever heard her mention such a person.

There was another woman involved, though, the one seen out boating with Rob multiple times the week Pam was in Arkansas. Her mother-in-law confirmed to the Frisbys that not only was the woman Rob’s secretary at the Palo Verde nuclear plant, but she was also his not-so-secret lover.

Interesting, too, was the fact that her description matched that of the woman seen with Rob throwing bags of women’s clothes in a dumpster close to the Fast Forward video store.

Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, however, the years brought nothing that could convict anyone in either case. On Dec. 2, 2013, Barry, driving a tanker truck, died in a fiery three-vehicle accident. On Christmas Eve that year, Rob died of cancer. At the time of their deaths, both men were considered prime suspects.

In 2017, the Frisby family received legal notice that if Rob Page were still alive, he would have been charged with second-degree murder, but since he was deceased, the case was officially closed.

In Arkansas, Darla’s case is still being actively worked. There has been no body found, no funeral, no day in court — yet — but someone out there may have answers to the pain her family has felt. As for the little girl who spoke of three home invaders that night, she is now a grown woman, one her mother would have been proud of, no doubt in part because of Barry losing custody to her grandparents, sparing her from inheriting his bad habits.

Into the family’s seamless bond came trouble. The killer could have been one husband or the other or maybe even someone still watching all this play out from the sidelines. The night has never given up its truths. Even now, it gives only silence.

Pam Page

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.

Earthquakes

By Joe David Rice

People generally associate earthquakes with certain types of terrain: prominent escarpments, jagged peaks, visible faults and occasionally even volcanoes. Lacking such features, Arkansas’ landscapes bear little resemblance to typical earthquake country.

Yet the epicenter of the initial Dec. 16 quake in the notorious New Madrid sequence of 1811-1812 was located several miles beneath the Big Lake area of northeastern Arkansas. Subsequent tremors moved to the north and east, primarily around New Madrid, Missouri, which was the only town of any significance for miles around at the time. Three major quakes shook the region between Dec. 16, 1811, and Feb. 7, 1812, with hundreds of smaller tremors recorded during the period. Aftershocks continued to plague the surrounding countryside for years.

People driving along Interstate 55 in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri today can scarcely believe that a series of extremely powerful quakes literally tore the land apart a little over two centuries ago. The pancake-flat fields of cotton and soybeans appear to be anything but a seismic zone, but it was a vastly different story back then.

Firsthand accounts from those early settlers are truly frightening — telling of hellish gases, geysers of sand blasting into the air, buckling buildings, deep crevices slicing through the ground, violent tremors, incomprehensible noises and instances of the land rolling in waves much like the swells of an ocean.

Thomas Jefferson was awakened at his estate near Lynchburg, Virginia.

As for an explanation of the quakes, seismologists still have not reached a consensus. Most earthquakes occur at collision points of the planet’s seven or eight major tectonic plates, such as along the California coast, where the North American Plate and Pacific Plate constantly battle for supremacy. The New Madrid Seismic Zone, on the other hand, is in the middle of the North American Plate and produces what are known as “intraplate” quakes, which are a continuing enigma for the experts. One theory holds that the culprit is a failed break — the Reelfoot Rift — in the North American Plate.

On Feb. 7, 1812, the third and probably largest of the three monstrous quakes uplifted the bed of the Mississippi River, temporarily blocking the current and causing the stream to reverse its flow. When enough water had accumulated to breach the massive barrier, a waterfall resulted and capsized many of the boats that had the misfortune to be on the Mississippi at the time. Within a few days, the roaring torrent washed away the elevated land mass and eliminated the cascade, but the series of quakes had radically changed the river. New channels appeared, entire forests plunged into the stream, and long-standing islands vanished as others emerged.

While seismologists today disagree on the intensity of the New Madrid earthquakes, there’s no question they were truly significant — ranging somewhere between 7.0 and 8.5 on the Richter scale. Since the temblors occurred before seismographs were in place, geologists have been forced to make their estimates from reports and observations that are now more than 200 years old.

What is also amazing is the geographic impact of the tremors over 2 million square miles. They were felt in New York City, the District of Columbia, Detroit, New Orleans and Montreal, Canada. People were rousted from their beds in Columbia, South Carolina, and former President

The final death toll of the 1811-1812 New Madrid quakes will never be known, but it was surprisingly low. Not only was the region sparsely populated; most settlers lived in log cabins, which are somewhat resilient during tremors. Rather than collapsing like brick structures are prone to do, the interlocking log construction of the cabins provided some degree of protection. However, should a similar earthquake strike today, the death count could easily reach the thousands. Tens of millions of people now reside within the New Madrid Seismic Zone (essentially a triangle with corners at Little Rock, St. Louis and Memphis), and most are unaware of the region’s history with tremors. While a handful of communities have organized the occasional emergency drill, few have adopted building codes aimed at minimizing earthquake-related damage. Unfortunately, modern construction is not as forgiving as log cabins when quakes strike.

Authorities urge every family in the New Madrid Seismic Zone to prepare an earthquake plan that covers the essentials, from prescription lists to telephone numbers to locations of spare keys, as well as practicing first aid and CPR techniques. Everything from tools to toilet paper should be considered. Maintaining a carefully planned inventory of foods and beverages is a top priority. Since ATMs may be out of service for days or weeks, setting aside a secret cache of cash is also important.

Household improvements should include anchoring appliances, bookcases and filing cabinets to their walls; placing latches on drawers and cabinet doors; securing television sets and heavier items on their shelves; strapping water heaters into place; and outfitting all natural gas appliances with flexible connections.

No one can predict when the next New Madrid quake will strike, but seismologists now know the 1811-1812 disaster was not a random, singular event. Recently uncovered evidence indicates earlier tremors of equal intensity have occurred in the region every 200 to 400 years. The experts say it is just a matter of time.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director at 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.

GRAND REOPENING!

S E P T . 2 0 SATURDAY 1 0 A M - 4 P M

Explore the reimagined spaces designed for learning, creativity, and community.

Not mass-produced health care. Curated care.

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 erce commitment. Advocating for patients while providing the services our communities deserve. See what curated care looks like for you.