Eye On Independence July 2015

Eye On Independence www.eyeonmag.com

A DIY Saturday Aiming in the Same Direction Wood Family Dealership: History of Service A Publication of Meadowland Media, Inc.

July 2015

APPLY ONLINE! www.firstcommunity.net

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In This Issue 6/ Editor’s Note Main Street Heat

8/ Batesville Area Arts Council 9/ DownTown Guide 12/ Cover Story

Wood Family Dealerships: History of Service

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18

8

20

12

23

17

30

17/ Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista

What Better Way to Spend Your Saturday Morning?

18/ I Do

Milum - Covington Wedding

20/ Feature

Aiming in the Same Direction

22/ Smith’s Verdict ***1/2

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ingnorance)

24/ Things To Do 24/ Notes from the Clearing The Rainy Night

26/ Faces 30/ The Historic Melba

A Theatre Retrospective

31/ The Myopic Life

The Lemonade Stand

35/ Great Tastes Peaches

36/ Experiencing God in the Everyday Looking for Rest in All the Wrong Places

Chad Grigsby is a 32 year old native of Tennessee but now calls Arkansas home. He is the Pastor for Teaching & Shepherding at the Compass Church. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Jessica and they have one son, Ezra.

Kristi Price is on staff with Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville as Ministry Coordinator.

She enjoys conversations about community and connection, and she loves small town living.

Kristi is married and mother to three children.

Leigh Keller is a high school guidance counselor and colorguard instructor at Batesville High School. She is the director of the BHS Glass Slipper Project. Leigh lives in Batesville with her son, Cole, and a pack of dogs.

Guest Writer

Alisa R. Lancaster is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) North Central office and serves as faculty for the UAMS College of Nursing. She has been with the UAMS system since 1994. Alisa earned her Master’s and two post Master’s certificates in Advanced Practice Nursing from UAMS. She is passionate about the health and wellness of others. Alisa is married to Scott Lancaster, General Counsel for Bad Boy Mowers, Inc. and its affiliated companies. Together, they have four children, two daughter-in-laws, five grandchildren, and two very spoiled puppies.

Adrienne Freeman is a Jackson County based food writer whose work is published statewide.

When not at the keyboard, she can be found in the kitchen, focusing on recipes and techniques that can be easily replicated by fellow enthusiastic home cooks. She always welcomes reader response at newport.foodies@yahoo. com.

Eye On Independence received the 2012 Innovative Project award, which is presented to an agency or organization for outstanding, innovative, continuous or effective coverage of literacy issues, resulting in positive change or improvement.

Tanner Smith is a native of Manila, Arkansas. He has written movie reviews for the T Tauri Galaxy (www.ttauri.org/galaxy) for several years and is a five year veteran of the T Tauri Movie Camp.

He has made a number of films, ranging from horror to documentary, and has won awards in filmmaking and screenwriting.

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Eye On Independence is a publication of MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. Editorial, advertising and general business information can be obtained by calling (870) 503-1150 or emailing Kimberlee Thomas at kthomas@eyeonmag.com. Mailing address: P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher or the staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate and neither MeadowLand Media or it any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Copyright © 2010 MeadowLand Media, Incorporated.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publisher.

All pictorial material reproduced in this book has been accepted on the condition that it is reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer concerned. As such, MeadowLand Media, Incorporated, is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof.

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: MeadowLand Media, Inc. P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com PUBLISHER: Kimberlee Thomas Associate EDITOR: Joseph Thomas MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas Creative Director : Joseph Thomas

AD DESIGN Department: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas PROOFING Department: Joseph Thomas Kimberlee Thomas Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Rockwell Publishing

For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Kimberlee Thomas, 870.503.1150, kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

Eagle Pest

Management, LLC 1775 Porter Street, Batesville

870-307-0582 Toll Free: 877-313-2453 Commercial and Residential Your Termite and Pest Control Services Specialist Serving North Central Arkansas Waymon Long President

Cover Photography by Robert O. Seat Photography Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

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Editor’s Note

Main Street Heat Joseph Thomas

We have been incredibly busy making yogurt, cutting strawberries and Kiwi and enjoying seeing you all come and go, laughing and visiting with one another inside and outside of Chill Factory.

Community is what we are Kimberlee and Joseph Thomas seeing and on Main Street of all places. It is coming alive and we are glad to be a part of it. Also, I have seen the Batesville Police Department walking the beat on Main, checking businesses door to door after hours and I, for one, am glad to see it. It seems a scene from a black and white movie and only adds to the secure, wholesome feeling that Main Street Batesville seems to

emit. It was always nice to have the Independence County Sheriff’s Department in town and this is just another layer of peace to an already warm and inviting city.

We are also glad you are reading this and invite you to continue on to find Kristi Price’s story of her daughter’s Lemonade Stand, Leigh Keller’s DIY adventure and Tanner Smith’s review of Birdman. Chad Grigsby speaks of looking for rest in all the wrong places, Jeff Johnson shares the Wood family history of service, Adrienne Freeman shares July Peach recipes and Kimberlee brings us the Milum Covington wedding. Autumn Hunter brings us her second installment on A Step Forward, Janelle Shell gives us history lesson on the Melba, we have faces, things to do and so much more. Read on, stay cool and enjoy Independence in July!

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6 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

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ATTENTION EMPLOYERS! The Governor’s Dislocated Worker Task Force and the Department of Workforce Services in Batesville will hold a job fair for ConAgra employees on JULY 20, 2015 10 A.M. – 2 P.M. UACCB Independence Hall 2005 White Dr. Batesville, Arkansas 72501 Contact: Ben Baxter 870-793-4156 ben.baxter@arkansas.gov Interested in booth space? Registration forms should be sent to Ben Baxter at the Department of

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July 2015 11

Eye On Cover Story Wood Family Dealerships: History of Service Jeff Johnson

When Stanley Wood Sr. moved to Batesville in December of 1939, he pledged to provide the community and surrounding areas with “friendly, reliable sales and service.” That pledge is alive today with, “The Wood Family Promise.” * Honesty in All Dealings * Choices in Sales and Service * Fair Prices, Always * Trusting Relationships Since 1939 the dealership has represented General Motors, first with Chevrolet and Chevrolet Medium Duty Trucks. They later added Pontiac in 1959. After the Pontiac brand was dropped in 2009, the dealership operated as an exclusive Chevrolet dealership for 2 1/2 years. In Mid 2012, Stanley Wood acquired Lakeside Motors, and added Buick, GMC, and Cadillac to its lineup. They now offer ALL of the General Motors brands.

On October 3, 1987, the Wood Family purchased Street Motors of Batesville and became the Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge dealer for this area. In 1992 the two dealerships were combined, offering 2 sales facilities and one common service and parts sales, all on Central Ave. in downtown Batesville. December of 1995 the Jeep franchise was added with the purchase from Roulette Motors, making Scott Wood Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, a full line Chrysler Dealership Economic: Investment in the Community Both dealerships are now in

two new state of the art facilities (the GM Store, which opened February 2013 and the Chrysler Store, which will open July 2015).

Both are located in the Woodland Commercial Park, formed in 2006 when the Wood Family bought 59 acres on HWY 167S. Each of the new facilities are built to depict the exterior design elements of each manufacturer.

Inside, they are customer friendly, open, state of the art spaces for sales, service, parts, and accessories.

The road to this location includes development of the commercial district on Batesville Blvd, just south of the airport. It now includes Harps Grocery Store, Sonic, Centerpoint Energy, Stanley Wood Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac, and Scott Wood Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Still under construction is a 16 unit duplex rental complex, Independence County Off-Road (Bad Boy, Polaris, Can-AM), and Southside City Park on Stanley Wood Dr. Land for light industrial / commercial development is still available.

Investments also includes redevelopment of the former Stanley Wood / Scott Wood dealerships in downtown Batesville.

So far, the former Scott Wood lot has been turned into the Batesville Police Department.

Two other facilities are still available for sale or long-term lease. Myra Looney Wood is development manager for Woodland Commercial Park and the

Wood Family Holdings downtown.

Community Investments - Dealerships The Wood Family Dealerships support many causes. “Project Pink” is a charity to help breast cancer survivors with expenses not covered by insurance. “Best Foot Forward” is a program to supply school shoes to needy students in our local public schools. Support also goes to groups such as Youth baseball and softball team sponsorships, fall youth basketball leagues, youth soccer and other athletics, as well as many other local and regional causes like United Way, Batesville Area Arts Council, Batesville Community Theater, White River Health Systems Foundation, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Alpha Center, Family Violence Prevention, the Humane Society of Independence County, Sulpher Rock Elementary activities fund, Friends of the Pioneers, Southside Athletic Boosters, and many more!

Community Investment - Owners From the start, Stanley Wood and family became involved in the Batesville community.

Stanley Wood Sr. served in Kiwanis on many boards and commissions. He was instrumental in the original construction of White River Medical Center at its current location. He served Lyon College as a board member for over 40 years. He was a deacon and trustee of 1st Baptist Church.

Stanley Wood Jr. began his

12 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

work with the dealership in 1948.

Stan, as he’s known, fell right into community service, working with the Boy Scouts, serving on Batesville Utilities Commission, City Council and UACCB Trustee for a number of years. Both Stanley Sr. and Jr. were avid sportsmen and love the game of golf. Both Stanley and Stan have been King White River. Stan and his wife Mary Jeanette attend 1st United Methodist Church.

The National Automobile Dealers Association and Time Magazine named Scott Wood 2010 National Auto Dealer of the year for successful dealership operation and philanthropical service. He has invested much time in the educational community in the area, both as a Batesville School Board member, School Board past president and on the board of Lyon College where he now serves as Board Treasure. Scott’s also a past White River Health Systems Foundation board member and served for two years on the Health System Board. Scott is a member of Compass Church.

Phil Brissey is a 4th generation Wood Family Dealerships manager.

Phil is married to the former Laura Wood (Scott’s daughter).

His community service revolves around youth

athletics, especially youth baseball.

Phil was a board member and coach in ICYAA. He also coaches a Batesville based 8-year-old Little League traveling team called the Challengers. Phil currently serves on the board of White River Health Systems. He is the President of the White River Razorback club. The club won the Horton Award for best Razorback club in 2014 from the Arkansas Razorback Foundation.

Phil and his family are members of 1st United Methodist Church.

Statistics

The Wood Family Dealerships currently employ 54 people.

Those 54 people have brought in well over $44,000,000 in business to the community in the past year. With the expansion in to the new facilities, they anticipate being able to serve even more people, and provide even a wider selection for the community to choose from. For 76 years, The Wood Family Dealerships has focused on serving our community.

Technology and buildings may change, but the heart to serve will always be the first priority.

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July 2015 13

Batesville’s Main Street Farmers Market Jean Larson Starting in July, the Main Street Farmers Market will be open every Saturday offering fresh local produce and other handmade goods. July 4th will be the first market in July and the Market will continue weekly through July, August, and September. For October and November the Market will again open the first and third Saturdays of the month. All through the 2015 season the market will schedule special events and activities on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

Vegetables will be in high season for the July Market days and farmers will be selling beautiful tomatoes with heirloom varieties, onions, sweet and hot peppers, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, White County peaches and sugar baby watermelons. Five Acre Farms, Clark Farms and Price’s Farm from Pleaseant Plains, Mahan Farm in Southside and Beyond the Garden Gate Herb Farm from Judsonia and Victorious Cross Ranch from Bald Knob will all be at the Saturday Markets selling freshly picked, no spray and sustainably raised vegetables, eggs, goat milk lotions, and baked goods.

Garden Girl Farm Fresh Produce and More out of Pleasant Plains will be at the July Markets the first and third weekends, July 4th and 18th, selling her homegrown vegetables as well as local, pasture raised beef, pork and

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chicken from Freckle Face Farm and Holy Cow Farm as well as local cheeses, herb vinegars, baked goods and canned goods.

Brood Farm out of Cave City will also sell on the first and third Market Days of the month offering hand made goat milk soaps and fresh eggs from free running chickens.

Local craftspeople will be selling baskets, gourds, wood crafts and jewelry.

For the July 4th Market Day “Pretty Little Miss”, a local band, will be playing Bluegrass and Folk tunes on the Market Stage. Check the Main Street Batesville Facebook page for any changes and up to date Market events.

Main Street’s restaurants, fabulous antique shops, as well as Earth Station Nursery, the Batesville Area Arts Council Gallery, Gallery 246 at their new location, and the Chill Factory, Main Street’s new ice-cream shop, will all be open on Saturday. Come and find fresh and healthy foods, support your local farmers, and enjoy all the fun at the Main Street Farmers Market in Batesville.

For more information on Batesville's Main Street Farmers Market or to receive a Vendor Application call Market Manager, Jean Larson, at 208-869-1445 or email at jeallo16@gmail.com.

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Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista

What Better Way to Spend Your Saturday Morning?

Leigh Keller

Last year, when I was still in the throes of my retail addiction (sigh), I came across a new boutique just slightly out of town, Simply Southern Boutique. Amanda Scribner had a passion for fashion and a nose for business, so her little dream became a reality, right in her back (or technically side) yard. I cut off all contact with shopping for a little under a year to get my wild finances under control, and then I saw her post about a fabulous new project she had started, an engraving business. If you are a Pinterest follower at all, you have seen those wooden cut out, oh so cute, perfect for every holiday, door hangers. If you clicked through to etsy and saw the price tag, you probably said, like me “um. No ma’am. Girl, bye” So, I had pushed the idea to the back of my head until I saw Amanda’s post about her fun new business venture. When you put together a fun DIY morning, with friends, laughter and some paint, you simply cannot go wrong.

It’s difficult to get a pack of friends together in the summer, because everyone is so busy in the summer with sports, weddings and vacations, so I grabbed my sweet friend Danita and we headed to the workshop (which is conveniently located in the back of Simply Southern Boutique, and has several very cute pieces in stock). If you are someone who feels like you aren’t crafty enough to enjoy this workshop, they handle everything for you step by step.

Your personal workspace is set up with brushes, paint and your door hanger of choice. (Ours was the firecracker, perfect for your day from Memorial Day-Independence Day).

From there, Amanda and her crew, including the talented Mychelle Gregg, help you step by step complete your fabulous project. It does not matter if you drank a lot of coffee and cannot make straight lines (ahem), because a messy line makes for a very cute door hanger.

You can have a fabulous door decoration in under an hour and a half, with some fun girl time to boot. Amanda has so many styles to choose from, and you can book your own party, if you would like to do so (I WANT TO). The price for our session was $35, much less than purchasing one and having it shipped to me (sometimes I save myself so much money it is alarming).

Call the Simply Southern Boutique at 870.799.8306, or find them on Facebook and Instagram to see what you can make to dress up your door, and if you plan a party, I do expect an invite. N

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I Do

Milum - Covington Wedding Kimberlee Thomas

I would not consider myself a hopeless romantic that believes in love at first sight,” Katie Milum Covington said of herself. However she does admit to having an instant attraction to Kyle Covington when they were first introduced by mutual friends. “I’ve never shared this with anyone before, but it was honestly one of those movie moments. You know the one where everything slows down and the sounds around you just fade away into the background.” Katie was totally mesmerized by this new and mysterious person. Kyle was a bit spellbound himself and the couple began dating not long after that first meeting.

Katie was enjoying a bit of television in her room one Sunday afternoon when a loud noise from the living room captured her attention. The noise was followed by a shout from Kyle that one of Katie’s beloved cats had been injured. She came running into the living room nearly knocking Kyle over in the process before she realized he was down on one knee and holding a ring.

“When I saw he was holding a ring I actually fell to my knees in shock. I immediately said, “Yes.” The couple married at Chimney Rock in Concord on November 22, 2014. Kyle’s uncle, Kenny Hurley, officiated the double ring ceremony. The romantic sound of acoustic guitar filled the air as Danny Dozier played during the wedding. Katie descending the large spiral staircase in a white satin 1920’s inspired gown with its long train cascading the steps behind her. Her father, James Milum, escorted her from the staircase to her awaiting groom. Katie Potter served as matron of honor and Natalie Trower served as maid of honor. Kelli Reyes and Jessica Williams stood as brides maids. Jesse Wood and Justin Conyers shared the honor of best man for Kyle. Doug Tharp and Matthew Greenfield served as groomsmen. Kyle’s niece, Gwen Goodwin, along with Kylie Garrison, Madeline Reyes and Ella Potter served as flower girls. Kyle’s nephew, Owen Goodwin, served as ring bearer. Katie’s sister in-law, Kaylea Milum, honored her by serving at the wedding cake table while Kyle’s sister, Trish Goodwin, served at the groom’s cake table.

Katie’s aunt, Sylvia Yeager served punch and her cousin, Jamie Pool attended the guest book. Becky Garrison

and Sherry Everett directed the wedding and reception that followed. The theme was rustic and cotton. The enormous main room was lit with hundreds of white candles. Lace doilies made by Katie’s grandmother and great grandmother graced the tables. Being an artist at heart, Katie wanted to make something special for each of her guest’s to take home as a memento of their special day. “I hand threw on a potter’s wheel over three hundred little pottery bowls. I also made the vases that held the white roses and cotton.”

The couple honeymooned in Eureka Springs at the Eureka Springs Treehouses, Caves, Castles & Hobbits.

Katie is the art teacher at Batesville Junior High School and Kyle is completing his Civil engineering Degree at Aransas State University. They reside in Batesville. N

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Eye On Feature Aiming in the Same Direction

Autumn Hunter

Since the last edition “A Step Forward” has been busy working on funding. We applied for a national State Farm grant through our awesome local agent, Carter Ford. We were thrilled that we made it into the top 200 in the nation! In this second round votes are cast (up to 10x) daily for a couple weeks. The top forty organizations received grant money. We pulled our way into position #54. I was impressed since were up against metro areas like San Francisco. Even though it was not enough to receive funds, Carter dotes“… there was enormous amount of support shown by the community”. We will try again next year so we look forward to another opportunity to show that a small community can compete on a big scale!

Another great community awareness effort was made by Steve Thomas at Batesville Promotions and Allison Phelps, Executive Director of United Way. The Musicians Concert to End Homelessness was held in Riverside Park from 12-10 pm on Saturday, June 20th.

A Hillbilly water slide, Keller’s Bounce Houses and inflatable water slide kept the kids entertained while seven different line ups donated their performances for all to enjoy. This absolutely free, fun day for whole family was in support of A Step Forward. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Echoes of Silence, Hawk Goodwin, Ken Smith, The Key of G, Hiway 67, My Brother/ My Friend and The Natural State Band. We raised a little over $800 with this event and brought a lot of awareness to A Step Forward. Look for future events with Batesville Promotions and the United Way to bring awareness and support for other local organizations making efforts to provide and enrich our community.

When these two team up you can be sure it will be a great event.

Rock called “The One Inc”. They had vans that go out into the community to serve the homeless by providing basic needs where they find them. “A Step Forward” called the founder, Aaron, to discuss partnership. After a few meetings and several weeks later a van was delivered to Batesville. Future Fuel donated some mechanics and a storage facility for donations. By this time Jaysun and Ruthie Brnich had arrived on the scene, took ownership of the project, painted the van. The River Giver became boots on the ground; one more troop in our army of community programs fighting to provide opportunities and care for all our citizens. The One Inc. also runs a van in Searcy called The Mission Machine ran by Seth Simmons. Additional vans run in Russellville, The Russ Bus, and the original one in Little Rock simply dubbed “The Van”. Since January the River Giver has served over 70 different folks and helped at least 7 off the streets, including one family with a baby. They are in constant need of sleeping bags, tarps, tents, and gasoline. They could also use a consistent pair of relief drivers to build relationships with our homeless neighbors. You can reach them at 501-413-2640. Jaysun said community response has blown him and Ruthie away. Even another community non-profit, the Hellfighters stepped up to offer their supplies to stock the van as well. By the way, the Hellfighters are diligently working on the Mission building over on Pine Street. They would appreciate any donations of physical laborers, building materials and are looking for grants & writers to help them apply for building supplies to finish the infrastructure. You can reach them on Facebook at Hellfighters Batesville or at www.missionatthecross.com. We should all support each other as we are all aiming in the same direction.

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When “A Step Forward” first applied for non-profit status in January we knew it would be a process. We also knew there were immediate needs of the community that needed to be addressed in a timelier manner. Alisa Lancaster told us about another non-profit out of Little 20 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

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July 2015 21

Smith’s Verdict ***1/2

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ingnorance) Reviewed by Tanner Smith

“Birdman” (subtitled “Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance”) is one of the most ambitious, unique films to come out this year, or any year. It’s a film that shows the mental breakdown of a washed-up actor trying to redeem himself with a comeback through Broadway.

It’s a darkly funny, nearly spot-on portrait of theater life that goes into the pains of what goes into a show (with some exaggerations, for laughs) and what it will mean to cast members, both newcomer & veteran, while also taking time out to not only go into the main character’s disturbing inner psyche but also to attack pop-culture sensibilities that continue to invade modern blockbusters. The result is a black comedy that’s both disturbing to watch and yet fun to watch.

Michael Keaton stars as aging actor Riggan Thomson, who was once famous for playing the star of a highly successful superhero franchise called “Birdman.” But after refusing to star in a fourth Birdman film, nothing was ever the same and Thomson’s life and career went downhill. He attempts a career-changing comeback by adapting a Raymond Carver short story into a Broadway play. In his late vie for relevance, Thomson writes, directs, and yes, acts in the play. After one of his actors is injured in an accident, Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) is quickly called in to replace him. Shiner is an undeniably talented actor who brings dedication to his work but is also known for upstaging his directors in a pompous, obnoxious manner.

The cast also includes Lesley (Naomi Watts), a newto-Broadway actress ready to make her big stage debut, and Laura (Andrea Riseborough), Thomson’s lover who may or may not be pregnant. Thomson’s daughter, Sam (Emma Stone), works as his assistant. Fresh out of rehab, she struggles to rebuild her life while trying to convince her father that the best way to make a comeback is by going viral. As Thomson tries to put everything together, including a cast facing their own issues, his fear of failure and continuing a reputation as a “celebrity” rather than an “actor” starts to get to him.

“Birdman” is an effectively disturbing character study, showing us an actor who peaked too soon and is obsessed with reliving the fame while also trying something new with his career. He even hears the growling, grumbling voice of Birdman (a very similar voice to Michael Keaton’s Batman voice) inside his head, providing him alternately with criticism and encouragement. It’s almost as if the voice is telling him to, in a way, become Birdman again.

This is a man who let his life choices haunt him later on because he can’t adapt to modern culture and he wishes there were a simpler time when he could make a real impression. Now, he’s so laughable and disrespected that a New York Times theater critic he most hopes to impress (Lindsay Duncan) pretty much tells Thomson right to his face that she’s going to write a scathing review about the play before she even sees it. This guy lets it practically

consume his life. He’s putting everything on the line so he can be recognized again like he once was, but it all almost allows him to change his true identity.

“Birdman’s” distinguishing quality is its cinematography. One of the most distinguished qualities of “Birdman” is that, with the exception of an epilogue, looks it was filmed in one long, continuous take. The camera hovers through corridors, goes up and down long flights of stars, even flies from place to place in the city, as Thomson fantasizes himself as Birdman. Emmanuel Lubezki, who shot most of Alfonso Cuaron’s work (and also won a cinematography Oscar for “Gravity”), shot this film, and he does a tremendous job at making the audience feel like they’re inhabiting the same world as the characters. I was constantly wondering how they managed to make it all seem like one long take. Not even in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope” or the 2012 horror film “Silent House” did I question how this style was done; this style in “Birdman” is more fluid in motion, it’s effective at enrapturing me in this universe, and I hardly ever noticed the seams. “Birdman” was also directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, whose previous films include “21 Grams” and “Babel,” and he’s known for making films in an unconventional way (note his interweaving of different stories in “Babel”). Well, how’s that for unconventional? In a time with fast editing overpowers quality, it’s nice to see something of this style. Even when Thomson fantasizes about being the center of a “modern blockbuster,” with explosions, robots, and all sorts of loud mayhem in the city that mainstream audiences keep asking for (at least, according to the movie), it still manages to keep that style without visible cuts. That can’t have been easy to pull off. It’s all the more necessary to keep it in this style since we’re already trapped in this universe until the film ends, we get a visual look into Thomson’s psyche.

The acting? Excellent! This is Michael Keaton’s big comeback role, if you ask me. He’s perfectly cast and conveys a certain flair to his performance that can’t be copied. He hasn’t been this good in years. Edward Norton deserves Best Supporting Actor consideration for playing a role that pokes fun at Norton’s own reputation while making the character his own. He’s brilliant here; you just can’t take your eyes off him (which is why it’s a little disappointing that he disappears almost entirely from the film in the final act). Solid support includes Zach Galifianakis, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, and also Amy Ryan as Thomson’s ex-wife who still cares for him.

Overall, “Birdman” is a wonderfully-made, well-written, thought-provoking film with brilliant cinematography and acting.

It’s a riveting change of pace for those who are tired of the usual stuff people like Michael Bay spews out every year, or hell, every season. But more importantly, it’s one of the best films of 2014.

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22 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

Chamber Golf Classic Winners Jamie Beck

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce and presenting sponsor, Citizens Bank, hosted the 10th Annual Chamber Golf Classic on June 12, 2015, at The Course at Eagle Mountain. One hundred and twenty golfers from thirty teams competed this year.

Teams were divided into three flights. Winners are as follows: 1st Flight 1st Place – Bartlett Tire 2nd Place – Walmart Supercenter 3rd Place – Vital Link 2nd Flight 1st Place – The Cone Group 2nd Place – S.F. Fiser & Company 3rd Place – Douglas Tate & Friends 3rd Flight 1st Place – Kangaroos 2nd Place – Cup’d Up Outdoors 3rd Place – Lyon College Raffle tickets for a Chargriller, a Rigid job box, a weekend getaway to Branson, MO, and a $50 Tool Central gift card were sold to benefit the Chamber.

Randy Cross of Batesville held the winning ticket.

Cross represented Merchants & Planters Bank in the tournament. The raffle was sponsored by Kroger,

Home Depot, and Renee Taylor Travel Company.

Another big winner of the day was David Winberry of Batesville, who walked away with a $500 shopping spree courtesy of FFO Home.

Director of programs and events for the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Jamie Beck, says, “We are overwhelmed with the amount of support shown by our tournament sponsors, prize sponsors, and teams. We had a great day out on the course with everyone and we can’t wait for next year’s event!”

The event boasted 28 sponsors including: Citizens Bank, Cup’d Up Outdoors, Flowers Baking Company, Walmart Supercenter, The Cone Group, FNBC, Ozark Mountain Poultry, Merchants & Planters Bank, S.F. Fiser & Company, The Course at Eagle Mountain, CenterPoint Energy, Furniture Factory Outlet, George’s Liquor Store, Intimidator, LifePlus, LocoRopes, Mountain Meadows Health and Rehabilitation, Schwegman’s Office Supplies, Southern Bank, Southern Tire Mart, Suddenlink, Synergy HR, White River Area Agency on Aging, White River Financial Services & White River Insurance, Bad Boy, Inc., Jonathan’s Fine Jewelry, Scott Wood Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Batesville Area State Farm Agents, and U.S. Pizza Co. N

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July 2015 23

Things To Do Independence County LIbrary Janet Swaim Kids College 2015 Knights, Castles and Fairy Tales for grade 1st through 3rd is July 6 - 10 and Grades fourth through sixth is July 13 - 17 at UACCB. For more information call 870-612-2082 or email katrina.stevens@uaccb.edu.

All Over Independence

Fireworks Show The Gates of the Batesville Motor Speedway at 5090 Heber Springs Road in Locust Grove open Friday, July 3, 5, 10, 23, 24 and 31 at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps begin at 7:30 p.m. Races start at 8 p.m.

The Independence County Library invites all children to come join the Summer Reading Program, “Where Every Hero Has a Story.” The Summer Reading Program, which began June 7th and continues through July 25, is FREE and open to Children of all abilities. Keep your children reading and learning all Summer by signing them up for “Every Hero Has a Story.” Visit the Independence County Library this Summer!

Story Time for children will be held each Wednesday, through July 22, at the Independence County Library in Batesville. Children ages 3-5 are invited at 10 a.m. Ages 6 and up are invited to the 2 p.m. Story Time. For more details, call the library at 793-8814. N

Independence County Fair Monday, July 13, at noon through Saturday, July 18 at noon.

11th Annual T Tauri Movie Camp An artist residency program offering video production workshops for kids and teens age 8-18.

Workshops range in length from two to four days. 2015 offerings include Script to Screen Narrative Filmmaking, Stop Motion Animation, Music Video and Depicting Zombies. Starts Monday, July 13, at 9 a.m. and runs through Saturday, July 25. Contact Judy Pest at 870251-1189 or email ozarkfilm@wildblue.net or log onto www.ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org for more information.

Hutchinson Community Center Available The Hutchinson Mountain Community Center at 3370 Camp Tahkodah Road is available for rent by contacting Lea Barber at 870-612-4718.

Alzheimer’s Arkansas Caregiver Support Group of Batesville As a caregiver, family member or friend of someone who lives with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or another memory loss disorder, there may be times when you feel overwhelmed or frustrated.

The Caregiver Support Group of Batesville provides an opportunity for you to talk with others who really understand what you are going through, others who know just how you feel.

Please join us every second Thursday at 5:45 p.m. in the WRMC Josephine Raye Rogers Women’s Center Conference Center. Contact Deanna Green at 443.651.9686 for more information. N

Notes from the Clearing

The Rainy Night Joseph Thomas

The rainy night pelted the glass of the upstairs window with a drumming that spoke of unwritten thoughts. The wind was slight and left the night to the persistent drops intent on putting the young writer to sleep, but he fought on, holding his position to allow the words a safe place to fall. The words, if all went well, would fall in line and link into coherent and imaginative ideas that brought tears and laughs and concern for the men and women that lived there in the collage; Their portraits painted upon the paper when all were exposed and placed together. Their adventures spilled out to follow the reader in their daily chores as they subconsciously desire to get back to the collective pages that stave off sleep. What would happen next when the resolution of that woven web came together?

And how would they feel about it? What would they have done in that same scenario?

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24 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

July 3: 6:30 – 8 p.m. Turning on the Potter’s Wheel w/ David Dahlstedt This is a Free event. David will demonstrate his amazing skill throwing skills.

Dahlstedt Pottery will be available for sale July 4: One Day of Clay with David Dahlsted This one day clay immersion gives novice ceramic explorers a chance to get their hands in the mud to learn the basics of shaping clay. There will be demonstrations for a slab clay project, as well as wheel throwing. Students will have the opportunity to try hand building techniques; such as a pinch pots, coil pots or slab form, or receive hands-on assisted wheel play time. On the wheel, students will learn simple throwing techniques by throwing “off the hump” after clay is already centered.

July 11 – 13: Hand Carved Wooden Bowls with Owen Rein Learn to carve Beautiful wooden bowls in a variety of shapes and sizes using only a few simple hand tools and locally harvested green wood.

Each aspect of will be covered. Appropriate to all skill levels, this class is for those with strong arms who appreciate a quiet and slower way of working with wood than power tools.

July 15 – 16: Get Ready for your Success with Roberta Katz-Messenger A two-day workshop/seminar to get you ready for the next step in your craft career.

Wherever you might be professionally, whether you simply have a passion or are already an accomplished artisan, “Your Success” lays out the steps to overcome roadblocks and achieve your objectives. Roberta KatzMessenger and Sue Allen Pico bring experience, practical advice, resources, ideas and answers to a workshop built around you. This team has the expertise you need. Get the steps for creating a body of work, setting achievable goals, and having a successful marketing plan. Join

“Your Success” for small group discussions and one to one counseling. You will take away a plan tailored just for you, the steps needed to achieve that plan, and resources needed for the next step in your career.

July 25 – 26: Tablet Weaving with Angela Schneider Tablet weaving or card weaving uses simple equipment to produce patterned warp-faced bands. This workshop covers the basics of reading a pattern, setting up a warp and weaving. Produce multiple patterns on the same warp by changing the turning sequence. We will weave a sampler, and then you will select your own pattern and weave a project.

July 31 – Aug 2: Woodturning with Jimmy Clewes Jimmy Clewes is not your ordinary woodturner.

Upon a first meeting one would think of him as a renegade, a free thinker and not within the stereotypical image of a woodturner. His charming British style, unending wit, creative mind and magnetic personality are only some of the attributes that make him popular in the woodturning demonstration circuit. In this class, Jimmy will cover everything from the basics to more advanced techniques and tips. Projects will include the turning of bowls, platters and boxes. As a technique of embellishment, the coloring of wood will be included in the class instruction. Emphasis will be upon improving tool technique, reducing the need to sand.

Design, shape, form and aesthetics will be considered in all projects.

For more information on these and other classes visit Arkansas Craft School’s website, www. arkansascraftschool.org.

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Kennadi Pretty.

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July 2015 25

Faces

GATEWAY PROPERTIES RIBBON CUTTING The front porch of Gateway Properties was packed for their ribbon cutting on Thursday, May 28. Ambassadors in attendance included Deanna Green, Deann Castleberry (American Home Patient), Jennifer Corter (City of Batesville), Robin Milligan (Eagle Mountain Assisted Living), Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), Randy Seale (WRD Entertainment), and Julie Hinkle (Southern Bank).

Board members in attendance included Barry Hammers (Flowers Baking Company) and Robb Roberts (First Community Bank).

Mabee Challenge Update Hannah Keller

Lyon College is pleased to announce it was awarded a $500,000 challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The grant will go toward funding one of the new residence halls that will open this fall.

As part of the challenge grant, Lyon raised $5,172,000 between April 2014 May 2015. The Mabee Foundation has supported other projects at Lyon in the past. In 2001, the Foundation awarded Lyon $500,000 to support the construction of the Derby Center for Science and Mathematics. In total, the college has received just under $4.4 million from the Foundation since 1973.

“The Lyon campus community is thankful for the support of the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Inc. The $500,000 grant is wonderful, and the capacity built as we stretched to meet the challenge goal will be of benefit now and in the future. This challenge helped Lyon College leverage additional alumni giving, welcome a few new major donors, and raise giving participation among full-time faculty above 90 percent,” said Gina

BATESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RIBBON CUTTING The Batesville Police Department ribbon cutting that was held on Wednesday, May 27 attracted a large crowd! Ambassadors in attendance included Joshua Tate (Lyon College), Cindy Cooke (Gateway Properties), Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), Robin Milligan (Eagle Mountain Assisted Living), Deann Castleberry (American Home Patient), Kyle McMullin (Independence County Abstract), Jennifer Corter (City of Batesville), Wiley Osborne (Peco Foods), Randy Seale (WRD Entertainment), Janelle Shell (Citizens Bank), Bill Oliva (Community Insurance Professionals), and Julie Hinkle (Southern Bank).

CHILL FACTORY RIBBON CUTTING The entire crew of Chill Factory was on hand for the ribbon cutting on June 18. Kenton Adler serenaded the crowd with his bagpipes and frozen yogurt was consumed.

Garrett, executive director of advancement. “The Mabee dollars will help us make sure our students have a roof over their heads and a comfortable place to sleep, but the Mabee challenge effort has broadened our base of donor support in the process. We are grateful for the vision of the Mabee Foundation as well as the accountability it encourages among educational institutions in this region.”

Lyon College President Donald Weatherman said generations of students will benefit from the generosity of the Mabee Foundation.

“My office and the development office have worked hard over the past 12 months to meet the fundraising goals of this Mabee challenge, and our students for generations to come will reap the benefit as they live in the residence hall this grant is helping to make possible,” Weatherman said. “The impact of the Mabee Foundation in this region is profound, and we are grateful for its support.”

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26 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

Watermelon Fest set to welcome new events, Shenandoah Submitted Cave City’s 36th annual Watermelon Festival is set to welcome new events and Grammy award winning band Shenandoah the weekend of August 6th, 7th, and 8th. Since the 1980’s, Cave City has celebrated and shared their “world’s sweetest melons” with surrounding communities and returning friends during this annual festival.

This year’s festival features old favorites like seed spittin’, watermelon feasting, and the Watermelon Festival parade and welcomes new events such as a wet zone for children, and rodeo events. Along with the new events, 2015 welcomes a new committee of festival leaders. Julie Johnson, Chairperson of the Watermelon Festival Planning Committee; “To me the Watermelon Festival is about much more than watermelons. While we celebrate watermelons during the festival, the event is about home. It’s about roots, it’s about coming home. The school hosts an all school reunion the week of the festival. Many families plan family reunions around the festival. We want everyone who comes to the festival to feel like they have come home.”

Activities kick off Thursday, August 6 at 5:00 p.m. with watermelon judging, the Barking Beauties dog show, and a truck pull. The Palmers, a family bluegrass band originally

from Arkansas and now residing in Louisiana, take the stage at 8:00 p.m.

Friday’s events begin at 9:00 a.m. with the kids’ fishing derby. Friday evening will feature live music from local bands The Lockhouse Orchestra and Kingsdown. The Cave City Cruizers will hold a drive through and burn out, and the night is set to end with a rodeo event co-sanctioned by the Arkansas Cowboy’s Association / International Professional Rodeo Association.

The festival ends with a full day of events on Saturday.

The 3rd annual Melon Dash 5k begins at 7:00 a.m.

Sponsored by the Bethany Project, all funds from the 5K support the organization’s Smart Start back to school event. The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast is a community favorite and will be serving plates until 10:00 a.m.

The Watermelon Festival parade begins at 10:00 a.m. and kicks off an afternoon full of children’s activities.

D&S Arena will host a farm animal petting zoo, bounce houses and a wet zone will be held at the park with arm bands available for $10 and Mattie’s Flea Market will host a “Meet the Animals” featuring Baby Tito the capuchin monkey, Rudy Roo the kangaroo and a baby camel.

Also scheduled for Saturday, the Cave City Cruizers and the Tri County Antique Tractor Club will be set up and showing off. The Cave City Sharpshooters will host a horseshoe pitching tournament as well.

The Watermelon grower games will begin at 3:00 p.m. featuring watermelon eating, melon tossing, watermelon stacking and more. At 4:00 p.m. the Cave City registered watermelon growers will host a feast with the world’s sweetest melons available for sampling. A seed spittin’ and watermelon eating contest will follow. At 5:00 p.m. the prize melon will be auctioned with all of the proceeds being donated to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. At 7:00 p.m. the D&S Family Rodeo will present mutton busting and a kid’s bull riding competition at the D&S Arena.

Saturday is also a day full of music. Headlining this year’s Watermelon Festival is Grammy award winning band Shenandoah. Another must see band taking the stage is Country Fare featuring Congressman Rick Crawford. David Lynn Jones, Garrett Duncan and Luke Stroud and the 50’s Beat are all set to perform throughout the day as well.

Admission to the festival is free, with the main stage and most scheduled events taking place at the Cave City Park.

Artisans, food and craft vendors, kid’s activities, and free entertainment will also be set up around the park. Parking will available adjacent to the park. On Saturday night, to accommodate the expected turnout, additional parking will be available at the Cave City High School and Middle School with a shuttle service available for a small fee.

Whether you’ve never attended or never missed a festival, bring your lawn chair and plan to make yourself at home in Cave City for the 36 annual Cave City Watermelon Festival.

For more information about the entertainment and/ or additional activities and events that may be added to the festival schedule please call 870-283-5301, visit www. cavecityarkansas.info, or like the “Cave City Watermelon Festival” page on Facebook.

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WRHS Receives Grant to Purchase Birthing Simulator Sheila Mace

When it comes to giving birth, there are times when extra special care is needed to ensure the safety of both mom and baby. Thanks to a grant from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, White River Health System now owns a device called a Noelle Birthing Simulator that will help clinical care teams be more prepared for many different obstetric emergency situations that might occur in expecting women.

Noelle is a life-sized birthing simulator programmed to reenact the birthing process both with and without pregnancy complications such as eclamptic seizures, fetal distress, shoulder dystocia (when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal and halts delivery),trauma induced labor (such as those caused by car accidents or falls), and more. Through these reenactments, emergency personnel learn critical techniques for handling these situations.

A simulation-based crisis team made up of White River Medical Center employees will conduct training drills using the Noelle Simulator at WRMC, WRMC Medical Complex in Sharp County, and Stone County Medical Center in Stone County. Since pregnancy emergencies can occur anywhere, at any time, training will not only be to emergency department personnel working inside our facilities, but also to trauma teams, emergency medical service providers, and first responders in surrounding counties.

“The Noelle Birthing Simulator will be an essential

training tool for our obstetric staff, emergency staff, and local emergency personnel,” said Melanie Creighton, Nurse Manager of Women’s Health Services. “Labor and delivery can be very unpredictable and we want to ensure that those involved in caring for a distressed mother or baby are prepared to handle any situation that might arise, leading to the best possible outcome.”

The Blue & You Foundation provided a grant in the amount of $25,270, which will aid in purchasing the machine, providing training efforts, and assisting with further certification courses for OB staff.

“This program was one of 35 chosen from among 202 applications, so the process was very competitive,” said Patrick O’Sullivan, executive director of the Blue & You Foundation. “We especially liked that this equipment and training would be made available to medical personnel working in several surrounding counties.”

The Noelle Birthing Simulator will be available for training this summer.

WRMC is a 224-bed regional referral center and the flagship facility of White River Health System (WRHS).

WRHS is a not-for-profit healthcare system serving residents throughout North Central Arkansas. The system includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, primary care and specialty physician office practices. White River Health System is a member of the Premier Alliance, the American Hospital Association, and the Arkansas Hospital

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From Left - WRMC Maternity Nurse Manager Melanie Creighton, RN and Michelle Snow, RN demonstrate the Noelle birthing simulator. A grant from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue and You Foundation provided funding for the tool.

Melanie Creighton, RN, Nurse Manager, Michelle Snow, RN, Dick Bernard, WRHS Foundation Board of Directors President, Tim McCall, Blue and You Foundation and Gary Bebow, FACHE WRHS CEO. Presentation of grant for Noelle Birth Simulator.

BACC to Open Afterglow 5k Registration The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold registration for the Afterglow 5k through Friday, Aug. 28. The Afterglow 5k will be held at Riverside Park on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 8 p.m. Participants can register online at www. afterglowrace.com.

The Afterglow 5k starts and finishes at Riverside Park in Batesville, AR. This 3.1-mile course is somewhat hilly and contains black light zones, loud music, and glowing surprises along the way. The Afterglow 5k accommodates racers of all skill levels and encourages fun for all. Prizes will be awarded to the fastest racers and the most creative and enthusiastic participants.

For further information, please contact Mandi Curtwright at the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce at (870) 793-2378 or at mandi.curtwright@mybatesville. org.

BAAC Business After Hours The Batesville Area Arts Council hosted Business After Hours on Thursday, May 28 at the Gallery on Main. Several BACC representatives, BAAC guests, and community members had the opportunity to network and view the current gallery exhibit, which features pieces from the BAAC's recent national juried exhibition.

www.eyeonmag.com

Main Street Loft ribbon cutting Below, Ambassadors in attendance were Adam Curtwright with Centennial Bank, Kyle McMullin with Independence County Abstract, Julie Hinkle with Southern Bank, Deann Castleberry with North Arkansas HomeCare, Michael Johnson with Anytime Fitness, Robin Milligan with Eagle Mountain Assisted Living, Tina Paul with UACCB, and Jennifer Corter with the City of Batesville.

The Historic Melba

A Theatre Retrospective Janelle Shell

The Melba Theater was a beacon on Main Street in Batesville, the “place to be” on a Saturday night. But after the most recent owner closed the doors last year, many thought it might fade to black.

The 140 year old building has served as both an opera house and mercantile store. Since 1940, however, it’s been known as The Melba Theater.

For many, the neon sign is etched into their earliest memories. For Adam Curtwright, one of the Melba’s new owners, it also served as his first job.

“I took tickets and also worked the concession stand,” Adam explained. “But going back further, my grandmother graduated high school on the stage as they used this theater to hold their graduation ceremony. My mom saw her first movie here with her grandmother.

So, you can see it has special meaning to me.”

While many remember its past, Adam and his wife Mandi, along with Joe and Janelle Shell of Batesville hope to secure its future.

The theater closed in 1990 but was reopened in 2000. That owner closed the doors for the winter in 2014 but was not hopeful about re-opening which gave the four a chance to pursue their dream.

But, Janelle Shell said the dream didn’t come without a bit of hesitation.

“We all have full time jobs and a busy family life so taking on the challenge of restoring a theater seemed a little crazy.” Janelle said. With worn seats and a leaking roof, Janelle admits there’s a lot of work to be done.

“But when we thought about the impact that The Melba has had over the years and we thought about the impact it could have in the future, it was a no brainer,” Janelle said.

They aren’t the only ones who felt that way. Multiple people and businesses have partnered with the Shells and Curtwrights to renovate The Melba.

“After we announced our intentions of restoring the Melba you could not believe the outpouring of individuals and businesses who have contacted us to let us know how excited they are. People have been eager to help both physically and financially,” says Joe Shell.

“Marshall’s Dry Good, at the end of Main Street, is working with us on discounting the fabric for the seats,” Mandi Curtwright said. “Babb’s Upholstery, also on Main, is giving us a great deal on reupholstering the nearly 500 seats.” Mandi said they’re also partnering with Intimidator UTV in Batesville. “They’ve agreed to help us powder coat the seats so they will look brand new again,” Mandi said. “We’re making a lot of community partners with businesses who wish to host events such as movie nights for their employees and families.”

One of the biggest obstacles they face will be bringing The Melba into the 21st century by converting from film to digital. “Digital conversion is very expensive,” Joe Shell said. “but the picture will be worth it and

with the industry switching to digital we don’t have the option of staying with the old film projectors.” Though there is a lot to be done, it’s something they anticipated going in. “Before we made the purchase, we invested in a feasibility study to find out if it was doable,” Joe said.

“It’s going to be an uphill climb but we think that it’s possible especially with the encouragement from the community.”

“After our ribbon cutting, we realized this is much bigger than any of us thought,” Janelle said. “It’s going to be something that we can be so proud that our families are involved in and will be able to leave a legacy.”

Plans are in place to remodel the front façade, making the ticket booth and doors look as they did in the 1940’s.

The group would like to reopen this fall but understand there is a lot to get done. There are multiple fundraising opportunities, if you wish to get involved.

One such fundraiser is the “Save My Seat” campaign.

Donors who give $50 will have a plaque with their inscription attached to their theater seat.

For information on how you can get involved, contact the Shells and Curtwrights on The Melba Theater Facebook Page. You may also view their webpage at www.melbatheater.org.

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30 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

The Myopic Life

The Lemonade Stand Kristi Price

My youngest daughter requested a lemonade stand for her February birthday. So, back in the coldest, iciest month of the year, my sweet dad spent days in his garage puzzling over a Pinterest picture of a stand my mother had downloaded and printed. He pieced together, board by board, this massive hulk of a wooden stand and gave it just the right vintage appeal. My mom then painted it and assembled a delightful basket of goodies – pinwheels, an open/closed sign, canisters of lemonade drink mix, and more. It was such a precious gift. And of course, my daughter has been begging to use it since February 27.

I held her off until school let out. Unfortunately, the first week of summer break was dismal and rainy and uncharacteristically cool. I had to further delay her.

And she started getting really crabby with me. Weather problems aside, I think part of my reluctance to open the stand was my own nervousness. Would people come? Would my little girls wilt in disappointment as their pitcher of lemonade went unpoured, serving no one but flies and ants?

When I could put her off no longer, we set a date for the first Friday in June and made our shopping list.

My girls baked cookies, painted their sign, gathered all their coins in order to make change, and divided the sales duties. Maggie would scoop the ice and pour the lemonade; Emily would take payment and make change out of the money box. They would both greet and smile.

With my heart in my throat, I helped my girls set up on the edge of our lawn and then I bombed Facebook with their cuteness. And the crowds came! Steadily, for two hours, friends, family, neighbors, and people we don’t even know stopped by for watery lemonade and

a slice and bake cookie. My girls radiated pleasure. But even better than seeing people coming out of their way to bless two little girls was the sense of community we all experienced. Multiple times, knots of people formed in my yard to visit, catch up on summer activities, meet new faces and generally just connect.

New ventures are always dicey and have no guarantee of success. But when an attractive concept comes together with good planning, publicity and people’s positive attitudes, and when people are given an opportunity to step out of their daily grind and connect with others, success is likely. Even the success of a little lemonade stand. Dream big, Batesville! N

July 2015 31

Merchants and Planters Bank proudly hosted the Dr. Red Bell Memorial Golf Tournament at The Course at Eagle Mountain in Batesville. From left: Jerry Henderson, Randy Ramsey, Randy Cross, Andrew Brock, Joey Treadway, Lee Conditt and Jim Gowen, Jr.

Cielito Lindo Mexican Restaurant and Grill Ambassadors in attendance were Adam Curtwright with Centennial Bank, Julie Hinkle with Southern Bank, Bill Oliva with Community Insurance Professionals, Wiley Osborn with Peco Foods, and Jennifer Corter with the City of Batesville.

Archery Team Fundraiser Hits the Mark Luanne Gregory

Almost $15,000 has been raised through a fundraising project for Independence County archery teams, according to Susan Parker, Batesville School District CSH/ Wellness Coordinator. The teams sold chances on a Bad Boy lawnmower which was donated by Bad Boy Mowers, Inc. and First Community Bank.

Janet Swaim, an employee of the Independence County Library purchased the winning ticket from a co-worker’s granddaughter, Haleigh Mohlke, who is a student involved in the archery program. “Haleigh’s been coming to the library since she was a little girl,” said Swaim. “When she asked if I wanted to buy a ticket, I was just helping her raise money for her archery team, never dreaming that I would actually win.”

For the third consecutive year, Bad Boy Mowers, Inc. and First Community Bank provided a mower for the fundraiser, which benefits several local schools. Each participating school is able to keep the proceeds from

the tickets they sold, with the funds being earmarked for the archery program. The schools participating in the funding raising event were teams representing Cedar Ridge, Southside, Midland, Eagle Mountain Magnet, Batesville Jr. High, and Batesville Sr. High School.

“We have a great team of archers who have worked hard to become award winning athletes. Without funds to go to regional, state, national and world tournaments, these students would never be able to test their skills against other archers,” said Parker. “I am so proud of our students and can’t thank Bad Boy and First Community Bank enough for their continued support of our programs.”

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Back row: Emilee Gerhardt, Justin Lewallen, Jacob Clark, Kenny Gerhardt, Gina Mishark, Britney Warner, Michele Gerhardt.

Middle Row: Susan Parker, Mr. Cole, Hannah Mishark, Riley Sweet, Front: Olivia Warner.

White River Health System Foundation Receives Komen Grant

Annie Solis The Arkansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen handed out 21 grants totaling over $900K to Arkansas organizations.

White River Health System Foundation in Batesville received a $33,484 grant for its program entitled The “GYM” (Get Your Mammogram) Project. This project provides free mammograms, ultrasounds and ultrasound guided biopsies to women or men who do not have insurance or whose insurance will not cover the cost of the procedures. The program also has arrangements with local physicians to provide clinical breast exams and referrals for the procedures for women (and men when needed) who are not under the care of a primary care provider and/or cannot afford the cost of a clinic visit. For more information on the GYM Project please call Dana Thomas at 870-262-1035.

This year marks the 21st year for the Komen organization to award grants to programs around the state who are working in the fight against breast cancer. These funds are predominantly raised through the Race for the Cure® chaired in 2014 by Ashley Hurst. Also introduced was 2015 Race for the Cure ® Chair Jack Powell.

A total of $917,526 was awarded. The Komen Arkansas Affiliate first awarded grants totaling $78,700 in 1994.

Also announced was $275,000 of money raised in Arkansas that will go directly into Komen National Research grants to find a cure for breast cancer.

We are always proud of the opportunity to help the women in our state with our grants,” said Arkansas Affiliate Executive Director Sherrye McBryde. “Our grants are a direct result of the hard work of our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters. The recipients of these funds were chosen because they reflect the commitment of the Arkansas Affiliate to assure the women of Arkansas get the vital breast health services they need. Additionally, $275,000 has been used for breast cancer research to help find the cure.”

“We were so pleased to be able to raise almost $1 million dollars that will have a direct impact on the women and men of Arkansas fighting breast cancer,” says Komen Arkansas Board Chair Leila Dockery. “Whether they fight for someone they love, or fight for themselves, or for their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, or children, we join them in their efforts to eradicate this disease. We worked hard to

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earn this money and we are so proud to distribute to such trustworthy, valuable, impactful programs. We are also pleased to send $275,000 to Komen National for research.

Our fight continues until a cure is found.”

About Komen for the Cure Komen for the Cure was established as the Komen Foundation in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Thanks to more than 75,000 volunteers dedicated to the fight against breast cancer, Komen for the Cure with its Affiliate Network is the world’s largest private funder of community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and donors, Komen for the Cure has raised over one billion dollars for the fight against breast cancer.

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Creating Memories (870)793-8287 / 2401 Harrison Street Batesville, Arkansas www.jonathanssnejewelry.net

34 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

The Best of Modern Praise and Worship Independence Counties very own local, contemporary worship station

Great Tastes Peaches

Adrienne Freeman Late spring to early summer bring on the delicious peach. With flesh ranging from white to deep orange, the tender juicy peach can turn up in any dish on the table; beverages, condiments, salads, side dishes and of course, the dessert. According to the USDA, peaches are low in sodium, carbs and calories with only 59 calories for a medium size fruit. The peach adapts easily to savory dishes as well as sweet and lends itself easily to canning.

The peach is a tree and a fruit. Native to Northwest China, its juicy edible fruit, also called a peach, was first domesticated and cultivated there before making a quick trip to Europe and the New World. Peaches and nectarines are the same family, even though they are regarded commercially as different fruits, their main difference being the fuzz on the skin – peaches have it and nectarines do not.

There are hundreds of peach and nectarine varieties, but all fall distinctively into these two categories - the freestones and the clingstones. The juicy flesh of the freestone separates easily from the pit and clingstones, well, cling. Fuzz or no, clingy or not, this fruit is full of natural sweetness and juice.

Finding information about peaches and recipes that use them is easy, but finding information about the phrases “peachy keen,” “just peachy” or even “peaches and cream” is a little more difficult.

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2 cups of the green tea concentrate. Blend on high for 1 – 2 minutes.

Strain peach and tea mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a 2 quart pitcher. Add sugar or sweetner and mix well. Add enough water to fill pitcher.

Serve over ice.

FRESH PEACH COBBLER Recipe courtesy Jean Boyce of Newport.

Ingredients: 6 Tablespoons butter 2 cups sugar, divided use ¾ cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder Dash of salt ¾ cup milk 2 cups fresh sliced peaches Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter in a 2-quart baking dish. Set aside.

Peel and slice peaches. Combine with 1 cup sugar.

Set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients, including remaining sugar. Add milk and stir until mixed. Pour over butter in baking dish. Do not stir in.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until crust is puffed and lightly golden brown. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.

COOKS TIP: Make sure peaches are prepared before stirring crust together – otherwise, the crust mixture could start to rise in the bowl.

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PEACH GREEN TEA RECIPE Ingredients: 2 whole fresh peaches 1 family size bag green tea, or 6 single ones Water 1/2 – 3/4 cups sugar or preferred sweetner Directions: Boil water for tea on stove in a small saucepan.

When water comes to a boil add tea bags and remove pan from heat. Let steep for about 15 minutes.

Cut peaches in chunks and add to blender. Add 1 or July 2015 35

Experiencing God in the Everyday

Looking for Rest in All the Wrong Places Pastor Chad Grigsby

“And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” (Mark 6:31ESV) Is there an easier verse in the whole Bible for our busy culture to identify with today? Our lives are filled with coming and going to the point that we often don’t have time to eat. Eating out has become so much a part of our lives that many of us grow up without knowing how to cook a meal from scratch; a reality that our grandparent’s generation would have thought unthinkable! And yet, we are this busy!

Most of our households include both spouses working outside of the home. Most of us have kids that are busy with several activities on weeknights and especially on the weekends. It is amazing that we have time to feed ourselves much less our families!

As we approach the peak of summer vacation season, we would do well to consider Jesus’ words here in Mark 6: “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” Many of us struggle with the commands of God like, “Love your neighbor,” and “Do not covet” but how many of us would be honest enough to admit that we struggle to rest? In the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament of the Bible we see God giving his people guidelines for what it means to be a new humanity. He is showing them what it means to be a people that God would dwell among and use for his glory. Included in this list are some obvious things that we don’t have a problem recognizing as important to God and us. Commands like, “Do not kill” and “Do not steal” are obvious choices for God’s people to obey.

Even people who don’t know God believe these moral standards to be important. But would we admit that our commitment to avoiding murder is as avid as our commitment to rest? Do we love our neighbor enough not to steal their things while at the same time being so busy we don’t even have time to eat?

One of God’s ten commands to his people, his new humanity in the world, is to honor the Sabbath.

The word Sabbath in Hebrew comes from the root word meaning to cease, end, or rest. The Sabbath was given to man as a gift and a respite from work. In other words, rest is very important to God! It’s one of his big commands he gives us, right up there with not committing adultery! But do we value it as much as he does?

One of the constants in my life and often feedback I hear from others around this time of year is, “I need a vacation from my vacation.” Why is this? Why is it so hard to rest even when we take time to rest? Why is sleep sometimes elusive? Why is it hard to get away?

Why is it hard to slow down? How can I sleep 8 hours a night and still not feel rested?

It’s impossible to boil the answer to these questions

down to one thing. Surely there are many reasons for this as well as many different circumstances in our lives that contribute to rest being allusive. But I want us to consider that rest is not simply just a physical issue. Rest is not just about rearranging our calendar for more time off. It’s not just about the external and the physical. In fact, rest has more to do with what’s going on inside of us than what’s going on outside of us. It’s more about our hearts than our circumstances.

So how do we remedy our rest problem? How do we change our hearts when it comes to rest?

First of all, we have to realize that rest was God’s idea. It’s a good gift from God. God created rest on the seventh day of creation. Before that it didn’t exist. God created work and knew that we would need a break. We would need a day to refuel. So, we should rest because God created it for us as a good gift from our loving Father.

The second way we allow God to change our hearts when it comes to rest is to acknowledge that we need it. Most of us don’t see how much we neglect rest and subsequently how much we need it. Rest reminds us of our limits.

Let me give you an example. If you drive your car refusing to ever stop for gas, you will eventually run out.

You will run out of gas on the side of the road and you could even be stuck somewhere you really don’t want to be! Why? Because our gas tanks have limits. They can only hold so much gas. If you want to continue where you are going, eventually you will have to refuel. You simply cannot continue to drive on empty without running out of gas. Similarly, we must realize our limits. We have a capacity. Our tanks do run out. We can only go, go, go so much before we find ourselves broken down. Many a person has pushed themselves to the limit, so often running on empty, only to find themselves stuck in a hospital bed. We have limits. Better to realize it now and rest than to be forced to rest. Are you running on empty?

Lastly, we have to realize that rest is ultimately found in a person and not a thing. No amount of sleep, vacations, or extra time off will ultimately give us the rest we are after. Until we find our rest in God, restlessness will continue to be a theme in our lives. All of the Old Testament commands about rest find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. He is the true Sabbath. He is the true rest that we need. Until you know him and base your life on him, you will never find rest. Until you function in his grace you will continue to be restless.

Won’t you rest in him today?

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9 ESV) N

36 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

Carly Dahl Accepts Executive Director Position for BAAC Submitted

Dahl has served on the Board for the last four years and is very active in the organization’s events and workshops at the gallery. Linda Creighton, Board President said, “ Carly has shown leadership skills and has been very supportive of the organization and the new Art Gallery. We are very pleased to welcome her as the new Executive Director, and look forward to her expanding our role in the community through new programs at the gallery and other community events”.

As executive Director, Dahl will oversee all programming for BAAC, which includes the Arts in Education Program, gallery exhibitions, workshops, fundraising, and grant writing. “ I am very excited to take the lead as the Executive Director of the Batesville Area Arts Council and have enjoyed serving on the board of directors over the last four years. I am proud of what we have accomplished at the new gallery, and I look forward to dedicating my time, energy, and enthusiasm to further build upon the mission of our organization for many years to come. I am thankful for this opportunity to expand on our collective efforts and recent successes,” says Dahl on her new position. Dahl earned a BFA in Printmaking from the Center for the Visual Arts at the University of Toledo, OH, and previously served as the Director of the Kresge

Gallery, as well as the Advancement Coordinator for the President’s Office at Lyon College.

For more information on getting involved with the arts, becoming a volunteer at the gallery located at 226 E. Main Street, making a donation, or learning about workshops and educational programs sponsored by the Arts Council please visit their website at batesvilleareaartscouncil.org, email baac@suddenlinkmail. com, or call 793-3382.

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Carly Dahl photographed by Heather Canterbury Photography

UACCB Students Wrap Up Annual Community Service Program, Eye Future Projects Luanne Gregory

The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) offers students more than a quality education. The organization is committed to making a positive impact on the local community, according to Jennifer Emery, UACCB retention specialist. The College Connections program is just one avenue through which students may choose to help those in need.

“Each semester, students involved in our College Connections program adopt a non-profit agency and volunteer manpower hours to help that organization,” said Emery. “Last fall, our group embraced the idea of lending a hand to our four-legged friends and chose the Humane Society of Independence County as the recipient organization. We bathed animals, cleaned cages and did anything else that needed to be done at the shelter.

In the spring, students chose to devote time to Batesville Help and Hope, helping the staff organize clothing and food donations, which are ongoing tasks constantly needing attention.”

Emery went on to state that while College Connections benefits the organizations served, students also get the advantage of meeting and getting to know each other, a challenge for almost anyone entering a new environment.

“I am constantly impressed by the student body at UACCB,” said Emery.

“We have an eclectic mix of traditional and non-traditional students that span age groups. Regardless of age, our volunteers are an incredibly giving group. The College Connections program not only helps many local nonprofits, students constantly remark on how the program has enabled them to connect with each other and the community. We’re already looking forward to finding a new project when classes begin in August.”

About UACCB The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville is a two-year college, providing access to education for the people of north central Arkansas. UACCB provides quality Technical Certificate and Associate of Applied Science degree

programs in occupational technical areas, a college parallel transfer curriculum including Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, customized training for business and industry, continuing education programs for life-long learning and personal enrichment, and adult education. In 2014, UACCB enrolled over 2,000 students. N

July 2015 37

WRMC Medical Complex ER Marks 1st Anniversary Sheila Mace

This month the WRMC Medical Complex ER celebrates the one-year anniversary of providing care.

The ER opened to offer 24/7 access to emergency medical care in the Sharp County area, and since June 2014, approximately ten thousand patients have entered through the ER doors seeking medical care.

The facility has also grown in employment, adding to the nursing, radiology, laboratory, and clerical staff in the transition to 24/7 operations.

While not new to healthcare, the stand-alone ER at the WRMC Medical Complex was the first licensed in Arkansas. Although another satellite ER has opened in northwest Arkansas this year, the concept is still new to many residents. Sharp County residents have demonstrated a progressive, forward thinking attitude and embraced the ER, and its success is measured by the patients of all ages who receive the care they need locally.

“It is gratifying to be approached by residents who shake our hands and thank us for providing 24/7 ER services,” said Tabitha Breshears-Krueger, RN, ER Clinical Manager. “We are proud of the team of professionals working at our facility. When the ER is busy, or when a critically ill patient is in our care, employees from every part of the building come together to help each other. We are one team caring for this community.” Breshears-Krueger also expressed her appreciation to law enforcement, emergency medical

transportation and the medical community of their support and encouragement.

The WRMC Medical Complex ER provides Physician directed care with 24/7 access to diagnostic laboratory, and imaging. The ER is a level III trauma facility, the same designation as White River Medical Center’s Emergency Department. The ER is also a part of the AR SAVES stroke care network.

“The community response to the WRMC Medical Complex ER has exceeded our expectations and projections,” said Gary L. Bebow, WRHS CEO. “We are appreciative of the support from the community and look forward to continuing our mission of providing quality medical care and improving the health of Sharp county and communities throughout our service area”

The WRMC Medical Complex ER team and employees throughout the Medical Complex have a passion for helping others outside of work as well. Led by the ER Team, Medical Complex employees collected more than 200 coats with local law enforcement for distribution to needy families by a local church. This summer the team will be distributing fans to elderly residents without air-conditioning.

ER Nurse Eva Gaskins is volunteering for the fourth summer at Life Strides Hippotherapy equestrian camp for special needs children, and many other WRMC Medical Complex employees volunteer for organizations, demonstrating their professional and personal commitment to serving others. N

2015 KIA SOUL

38 Eye On Independence - Community - Character - and a pinch of Caffeine....and Frozen Yogurt.

2015 KIA Sportage

Foster Care Help

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Lisa Turner

The Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services(DCFS) is seeking to create connections for children by targeting individuals, businesses, and organizations to build community partnerships while recruiting for foster family providers.

Currently there are over 4,300 children in the state foster care system and about 2,700 foster beds. In Independence County there are 71 children in care with 19 homes and 43 beds, and in Jackson County there are 53 kids in care 4 homes and 12 beds. This leaves children reliant on group homes, emergency shelters, psychiatric facilities, and hospitals. Although the reason for shortages of foster homes can vary, many misconceptions exist. Some people believe if they apply to become a foster parent they will have no control over the types of children for whom they care.

Others may think there will not be any or little support from DCFS: while still others have heard that all children in foster care have special needs. Although children in foster care may have special needs; many are children with typical needs just like any other. The only differences are, of course, that children in foster care had to be removed from their parents due to abuse or neglect. DCFS wants prospective foster families to identify their strengths in regards to supporting and caring for children.

In doing so, the type of children for whom they desire to care or support may be matched with an appropriate level of care or support. DCFS wants to build partnerships so foster families will not only have the support of DCFS, but also support of others in their local community. For example, perhaps a local business can offer discounts to foster parents or maybe a local community service group can offer to cook dinner for a foster family once a month or offer baby-sitting services to provide foster parents with a break. If you are interested in ways that you can support children in foster care or are ready to take the next steps to become a foster parent, please call Lisa Turner- Family Social Worker/ Community Engagement Specialist at 870-347-2537 ext. 121 or cell 870-301-9056. You may also visit the website at www.Fosterarkansas.org to apply or email lisa.turner@ dhs.arkansas.gov. Please select ARCCC to let us know what prompt you to inquire when submitting online.

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BATESVILLE’S MAIN STREET

ARMERS FMARKET MAIN STREET POCKET PARK • 8 AM - NOON

Every Sat. (July, Aug., & Sept.) • 1st & 3rd Sat. (Sept. & Nov.)

Contact Jean Larson, Market Manager, at (208) 869-1445 or jeallo16@gmail.com for booth space information.

Check out Main Street Batesville’s Facebook page for updates

American Floor Care--------------------- 10 Anytime Fitness-------------------------- 21 Autry’s------------------------------------ 10 Back In Time Antiques------------------- 9 Bad Boy Mowers------------------------- 28 Batesville Poultry Equipment, Inc.------ 21 Batesville Spine & Health Solutions----- 15 Batesville Title Services----------------- 10 Carlee’s Crown Shop--------------------- 11 Chill Factory------------------------------ 9 Coldwell Banker Choice Realty---------- 6 Cup’d Up Outdoors----------------------- 3 CustomEyes Vision Care of Newport---- 13 DownTown Guide------------------------ 9 DQ Grill & Chill--------------------------- 23 Eagle Pest ------------------------------- 5 Elizabeth’s Restaurant & Catering------- 9 Etta’s Attic-------------------------------- 10 First Community Bank------------------- 2 Flowers Baking Company---------------- 14 He Delivers------------------------------- 10 Independence County Recycling Center-15 Janet Smart, Farmers Insurance-------- 17 Janet Smart Farmers Insurance Agency-21 Jonathan’s Fine Jewelry----------------- 34 Kallsnick, Inc.---------------------------- 23 KBAP 88.1 FM--------------------16, 23, 35 Leadership Summit for Teens & Pre-Teens--- 27 Living Spaces---------------------------- 7 Main Street Farmers Market------------- 39 Mark Martin Kia-------------------------- 38 Merchants and Planters Bank----------- 7 Mexican Mamas-------------------------- 21 NADT Dance Academy------------------- 15 Natalies Restaurant and Catering------- 7 Newark Furniture, Flowers and More--- 21 Purdy’s Flowers and Gifts---------------- 33 Reeves Propane-------------------------- 19 R. M. Weaver Real Estate---------------- 13 Robert O. Seat Photography------------ 16 Signature Baskets, Flowers and Gifts--- 11 Southern Tire Mart----------------------- 25 State Farm Agent, Carter Ford---------- 6 Studio Salon----------------------------- 10 The Batesville Chamber of Commerce-- 32 The Property Shoppe-------------------- 4 Thompson’s Jewelry--------------------- 9 Thompson’s Jewelry--------------------- 21 T Tauri------------------------------------ 11 U. S. Pizza-------------------------------- 14 Welcome To Independence-------------- 21 White River Health System-------------- 33 Wildewood Independent Living---------- 16 Wood Family Dealership----------------- 40 July 2015 39