SB Magazine - A NEW PATH FORWARD

EDITOR

t’s 2023 already.Shreveport has a new mayor, and we hope you enjoy learning more about his thoughts and plans in the cover story.

There is action happening downtown too, so look for the updates and photos inside.

This issue has a special section about local colleges and private schools and upcoming open houses, as well as a story about the Shreve Memorial Library. I was floored to learn about all the services they offer, so be sure to check it out.

We also have a story about an influential former local teacher with a military background who is experiencing entrepreneurship, as well as an article about current local art teacher who has traveled quite the road to where she is now. Our business profile is about a local couple whose company’s stateof-the-art educational technology is being used around the nation.

We are excited to let our readers and advertisers know that SB Magazine will now be published at the beginning of the month!

PUBLISHER

G. Byron May

OWNERS

G. Byron May Seva May Noble Feldman

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Elizabeth Beard Deal

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Hailey Lawson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Teddy Allen Dr. Ameya A. Asarkar Scott “Scooter” Anderson Adam Bailey Ursula Brantley Jon Paule Calcote Dr. Jason Calligas Hailey Lawson

Seva May Dr. Cherie-Ann O. Nathan Liz Swaine Donesa Walker

do

Some people make new year’s resolutions, some select a ‘word’ of the year, some (like my husband) do neither. But regardless of which you choose to do or not do, the beginning of a new year still seems to bring with it some level of hope, inspiration, and anticipation—and the chance to seek new opportunities or to make a fresh start. I hope we can all have the courage and motivation to take that first step!

Happy New Year,

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hailey Lawson Debbie Henry

GRAPHIC DESIGN Ryan Watson SALES MANAGER Keyle Cavalier ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Stephanie Pringle Laura Prissy Scott Sidney Staggs HOW TO REACH US 318.221.7264 • Fax 318.676.8850 850 Stoner Ave. Shreveport, LA 71101 ADVERTISING 318.221.7264 WEBSITE www.sbmag.net

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Class Postage Paid at Shreveport, LA 71101.

in

Christmas

the Sky Christmas in the Sky is Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s award-winning glitzy, glamorous biennial gala held at Louisiana Down’s. Three floors of Harrah’s Louisiana Downs were transformed into a land of enchantment with the help of 15 separate volunteer committees, 18 months of preparation and a team of more than 500 volunteers to create this 19th production of Christmas in the Sky. This year’s “KISS A FROG’’ theme created an enchanted evening of Fairy Tales, Tall Tales, and CockTales! Event Chair Heidi Kallenberg was Queen of the Sky Realm with CoChairs Elizabeth Kennedy and Ro White as her Attendants. The King of the Sky Realm was Dr. Michael T. Acurio as Presenting Sponsor. Linda B. Goldsberry was the Good Fairy as Design Chair with the help of her Design Co-Chair Donna Poimbeouf and Production Director Bruce Allen.

1. Christmas in the Sky 2022 “Kiss a Frog” 2. Presenting Sponsor Dr. Michael Acurio with Courtney Batts 3. Phil and Virginia Israel with Design Chair Linda B. Goldsberry 4. Elizabeth and Sid Potts with Lisa and Kenn Babin 5. Christmas in the Sky Chair Heidi and Gregory Kallenberg 6. China Holmes and Glenn Mazier with Nelva Griggs 7. Elizabeth and Michael Gallagher 8. Byron and Seva May 9. Stephen Vekovius with Macy and Teri Flash and Myron Griffing 10. Logan and Deanna May with Laura Speer and Hailey Lawson 11. Andrew and Stephanie Pringle 12. David and Elizabeth Deal

Style Show

Shreveport Little Theatre Celebrates 100 Years

Loyola

The 69th annual Loyola College Prep Style Show & Luncheon 2022 - “I Want My MTV.... LCP” was held at the Bossier Civic Center. The Loyola Style Show, sponsored by the Loyola Parents’ Association, was chaired this year by Hope Ghali and Minou Olsan. Some of the sponsored clothing vendors included John Pickens Clothiers, Dillard’s, The Paper Tulip, M Clothing, L.E. & Chalk, Favorite Sisters’ Boutique, Squires Formalwear, Simply Chic, Château en Mae, Pretenses, Sportspectrum, Vertage Clothing, Isadora, JAC Clothing, Branded Boutique, and Nichols & Pattons.

The Shreveport Little Theatre celebrated its 100th birthday with an intimate dinner at Antonio’s Italian Cuisine on Line Avenue. Shreveport Little Theatre Director Robert Darrow along with SLT Guild President Marianne Archibald gave a champagne toast and cheered for another 100 years for the Shreveport Little Theatre. SLT is one of the oldest continuously producing community theatres in America, producing through the Great Depression, World War II, two fires and a pandemic. Shreveport Little Theatre is American Theatre at its Best!

1. Krystin Edgell and Ashton Farr 2. Laura Gooszen, Jennifer Roberts, and Camille Jones with Event Chair Minou Olsan 3. Anne Jenkins, Lara Yerger, and Sheri Childs 4. Loyola Teacher Laura Woolbert taught Brandy Canatella Thompson and also Brandy’s children 5. Jenifer Berlin and Ashley Smith 6. Loyola Seniors Bo Bowman, Natalie Brewer, and Jack Brooks 7. Eloise Graf with her children Sanders and Mae Graf 8. Amanda Kirby and Ashley Carnahan

1. Mattie Mosley and Tina Caporossi 2. Shreveport Little Theatre Guild President Marianne and Joe Archibald 3. SLT Director Robert Darrow with SLT Guild President Marianne Archibald, and SLT supporter Andy Shehee 4. Kim Price, Seva May, Maggie Malone, and Jamie Killeen 5. SLT Guild Secretary and Treasurer K. Renae Pullen with SLT Boardmembers Roxanne Bosserman and Libby Gleason 6. Julie Zaffatter with SLT Guild Vice President Carol Z. Ferrara 7. Anna Maria Patton and Ginger Folmer

BY ELIZABETH BEARD DEAL

the other folks and you’ve created division rather making recommendations about those decisions. I think we will face some very difficult decisions won’t trust the government. So the first thing I want to do is put together a I think by and large, our city employees are see me a lot. They’re going to see me on the line. to tell them how much I and the people of Shreveport appreciate what they do. We can’t always give them the pay that they would like to need to come together as a city and be proud

enjoy that aspect of life too. So now company, we have ballet, we have can hardly go through a weekend to, and you don’t have to go out decides, ‘I might like to try this,’ and teams but not every child is themselves. Because they’re going

I am an optimist by nature. I believe

My job is to have the city ready to pass that torch. So one of the things that I’m trying to do is to have to mushroom because we’re going to enable all have friends. It’s nice to have places to party but creating friendships and relationships then you that we’ll be moving forward with early on in the

Chair Rich Ballengee, Elizabeth Arceneaux, Gabriel Balderas, Mario Chavez,

HOME EDITION The Best of theBest

After an exceptionally volatile two-plus years for the homebuilding and home-renovating industry, several peak pandemic-era projects finally reached completion this last year. From lakeside luxury mansions to suburban mid-modern sanctuaries—each one shaped by today's most sought-after designers—SB Magazine took you inside some of the most classic spaces that celebrated deluxe furnishings, beautiful architecture, and memorable moments. Step inside as we showcase some of the best of the best homes from 2022. — Do you want your home (or someone else’s) to be the next home featured in SB Magazine? If interested, send us 3-5 of your best photos to info@sbmag.net. Who knows? It may be the next home design everyone is talking about.

BY ADAM BAILEY

A FRESH, NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME WITH MODERN,

COLORFUL Twists

Look inside. These contemporary design elements offer new life and a modern twist to the traditional homes in Provenance—making them anything but your mother’s house!

A MODERN FRENCH SMARTHOUSE

With stunning curb appeal and carefully curated design features, this custom build by Christopher Standridge of Bella Maison Builders, is a serene sanctuary. Take a peek at this gorgeous St. Charles Place retreat!

A RENOVATED

Stonewall Home

WITH FRENCHACADIAN CHARM

Luxe fabrics, colorful wallpapers and beautiful furnishings give this fully renovated custom-built family home a truly modern flair. Filled with artsy decor ideas that we can’t wait to copy, step inside, and see how this realtor makes it all come together.

INDOOR

BOSS

BY JON PAULE CALCOTE

Beauty the art of REINVENTION

Aswe say goodbye to 2022 and all the highs and lows that came with it, we look forward to the New Year ahead with hope and enthusiasm. Time and time again we have seen our favorite celebrities reinvent themselves and we often think to ourselves, “I wish I could do that.”

Why not try it in the new year if you are looking for some change? It may take stepping away from your comfort zone, but you can try making changes in small doses and in the process discover the art of reinvention.

Hair• Your hair is like your shiny crown of glory and can be one of the most impactful ways of completely changing the way you look.

• If you’re looking for a huge dramatic change, switch up your hair color drastically. There are several hair care companies that make demi-color lines that fade out in 8 to 10 washes until you find your new favorite hair color.

• If you have shorter hair that’s cute and sassy yet edgy to maintain, no need to wait months for it to grow out. There are several ways to elongate your lovely locks. Wigs have been worn for centuries and are becoming more and more common these days. Another big way to add length are clip in extensions to quickly add volume.

• A more semi-permanent option for lengthening those locks are tape-in extensions. These are applied by a professional by sandwiching in one splice of your natural hair between two tape-in extensions seamlessly blending together. This can be worn completely unnoticeable for up to 6 weeks before extension maintenance will be needed. Visit your stylist to have them moved up and blended.

5 manly yoga benefits of

BY ADAM BAILEY

An hour on the mat in a yoga class might not be at the top of a man’s mind. But once a man is aware that yoga improves strength, coordination, and cardiovascular health—just to name a few—he is likely to anticipate the next yoga class before the current one ends.

1. IMPROVES RANGE OF MOTION

Men have certain muscles that are the main targets of exercises at the gym, such as hamstrings, glutes, abdomen, and shoulders. However, these muscles can only be trained to a certain limit. When they focus on certain exercises such as weightlifting or bench press, the repetitive and monotonous movements only affect certain groups of muscles. And in the long run, this will restrain the muscles’ range of motion and growth.

Yoga is a way to build muscles. It uses natural body weight and resistance to build lean muscle mass, lengthening the muscles and tissue, which improves blood flow. Better blood flow means more oxygen to the muscles, which helps them recover faster so they can grow. It is therefore wise to alternate gym exercises with yoga.

2. IMPROVES BREATHING

Breathing is an unconscious round-theclock act, providing necessary oxygen to our bodies. Naturally, our bodies are designed to breathe through the nose, and we need to breathe the right way.

Experts say that most people breathe at 10-20 percent of their full capacity. This poor way of breathing can contribute to a multitude of health problems, from high blood pressure to insomnia. Fortunately, when exposed to yoga, a person will become accustomed to breathe in and out through the nose, taking in fuller, deeper breaths, which stimulates the lower lung to distribute greater amounts of oxygen throughout the body.

3. CREATES A BALANCED BODY AND MIND

It is important for our muscles to be in balance so that they support each other equally. Unfortunately, nobody has a perfectly balanced body. Mindbodyonline.com discusses the benefit of yoga for runners, giving examples that certain people can have hips that turn inward when running— causing hip-related issues. Other people may step incorrectly, causing a torqueing motion in their muscles and resulting in a pull of the muscles in the shin.

The site went on to write that our bodies compensate for imbalances that cause tight muscles to become tighter and weak muscles to become weaker. Practicing yoga helps overcome these problems, as it helps strengthen and stretch muscles, and therefore minimize injury. Furthermore, yoga trains the mind to focus internally rather than externally, creating a balanced mind.

4. HELPS RELAXATION

break

There are certain days where you have to take a break from exercising but are required to stay active. Yoga can be the answer, as it keeps your body active but relaxed at the same time. It also helps your muscles recover, getting you ready for the next gym session.

5. IMPROVES SEX LIFE

Men who practice yoga are highly aware of their bodies and have a low level of anxiety. Yoga also helps increase blood flow. According to some yoga experts, the yoga also helps rid the body of toxins that affect sexual performance. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men who practiced yoga for 12 weeks reported improved sexual function overall including on measures of desire and satisfaction with sex. These benefits are likely due to a combination of better pelvic muscle tone and improvements in mood, among others.

Visual Artist with Her Sights on the Big Picture

BY SEVA MAY

Some people can tell you almost exactly when they knew, just knew, what it was they were supposed to do with their life. That moment for Sarah (Lagersen) Harris was in the 5th grade at South Highlands when she was chosen to design the cover for the 5th grade play playbill. That meant going to her art teacher’s house and working together to create her vision. That is a big deal for an 11-year-old. The teacher, Judy Ball Johnson, played a big role in motivating and encouraging Sarah’s efforts. Fast forward to high school at Magnet and the legendary art teacher, Edward Allen. Sarah learned even more through CMH’s numerous art options that spanned the fine arts mediums – painting, mixed media, pottery, photography, drawing and more – under his tutelage. Sarah was also a member of an after-school art program led by Shirlene Alexander and Marabella Dunn.

By the time Sarah entered Centenary College, she had already studied art with Shreveport-Bossier’s art luminaries. She continued her work, earned an art degree with a minor in business, met Leif Sherry, the man she would marry, and armed with her faith in God and her love of art, she stepped out into the real world.

And then it hit her. If she wanted to earn a living, she would need more than a degree in art. She had always been intrigued with architecture, so the next step in her journey was to enroll in graduate school and pursue a degree in that field. While Sarah worked on her masters at Washington University in St. Louis, Leif was earning his advanced degree at Northwestern in Chicago.

The next stop on her journey would be an internship at the prestigious OKW Architect firm. Sarah professes that she learned so much more on the job (she was hired full time after that first year) than in the classroom. “I found it intriguing because it’s a lot like putting

projects was one where the client, Bill Kendig, gave her free reign to remodel a pool house – putting full trust in her ability to bring two existing buildings together and utilizing dead cat space in the design. Everything was looking up again for the Sherry family when tragically, Leif passed away.

Just when Sarah was at her lowest, God put his arms around her and pulled her through this incredibly difficult stop in her journey. People stepped up and reached out to help. Her son was offered a spot, free of charge, at Ascension Classical School while her little girl was gifted with enrollment at St. Paul. People that Sarah had not known before were there for her. It didn’t stop there. She found another architecture position almost immediately. Still, shuffling kids, full time work – it was all so over-whelming and Sarah knew that the life she now had was not sustainable.

She found the perfect solution at Providence Classical Academy. Teaching art enables her to be with her kids, know their friends and do something she absolutely loves. “I’ve learned so much more about art by teaching it,” she confesses. “My art and what I teach has purpose – how can I be a little creator like the big creator. God made me in his image. How can I do that and do it in a way that brings glory to him?”

When asked what her favorite medium was, she pointed to oil painting and watercolors. She also loves creating the composition in a weaving or a quilt. She’s never tried sculpting marble because “how do you not take off a nose?”

Sarah Harris has had quite a journey so far in her young life. Through it all, her faith has been her guiding light. She married again to a wonderful man, Jay Harris. Together, they are raising their kids in a Christian home. I asked her if she hadn’t been asked to design that play program cover back in the 5th grade what would she like to have been. She answered, “If I weren’t an artist, I’d love to be able to open my mouth and be able to sing perfectly.” Wouldn’t we all.

Read more about Sarah Harris at dbd-art.blogspot.com or to find out what dead cat space is, email her at diamond.b.design@gmail.com.

LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS & HIGHEREducation

Education is often at the forefront of the conversation, always evolving, always adapting. It lays the groundwork for our future residents and leaders. In Shreveport-Bossier, we can take pride in having so many outstanding private schools and higher education institutions in our backyard.

Read on to learn more about the uniqueness of each school’s mission, approach and culture.

why IT’S

Academic Excellence Surrounded byFaith

St. Joseph Catholic School has proudly served the community for over seventy years providing academic excellence in a disciplined, challenging, supportive, and faith-based environment.

• K3 - 8th Grade

• STREAM and Technology labs

• SMARTboard interactive technology and iPads in every classroom

• Opportunities to earn high school credits

• Athletics, clubs, extracurricular

• Faith formation and weekly worship

• Back-to-back 8th Grade Private School Student of the Year at the state level

Come see for yourself why it’s a great time to be a Falcon at our annual Open House February 1, 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Or call us any time to schedule a personal tour with our principal.

I enjoy going to school at St. Joseph every day. I love being around my teachers because they are so supportive and push me to try my best! I also love being with my friends because we are able to participate in fun clubs like KJOE, Mini Vinnie and cheerleading. Something I look forward to the most is singing at mass on Fridays!

The education St. Joseph School provided me was superb. It unquestionably set me on a path to success regarding my career goals. The education the school now provides my children continues in that same manner. More importantly, however, is the strong moral foundation the school provided in the formative years of my life, complementing and advancing the faith-based values instilled in me by my parents and family.

Alexis Pringle SJS 6th Grader

John Evans, MD SJS Graduate and Current SJS Parent

Private Schools

ASCENSION CLASSICAL SCHOOL

The Classical Difference: Ascension Classical School, established in 2014, is celebrating its first year as a full K-8th program. The school’s unique Christian culture shapes character, virtue, and intellectual excellence. In particular, classical education is a comprehensive plan that shapes the spirit of a student as preparation for all of life, not just a career

Ascension Classical School embraces the liberal arts and teaches the great works of literature, history, art, music, philosophy, math, and science. A student learns how to think through the great books and conversations with the past, not just what to think. More specifically, the pedagogy is shaped around a rigorous approach that incorporates music, physical education, and art. There is no wasted motion in classical education. A student at Ascension learns to love and appreciate truth and beauty in all their wonderful manifestations. This includes academic content, athletic programs, and many extracurricular activities.

Ascension Classical School is offering grades K-9 in 2023, adding a grade each year. With God’s blessings, a full K-12 education will be in place by 2026. You are invited to come and experience the wonderful growth of the school - There will be a Grammar School (K-5th grade) open house on January 30th at 6 p.m. and a Logic/Rhetoric School (6-9th grade) interest meeting on February 6th at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the school, located at 10540 Norris Ferry Road. All are welcome! You are also invited to schedule a tour and experience for yourself the classical difference. www.ascensionclassicalschool.org

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SCHOOL

First Baptist Church School is a Preschool Young K3 through 8th Grade school. Founded in 1970, FBCS has a rich tradition of providing excellent academics in a Christian environment. Our school serves over 400 students.

Our vision states: “First Baptist Church School strives to produce a generation of confident and self-directed lifelong learners with the strong academic discipline, technological skills, and personal faith necessary to realize their potential in God’s world.”

To achieve this vision, our instruction is challenging, enriching, and differentiated for all types of learners. The academic instruction students receive is preparing them for the next phase of their education and their lives. Also, FBCS offers pull-out programs during the school day for gifted students, students with language disabilities (dyslexia), and those needing general academic support.

At First Baptist Church School, we use a top-quality curriculum and best practices in our instructional program. Technology, hands-on activities, and manipulatives are utilized to support learning at each level. In addition to exemplary traditional teaching, FBCS provides cutting-edge technology to enhance engagement in the classroom. Students take ownership of their learning and are well-equipped to be successful in high school and beyond.

In addition to the core-subject curriculum, students enjoy a variety of enrichment classes, including Bible study every day and Chapel weekly. With caring, experienced teachers and administrators, First Baptist Church School provides students with an experience that is not only academic, but on that focuses on development in aspects of their lives. https://newsite.fbcschool.org

IGNITE CLASSICAL SCHOOL

Imagine a place where children are excited to go. Imagine a place where children experience small wins that lead to big victories in every area of school life. Imagine a place where children are loved and feel it. Imagine a place where every child is seen as an image bearer of God, worthy, and capable of accomplishing great things. Imagine a place where children become young people that are rooted, connected to others, and living full, honorable lives. This real place is Ignite Classical School.

Students receive an excellent education that teaches life principles, good character, and wisdom in addition to preparing them with the academics and skills they need to succeed and be their best. Individualized learning plans guide students through learning that makes sense for them while challenging them to keep going. Solid reading skills prepare students to tackle any and everything that comes their gives them confidence. As students learn the why of math and not just figures and fractions, they see math everywhere and enjoy it.

Foreign languages and financial education give our students the advantage needed to be leaders. These skills with weekly service learning make room for our students to develop a heart for humanity and an awareness of the needs of others.

Any family can consider Ignite for their children with tuition based on income and transportation available. Ignite Classical School serves grades PreK3, PreK4 and Kindergarten through 5th grades with middle and high school coming soon. Make Ignite the place for your family. https://www.igniteclassical.org

SOUTHFIELD SCHOOL

Since 1934, our talented and experienced faculty have cultivated curiosity, character, kindness, and a lifelong love of learning in each of our students. We believe in developing a partnership with teachers, parents, and students to provide the best education in the region.

Our faculty has an average of 20 years of classroom experience, and our students are taught a modern and engaging curriculum in a supportive environment. Instruction features a hands-on learning experience with integrated problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Middle school students earn as many as four high school credits in algebra, geometry, French, and Spanish, and this commitment to excellence leads to success in high school.

and with a 10:1 student to teacher ratio, teachers are able to meet their individual needs. Approximately

identity, gender expression, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, or veteran’s status

BY DONESA WALKER

THE SCIENCE OF MATH

RECENTLY PHRASES LIKE “FOLLOW THE SCIENCE” AND TERMS LIKE “SCIENCE OF READING” HAVE BEEN BANDIED ABOUT CAUSING EXTREME CONFUSION. Understanding what these phrases mean can be a game changer in the approach to implementation of these skills.

What is the Science of Math? The science of math according to various resources is much like the science of reading. It is a proficiency-based movement focused on using objective evidence (data) about how students learn math in order to make educational decisions and to inform policy and practice. According to the research and data (the science), math proficiency is a blending of:

→ Concepts (Understanding concepts, operations, and relations)

→ Procedures (Using procedures flexibly, accurately, and efficiently)

→ Strategies (Formulating, representing, and solving problems)

→ Reasoning (Reflecting, explaining, and justifying)

→ Disposition (Seeing math as sensible, useful, and worthwhile.

→ Thinking processes (Attention, memory, processing, etc.)

Cognitive skills weaknesses that may affect math proficiency include logic and reasoning skills, memory, attention, processing speed, visual spatial processing, and reading skills.

Students and adults who struggle with thinking processes inherently struggle with math and science. STEM movement or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) as it has become is driven to provide more resources and opportunities to students to engage in processes that will invite them to explore and experience in an engaging

way such as at SciPort or the Shreveport Aquarium. Providing more access to these is an amazing goal and a great community effort which all should be a part of to boost our academic growth, but it is also important to be aware of the challenges that many students face in accessing their own thinking abilities.

As educational standards and boundaries shift from political to community efforts and engagement, it is important that the overreaching purpose remain focused on what changes are being made to the underlying issues of learning. Learning builds on a foundation of strong thinking processes. When the foundational skills are weak, learning is difficult. A student who struggles to understand abstract concepts such as why letters (variables) are in math, will struggle early on with simple concepts of sorting, patterning, reading a clock and money. When a child struggles with these issues, tutoring often isn’t enough.

Dyscalculia is a learning issue in mathematical concepts much like dyslexia is to reading. When a person struggles to make sense of mathematical processes from counting to number sense early on, they may have a learning difficulty that should be addressed in order to avoid future delays. While it is estimated as much as 15-20% of the population has dyslexia, the estimate for dyscalculia is 7%. While one may not think this is much, consider that only 8% of the USA population struggles with ADHD and yet Louisiana has the highest percentage (15.7%) of children diagnosed with ADHD in the nation.

Addressing the underlying concerns that affect math could also address much of the attentional issues as these are often referred. Students who struggle to learn have a hard time paying attention. Many times, weaknesses in learning processes are misdiagnosed as attention issues because they appear to be attention issues and affect focus. Interestingly enough, according to research, ADHD is associated with other neurological and psychiatric disorders. More than 60% of individuals suffering from ADHD present with one or more other issues that affect mental

health like oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, depression, anxiety, and tic disorders. 60% of children exhibiting ADHD are also affected by learning disorders like dyslexia or dyscalculia. How’s that for science? Research shows that learning struggles such as ADHD, Dyscalculia and Dyslexia affect mathematical ability. Addressing the underlying learning challenges starts with first being aware of them by assessing and knowing where the struggles are. The process is really a lot like a screening for vision. It is a simple assessing of cognitive skills or thinking ability. These assessments can be in depth or simple screenings to see if

there is a potential problem. Struggling with learning of any type should not be a lifestyle especially when there is help available in the community.

Donesa Walker, M. Ed. is the owner of LearningRx of Shreveport, a Master Reading/Dyslexia Specialist, and a Board Certified Cognitive Specialist.

BY URSULA BRANTLEY

to be done. Write out what needs to be cleaned daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally. From there, plan out what days each task will get tackled. For example, Mondays can be cleaning bathrooms, Saturday can be changing linens, and the last Friday of the month can be reserved for cleaning baseboards.

�������� PREPARING MEALS

lack of ability on your part. Everyone is living together in the home; therefore, everyone should have a hand in helping it function properly.

�������� CREATING ROUTINES

everything together, but there are a few tips that any parent can keep in what works for their family. It will

Focus on these four areas to improve

It’s always easier to know what you’re going to cook or to have some meals prepped and ready to go. Making meals ahead of time in a slow cooker or using an instant pot are both great time savers. So is freezing meals ahead of time and some meals that keep well are lasagna and casseroles.

One fun idea for choosing meals for the week is having everyone in the family write some of their favorites on pieces of paper and put in a jar. Each week 7 meals are picked from the jar and assigned days for prepping and cooking. No guessing or fussing!

�������� DELEGATING TASKS

Start by making a list of what needs

Remember when it comes to managing your home, no one can do everything alone. It’s important to delegate certain tasks to children

Another great way to help your home run more smoothly is by creating routines. Keeping your family on a schedule or routine is one of the greatest helps you can ever have, especially if your family is always on the go with extracurricular activities. Routines help develop structure for yourself as well as your family. When solid routines are in order, things don’t feel so chaotic and all over the place. The kids know where they should be and what they should be doing; parents find themselves not yelling as much or feeling less frazzled. With routines it’s less likely that certain things don’t pile up on you. It’s so easy to say “I’ll do it later or tomorrow.” Next thing you know, you’ve said “I’ll do it later” 15 times and now that tiny mole hill is a huge mountain.

Running your home is important, but don’t forget that having a happy family means more than anything. Set those routines, delegate those tasks, make those lists, and don’t forget that your kids are only kids for a certain amount of time. In between all the cleaning and meals, remember to cherish your time together.

BOOKS The Shreve Memorial

BY SCOTT ANDERSON

The Shreve Memorial Library is celebrating its centennial year of turning pages and changing lives. The library has come a long way in those 100 years.

“It started off with a subscription service, where people subscribed to get their books,” said Samantha Bonnette, marketing and development manager for SML. “A hundred years ago, they passed legislation to form a united Shreve Memorial Library to serve all of Caddo Parish.”

Shreve Memorial Library has expanded through the years to 21 branches — 11 in the City of Shreveport and 10 in Caddo Parish. The leadership of the public library is grateful to the residents for their ongoing support, including the renewal of tax millages to fund the library that passed on the ballot last November.

“It is funded completely by that tax millage,” Bonnette said. “We are very thankful that people of Caddo Parish love and support the library and see that it’s a valuable institution for our community.”

The library’s leadership closed 2022 with a strategic planning initiative to identify its focus areas for the next five years. As the library looks to its future, it remains committed to helping people of all ages learn, as well as fulfilling its goal to expand universal digital access.

Much has changed since the days of subscribing for books. Today the Shreve Memorial Library has books, art, activities and more for all ages, all free and accessible with just a library card.

GENEALOGY RESEARCH

Interest in family trees has grown in recent years, thanks in part to the popularity of ancestry.com and home DNA kits, Bonnette said. The library’s Broadmoor branch is a ready resource for uncovering a family history in its Genealogy Department.

Library cardholders have access to a variety of online research databases at the Broadmoor branch, including the library edition of ancestry.com, Find A Grave, the Ellis Island Records and a database of Civil War soldiers and sailors. The library staff is available to assist with research, and the library hosts a number of learning sessions as well.

HELP FOR STUDENTS

Shreve Memorial Library has a number of resources available to students of all ages.

some who love the actual feel of a book,” Bonnette said. “It’s all about preference. The ebooks and audiobooks are perfect for traveling. An audiobook is perfect for the car or working out. You don’t have to worry about holding a book. The ebook, you can take that anywhere and you can check out more and not have to carry books around. They are perfect for people on the go.”

“People are more aware we have it, and a notebook to help get started. We also one of the library’s goals this year.

check out a free home Wi-Fi kit. within a radius of the library, these Wiexpand the program to other branches. also have mobile hotspots available for checkout.

Launch Pads — tablets preloaded with educational games and books they can check out and use at home. The library also has STEAM kits for children.

“They are STEAM projects in a bag,” Bonnette said. “You get a kit that has instruction in whatever the STEAM concept is and experiments they can do

The library also offers Homework Louisiana, an online tutoring platform available live from 2 to 7 p.m. seven days a week for Kindergarteners through college students. All you need is library card to access the free service

“You can get one-on-one tutoring help, test prep, practice for the ACT/SAT,” Bonnette said. “You can submit your research papers for review and have someone look it over for you. Homework Louisiana is a great program to use.”

She added that students who do not have a physical library card have a virtual library card through their student ID numbers. Students can log into Homework Louisiana to be matched with a tutor in 64 different courses, include math, science, English, foreign language and more.

“It’s a really great tool that we hope the students like to use,” she said.

NON-TRADITIONAL SERVICES

Shreve Memorial Library is committed to helping the community grow and learn, and that goes beyond loaning out

For the youngest learners, the library makes available Playaways and at home.” at homework.org. bound books.

The library offers ebooks and audiobooks for download as well. Bonnette said those have become popular options for people’s busy lives. “What we find is there are people who love ebooks and they love audio books,” Bonnette said. “They will download and read and keep that going. And there are

She said patrons also can stream music and TV shows through the library’s digital platforms.

“Those things are great, because you don’t have to worry about when you have to check them back in. They automatically check themselves back in.”

Some branches of the library have CDs and artwork available to be check out as well, Bonnette said. Shreve Memorial also hosts adult book clubs, crafting clubs, computer classes and more. The library also hosts story times for children, after-school programs, and teen times throughout the week.

“It’s a time for teens to come hang out with their friends, and also to learn,” Bonnette said. “Kind of a peer support thing.”

CONTINUING TO EVOLVE

The Shreve Memorial Library is adapting to better meet the needs of the community. In addition to digital offerings that check themselves back in, the library has eliminated a pesky part of its legacy.

“About a year ago, we eliminated all overdue fines,” Bonnette said. “While we have due dates on the library books, we automatically renew your checkouts up to five times, depending on the item. And there are no late fees associated with it. If you don’t get back by the due date, you’re not penalized. We do ask that you bring the book back, but you’re not penalized for not getting it back on time.”

Bonnette said all of the library’s programs and event are free to the public. There are nominal fees for making copies, but even the materials for the arts and crafts activities are free to the public.

for controlling the speed of the body’s metabolism or metabolic rate, which is consumed food into energy. Because the entire body relies on this process, if the thyroid isn’t working properly, it can have negative impacts on the entire body, too. The thyroid affects bodily functions such as metabolism, heart rate, breathing, digestion, body temperature, mental activity, brain development, and fertility.

A common thyroid issue that affects 20%-76% of adults is thyroid nodules. A nodule is a lump, or growth, of cells in the thyroid gland. This condition is four times more likely to affect women, imaging tests like the ultrasound or the these nodules may be identified during

a routine primary care visit or by the patient themselves while looking in a mirror or while fastening a necklace. Most of these nodules are noncancerous or benign in nature and do not warrant intervention. While still benign, sometimes thyroid nodules may cause conditions such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormone levels, may cause symptoms of fatigue, numbness of the hands, weight gain, dry skin, or depression, while hyperthyroidism, or overproduction of thyroid hormones, may cause symptoms of rapid heartbeat, weight loss, increased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and shakiness. These conditions are typically treated with medications.

Occasionally, benign nodules require surgical removal if they cause compressive symptoms or cosmetic deformity. A removal technique, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), has recently gained popularity as an attractive option for patients who refuse surgery or are not surgical candidates.

RFA is the process of creating thermal energy when electrical current is passed through tissue (thyroid nodule) which induces necrosis and fibrosis and eventual tissue reduction. RFA is an image guided ablative technique and uses ultrasound as the modality of choice for imaging.

RFA is performed under local anesthesia with or without sedation. Under ultrasound visualization, the RFA probe is introduced into the thyroid nodule with a ‘moving shot technique’ wherein the operator moves the RFA probe back and forth while observing the changes in the tissue on the ultrasound. The heat created raises the tissue temperatures to 60 to 100 degrees Celsius. Observing the tissue in real time helps the operator ablate the entire lesion while avoiding transmission of thermal energy to nearby structures.

Overall, RFA has lower risks when compared to surgery. Heat damage to the surrounding structures is the most common cause of complications following the RFA procedure. The ‘danger triangle’ has been described

proximity with the wind-pipe and the that voice changes or hoarseness are

Guidelines from multiple national and international head and neck surgery/endocrinology societies have been developed to guide the use of RFA for treating thyroid nodules. Confirming two benign results on a needle biopsy is recommended prior to recommending RFA. Other patients who can benefit from this procedure include patients with cosmetic concerns and want to avoid neck scars.

The role of RFA in cancerous nodules is upcoming and still an area of research. Recent studies have shown that RFA is safe in low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTMC) and does not compromise oncologic outcomes. These results, however, should be cautiously interpreted and treatment should be individualized. Without long term data, at present, RFA is not generally recommended in any other types of thyroid cancers and if used should be a multidisciplinary team decision.

Overall, RFA is an effective, safe, and minimally invasive alternative to surgery in a select group of patients. With the recent publication of the

best practice recommendations from national and international thyroid societies, the use of RFA in treating thyroid nodules will become more standardized. Future studies with long term follow-ups will solidify the use of RFA as its indications are constantly evolving.

and Professor of at LSU Health

Asarkar, MD, at LSU Health is an Assistant at LSU Health

Childhood comes and goes in a blink. We’re here through the stages of your life, with the strength of the cross, the protection of the shield. The Right Card. The Right Care.

BY ADAM BAILEY

SHREVEPORT, LA. Today, mathematics education depends heavily on foundational learning. Nevertheless, math education traditionally follows a “spiral method” of applied learning—where numerous, varied topics are presented in units and students may not explore the same topic for several months (or possibly not until the next grade level). As a result, some students never truly master a concept and therefore lack a foundation for connecting basic concepts and transferring that knowledge to more complex math. Without basic, complete mastery, students then encounter a compounding effect—falling further and further behind as mathematics tasks progress in complexity.

CHANGING HOW WE LEARN MAT H

ONE STUDENT

AT

A

TI ME.

Here’s how Marjorie Briley thinks about math learning—all students can learn math and personalized adaptive learning is the most effective way to help students and teachers accelerate learning. Utilizing the powerful architecture of online programs, students can learn foundational math lessons online and the program provides teachers valuable information to further learning. Teachers can utilize quality class time for problem solving and communicating about math to further student understanding of concepts. This flipping of the traditional classroom is an operating system espoused by Marjorie and Kevin Briley’s company Ascend Math—a web-based math instructional platform that goes far beyond drill and practice. When it comes to learning math, Briley says “Ascend evaluates a student’s individual needs, automatically outlines a learning path that is based on state standards and provides all of the instruction a student needs to learn core mathematical concepts.” Ascend’s focused, individualized instruction—which uses developed and adapted activities and ongoing assessments— attempts to ensure that students quickly gain proficiency in basic mathematical concepts.

Instructional options within Ascend’s curriculum are rich and varied, including video tutorials presented by award-winning mathematics instructors, multimedia explorations including technology-based design, and ample practice. Frequent assessments enable a student’s learning path to be continually updated to reflect their current level of skill. Its course plans target skill gaps and aim to teach exactly what a student needs based on identified strengths and weaknesses. Instruction is delivered in a logical sequence and students can progress at their own pace—tracking their own progress and success.

Simply put, Ascend uses state-of-the-art educational technology to build critical math skills through online math instructional and multi-modal learning methods through video instruction and virtual manipulatives.

Based right here in Shreveport, Ascend Math was established in 2007 by Marjorie and Kevin Briley. Marjorie has over twenty

—

Atlantic High School, Port Orange, Florida

Taylor County Elementary, Perry, Florida

Kevin & Marjorie Briley

Osborne High School, Marietta, Georgia

Sierra Elementary, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Project Reclaim in Minden, Louisiana

categories, the lows, the middles, and the

to be much more effective with students. There is an unbelievable opportunity that we have to leverage how people learn through technology.”

Algebra is often seen as the gatekeeper that that 86% of their Algebra students passed support step-wise learning and encourage today’s rigorous state standards. they have made. By putting control of augmented with outstanding video-based way today. What we have, along with what we

have the staffing or the resources to assess our students, provide accurate

intrigue the kids and get them interested. It does a lot of things. It does intrigue them. They remember it, so it impacts them. Also, it helps them think about the world as a pretty unbelievable place.”

Getting his students to think that way was his mission.

“It’s hard to fathom all the different things that occur in the natural world,” he said.

“It opens up their minds a little bit to think about things they just don’t normally think about. You’ve got running water in your house. You can turn on the switch and lights come on. They never really think about how that occurs. That’s what I try to make them think about, how things actually happen.

“That’s what science is. It’s the understanding of the principals of science that allows us to manipulate the world to make it do things we want it to do.”

The more Wrobel worked with Advanced Placement and more advanced sciences classes, the more he knew he had to move beyond those homemade experiments. He set his sights on the high-tech laboratories Byrd students use today for a variety of high-level research initiatives.

He looked back to his time in marketing with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to begin to explore how to make it happen through building a coalition beyond the walls of Byrd.

“So I am at a public high school,” he said. “We sit around and wait for them to give us pencils and pens and erasers. You’re never going to get much more than that because they have a restricted budget, right?

Not a knock on the educational system. That’s just the way it is. But what’s to stop you from getting outside resources that are going to fund programs that benefit students.”

With the support of Principal Jerry Badgley — a “go-get-it” kind of person — Wrobel went to work.

EDUCATION

gary Wrobel left teaching in August of last year. Yet even today, when he talks about C.E. Byrd High School today, he still talks about what “we” are doing.

“We’ve got the right stuff,” Wrobel said of the science labs that he helped start up in his time at Byrd. “We’ve got the right tools. We’ve got the talent. Everything’s in place. We’ve just got to keep it plugging.”

That team approach can be hard to let go after 11 years of teaching math, physical

& ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Wrobel GARY

W robel

BY SCOTT ANDERSON

science, and chemistry. In that time, experimentation was the center of his approach.

“It’s magic when you see a science experiment happen,” he said.

“Experiments intrigue the kids.” Wrobel would scour the internet looking for ideas for his daily classroom experiments. It meant “a lot of late night going to Walmart or Hobby Lobby, looking for supplies,” he said. It was worth it to him to draw his students into the lessons.

“I would come in with something pretty cool to do every day,” he said. “It would

“He said, ‘There’s a mountain there. Let’s find a way around it,’” Wrobel said of Badgley.

Wrobel pitched some ideas to Badgley at a dinner when the principal asked if Wrobel really thought this could happen. The teacher emphatically responded, ‘Yeah.”

“I had the lab experience,” he said. “I had never built a lab, but I knew how to use the equipment and what was needed.”

Wrobel, who has a bachelors degree in biology and masters degrees in both biology and cell and molecular biology, went to work researching what programs were available. He found Avantor Sciences — a company already on the state bid list — that could provide the equipment needed. The other side of the equation was raising money to purchase the equipment.

“Jerry Badgley was great about that,” Wrobel said. “He said, ‘You put a plan

“Experiments intrigue the kids.”

together. Tell me what you need. We can sell this because it’s really going to benefit the students.’ Donors are always looking for specific things they can say their money went toward.”

Fundraising was an easy sell. The Byrd Foundation supported the project, and a number of parents made donations, wrote grants and reached out to alumni for additional funds.

Wrobel also found Bio-Rad Laboratories, which had a curriculum already in place for a bio-technology course.

“Everything was spelled out,” he said. “It had the labs. It had the kits, and all the materials necessary. It was already built, and other top schools across the country were already using this. We had said we wanted to develop this into one of the best science programs you would get at any high school in the South.”

COVID slowed down the installation of the labs, now in their third year of operation. A lot has happened in that time, Wrobel said, in addition to the bio-technology classes it was designed for.

“We have had AP research students do some very original research projects that don’t even take the bio-technology class, they just use the lab for its capabilities. I was able to guide them in their projects.”

Wrobel said he has spoken with several alumni who have plans of becoming doctors who are “acing their classes” at the next level because of their experience in the Byrd labs.

“The worst thing that can happen is the students go to college, unprepared, get blown out of the water freshman year, fail or have to drop their biology classes because they had their lunch handed to them and lose their dreams,” he said. “That can happen for a lot of reasons, but the one reason I don’t want to have happen is because of academics — that they weren’t prepared.”

In addition to the bio-tech lab, Byrd also has an organic bio-chemistry lab that is up and running, and there is talk about adding a third lab for anatomy and physiology, Wrobel said.

Wrobel also collaborated with Shreveport’s medical community to further benefit the students through guest speakers, research projects and more. That is a win-win for the students and the community.

“Start them at Byrd High School to get some of those prerequisites done, so they are better prepared to go to college, hopefully locally, and then get funneled right into one of the programs so we can fill jobs locally with people who are form the community.”

The idea for the hydroponics lab germinated with Wrobel for a while after visiting Disney’s Epcot Center in Florida and Biosphere 2 in Arizona.

on me,” he said. “The next year I put a hydroponics system together in my classroom. We successfully grew, and Jerry Badgley was so intrigued that we were growing these plants with water and air.”

Wrobel wrote a grant through Bayer Agriculture, and they took over the old boiler room to expand the hydroponics lab.

“It was a wonderful project,” he said. “We bought everything we needed to for this system. It’s all computerized, so they can automatically monitor pH, electrical conductivity of the water and stuff like that.”

Through the hydroponics lab, several Byrd students have done research with Michael Billings at Cotton Street Farms, a commercial hydroponic farm in downtown Shreveport. Like the bio-tech professionals, Billings also speaks to the students and assists with the hydroponics lab operations.

“The big thing is to keep all of this collaboration going between the school and the community,” Wrobel said.

Wrobel said a lot of internal collaboration at Byrd contributed to the success to the hydroponics lab. Mack Evans and his engineering students helped build the lab.

“They put that system together and made it work,” Wrobel said. “He taught them that if you get stuck or it doesn’t come functional, how to make things happen. There was a lot of hands-on Mack did with those students that was just phenomenal.”

How to collaborate effectively was something Wrobel brought from his service in the Navy.

“My military experience taught me to let everybody do their own thing,” he said. “Let them take total charge of that section, and when they are done hand it off. That worked really well.”

Wrobel said he did not set out to teach. After graduating from The Citadel and serving in the Navy, he went to work for Pfizer. He left the company when it downsized after Hurricane Katrina. He didn’t think about teaching until he was working on his masters degree at LSU Shreveport.

“I found out in my first couple of classes that they needed teachers desperately,” he said.

“I thought I could do that. My classes were at night, so I could teach during the day. So I did that. That’s how I ended up at Byrd.”

He left Byrd last August as Gnome Hollow, the company he launched with his wife, Tisha, grew. They hand pour scented candles and make loofa soaps. The Wrobels sell their products locally at the Red River Revel, Les Boutiques de Noel, Mud Bug Madness, and the Shreveport Farmer’s Market. Now, he spends a great deal of time traveling to shows across the country. Gnome Hollow has products at companies in over 30 states and recently launched at Whole Foods Markets statewide.

It was not an easy decision to leave Byrd. But building the science labs, teaching at Byrd and LSUS and sponsoring Key Club and other activities at Byrd, all while launching the new business, he knew something had to change.

“I was going home at night and making candles from 5 o’clock to 3 in the morning, getting two hours of sleep,” he said. “After a couple of years, something had to give.”

Still, it was a decision he weighed until the very end.

“The business wasn’t going to run on its own,” he explained. “It was a very difficult decision. And it still is. I remember sitting at the North Dakota State Fair. I had already put in my resignation, effective Aug. 1, but it was July 25. I was like, ‘I have a few days left. I can still cancel it.’ I whiteknuckled it all the way to the end. Finally, Aug. 1 passed and it was executed. I was like, ‘All right that’s it.’ It’s scary.”

Wrobel said it is important to him to see the program at Byrd continue to succeed after his departure. He said he remains available as a backup as the programs expand.

“I have been so busy I haven’t had a lot of time to miss it,” he said of teaching.

“I left a lot on other people’s plates. It got divvied up, but I hated doing that to people. Most all of them wanted it. They are all doing spectacularly great with it. The program is better now than when I was there.”

Scott Anderson is a freelance writer with more than 20 years’ experience in journalism. He enjoys discovering and sharing people’s stories.

sell their products locally at the Red River

NEW YEAR NEW

YOU

BY COURTNEY HAMMONS BUTTS

Anestimated 41% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, most of which center around health-related goals. However, only 9% feel they are successful in keeping or achieving them. Why is it so challenging to stick with New Year’s resolutions? It may not be related to goal-getters discipline; it may be that the resolution itself isn’t SMART enough.

Setting a SMART goal is a way to guide your resolution to be more Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Defining these parameters ensures that your goal is more achievable over time.

Popular health-related New Year’s resolutions

Lose weight Eat healthier Exercise more Be healthy

These are great goals, but they need to be SMART. They do not define what “healthy” means. There are no actionable words. It is not specific, and it does not set a deadline. Before setting your SMART goal, take some time to define the why behind the goal.

Define the “why”

If your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, first figure out why you want to lose weight. Then, ask why this resolution is important to you, what you will gain by achieving this resolution,

core values.

and if this resolution aligns with your core values. Some examples are: Increased confidence

Improved relationship with food Longevity

Decreased medications Prevention in disease Increase activity with family members

Now that you clearly understand your “why,” setting your SMART New Year’s Resolution will be easier. Here are three ways to set yourself up for success in 2023:

Make your New Year’s Resolution SMART

If your goal is to lose weight by eating healthy in 2023, apply the SMART method to make the resolution more attainable.

Specific

Making your New Year’s resolution specific applies a clear focus to your efforts. It answers who, what, when, where, and why. Do you want to change the number on the scale, or do you wish to change your body composition–focusing on adding lean muscle mass and decreasing fat mass?

Measurable

You want to track your progress toward your goal. Make it measurable–define how much or how many. How will you know you have reached your goal?

Achievable

Your goal should challenge you, but it shouldn’t be impossible. Have you attempted to lose weight before? If you did, what was successful and what was unsuccessful? Keep that in mind when creating your resolution. Be realistic. Don’t set an overly ambitious goal you know that you cannot achieve.

Relevant

This is the point where you need to reference your “why” again to ensure your resolution aligns.

Is your goal important to you? Or is it a goal you need or even want to achieve? Will it bring you closer to your overall goal?

Time-bound

The deadlines you set for your SMART goals will prevent less critical tasks from getting in your way and hindering progress. You’ll be able to keep your priorities straight when you have the sense of urgency that comes along with a deadline.

Focus on SUSTAINABLE change

It’s great if you achieve your New Year’s resolution, but it’s even greater if you can sustain it. A sustainable rate of weight loss is half a pound to two pounds per week, which equals about two to eight pounds per month. So if your New Year’s resolution is to lose 30 pounds in a month, this is an unrealistic

and unsustainable goal. Instead, 30 pounds in 4 months is a resolution that has the potential to be achieved and sustained over a more extended period.

Often, individuals begin a new fad diet for their New Year’s resolution as a tactic to decrease weight. Unfortunately, fad diets offer fast unsustainable results with restrictive eating plans. In addition, a fad diet is often difficult to adhere to for a month, much less a year. Instead of adopting a drastically new way of eating, consider your current choices and make adjustments. For sustainable changes to your nutrition, focus on the following:

Protein

Protein helps regulate appetite and maintain muscle stores. Therefore, ensure you consume a lean protein source with each meal/snack.

Fiber

Fiber helps regulate appetite, bowel movements, and blood sugar levels. Ensure you have a source of fiber with every meal. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are excellent sources of fiber.

Anti-inflammatory fat

Anti-inflammatory fats like olive oil, avocados, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds help regulate blood sugar levels, are heart-protective, and help you feel satisfied after a meal. Prioritize monounsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats over saturated and trans fats.

Fun

Don’t forget to prioritize foods you consider fun. Typically, fun foods are more decadent, higher in calories, and lower in nutrients. To feel more in control around your fun foods, normalize them by intentionally incorporating them into your lifestyle. This will help you feel more in control when you are around them in social settings or eating out, which can help you achieve sustainable weight loss.

Enlist help & accountability from a dietitian

Dietitians are food experts. Before beginning any weight loss plan, it is important to consult with your dietitian to figure out the best diet plan that works for you and your individual health goals. Dietitians can also be a source of accountability and help you set

sustainable health-related New Year’s resolutions to help you become the healthiest version of yourself in 2023.

Courtney Hammons Butts, MS, RDN, LDN, is a weight loss dietitian at Courtney Butts Nutrition.

CHANGES IN THE BIG Downtown

BY LIZ SWAINE

Facebook page that she ‘loved downtown.’ I

Construction is underway at the Expo Hall along the Clyde Fant Parkway across from Sam’s Town. The cityowned building is being transformed into an indoor sports venue ; a large space that will be able to host youth and adult sporting events ranging from volleyball and soccer to pickleball and badminton. These types of indoor sports complexes have become popular around the country and attract locals and visitors alike. Once open in 2023, this will be the only such facility within about 200 miles of Shreveport, another benefit.

For many years, the southeastern corner of Crockett at loan store and a quick mart. The buildings had been painted in the charge on a complete transformation. The second floor of the two-story will be some of the most alluring apartments

For those who love the great outdoors, the futuristic new performance pavilion at Caddo Common Park in the 800 block of Texas Avenue will kick off 2023 as a hub of music, theater, and other activity. The Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) will be programming 30 weeks in 2023, and on ‘off’ weekends, the pavilion will be available for others to use. The beautiful green space will be alive with yoga, outdoor art events, fitness walks, and more, and almost everything programmed there will be free to attend.

room for meetings and parties will prove a popular amenity that is not offered by most downtown restaurants.

Nearby at 711 Milam Street, the iconic Uneeda Biscuit Building is racing toward an April 2023 opening. We came very close to losing the beautiful five story building due to lack of maintenance several years ago, but it was painstakingly stabilized and rehabbed to become home to 32 spacious apartments geared toward artists and other creative types. When you drive by, you will see that the Uneeda Biscuit signage now pops with new color and window openings have been knocked through the west wall.

downtown and old spaces, it is currently being cleaned out of years getting a full new exterior look with waterproofing, paint and , named after the owner of the giant mule yard

The uber popular Dripp Donuts will be throwing open the doors to their first brick-and-mortar on a high-profile corner downtown. Their new home is the former 421 Market, the former Dee’s Photo building at the corner of Texas St. and Market. The 120+ year old building, owned by the Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation, has been under construction for the past two years for roofing, stabilization and waterproofing. Dripp will bring color, activity and tasty treats to a space that has seen little of any of that for a number of years.

Other projects that are planning on 2023 openings include new office spaces at a former historic parking garage at 408 Cotton Street, apartments and retail space at a former printing shop at 719 Marshall Street, retail/restaurant space at 620 Texas Street, an office/ Airbnb space at 709 Texas Street, a new boutique in the 500 block of Spring Street, and 120 apartments and commercial space at 961 Caddo Street. We are also hopeful that construction on two large residential projects, at 425 Edwards Street (Petroleum Tower) and 525 Milam Street (former Centerpoint), will get underway this year.

Meanwhile, new art murals are popping up throughout downtown, the new Noble Savage, reconstituted in 2022, is winning over former fans and new ones alike, Sci-Port’s IMAX has been upgraded to a more immersive experience and the Shreveport Aquarium continues to draw large and appreciative crowds.

The one-two punch of the initial steep downturn in natural gas drilling and Covid and its aftermath have not been kind to downtown and many of its properties, but there is reason to be optimistic about its future. We’re extremely excited about all that is to come and hope you’ll share in the excitement, too.

Liz Swaine is the Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority. Photos courtesy of the DDA.

LSUS NAMES NEW MEDIA DIRECTOR

GIANT SCREEN CINEMA ASSOCIATION

ELECTS DIANNE CLARK OF SCI-PORT DISCOVERY CENTER TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) has announced the results of the 2023 Board of Directors elections. Dianne Clark, Executive Director of Shreveport’s Sci-Port Discovery Center, is honored to join the board as a Theatre Representative. The GSCA website states their vision is to create “a network of premium educational immersive theaters that is woven into the fabric of peoples’ lives, providing enriching, fun experiences and developing world citizens.”

“As a member of the Board of Directors for GSCA, I will be able to communicate with film developers and producers, as well as other theatres, to bring back best practices designed to enhance our Goodman IMAX® Dome experience,” says Dianne Clark.

LSUS COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS AND PROFESSOR WIN BEST PAPER

In October of 2022, Dr. Subhajit Chakrabarty, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at LSU Shreveport, encouraged three of his students to attend the 58th Annual Conference for the Southeastern Chapter of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (SEINFORMS) and submit a research paper to the conference’s competition. While SEINFORMS offers a student-level track, the three students submitted their paper to the professional track to include Dr. Chakrabarty on the paper. This decision put them in competition against doctoratelevel professionals and professors. Dr. Chakrabarty remarked on his students’ performance at the conference: “The level of presentation and confidence they had was really fabulous. I was so impressed. It was beyond my expectations.”

Graduate students Prabhat Dhungana and Shiv Kumar Sarada worked with Devesh Sarada, an undergraduate student, on a research paper titled “Stock Price Prediction of Major Pharmaceutical Companies using Transfer Learning.” These students spent over a year working on their research for this paper, which involved many late nights and in-depth data sets on stock market trends throughout the decades. Together, they won Best Paper in the Track (IT Management, Analytics, Business Intelligence, Data Mining, and Statistics) and Best Paper of the Conference.

LSU Shreveport has named Erin Smith as the Director of Media and Public Relations. Smith served as Interim Director beginning in July of 2022 until she accepted the position of Director.   Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in General Studies with a concentration in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication from LSU Shreveport in 2008. Since then, she has worked with businesses and organizations local to the Shreveport-Bossier area, including the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, to enhance their marketing and media outreaches. Smith joined the LSUS Media and PR Department in April of 2021 as the Director of Digital Media and Website Management.

her bachelor’s degree in

OFFER

WILLIS-KNIGHTON FIRST IN REGION TO OFFER FOCAL ONE NONINVASIVE TECHNOLOGY TREATS PROSTATE CANCER

Willis-Knighton Health System is the first health system in the Ark-La-Tex to offer Focal One™ noninvasive robotic focal HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) to patients with localized prostate cancer. Gerard Henry, MD, urologist with WK Advanced Urology, performed the surgery on Monday, Dec. 5, at WK Bossier Health Center. Additional urologists offering the Focal One procedure are Christopher Stage, MD, at WK Advanced Urology, and W. Stewart Bundrick Jr., MD, and Christopher Wilson, MD, at Ark-LaTex Urology.

Focal One combines real-time ultrasound image guidance with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biopsy data presented in 3D. Using a probe, the doctor navigates to the tumor in real time, directs high speed ultrasound energy at the targeted area and ablates only the diseased portion of the prostate. No incisions are made. The fusion of these technologies enables urologists to establish more precise contours around the cancerous tumor than was possible in the past. They can then ablate a smaller portion of the prostate, which lessens the damage to surrounding healthy tissue and minimizes the risk of side effects of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, commonly associated with radical prostatectomy and radiation.

The of

ALL 40 STRANDED WILDLIFE WAYSTATION CHIMPS RESCUED — FINAL 10 CHIMPANZEES ARRIVE SAFELY AT CHIMP HAVEN; DONATIONS STILL NEEDED

Having spent the last three winters in the empty solitude of a defunct wildlife refuge outside Los Angeles, the last of 40 stranded chimpanzees will spend the holidays surrounded

by the sights and sounds of hundreds of chimpanzees living among the pine forests of the world’s largest chimpanzee sanctuary, Chimp Haven. The last 10 chimpanzees from the Wildlife Waystation – affectionately called The Treetop Ten because they will soon be able to climb real trees likely for the first times in their lives – made the 1,600-mile trek from Sylmar, Ca., to Chimp Haven in Keithville, La.

Chimp Haven President and CEO Rana Smith, who was at the Waystation to meet The Treetop Ten prior to their departure, shared her excitement about welcoming these chimpanzees in need to Chimp Haven. “Everyone at Chimp Haven is thrilled to welcome The Treetop Ten to the sanctuary and provide these individuals with what we call the Chimp Life. Every aspect of our sanctuary is designed to meet the social, physical, and psychological needs of chimpanzees. It is a place where they will thrive,” Smith said. “Once they have time to acclimate to their new home, our team will offer opportunities for them to meet other chimpanzees and potentially expand their social groups, giving them the closest possible experience to life in the wild.”

Standout amateur athlete from Parkway High School, Mikaylah Williams, named the 2022 Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award. Williams is the No. 1 high school women’s basketball player in the nation according to AGSR, Prospects Nation, Jr. All-Star National Rankings and ESPN HoopGurlz. She is the headliner of the 2022 LSU signing class, which is ranked No. 1 in the country by ESPN. Williams is the reigning Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year – a season in which she led Parkway to a 34-3 record and a state championship appearance while averaging 22.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals as a junior. Williams will head to Baton Rouge to join the LSU women’s basketball team in 2023.

Williams joins golfers Sam Burns (2014) and Phillip Barbaree, Jr. (2015) as recent amateur standouts from the Shreveport-Bossier City area to be honored with the Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award. Many of the greatest athletes and sports figures from Shreveport-Bossier City have been honored with the award – including NFL players Dak Prescott (2019), Morris Claiborne (2013) and Arnaz Battle (2002); professional golfers Hal Sutton (1983), David Toms (1997) and Burns; sportscaster Tim Brando (1992); and MLB players Todd Walker (1998) and Scott Baker (2007). Joe Delaney was posthumously honored as the Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year in 2021.

MIKAYLAH WILLIAMS NAMED 2022 CARL MIKOVICH SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR BY INDEPENDENCE BOWL FOUNDATION

CREATE YOUR OWN GLASS-BLOWING ART WORKSHOPS

Venue: Sanctuary Arts School

Date: Recurring weekly Time: see website for times Info: sanctuaryglassstudio.com

WINTER GLASSBLOWING ART WORKSHOPS

Venue: High Gravity Glassworks Date: Recurring weekly Time: see website for available times Info: highgravityglassworks.com

ART MARKET DAYS AT THE ANDRESS

Venue: Andress Artist and Entrepreneur Center Date: Recurring every Saturday Time: 12 – 4 PM Info: www.aaec.space

SECOND SATURDAY DOWNTOWN

Venue: Downtown Development Authority, 416 Cotton St. Dates: Recurring monthly on the 2nd Saturday Time: 10 AM – 6 PM Info: downtownshreveport.com

3RD SUNDAY SOUTHERN COMFORT DINING

Venue: Consortium Venue, 1925 N Market St. Dates: Recurring monthly, 3rd Sunday Time: 11 AM – 3 PM Info: www.cvenueinc.com

NEW YEAR’S DAY FIREWORKS

Venue: Provenance Community Date: Jan. 1 Time: 4 PM – 7 PM Info: www.yourprovenance.com

THE COLOR PURPLE

Venue: Marjorie Lyons Playhouse

Dates: Jan. 5 – 8 Times: Jan. 5 – 7 at 7:30 PM Jan. 8 at 2 PM Info: facebook.com/StageCenter

VICTORY BELLES

Venue: Shreveport Little Theatre Date: Jan. 6 – 8 Time: Jan. 6 – 7 at 7:30 PM Jan. 8 at 2 PM Info: shreveportlittletheatre.com

SBC GLO FEST

Venue: Louisiana Boardwalk and Downtown Riverfront

Date: Jan. 6 Time: 7 – 10 PM Info: Shreveport Regional Arts Council on Facebook

THE CARTOONS LIVE AT SAM’S TOWN

Venue: Sam’s Town Casino Date: Jan. 7 Time: 7 PM Info: samstownshreveport.com

BOSSIER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING

Venue: Bossier Civic Center Date: Jan. 10 Time: 6 PM Info: bossierchamberofcommerce.org

REEL ADVENTURES:

REAR WINDOW TRIVIA NIGHT

Venue: R.W. Norton Art Gallery Date: Jan. 13 Time: 5:30 PM – 8 PM Info: www.rwnaf.org

THE TAILGATE POETS LIVE AT SAM’S TOWN

Venue: Sam’s Town Casino Date: Jan. 13 Time: 7 PM Info: samstownshreveport.com

THE MUSIC OF LED ZEPPELIN WITH SHREVEPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Venue: Riverview Theater Date: Jan. 14 Time: 7:30 PM Info: shreveportsymphony.com

THE FAST AND THE FURRIEST 5K

Venue: Stoner Boat Launch Date: Jan. 14 Time: 7:45 AM Info: www.runsignup.com

Four-legged friends welcome and encouraged to participate! Frees rabies vaccine clinics after the race.

IDENTITY CRISIS LIVE AT SAM’S TOWN

Venue: Sam’s Town Casino Date: Jan. 14 Time: 7 PM Info: www.samstownshreveport.com

THE NOEL FOUNDATION, INC. CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES: MOZART’S REQUIEM WITH SHREVEPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Venue: Anderson Auditorium at Centenary College Date: Jan. 15 Time: 3 PM Info: www.shreveportsymphony.com

NEPHEW TOMMY

Venue: Shreveport Municipal Auditorium Date: Jan. 15 Time: 7:30 PM Info: www.facebook.com/ShreveportMunicipalAuditorium

SWEAT

Venue: Shreveport Little Theatre Dates: Jan.19 – 22 Times: Jan. 19 – 21 at 7:30 PM & Jan. 21 – 22 at 2 PM Info: www.shreveportlittletheatre.com

KICKER MONSTER TRUCK SHOW

Venue: Brookshire Grocery Arena Dates: Jan. 27 – 28 Time: 7:30 PM Info: www.brookshiregroceryarena.com

LIVERPOOL LEGENDS “THE COMPLETE BEATLES EXPERIENCE”

Venue: Strand Theatre Date: Jan. 27 Time: 7:30 PM Info: www.thestrandtheatre.com

MOZART’S HAFFNER SYMPHONY WITH SHREVEPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Venue: Riverview Theater Date: Jan. 28 Time: 7:30 PM Info: www.shreveportsymphony.com

SPORTSPECTRUM’S

THE TRAIL RUN AT BISTINEAU

Venue: Lake Bistineau State Park Date: Jan. 28 Time: 8:30 AM Info: www.runsignup.com

FREE FAMILY CONCERT FROM SHREVEPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Venue: Riverview Theater Date: Jan. 29 Time: 3 PM Info: www.shreveportsymphony.com

A performance of Kermit Poling’s original score to William Joyce’s book The Leaf Man and the Brave Good Bugs.

Now that 2023 is officially here, what better way to welcome the New Year than with the help of your furry friend? The New Year is an excellent opportunity to set a few new goals inspired by your pet. Whether you want to lose a few pounds or live a healthier lifestyle, your pet can help motivate you. Taking a few tips from your pet just might help you stick to those New Year’s resolutions.

Check out these pet-inspired New Year’s resolutions:

� Resolution #1: Love Unconditionally

If pets can teach us one thing about life, it’s how to love unconditionally. Your pet is always there to happily

greet you at the door after a hard day at work or snuggle you when it’s just been a rough day. How amazing would the world be if more people loved unconditionally as our pets do?

� Resolution #2: Stress Less Finding time to play with your pet will help balance out the stressors in your life. Get a new toy and try to play every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Interacting with your pet will help relieve your stress.

� Resolution #3: Try Something New Whoever said, “you can’t teach an old dog (or old cat) new tricks,” didn’t know what they were talking about! Learning something new is a great way for us and our pets to keep a sharp mind. So, try a new hobby or activity that challenges your brain for the New Year.

� Resolution #4: Drink More Water Staying hydrated is essential for your pet’s health as well as your own.

Recommendations for daily water intake are the same for people and dogs. The rule of thumb is about 0.5 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. When your pet takes a sip, don’t forget to take one yourself, too!

� Resolution #5: Relax

If there is one thing pets show us — it’s how to relax! Did you know that cats sleep 16-20 hours per day, and dogs sleep about 12-14 hours per day? However, you will probably want to keep your cat naps a tad bit shorter. A quick 30-minute nap will help you get through a tough day. Or, try spending some one-on-one time with your pet watching some TV or cuddling.

� Resolution #6: Take a Walk

Get outside and walk your dog! Dog walking is a great way to get in shape for you and your dog. One of the biggest health benefits of owning a dog is improved cardiovascular health. Remember, diet is only part

of the equation when it comes to health and weight control; increasing activity is also necessary. So, be sure to get plenty of exercise throughout the coming year.

� Resolution #7: Smile and Live in the Moment

Did you know that people who smile more often see health benefits such as lower blood pressure and pain relief? With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is a constant challenge to stay in the moment. When a pet spends time

with you, he is not worrying about the past or stressing about the future — he is just enjoying the moment, which is something we should all try to be better at!

� Resolution #8: Get a Check Up

It is said that the greatest wealth is health. So the New Year is a great time to commit to making health and wellbeing a priority. Keeping up with annual exams is important for long-term health — for you and your pet! See your doctor and take your pet to the vet regularly to catch any potential health problems before they begin.

Set some goals to make some positive changes in the New Year. Create a plan that can help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions. Maybe even lean on your pet to help you reach those goals — they won’t mind. But, most importantly, get excited, get healthy, and spend some time with your pet!

Join our basketball-focused fitness club and experience the luxury of organized and officiated pickup basketball! Youth and adults officiated pickup games are running consistently! We offer world-class gyms, expert trainers, and one-ofa-kind programs. 100% customized one-on-one expert basketball training with results-based and proven methods to substantially increase your skill set. Improve your basketball skills, get ripped into shape, and have fun! We also have a fully-equipped state-of-the art fitness area.

MARY Bloody Smoothie

Have you ever tried making a savory smoothie? This non-alcoholic, breakfast-worthy spin on a traditional Bloody Mary cocktail is a splendid introduction to veggie-based smoothies. With a blend of tomatoes, celery, avocado, and spices, this smoothie is loaded with flavor, and the bold blend will seduce you with every sip. Add more Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, horseradish, and lemon juice for an even bolder experience. To take the experience up a step, try salting the rim of your glass and serving with a celery stick. You won't even miss the vodka.

INGREDIENTS

3 medium tomatoes, chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cup celery, diced (about 2 ribs)

1/2 medium avocado, pitted and peeled

1 tablespoon fresh horseradish mince, more to taste

2 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, more to taste

10 dashes of Tabasco sauce, plus more to taste

2 1/2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon, more to taste

1 teaspoon red onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, peeled

1 teaspoon natural salt

Pinch freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

2 cups ice cubes

OPTIONAL BOOSTERS

3 teaspoons cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon chia seeds

1 teaspoon goji powder

METHOD

Throw all the ingredients into your blender and blast on high for 30 to 60 seconds until smooth and creamy. Tweak flavors to taste (you may want more horseradish, Worcestershire, Tabasco, lemon juice, or pepper).

Mojito Smoothie is which gives a zesty, refreshing taste of a mojito. You will feel like drinking a healthy smoothie. Add half an avocado

(1 or 2 large leaves with stalk removed)

Clothes make the man. But … you can’t judge a book by its cover.

There is an honest way of looking at contradictory beliefs, of accepting the value of the opposite way of our thinking, if for no other reason than to make us continually examine our own.

If you haven’t noticed, there seems to be lots of people yelling at each other these days. We are losing the art of listening, and the art of thinking. Each demands our attention and doesn’t happen on its own.

Consider that there is value in a paradox. There is value in learning to look both ways. At the same time.

The notion was so difficult that it at first evaded me, as “new math” once had and as the NFL’s overtime rules do today. It would have passed me by completely had not a fellow pilgrim explained it so logically, so soundly, and so simply.

Can you look both ways, both forward and backward at the same time? Janus could.

There are evils that must be opposed. (Hitler comes to mind. And acid rock. The Houston Texans.) But naturally, I was reminded by my friend that most normally, we all want the same thing, have the same desires. There is unity in moving forward toward that common goal, despite our differences. With a focus on compassion, making that the basis of our faith, the light on our collective journey, unity is possible, even in our disagreements.

BOTH

BY TEDDY ALLEN

LEARNING TO LOOK ways

INancient Roman myth, Janus is the god of beginnings and endings, the god of duality. Most often when you see him in artistic creations, he has two faces, one looking to the future, one looking to the past.

You could actually call Janus “two-faced” back then and he wouldn’t think twice. If another Roman mythical god caught Janus talking behind his back, the proper insult was actually “four-faced!” Roman mythical gods would pull out the heavy artillery in a heartbeat.

It is accepted that the month of January, a time to be both reflective and resolute, was named after the mythical Janus. Like him, we can look both ways at the same time. Been doing this for centuries.

Surely, if you’ve lived long enough, you’d agree that a penny saved is a penny earned. Yet it’s also suggested we live each day as if it is your last.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. But, out of sight, out of mind.

Shreveport voters have elected a new administration. Maybe we can get back to civil discourse if we understand that we can look both ways at the same time. We can live freely in the paradox that to lead, we must serve, and that to live, we must die to ourselves.

In a melding of all those opposites, there’s room for a discourse that’s compassionate and healthy. And mutually beneficial.

We just have to remember. It’s like teaching an old dog the old tricks again.

We can learn a bit from Janus, that hard-to-buy-a-hat-for stud of olden days. Unlike him, I just have the one head, but I can use it for good, make sure and keep it filled with common sense.

I can resolve to do better. I’ll bet Janus did. His resolutions at the start of the new year were likely, “I will finally go back to the eye doctor this year, even though they charge me twice for my co-pay.” Or, “I’ll obey my mom and remove my hat, both of them, when I go inside this year.”

Maybe … Maybe he did.

And maybe he made one of the hardest resolutions of all to keep, which is to look at and act on what is immediately before us. That’s tough to do when you place yourself forever in charge of staring at the two terrible eternities of yesterday and tomorrow.

Instead of staring at the past, we can study and learn from it, imagine a future forged by compassion, and live to make it so in the moment we’ve been given. Here’s looking at us. Hope this is our best year yet.

Teddy Allen is an award-winning columnist and graduate of Louisiana Tech, where he works as a writer and broadcaster.

Adora Collection

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