Bluffs & Bayous February 2012

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From Your Publisher . . .

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elcome to the month of February and our spotlight on civic and community organizations who “from the heart” give immeasurable hours to their respective citizens. By loving their neighbors close by and across town, they enhance the quality of life so that all in the community benefit. While these organizations may have a social side, their purposes and goals are serious; for as part of national and international organizations, they raise funds and promote efforts to assist an array of age groups and to support various local non-profit programs. We salute these involved and selfless citizens and their year of activities that remind us that reaching out to those in need, because we have the means and the methods to do so, should be everyone’s goal.

We also are reminded this month of the “from-the-heart” celebration of Valentine’s Day, as well as the celebration of carnival time, Mardi Gras, prior to our Lenten season that sees us through the last month of winter. This month boasts Valentine gift-giving and often engagements and weddings on the rise along with revelers’ partying and parades rolling as onlookers shout out, “Throw me something, mister.”

Last month during the production of the February issue, I was in the New Orleans, Louisiana, area, welcoming two new additions to our family: Mary Tucker Devereaux was born January 5

to my younger daughter, Caroline, and her husband, Matthew Devereaux. Her 19-month-old big sister, Stella, had me, her CheChe, running all over the place. My older daughter, Mary Catherine Moffett, brought Ann Frances into the world on January 9. Her husband David and 4-yearold daughter Millie have been preparing for her arrival with the renovation of their 1890s duplex in historic Algiers’ Point.

To say our lives have been pretty full is an understatement. And, surely, it also has been a time full of blessings as both families adjust to their new additions and to even more love to share and enjoy.

Last month also brought us the disappointment of our favorite football team—the New Orleans Saints—falling to defeat in the playoffs. Though I regret their loss, I will remember the event through the blissful recollections surrounding the births of Mary Tucker and Ann Frances.

What stories we can tell about their entries into the world as they grow older! While our Saints were not able to pull out the win over the 49ers, we viewed this game packed in one room at Mary Catherine and David’s home, cheering and shouting throughout the afternoon; dining on cheese and fruit appetizers, oyster and artichoke soup, and king cake; and snapping photographs of our five grandgirls—such memorable moments with all of our family together, though missing MiMi, Anne Elise, and

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Palmer; and such a celebration of love.

While in New Orleans area, I could not have possibly put this book together without the assistance of Adam Blackwell managing the office, the phone, and the glue between sales and graphics. His keen skill of organization, mature mannerisms, and knowledge of technology are skills that will take him far as he continues his education at Ole Miss. I am indebted to him for his weeks at Bluffs & Bayous during his holiday break from college.

May your February bring you and your family celebrations of love as well in your life along and beyond the Mississippi.

C o n t r i b u t o r s

publisher Cheryl Foggo Rinehart editors Jean Nosser Biglane Cheryl Foggo Rinehart graphic designers Jan Ratcliff Anita Schilling media coordinator Adam Blackwell staff photographers Van O’Gwin Elise D. Parker Cheryl Rinehart sales staff Susan Harris Cheryl Rinehart Donna Sessions JoAnna Sproles

Adam Blackwell

Jean Biglane

Susan Harris

Van O’Gwin

Elise D. Parker

Jan Ratcliff

Cheryl Rinehart

Anita Schilling

Donna Sessions

JoAnna Sproles

Bluffs & Bayous is published monthly to promote the greater Southern area of Louisiana and Mississippi in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Bluffs & Bayous are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Bluffs & Bayous strives to insure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.

Adam Blackwell of Natchez, Mississippi, is pursuing a degree in Public Policy, focusing on environmental policy, through the Trent Lott Leadership Institute at the University of Mississippi. He is a member of Students for a Green Campus and Campus for Clean Energy.

Jennie Guido is a graduate of Delta State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Master’s Degree in English Education. She currently lives in the heart of the Delta in Cleveland, Mississippi, but she still calls Natchez home.

Columnist Mary Emrick is the owner of Turning Pages Books & More in Natchez, Mississippi.

Columnist Ross McGehee, a lifelong resident of Natchez, Mississippi, owns a diversified and far-flung farm operation.

Columnist Alma Womack lives on Smithland Plantation on Black River, south of Jonesville, Louisiana. In addition to her duties as maitresse des maison, she is the keeper of the lawn, the lane and the pecan orchard at Smithland.

on the cover Pancake Day is popular throughout the South as one of the long established, civic organization fund-raisers.

See story on pages 46 to 51.

office

423 Main Street, Suite 7 | Natchez, MS 39120 601-442-6847 | fax 601-442-6842 info@bluffsbayous.com editor@bluffsbayous.com sales@bluffsbayous.com www.bluffsbayous.com

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February 2012 FEATURES Wearable Art Designs............................................................................. 32-34 Serving Today’s Communities for Tomorrow’s Future.......................... 46-51

FAVORITES All Outdoors A Wing and a Prayer............................................................................... 16-17

Serving Today’s Communities for Tomorrow’s Future pages 46 - 51

Events February Premier Events.............................................................................. 63 February . . . Up and Coming!................................................................ 64-71

From the Stacks Stained Glass Artistry and Ardor in New York City’s Gilded Age ............... 9

In the Kitchen with Cheryl’s Friends and Family Share the Love of Home Cooking.......................................................... 40-44

Something Scrumptious Up Highway 61: Papa Roc’s, Cleveland, Mississippi............................... 36-37

Southern Sampler Poetry of Youth—Its Stories, Lessons, Inspiration, Wisdom.................. 58-59

Technology Bluffs & Bayous Goes High Tech.................................................................. 62

THE Social Scene Maddux Gilmer’s First Birthday.............................................................. 10-11 Anniversary Celebration.............................................................................. 12 St. Andrew’s Senior Center Dinner.............................................................. 14 Senior Tailgating Party................................................................................. 15 Bark in the Park at Natchez Grand Village............................................ 18-19 American Girl Tea Party............................................................................... 20 Osyka Civic Club Annual Dinner.................................................................. 26 Princess Tea Party......................................................................................... 27 Retirement Party for Vicksburg Chancery Clerk.................................... 28-31 Local Business Gives Back............................................................................. 45 Garden Clubs’ Holiday Royalty Announcement Parties........................ 52-53 Natchez Santa Claus Committee Party........................................................ 56 Fall Gathering for First Families of Mississippi........................................... 57 Marketing Association for Mississippi Healthcare Christmas Party...... 60-61 Vicksburg Cotillion Club......................................................................... 72-74

Weddings Fountain & Smith.................................................................................... 24-25

Wearable Art Designs pages 32 - 34

In the Kitchen with Cheryl’s Friends and Family pages 40 - 44 Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 7

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From the Stacks | review by Mary Emrick

Stained Glass Artistry and Ardor in New York City’s Gilded Age

Clara and Mr. Tiffany

by Susan Vreeland

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atchez, Mississippi, is well known as a community that welcomes “the arts.” Beginning at infancy, Natchezians are exposed to most forms of art—architecture, furniture, porcelains, portraits, pottery, paintings, literature, music, film, gardens, and murals—and we grow to appreciate them all. On our muddy shores, we have entertained such nationally known artists as John James Audubon, Fannie Elssler, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, and John Grisham; and we take pride in our homegrown artists Greg Isles, Glen Ballard, Conner Burns, Duncan Morgan, and John Grady Burns to mention a few. We are brought up to appreciate all art forms. This may be why I was drawn to Susan Vreeland’s new historical fiction novel Clara and Mr. Tiffany.

Louis Comfort Tiffany is well known in Natchez as the artist of two priceless, beautiful stained-glass windows that he

installed in the early 1900s at Trinity Episcopal Church. Natchez citizens enjoy sharing the splendor and inspiration of these rare works of art with visitors to our city. We are all familiar with the stained glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, but who is Clara Driscoll?

Susan Vreeland, bestselling author of five arts-related, historical novels, recently completed her sixth novel, Clara and Mr. Tiffany. Vreeland could not have written this novel without the Victorian penchant for letter writing.

Clara Driscoll’s correspondence with her family and friends has been well preserved by museums in New York and Ohio. With the help of museum curators, Vreeland accessed the letters and created a novel of exceptional worth, cataloguing life in New York City’s Gilded Age and the life of little-known artist Clara Driscoll.

The colorful characters of Vreeland’s novel are lifted directly from Driscoll’s letters. The Bohemian inhabitants of the Irish boarding house in Manhattan where Driscoll lived and her fellow artisans at the Tiffany Studios are melded to create a beautiful story of love, longing, and liberation.

As in other Vreeland novels, the author focuses on a little-known fact in art history and uses the fact to guide a tour through life in another era while educating us about an artist and art form. Vreeland brings turnof-the-nineteenth-century New York City into our homes. Its street noises, cable cars, street vendors, operas, slums, and formal balls are vividly displayed through her writing the story of Clara Driscoll.

Driscoll is portrayed as a pioneer for women’s rights in the work place. She became the head of Tiffany Studios’ women’s department known as the “Tiffany Girls,” and there she taught women the art of colored glass. Before her work and relation with Mr. Tiffany, women artists were not paid wages for their work; they could trade their creations for other goods or give them as gifts.

In collaboration with Louis Tiffany, Clara Driscoll is credited with developing the idea and prototype for the Tiffany Lamp. In addition, she created many new techniques and designs for windows and lamps, and she is revered for advancing the role and status of women in the work place.

Susan Vreeland is a lover of art and through her novels inspires others to take a closer look. You may find yourself “googling” Tiffany lamps while reading Clara and Mr. Tiffany—I did!

Susan Vreeland lives in San Diego where she writes and teaches art and English literature in public schools.

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THE Social Scene

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Maddux Gilmer’s First Birthday

he circus-themed party for Maddux Gilmer’s First Birthday took place November 23, 2011, with guests welcomed under a big-top tent at the Gilmer home in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The children were entertained with a train, bounce house, and slide while a La Nouba, a Cirque du Soliel production, played on a large screen under the tent. Guests enjoyed birthday cake and circus food such as popcorn, hotdogs, cotton candy, candy apples, and snow cones.

Jay and Jenny Jabour, John and Misty Jabour, and Roy and Jaime Simmons

Chris and Nicole Gilmer with Maddux Gilmer

Treyce Keyes, Karsten Keyes, William Wooten, and William Pratt

Mary Jane Wooten and Maddux Gilmer

Amanda Brent and Addie Wilson

Joel Langford and Colby Hopkins

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Pugh and Kadiance Pugh

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THE Social Scene

Sheila Simmons, Margie Clark, Dorothy Maddux, and Paula Williams

Ryan Hagenah, Bill Sanderford, Boo Keyes, Aden Wansley, and Victor Hoofman

Ava Dale, Rylee Bright, and Dewayne Williams

Terry Williams, Luke Williams, and Cecil Simmons

Julia Herron and Alyssa Totoro

Amber Caruthers and Blake Caruthers

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Anniversary Celebration

icky and Micki Smith of Natchez, Mississippi, were married on February 2, 1974, at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church in Natchez. They will celebrate their thirty-eighth anniversary this year.

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THE Social Scene

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St. Andrew’s Senior Center Dinner

complimentary Senior Adult Dinner was held at St. Andrew’s Senior Center in McComb, Mississippi, December 10, 2011, honoring over 200 guests. Laureate Epsilon Chapter, I’m Stuffed Catering, The Humphries Family, The Fleming Family, and The McWilliams Family sponsored the event with assistance from St. Andrew’s Senior Center, Broadway Deli, Elizabeth Shelton, Shelby Price, Jeff and Shari Frank, Scott Campbell, Zach Fleming, and Blake Brewer. While guests enjoyed a Christmas dinner, they were entertained with Christmas songs by Shelby Price, and the singing group NHIM, plus Santa and his elves.

Front—Charlie McWilliams, Cameron Humphries, Rachel Frank, Rebecca Frank, Brent Fleming, Fallon Humphries, and Price McWilliams; back—Kirby Fleming, Patricia Fleming, Zach Fleming, Mallory Ball, Carly Ball, Tracie Humphries, Lisa Dillon, Michelle Lombas, Pam Hopkins, Gayle Tullos, Debbie Ball, Kay Hughes, Calan McWilliams, Grant Whatley, Debbie McWilliams, Terry McWilliams, Jacob Fleming, and Shane Humphries

Louise Sinclair and Ima Jean Dunaway

Price McWilliams, Fallon Humphries, and Rachel Frank

Front—Nell Price; back—Ima Jean Dunaway, Debbie McWilliams, and Carolyn Wells

Patricia Fleming, Tracie Humphries, and Debbie McWilliams

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Kay Hughes, Patricia Fleming, and Rebecca Frank

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Senior Tailgating Party

ore than 24 hosts and hostesses celebrated autumn by honoring four Brookhaven High School senior girls.

Graduating with the Class of 2012, the honorees were Ansley Braden, Ashley Mezzanares, Sallie Pendley, and Ashley Stephens. The party was held in early November in the home of Dr. Jeff and Shannon Clark in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

Ashley Mezzanares, Sallie Pendley, Ansley Braden, and Ashley Stephens

Ansley Braden and Carol Ann Stephens

Ashley and Emily Mezzanares

Ansley Braden, Sara Rice Warren, and Ashley Stephens

Flynn Phillips and Ashley Mezzanares

Peyton Clark and Ashley Mezzanares

Kara King and Dosky King

Diana Mezzanares and Ashley Mezzanares

Paige Smith and Ashley Mezzanares

Shannon Clark and Ashley Mezzanares

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All Outdoors | by Ross McGehee

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A Wing and a Prayer

have had more than a passing interest in airplanes ever since Billy Simmons took me flying when I was five years old. I grew up with his sons on and around the Natchez airport; and the approach pattern of the main runway goes over my momma’s front yard; so if a plane comes in, we’ll see it. We use airplanes to spray our crops, to survey timber conditions, and to see how floodwaters are affecting farms. I’ve been to “Ground School” and taken the test but never took the time for formal lessons. I spend far too much time looking out the window to be a safe pilot.

As Clint Eastwood said, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” I remind myself of that frequently.

Still, I enjoy flying, as long as someone else has primary control of the aircraft.

However, there is one ride I took that was memorable beyond any other. And although all of us that were on board can laugh about it when we see each other now, it wasn’t quite so hilarious at the time.

The national association that coordinates soil and water conservation efforts among the states hosts a variety of training sessions throughout the year.

In the summer of 1996, there was a fourday leadership development meeting held in Hawaii. The state folks figured that, since the only thing I could lead was an argument, maybe I should go to this thing in Hawaii. I protested, of course, but finally was persuaded to take one for the team.

Also along were Dana Little, a forester with Georgia Pacific, and Daryl Burney, who is now a circuit clerk in north Mississippi.

Since it’s too far to drive, the state folks booked us a flight from Houston to Honolulu. It got interesting when we started looking for our connecting flight to the Big Island. We could not find the desk for the connection! After searching forty-five minutes and asking four terminal employees, we found out that “Puddle Jumper Air” “doesn’t have a desk; you just go get on the plane.”

“What is this, Hooterville?”

Yes it’s true. You just walk out of the terminal at ground level with your luggage

and climb on board.

But halfway to the plane, a uniformed gentleman of obvious Asian descent ran up behind us and said, “Wrong plane guys; follow me.” The nice commuter jet was apparently too much for the three of us, so we got downsized. Oh, here our group became four of us because our old friend Calvin Trice from Arkansas ran out of the building trying to catch up.

We literally walked past some nice aircraft AND the motor pool to a plane sitting next to the perimeter fence. This Cessna 401 was built in the 1960s. They only built about four hundred of them; six to eight passengers, twin engine, noisy, serviceable, but approaching obsolete. We were thinking that this was somebody’s prank that was being pulled in retaliation for some transgression; but, no, the uniformed agent stowed our luggage in the nose of the aircraft and asked us to board. We climbed in and the agent followed and plopped down in the pilot’s seat! Oh, isn’t this informal. It gets worse!

Knowing a little about aircraft loading and balance, I asked where he wanted us to sit. “Oh, just anywhere” was the response.

So I looked around and asked where his copilot was. There wasn’t going to be one.

“Do you mind if I fly “right-seat?”

He said, “Sure, come on up.” Can you imagine what Homeland Security would have to say about that?

So, into the co-pilot position, I started looking at the instruments. There were a few holes in the dash. Then I looked out the window at some loose rivets on the wings. Okay. At some point the joke is going to be called, and we’ll all laugh, right? Not if he doesn’t stop the warm-up he’s doing on the taxiway.

Next thing we know we’re airborne and now it ain’t a joke! It’s a one-hour flight

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to the Big Island on this type of aircraft, plenty of time to plan for a water landing.

Daryl poked me on the shoulder and asked what our altitude was. I pointed to a hole in the dash where the altimeter should have been and guessed that we were at about 2500 feet. The pilot finally got the engines balanced so the throb in the cabin wasn’t unbearable, and I asked him how long he’d been flying.

“My father was a pilot and got stranded here in the ‘40s. It was too far to swim back to Japan; so he stayed, got married, and taught me to fly when I was old enough to see over the dash.” I got the joke. Figured I’d share it with the guys after we landed.

None of us had ever been to Hawaii before; so when our staff booked us into the Waimea airport on the northwest corner of the Big Island, we didn’t have reason to question it. But when our pilot began his descent from 5000 feet, I couldn’t see an airport ahead.

Daryl poked me in the shoulder again and asked, “What are we doing?” I just shrugged and kept looking ahead. Finally, at an altitude of about 3000, I saw a pencilthin strip in a valley below. But there was nothing around it but what appeared to be brush. The closer we got, the more concerned I got because, if this was an airport, we were “coming in HOT.” Far too much airspeed for a landing and way too much angle! At 500 feet I saw the reason.

The Waimea, Hawaii, airport is in the middle of the Parker Ranch. Ranch is the operative word here. There are cows on the ranch, and no fences to keep them off the runway, so it’s just like landing

in Mississippi. You’ve got to buzz the runway to check for cows or run them off! And the runway has such a hump in it that you can’t see from one end to the other from the ground. I looked back and Calvin’s eyes were big as dinner plates as we made our first pass. The pilot threw the plane up on one wing, slung it around, and dropped his flaps. Two minutes later, we were at the terminal.

Stack-of-bibles, as soon as we got off the plane, the airport crew pulled the seats out and stowed them on a cart! The day’s mail from the entire island was loaded onto the plane for the return trip! We stood there slack-jawed in amazement at the whole deal; then we found out that there was no shuttle service or anything else to that airport from any local town.

Someone did call a cab for us and a ninety-dollar ride got us to the meeting.

It also bears mentioning that as we exited the terminal, if you could call it that, they locked the doors behind us! Closed for the day! “What, are we in Guatemala?”

As we stood forty-five minutes waiting for a ride, I mentioned that the good news was we’d made it. The bad news was that we were booked on the same service for the return trip!

“Oh, HELL no.” Calvin was on the cell phone trying to get a signal to change his flight on the spot!

The return trip was interesting, too. As mentioned, the airport is in a valley. The east side of the Big Island gets about 500 inches of rain a year, and the west side gets about 10. When we flew in to the airport from the dry side, we could see a huge mountain ahead of us. As we departed toward the wet side, there was a 200-foot ceiling and pea soup from then on.

Calvin had gotten another flight. Dana, Daryl, and I figured we’d take our chances with our pilot friend of Asian descent.

I have a picture of Dana staring out the window into the gray with a look of terror on his face. He had just mentioned that he “seemed to recall a mountain” being in the general direction that we were flying and that he’d just realized the value of an altimeter! Well, we obviously cleared all that; and the pilot said that, since we’d been good sports, he’d give us the scenic ride. You’ve seen pictures of the waterfalls cascading off the Hawaiian cliffs into the ocean. He dropped us down over the ocean

and flew us right past the falls for an upclose view, and it was beautiful.

Dana was still a little nervous. He asked, “Without instruments, how does he find Honolulu?”

Daryl said, “Dana, the airport is at Pearl Harbor. The pilot is Japanese. Think about it!”

Our pilot just grinned and shook his head and, referring to his earlier joke, said, “I asked for that.”

Oh, we could have canned the whole thing and gone the safe route on some Boeing. But on the other hand, a Boeing would be boring. A little stress can be a good thing. But still, I don’t think my boy Dana has flown since, boring or otherwise.

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THE Social Scene Bark in the Park at Natchez Grand Village

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rea dogs brought their owners to the 2011 Bark in the Park at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians in Natchez, Mississippi. Everyone enjoyed a fun-filled day of companionship and friendly competition while raising money for a good cause. All proceeds from this event benefited the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society. Photographs by Kathy Fitch

Devin Alexander with Domino

Aubrey Timm with Zoey

Lillie Bazile with Daisy

Sara Hill with Diamond

Angie Gunter with Peanut

Hadley Henry with Cutter

Elaine Gilboy and Scooby Doo

Shelby Mason with Girl

Chris Zuccaro with Charlie

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THE Social Scene

Bailey Thompson with Quinny Toby Williams with Lily

Brett Brinegar with Ziva

Mae Holyoak with Hank

Lucy Miller with Jasmine

Julie Caldwell with Abe

Faith and Hope Bell with Chico

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American Girl Tea Party

uth Bishop of Summit, Mississippi, celebrated her sixth birthday with an American Girl Tea Party at Brentwood Memories in McComb, Mississippi. Family and many friends attended this special occasion that featured Miss Bishop’s collection of American Girl historical dolls displayed throughout the home. The girls played American Girl Bingo and Tea Bag Toss, and they also enjoyed tea and cake served on fine china as they dined alongside their American Girl dolls in special doll chairs.

Ruth Bishop and Mary McLean Lindsey

Row 1—Ella Tamor, Ruth Bishop, Keelie Callihan, and Eleanor Bishop; row 2—Mary Grace McElveen, Madison Simpson, Laney Perkins, and Ruth Lindsey; row 3—Elizabeth Claire Lewman, Lauren Coon, Sarah Todd Adcock, and Ella Glass; row 4—Lana Burkett, Sarah Kate Price, and Gigi Lindsey; row 5—Loran Pigott, Gracie Smith, and Ballard Kraft

Front—Ruth Bishop, Norma Hammill (Nana), brother Arthur Bishop, and cousin Allen Rebich; back—sister Eleanor Bishop, cousin Anna Miller Rebich, and sister Katherine Bishop

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Fountain & Smith Raini Marlene Fountain and Justin Scott Smith were united in marriage with a fairytale destination wedding on September 10, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. on the front steps of antebellum Stanton Hall in Natchez, Mississippi, with the Reverend David Sellers officiating.

Parents of the couple are Arlen and Ginger Fountain of Biloxi, Mississippi, and Angie and Jeremy Smith and the late Scott Smith of Brookhaven, Mississippi.

Grandparents of the bride are Marlene Varnell and the late Gene Varnell of Tupelo, Mississippi, and Betty Jo Fountain and the late Arlen Fountain, Sr., of D’Iberville, Mississippi. Grandparents of the groom are Teresa Thompson, Myra Sue and Johnny Lofton, and Jimmy C and Alice Rose Smith, all of Brookhaven.

The weekend celebration started with the gathering of family and friends at the Natchez Guest House Bed and Breakfast. The bridal party and families enjoyed their stay with the whole house rented for the weekend; and they felt right at home, thanks to Ross, the Inn Keeper.

The rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s parents on the second floor of Biscuits & Blues in downtown Natchez. A video of the bride’s and groom’s childhood-through-adult years was played Page 24 { February 2012 { Bluffs & Bayous

including clips of the 2008 “True Life: I’m a Southern Belle” episode shown on MTV wherein the couple was shown dating and talking about getting married. Later at the Guest House, the bridesmaids honored the bride with a private lingerie shower.

On a beautiful, cloudless day, the bride and her father arrived at Stanton Hall in a horse-drawn carriage. Given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, she wore an ivory couture, strapless, organza ball gown, featuring a unique sweetheart neckline and corseted bodice, embellished with embroidery and Swarovski crystals, with a skirt of soft pick-up details accented with flowers and feathers. The custom headpiece was specially designed by Alana of Canada and featured ivory silk organza, and French netting with flowers, feathers, and crystals. The bride carried a large bouquet of pink lush roses embellished with rhinestones, pearls, and feathers with a handle of wrapped blue moiré ribbon decorated with a large fleur de lis rhinestone brooch and Swarovski crystal accents.

Arriving at Stanton Hall by horse-drawn surrey, the bridal attendants were Shannon Martin, matron of honor and sister of the bride of Santa Barbara, California; and bridesmaids Amber and

Autumn McHenry of Saltillo, Mississippi, and Jodi Pittenger of Charlotte, North Carolina, all cousins of the bride; Chelsea Yarbrough of Oxford, Mississippi; Randa Campbell of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and Anna Morgan Smith, sister of the groom, of Brookhaven, Mississippi.

The attendants wore sky blue, strapless, chiffon cocktail dresses with sweetheart neckline and a bodice embroidered and embellished with jewels. The empire waistline flowed into a short, full skirt. The bridesmaids carried fans trimmed in ivory boa feathers and accentuated in crystals with light blue hydrangea flowers at the base of the handles. Earrings and bracelets were given to them as a gift from the bride. Piper McHenry, cousin of the bride, of Saltillo, Mississippi, was the feather girl who wore a custom designed, flowing gown made of layers of ivory tulle and a floral headband, and she carried a sparkling blue and brown birdhouse. The floral designer was Brenda Williams of Ja’Nel’s Florist of Natchez.

Best man was Jordan Smith of Wesson, Mississippi. Groomsmen were Justin Kent Smith, brother of groom, and Grant Calcote, both of Brookhaven, Mississippi; Blake Smith of Wesson, Mississippi; John Pittman of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Taylor Jones of Oxford, Mississippi; and Jeff Martin, brother-in-law of the bride, of Santa Barbara, California. Ring Bearer was Saxton McHenry, cousin of the bride, of Saltillo, Mississippi.

Music for the ceremony was provided by harpist Ashley Toman of Louisiana and soloist Judy Dillon, cousin of bride, of McComb, Mississippi. As a special part of the ceremony, the couple released doves representing their new beginning as a family, all to strains of the couple’s theme song “Forever and Ever Amen.”

Wedding coordinator was Cheryl Rinehart of Apropos, Ltd., of Natchez, Mississippi.

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a Cocktail Mingle in Stanton Hall and throughout its surrounding grounds. The couple then held the ceremonial cutting of their five-tiered feather cake made of almond and butter cream cake and edible rice paper, designed by Edna’s Cake Creations of Natchez.

The celebration continued to The Carriage House Restaurant, located on the grounds of Stanton Hall. Here, Chef Bingo Starr delighted guests with his Southern/ Cajun spread, and Island of Rhythm Band’s Cheri and Tony provided entertainment and dance music for the evening. The couple’s

first dance was to “Forever and Ever Amen”; and the bride danced with her father to “My Brown-Eyed Girl” while the groom danced with his mother to “My Wish.”

The couple enjoyed a weeklong Honeymoon at Disney World.

They now reside in Brookhaven, Mississippi, where they own South Mississippi Rental Real Estate and enjoy working at their business, BDazzled Dollar Jewelry Store located on Brookway Boulevard.

Photographs by Marc Eric Weddings Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 25

THE Social Scene

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Osyka Civic Club Annual Dinner

n Monday, December 5, 2011, the ladies of the Osyka Civic Club in Osyka, Mississippi, held their annual dinner at the Caboose Restaurant in McComb, Mississippi. It was an enjoyable, relaxing time for these ladies who work diligently throughout the year for Osyka and the surrounding areas.

Amelia Aguilar

President Kim Wall and Dione Kinchen

Elizabeth Konzelman and Jackie Gill

Liz Spears and Stacee Ott

Diana Harrell and Marsha Prine

Heather Vielee and Stephanie Andrews

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THE Social Scene

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Princess Tea Party

n December 11, 2011, Carsyn Smith celebrated her fourth birthday with a Princess Tea Party at Brentwood Manor in McComb, Mississippi. She and her friends enjoyed cupcakes, treats, and birthday punch; and each of the girls custom decorated her own princess picture frame to hold the group’s photo. Photography: Reflections by Amanda Smith

Grace Lee, Mary Lindsey Leblanc, Lainey Sterling, Carsyn Smith, Savannah Smith, Brooke Richardson, Madeline Platt, Caroline Lawson, and Sidney Wooley

Carsyn Smith

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THE Social Scene Retirement Party for Vicksburg Chancery Clerk

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n December 8, 2011, family and friends along with members of the Warren County Chancery Clerk’s office gathered at the Chancery Clerk’s office in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to celebrate the retirement of Warren County Chancery Clerk Dot McGee, following her twelve years of service.

Front—Kayla Foster; back—Dot McGee, Maggie Waites, and Cindy Guest

Front—Parker Waites; back—Maggie Waites, Stacey Waites, and Ronnie Ingram

Front—Kyle Foster, Parker Waites, Dot McGee, and Cassidy Spann; back—Kayla Foster, Cindy Guest, Stacey Waites, Maggie Waites, Sherri Buchanan, Lori Spann, Hugh Guest, and Ronnie Ingram

John Ferguson, Dot McGee, and Carlotta Ferguson

Antonia “Toni” Flaggs Jones, Maurice Brooks, and Vincent Woods

Denise Bailey, Johnny Williams III, Elva Smith-Tolliver, and Lilly Jones

Bobby Robinson, Randy Sherard, and Ann Thompkins

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THE Social Scene

Marcie Tanner Southerland, Brannan Southerland, and Lee Ann Southerland Stewart

Reverend Terry White, Dot McGee, and Irene Jones

Front—Paula Bernard, Denise Bailey, and Beverly Barnett; back—Walter Osborne, Jr., and Mattie Gaines

Randy Sherard, Oren Bailess, Betty Bailess, and Dot McGee

Stacey Waites, Dot McGee, and Sherri Buchanan

Ray Fuller, Billy Joe Heggins, Richard Smith, Bill Jones, and John Smith

Front—Mary Flaggs, Loretta Brantley, Dot McGee, and Kayla Coleman; middle—Mattie Gaines, Cathy Bright, and Rhonda McClure; back—Ann Thompkins, Faye Willis, Geneva Ray, Victoria Bell, and Denise Bailey

Dante Bonelli, Andra Bonelli, and Denise Bailey

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THE Social Scene

Jerry Davidson, Denise Bailey, and Alex Sims

Denise Bailey, Rhonda McClure, Mary Flaggs, and Faye Willis

Grace Embry and Polly Harris

John McKee and Tommy O’Beirne

Carolyn Strothers and Mabel F. Peterson

Denise Bailey and Mary Flaggs

David Bridgers and Robert “Bobby” Bailess

John McKee and Brian Robbins

James Loving and Carla Loving

Charles Lauderdale and Sandra Lauderdale

Lori Spann and James McLellan

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Phebe Cole Sanders and Darryl Sanders

Denise Bailey and Parker Waites

Ronnie Andrews and Lee Davis Thames

Dot McGee and Jim Pilgrim

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Wearable Art Designs

I

t’s been a long time coming, but Susan Hollingsworth, originally from Natchez, Mississippi, has gone all over the world to discover and develop her unique talent, designing and putting together unique “art” jackets. Growing up in a home where she went to sleep at nights to the humming of the sewing machine at the hands of her mother, Ruth Colter, Hollingsworth has always had a passion for the needle. She has studied pattern making, designing, and fabric art design and has been working on her unique jackets since 1991. She and her family have lived all over the world, have returned to the States to live in Natchez with a home in Texas as well, and are now ready to begin showing her work.

Hollingsworth’s lifetime friend Becky Mason Jones—the two grew up in the same neighborhood in Natchez and their mothers were best friends—has now

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Far left—Colter sisters: Sandra Burkes, Susan Hollingsworth, and Linda Lundy Left—Susan Hollingsworth

Left—Becky Mason Jones displays her fiber art designs.

Above— Susan Hollingsworth visits with Karen Callon during the Natchez showing.

teamed up with Hollingsworth, contributing the fiber art designs in the jacket panels. It all began while the two were on a morning walk with Hollingsworth’s talking about needle felting, a technique she learned while living in London, England. Intrigued, Jones began to explore this amazing technique in which something that looks like dryer lint can be transformed into beautiful fabric. The wool in a “cotton candy” state, placed in layers and immersed in hot water and liquid soap, kneaded and then dried, becomes fabric that can be used for clothing and accessories.

For her earlier jackets, Hollingsworth scoured the markets in Russia for beautiful silk fabrics and then took them to be embroidered for her panels. Thereafter, she found striking buttons and other accessories to add to each jacket. As she reflected on the process, she explained that the elements in her jackets have a story. The unique buttons, some glass, some

Above—Fiber Art Designs by Becky Mason Jones Left—Each panel insert is representative of an original work of art.

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All details richly embellished

One-of-a-kind embroidery

Original jacket designs

Specially selected fabrics

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jewels, some brass, or a bit of gold or silver all have been hand selected for each jacket.

Initially, Hollingsworth personally sewed together the sections of her jackets but now finds it much easier to have a seamstress put them together.

Having all of the people involved understand the vision of her designs and work is essential according to Hollingsworth. With Jones’s talent in this discipline and their mutual understanding of the artistry, the cooperative effort from conception to completion is ‘a perfect fit.’

These one-of-a kind, exclusive jackets are not assembly-line merchandise, mass made and duplicated. Each is inimitably crafted.

The selection of the unique fabrics, the design of the artistic panels, and the choice of trim and buttons go through the same artistic process as the shades and textures for a painting or sculpture. All this meticulous preparation and creation, fused with time, passion, patience, and collaboration fashion these amazing jackets.

Having worked on these high-fashion pieces for almost twenty years, Hollingsworth is ready for the next step of sharing them with others, making them available to a select and appreciative clientele. “These jackets have developed me in three significant ways over this creative process,” remarked Hollingsworth. “They have introduced me to people and places all over the world; they have annihilated my pre-conceptions of foreign cultures about how other people live their lives, their thinking processes, and their unique crafts; and they have forced me to speak Russian and now to learn Spanish.

Understanding what these jackets have done for me allows me to maintain the integrity of each jacket I create.”

However, don’t expect to find Hollingsworth’s wearable art in department stores, for these are not the sites through which she shares her distinctive designs.

She introduced them to friends and family recently by hosting wine and appetizer gatherings in Natchez, Mississippi, and Austin, Texas, several months ago. These showings marked her first experiences as designer and moderator, introducing each of her modeled jackets to an awed and eager audience. As Hollingsworth continues to explore selective venues for sharing her exceptional couture, more heads will begin to turn….and ask about….and desire to own Susan Hollingsworth’s wearable art designs.

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Something Scrumptious | story and photos by Jennie Guido

Up Highway 61

Papa Roc’s

F

Cleveland, Mississippi

or the Rocconi family, Papa Roc’s is more than just a family business.

What her two uncles started as one of the only country stores in Cleveland, Mississippi, in 1942, Rita Rocconi has transformed into a genuine Italian restaurant

by night and coffee house by day with an amazing “at home” atmosphere.

When I sat down with Rocconi, her mother and sister joined in the conversation to tell me all out Papa Roc’s. Rita’s mother explained, “After the two older brothers went off to war, my husband took over the business and served farmers from all over every day.”

They all explained, “The family was raised in this building. Our home is right down the street, and we could walk down to see when dad would be coming home.”

In October of 2010, Rocconi decided to open up the coffee house, The Bean Counter, which had once been on Court Street in Cleveland, inside what is now Papa Roc’s. “I always wanted to have an Italian restaurant to feature our family recipes, and this building had the kitchen space I needed.”

The eatery gets its name from her father, whom many called Papa Roc. “We are a family-oriented place,” Rocconi said, “using my grandmother’s recipes that we make fresh everyday.” The majority of the staff and cooks are family members that know just how much work goes into each recipe and each dish.

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Ravioli

As we made our way through dinner, something that I found interesting was the bread that was brought to the table.

Rocconi explained that it is called gracia, a classic Italian bread with recipes unique to each Italian family’s taste and tradition. It is made from an easy recipe but one with a time-consuming process to complete. “My nephew makes it for us,” she commented, “and there are so many steps to make it right.”

Also, the leftover gracia at the end of the night is ground and mixed with seasonings—paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese to taste—to make the restaurant’s signature bread crumbs. “Any dish that is breaded

features our homemade bread crumbs” Rocconi added.

At the start of the meal, we ordered several appetizers to sample, including the Fried Calamari and the Ba-Da-Bing Shrimp. The shrimp is fried and tossed in a subtly spicy aioli sauce on a bed of lettuce.

This is definitely one of the most unique dishes I’ve ever had and a fast favorite for me. Also, the Bruschette Bread makes for a fabulous start for the whole table to enjoy.

This dish is focaccia bread with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto topped with mozzarella cheese and baked to bubbly perfection.

When it came time to order entrées, I had no idea which option to pick. I have eaten the delicious salmon before, which is grilled and topped with a tomato-basil vinaigrette, so I decided to go with a traditional Italian dish this time. The rest of the table ordered dishes like Chicken Parmigiana, Eggplant Parmigiana, a meat and spinach filled Manicotti, and the Baked Ziti. Finally, I decided on the baked Ravioli, which was beef filled, baked in the Rocconi’s homemade sauce, and covered in mozzarella cheese. Each dish was perfection, and not too much was said after everyone took the first bite.

With so many choices on the menu, it is hard to have a favorite that you order every visit. However, Rocconi said that a favorite for many of the customers is the Manicotti, and she added, “Most people are used to a cheese-filled pasta, so this is an interesting twist to an Italian favorite.” Some of her favorites include the Ba-Da-Bing Shrimp or any dish with the Alfredo sauce, which is close to heaven with its creaminess.

Located on Highway 8 heading west, Papa Roc’s is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night for dinner; and the coffee house, The Bean Counter, is open Monday through Friday and features an Italian dish

for lunch every day. Along with a vast sandwich menu, the pizzas are very popular and to die for.

If I were to suggest a favorite selection or two to order, I wouldn’t know where to start. There are so many options and each is a safe and tasty bet. However, the BaDa-Bing Shrimp appetizer is a must each time you visit Papa Roc’s.

Left—Gracia Middle—Ba Da Bing Shrimp Above—Chicken Parmigiana

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Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 39

In the Kitchen with Cheryl’s Friends and Family

Share the Love of Home Cooking cleaning, and washing along with cradling, singing and dancing with babies have filled my agenda lately….and I’m loving it! Till March….enjoy!

W

ith all our venues of technomedia enrichment taking center stage at Bluffs & Bayous, several months have passed since we’ve run “From Cheryl’s Friends and Family,” but February is the perfect month for us to resume this monthly column and “share the love” of these favorite recipes with all our readers. As we prepared this issue, Adam Blackwell, our Media Coordinator, was instrumental in gathering recipes from his mom, Debbie Blackwell, and her coworker and friend Linda Futrell along with a favorite recipe from one of our longtime readers Shelia Porch. Close friend and former professional colleague Andrée Gamberi offers some of her family’s treasured recipes while dear friend Eileen Ball shares selections of the ethnic dishes that filled her childhood and still inform her family meals and entertaining today.

With tremendous gratitude, we salute Adam, who made appointments with all these contributors, enjoyed visiting them in their kitchens, and snapped a shot or two for all of you to see the luscious dishes that result from these recipes, tempting you to try them as well.

We hope to share additional recipes from the Bluffs area in the following months. During January, I tried out several new recipes on my two daughters’ families in the New Orleans area and will test these dishes again on my husband before I share them with you in March. While my visits with them included these cooking ventures, my reason for being there was the arrival of two new granddaughters, born to my daughters three days apart. Cooking,

Sheila Porch

This dish started showing up at different parties a few months ago. My friend Cindy Hughes, made it for our Pokeno group, and Debra Tillman brought it to our Sunday School party. I made it for some of my Christmas parties and everyone loved it, especially the guys! I travel a lot with my job and usually work 12 hours a day, so this dish is great because it’s quick and easy to make. It’s best eaten warm from the oven.

Hope you enjoy it!

Sopapilla Cheesecake 2 cans crescent dinner rolls 1 stick butter (melted) 2 teaspoons cinnamon 3 (8 oz.) blocks cream cheese (softened) 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass baking dish. In a large bowl, mix together all 3 packages of cream cheese, 1½ cups sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Set aside – this is the filling.

Roll out one can of crescent roll dough as a sheet into the bottom of 9x13-baking dish. Press together any gaps so that the

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Sopapilla Cheesecake

dough does not come apart at the seams.

Spread the filling out evenly on top of the bottom layer of dough. Roll out second can of crescent roll as a sheet and carefully lay on top of the filling. Again, press together any gaps at the seams so the filling does not ooze out. Brush 1 stick of melted butter over the top with a pastry brush.

Mix ½ cup sugar and 1½ teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly across the top.

Bake for 30 minutes in 350-degree oven.

Serve plain or topped with cinnamon Cool Whip.

Debbie Blackwell

In our family, we enjoy trying new recipes—sometimes they are great, and other times we have to order pizza! We love sharing our recipes with others, and I hope you enjoy these!

Honey-Garlic Pork Tenderloin

Honey-Garlic Pork Tenderloin This recipe is one that I use often when entertaining. It’s easy to make and is delicious as an entrée or on a sandwich at lunch!

1 cup Creole mustard, divided ¾ cup honey, divided 3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided 8 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons salt 2½ teaspoons pepper, divided.

2 pounds pork tenderloin 1/3 cup mayonnaise Stir together ½ cup mustard, ½ cup honey, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, garlic, salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper in a large shallow dish or heavy-duty, zip-top plastic bag; add pork, turning to coat. Cover, or seal, and chill 3 hours. Place pork on a lightly greased rack in an aluminum, foillined roasting pan.

Broil 6 inches from heat 5 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 425 degrees, and bake 15 minutes. Cover loosely with foil, and bake 15 more minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 160 degrees. Yield: 6 servings HONEY-GARLIC DIPPING SAUCE: Stir together remaining ½ cup mustard, remaining ¼ cup honey, remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, remaining ½ teaspoon pepper, and mayonnaise. Serve mixture with pork.

Wild Rice Crab Cakes This recipe comes from my dear friend Linda Warren, who found the recipe through Cooking Light Magazine. www. cookinglight.com *Minnesota Wild Rice can be found in your local grocery store. It is preferable to your normal wild rice mix

golden. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and patties. Yield: 8 servings.

Wild Rice Crab Cakes

because it helps to hold together the Crab Cakes. Enjoy!

1½ cups water ½ cup uncooked Minnesota wild rice 1 pound lump crabmeat, drained and shell pieces removed ¾ cup dry breadcrumbs ½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper ¼ cup minced shallots ¼ cup light mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground cumin 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add wild rice; cover; reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour or until tender.

Combine cooked wild rice, crab, and next 11 ingredients (crab through egg whites) in a large bowl. Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions, shaping each into a 1-inchthick patty.

Heat two teaspoons oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 4 patties; cook 4 minutes. Carefully turn patties over; cook 4 minutes or until

Baked Kibbi

Eileen Ball

These recipes came from Waddad Buttross’s cookbook Waddad’s Kitchen with a bit of my own touch. When we were growing up, Mom made these recipes from memory, and this is how all of her children cook.

My mother’s family arrived in Greenville, Mississippi, from Lebanon in the late 1800s. They brought many treasures including a cutting of an original grape vine and time-honored family recipes. My seven siblings and I grew up around Lebanese cuisine. No holiday meal was complete without kibbi, rolled grape leaves, and taboolee. Everyone in my family became so proficient in mastering Lebanese food that we compete with each other. We even e-mail pictures of our dishes for “bragging rights”! I am fortunate to have my grandmother’s kibbi pan and Mom’s grape leaves pot.

Baked Kibbi 2 cups bulgur 2 pounds ground lamb or beef 2 large onions 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon cinnamon (or to taste) Rinse the bulgur several times in cold water. Soak bulgur in water for at least an hour. You will have to grind your meat and onions until fine or have the butcher grind your beef or

Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 41

lamb at the butcher counter. Take the soaked bulgur from the water; and mix with the beef and onions, adding the seasonings. The mixture needs to be mixed very thoroughly. (I often soak my hands in cold water while kneading the mixture).

FILLING: 4 tablespoons butter ½ cup pine nuts ½ pound ground lean beef or lamb 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper ½ teaspoon salt Melt the butter over slow heat. Add the pine nuts and brown slightly. Remove the pine nuts from butter. Add the meat and seasoning to the butter. Cook until meat is brown. Add the pine nuts to mixtures.

Grease a 12x5-inch baking dish with butter. Spread ½ of kibbi mixture in the bottom of the baking dish. Spread the filling over the kibbi. Top with the other half of the kibbi. Smooth, evenly dipping your hand in cold water as needed. Score the top of the kibbi into triangles. Put ½ cup of thinly sliced butter slices over the top of the kibbi. Bake at 400 degrees for about 35 minutes or until the edges turn brown. Place under a broiler for a few minutes to brown the top.

Rolled Grape Leaves 1 pound of grape leaves 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1½ pounds ground lamb or lean beef Lamb bone or stew bone 3/4 cup rice (uncooked) ½ cup lemon juice 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper Rinse the grape leaves several times. If I use the grape leaves from a jar, I will rinse them at least 3 times to make sure that the Rolled Grape Leaves

taste of the packing juice is rinsed off. If using fresh grape leaves, you will need to blanche them in boiling water for about a minute before rolling the leaves. Cut off the stem of each grape leaf.

Mix together the lamb, uncooked rice, salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Place each leaf on the counter with the veins of the leaf facing up and the stem toward you. Place a heaping teaspoon of the mixture on each leaf. Spread the mixture across the leaf. Make sure that you do not put too much mixture on the leaf to have room to roll the leaves. Fold the stem end of the leaf over the mixture. Fold the sides toward the mixture and roll. Do not roll too tight because the mixture will expand when cooked. Place the lamb bone or stew bone in the bottom of a soup pot. Arrange the grape leaves close together in rows facing in the same direction. Alternate each row of grape leaves in opposite directions. I put thinly sliced butter over every couple of rows. (I always end with butter on the top row). Place a saucer on top of the leaves to keep them in place while cooking. Add enough water to come to the top of the saucer. Add the lemon juice and cook for at least an hour. (I usually cook mine for several hours because I like my leaves tender. I might add some more lemon juice to taste).

bulgur. Add the lemon juice and oil, and mix together. Add the tomatoes. I usually refrigerate mine overnight.

Taboolee 2 cups bulgur 1 cup chopped mint leaves 6 cups water ½ cup lemon juice 1 bunch chopped green onions ½ cup olive oil 1 small bunch chopped parsley Salt and pepper to taste 3 tomatoes (optional) Wash and soak the bulgur in water for about 2 hours. Squeeze the water out of the bulgur with hands. Add chopped onions, parsley, mint, and seasonings to

Mexican Corn Bread 1¾ cups self-rising cornmeal (or Jiffy Mix) 1 cup onion, chopped 1 cup cream-style corn ¾ cup oil 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded ½ cup milk 3 eggs 1 teaspoon garlic salt (optional) 2-5 Jalapeño peppers, chopped Mix all ingredients. Bake in greased hot skillet or 9x13-inch casserole dish at 400 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes.

Taboolee

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Linda Futrell

While working at Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, Louisiana, I was among many of the staff members who contributed recipes in compiling a cookbook. Visit the center’s website at www.grmc.com. These are two of my favorite recipes that I love to cook for supper club or on a cold day. Hope you enjoy!

Mexican Corn Bread

Black Bottom Pie This pie is from a Betty Crocker cookbook but changed by adding the Oreo pie crust. My family would rather have this pie for their birthday than a cake. I often make 4 to 6 pies at a time for my house.

Chili

Crawfish Fettuccini

Crawfish Fettuccini 3 pounds crawfish 4 tablespoons parsley flakes 1 can cream of mushroom soup 2 pods chopped garlic 3 medium chopped onions 3 sticks Parkay 3 celery sticks ½ pound Velveeta cheese 2 medium bell peppers ½ pound hot Velveeta cheese 1 pint half and half Melt Parkay; then sauté onions, celery, bell peppers, parsley, and garlic (spicy seasonings to your taste). Stir in flour to thicken sauce, about ¼ cup. Add crawfish.

Cook for 15 minutes. Add mushroom soup. Stir to warm. Add half and half.

Stir to warm. Boil 16 ounces of fettuccini noodles. Stir ½ pound of cheese into sauce until melted. Mix in noodles. Pour into large greased dish. Put remaining cheese in chunks on top of noodles. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Andrée Gamberi

Black Bottom Pie

½ cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups milk 2 eggs, separated 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin 3 tablespoons cold water 2 teaspoons rum flavoring 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar 1/3 cup sugar 1 Oreo cookie crumb pie crust Stir together ½ cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Blend milk and egg yolks, and stir into sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, just until mixture boils. Reserve 1 cup of the custard mixture; set aside.

Soften gelatin in cold water; stir into remaining hot custard mixture. Stir in rum.

Place pan in refrigerator to chill, stirring occasionally, until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon. Combine chocolate and the reserved custard mixture.

Pour into the cookie crumb pie shell.

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Beat in ½ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; continue beating until stiff and glossy. Do not under beat. Fold remaining custard mixture into meringue. Spread on chocolate mixture. Chill at least 3 hours or until set. If desired, garnish with whipped cream and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.

Chili 2 pounds ground beef or deer (I often use half ground beef and half ground deer meat.)

1 onion, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced 2 cans Bush’s medium chili beans 2 cans diced tomatoes 2 cans tomato sauce 3 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 cups water Salt and pepper Brown ground beef and drain fat. Add all the other ingredients with about 2 cups of water. Cook for about 1 to 2 hours on low, adding more water as it cooks down.

Salt and pepper to taste. I sometimes add more chili powder.

Tortellini Soup Large package stew meat Large package cheese-filled tortellini (may be meat or herb) Bay leaves Small can tomato paste 1-2 teaspoons nutmeg Salt and pepper Cook stew meat in boiling water for around 30 minutes. Add tomato paste and Tortellini Soup

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Mandarin Orange Salad

Mrs. Jessie’s 7 Up Pound Cake

bay leaves, cooking another 30 minutes on low. Add water and bring soup back to a boil. Add tortellini and nutmeg; cook until tortellini is done. Add salt and pepper to taste. May be served with grated cheese Mrs. Jessie’s 7 Up Pound Cake This is a recipe from Mrs. Jessie Carlisle, given to me with a cook book before I was married.

2 sticks oleo

Pasta Salad

½ cup Crisco 3 cups sugar 3 cups plain flour, sifted 5 eggs 1 cup 7-Up plus a little more 2-3 teaspoons lemon juice Cream oleo, sugar, and Crisco well. Add eggs, blending well after each egg. Add flour alternately with 7-Up. Beating well is the secret to this cake. Add flavoring, and beat well again. Pour into a Bundt

pan, vegetable oil sprayed or greased and floured. Bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Mandarin Orange Salad This is a recipe that my children loved when they were younger, and it’s easy to make.

2 20-ounce cans crushed pineapple (in its own juice), drained well 2 15-ounce cans mandarin orange slices, drained 1 24-ounce container small curd cottage cheese ¾ tub 8-ounce cool whip 1 3-ounce package orange Jell-o Mix all ingredients together and chill in the refrigerator.

Pasta Salad This easy and delicious recipe is great for parties or for when you need a lastminute dish!

1 box of Garden Rotini, cooked and drained 1 large bunch of fresh broccoli, cut into just the florets 1 container of grape or cherry tomatoes 1 colored bell pepper, cut into small pieces ¾ bottle of Italian dressing Parmesan cheese Mix all ingredients together and top with Parmesan cheese. Chill in the refrigerator.

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R

Local Business Gives Back

ed Square Clothing Co located in The Renaissance of Ridgeland, Mississippi, gave back to the community during the recent holiday season. Red Square raised money for The Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital by selling Christmas ornaments to hang on their Crystal Charity Tree. A locally owned and operated men’s and women’s clothing store, Red Square Clothing Co wanted to give back to the community and help others in need.

Jill Matheny, Myles Harris, Emily Perry, and Joe Williams

Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 45

Serving Today’s Communities for Tomorrow’s Future

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Top right— Vicksburg Kiwanis project Top left—Lee Thames at Vicksburg High School Key Club Below left—Natchez Kiwanis Spaghetti Lunch Below right— Vicksburg Chili Cook-off

ur February issue “from the heart” pays tribute to area civic organizations along and beyond the Mississippi whose yearly schedule of meetings, activities, and fund-raisers call members to their mission of service.

Rotary International reflects communities’ professional and business leaders without regard to gender, age, religion, and ethnicity; and its members, who represent high ethical standards, view their various occupations as sources of opportunities to serve others.

With Kiwanis, the mission is to respond to the needs of the community and to pool their resources to address worldwide issues. By changing the world one child and one community at a time, the Kiwanians of 96 countries throughout the world make a global impact.

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The Lions Clubs International, inspired by their motto, “We Serve,” focuses on programs that fund such efforts as sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, and environmental issues.

The Exchange Club, the oldest service club in the country, offers multiple services but members center their energies on their national project, prevention of child abuse.

While these clubs began over a half century ago exclusively for men, today they have male and female members, all offering their professional and personal skills to enhance their organizations and communities alike.

Brookhaven Rotary The Brookhaven-Lincoln County Rotary Club with its 16 current members was chartered just two years ago in 2010 as part of Rotary International, established in 1905. The club’s main fund-raising activity to date has been a golf tournament held last fall at the Brookhaven Country Club. Moving forward, the club anticipates expanding their fund-raising activities by having a booth at some of the local fairs in the area. In addition, a portion of the club’s member dues is contributed to Worldwide Polio Eradication, the main project of Rotary International.

A summary of the projects, programs, and people who have benefited from the donation and funding efforts of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Rotary Club during its first two years includes the following: •Worldwide Eradication of Polio •Holiday Food Pantry •Lincoln-Franklin-Lawrence County Regional Library •“Rotary Club” little league baseball team •Lincoln County Historical and Genealogy Society & Museum •Water well mission trip to Haiti •Rotary International Shelter Box project •Japanese tsunami victims •Humanitarian mission to Peru •Dictionary Project (distributing free dictionaries to local third-graders) McComb Rotary The McComb Rotary Club was chartered on March 22, 1932, and current membership is one hundred eleven. The major fund-raisers in this community is the radio auction held each spring. Money raised from the benefits of this and additional projects goes toward hundreds of care packages prepared for local nursing home residents, the survivor’s tent at Relay for Life, PALS animal shelter and Keep Pike County Beautiful.

Natchez Rotary The Natchez Chapter of Rotary International was formed in 1919 and today has 123 members. The Natchez Chapter conducts various fund-raisers throughout the year for local and international causes. The Chili Cook-off, held the end of October, brings out eager community tasters and avid competitors alike to earn boasting rites for the best chili while raising much needed funds that support local organizations.

They also sponsor a Chili Cook-off team for Natchez High School and conduct a Christmas Auction, their main, annual fund-raising project.

Natchez Rotary’s main service projects include hosting the Group Study Exchange Team and donating a Shelter Box through an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth, and dignity to people made homeless by disaster worldwide. Locally, the club purchased and donated a dictionary to every third-grader in Adams County and participates each year in a work-day at Habitat for Humanity.

During the past year, this group distributed $15,000 throughout the community to the following local organizations: Boys & Girls Club, Catholic Charities, Children’s Christmas Tree Fund, Natchez Children’s Home, Children’s Home Services, Pleasant Acre Day School, Relay for Life, Habitat

Brookhaven Rotary: Terry Puckett, Secretary; Mark Mathis, PastPresident; Glenn Driskell, President; Jeff Knight, Vice President; and Bert Bratton, President-Elect

McComb Rotary: Bobby McDaniel, Foundation Chair; Mike Faust, Treasurer; Beverly Johnson, Secretary; Chip Gibbes, President; Landon Woodall, President-Elect; and Chad Lindsey, Program Chair; Not Pictured: Frankie Montalvo, Public Relations; and Jay Mellinger, Service Projects.

Natchez Rotary: Carrie Iles; Hayden Kaiser, Jr., President; and Curtis Moroney

for Humanity, Senior Citizen Center, American Red Cross, Sunshine Shelter, Stew Pot, Natchez Literary Festival, Natchez Opera Festival, Natchez Little Theatre, Friends of the Library, and Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops. In addition, Natchez Rotary offers four $2000 scholarships, one to each of the four high schools in Natchez. Currently, Hayden Kaiser serves as President.

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Summit Rotary Founded in 1938, the Summit Rotary Club serves its Summit, Mississippi, community through the efforts of its twelve active members, led by Percy Robinson as President. The Summit Rotary fund-raisers include Fish Plate sales in February and a Pancake Breakfast in October. The club also supports the local basketball program for youth ages 7 to 12 and awards one annual college scholarship.

Vicksburg Rotary In Vicksburg, Mississippi, Rotary International supports international, community, vocational, and club concerns.

Vocational highlights for the past year include $2,000 in scholarships awarded to students attending state universities or vocational training schools, dictionaries provided for every third-grader in Warren County, and participation in career fairs and educational mentoring programs.

Work on international projects resulted in Vicksburg Rotarians generating $5,500

in aid for medication to third-world countries; funding two wheelchairs for third-world persons; contributing to Japanese earthquake relief, and hosting a Group Study Exchange group sponsored by Rotary International in South Korea. The group, history and music buffs, absorbed Vicksburg history with an emphasis on its blues connection. One of the Koreans was a huge blues fan and actually had a jam session with a performing artist at notorious Michele’s Music store.

The Vicksburg Rotary Club contributed over $8,700 to Rotary Foundation which strives to eradicate Polio and provide clean water to third-world countries. “We expect to exceed $10,000 this year!” predicted President Blake Teller.

This club’s community service includes participation in the State Public Broadcasting program “Between the Lions” by sending numerous members to the Good Shepherd Learning Center to read to preschool students. They also collected canned goods for local needs and

contributed thousands of dollars to local charities, sending $5,000 to Salvation Army this past Christmas which was matched by a local business resulting in over $10,000 for the Salvation Army. They also sent bug spray to victims of the 2011 flood.

For club service, this group sent a bus load of Rotarians to the Mississippi Braves game, an event captured through photos in Bluffs and Bayous; and they hosted a fish fry typically attended by Rotary’s Regional Governor. They also honor the Miss Mississippi contestants at a luncheon during their week of competition to provide a little relief from their hectic schedule and stressful competition.

Kiwanis Lt. Governor for Division 1, Frances Cothren of Natchez, Mississippi

Vicksburg Rotary: Front—Lynn Foley, Helen Burks, Linda Fondren, and Annette Kirklin; back—Blake Teller, Bob Croisdale, Edley Jones, Paul Rogers, James Price, Ken Halford, John Stepean, and Jack Burrell

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Lt. Governor for Division 1 Lt. Governor for Division 1 Frances Cothren, whose father was a Natchez Kiwanian as far back as the 1940s and whose brother has been a member of the Natchez Kiwanis for over twenty-five years, is the Lieutenant Governor for Division 15 that consists of Natchez, Brookhaven, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Lieutenant Governor acts as the contact person among the local clubs and the district that covers Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Tennessee. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Natchez Kiwanis Club and has also served as President twice. Cothren joined Kiwanis in 1990, three years after Kiwanis opened its membership to women; and in 1996, she was elected the club’s first woman president. At the International Convention in New Orleans this summer, Kiwanis plans a special recognition of the twenty-fifth anniversary of having women as members.

Brookhaven Kiwanis The Brookhaven Chapter was formed in 1921 and today has 55 members.

Cameron Smith is the president, and Dustin Walker is president elect. The club has two major fund-raising events: Pancake Day and Red Beans & Rice Day. The club awards three academic scholarships each year.

They also contribute to numerous other community causes and needs.

Natchez Kiwanis The Natchez Trace Kiwanis Club in Natchez, Mississippi, lives the club’s philosophy that money raised through service projects is given back to the community.

Natchez Kiwanians have donated automated external defibrillators to many Natchez area schools and have awarded scholarships yearly to each area high school’s Outstanding Key Club Member, a student who exhibits leadership, responsibility, and community stewardship.

The Natchez Kiwanis Club sponsors Key Clubs in four area high schools—Vidalia High School in Vidalia, Louisiana; and Cathedral High School, Trinity Episcopal High School, and Adams County Christian School (ACCS), all in Natchez. Natchez Kiwanis also supports these Key Club chapters through donations to fray the student-members’ expenses to attend regional conventions and officer training sessions. In addition, at Co-Lin Community College in Natchez, the club sponsors Circle K, the college level group associated with Kiwanis.

Kiwanis, aided by Key Club members, built bridges on the nature trail at Historic Jefferson College. John R. Junkin Drive, an approximate three-mile stretch of highway running east to west through Natchez, has been adopted by the Natchez Trace Kiwanis, and trash along this throughway is picked up at least quarterly by the members. The club also donated life-enhancing equipment to the family of a special-needs child; and at Christmas, Natchez Kiwanians adopted a family through Catholic Charities to insure this family’s merry Christmas.

Major fund-raisers of the Natchez Trace Kiwanis Club include a pancake breakfast, spaghetti dinner, bowling tournament, and Christmas auction. Officers this year are Ryan Wingfield, President; John Leckie, Secretary; Ginga MacLaughlin, Treasurer; Tina Kaho, President Elect; Stuart Heflin, Immediate Past President; and Board Members Patricia Anderson, Tim Byrd, Tammy Rouse, Jannifer Robinson, and Donna Sessions.

Vicksburg Kiwanis The Kiwanis Club of Vicksburg with a current membership of 50 was chartered on December 14, 1934; and its members join more than 600,000 Kiwanis family members in 96 countries in making their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers, dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

Among their many service projects over the past years, Vicksburg Kiwanis Club has supported Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army, assisted with Area 10 Special

Brookhaven Kiwanis: Front Dustin Walker, Cameron Smith, Brad Boerner; back Ryan Holmes, Dr. Chad Smith, Dr. Nic Belk, and Rusty Yates

Natchez Kiwanis: Front—John Leckie, Secretary; Stuart Heflin, Immediate Past President; Tina Kaho, Incoming President; and Ryan Wingfield, President; back—Patricia Anderson, Jannifer Robinson, Julie Cooper, and Tammy Rouse, Board Members; and Frances Cothren, Lieutenant Governor (Not Pictured Donna Sessions, Board Member, and Ginga MacLauglin, Treasurer)

Vicksburg Kiwanis: Charlie McKinnie, Secretary/Treasurer; Ryan Lee, President; Katie Ferrell, Board Member; and Wesley Jones, Vice President

Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 49

Olympics Track & Field and bowling events, and sponsored Clergy Appreciation Day. Other club projects have focused on cleaning up and repairing Hopping H Ranch; conducting Read and Succeed Projects for local youth; and rehabilitating and cleaning up at Good Shepherd Community Center, Haven House Family Shelter, and the Watersville Estates Project.

In 2011, club members restored a 12,500-square-foot playground destroyed by the historic 2011 Mississippi River flood. Kiwanians, Key Clubbers, and Team (Home) Depot, along with generous support and donations from local businesses worked to restore the property with 700 yards of mulch and 680 feet of borders. A total of $19,000 was realized from grants, contributions, and in-kind donations to complete this project.

The club provides Key Club scholarships each year and holds many fund-raisers, including Golf Ball Drops, annual Chili Feasts, and Gumball Machines, raising approximately $22,000 in 2011 from these fund-raisers Current officers are Ryan Lee, President; Wesley Jones, Vice President; Georgia Grodowitz, First Vice President; Charlie McKinnie, Secretary/Treasurer; and Lee Thames, Ex Officio Member. Board Members are JR Armstrong, Katie Feibelman, Sam Porter, Geni Fulcher, Katie Ferrell, Forbes Grogran, Tom Osborn, and Dan Muirhead.

Brookhaven Lions Club The Brookhaven Lions Club was founded in 1936 and the organization currently has 49 members. Fund-raising efforts include the Annual “Water Carnival” Beauty Pageant and a Pecan Sale. The Beauty Pageant awards scholarship money to college-aged contestants, but participants begin as oneyear olds. The “Water Carnival” is a long standing tradition in Brookhaven and takes place during the first part of August each year. More than 100 contestants in various age groups compete and there is standing room only from attending family and friends. The Pecan Sale happens in time for holiday baking in the Fall/early Winter. Bags of whole or chopped Pecans are sold around town.

McComb Lions Club Chartered in 1938, the McComb Lions Club serves the city of McComb, Mississippi, with forty-nine members. Their benefit events include the McComb Lions Club Heart O’Dixie Championship Walking & Racking Horse Shot, held the first Saturday in October.

The McComb Lions Club supports sight programs such as the Eye Bank in Jackson, Mississippi, eye surgical procedures, eye exams, diabetes education, and prescription eye glasses for those in need. In addition, they assist with the Seeing Eye Dog program and have purchased and supplied reading machines for the sight impaired.

Monticello Lions Club The Monticello Lions Club Chapter was founded in 1940 in Monticello, Mississippi. It has a current membership of twelve, and George Carpenter serves as President. The club’s fund-raising activities include Pancake Day on the first Saturday in March and Baked Chicken Plates in October and November. The funds raised support eye exams and purchasing of glasses for those in need who complete an application process. They also conduct vision screens in school for fourth- and fifth-graders.

Brookhaven Lions Club Officers: Front—Jim Hickman, Secretary; Becky Morgan, Third Vice President; Leigh Ann Martin, Second Vice President; and Rebecca Bates, President; back—Joe Davis, Treasurer; and Dave Pace, Tail Twister

Brookhaven Exchange Club: Treasurer Bill Haag, President Stan Foster, Ex Officio Ted Ratcliff, Secretary Ted Evans, and Vice President Stan Long

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Natchez Lions Club Lions Sight Foundation of Mississippi is the fund-raising arm for statewide projects of the Lions of Mississippi. The Natchez Lions Club, organized in 1942, donates to the Lions Sight Foundation of Mississippi to help support the various state programs that include (1) The Mississippi Lions Eye Bank founded in 1971 for the recovery and distribution of corneal tissue vital in sight-saving transplants. Former Natchez Lion, the late Dr. Avery McKinley, was instrumental in founding the Lions Eye Bank. The MS Lions Eye Bank is a member of the Eye Bank Association of America; (2) The Hearing Impaired Program that enables Lions to provide hearing aids for the indigent. This program also sponsors a summer camp on the Mississippi Gulf Coast each May/June for hearing-impaired children; (3) The Sea & Sun Camp that is held each summer on the Gulf Coast to educate and challenge blind and visually impaired children.

With its 31 members, the Natchez chapter sponsors an annual bowling tournament to fund its Sight Foundation contribution, its four annual $500 scholarships to area graduating seniors; its donations to Natchez Stew Pot, Children Home, Sunshine Shelter, and Pleasant Acres; and its assisting those needing

eyeglasses and hearing aids. Secretary Betty Jeane Smith explained, “One of our most outstanding services was getting the first cochlear implant in Mississippi to someone from our area who had never heard birds sing or a diesel truck.” Other officers include President Cathey Kennon, First Vice President Brian Fisher, Second Vice President Angela Bland, and Treasurer John Mark Williams; and Steve Smith has served as District Governor.

Brookhaven Exchange Club The Brookhaven Exchange Club chapter was formed in 1947 and has sixty-three active members today. One of the club’s main activities is hosting the Exchange Club Fair, which typically is held the week prior to the beginning of school. It is a partnership between the Exchange Club and the community as the Fair would not be possible without the volunteer support to work the booths and run the rides. The revenue realized from the event funds various local organizations that support the prevention of child abuse and also funds scholarships for area graduates.

During the 2011 holiday season, the club provided over five hundred fruit bags for the elderly in the community; and Exchange Club members set out flags throughout the town on selected holidays.

Monticello Exchange Club The Monticello Exchange Club has a membership of fifteen with John Fuller serving as President. Some of the organization’s projects include selling food items at Monticello Marketplace in November and sponsoring the Chili Cookoff in December. Proceeds from these events helped support two needy families this past Christmas. The club also sponsors a Canned Food Drive each February to fill food pantries at local churches.

Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 51

THE Social Scene Garden Clubs’ Holiday Royalty Announcement Parties

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he Natchez Garden Club and Pilgrimage Garden Club of Natchez, Mississippi, recently celebrated Christmas with their Annual Holiday and Royalty Announcement Parties held at Brandon Hall and Stanton Hall, respectively. Hosted in late December, the parties honored club members and announced the 2012 Pilgrimage Royalty, who will reign at the Historic Natchez Pageant during the city’s annual Spring Pilgrimage, celebrated now for approximately 80 years.

JoAnn Herrington, Carol Frank, Amon Jordan, and Linda McFarland

Julia Bray with LouAnn, Miller, and Chandler Jordan

Wanda and Ellie Smith with Kem Kimbrell

Sara and Chandler Russ with Noelle Speed

LouAnn Jordan, Carol Ann Riley, and Kathy Garber

Mary Catherine Iles, Natalie Phillips, Molly Butts, and Katilyn Mayfield

Emily Maxwell, Parker Maxwell, and Betsy Iles

Eileen Ball, Mike Rinehart, and David Bray

Sammy Cauthen and David Bray

Rosemary and Charles Hall with Suzan Hogue

Gary Caldwell, Gail Henry, and Mary Ruth Caldwell

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THE Social Scene

Maureen Radzewicz, Fred St. Clair, Jay and Gwen Massey, Helena St. Clair, and Kristin Jordan

Anne Elise Rinehart and Stowers Mohan

2012 PGC Royal Court: front—Ramsey Armstrong, Graci Gamberi, Sarah Katherine Cauthen, and Parker Maxwell; middle—Mary Catherine Iles, Lauren Smith, Rebecca Seale, Jessie Morrison, Ginny Scarborough, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Anne Elise Rinehart; back—Harrison Burns, Daniel Jenkins, Steve Scarborough, Tyler Morrison, and Stowers Mohan

NGC Royal Court: Front—Pages Reagen Rabb and Coleman Carter; middle—Olivia Bridewell, Jessica Cauthen, Lesley Pomery, NGC King Miller Jordan, NGC Queen Julia Bray, Kathleen McAndrews, Joanna Waller and Kim King; back—Steven Eams, Doug Netterville, Joshua Gamberi, Andrew Johnson, Preston Edwards and Derrick Garrity

Cliff and Katie McCarstle

Parker Maxwell, Ramsey Armstrong, Jessie Morrison, Ginny Scarborough, Graci Gamberi, and Sarah Cauthern

Nancy Kuehnle, Mary Lessley, Kitty Bray, Jean Reed, and Kay Taylor

Catherine Bray and Amon Jordan

Jean Reed, Paige Blackwell, and Elizabeth Blackwell

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On the River k On the River k On the River k On the River

Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Page 54 { February 2012 { Bluffs & Bayous

On the River k On the River k On the River k On the River

Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 55

On the River k On the River k On the River k On the River

THE Social Scene Natchez Santa Claus Committee Party

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n December 24, 2011, the Santa Claus Committee of Natchez, Mississippi, held its annual parade. The follow-up party, honoring committee members and 2011 Santa Claus, Bob Sizemore, was held at the home of Sandy and Tom Taylor. Hosting the event along with the Taylors were Bradley and Genny Harrison, Terry and Meredith Trovato, and Michael and Eugenie Cates.

Christi Harrison, Ramsey Armstrong, and Carter Dickey

Meredith Trovato

Bradley Harrison and Tom Taylor

Bob Sizemore, 2011 Santa Claus

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Sandy Taylor, Christi Harrison, Meredith Trovato, and Genny Harrison

Tom Taylor and Jesse Dunbar

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THE Social Scene Fall Gathering for First Families of Mississippi

he Fall Gathering of First Families of Mississippi was held in Vicksburg, Mississippi, at Linden Plantation, the home of Joy and Bryan Brabston. Members enjoyed the setting’s formal gardens and interior ambiance as they met for a business session and dined on southern fare.

Rebecca Rinehart

Front—Amy Johns Vaughn, Tammy Fulcher Sutter, Tammy Carver Wells, and Katelyn Jones; back—Benny Wells Dr. Brooks Ball and Dr. Carroll Ball

Freddie Seab, Melanie Hubbs, Gloria Adcock, Sherry Johnson, and Olivia Weise

Earl McCraven, Mary Jo Gunde, and Greer McCraven

Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 57

Southern Sampler | by Alma M. Womack

Poetry of Youth—Its Stories, Lessons, Inspiration, Wisdom This article, one we ran a couple of years ago, appears again for your re-acquaintance with its enriching commentary from one of our columnists whose time and intentions in the hectic world of life’s demands and families’ needs are not always her own to address. This version does, however, bear a bit of an update that includes Alma Womack’s always avid love of and concern about Our Nation.

When I was a little girl, I loved to read poetry. Free verse was unknown to me, for poems were stories that rhymed; and if they didn’t rhyme, they weren’t poetry. It is easy and simple to be a child and have absolute convictions of right and wrong, proper and improper, without any alien ideas messing up an orderly little world. (Some would say I never left that world.)

I read all types of poetry, but was especially seized by those poets who told us to buck up and get on with life. Rudyard Kipling was one of the leaders of this particular type of poetry along with Edgar Guest, another favorite. They believed there was no point wasting time longing for what never was or what might have been; just get on with life. You would never have caught me memorizing love poems even though I did read some of Robert Burns because he was a Scot. “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” was as far as I ever got on that one by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Story poems were so worthwhile like “Little Orphant Annie,” “The Blue and The Gray,” “The Highwayman,” “Ostler Joe,” “Mary, Queen of Scots,” “Over the Hill to the Poorhouse,” “Little Boy Blue,” “Hiawatha,” “Paul Revere’s Ride,”

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“Kentucky Belle,” “Casey at the Bat,” and the really good “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” I never learned all of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” but I read it enough to be able to know that it never said, “Water, water, everywhere, and not a drop to drink.” Patriotic poetry was fine, too; for the poets of the 1800s and early 1900s believed in America; in the goodness of her people; in the justice of her laws; in the outright incontrovertible evidence that, if we weren’t already the greatest nation on earth, we soon would be.

Memorizing historical and patriotic poems gave me an edge when it came to studying history and having to know dates. I learned one poem that went from 1492 to the Great War’s end in 1917. It was an old poem, to be sure, but it got me through a lot of American history.

Then there was the president’s poem that began “First stands the lofty Washington, that noble, great, immortal one” and goes on down the line to Woodrow Wilson (another oldie). Poems about John Brown, Sheridan, and Maud Muller were Yankee poems, of course, because they celebrated the wrong side of the War Between the States, but I still read them anyway. “The Bonnie Blue Flag” was my favorite from that time period; for it was not only a good poem but also an excellent song, encouraging our courageous countrymen in their fight for liberty.

It would be difficult to pick a favorite poem from all the ones I loved. I used to memorize them just for the sake of doing it; there was no teacher prodding me to learn something for next week’s English lesson.

Even though we did memorize poems in the elementary grades, it was usually for some contest with another class or in class competition.

In fifth grade, in Ms. Ollie Sanson’s room, we had several students memorize poems for the literary rally competition held in Harrisonburg, Louisiana, each spring. Carolyn Thompson learned “Father William” and I did “Johnny Appleseed.” I can’t remember what the boys did or who ended up going to the rally; but by the time our practice sessions were over, we could do each other’s poems as well as our own.

One year for Mother’s Day, I was going to memorize a poem for Mama called “Only One Mother.” I was on the front porch in a rocking chair going over my lines again to make certain they were just right. I was rocking and reciting; and when getting to the line “only one Mother the wide world over,” I rocked right off the porch onto the very hard ground. This was a drop of about five feet, which is pretty far if you’re sitting in a non-bouncing wooden chair. The fall stunned me for a bit; but after determining there were no broken bones or broken chair parts, I quietly put the chair back on the porch. Lucky for me there were no little brothers around, or they would have told on me, and I would have been in trouble for not paying attention to what I was doing.

In high school, we all had to memorize poems, and sometimes the entire class had to do the same poem. I can still hear my friend Mildred Mount, reciting, “Tell me not in mournful numbers, life is but

an empty dream; for the soul is dead that slumbers and things are not what they seem.” Mildred did not like poetry at all; but a grade was involved, so she did it with a lot of coaching from me.

One year, probably junior year, our whole class had to pick a favorite poem to read in Mrs. Helen Riley’s class. Of course, nerd that I was, I picked some longwinded poem like “Kentucky Belle” while classmate Ken Foster picked the shortest one in our book, “Fog.” He was kinder to the class than I was.

We also had to memorize the “Preamble to the Constitution,” the “Preamble to the Declaration of Independence,” “Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address,” and Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy from Macbeth, to name a few.

My favorite memory from those recitations is from James White and his delivery of the “Gettysburg Address” in Mr. Reece Breithaupt’s history class. James was doing fine until he got to the part about “this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom,” and he made a little slip. Already nervous at having to do this insane assignment, he blurted out that “this Nation, by God, shall have a new birth of freedom!” He sat on the row next to me, and he was my friend, so I just laid my head down to keep from laughing. I can still see his earnest young face just trying to get through the ordeal. Two years later, he was killed in Viet Nam, fighting for the freedom and liberty he talked about that day in history class.

His words still resonate with me now, for we are fighting for a new birth of freedom in our country, and may God be with us in our struggle to regain the freedoms we have lost. Maybe we all ought to read “The Concord Hymn” to see where we started all those many years ago.

Now that I have three little grandsons, I have been re-reading some of my old poetry books, looking for things that will be suitable to read to them when they are a bit older. I found this little poem in an Edgar A. Guest poetry book, given to me

by Ms. Marjorie Smith some years back.

This book was originally given to her dad, Dr. Temple J. Smith, by Mr. Joe Trisler of Blue Cane Bend, Louisiana, for Christmas in 1923, which makes the book at least 88 Christmases old. The poem is called “Answering Him”; and reading it makes me a bit sad, knowing what we have lost

from our culture since the early days of the twentieth century: “When shall I be a man?” he said, As I was putting him to bed.

“How many years will have to be Before Time makes a man of me?

And will I be a man when I Am grown up big?” I heaved a sigh, Because it called for careful thought To give the answer that he sought.

And so I sat him on my knee, And said to him: “A man you’ll be When you have learned that honor brings More joy than all the crowns of kings; That it is better to be true To all who know and trust in you Than all the gold of earth to gain If winning it shall leave a stain.

“When you can fight the victory sweet, Yet bravely swallow down defeat, And cling to hope and keep the right, Nor use deceit instead of might; When you are kind and brave and clean, And fair to all and never mean; When there is good in all you plan, That day, my boy, you’ll be a man.

“Some of us learn this truth too late, That years alone can’t make us great; That many who are three-score, ten Have fallen short of being men, Because in selfishness they fought And toiled without refining thought; And whether wrong or whether right They lived but for their own delight.

“When you have learned that you must hold Your honor dearer far than gold; That no ill-gotten wealth or fame Can pay you for your tarnished name; And when in all you say or do Of others you’re considerate, too, Content to do the best you can By such a creed, you’ll be a man.”

These are wise words for little boys and for grown-ups, too. I wish that the politicians in Washington had been trained with these concepts when they were small and still teachable.

Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 59

THE Social Scene Marketing Association for Mississippi Healthcare Christmas Party

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n December 9, 2011, at the Fernwood Country Club in Fernwood, Mississippi, the Marketing Association for Mississippi Healthcare hosted a Christmas Celebration.

The social was centered around Christmas decor, and the highlight of the party was a game of “Pirates Christmas” where members exchanged a variety of beautiful ornaments.

Seated—Tammy Strickland, Kim Hodges, Tammy Anderson, Donna George, Tina Brumfield, Patsy Price, and Sally McCoy; standing—Becky Love, Sabrina Rouse, Jane Swarts, Cindy Ashmore, Earnestine Varnado, Shirley Dillon, Lindsey Alexander, Sam Mims, Kristi Berch, Minor Griffin, Rhonda Brown, Cissy Canova, Tammy Wheeler, Glenda Brasseaux, Talita Roberts, and Bethany Kimery

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Tammy Anderson and Minor Griffin

THE Social Scene

Becky Love, Sabrina Rouse, and Cindy Ashmore

Patsy Price, Tammy Strickland, and Tammy Anderson

Patsy Price, Tammy Anderson, Earnestine Varnado, and Tina Brumfield

Glenda Brasseaux, Kim Hodges, and Shirley Dillon

Sam Mims and Minor Griffin

Seated—Rhonda Brown and Bethany Kimery; standing—Lindsey Alexander, Donna George, and Tammy Wheeler

Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 61

Technology | by Adam Blackwell

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Bluffs & Bayous Goes High Tech

hat an eventful New Year we’ve had here at Bluffs already! As we ring in 2012, we continue to embrace technology and increase our online presence. With our Facebook and Twitter accounts becoming ever popular, we are expanding into other media outlets so we can continue to bring the most information to you—our readers and supporters! We’re now using some awesome new features that I’m excited to clarify for you.

First, let me update you on our social media exposure. We currently have over a thousand fans on our Facebook page, and that fan base is expanding daily. We avidly are using this page to connect with our readers, share information from our advertisers, and keep everyone updated on what’s going on in our office and in and around our communities. You can find us on Facebook by searching “Bluffs and Bayous Magazine” or by simply typing http://www.facebook.com/bluffsandbayous in your internet address bar.

Also, you can find us on Twitter, a social media outlet that we are enjoying more and more every day. Our Twitter account is the best way to stay abreast of all that’s happening at Bluffs. On Twitter, we inform our followers of when the newest issue goes to press, when the magazines arrive, and when we distribute them to your favorite locales. On Twitter, you’ll first see the magazine’s cover with its focus and features for each month. We invite you to join the hundreds (and counting) who are on tap with our Twitter account. Follow us on Twitter: @bluffsbayous or www.twitter. com/bluffsbayous.

Our newest social media site is our Tumblr account. Yes, that’s spelled correctly…Tumblr. The newest form of blogging, Tumblr is great for viewing images and videos. Here, we post early previews of our From the Publisher article as well as our current cover, photos, and recipes. Tumblr makes food look even yummier! If you’re a blogger or would like to subscribe to or view our Tumblr posts,

visit http://www.bluffsandbayous. tumblr.com.

As we build upon our current media exposure, we work to keep you updated as quickly and as often as possible. Our monthly e-updates that began in January are one of the best ways to keep in touch. Giving you a preview of the magazine, these e-updates also post monthly specials and unique offers from our advertisers— offers and specials available only through our e-updates.

Shoot me an email at media. bluffsandbayous@gmail.com if you want to subscribe to them!

Don’t forget about our interactive magazine accessible on our website—www.bluffsbayous. com! An extraordinary feature, our interactive magazine allows readers to save certain pages and even email the entire magazine or a selection to friends. With this, Bluffs & Bayous has gone international! One especially expedient service that our interactive magazine offers is access to advertisements.

Those advertisements that include websites and emails are now directly linked so that readers can go straight to an advertiser’s website from our magazine—just another way that we are further accommodating our advertisers and readers!

Finally—and what I think is most exciting—Bluffs & Bayous is going mobile!

That’s right, soon you’ll be able to access our entire magazine on your smartphone.

Using an app called I-nigma, which can be downloaded for FREE, you’ll be able to scan the mobile barcode on page 5 of our magazine and view our website and interactive magazine. How can you do this? Go to your phone’s app store, search for I-nigma and download. Once you open the app, it turns your camera on. Simply frame the camera onto our barcode and I-nigma does the rest to put Bluffs & Bayous

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interactive magazine in the palm of your hand! Look for our barcode on page 5!

I am so excited about what the future holds for all of us and what the future of technology holds for Bluffs! We will continue to use advancing technology to provide immediately accessible information and entertainment for the convenience of our readers, advertisers, supporters, and contributors. Our magazine now can be viewed all over the world. So no matter where you are—from your home in Mississippi or Louisiana to trips in foreign countries—you will be able to keep up with and enjoy our vibrant tableaux of life along and beyond the Mississippi!

February... Up and Coming! Premier Events February 23 - 26 Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration Natchez, Mississippi In its twenty-third year, the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration will focus on “Legends, Lore and Literature: Storytelling in the South.” The NLCC will include multiple well-known storytellers, journalists, authors, and the like. Kicking off the conference will be Lewis Lord, formerly of Natchez and now of Falls Church, Virginia. Lord, a journalist and historian with United Press International and U.S. News & World Report, will speak on “Supper Table Stories.” With a wide variety of speakers and topics, the Natchez Literary & Cinema Celebration offers something for everyone.

In addition to the seminars, two films will be shown. A preconference, three-hour film Tell About the South: Voices in Black and White will be presented February 23, and Scott Cooper’s Crazy Heart will be screened February 26. This year will also include a children’s writing workshop, a luncheon with live music, a reception at the AfricanAmerican Museum and a gala benefit party at the historic mansion Cherokee. Because of assistance from sponsoring organizations, the Mississippi Humanities Council, and the Mississippi Arts Commission, NLCC is free of charge except for the luncheon, reception, and benefit party. Teachers can earn up to 2.25 Continuing Education Units by attending the lectures and films.

For more information and tickets, call 601446-1289, email NLCC@colin.edu, or visit www. colin.edu/nlcc.

March 10 - April 14 Spring Pilgrimage Natchez, Mississippi

Once again, thirty beautiful antebellum mansions will open their doors and welcome visitors to Spring Pilgrimage in historic Natchez, Mississippi. With hosts and hostesses dressed in period attire, each home offers unique stories, furnishings, architecture, historic documents, artifacts, and an intriguing atmosphere. Along with home tours, guests may enjoy special programs and features offered during Spring Pilgrimage, including Stone House Musicale, Jazz and Juleps, Flags Over Ellicott Hill, Holy Family Choir’s moving and breathtaking Southern Road to Freedom, Natchez Little Theatre’s Southern Exposure, and Natchez Festival of Music’s Romantic Songs of Natchez. Spring Pilgrimage also features the Historic Natchez Tableaux, presented by the Natchez Garden Club and Pilgrimage Garden Club. Dressed in elaborate costumes, performers recreate the romanticized antebellum period. Filled with entertaining and interesting activities, Spring Pilgrimage in Natchez is perfect for the whole family.

Ticket prices and performance dates vary. Visit www.natchezpilgrimage.com to learn more or call their office at 601-446-6631.

Bluffs & Bayous { February 2012 { Page 63

February... Up and Coming!

Through March 11 Life & Landscapes along Louisiana Highway 1 West Baton Rouge Museum Port Allen, Louisiana Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Sunday, 2:00 - 5:00 pm $4; students & seniors $2 225-336-2422 brantley@wbrmuseum.org Throughout February Black History Month Display Rosedown Plantation St. Francisville, Louisiana 10:00 am - 4:00 pm 225-635-3110 www.lastateparks.com Throughout February History Month “Free for All�

Woodville Hospitality Station Woodville, Mississippi Nanette Carter: 601-888-4463; 601-888-4463 nacarter@mississippi.org

February 2 Hot & Brass Band Manship Theatre Baton Rouge, Louisiana 7:30 pm Admission charged 225-344-0334 February 2 Mardi Gras Wreath Workshop Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation Vicksburg, Mississippi 5:30 - 7:00 pm $55 members; $60, non-members Space limited; reservations required 601-631-2997 info@southernculture.org February 4 - 5 49th Annual Camellia Show Brookhaven Recreation Department Brookhaven, Mississippi Saturday, 2:00 - 5:00 pm Sunday, 12:00 - 4:00 pm Open to public 601-833-4126 February 6 - 9 4-Day Beginner Stained Glass Workshop Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation Vicksburg, Mississippi 5:30 - 7:30 pm Members, $160; Non-members, $170 Space limited; reservations required 601-631-2997 info@southernculture.org

February 7 Flamenco Vivo with Carlota Santana Manship Theatre Baton Rouge, Louisiana 7:30 pm Admission charged 225-344-0334 Page 64 { February 2012 { Bluffs & Bayous

February... Up and Coming!

February 9 - 15 Dixie National Rodeo Mississippi State Fair Grounds Jackson, Mississippi Times vary.

Tickets start at $15.

601-961-4000 www.ticketmaster.com

February 10 Annual Chili Feast Vicksburg Kiwanis Purks YMCA Vicksburg, Mississippi 11:00 am - 1:00 pm; 5:00 - 7:00 pm Admission $6 601-218-1754

February 10 Pre-Valentine Day Celebration Myrtles Plantation St. Francisville, Louisiana 7:00 pm Admission: 3 non-perishable food items or monetary donation Benefiting St. Francisville Food Bank 225-635-6278 www.themyrtlesrestaurant.com

February 10 - 12 Rouge Orleans Marathon Baton Rouge, Louisiana 126.2 mile marathon Registration required www.rougeorleans.com February 11 Mississippi HeARTS Against AIDS Hal and Mal’s Jackson, Mississippi 6:00 pm Admission charged 601-366-9084 www.mississippihearts.org

February 11 Pops II: Your Song: The Music of Elton John Thalia Mara Hall Jackson, Mississippi 7:30 pm Admission charged 601-960-1565 www.msorchestra.com

February 11 Free Children’s Drop-in Activity Masur Museum of Art Monroe, Louisiana 2:00 - 5:00 pm No reservations necessary 318-329-2237 info@masurmuseum.org

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February... Up and Coming!

February 11 EXPLORE! Geometric Shapes Historic Jefferson College Washington, Mississippi Ages 6 - 8, 10:00 am - 11:30 am Ages 9 - 12, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm $10; pre-registration & payment required Kay McNeil: 601-442-2901 kmcneil@mdah.state.ms.us February 11 - March 8 “All That Jazz” Roland Golden Gallery Natchez, Mississippi February 11, reception, 5:00 - 8:00 pm 601-304-5500 www.rolandgoldengallery.com February 11 - 12 Civil War Encampment Rosedown Plantation St. Francisville, Louisiana 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 225-635-3110 www.lastateparks.com

February 12 I Have A Dream Manship Theatre Baton Rouge, Louisiana 2:00 pm Admission charged 225-344-0334 February 12 The Resurrection of the General Harriet Tubman West Baton Rouge Museum Port Allen, Louisiana Open to the public 225-336-2422 Brantley@wbrmuseum.org

February 17 *Krewe of Phoenix Parade Natchez, Mississippi 601-442-8367 February 17 Kid’s Mardi Gras Mask Workshop Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation Vicksburg, Mississippi 4:00 - 5:15 pm $10; ages 6 & up 601-631-2997 info@southernculture.org

February 14 Lunchtime Lecture: History of Valentines Historic Jefferson College Washington, Mississippi 12:00 pm Open to the public 601-442-2901 hjc@mdah.state.ms.us February 16 Lunchtime Lecture: Pat Bacot West Baton Rouge Museum Port Allen, Louisiana 12:00 - 1:00 pm Open to the public 225-336-2422 Brantley@wbrmuseum.org February 16 Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors Duling Hall Jackson, Mississippi Doors open 6:30 pm Show begins 7:30 pm Advance, $10; at door, $15 www.ticketmaster.com www.ardenland.net February 16 - 26 Almost, Maine City Park Players Alexandria, Louisiana Thursdays - Saturdays, 7:30 pm Sundays, 2:30 pm Admission $15 318-484-4788 cityparkplayers@gmail.com

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February 17 Kinky Friedman Duling Hall Jackson, Mississippi 9:00 pm; $30 www.ticketmaster.com February 18 11th Annual Mardi Gras Parade Vicksburg, Mississippi 4:00 pm Begins at Washington & Belmont Streets 601-634-4527 kimh@vicksburg.org www.downtownvicksburg.org February 18 Carnival de Mardi Gras Southern Cultural Heritage Center Vicksburg, Mississippi 5:00 - 11:00 pm Immediately following parade Nancy Bell 601-636-5010 vburgfoundation@aol.com

February 18 Lost Arts: Africa & Caribbean Influence in Southern Antebellum Cooking Rosedown Plantation St. Francisville, Louisiana 11:00 am - 2:00 pm 225-635-3110 www.lastateparks.com February 18 EXPLORE! Herbal Oils & Vinegars Historic Jefferson College Washington, Mississippi Ages 13 and up, $15 1:00 - 3:00 pm 601-442-2901 tavance@mdah.state.ms.us

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February 21 Natchez Downtown Development Association’s Annual Mardi Gras Masked Gala Natchez, Mississippi 6:00 - 9:00 pm Yvonne Murray: 601-238-8325; 601-238-8325 murrayy@bellsouth.net us.mc1805.mail.yahoo.com/mc/ February 22 & 24 Cirque du Soleil: Quidam Baton Rouge River Center Baton Rouge, Louisiana Wednesday, 7:30 pm Friday, 3:30 pm 225-389-4940 www.ticketmaster.com

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February 23 Panel Discussion: The Power of Murals Masur Museum of Art Monroe, Louisiana Open to the public 5:15 pm 318-329-2237 info@masurmuseum.org February 23 - 26 Natchez Literary & Cinema Celebration Natchez, Mississippi Times and ticket prices vary.

601-446-1289 nlcc@colin.edu www.colin.edu/nlcc February 24 Queen of Bingo Manship Theatre Baton Rouge, Louisiana 8:00 pm Admission charged 225-389-7241

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February 24 - 26 & March 2 - 3 Francine’s Will Brookhaven Little Theatre Brookhaven, Mississippi Evening performances, 7:30 pm Sunday matinee, 2:00 pm $10 www.haventheatre.org February 25 Feliciana Greens Festival West Feliciana Sports Park St. Francisville, Louisiana 225-933-9585 zdave@deloachmarine.com February 25 Horticultural Seminar Rosedown Plantation St. Francisville, Louisiana 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 225-635-3110 www.lastateparks.com February 25 River City Run for the Kids Junior Auxiliary of Natchez Bowie’s Tavern Natchez, Mississippi Registration, 7:30 am 10K & 5K, 8:30 am, $10 Fun Run, 9:30 am, $5 Brandi Lewis, 601-278-4727 brandibilbolewis@yahoo.com www.active.com February 25 Bravo IV: Exotic, Eclectic, and Electric Thalia Mara Hall Jackson, Mississippi 7:30 pm Admission charged 601-960-1565 www.msorchestra.com February 25 Celebration of Writers and Readers Hemingbough Conference Center St. Francisville, Louisiana 8:30 am - 2:30 pm; $45 Carolyn Thornton: 225-634-0067 carolynothornton@bellsouth.net

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February 25 The 45th Krewe of Ceres “Royal Affair” Charity Ball Lincoln Civic Center Brookhaven, Mississippi 7:00 pm Tickets: 601-757-3544; 601-757-3544 February 25 - 26 Gem, Mineral, Jewelry, & Fossil Show Mississippi Trademart Jackson, Mississippi Saturday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Adults $5, students $3 601-961-4000 www.missgems.org February 28 - March 12 The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe New Stage Theatre Jackson, Mississippi Evening performances, 7:30 pm $35 601-948-3533 www.newstagetheatre.com March 2 - 3 Francine’s Will Brookhaven Little Theatre Brookhaven, Mississippi Evening performances, 7:30 pm Sunday matinee, 2:00 pm $10 www.haventheatre.org *Additional Mardi Gras Parades: www.visitbatonrouge.com www.neworleansonline.com

Be sure to confirm details of the events should changes have occurred since events were submitted.

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THE Social Scene Vicksburg Cotillion Club

F

orty-five young ladies were presented at the annual Vicksburg Cotillion Club Christmas Ball “Southern Belles of Christmas” on December 10, 2011. As part of the gala, members and their guests collected over 100 toys and gift cards to donate to the Warren County Children’s Shelter. The Ryan Kinder Band of Birmingham, Alabama, provided entertainment for the event, held at the Vicksburg City Auditorium.

Haley Heggins, Piper Booth, Ashtin Giambrone, Riley Griffith, and Jean Marie Mabry

Ashtin Giambrone, Heather Hayes, and Riley Griffith

Garrett Grey, McMillan Crevitt, Charlene Figueroa, and Jacob Coomes

Hannah Stuckey, Genna Wall, Morgan Joseph, and Jennie Newcomb

John Byrd, Cameron Cooksey, and Taylor Hollowell

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Morgan Teller and Elliott Bexley

Paige Fowler and Noel Butler

Ann Elizabeth Buys and Steven Busma

Hannah Krapac and Talbot Buy

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Ann Elizabeth Buys and Lindsey Collins

First row—Caitlin Patton, Hallie Hoxie, Brittany Turner, Lauren Nosser, Ashtin Giambrone, Riley Griffith, Jean Maire Mabry, Heather Hayes, Haley Sellers, Morgan Teller, Clara Grace Turner, Noel Butler, Skyler Hearn, Eve Ferracci, Haley Heggins, Helen Fordice, Piper Booth, Ashleigh Piazza, and Baylee Wallace; second row—Paige Fowler, Ashley Porter, McMillan Crevitt, Ellie Welp, Ann Garrison Thomas, Mary Hannah Campbell, Blakele Palmertree, Kristen Miller, Anne Elizabeth Buys, Hannah Stuckey, Paige Bowser, Emily Fuller, Katie Humphries, Katie Locke, Asheley Fitzgerald, Jennie Newcomb, Eden Smith, Lindsey Barfield, Staci English, and Taylor Hanes; third row—Amanda Paris, Julie Mabry; and Charlene Figueroa; fourth row—Claire Mims, Morgan Joseph, and Mary Katherine McCaa Group photo courtesy of Ollie Sumerall Photography of Vicksburg.

Alex Sellers and Blakele Palmertree

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