MAKING THE MARK

This year, BayouLife Magazine asked the community of talented makers to submit their hand-crafted goods for our inaugural Making the Mark competition. In the following pages, you will meet this year’s winners in each category: Craft, Apothecary, Outdoor, Home, Fashion, Food and Drink. Thank you for all the wonderful submissions.

Profiles by Meredith McKinnie Photography by Kelly Moore Clark

CRAFT CATEGORY

Raised in Start, Louisiana, Chris McElroy is drawn to historical crafts such as silversmithing, blacksmithing, and leatherworking. The desire to preserve older crafts and work with his hands comes from within. Chris describes leatherworking as a “combination of art and function. The work is often created with a focus on function, but through creative avenues, the product becomes a work of art.” He began working with leather nine years ago and has fashioned western-style holsters, knife sheaths, spur straps, pistol holsters, belts, and rifle slings - primarily as gifts. For those interested in leatherworking,

Chris encourages newcomers to trust the process. “Don’t let your mistakes discourage you.” The personal touches that distinguish leather products are often achieved through trial and error. The practice of leatherworking is becoming more popular as online communities grow and local communities take interest. As a college student, Chris needed a bag for his laptop and books. Bags can be expensive and are often not well made. The larger bag he created is more structured and formal in style, but practical for school. Combining his passion with his immediate need is the impulse of a maker. Chris is a graduate of LA Tech in Animal Science and is currently pursuing a second degree in Cyber

Engineering. He and his wife Sarah have two children, Lilly and Luke.

OUTDOOR CATEGORY

Mike Benton grew up in a family full of duck hunters. He’s well versed in the flyaway duck zones and an expert on the cutdown duck call, a regional phenomenon in north

Louisiana and south Arkansas. The cutdown style is popular for hunting in river backwater, lakes, bayous, and brakes- particularly for its loudness. In 1997, Mike started Challenger Cutdown

Calls with a few business partners. Now the sole owner, Mike created the logo for the calls, that features three different birds. The specklebelly goose adorns the top of the design; the pintail, with its penguin-like coloring, nestles up under the goose; and the mallard, the prize duck, sits under the pintail. The stair- stepped fowl design is popular among avid hunters. Duck hunting appeals to sportsmen for different reasons. Some love the thrill of the kill, others like to retrieve the ducks after the kill, but Mike adores calling the birds. Summoning the ducks to the water is the pinnacle of hunting wildfowl. Turning his passion into a career seemed like an obvious choice. Now the market calls for prettier designs, and Mike is branching out with materials. His 3-inch barrels are now made of acrylic or cocobolo wood instead of the original plastic.

Mike sells duck calls on Facebook and

Instagram. The elaborate creations can also be found at Dave’s Bayou Lodge in Richland Parish and Max Porter

Provisions in West Monroe (upon opening).

FASHION CATEGORY

As a mother of four children, Rachel Madden uses her artistic flair as means of escape and relaxation. Raised in West Monroe, Rachel married her husband Zach Madden 8 years ago. She teaches Pre-K 3 at First Methodist Church in Monroe. When Covid quarantine began and the family was all home full-time, Rachel knew she needed something to do outside of domestic responsibilities. She settled on earrings. Rachel saw a clay pair on Pinterest and thought, “I can make those.” What started as a passion evolved into a side hustle that brings her joy and supplements income. Rachel was always drawn to creative projects. She paints, knits, crochets, needlepoints, and has even built her own tables. She grew up watching her mother bake and decorate cakes, and now as a mother herself, she knows the value of having a creative outlet.

Ironically, Rachel had never attempted making jewelry before and admits she doesn’t even wear earrings often. Now with the earrings’ lighter clay material, Rachel has a practical, easy-to-wear alternative. This unforeseen hobby is the escape Rachel so desperately needed. With Everett, Hollis, Crawford, and Lenora under the age of six, Rachel has been pregnant, breastfeeding, or both for the last five years. Motherhood can be consuming, and Rachel didn’t want to lose herself in the process. She finds time to paint with the kids, and during those quiet moments, she slips away to create her jewelry. Rachel realizes she won’t ever be alone for quite some time, but finding time for herself is essential.

HOME CATEGORY

Aresident of Winnsboro, Margaret Evans works as an accountant at the local Delta campus. While her career involves structure, Margaret finds her escape in creative expression. Using her artistic talent gives her pleasure, as the practice is not beholden to deadlines. Creativity blooms in free spaces. The handmade basket idea emerged while perusing online. Margaret frequently finds inspiration from unique, fresh designs. Margaret’s basket creation is a natural, modern style featuring a leather accent and grommets. Margaret plans to keep toying with the design, hopefully creating more decorative pieces in the future.

Margaret’s mother taught her to sew when she was a child. Inspired by the allure of creating, Margaret taught herself to knit, crochet, and quilt. She enjoys the challenge of making something from scratch, putting her own twist on existing styles. If she needs a new comforter, clothes, or curtains, she takes on the challenge. Now a mother and grandmother, Margaret seeks out her favorite hobbies for relaxation and connection. Her grandchildren have taken an interest in expressing themselves through crafts, as well. Margaret worked with the girls on a lap quilt, a sundress, and even the beloved basket. She appreciates sharing her love of artistic expression with her family.

APOTHECARY CATEGORY

Ajunior at Neville High School, Hailei Beckwith is one wellrounded 16-year-old young lady. The honor roll student adores math. She appreciates structure and definitive solutions to problems. Hailei serves as historian for the Cinderella Guidance Clinic and is a member of Top Teens of America. At Neville, she is a member of The Clean Team, The Renaissance, and Student Council. Hailei’s father and grandfather own and operate funeral homes in Louisiana and Texas, and her mother is a registered nurse that enjoys event planning. Hailei wanted her own creative outlet and a way to impact the world. She found a passion for making candles at 13, and along with her team of volunteer family members, LoveLit Candles was born.

Hailei is allergic to beeswax, so her candle creations are made with soy and coconut wax. She believes in the alternative ingredients because it is better for the environment. The #1 scent is Georgia On My Mind, which features hints of peach. The pineapple scent, A Graceful Host is a nod to the soldiers who would put a pineapple on the porch after returning from combat. The symbol meant the soldiers were open to talking about their experience, so the candle is meant to be a sign of welcome. Hailei’s mother Shonya Gipson-Paige is proud of her daughter and her giving soul. Hailei donates portions of her candle proceeds to local organizations such as the NELA Food Bank, the Breast Cancer Foundation, and families in need during the holidays. Giving back and making a difference are most important for Hailei Beckwith.

DRINK CATEGORY

Cooking and entertaining bring joy to Kay Walker’s life. Raised here in north Louisiana, Kay’s childhood memories were made in the kitchen, and she has strived to create those same memories with her children and grandchildren. Through entertaining, she found her recipes brought joy to other people. After a divorce at 60, Kay decided to use her God-given talent in a business venture. Kaybaby’s Smokin’ Fine Foods evolved in Kay’s own little kitchen. It took grit, determination, and a lot of faith to get the business off the ground. Through the diligence of friends and family, the market evolved as well. The company’s featured products are Bloody Mary Mix, smoked oyster crackers, and smoked rice. The Bloody Mary Mix is always a favorite at parties. The flavor is spicy, but lighter with a smoky twist. Kay takes pride in making a product that her local friends love and shares it with a wider audience. As a north Louisiana native, Kay takes pride in her hometown and wants to see the area get more recognition. As a result, Kaybaby’s products are bottled and distributed right here. As the current First Lady of Ruston, Kay and her husband Mayor Ronny Walker are committed to the growth of this region. Kay focuses her efforts on helping female-owned small businesses gain recognition. Kay sees God’s hand in all the changes and blessings in her life. She knows mindset and commitment lead to fruition, and if she can make people smile with her products, then she is combining her two loves in life.

FOOD CATEGORY

After working in the medical field for the last 32 years, Melinda Adams has taken a well-timed step back. She’s now free to focus on creating in the kitchen, her artistic space. Coming from a family of artists, Melinda admits she can’t draw, but she can blend flavors. Raised by her grandmother, Melinda wanted to emulate her culinary talents. When her own kids were younger, Melinda focused on baking cakes and cupcakes for birthday parties and special occasions. She got back in the habit when her grandchildren were born, and then concocted her famous peach pepper jelly. The current batch features royal red peaches from Mitcham Farms.

In 2013, Melinda’s friend produced a bumper crop of peppers and offered Melinda a five gallon bucket full. She had an idea to add fruit into the pepper jelly. She started with pineapple and it was a hit at an open house party. The cranberry flavor had the same positive reception. Melinda now offers 5 more flavors: peach, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry. And don’t assume the pepper jelly is just suitable as an addition to cream cheese. Melinda suggests adding the raspberry jelly to ham, the cranberry jelly to chicken, the peach jelly on pork roast, or even making a peanut butter and pepper jelly sandwich. Melinda enjoys thinking outside the box with food and encourages her customers to do the same.

Find Melinda’s jellies through her company, Meme’s Kitchen.

REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE

“I recalled all the suffering I had endured, almost more than any human could bear, but at the same time, I remained profoundly conscious of France’s own terrible misfortunes and her complete subjugation. Suddenly, I became aware of a growing feeling within - a heartrending longing for this country I was leaving behind.”

A lover of literature, and a Jewish woman who delighted in sharing the experience of reading with her peers, Francoise Frenkel opened La Maison du Livre, a French bookstore, in Berlin in 1921. Far from her native Poland, but still in the relative familiarity of Europe, Francoise was comfortable in elite circles, entertaining diplomats, celebrities, and the established clientele that frequented her shop. Shortly into her time in Berlin, Nazi sentiments begin to creep into the metropolis, and while Francoise can stay above the fray due to her popularity, the eventual occupation of Germany seals her fate as one of the others. Her yearslong escape carries Francoise across Europe, primarily in France, seeking refuge in the unlikeliest of places with surprising characters. The book also details the slow, yet swift, advancement of Nazi sentiments and government regulations across Europe. It details the horror of those appalled by the developments and the acquiescence of too many. The depiction of homegrown hatred and resentment that hardens over time is clearly illustrated.

The true story of Frenkel’s escape from Nazi capture was only uncovered in the last decade. The English version is a translation of the original document written in French. The first fews chapters take some adjusting on the reader’s part, as some phrases seem awkward in our native tongue and often disconnect the narrative from the language. The compelling story captures the imagination of the reader, as Francoise routinely goes into hiding to avoid detection and deportation. Frenkel relies on the kindness of acquaintances and strangers, people willing to risk their own lives to resist inhumane laws and practices. Though wellconnected and granted a temporary visa for Switzerland, the journey to the border and crossing into unoccupied territory is punishable by death, and Frenkel is forced to rely on her wits and instinct in times of isolation.

While there are some harsh realities explained and endured by Frenkel, the narrative is comfortably readable. Often people avoid subjects of the Holocaust because the reality is too gruesome and frightening to ponder. This is not one of those books. The atrocities of the war are not ignored, but the details are not so explicit that they’re overwhelming. The beauty in the story is found in the woman’s endurance during seemingly unbearable hardship. While all Holocaust stories are tragic and unique in circumstances, the universality of a group of people being hunted resonates in each person’s account. This woman’s story speaks to resilience of the human spirit, the strength one can summon within herself, and the willingness of the unhunted to stand up for those persecuted.

AS A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT, ANGELA never considered going away to pursue higher education. Her life was here, and she wanted to further her studies while remaining home close to family and friends. A graduate of West Monroe High School, Angela excelled in her studies; book knowledge always made sense to her. She attended ULM with TOPS funding and other academic scholarships and wanted to make the most of her time at the institution. Like so many freshmen, her career plan wasn’t definite. She wasn’t sure who or what she wanted to become. She initially declared elementary education, then math education, considered architecture, flirted with marketing, before finally just taking classes that interested her. As a junior, Angela enrolled in a drawing course. The instructor’s teaching style was unique and challenging, and Angela was unsure of herself in the course - but she loved the practice. She found a passion for the arts and knew art education was where she belonged.

While taking classes at ULM full time, Angela worked as a secretary for a local contractor. She was a member of Kappa Pi Arts Society and led the preschool children’s ministry at Christian Life Church. Professors like Joni Noble provided the inspiration and encouragement Angela needed. Dr. Noble brought realness to the classroom, had a warm approach to teaching, and gave her students the tools to recognize the artistic needs in community classrooms. Mr. Cliff Tresner also pushed the arts in the community and encouraged his students to do the same. Under the tutelage of ULM’s art department, Angela found the method for combining her love of art with her passion for people, especially young adults. She knew building relationships was a personal strength, and the classroom was the environment where she could make those genuine connections.

Angela is currently certified in K-12 education. Upon graduating summa cum laude from ULM in 2004, she took a job with Good Hope Middle School, then West Monroe High School in 2011, and Drew Elementary in 2012. In 2016, Angela was offered a position at West Ridge Middle School, with the age group she was most fond of and a learning environment close to home. Angela adores middle schoolers, particularly their sense of humor. They are at the age where they still seek out guidance and value their teachers. Angela is able to see her impact on their life choices - she feels she can make the most difference. Her pedagogy involves centering student agency, letting the kids decide which art projects to pursue. She prefers a relaxed creative environment, often playing music or encouraging conversation while the groups work. Angela pulls up a canvas or paper alongside her students and creates along with them, feeding off their creative energy and excitement for the task at hand. Since art class is an elective, most of her students have chosen her class, and many of them stay with her for three years. Angela is able to foster that creative talent long term and is still around to see that budding confidence manifest.

Most importantly, Angela gets to know her students personally. In a relaxed environment, students are more willing to share, and Angela gets to know their moods and can sense when the dynamic shifts. She can tell when they’re not okay. Often students need to vent, and Angela encourages self expression. She gets to provide that outside perspective that students so often crave from a trusted adult they know cares about them. Angela is foremost an advocate of student well being. She believes attention to social and emotional health is integral to effective learning.

Angela was named Teacher of the Year for West Ridge Middle School in 2021, then again won Teacher of the Year for Ouachita Parish. She placed in the top 3 for the same honor for the state of Louisiana. Angela is married her high school sweetheart Peyton Leach in 2005, shortly after he too graduated from ULM with a bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems. He currently works for Graphic Packaging International. The couple have four children: Jillian, Griffin, Gunnar, and Everlee - who plan to be future ULM Warhawks like their parents. Angela is proud of the progress at ULM, specifically the updated facilities and the passionate work that continually enriches our community. Her former professor Dr. Noble frequently sends elementary and art education majors to observe Angela’s class at West Ridge, bringing Angela’s educational history and career full circle. The ULM Alumni Association reaches, connects and celebrates alumni and friends to build lifelong relationships, and commit to the university’s missions of academic freedom, scholarship, diversity, excellence, integrity and service. We represent alumni who honor the traditions of our university and who share a sense of achievement and pride. We create a network of professionals, establish scholarships and advocate for our University through community engagement. Members of the Alumni Association support countless initiatives, and annual memberships are just $35. To learn more or to become a member, please visit our new alumni network at ulm.edu/alumni.

BREATHING IN AND OUT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE do every day, all day long, often times without a thought. It is something that comes naturally to us - approximately 17,000 times a day. Even though it is not something we often think about, breathing can affect your overall health. Over the past year, lung function has become a popular topic, given the way COVID-19 impacts your body. We know that Pilates can help build your core, add muscle and increase strength. But did you know it can improve your lung health as well? Before you can understand proper breathing techniques, it is important to know a little about how your body breathes. When you breathe in, or inhale, the muscle on the bottom of your ribcage, called your diaphragm, contracts and moves downward. This allows the lungs to have ample room to expand. The muscles between your ribs, called the intercostal muscles, contract to pull your ribcage upward and outward. As your lungs expand, air is sucked in through your nose and mouth and travels down your trachea to your lungs. After passing through your bronchial tubes, the air finally reaches the air sacs where oxygen is passed into the blood stream. At the same time, carbon dioxide travels into the air sacs from the blood stream and is expelled from the body as you exhale. Joseph Pilates taught that there is a right way to breathe and the mere act of breathing is one of the six Guiding Principles of Pilates. Breathing properly involves every part of your lungs, filling them completely with air in an inhale, and expelling every ounce of air as you exhale. When you inhale in a Pilates class, you are looking to maximally expand your lungs and rib cage in all directions. Then upon the exhale, you are looking to maximally contract your lungs and rib cage, which benefits your overall health greatly.

USING YOUR LUNGS Your lungs and heart are the two most important organs that we use during exercise. The lungs bring oxygen to the heart and the heart pumps it into the muscles. They need to be exercised and challenged in order to stay in optimal condition.

RIB CAGE BREATHING When a person exercises, they should be able to breathe deeply through their ribcage. This is a method of breathing that needs to be practiced. It is not something that comes naturally to most people. Upon a deep inhale, a few dozen muscles of the rib cage can contract. These muscles can include the serrates anterior, pectorals major and Levatores costarum. Upon a deep exhale, all of the abdominal muscles get involved along with the pelvic floor muscles.

IN AND OUT A key aspect of breathing is being conscious of where and how the air is being breathed in and out. The focus is on inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the nose. This way of breathing can help activate the parasympathetic, which controls our rest state and deactivates the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates our flight or fight response. Breathing through your nose allows you to take deeper breaths, engaging the lower lungs. When the lower lungs become active, they pump out more oxygen to the rest of your body. More oxygen means more support for your cells and maintains healthy tissue and organ function. Breathing through your nose has lots of benefits, like helping filter out dust and allergens and boost your oxygen, which improves circulation.

No discussion of the benefits of conscious deep breathing would be complete without addressing the body/mind integrative aspect. This is particularly true in Pilates where the “complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit” is the ideal that literally inspired the development of the practice. Breathing fully, with attention and intention, centers us. It clarifies and calms the mind, reduces stress and paves the way for a greater, holistic experience. Working with breath also brings a natural rhythm to a movement that greatly enhances the efficacy and experience of a workout.

In Pilates, the breath leads the movement and gives it power. All of Joseph Pilates’ classical mat exercise instructions are coordinated with the breath and most equipment exercises are taught with breath patterns as well. Generally, we exhale on the part of the exercise that requires the most exertion, taking advantage of the natural contraction of the abdominal muscles on the exhale. In Pilates exercises, the breath is a major component to helping the body lengthen and decompress the spine. The contraction of an exhale can be thought of as a gentle, lengthening squeeze of the trunk around the spine. Then, on the inhale, with the support of the extensor muscles, there is an overall expansion in length and width.

Pilates and breathing correctly will help improve your flexibility, increase your muscle tone and strength. Proper breathing will also strengthen your lung capacity and help the flow of your circulation. Breathing is an intricate part of helping to focus on balance and control of your body. Joseph Pilates method focused so many of his exercises on breathing. One of his quotes sums up the importance of breathing: “Before any real benefit can be derived from physical exercise one must first learn to breah properly. Our very life depends on it.” Whether you are looking to improve flexibility, increase muscle strength and tone, improve coordination and balance or even focus on your breathing, Pilates can help with it all. Bon Temps Pilates is the only classical Pilates studio in North Louisiana and offers private, semi-private, group and mat pilates classes, allowing you to develop your skills and invigorate your body, mind and spirit.

The list of Louisiana music artists who played or sang in church before topping the charts is quite substantial. But the house of prayer that Mark Taylor Jr. frequented as a child in Rayville, Louisiana did not allow music. If it wasn’t for his granddad, Delta blues legend Henry Dorsey, best known by his stage name Po’ Henry, Mark would probably have never picked up an instrument. “He had a big influence on me,” he stresses. Although he never attended any of his grandfather’s shows, which took the form of a traditional oldstyle Delta blues duo known as Po’ Henry and Tookie, whenever his grandfather visited, which sometimes was all through the week, Mark remembers music. When the jam sessions would happen, Mark recalls rushing for his “little” keyboard so they could play the boogie together. “I actually have some videos.” Even when Henry had to be placed in eldercare, Mark would stop over to play tunes on his piano while his grandfather danced. He has footage of that too. “Kind of tears me up every time I watch it,” he admits, adding, “I just love seeing him dance.”

ANDREW BAILEY VANELIS RIVERA

wasn’t until his family moved to Oak Ridge that Mark found himself in a family church IT that was down with musical praise. His cousin played keys, and her keen two-finger playing wholly intrigued him. “I kind of picked up what she was doing,” he says, following with, “Yeah, that was my first inspiration.” There, he began developing his skills on the keyboard, and thanks to his attentive parents, he received his first professional instrument, a Yamaha MO6 Keyboard Synthesizer. With his skills ramping up, he started to get noticed by the right kind of people. One night, at a church concert in Bastrop, probably because he was playing bass and keys at the same time, he caught the eye of The Hawkins Family band. “They were kind of amazed by that so they ended up hitting me up after the concert.” He began to play with the Hawkins family, commuting between Oak Ridge and Bastrop. During the same time, Mark teamed up with Earl Duke Jr., son of legend Earl Duke, and intuitively began soaking up a lot of his style. “He kind of taught me how to blend in a band. Just play my part. And, you know, be dynamic and come on when I need to come up, stay under the singers, you know. They helped cultivate me as a musician,” he explains. After that, Mark’s notoriety increased. He started to get noticed and asked to play with other bands. He also picked up the guitar after Chris Hawkins played the Emaj7 chord, which prompted him to take that guitar home to start playing. Currently, Mark can play anything with a keyboard, laughing that he can probably play the accordion. He also plays talk box, drums, bass guitar, and vocals.

arly in his music career, he hadn’t

Edabbled in secular music, considering it “the Devil’s music.” But as a freethinker, Mark began diving into what was being played on the radio and started forming his own ideas about all the good music that had been missing from his life. During this drastic shift in music taste, Mark accepted a touring gig with a local musician who suddenly and unexpectedly ended up firing him and his band. “And that kind of just lit a fire within me,” he recalls. A month later he released his first single. Currently, the members of his band are people he has been playing with for his whole life: bass player Kendrick Smith, drummer Sirnayland Hawkins, keyboardist Quantavious Hawkins, and the vocal ladies Ruth God, Lakenya Addison, Lanila Madison, and De’Antwonique Jackson. Emboldened by the originality of his sound, Mark decided to do a riff on his own name and christened the group Mr Taylormade and The Taylormade Band. “I believe it’s personal. You know, you feel like our sound is tailor-made, like a tailor-made suit.”

Still in the process of discovering music that he missed, Mark has continued to find artists that have allowed him to substantially extend his own sound. “Prince, man. I’m a huge fan of Prince,” he says, revealing that some people compare him to His Royal Badness because they both are known for playing multiple instruments. His dedication to The Purple One has taken the form of deep immersion into his discography. Though some of his favorites include mainstream hits like “Purple Rain,” Taylor finds that to really know an artist means finding the songs that never hit the charts. For him, two of those songs are “Crazy You,” which he enthuses that he is “crazy” about, and “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.” Another band on his late discovery list was Earth, Wind & Fire. “They just took my breath away,” he says, considering their sound way ahead of their time.

Jazz also became an immense phase of his stylistic development. Appreciating the jazz greats of old while simultaneously navigating the current musical landscape, however, has often made him feel like he was born in the wrong era. He remembers when he first found the music of Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson: “About a year straight, it really influenced my style. I’m just in love with the sound. I missed out on so much. When I heard it, I understood. It’s like a language,” he says. The genre of improvisation became deeply embedded in his psyche. “It became a part of my vocabulary,” he adds, commenting on the freedom that jazz allows, which resonates with his personality. “I don’t like to be bound...When it comes to music, I’m especially openminded.” He understands that when he plays, it’s all about the destination, and when it comes to jazz, there are so many routes you can go. “That’s what I love about it. It makes it so much more fun because you don’t have to just go from point A to Point B.”

With a more seasoned ear, the songs forming in his imagination now are varied. As a “real positive person,” he has been drawn to writing mostly love songs, a form of rebuttal to mainstream songs aimed to sexualize and demean women. “All In Ya Love,” his first single, is one of those songs: “A woman like you is hard to find / I’m so glad that you’re all mine / You give me sunshine in the midst of all the rain / You give me joy, in the midst of all of my pain.” Some of his newer originals have roots in recent experiences, particularly “Don’t Stop The Music,” which is his version of a battle cry and expresses where his thoughts turned during the pandemic: “You can take whatever you want, just don’t take my music.” Ultimately, Taylor strives to experiment with his sound dabbling in funk, jazz, and R&B, and encourages his fellow musicians to do the same, emphasizing the journey of the music versus the orchestration of it. “We’ve been playing so long, we fill each other out,” he says about the composition of his songs alongside his bandmates.

Though already filling his repertoire with impressive accolades such as performing for the Louisiana Grammy Association as representative of North Louisiana, Taylor does not consider himself having nearly reached his prime. “I guess I’m just focusing on trying to find a way to express myself where people really feel the fullness of me as a musician.” A tour of his music videos on YouTube quickly reveals his verisimilitude. In an attempt to widen his reach, he created TaylorMade Thursday, a platform where music artists can have a space to get an on-stage experience with a full band. “I’m trying to build a music scene around here,” he says, explaining the deficiency in venues that cater to soul and R&B music and musicians. “Music is not just a hobby.” He asserts, “I know this is my lifeline. I take it more serious than I can even express in words.” That’s why he is so adamant about live performances and the importance of attending music concerts. “Music is meant to be felt by all your senses,” he says, adding, “You need to see it, you need to feel it, you need to hear it.”

Taylor’s heart for music is really an extension of his heart for other people and he plans to utilize his artistry to uplift. In the process, he hopes to get all that he can get from his talent and desire to take his music to higher levels. “I’m coming forward. I’m not holding back anymore. I believe in myself.” His music is specially fitted with a care and style that, undeniably, is TaylorMade.

Follow Mr TaylorMade And The TaylorMade Band on Facebook, and check out their YouTube page Mr TaylorMade for an enjoyable listen to some of their tunes.

THE OUACHITA COUNCIL ON AGING HAS BEEN A PART of this community since 1967. And for many of those years, Lynda MeGehee has been a driving force behind the organization. She started as an intern over three decades ago and now serves as the Executive Director. The Ouachita Voluntary Council on Aging was established by charter on June 28, 1967 and is a private non-profit agency with 501(c)(3) status. In 1980, the Ouachita Council on Aging was also designated as the Area Agency on Aging for Ouachita Parish Planning and Service Area (PSA) and, as such, it conducts needs assessments, studies these needs, sets priorities for services, writes a plan for services (Area Plan), and conducts public hearings to receive the public input for its plan.

The Ouachita Council on Aging/Area Agency on Aging receives federal and state funding under the Older Americans Act to administer some twenty-two programs for elderly persons (age 60+) parish wide. Other sources of funding are United Way of Northeast Louisiana, contributions from program participants, and donations from concerned individuals and groups in our community. OCA is an advocate for senior citizens and operates Carolyn Rose Strauss Senior Center and 12 other satellite/dining sites in this parish, as well as contracting for services with West Ouachita Senior Center in West Monroe, and SCORE (Senior Citizens OutReach Entity), which is located in Richwood.

Their mission statement is to carry out a wide range of functions relative to advocacy, planning, coordination, inter-agency linkage, information sharing, brokering, monitoring, and evaluation designed to lead to the development or enhancement of a comprehensive and coordinated community based system to serve seniors in all areas in Ouachita Parish. Further, this system is designed to assist older persons in leading independent, meaningful, and dignified lives in their own homes and community as long as possible. And that is the mission statement that Lynda has strived for every day during her work at the Council.

Her story is not an ordinary one. Lynda was a stay at home mom and while she had obtained her sociology degree from ULM, she had never worked outside the home. At 48 years old, she decided to return to her alma mater to participate in some classes. “I just wanted to take the class because I was interested in participating, it wasn’t even for credit,” recalled Lynda. Once she realized she enjoyed taking classes she figured she may as well get credit for it so she went to visit Chris Johnson with the Gerontology Program. “The program interested me because I was raised on the southside of Monroe with my entire family,” said Lynda. “I loved older people and had always been around them. Since I was a child, I think I had an understanding of the significance of learning from an older generation.” Lynda took the GRE, registered for graduate school and pursued a degree in Gerontological Studies. Part of the program required her to complete an intern, so she turned to the Ouachita Council on Aging. And she’s been there ever since.

For 12 years, Lynda worked under Joseph Nastasi, the director at the time. Her job included the activity coordinator and senior center coordinator. When Joe retired, people suggested Lynda apply for the position. She did so and she was selected as the director in 2000. At the time, Joseph had already put the plan in place to build a new building for the council. And Lynda saw that to fruition. They sold the building they were in on Tower Drive, got the Louisiana Legislature to match funding and sought donations from the community until they obtained their goal. Lynda oversaw the entire building process - working with the contractor, meeting with architects, adjusting the budget to make the project possible. Another goal of Lynda’s was to create a retirement plan for the staff of OCA. There are currently 32 employees and at the time, there was no retirement plan in place. Lynda created one so that the employees could have financial stability when they were ready to retire. “Often times people say I am the face of the Council, but I truly couldn’t do this job without all of the employees,” said Lynda. “So that was important for me to provide for them. They give so much and I wanted to make sure they were taken care of.” Lynda also wanted to create a fundraiser to benefit the OCA and the Shindig was born in 2009. The event has become one of the premier events in Northeast Louisiana, held at the MBH Barn, complete with live music, a packed dance floor, dinner and drinks.

Just like many organizations, the Ouachita Council on Aging has had a tough year with the pandemic. Not only have they not been able to hold their annual fundraising event but some of their programs have had to be adjusted and their participants have not been able to interact for months. However, they are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And while Lynda won’t be officially at the Council, she still plans on making appearances for activities and socializing. She looks forward to the Council to continuing to grow and serve even more people, and plans to work with the new director to ensure a smooth transition.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating to the Ouachita Council on Aging, reach out to them by calling (318) 387-0535. You can find more information online at OuachitaCOA.com

THERE ARE FEW THINGS MORE EXCITING THAN LA Tech football season here in Ruston! It’s a special time of year when students, alumni, locals, and fans from all over the country come together to cheer on the Bulldogs. Loyal Blue Weekends celebrate LA Tech football throughout the community and offer a home-game experience that should not be missed!

Loyal Blue Weekends take place every home game weekend and feature family-friendly activities, spirit groups, pep rallies, outdoor music, tailgating, and much more football fun. activities and the game, running continuously each hour, completely free of charge! Get there early for tailgating in Bulldog Village, an experience you must not miss during game days in Ruston.

No tickets? No problem! There are plenty of places in the area to kick back and watch the game. The following local restaurants will be screening home games for fans: Beau Vines, Champs, Daq’s Wings & Grill, Dawg House Sports Grill, Log Cabin, Ponchatoulas, and Portico. Eat, drink, and enjoy the game from the comfort of your favorite Ruston restaurant/bar, all while supporting local businesses.

Loyal Blue Weekend kicks off on Friday night in Downtown Ruston. Each Friday features a different, themed downtown event from 6:00-7:30pm. Locals and visitors alike will enjoy evening festivities that include pep rallies, live music, interactive games, kids’ activities, a movie screening, and more fun! See below for a list of dates and events.

Sept. 10: Louisiana Friday Night (Railroad Park, Downtown Ruston)

Oct. 22: Homecoming Celebration (Railroad Park, Downtown Ruston)

Nov. 12: Family Football Movie Night (Dixie Theatre, Downtown Ruston)

The festivities continue on Saturday as fans are encouraged to shop and eat in downtown before the game. If you need a last-minute game day outfit, be sure to swing by FanBase for all your official Louisiana Tech merchandise. You can also find plenty of blue & red and bulldog items at several other boutiques and shops throughout downtown. For lunch, head to any of downtown’s local restaurants. The Heard Freighthouse Food Truck Park is a great option for a group, where you can choose from several local food trucks serving up burgers, sandwiches, barbecue, and other specialty items.

Avoid game-day traffic and stadium lots by staying parked downtown and taking advantage of the Tech Trolley. This shuttle service will take you to and from Joe Aillet Stadium for tailgating

End your weekend the right way on Sunday with brunch! Select local restaurants will be hosting Bulldog Brunch and offering your favorite breakfast items, traditional brunch dishes and cocktails, and more. Beau Vines and Trio’s are two of our favorite Sunday brunch spots in Ruston, both offering an impressive and delicious brunch menu with their own signature flair.

As you can see, game-day weekends in Ruston are serious business, and we hope you’ll join us for all the fun! Check out the full list of Loyal Blue Weekends dates and start planning your game day experience now at experienceruston.com.

• September 10-12 • September 17-19 • September 24-26 • October 22-24 (Homecoming) • November 12-14

Still need tickets to this season’s games? Call (318) 257-3631 or visit latechsports.com.

How ‘bout them dawgs!

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR SKIN THIS UPCOMING SEASON! We are excited to celebrate all things fall at The Medical Spa by helping you achieve smooth glowing skin. Geneo facials will be 25% off for the entire day on September 23rd. The OxyGeneo facial offers instant gratification, providing an instant glow and hydration for your skin! We offer four options with Geneo – Hydrate, Revive, Illuminate, and Charcoal, making this facial easily customizable based on your skincare needs. Geneo Facials are a terrific addition to any routine and can be done every 4 weeks. There is no downtime, and it can easily be done on your lunch break or before an event. What can you do in between facials? We suggest grabbing an athome facial kit from The Medical Spa this month. We have a SkinCeuticals or Obagi bundle to choose from. The first option includes a Biocellulose masque, microexfoliating scrub, and Phyto Corrective Masque all by SkinCeuticals for $99. • Microexfoliating scrub – soothing gel that exfoliates while hydrating and cleansing your pores. • Biocellulose masque – restorative masque that cools and soothes your skin. • Phyto Corrective masque – botanical masque, containing hyaluronic acid, cucumber, thyme, and olive extracts to calm and soothe. The second option available from Obagi for $160 will include, a cleanser, microdermabrasion polish + masque, and hydrate luxe. • Cleanser - choose from a gentle cleanser or foaming cleanser by Obagi. • Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish + Masque - polish masque exfoliates and infuses your skin with 30% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C). • Hydrate Luxe - luxurious moisturizer containing shea butter, mango butter, avocado, and glycerin for the ultimate hydration and rejuvenation.

Have you been considering laser hair removal? Well, wait no longer! We are excited to help you ditch the razor and experience that ease and convenience of laser hair removal. During the month of September, purchase three sessions of laser hair removal and receive one FREE!

How does laser hair removal work? Laser hair removal works by using laser light energy. The melanin in the hair follicle absorbs the light energy, converting it to heat. This heat destroys the hair follicle, to prevent or stop future growth. The laser is more effective when the hair is in the early growing phase, so multiple sessions are required to achieve desired results.

The Medical Spa offers laser hair removal with the Splendor X by Lumenis, a global leader in laser and energy-based technology! This laser offers customizable laser hair removal treatments for all skin tones. Splendor X offers BLEND technology by utilizing two wavelengths, Alexandrite 755 and ND-Yag 1064. The proportion of wavelengths used depends on skin type, hair color and texture, allowing for a safer and more effective treatment! By utilizing the dual wavelengths simultaneously and a dual cooling system, the Splendor X offers quick, effective, and comfortable treatments for hair removal! We recommend scheduling a consultation to discuss expectations and desired results from hair removal treatment.

Have you always wanted luscious, thick, natural eyelashes? We can help with that! Obagi is now offering an eyelash enhancing serum, NuCil. This eyelash serum is designed to support overall lash improvement by targeting the growth phase of your lash cycle. Some individuals see results in as little as 8 weeks (about 2 months)! Nu-Cil is physicianapproved, ophthalmologist-tested, and no prescription is necessary.

In addition to this new product, The Medical Spa is extremely excited to be part of the Alle Loyalty Program. Alle rewards you with points when you receive treatments with Allergan brands such as Botox, Juvederm, and Kybella. Points can also be earned when you receive other medical spa treatments like laser hair removal, micro-needling, and more! You can even accrue points when you purchase skin care products from the Medical Spa. The Alle Loyalty Program offers a chance to earn points towards future Allergan brand treatments (Botox, Juvederm, and Kybella) and eligibility towards exclusive discounts and promotions. Contact The Medical Spa to find out more information.

Be sure to come by The Medical Spa this month to take advantage of our specials, events, and to find out more about the medical grade skincare products we offer. We are in the James R. Wolff Building (also known as the P&S Building) in downtown Monroe. Our address is 312 Grammont Street Suite 406, across from St. Francis Medical Center. This location offers complimentary valet parking, privacy, and easy access for clients. Also, be sure to follow us on St. Francis Medical Center Facebook page and Instagram so you can be up to date on all the new and exciting things happening here at The Medical Spa!

article by MEREDITH MCKINNIE

Carrying a baby to term, delivering and caring for the baby and breastfeeding for a year is an adventure, one I underestimated, yet completed. I learned pregnancy in my midthirties is harder on the body. My girlfriends who were pregnant decades apart noticed a significant difference in ailments, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, etc. My pregnancy experience was painful, a time I don’t remember fondly. I can feel blessed I got pregnant and honest about its physical difficulties and emotional toll at the same time. We’ve heard about postpartum depression. I didn’t experience it. I was anxious when I was first alone with her and questioned my instincts. I cried more easily and exacerbated emotional issues in my mind. With nothing to do but nurse and heal, my mind stayed in motion. I had low points, but they were brief, and I could see my way out. I never felt lost or hopeless or that the feeling was permanent. I know many women do. What I did experience a year post-birth is a suppression of self, which lasted quite a few weeks. I woke up in the middle of the night, and sometimes stayed up for hours. It was lonely. I wasn’t excited about anything, easily irritated, what I would imagine depression might feel like, but I was a year removed from the birth. I wondered, Am I “too-post” to be postpartum? Two weeks after I stopped nursing, I started to decline mentally. I expected enthusiasm. The pump was safely stored on a shelf deep in my closet. I didn’t have to answer the swell in my bosom by finding privacy and refrigeration. I had my body back. But my mind remained elsewhere, not catching up to its newfound freedom, or not sure where to go.

It’s called post-weaning depression. I’m an avid reader of mommy blogs and research developmental changes to educate myself as a caregiver. I hadn’t come across post-weaning depression until a co-worker said she felt the same way after she stopped nursing. I spent hours reading about it. I had the symptoms. I was already following most of the suggestions for getting through it. I exercise, try to eat well, and allot enough hours for sleep. But what helped the most was knowing it was real, finding a name for the condition. I immediately felt better - heard, understood, and hopeful. When our bodies act differently, we want an answer, a source, a path to remedy or a story to relate to. New illnesses are frequently followed by hours on blogs, getting buried 100 comments deep, reading other stories, fearing the worst, unable to look away.

When I bled 18 weeks into my pregnancy, I freaked. I remember being in the stall, seeing the stain, feeling alone, running back to my office, googling what color blood is of concern. Apparently, it’s bright red. Do they mean tomato red or eggplant purple, and what about brown? When you find yourself 100 images deep in blood stains, that’s desperation. When my nurse returned my call, she said it was fine, common, and not to worry. Instantly, I felt relief. She didn’t know for sure, but she was confident, and I so wanted to be. It was 11:00 a.m. on a Friday, and I went into the weekend with less worry. I relied on her experience, and I wanted her to be right. She was, and months later I delivered a healthy baby girl.

Now, I use the term, “postweaning depression” casually in conversation. The first week of school, when they asked how I was doing, I shocked everyone with, “School is good, but post-weaning depression is hard. I’m finding my way through it.” I want people to hear the term, say it back to me, question what it is, and then commit the knowledge to memory. Perhaps one day when someone else is searching for an answer, that knowledge will save that “toopost” mother from feeling alone in her sadness. Calling it by its name is a start.