Bluffs & Bayous October 2017

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 1

Page 2 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 3

First Bank’s USM Debit Card.

Get yours today.*

TM

TM

Where Customers and Community Matter Most

Member FDIC First Bank, ©2015 First Bank, Inc. All rights reserved. * With eligible accounts. Terms and conditions apply.

Hometown Heroes Checking Common sense checking with a little peace of mind.

TM

Where Customers and Community Matter Most

®

wÀÃÌL> ðV

Call us today for details

601-684-2231 Member FDIC First Bank, ©2017 First Bank, Inc. All rights reserved.

Page 4 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

WE SALUTE YOU!

®

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 5

F RO M T H E E D I TO R

O

ctober is such a festive month throughout the South.

With football in full swing, people are geared up for the weekends; but the gridiron shares the spotlight with IDOO·V IHVWLYDOV WKDW FURZG WKLV PRQWK·V FDOHQGDU ZLWK IXQ ÀOOHG family outings to explore.

Down in Woodville, Mississippi, the locals kick off the month with a weekend of competitive cook-offs as they enjoy the outdoors during the annual Deer & Wildlife Festival.

From gator to the whole hog, festival-goers can sample most anything and everything. Here in Natchez, we get to enjoy the Great Mississippi River Balloon Races each October. Starting at the end of the week leading up to the festivities, hot-air balloons will dot the skies during practice runs that have locals scanning the tree tops. In St. Francisville, Louisiana, the town

Page 6 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

WXUQV LWV DWWHQWLRQ WR ÁRUDO LQWHUHVWV GXULQJ WKH DQQXDO 6RXWKHUQ Garden Symposium. With speakers from far and wide, the symposium will provide venues for locals and visitors alike to explore a pastime they love.

All over the area, festivals are a-brewing. Check out our feature on the unique festivals throughout Mississippi, and visit RXU PRQWKO\ ´8S &RPLQJµ WR ÀQG WKH PDQ\ IHVWLYDOV WKLV month along and beyond the Mississippi.

OCTOBER 2017

FEATURES

The Unique Festivals of Mississippi pages 34 - 36

Pointing Upwards: Port Gibson Landmark Restored pages 38 - 41

A Haunted History pages 42 - 44 Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 7

OCTOBER 2017

F AV O R I T E S Events Louisiana Up & Coming ..................................................................................... 47-51 Mississippi Up & Coming ....................................................................................53-64

G’s Fare Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner ....................................................................... 10-12

In the Garden Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner pages 10 - 12

Fall for Ornamental Peppers ...................................................................................28

Legal Notes Parental Poison ........................................................................................................24

Southern Sampler Hurricanes, Hunters, and Halloween .....................................................................66

The Social Scene Halloween at Key Rehab ......................................................................................... 13 Solar Eclipse Viewing Party..................................................................................... 16 Pike County Arts Council Membership Party ........................................................ 17 After Hours and Grand Opening at Regions Bank ........................................... 20-21

Fall for Ornamental Peppers page 28

ON THE COVER Festival life abounds throughout the South during the fall.

Pictured on this month’s cover is Maxwell Pierson, son of Frankie and Drew Pierson of Woodville, Mississippi, enjoying a little catfish grabbing during Woodville’s annual Deer & Wildlife Festival. Photography

by Frankie Pierson and Artistic design by Jan Ratcliff Page 8 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Natchez Food & Wine Festival’s Culinary Artists...............................................22-23 Natchez Food and Wine Festival’s “Tastings Along the Mississippi River” ......30-32 McComb Garden Club End-of-the-Year Luncheon .................................................33

The Wedding Scene Engagement Party for McGraw and Edwards ......................................................... 14

Writer’s Block Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus .................................................................................. 18

PUBLISHER Cheryl Foggo Rinehart MANAGING EDITOR

CONSULTING EDITOR

Jennie Guido

Jean Nosser Biglane GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jan Ratcliff

Anita Schilling

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Tim McCary

Cheryl Rinehart Lisa Adams Whittington SALES STAFF

Jennie Guido

Cheryl Rinehart Donna Sessions CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

Lucien C. “Sam� Gwin III

Becky Junkin

Jennifer J. Whittier Alma Womack

Cheryl Rinehart

Jean Biglane

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

Jennie Guido

Jan Ratcliff

Anita Schilling

Tim McCary

Lisa Adams Whittington

Donna Sessions

Jennifer J. Whittier

Lucien C. “Sam� Gwin III

Becky Junkin

Alma Womack

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 QRW QHFHVVDULO\ UHà HFW WKH YLHZV RI WKH SXEOLVKHU QRU GR WKH\ FRQVWLWXWH DQ HQGRUVHPHQW RI SURGXFWV RU VHUYLFHV KHUHLQ :H UHVHUYH WKH ULJKW WR UHIXVH DQ\ DGYHUWLVHment. Bluffs & Bayous strives to insure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.

OFFICE 423 Main Street, Suite 7 | Natchez, MS 39120 | 601-442-6847 bluf fsmag@gmail.com | bluf fs.editor@gmail.com bbupandcoming@gmail.com www.bluf fsbayous.com

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 9

G’S FARE

BY PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jennie

Becky Junkin

Guido AND Becky Junkin

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Page 10 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

W

hen I was growing up, my favorite entree usually was chicken; and at a restaurant, I usually chose chicken over steak. Unfortunately, for my children, as they were growing up, I only cooked what I liked—chicken. I didn’t realize that other than ground beef or venison I never cooked anything else.

When my son, David, was old enough to grasp this, he told me one day that he knew how I could make a lot of money—write

a cookbook entitled 1,000 Ways to Cook Chicken. That is when I recognized that I might be overdoing the chicken.

When, as a young wife, I branched out from my tuna casserole, I learned how to make Chicken with Sour Cream; and several years later, I learned how to make Chicken and Green Noodle Casserole.

These two recipes were my go-to recipes for company and for nightly meals. I don’t think my husband ever wants to eat these

dishes again since I so frequently alternated cooking them, but both are very good UHFLSHV DQG HDV\ WR À[ 7R WKLV GD\ P\ SRRU husband is not a big fan of chicken because between my serving raw fried chicken as a bride and cooking only chicken for most of our married life, I’ve driven him away from liking it. I hope quite a few of you out there are chicken lovers because this whole article is on chicken, chicken, chicken!

This recipe for Green Noodles and Chicken Casserole is the best version I have found. It came from a cookbook of my mother’s friend from Port Gibson. The changes that she made make a ZRUOG RI GLIIHUHQFH LQ WKH ÀQDO SURGXFW

GREEN NOODLES AND CHICKEN CASSEROLE 4 pounds chicken (cooked, deboned, and cut into small pieces) 1 package green noodles 4 cups chicken stock 1 large onion, chopped 2 ribs celery, chopped 1/2 bell pepper, chopped 1 stick butter 1/2 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 small can mushrooms, sliced (I use fresh.)

V\UJL QHY Z[\ɈLK NYLLU VSP]LZ ZSPJLK 1 tablespoon parsley Boil noodles in 2 cups of chicken stock until tender. Let noodles stand in Z[VJR MVY TPU\[LZ [V HIZVYI [OL ÅH]VYZ :H\[t VUPVU JLSLY` HUK NYLLU WLWper in butter until soft. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add soup, mushrooms, HUK VSP]LZ 4P_ [VNL[OLY KYHPULK UVVKSLZ ]LNL[HISLZ JOPJRLU HUK ZV\W TP_[\YL Bake in a 3-quart casserole for about 1 hour at 350 degrees.

This recipe came from an old cookbook that I thought my husband had WKURZQ DZD\ $IWHU VHDUFKLQJ IRUHYHU , ÀQDOO\ ORFDWHG WKLV FRRNERRN Better Homes and Gardens Favorite Ways With Chicken, so I could cite the source of this recipe. We have served it over pasta with French bread and either a salad or baked potato on the side. I could never cook rice, but it would work over rice also. When I used to make this casserole, money was an object; so I could not afford the dried beef and, therefore, substituted the thin, thin, thin sliced sandwich meat. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

CHICKEN EUGENE 8 skinless boneless chicken breasts 1 8-ounce jar dried beef 8 slices bacon 8 ounces sour cream 1 10.75-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup 7YLOLH[ V]LU [V KLNYLLZ :WYH` H I` PUJO WHU ^P[O UVU Z[PJR ZWYH` HUK SPUL KPZO ^P[O [OL KYPLK ILLM >YHW [OL JOPJRLU IYLHZ[Z ^P[O [OL IHJVU Z[YPWZ HUK WSHJL [OL ^YHWWLK JOPJRLU IYLHZ[Z VU [VW VM [OL ILLM )HRL MVY TPU\[LZ HUK YLTV]L MYVT [OL V]LU 4P_ [VNL[OLY [OL ZV\Y JYLHT HUK JYLHT VM T\ZOYVVT ZV\W HUK WV\Y L]LUS` V]LY [OL JOPJRLU )HRL \UJV]LYLK PU [OL V]LU MVY TVYL TPU\[LZ

Crescent rolls can make anything taste good; and not only does this casserole taste good but it also is a quick, easy meal for a busy day. The recipe came from a friend of mine years ago.

CHICKEN SUPREME 2 large chicken breasts :V\Y JYLHT H SP[[SL SLZZ [OHU [OL V\UJL JVU[HPULY 1 can cream of mushroom soup :HS[ HUK WLWWLY 1 can crescent rolls *VVR [OL JOPJRLU HUK YLTV]L MYVT [OL IVUL (KK sour cream, half of the can of soup, chicken, salt, and pepper. Unroll the Crescent rolls and put about one taISLZWVVU TVYL VY SLZZ VM [OL TP_[\YL VU [OL ^PKL LUK of the roll. Roll up and place in glass casserole dish.

(KK ^H[LY [V [OL YLTHPUPUN ZV\W [V ÄSS [OL JHU :[PY [OL ^H[LY HUK ZV\W TP_[\YL [VNL[OLY HUK WV\Y V]LY JYLZJLU[ YVSSZ )HRL PU H KLNYLL V]LU \U[PS IYV^ULK (KK ]LNL[HISLZ VY H ZHSHK HUK `V\ OH]L H TLHS

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 11

This is another recipe from a friend. I used blueberry jalapeño preserves that my friend Rita Tebbetts made to give it a little kick.

BERRY CHICKEN 1/2 cup red onion, chopped 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme :HS[ VY UV ZHS[ ZLHZVUPUN [V [HZ[L 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast J\W 5V :\NHY )SHJRILYY` VY 9HZWILYY` 7YLZLY]LZ [HISLZWVVUZ )HSZHTPJ ]PULNHY 1/4 teaspoon black pepper :H\[t VUPVUZ PU VPS MVY TPU\[LZ :WYPURSL [OL [O`TL HUK ZHS[ VU [OL JOPJRLU *VVR JOPJRLU PU ZRPSSL[ TPU\[LZ VU LHJO ZPKL HUK YLTV]L MYVT ZRPSSL[ *VVR WYLZLY]LZ ]PULNHY HUK WLWWLY \U[PS TLS[LK" HUK WV\Y VU [VW VM [OL JOPJRLU :LY]L HUK LUQV`

This recipe is from Christopher Willis, my daughter-in-law’s brother. He worked as a chef in several restaurants, created several recipes, and wrote his own cookbook. With this recipe’s combination of lemon and thyme, you can’t go wrong.

LEMON-THYME ROASTED CHICKEN 1 teaspoon coarse salt 1 lemon, cut in half 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper 1/2 medium onion 1 cup chicken broth 1 5-pound roasting chicken J\W KY` ^OP[L ^PUL 1/4 cup butter, softened [HISLZWVVUZ HSS W\YWVZL ÅV\Y JSV]LZ NHYSPJ TPUJLK Garnishes: fresh thyme and roasted garlic 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped 7SHJL SLTVU OHSM HUK VUPVU PU[V [OL JH]P[` VM [OL JOPJRLU :[PY [VNL[OLY [OL I\[[LY NHYSPJ HUK [O`TL :[HY[PUN H[ [OL ULJR JH]P[` SVVZLU ZRPU MYVT IYLHZ[ HUK KY\TZ[PJR I` PUZLY[PUN ÄUNLYZ" HUK NLU[S` W\[ [OL I\[[LY IL[^LLU ZRPU HUK TLH[ )L JHYLM\S UV[ [V [V[HSS` KL[HJO ZRPU 9\I OHSM VM I\[[LY TP_[\YL L]LUS` \UKLY [OL ZRPU ;PL LUK VM SLNZ [VNL[OLY ^P[O H Z[YPUN" Z[PJR ^PUN [PWZ \UKLY 9\I YLTHPUPUN I\[[LY TP_[\YL V]LY [OL [VW VM [OL JOPJRLU 7SHJL JOPJRLU IYLHZ[ ZPKL \W VU H SPNO[S` NYLHZLK YHJR WSHJLK PU H SPNO[S` NYLHZLK ZOHSSV^ YVHZ[PUN WHU :WYPURSL ^P[O [OL ZHS[ HUK WLWWLY )HRL H[ KLNYLLZ MVY TPU\[LZ 9LK\JL [OL OLH[ [V 400 degrees and bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the [OPNO YLNPZ[LYZ KLNYLLZ IHZ[PUN VJJHZPVUHSS` ^P[O [OL KYPWWPUNZ HUK [\YUPUN WHU MVY L]LU IYV^UPUN *V]LY SVVZLS` ^P[O HS\TPU\T MVPS [V WYL]LU[ L_JLZZP]L IYV^UPUN 9LTV]L MYVT WHU YLZLY]PUN KYPWWPUNZ PU [OL WHU *V]LY JOPJRLU ^P[O MVPS HUK SL[ ZP[ MVY TPU\[LZ ILMVYL ZSPJPUN (KK IYV[O [V YLZLY]LK KYPWWPUNZ PU WHU Z[PYYPUN [V SVVZLU IYV^ULK IP[Z MYVT IV[[VT >OPZR [VNL[OLY WHU KYPWWPUNZ ^PUL HUK ÅV\Y PU H ZTHSS ZH\JLWHU *VVR Z[PYYPUN VM[LU V]LY TLKP\T OLH[ MVY TPU\[LZ VY \U[PS [OPJRLULK :LY]L ^P[O JOPJRLU Becky Junkin, mother of four and grandmother of eight, is a lifelong Natchez resident, a retired elementary WHDFKHU RI WZHQW\ IRXU \HDUV DQG FHUWLÀHG 3LODWHV LQVWUXFWRU

Page 12 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Halloween at Key Rehab ast year during the month of October, Key Rehab Associates, Inc., in Natchez, Mississippi, was transformed into a Pirate Fantasy World. Upon entering the lobby, visitors were transported onto the deck of a pirate ship complete with skeletons and a pirate captain. The hallway was lined with cannons, treasure, and views of the sea. In the main treatment room, clients could dress up with pirate vests, hats, and bandanas and use photo props in the S.S. Key Rehab Photo Booth. The staff dressed up as pirates the week leading up to and again on Halloween.

The week was filled with crafts, food, good times, and even a few exercises here and there; and no one had to walk the plank!

L

1

5

8

2

2

6

7

9

10

14

12

13

15

16

17

4

11 1 Emma McCallister 2 Ellis Malone and Maria Smilo 3 Nathan Gaude 4 Jeramy Hill 5 Ben Poole 6 Heather Coco 7 Danielle Russell and Drew David 8 Carter Scott 9 Ziyan McClain 10 Nic Stogner and Cheryl Sanford-Givens 11 John “Sparky” Evans 12 Cathy Roboski with Tyler and Tiann Brister 13 Rachel Staggs, Janet Gay, and Raegan Freeman 14 Levi Webb and Gabe Bass 15 Adryon “Bug” Malone and Konner Oliver 16 Jared Wooten, Janet Gay, and Gracie Wooten 17 Margie Ayscue, Whitney Arthur, and Leigh Hancock 18 Jamie Estes and Cheryl Sanford-Givens

18

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 13

THE weddingSCENE FERRIDAY, LA

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Engagement Party for McGraw and Edwards n Saturday, July 8, 2017, Ashley McGraw and Preston Edwards were honored with an engagement celebration on Lake Concordia at the home of Christi and Claude Rabb in Ferriday, Louisiana. The couple’s families and friends enjoyed a delicious spread of hors d’oeuvres and desserts while listening to the acoustic sounds of Gabriel Bass. The couple will be married in Natchez, Mississippi, at St. Mary Basilica in November.

O

1 Preston Edwards and Ashley McGraw 2 Murphy and Caroline Hinson; Ashley McGraw; and Preston, Paula, and Duke Edwards 3 Courtney Geoghegan and Braxton Fondren 4 Kole and Hannah Junkin 5 Taylor Brantley and Brooke Morace 6 Brooke Morace and Ashley McGraw 7 Virginia Whetstone, Courtney Geoghegan, Caroline Hinson, Ashley McGraw, Carrie Carter, Emily Lewis, Frances Daniel, Elizabeth Ryan, and Hannah Junkin 8 Leah and Brandon Kirkland; Ashley McGraw and Preston Edwards; and Pam, William, and Tanner McGraw 9 Courtney Geoghegan, Hannah Junkin, and Brooke Morace

1

2

3

4

6

8

Page 14 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

5

7

9

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 15

THE social SCENE BROOKHAVEN, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party he Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce hosted a Solar Eclipse viewing party on August 21, 2017, at Railroad Park in Downtown Brookhaven, Mississippi. Members of the community were asked to bring their lunches while the Chamber provided eclipse goodies such as Sunkist, sweet tea, water, Eclipse gum, Star Crunches, Moon Pies, and Cosmic Brownies.

T

1 Celeste Carty, Rockie Netherland, and Sharon Allen 2 Eva Lou, James, Betsy, and Violet Belk 3 Marie Johnson, Shirley Martin, Debbie Smith, Joyce Bedsole, Jackie Abrams, and Karen Behan 4 Amy Ferguson, Cathy Ditcharo, Natalie Ybarra, and Pat Williams

1

2

3

Page 16 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

4

THE social SCENE MCCOMB, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Pike County Arts Council Membership Party n August 21, 2017, the Pike County Arts Council hosted its annual membership party at The Caboose in downtown McComb, Mississippi.

Members and potential members gathered to register for the year, learn about the upcoming year’s events, and bid on silent auction items. PCAC will host its annual Noon Tunes at the Bo Diddley Pavilion in downtown McComb throughout October and has planned several events in November at the State Theater.

1

2

O

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

12

Gidge Clayton and Kathy Holmes Becky Izard and Mary Emma Lansing JG and Angela Johnson Lee and Phil Dell’Isola Karen and Christopher Hart Randy Burris, Zita Gray, and Dianne Burris Dollie and Nick Rebold Suzanne Bowman and Sharon Smith Karinlee Brister, Justin McDonald, and Kelly Parker Sylvia Goldberg, Nancy Felder, and Patty Randall Carolyn Ford Quin, Lori Felix, Marilyn MacKay, and Ginger Ford Thomas Kathy and Guy Snyder with Amos and Colleen Parker Paul and Barbara Walker with Noggin and Beth Wild

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

13

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 17

WRITER’S BLOCK

BY

Jennie Guido

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTEST OF Jennie

Guido

Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus I

love when fall arrives. I don’t know if it’s the crisp air, the turning of the leaves, or the upcoming real holiday I enjoy (eh-hem . . . Christmas); but there is something about the onset of October that puts a spring in my step.

Now, I’ll be honest. I’m not a fan of scary movies—at all. Don’t get me wrong; I’ll put myself through it and watch the occasional horror picture show, but it takes me weeks to recover. When I was little, I was obsessed with E.T. I watched it non-stop, and I think I even had an E.T. poster in my room. This may also be why I had my mother sleep in the room with me for far too long as a child. That thing was scary come to think of it.

I did love watching traditional Disney versions of Halloween “scary� movies. Of course, House Pocus and Double, Double, Toil and Trouble were amongst my favorites. There was even a children’s show on PBS called Mrs. Cabobble’s Caboose that had a Halloween episode in which the children went to a pumpkin patch and sang a cute little diddy. (Let’s go down to the pumpkin patch where goblins can be seen. Let’s go down to the pumpkin patch. It’s nearly Halloween.)

Don’t worry, I knew that particular song from memory; however, I did check with YouTube for a refresher course on the show. You can even purchase the series on DVD if you think your kiddos would be interested.

I can remember one week in college, while living on the Tri Delta sorority hall, when I was talked into watching all of the Saw movies that were out at that point, which was at least four if I remember correctly. I’m talking a binge watching of them before bingeing was a thing. In the chapter room, we curled up on the plush, GHHS VRIDV ZLWK WKH ROG ODPSV ÀLFNHULQJ DQG RGG VRXQGV FRPLQJ IURP XSVWDLUV DQG ZDWFK KRUUL¿F PRYLH DIWHU KRUUL¿F PRYLH , ZDV UDWKHU MXPS\ IRU DW OHDVW WKH QH[W month and very thankful I had a private room so I could sleep with the lights on.

Now, Halloween today is very different from Halloween when I was growing up.

My mom made all of our costumes, and my sister and I usually matched or had a similar theme. One year, we were Miss Americas because we were fascinated by the pageants that summer and loved the idea of wearing crowns. In other years, I think ZH ERWK ZRUH DQ ROG NLWW\ FDW RXW¿W DQG ,QGLDQ FRVWXPH RI P\ PRPœV IURP EDFN LQ the day. My favorite year’s costumes by far were those the year we were mermaids like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Each costume had a shimmery tail attached to a ÀHVK FRORUHG ERGLFH ZKLFK ZDV WRSSHG ZLWK D VKHOO ELNLQL WRS 0RP HYHQ PDGH XV XS ZLWK EOXVK DQG OLSVWLFN WR IHHO MXVW OLNH D 'LVQH\ SULQFHVV :KHQ , UHÀHFW RQ WKRVH \HDUV RI LQWULFDWH PDGH ZLWK ORYH +DOORZHHQ FRVWXPHV and recall the fun we had sporting them door to door on All Hallows’ Eve, and then compare them with what I see come ask for candy these days, I’m a bit disKHDUWHQHG VLPSOH VSDQGH[ RXW¿WV KDYH GLVSODFHG GR]HQV DQG GR]HQV RI WKH FOHYerly concocted costumes that moms and dads once fashioned out of makeshift household items and lots of imagination. +RZHYHU WKLV WLPH RI \HDU GRHV QRW GLVDSSRLQW )DOO RI¿FLDOO\ DUULYHV WKLV month, the humidity is dissipating, and Halloween still entices with hints of hocus pocus.

The Managing Editor of Bluffs & Bayous, Jennie Guido lives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi. Whether a family tradition during the holidays or another adventure with her two Beagles, Guido enjoys sharing with readers a sampling of her life experiences.

Page 18 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

BROOKHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI Bluffs Bluffs & & Bayous Bayous { { October October 2017 2017 { { Page Page 19 19

THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

After Hours and Grand Opening of Regions Bank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

he new downtown branch of Regions Bank in Natchez, Mississippi, held its grand opening during a Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce After-Hours event on August 15, 2017. Photography

by Lisa Whittington

T

1 Danny Hankins and Debbie Ward 2 Curtis Moroney and Maria Smilo 3 Betsy Hungerford Iles and Scott Slover 4 Olivia Miley and Tommy Ferrell 5 Ernie Smith and Lamont Rowe 6 Mitzi and Al Conn 7 John Scales and Jennifer Ogle 8 Drew David and Bubba McCabe 9 Josh Coyne and Owen King 10 Donna Smith, Michelle Holmes, and Davida Ealey 11 Mitchell Chappell, Dwayne Traylor, and John Boydsun 12 Patricia Lozon, Debbie Hudson, and Kari Blaney 13 David Cothren, Heather Malone, and Kippy Blaney 14 Peter Burns and JR Wiley 15 Torrey Groce, Russell Goodman, and Charles Chandler 16 Will Easterling with Amy and Greg Garraway

14

10

11

12

13

15

16

Page 20 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

THE social SCENE

NATCHEZ, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

17

18

19

20

21

17 Tom Taylor, Kathleen Bond, and Sandy Taylor 18 Charles Kennedy, Andrew Calvitt, and Scott Christian 19 Peter Burns with Hillary and Matt Pearson 20 Kay Bourdin, Janee Guice, and Jennifer Ogle 21 Greg and Amy Garraway, Charlie and Hagan Speed, and Jackson Moody 22 Scott Christian and Sue Stedman 23 Jennifer Haile, Brandon Garrity, Katie McCabe, and Andrew Haile 24 Torrey Groce, Chelsea Stewart, Russell Goodman, Haley White, and Charles Chandler 25 Mitchell Chappell, Shannon Gay, Tate Hobdy, and Sterling Gay 26 Dave Shelman, Lee Gill, Paul Harris, Greg Garraway, Charlie Speed, Josh Coyne, Will Easterling, and Mitchell Chappell 27 Lamont Rowe, Peyton Cavin, Margaret Rowe, and Paul Burns

22

23

24

25

26

27

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 21

THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Natchez Food & Wine Festival’s Culinary Artists he 2017 Natchez Food and Wine Festival Friday night opener, “Tastings Along the Mississippi River,” was an exciting place to be.

The packed Natchez Convention Center was home that July 28, 2017, evening to dozens of chefs, brewers, and wine brokers serving all types of delicacies, brews, and libations to a crowd of eager participants. The event was coordinated by Rene Adams, Lyn Fortenbery, and crew of faithful volunteers. Photography by Lisa Whittington

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

T

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 19

20 21

St. James Cheese: Brad Daschbach The Pilot House: Brad Seyfarth Besh’s Carribean Room: Chris Lusk Fine and Dandy: Jesse Houston Nathan Sandford The Castle: Jarred Martin Kermit’s Outlaw’s Neon Pig: Mitch McCamey Stage: Tom Ramsey Stokes: Chris Lishman Lazy Magnolia: Alvin Felder Brandon Blacklidge Sysco: David Ferris US Foods: David Crain and John Coker Crazy Cat: Steve White and John Lansdale TT’s Banana Pudding: Tonia Hill and Emily Sanders Babs Price and Rachel Price Lott Beauty Shop: Karen Carrier and Shay Widmer Stokes: Ben Green and Christine Boehmer E&J Gallo: John Cole and Kevin Ackermann, Lou Ellen Stout, Travis Swaggart, Grey Young, John Garner, and Jason Freeze Cellar Salt Company: Jeremy Conner and Alexis Young Bowie’s Tavern: Sheila Washington and Brittany Jackson

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Page 22 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

20

21

THE social SCENE

NATCHEZ, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

22

23

24

25

26

22 MS Gulf Seafood: Melissa Scallan, Francesca Linthicum, and Charmaine Schmermund 23 Walker’s Drive Inn: Robert Rushton, Michael Greenhill, and JD King 24 Planet Thailand: David Buttross, Ann Kharasin, and Ananya Frith 25 CAET: Meredith Pittman, Joseph Smith, and Alissa Pittman 26 Steve Tonore & Associates: Hunter Rogillio, and Mikki and Steve Tonore with Ginnie Scarborough 27 Mitch and Christy Bratton with Tonya and Wes Burns 28 Natchez Specialties: Jemeka Davis, Keldrick Washington, Jermaine Smith, Michael Gore, and Antoinette Lewis 29 Slowboat Brewing, Natchez Brewing Company, and Tin Roof Brewing: Kenny Paul and Carrie Mann, Lisa and Pat Miller, and Charles Caldwell

27

28

29

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 23

LEGAL NOTES

BY

Lucien C. Gwin III

Parental Poison ZHUH ÀOOHG ZLWK YLWULROLF LQYHFWLRQV H[SUHVVLQJ GHHS VHHGed anger, resentment and ill will not only toward their father, but also to his parents and sister.�

B

eing an attorney in a small town sentences one to dealing with “anything and everything� that walks through the door.

That being said, I admit that one of the hardest areas of law is divorce work, especially when it involves children. Attorneys very often see parents using their children as pawns or leverage. On several occasions, I have seen Chancellor’s instruct (or admonish) parents that they “shall not� disparage the other parent in front of the children. Attorneys call it “poisoning� the children.

This brings me to a very disturbing case that just came down from the Mississippi Supreme Court. I am going to change the name of the case to Smith v Smith, since Mississippi is such a small place; and it would be my luck that someone would read this article and know the parties involved.

In Smith v Smith, the married parties sought and were granted a divorce. The Wife was given custody of the parties’ children, one of whom was a teenager and the other, a pre-teen. A few years after WKH GLYRUFH WKH +XVEDQG ÀOHG IRU D PRGLÀFDWLRQ RI FXVWRG\ $W WKH time of the hearing, the older was sixteen; and the younger, thirteen.

Upon the parties’ divorce, the father, of course, was ordered to pay child support and received the standard visitation with his children.

According to the text of the ruling, from the day the ink was dry RQ WKH GLYRUFH SDSHUV XS XQWLO WKH IDWKHU ÀOHG D PRWLRQ IRU PRGLÀcation of custody, the children would have nothing to do with him.

The children refused visitation and made the father purposefully miserable when forced to go to visitation. The evidence showed that they “hated� him.

This case made it to the Mississippi Supreme Court where the &RXUW IRXQG WKH IROORZLQJ VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ “Based on the children’s unwavering testimony, including responses to questions by the Chancellor and explicit exhibits, the Chancellor found that the children no longer loved their father and wished to terminate any relationship with him. Further, each child acknowledged sending hateful texts, which expressed a desire to either kill their father, or to see him dead‌text messages and e-mails

Page 24 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Now, one has to ask, how did these children come to IHHO VR VWURQJO\ DERXW WKHLU IDWKHU" 7KH &RXUW VSHFLÀFDOly found that the children’s actions were, in large part, brought on by their mother’s encouragement of negativity toward her ex-husband.

Thereafter, the Mississippi Supreme Court agreed with the Chancellor in terminating the father’s child-support obligation and the requirement of his providing medical insurance as well as in terminating his payment of medical expenses not covered by insurance.

WOW! Let THAT sink in for a minute!

I do not know of any other case out there in which a thirteen-year-old child’s behavior determined if a said child was or was not going to continue to be supported by a parent.

I have mixed emotions about this decision. I have seen children and teenagers act out in some of the most aggressive ways toward family members. Sadly, I personally know of situations in which after a divorce some parents and children never speak to each other again. Children, especially those under sixteen, can be traumatized by divorce.

So, is cutting off support of a child whose brain cells are still not fully connected in the best interest of the child? You be the judge.

In the Smith case, the Chancellor left the door open for reconciliation between the father and his children; and, thus, he could potentially have to resume child support payments. I believe had I been the judge, I would have ordered mandatory counseling for the children and, most importantly, counseling for the mother and make the her pay for the costs since breakdown in the relationship was attributed to her After all in the Smith case, the Chancellor is really punishing the mother.

I also think that requiring the children to live with their father, (which is what he asked for), could have made a huge difference in their attitudes and behavior toward their father. The one thing I hear and believe is that the biggest reason for delinquency in American youth today in the absence of a father in the home, which should not be overlooked or ignored.

MY THOUGHTS You can’t force one human to love another, but society cannot just toss a child (even troubled children) aside. It is my opinion that the Court should have done more in the Smith v Smith case. Parentpoisoning of children has disastrous results for children and the parent who is on the receiving end, and this must stop! Further, to disparage parents to their own children, or in front of their children, will cause nothing but suffering for the children.

Lucien C. “Sam� Gwin III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1981 and has been practicing many aspects of the law at the firm of Gwin, Lewis, Punches & Kelley in Natchez, Mississippi, ever since.

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 25

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 26 { {October October2017 2017{{ Bluffs Bluffs & Bayous & 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 Bluffs & Bayous & Bayous {{October October2017 2017{ { Page 27

IN THE GARDEN

BY

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

Fall for Ornamental Peppers

L

^ If you’re worried about young children eating the colorful pods, try growing Chilly Chili, a colorful pod producer without the heat.

^ The fruit of the ornamental pepper Black Hawk is held high above the foliage for our viewing enjoyment.

^ Purple Flash is one of the showiest ornamental peppers on the market.

Page 28 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

ate summer and early fall are among my favorite times of the year because the ornamental peppers are starting to really color up.

More and more fellow gardeners are jumping on the bandwagon and planting these beauties in their landscapes. These plants are hot -- in landscape character and accent -- and they carry the garden through the fall season and maybe beyond.

Most ornamental peppers begin setting fruit as the temperatures rise, so the best show is always saved for late summer and continues through the fall as they keep producing. This means you need to set these plants out in the late spring. , ÀQG WKHUH LV VRPHWLPHV FRQIXVLRQ ZKHQ WKH ZRUG ´RUQDPHQWDO¾ LV XVHG to describe a garden plant. Many folks automatically assume the fruit of an ornamental plant is not to be eaten, which is generally true. Ornamental peppers have been selectively bred for color, but they also could be used to spice up a dish. In fact, most are very, very hot.

If you’re worried about young children possibly eating the colorful SRGV EXW VWLOO ZDQW WR JURZ WKHVH ÀQH JDUGHQ SODQWV , KDYH WKH VHOHFWLRQ for you. Chilly Chili is a colorful pod producer but without the heat. It is about as hot as a bell pepper.

Gardeners across the United States are going crazy for ornamental peppers, and plant breeders and growers are responding to the increased interest. Every year, there are new introductions available in a dizzying array of options for the home garden and landscape. From big to small, with multicolored fruit, and with green, purple and variegated foliage, this is a fun and unique way to add interest to your garden.

Check out the black, purple, and red pods of Black Hawk. The plants themselves seem to be proud of their fruit, as many pods are held high above the foliage for our viewing enjoyment.

An example of the versatility and value of ornamental peppers is Purple Flash, which was chosen as a Mississippi Medallion winner for 2010.

With its purple and white variegated leaves, it is one of the showiest peppers available on the market.

Ornamental peppers love our hot and humid summers, and this helps the plants produce loads of pretty fruit. When the pepper plants are producing, it is very common to have peppers in various stages of coloration.

This fantastic feature provides for an ever-changing look in the landscape.

Once fruit has set, it is common for it to remain on the plant for a few months, maintaining the beautiful colors. Only when the peppers begin to dry will their color start to fade. Ornamental peppers prefer growing in consistently moist soil, but don’t be overly generous, as the plants do not tolerate waterlogged soil. I like growing these landscape standouts in containers or raised beds.

Fertilize with a good, slow-release fertilizer early in the season. Some gardeners stop fertilizing once fruit starts to set, but I like to feed mine with a water-soluble fertilizer through the summer and fall to maintain nutrition at optimum levels.

I realize I’ve told you about a plant that it is too late to grow this year.

If you are interested in some of these varieties for next year, start preparing now. The seeds are available at many online seed houses.

Columnist Dr. Gary R. Bachman is an assistant extension professor of horticulture at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 29

THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Natchez Food and Wine Festival’s “Tastings Along the Mississippi River” ocal and out-of-town guests gathered to enjoy the delicious tastings from chefs, caterers, and restaurants who participated in the annual Natchez Food & Wine Festival held July 28 through 30, 2017, at select venues throughout Natchez, Mississippi.

One of the many weekend events during this festival took place Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Natchez Convention Center in downtown Natchez. Ticket holders enjoyed all types of cuisine and spirits to tempt the palate.

Photography by Lisa Whittington

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

L

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Kristin Jordan and Stacey Heflin Joel and Jennifer Lessley Lucien and Britni Gwin John Wilkinson and Libby Faircloth Cathy and Tommy Ellett Bingo Starr and Brandon McCranie Kevin Preston and Greg Iles Rod and Cheryl Givens Sabrina and Tab Dore Rene and Pete Cantu David Kimbro and Walt Grayson Rene Adams and Lyn Fortenbery Richard and Judy Mize with Jake Middleton Chuck Beardon with Karen and Carol Schibler 15 Sarah Calhoun with Wells and Lacey Middleton 16 Melvin Davis, Tracy Bertrand, and Peter Sherman 17 Luke Cockerham, Caitlin Goodman, and Haley Whittington

15

13

14

16

17

Page 30 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

THE social SCENE

NATCHEZ, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

18 Jessica Franklin, Rhonda Havard, and Vanessa Houck 19 Sallie Stout with Key and Erica Smith 20 John Grady Burns, Nancy Cesario, and Marla Toman 21 Amy and James Brown with Andy Guida 22 Tom Bailey, Amy Depta, and Lenee Rogers 23 TJ Baggett and Laurie Belshan with Carol Ann Riley 24 Adrienne Murray, Susan Hudson, and Christy Williams 25 David Kimbro, Deana Bowser, Brenda Evans, and Steven Farmer 26 Sarah Beth Willard, Lauren Burns, Kelin Hendrick, and Bill Given 27 Ray Scott and Sonia Miller with Caurie and Chris Norris 28 Chris Hayes and Lisa Luckett with Carol and Steve Vondrell 29 Lee and Debra Martin with Mike and Sandra Ellard 30 Sara Dallalio, Buddy Whittington, Emilee Roberts, and Keith Dallalio

25

26

27

28

29

30

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 31

THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

31 Charlie Speed, Katie Mercer, Jennifer Eilser, Shawn Mercer, and Johnny Eisler 32 Lee Ownbey, Laurie Pere, and Jim and Sara Smith with Chuck Caldwell 33 Jan Campbell, Kim Centanni, Courtney Devall, and Lea Centanni 34 Kristy Atkins, Ardell Hinton, Patty Burrow, and Margaret Perkins 35 Lee Carby, Laura McLemore, Katie Tillman, and Jenny Robinson 36 Sarah Lindsey and Chase Laukhuff with Patrick Rogers and Bob Rogers 37 Bubba and Katie McCabe 38 Abby and Tate Hobdy

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

Page 32 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

38

THE social SCENE MCCOMB, MS

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

McComb Garden Club End-of-the-Year Luncheon beautiful luncheon to celebrate the end of a successful year for the McComb Garden Club was held at Fernwood Country Club in McComb, Mississippi, on May 25, 2017. Outgoing Club President Sara Hemphill passed on the gavel to newly installed President Carla Stringer.

Also, several other club members and community members received awards.

1

2

3

A

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9

10 11

12

Hillary Freeman and Tina Brumfield Melisa DeCoux and Karinlee Brister Gay Austin and Sara Hemphill Carla Stringer and Sara Hemphill Jordan Porter, Niki Gibson, Karinlee Brister, Kristin Ratliff, and Brittany Raybon Donna Smith Kylie Gazzo Allison Ott, Kylie Gazzo, and Sara Hemphill Back—Marla Hinckley, Tina Brumfield, Karinlee Brister, and Cori Honea; Middle—Debbie Howell, Melanie Bishop, Tammy Wells, Sara Hemphill, and Joy Hall; Front— Ashley Gray, Kendra Price, Carla Stringer, and Meredith Talbot Kate, Leah, and Cori Honea with Addison and Kim Root Melisa DeCoux, Johna Adams, Jennifer McNeil, and Hillary Freeman Cindy Henderson, Carla Stringer, and Sara Hemphill

4

6

5

7

8

9

10

11

12

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 33

Page 34 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Homochitto River Festival: Meadville, MS Downtown Meadville, Mississippi, is the place to be on Saturday, October 28, 2017. The Homochitto River Festival is going to be bigger than ever this year and is introducing the “Wild Game Cook-Off� to the lineup of festivities.

Located in the rolling hills of the thick pine forests of Southwest Mississippi, residents of Franklin County have long touted outdoor recreation as a central and vital aspect of life. With that in mind, this addition to the festival’s lineup provides an opportunity for outdoor sportsmen of any age to showcase their cultivation of wild game and culinary talents.

For more information, visit https://goo.gl/kpS8x5.

Great Mississippi River Balloon Race: Natchez, MS Held each year during the third weekend of October, the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race has been bringing together balloonists and enthusiasts for going on thirty-two years. With races beginning on Friday morning and running throughout the weekend, spectators and locals race around town to chase the balloons and to see the action. %HWZHHQ Ă LJKWV D IXOO Ă HGJHG IHVtival takes place high on the Natchez, Mississippi, bluffs in the Bicentennial Gardens located on the grounds of antebellum Rosalie. With musical talents from all over, food and beverages galore, and games for the kids, this particular weekend in Natchez is one not to be missed.

For more information, visit natchezballoonrace.com.

Natchez Literary & Cinema Celebration: Natchez, MS Since 1990, the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration has cast the spotlight on the best of the state’s literary and cinema talents. Hosted by the Natchez campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College each February, the weekend’s events of speakers, banquets, book-signings, tours, and IHDWXUH ÀOPV FHOHEUDWH DQ LQWULJXLQJ WKHPH WKDW GUDZV ERWK WKH QRYLFH DQG WKH OLWHUDWL IURP DURXQG WKH FRXQWU\ Last year’s theme explored the complexities of Mississippi’s literary journey.

With speakers from states near and far coming to discuss their works that celebrate Mississippi and 0LVVLVVLSSL ZULWHUV JXHVWV RI WKLV IHVWLYH FHOHEUDWLRQ HQMR\ ÀUVW KDQG H[SRVXUH WR WKH KDUG ZRUN DQG FUHDWLYLW\ WKDW IDFWRU LQWR ÀOP DQG OLWHUDWXUH /RFDO VFKRROV JURXSV DUH HQFRXUDJHG WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKH YDULRXV YHQXHV that provide insight into the professional side of the literary experience.

For more information, visit colin.edu.

Riverfest: Vicksburg, MS

'RZQWRZQ &UDZĂ€VK -DP +DWWLHVEXUJ 06

Each April for the past thirty years, Vicksburg, Mississippi, has hosted its annual Riverfest for visitors and locals alike. Along with an arts-and-crafts show, farmers market, and sidewalk sale throughout the day on Saturday, the downtown area of Vicksburg lights up with activity.

With an array of musicians and talented artists visiting the river city, festival-goers can enjoy a little bit of everything from Gospel to Blues and more.

For more information, visit riverfestms.com.

Put on each year by the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood $VVRFLDWLRQ WKH 'RZQWRZQ &UDZĂ€VK -DP LV KHOG LQ GRZQWRZQ Hattiesburg each April. The event raises funds to help maintain Walthall Park, the community center, and other projects in the downtown area. +DWWLHVEXUJ LQYLWHV \RX WR NLFN RII WKH FUDZĂ€VK VHDVRQ ZLWK D GD\ RI PXVLF WKH 9RR'RR . DQG RI FRXUVH FUDZĂ€VK D SOHQW\ :LWK local vendors setting up food and beverages, the family can stay all day to enjoy the downtown area during the spring.

For more information, visit dcj-hburg.blogspot.com.

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 35

Red Beans & Rice Festival: Ridgeland, MS

Woodville Deer & Wildlife Festival: Woodville, MS Celebrating the culture and cuisine found in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, the annual Woodville Deer & Wildlife Festival touts fun for the entire family. On the second Saturday of each October, locals and visitors from far and wide come to the town square in the middle of Woodville, Mississippi, to enjoy the Wild Game Cook-Off where competitors serve up their best of locally harvested venison, duck, wild turNH\ ÀVK DOOLJDWRU VTXLUUHO UDEELW DQG KRJ The kids can enjoy the Children’s Village with an archery target shoot, OLYH ÀVKLQJ SXSSHW VKRZV DQG DUW DFWLYLWLHV :KLOH HQMR\LQJ D IDOO GD\ LQ Woodville, guests of the festival can see local artists from around the area demonstrate their talent, and even select a piece to take home.

For more information, visit deerandwildlifefestival.com.

Each May, the Red Beans & Rice Festival is held in Ridgeland, Mississippi, at the Renaissance as a fundraiser for the local Stewpot. Families and red-bean enthusiasts come from all over to spend a day of “good, clean fun� while enjoying the best red beans and rice the area has to offer.

Along with a slate of live music, groups from local restaurants, churches, and cooking teams vie for the title of “Best Red Beans Recipe in Town.� Thousands of people attend the yearly event and consume nearly 300 gallons of red beans at each festival.

For more information visit redbeansandrice.org.

Mississippi Pecan Festival: Richton, MS Celebrating thirty years, the annual Mississippi Pecan Festival in Richton, Mississippi, was held the last weekend in September beneath the canopy of a pecan-tree orchard on Wingate Road just out of town.

From arts, crafts, and antiques to stock dog demonstrations, rooster contests, and (of course) pecan pie, the festival has something to entertain the entire family. Always popular at the festival is the Living History Homestead, complete with buildings dating back over 100 years and with butter-making on site.

For more information, visit mspecanfestival.com.

Ole Brook Festival: Brookhaven, MS Hosted annually for the past forty-three years by the Brookhaven Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, Brookhaven’s Ole Brook Festival brings the fun to kick off fall.

With live music on both Friday and Saturday, the party lasts into the night on the streets of Downtown Brookhaven. This year’s entertainment is local singer and songwriter Sam 0RRQH\ WR NLFN RII WKH IHVWLYDO ZLWK 9DVWL -DFNVRQ SHUIRUPLQJ RQ 6DWXUGD\ QLJKW 'XULQJ WKH ÀUVW ZHHNHQG RI 2FWREHU IHVWLYDO JRHUV FDQ HQMR\ WKH 2OH %URRN &DU Show, food and artisan vendors from all over the area, a kids zone, and 5K run. With over 200 booths scattered throughout downtown, something exciting awaits everyone at the Ole Brook Festival.

For more information, visit brookhavenchamber.org.

Page 36 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Great Delta Bear Affair: Rolling Fork, MS At the end of each October, Rolling Fork, Mississippi, commemorates the special history of the area with the Great Delta Bear Affair.

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt came to the Delta to go on a black bear hunt. Lead

by Holt Collier, the group came upon a bear; and the President refused to shoot it. The story spread throughout the country, and a toy shop owner in New York asked to call all stuffed bears that he sold the “Teddy Bear� after the President and this hunt.

Ever since, the people of Rolling Fork have celebrated this event with a festival of music, arts, crafts, and a commemorative Teddy Bear IRU VDOH 7KH GD\ HQGV ZLWK Ă€UHZRUNV DW GDUN This year’s festival will celebrate the state’s Bicentennial, which will be known as the “BearCentennialâ€? on October 28, 2017.

For more information, visit greatdeltabearaffair.org.

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 37

Pointing Upwards:

Port Gibson Landmark Restored

By Jennie Guido Photography courtesy of First Presbyterian Church of Port Gibson and by Jennie Guido

Page 38 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Left—Before being removed for restoration to begin, WKH *ROGHQ +DQG VKRZHG VLJQLÀFDQW GDPDJH IURP many years of pointing towards the heavens. %HORZ³$IWHU WKH HSR[\ ZDV DSSOLHG WKH JROG OHDÀQJ team from Baltimore, Maryland, was ready to begin WKHLU SURFHVV Bottom—The Hand is ready to return to Mississippi.

O

n a sunny, unseasonably mild Wednesday morning in August, a golden hand rose upward towards the heavens from its rightful home in Port Gibson, Mississippi. After being removed from atop the First Presbyterian Church for renovations and re-gilding, the iconic Golden Hand that so many passersby and locals looked up to through the years, as they ventured up and down +LJKZD\ LV Ă€QDOO\ EDFN DQG DJDLQ JXLGLQJ JODQFHV WRZDUG SDUDGLVH “Nestled deep in Mississippi in the little town of Port Gibson, every event and season of many families’ lives since just after the year 1900 has occurred in the VKDGRZ RI WKH KDQG DWRS )LUVW 3UHVE\WHULDQ &KXUFK Âľ -R $QQ 0LNHOO D PHPEHU RI the church, explains. “Its silent presence has comforted us through a multitude of life events and conditions—births, deaths, marriages, personal joy, personal tragedy, and the simple passage of time. The sight of it has stilled our fears and nudged us into gratitude. It has said ‘good-bye’ and also welcomed home. It has reminded us that home is really where the hand points. A glimpse of it in the moonlight after a raging storm or in the radiant sunlight gives notice that it is busy directing the way for all souls.â€?

Formed from a congregation just west of Port Gibson, the First Presbyterian &KXUFK ZDV PRYHG WR 3RUW *LEVRQ 0LVVLVVLSSL LQ ZLWK WKH Ă€UVW SDVWRU 'U Zebulon Butler, leading the church. During his sermons, Butler would characWHULVWLFDOO\ UDLVH KLV KDQG ZLWK KLV LQGH[ Ă€QJHU SRLQWHG XSZDUG ´%\ WKH congregation numbered 160, and they decided to build the present structure,â€? the church’s history shares and adds, “The hand pointing to Heaven, which was fabricated to honor Bulter’s famous gesture, is the unique feature of this 5RPDQHVTXH 5HYLYDO VW\OH HGLĂ€FH 7KH Ă€UVW KDQG ZDV FDUYHG IURP ZRRG E\ Daniel Foley, a young local craftsman. The ravages of time, however, destroyed it; and around 1901, the present hand was commissioned and installed. It was taken down in 1989 to be repaired, replaced, and raised again in 1990 atop a newly re-enforced steeple.â€?

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 39

The hand, which has again been removed, repaired, and recently reinstalled, stands 147 feet from the ground. It is ten feet, four inches tall with a four-foot inGH[ ÀQJHU SRLQWLQJ XSZDUG ´)DEULFDWHG from 24 gauge sheet iron, the hand weighs SRXQGV DQG LV FRYHUHG E\ WKH ÀQHVW German gold leaf which is but .0003 of an inch thick—ten times thinner than a sheet of paper,� according to church history.

-LPP\ &DVVHOO WKH &KDLUPDQ RI WKH Board of Deacons of the First Presbyterian FRQJUHJDWLRQ DORQJ ZLWK -HII 5REHUWV SHUsonally delivered the hand to American Stripping in Manassas, Virginia, earlier this year for the re-gilding process to begin. It was carefully removed, wrapped, and secured for its long journey.

Cassell recalls, “We unbolted the hand and brought it down using two cranes. We loaded it into a U-Haul trailer and headed to Virginia. They stripped it down to the bare metal and applied a rust preventative.

After drying, they applied coats of epoxy, letting it dry after each coat. After the last coat, the gilders came in from Baltimore, Maryland, and applied the gold leaf.

After curing for a few days, the hand was ZUDSSHG LQ OD\HUV RI SODVWLF ÀOP DQG IRDP padding. It was placed in a specially-made cradle and strapped in ready for pick up.�

Top—Jimmy Cassell and Jeff Roberts loaded the Hand and traveled with it to Manassas, Virginia.

0LGGOH OHIWÂł7KH QHZ JROG OHDI VKRZFDVHV GHWDLOV RI WKH +DQG QRZ FRYHUHG ZLWK SURWHFWLYH spikes to deter birds.

Middle right—Jimmy Cassell (far left) and -HII 5REHUWV IDU ULJKW DORQJ ZLWK 0LFKDHO (GZDUGV 3DXO /\QQ :LOO 0F0HOODQ 3DXO Whitley, and Josh Mathews of Paul Lynn &RQVWUXFWLRQ SUHSDUH WR UDLVH WKH *ROGHQ Hand.

Right—The Elders of First Presbyterian of Port Gibson, Lem Montgomery, Gary Knight, Kenny Strawn, Doug Nasif, and John Lindsey 7RUUH\ DORQJ ZLWK WKH FKXUFK¡V SDVWRU 5HYHUHQG 0LFKDHO +HUULQ FHOHEUDWHG WKH UHWXUQ RI the Golden Hand.

Far right—The Golden Hand, awaiting installation, points its way home.

Page 40 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Right—At home again and pointing heavenward, the Hand is an inspiration to passersby along Highway 61.

Above—As workmen re-position the Hand DWRS WKH VWHHSOH E\VWDQGHUV FKHHUHG

Cassell kept the congregation and interested parties abreast of the progress of the golden hand as each step of the process was completed. Finally, in August, he returned to Virginia to retrieve the hand and bring it back home.

With a large crowd gathered around on that August morning to see the hand unveiled, journalists from all over the state, locals of the congregation, and even some tourists stood in awe of the newly-gilded hand as it waited for its return home. A line formed for those wanting their pictures taken with the hand before its positioning back atop its VWHHSOH 7KH UDLVLQJ WRRN DURXQG ÀIWHHQ WR twenty minutes using heavy machinery and cranes to make sure the hand rested exactly in its former position.

-R $QQ 0LNHOO EHOLHYHV WKH KDQG UHSUHVHQWV D VKDUHG H[SHULHQFH ´2QH RI WKH most extraordinary things about the Golden Hand is that it belongs to everyone. It does not belong only to this particular church and its congregation. We delight in sharing it with the world, so it is not tucked away inside our walls like a precious relic. No, it has a bold, towering presence where it is evident to locals and tourists, Christians and non-Christians.�

For more information on the First Presbyterian Church of Port Gibson and the history of the Golden Hand, visit www.fpcportgibson.com.

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 41

-RVK 0F&UDLQH DQG KLV ZLIH -HVVLFD have been sharing the haunted history of Port Gibson with tour-goers VLQFH HDUO\ 6HSWHPEHU

A Haunted History A

long Highway 61 just south of Vicksburg, Mississippi, sits the third oldest town in the state—Port Gibson. First settled in 1763 along the banks of Little Bayou Pierre, it became DQ RIÀFLDO SDUW RI WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV LQ 3RUW *LEVRQ ZDV KRPH WR VLJQLÀFDQW ÀJXUHV such as noted author Constance Cary Harrison, and has seen many visitors in its over 200 years as a town.

With agriculture and river traffic coming through the young town, it began to prosper.

However, the Civil War brought tragedy and disease to beautiful Port Gibson; and although it escaped being burned by Union soldiers, it saw the horrors of war as wounded and dying soldiers were brought into homes to be treated.

Page 42 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Photography by Jennie Guido and courtesy of Josh McCraine

7RS³2DN 6TXDUH ORFDWHG RQ &KXUFK 6WUHHW LV WKH ÀUVW KRPH DORQJ WKH WRXU Above—While visiting Gibson LandLQJ JXHVWV UHFHQWO\ H[SHULHQFHG D SUHVHQFH RI SDUDQRUPDO DFWLYLW\ /HIW³0HPEHUV RI WKH FRPPXQLW\ UHHQDFW VFHQHV IRU WKH JXHVWV

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 43

7RS OHIW³,GOHZLOG WKH VWDU RI WKH VKRZ ZDV RQFH KRPH WR D 8QLRQ $UP\ hospital during the Civil War. %RWWRP OHIW³,VDEHOOD¡V DOVR ORFDWHG RQ &KXUFK 6WUHHW LV D WUHDW IRU WRXU JRHUV WR VHH DQG H[SHULHQFH %HORZ³3RUW *LEVRQ¡V YLVLWRUV FHQWHU WKH 6DPXHO *LEVRQ +RXVH LV WKH ROGHVW EXLOGLQJ LQ WKH FLW\

To celebrate this storied history, the Claiborne County-Port Gibson Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Haunted Historical Tour throughout town for visitors and locals alike during September and October—just in time for Halloween. The evening walking tours will take visitors down historic Church Street and into some of the town’s haunted homes. Along the way guests will hear quips of history about Port Gibson; its beautiful historic homes and their original inhabitants; and various spirits that still walk, stalk, or wander the halls of some of these homes.

-RVK 0F&UDLQH ZLWK WKH &KDPEHU H[SODLQHG ´*XHVWV ZLOO OHDUQ about some of the residences and other visitors to the area that rose to notoriety and played a role in Mississippi’s history. We will also include some of the darker tales of murder and ‘things that go bump in the night’.�

Along the Saturday evening tour route, visitors will be treated to tours inside a couple of the haunted homes. One of these is Idlewild. “Built in 1833, Idlewild is famous for its twelve-foot interior doors and windows,� McCraine shared. “Following the Battle of Port Gibson, Union soldiers broke into the home and used the dining room as an operating room. The blood stains still exist from those procedures.�

McCraine, leader of the nightly tours, suggests arriving at the &KDPEHU RIĂ€FH ORFDWHG DW &KXUFK 6WUHHW DW S P LQ RUGHU to secure tickets and prepare for a haunted excursion through town.

7KH WRXUV ZLOO EHJLQ DW S P For more information or to schedule a tour, contact the Chamber of Commerce in Port Gibson by calling (601) 437-4351 or (601) 618-4405.

Page 44 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 45

Page 46 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Louisiana Up & Coming! OCTOBER

2FWREHU LV ÀOOHG ZLWK )HVWLYDOV Be sure to check out the listings throughout the Bluffs & Bayous area Family Fun, Music, Crafts, Food, Brews, Art, Tours, Concerts BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Month FULL MOON – October 5 COLUMBUS DAY - October 9 NATIONAL BOSSES DAY – October 16 HALLOWEEN – October 31

louisianatravel.com BATON ROUGE Throughout September visitbatonrouge.org lsumoa.org Every Wednesday Live After 5 Repentance Park Free Concert

Through October 8 To Kill a Mockingbird Theatre Baton Rouge 7:30 pm & 2 pm theatrebr.org October 21 – 22 & 28 – 29 Boo At The Zoo Baton Rouge Zoo 3601 Thomas Rd. 9:30 am – 4 pm brzoo.org FERRIDAY October 8 $UFDGH WR $LG -DP 6HVVLRQ %HQHÀW IRU Hurricane Harvey Victims Arcade Theater 3 – 9 pm (318)757-9999 / deltamusicmuseum.com

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 47

OCTOBER Louisiana Up & Coming!

October 14 The Ronnie Cox & Friends Show Arcade Theater 6 pm / Individual: $15 / Couple: $25 (318)757-9999 / deltamusicmuseum.com October 24 Lawyers in Libraries host “Free Legal Advice” Ferriday Library Noon October 26 Concordia Chamber 3-Man Scramble Panola Country Club (318)336-8223 Stephen Dawkins (318)421-9965 October 28 The Gene King Country Opry featuring Jodi Miller Arcade Theater 7 pm / $10 (318)757-9999 / deltamusicmuseum.com

Page 48 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Louisiana Up & Coming! OCTOBER October 28 Take Your Teacher Home Ferriday Library 9:30 am / Homework Help MONROE/WEST MONROE October 13 - 15 North Delta Food & Wine Various Venues (318)397-6754 northdeltafoodandwinefestival.com NEW ORLEANS Throughout October neworleansonline.com neworleanscvb.com October 6 - 7, 13 - 14, & 20 - 21 Oktober Festival 1700 Moss Street deutscheshaus.org October 11 – 19 Louisiana Film Festival Various Venues QHZRUOHDQVÀOPIHVWLYDO RUJ

October 13 – 15 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival Lafayette Square Free Friday: 5 – 8:30 pm Sat. & Sun.: 11 am – 8:30 pm jazzandheritage.org/blues-fest October 27 – 29 Louisiana Seafood Festival Woldenberg Park / Downtown louisianaseafoodfestival.com October 27 – 29 Voodoo Music & Arts Experience City Park voodoofestival.com

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 49

OCTOBER Louisiana Up & Coming!

PORT ALLEN Throughout October westbatonrougemuseum.com October 1 22nd Sugarfest West Baton Rouge Museum 11 am – 4 pm westbatonrougemuseum.com October 27 Annual Halloween Event West Baton Rouge Museum 5:30 – 8 pm westbatonrougemuseum.com ST. FRANCISVILLE Throughout October westfelicianahistoricalsociety.org stfrancisville.us Every Weekend The Myrtles Halloween Experience The Myrtles Plantation (225)635-6277 / myrtlesplantation.com Every Sunday Angola Prison Rodeo Angola Prison 9 am – 5pm (225)655-2592 / angolarodeeo.com October 20 – 21 Southern Garden Symposium Throughout St. Francisville Morning & Afternoon Workshops, Gala, Silent Auction, & Afternoon Tea Pre-Register by October 13 (225)635-3738 southerngardensymposium.org VIDALIA Throughout October cityofvidalia.com Every Wednesday 7KH 'HOWD )DUPHU·V 0DUNHW Old Courthouse 8 am – Noon October 10 Concordia Chamber Luncheon Comfort Suites Riverfront Noon (318)336-8223

Page 50 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Louisiana Up & Coming! OCTOBER October 12 Archaeology Program with Diana Greenlee Concordia Parish Library 6:30 – 7:30 pm (318)336-5043 / concordialibrary.org October 19 Carnival Preview Night Vidalia Riverfront 6 – 9 pm cityofvidalia.com October 20 – 21 Vidalia Riverfront Carnival & Flea Market Vidalia Riverfront Friday: Noon – 10 pm Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm Sunday: Noon – 5 pm Free cityofvidalia.com

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 51

Page 52 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Mississippi Up & Coming! OCTOBER visitmississippi.org BROOKHAVEN Throughout October facebook.com/VisitBrookhavenMS visitbrookhavenms.com Every Wednesday &KLOGUHQ·V 6WRU\ 7LPH Lincoln Library &KLOGUHQ·V 'HSW 10 – 11 am lif.lib.ms.us October 1, 6, 7, & 8 Driving Miss Daisy Brookhaven Little Theatre 7:30 pm / $20 (601)990-2243 brookhavenlittletheatre.com

$_; ouh -v _-u7 -v o 7oĺ

WHAT’S THE MARK OF A GREAT PARTNER?

With Trustmark as your true financial partner, you can expect expert advice, tools and technology—like myTrustmark Business online and mobile banking, to help manage your business’s finances—freeing you to do what you do best.

People you trust. Advice that works.

Member FDIC

trustmark.com

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 53

OCTOBER Mississippi Up & Coming!

October 2 BRAG ART Competition Submissions Deadline Lincoln County Library Vernon Room 10 am – Noon & 4 – 6 pm brookhavenregionalartguild@gmail.com

October 6 – 7 43rd Ole Brook Festival Downtown Brookhaven Car Show, 5K Run, Kid Zone, Live Entertainment, Retail, & Food Vendors (601)833-1411 / visitbrookhavenms.com October 19 BRAG ART Competition Reception Lincoln County Library Vernon Room 4:40 – 6:30 pm brookhavenregionalartguild@gmail.com October 21 &KLOGUHQ·V 0RYLH 0DWLQHH Lincoln County Library Vernon Room 2 – 4 pm lif.lib.ms.us October 21 Premiere Screening of Blood Country The Haven 7 pm / In advance: $10 / At the door: $15 eventbrite.com

October 28 Rocky Horror Picture Show Movie Brookhaven Little Theatre 7:30 – 9 pm / Free (601)990-2243

Page 54 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Mississippi Up & Coming! OCTOBER

HATTIESBURG October 26 - November 4 Andrew Lloyd Webber & Cameron 0DFNLQWRVK·V The Phantom of the Opera The University of Southern Mississippi www.usm.edu/music/phantom JACKSON Throughout October dulinghall.com msmuseumart.org visitjackson.com jacksonfreepress.com/calendar October 4 – 15 Mississippi State Fair Mississippi State Fairgrounds Times Vary (601)961-4000 / msfair.net

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 55

OCTOBER Mississippi Up & Coming!

October 27 – 28 Boo At The Zoo Jackson Zoo 5 – 8 pm (601)352-2580 / jacksonzoo.org November 30 – December 2 Chimneyville Crafts Festival Mississippi Trade Mart Thurs: Preview Party 6 – 9 pm Fri: 9 am – 6 pm Sat: 9 am – 5 pm (601)856-7546 MAGNOLIA Throughout October magnoliachamberofcommerce.com Throughout October 0DJQROLD )DUPHU·V 0DUNHW Downtown Magnolia 8 am - Noon (601)783-6572

Page 56 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Mississippi Up & Coming! OCTOBER

MCCOMB Throughout October pikeinfo.com Every Thursday McComb Farmers Market 113 N. Railroad Blvd.

8 am - 1 pm (601)684-8599 Every Monday Storyhour - Toddlertime McComb Library 11 am pawls.org Every Thursday Storyhour - Preschool Age McComb Library 10 am pawls.org Every Thursday PCAC Noon Tunes Bo Diddley Pavilion Railroad Ave. (601)684-5229 pikecountryartscouncil@gmail.com October 6 Pike County Chamber of Commerce 14th Annual Golf Tournament Fernwood Country Club Reg. 10 am / Tee Time Noon Shawn Lowery (601)684-2291 October 12 – 15 Lend Me A Tenor (PG-13) The Depot Theatre 206 State Street 7:30 & 2:30 pm / $10 (601)310-4933 October 27 %LJ 'DGG\·V %OXHV &OXE &XOWXUDO Exchange: An Evening of Gospel Music 224 N. Railroad Blvd. /Courtyard 6 pm / Free / Bring Lawn Chairs )DFHERRN %LJ 'DGG\·V %OXHV &OXE &XOWXUDO ([FKDQJH

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 57

OCTOBER Mississippi Up & Coming!

November 2 Mistletoe & Magic: A Holiday Shopping Event Throughout Pike County (601)684-2291 November 7 An Evening of Big Band Music: Swing 101 Big Band State Theatre 7 – 8:30 pm (601)684-5229 pikecountyartscouncil@gmail.com MEADVILLE Throughout October meadvillems.com

October 28 Homochitto River Festival Downtown Meadville HanaLena Band, Wild Game Cook Off 5K Run: 8 am / $25 Pet Parade: 2 – 4 pm / Courtyard Lawn Trunk-r-Treat: 4:30 pm Music, Crafts, & Rides Facebook: Homochitto-River-Festival NATCHEZ Throughout October Live Music Event Calendar visitnatchez.org/full-event-calendar Throughout October visitnatchez.org See Natchez citysightseeingnatchez.com

Page 58 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Mississippi Up & Coming! OCTOBER Every Saturday )DUPHU·V 0DUNHW Downtown Natchez Commerce St. (100 Block) 8 am – Noon Throughout October Most Friday & Saturday Evenings The Haunting of the Towers 7 – 8:30 pm / Reservations required / $20 Adults Only (601)446-6890 / thetowersofnatchez.com October 3 Whirlwind Night of Giving Natchez Bluff Hurricane relief for victims of Harvey, Irma, and Maria 5 - 8 pm Whirlwind Waddle 5K: 6 pm Food, games, silent auction, & live music arichard@callon.com beth.richard@colin.edu Facebook: WhirlWind Night of Giving

Wade invites you to come by V\Y 5H[JOLa VɉJL [V KPZJ\ZZ your banking needs.

WADE J. HEATHERLY Senior Vice President NMLS #464596

NATCHEZ 173 Hwy 61 South Natchez, MS 39120

deltabk.com VIDALIA 1617 Carter Street Vidalia, LA 71373

FERRIDAY 302 Louisiana Ave Ferriday, LA 71334

TALLULAH 401 South Cedar Tallulah, LA 71282

LAKE PROVIDENCE 401 Lake Street Lake Providence, LA 71254

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 59

OCTOBER Mississippi Up & Coming!

October 7, 14, & 21 Project Heal Exhibition Angelety House St. Catherine Street 11 am – 1 pm & 7 – 9 pm Through October 8 Mississippi Medicine Show Natchez Little Theatre 7:30 pm & 2 pm natchezlittletheatre.org October 8 – 31 1*&·V 3XPSNLQ 3DWFK Magnolia Hall Pearl & Washington St. 2SHQ 'DLO\ ² SP (601)443-9065 / (225) 223-4550

Through October 9 Fall Pilgrimage Throughout Natchez Morning & Afternoon Tours Evening & Special Events natchezpilgrimage.com

Page 60 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Mississippi Up & Coming! OCTOBER October 13 Books & Brews w/ Steve Yates & Matthew Guinn Natchez Brewing Company 4 – 6 pm / Free Cash Bar, Music, & Book Signing (601)446-1103 October 14 10th Annual Black & Blue Civil War Living History Historic Jefferson College 11 am – 4 pm (601)442-4719 October 14 Second Saturday Downtown Natchez $OO 'D\ (601)442-2929 October 14 – 15 Big Pop Gun Show Natchez Convention Center $OO 'D\ (601)498-4235 / bigpopgunshows.com

October 20 AKS Gem Show Natchez Convention Center $OO 'D\

October 20 – 22 Great Mississippi River Balloon Race Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens Natchez Bluff natchezballoonrace.com October 26 Longwood Halloween Carnival Historic Longwood 5 – 8 pm / $5 (601)446-6631

October 26 Ghost Tales Around the Camp Fire & After Duck Hunt Historic Jefferson College 6:30 – 9 pm / Free Bring Blanket, Flashlight, & Bag (601)442-2901 / mdah.ms.gov October 28 NACHS Witches Ride The Depot on the Bluff $20: Pre-Reg. / $30: After Oct. 24 Registration: 1 pm / Line Up: 2:50 pm / Ride: 3 pm (601)334-2329 / maryeldridge1980@gmail.com October 28 NACHS The Purr-fectly Spooktacular Howl-loween Event Costume +DOORZHHQ 3DUW\ %HQHÀW 1046 Hwy. 61 S. Individual: $50 / Couple: $75 / Cash Bar (601)442-4001 / (601)392-30789

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 61

OCTOBER Mississippi Up & Coming!

OSYKA

October 28 Music At the Mounds After Party Rolling River Bistro 9 pm – 1 am Free / Cash Bar / Late Night Menu (601)446-6502 October 28 – 29 Music At the Mounds Grand Village of the Natchez Indians Sat: 11 am – 9 pm / Sun: Noon – 7 pm Adults: $10 / Kids: $5 (601)446-6502 November 2 – 4 40th Natchez Antiques Forum: From These Honored Walls Various Venues (601)443-1261 / natchezpilgrimage.com November 9 – 11 Angels on the Bluff Natchez City Cemetery $30 (601)446-6345

October 7 – 8 37th Fall Fest Railroad Avenue 8 am – 5 pm / Free Color Fun Run/Walk: 8:30 am – Noon (601)542-5994 / (601) 395-0188 )DFHERRN FRP 2V\ND &LYLF &OXE

October 26 3rd Annual Fall Festival Township & Colony Park Trunk or Treat 5 – 7 pm / $10 / Free: 10 year & under (601)420-2424 SUMMIT

PORT GIBSON

Throughout October pikeinfo.com

Throughout October Haunted Historical Tours Throughout Port Gibson Walking Tour / Schedule Time (601)437-4351 / (601)715-7214

October 7 Summit Fire Department Stop, Drop, & Roll Run 7 – 9:30 am Stan McMorris (601) 551-2707

RIDGELAND

October 14 Summit Fall Festival Downtown Robb Street Music, Food, Arts, & Crafts 8 am – 4 pm (601)276-7518 Facebook: Town of Summit Mississippi Fall Festival

Throughout October ridgelandms.org October 14 Mississippi Bicentennial Event Mississippi Craft Center 10 am – 5 pm (601)856-7546 / craftsmensguildofms.org October 14 Run to the Latin Beat 5K Run Old Trace Park 8 am – 2 pm mshispanicassociation.org

Page 62 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

TAYLOR (NEAR OXFORD) October 18 – 19 Conference on the Front Porch Mill at Plein Air theconferenceonthefrontporch.com

Mississippi Up & Coming! OCTOBER VICKSBURG Throughout October southernculture.org visitvicksburg.com vicksburgartassociation.org tarawildlife.com Throughout October Haunted Ghost Walks Corner of Monroe & Grove St. 8 pm / Adults: $20 adult / 5 - 12 year: $15 (601)618-6031 / HauntedVicksburg.com Every Wednesday Storytime Public Library 700 Veto St. 10:30 am

0DULH &XQQLQJKDP Through October 1 Vicksburg Preservation Weekend Tours, Ballet, Choir, Orchestra Performances, 'LQQHU DQG 5HFHSWLRQV Facebook.com/events Through October 8 Vicksburg Fall Pilgrimage Thurs., Fri., Sat., & Sun. Afternoons (601)456-0420 / vicksburgpilgrimage.com October 7 32nd Old Courthouse Flea Market 100 Cherry St. 8 am – 5 pm (601)636-0741 Bubba Bolm

October 7 Downtown Fall Festival Grove & Washington St. /LYH HQWHUWDLQPHQW FKLOGUHQ·V DFWLYLWLHV art, & sidewalk sale (601)634-4527 / downtownvicksburg.com October 7 Manhattan Short Film Festival Strand Theatre 7 pm / $7 (601)529-7252

October 7 Bridging the Gap 5K Walk / Run / Stroll & Roll-A-Thon Old MS River Bridge I20 & Washington St. Registration: 8:30 am / Run: 9 am Group: $25 / Person: $20 (601)969-4009 / (601)594-7555

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 63

OCTOBER Mississippi Up & Coming!

October 14 Over The River Run 5K Walk & 1 Mile Fun Run Old MS River Bridge I20 & Washington St. 8 am / Adults: $30 / Children: $10 (601)631-2997 / info@southernculture.org October 20 – November 10 Classics in the Courtyard SCHF Fridays: Noon – 1 pm Lunch: $10 / Concert: Free (601)631-2997 / southernculture.org October 21 McRaven Ghost Hunt 1145 Harrison St. 8:30 – 11:55 pm / $50 (601)501-1445

October 26 – 31 The Addams Family Parkside Playhouse Thur. – Sat.: 7 pm / Sun.: 2 pm Adults: $6 / Children: $4 (601)636-0471 / vicksburgtheatreguild.com

WESSON

October 28 Spooky Sprint Church of Holy Trinity 900 South St. 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run 8 am Costumes Encouraged / Carnival Follows (601)636-2256 / vicksburgcatholic.org

Throughout October townofwoodville.org )DFHERRN :RRGYLOOH :LONLQVRQ &RXQW\ Main Street Association

December 2 10th Annual Holly Days Arts & Crafts Show SCHF 9 am – 3 pm / $2 (601)631-2997 / southernculture.org

Throughout October )DFHERRN :HVVRQ &KDPEHU WOODVILLE

October 14 Woodville Deer & Wildlife Festival Historic District Downtown 10 am / $7 / Children Under 2: Free Cultural & Artistic Heritage Celebration (601)888-3998 deerandwildlifefestival.com

%H VXUH WR FRQÀUP GHWDLOV RI WKH HYHQWV should changes have occurred since events were submitted.

Page 64 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 65

SOUTHERN SAMPLER

BY

Alma M. Womack

Hurricanes, Hunters, and Halloween O

ctober is not a time of travel for farmers. It is still a harvest month when there were late beans planted and late cotton that couldn’t get planted at the regular time. Sometimes WKLV ZRUNV RXW WR WKH EHQHÀW RI WKH IDUPHU especially when a hurricane like Harvey comes through with rain and more rain and cloud cover and no sunshine. Our IDUPHUV GLGQ¡W EHQHÀW IURP +DUYH\ EXW LW was not as much of a disaster as in 2008 when Gustave came through.

We had a good cotton crop in ’08, open and ready for picking when Gustave came. Catahoula and Concordia Parishes were the center for the most rain, twentyfour inches in some places, like here on Smithland. The cotton that wasn’t washed out of the burrs rotted on the stalks. From the road, the cotton didn’t look that bad.

2QFH \RX ZHQW WR WKH ÀHOG WKRXJK \RX could smell the cotton ten feet away.

Then, when you got up close enough to examine it, there were sprouted seeds in all the locks. We picked no cotton that year; the bush hogs took care of the crop.

We were not alone, either. Very little cotton came to the gin that year; so we lost there, too. It was a disaster I hope never to see again.

I watched the coverage of Hurricane Harvey in Houston with unbelieving eyes; how could it rain that much in such a short time? Like everyone else, I was so proud to see how people stepped up to help rescue fellow citizens who had been overwhelmed by the rapidly rising waters. We saw this last year in our state in the spring up in Shreveport and Monroe, and in August in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, DQG VXUURXQGLQJ DUHDV³à RRG ZDWHUV WKDW rose so quickly people didn’t have time to HYDFXDWH à RRG ZDWHUV WKDW ÀOOHG KRXVHV while folks were trying to save what they could—a nightmare for all.

Harvey is gone, the waters are receding, but people in Texas and southwest Louisiana are left with a major upheaval in their communities and their lives. We

will all help as best we can to get them through this initial stage, then help later on with the cleanup and rebuilding of their communities. It is a daunting task, but the resilient people of our area have done it before.

Despite the hurricane season, September and October are generally months to look forward to in our part of the world. The air begins to change with the coming of fall, the humidity drops as does the temperature, and life outside approaches the state of pleasant.

I enjoy doing yard work this time of year after spending the summer doing as little as possible. This year, I will have about one thousand miles of vines to pull down from the deck, the plants, and the trees close by those voracious climbers. If I left this yard alone for one year, it would be covered in a variety of vines, I promise you. It takes mowers, hands, and Roundup to stay ahead of the vines; but nothing permanently kills them. If one tiny bit of root remains in the ground, they will come back just as strong the next year. My only hope is to keep them under control one year at a time.

October means Halloween is coming; and like Christmas, it has gotten out of hand. The pagans say that we have ruined Halloween with our masks and costumes and candy. In the days of our pagan ancestors, Halloween was called Samhain; and it was a special time, ending the summer and fall and preparing for winter. Samhain has morphed into a holiday of dressing up and seeking treats if you’re a kid (or dressing up and partying if you’re an adult). Nothing contemplative or thoughtful happens in any of WKHVH PRGHUQ FHOHEUDWLRQV LQ IDFW , ÀJure most people don’t have a clue as to what they are celebrating. It’s just an excuse to loosen the bounds a bit and party in a number of different ways.

The pagans need not feel alone in having their holiday overcome by commercialism; Christians can make the same claim about

Page 66 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous

Christmas. Well, actually, we took over the winter celebration of Yule from the pagans and changed it to suit our beliefs. Then along came the twentieth century; and the true meaning of Christmas became overshadowed by commercialism, and that’s where we are still. Like most people, I just play along and call it a religious holiday when the religious aspect is buried under tons of trinkets and gift wrap. Can’t change it, won’t try.

The most fun of fall for many of us is the football games of our local schools and colleges. Watching LSU play, a person can forget a bit about North Korea, Iran, China, Venezuela, and Washington, D.C., and just concentrate on offense and defense for a couple of hours.

Then there are the hunting seasons that open and the ones that the hunters prepare for every free weekend. Camps are cleaned and the grass mowed; the refrigHUDWRUV DQG IUHH]HUV DUH VWRFNHG ÀUHZRRG is stacked; and the anticipation of time at the deer camp inspires many a soul waiting for this much-loved time of year. I’m not much of a hunter, but I am so thankful that my grandsons are being able to hunt on the same land as their ancestors. Their skills improve every year, so I’m hoping that they’ll keep me supplied with venison and ducks for a long time to come.

Even if a person doesn’t hunt or watch football or work in the yard, October is D ÀQH PRQWK MXVW WR JR RXWVLGH DQG HQjoy the beauty of nature. In a good fall, our foliage is equal to that of the foliage trails up north; it’s just that our trees are RQ à DW ODQG DQG GRQ¡W PDNH WKH VDPH SLFture as the trees on the hills and mountains of the Ozarks and the Appalachians.

But we can still enjoy them and the good air and be thankful to live in the beautiful land of the South.

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.

Bluffs & Bayous { October 2017 { Page 67

Page 68 { October 2017 { Bluffs & Bayous