Paris Life - August Issue

Broke Best Friends Farms

from left: Peyton, Hollie, Brad, Quin and center, Kotton Barrentine.

Shekedra Petty & Shayla Byers: Mother and daughter dou bring encouragement

Joan Mathis Parisian of the Month

Robert High, NAACP paris PResident

& Carlton Cooper, master of ceremonies

HostING the NAACP Heritage Banquet of 2023

Salas MD • Joe Gray PA-C • Mandy Helberg, NP • Melanie Graham FNP-C • Tommy Caldwell FNP-C

On the Cover Barrentine Family

CONTRIBUTORS 8

UPCOMING EVENTS 10

Local events you don't want to miss

PARISIAN OF THE MONTH

JOAN MATHIS 12

LIFESTYLE

FOOD + DRINK 29

TASTY WAYS TO MAKE LEGUMES: A LUNCH BOX STAPLE

HOME & LIVING GUIDE 31

BUILDING A TREEHOUSE WITH YOUR CHILD: An Exciting Project

24

FEATURES

BROKE BEST FRIEND FARMS 18 Kotton Barrentine gives a tour of their family farm lifestyle

Story by: Nanalee Nichols

SHEKEDRA PETTY & 20 SHAYLA BYERS

Mother and Daughter dou bring encouragement to those Battling Chronic illness

Story by: Nanalee Nichols

AROUND TOWN

NAACP 24 Heritage Banquet 2023!

IN EVERY ISSUE

HEALTH 26

Skin Health

by: Ayesha Shafiq

WISE WORDS 28

Dwelling in Unity by: Shannon McGuire

ENTERTAINMENT

DEJA VIEW 30

Old School Actioner Returns by: Genevieve Cooney

CHECKPOINT 32

5

Stealth Games to Sneak into your Backlog by: Megan Pedersen

Photo Credit: Submitted

CONTRIBUTORS

1. Chef Michael Perry is a graduate of The Art Institute of Dallas in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management. Michael has always loved cooking, from a young age. He has been cooking for over 20 years and employed as a chef for 15+ years. Michael also enjoys hunting, fishing & spending time with his son Brayden & Fiancé Karen Ballard.

4. Genevieve Cooney is Toni Clem’s little sister, a lifelong cinephile, she holds film degrees from UT and a Masters of Fine Arts from the American Film Institute’s Conservatory Program. She went on to work in the film industry as a script reader, a story editor and then Vice President of Development for an international film company.

is a graduate of

Shannon

ISD, after which he played collegiate basketball for four years and graduated from both Grayson County College and Wayland Baptist University. He also graduated from Dallas Bible Theological Institute. He has been employed for the last 22 years at Collin County Juvenile Probation Department serving as the Court/Legal Liaison for Juvenile Detention and Probation in the 417th District Court Collin County, Texas. He has been pastoring for 11 years and currently serves as Senior Pastor at Paris New Generation Church, 1513 Lamar Ave. in Paris. He is married with two children.

5. Megan Pedersen became a graphic artist and member of The Paris News composing team in 2014. She is married to Luke Pedersen and together they have two beautiful daughters, Emma and Lucy. She has a Youtube channel called, Megorium, where she regularly posts art and video game content.

3.

McGuire

Roxton

AUGUST 1

Mutton Busters

RED RIVER VALLEY FAIR GROUNDS

570 E Center St, Paris, TX 75460

5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Pre-Entry Only

Age: 6 and under as of August 1st, 2023

Call in August 1st from 5p.m. - 9p.m.. Entry # (903)-249-4674. You must talk to Sharon and get confirmation that you are entered. NO TEXT!!! Do not leave a message or text for a returned reply.

We’ll take 25 contestants each night. 15 contestants will ride at 7:30 and 10 during rodeo. This will be random draw once books are filled and posted on Facebook. High Score ride each night will receive a beautiful belt buckle sponsored by: Farmers Bank & Trust.

Entry fee: $25

Thank you Farmers Bank & Trust for your continued support of the Paris Rodeo & Horse Club Mutton Busting.

AUGUST 4

Chisum FFA’s

Midnight Madness Stock Show

RED RIVER VALLEY FAIR GROUNDS

570 E Center St, Paris, TX 75460

5:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Mark your calendars for Aug 4 & Aug 5 to come show with us at our Midnight Madness Stock Show at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds in Paris, Texas. More information to come.

AUGUST 5

3rd Annual Backpack Drive

CUTTING EDGE GLASS & MIRROR

325 SW Loop 286, Paris, TX 75460 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Dewey and Cooper’s Lemonade Stand is coming back for a 3rd consecutive year. Last year they were able to donate $1300 worth of backpacks to all 4 districts in the county due to your generosity.

The boys will be set up at Cutting Edge Glass on the South Loop on August 5th from 10am-12pm with Sweet Treats and Lemonade to raise money to purchase backpacks that will be donated to all 4 school districts in Lamar County. If you’re not a sweets or lemonade fan they can accept cash donations or donations if new backpacks as well.

AUGUST 8

READ & WIN PARIS PUBLIC LIBRARY

326 S Main St., Paris, TX 9:00 AM

With the Children’s Room & the Red River Valley Fair Association!, Ages 5 – 17. Registration begins Monday, August 8 @ 9AM in the Children’s Room. Only 60 spaces available. Complete 12 hours of reading or 15 books and earn free passes and coupons for the Red River Valley Fair in Paris. Keep track of your reading time or titles on the special log provided at registration. Use books from this library, school, or home. Deadline for reading logs due at Ms. Tracy’s desk on/before 6:00PM, Friday, September 9

AUGUST 11 & 12

Paris Rodeo and Horse Club Annual Rodeo with co-sponsor Lamar county and Red River County Crimestoppers

RED RIVER VALLEY FAIR GROUNDS

570 E Center St, Paris, TX 75460

Held at the Paris Rodeo and Horse Club Arena located at the Paris/Lamar County Fairgrounds. For more information, contact Sharon Barnes at 903240-4674 or parisrodeoandhorseclub@gmail.com.

you don't want to miss.

AUGUST 11 & 12

Livingston's Back-to-School Sleepover

SAM BELL MAXEY HOUSE

STATE HISTORIC SITE

812 S Church St, Paris TX

AUG 11 AT 5:30 PM – AUG 12 AT 3 PM

Livingston the Lion and the Maxey House staff invite children to bring a favorite stuffed animal, doll, or action figure to the Maxey House for a special Back-toSchool sleepover designed just for the toys! Friday, August 11 at 5:30 pm: Toy Drop-Off Snack, Story time, Activities with toys, Goodbyes Saturday, August 12 at 1:00-3:00 pm: Toy Pick-Up Pick up toy and goodie bag! Please register at bit.ly/sbmhlivingston

AUGUST 19 & 20

SDBA Southern Drag Boat

Race’s 9th Annual “Paris Power Boat Grand Prix”

LAKE CROOK

off HWY 271 North, Paris, TX

Lake Crook off HWY 271 North. Over 80 Boats racing for Big Money and Prizes! Contact: Lamar County Chamber of Commerce for more information. chamber@paristexas.com.

AUGUST 26

Farm to Table Breakfast Fundraiser

TEXAS PACIFIC EVENT CENTER

36 E Hearne Ave, Paris, TX 10:00 AM

SAVE THE DATE for our annual Farm to Table Breakfast! 9am- 11:30am Tickets are available for $25 through tailoredrides.org or email weybapfarm@ yahoo.com.Chef Austin Exum will be filling our bellies with his breakfast sliders, potato casserole along with other delicious and locally sourced items. Enjoy music preformed by Stoney Musgrove while you look at our silent auction items. Please come enjoy good food, good company, all in support of a great cause! We look forward to seeing you there! Proceeds benefit Tailored Rides and goes to help continue our mission of providing a safe and welcoming environment where each member of our community is able to enhance their quality of life through interaction with horses and nature in a positive, relaxing and nurturing environment

AUGUST 26

Bug Tussle Trek Antique Auto Tour

PARIS, TX

A parade of vintage cars and trucks “trek from Farmersville through several towns along the way including Bug Tussle and overnight in Paris. This will be the 55th Year!

AUGUST 31- SEPTEMBER 3

Evening in Paris Square Dance Convention –(Chaparral)

LOVE CIVIC CENTER

2025 S Collegiate Dr, Paris, TX

Labor Day Weekend at Love Civic Center. This wonderful Convention has been held in Paris for over 27 years! Square Dancers come from All across the United States!

PARISIAN OF THE MONTH

Joan Mathis

People who pay attention, know that Paris, as a community, is replete with volunteerism and the spirit of giving. And people who live a life of volunteering know the name of Joan Mathis.

Mathis is a tireless volunteer in the community and has been recognized by many different organizations for her efforts to make life better in her community: The Minnie Steven Piper award; the United Way of Lamar County Lifetime Leadership Award; the Friends of Public Housing Award; and the United Way of Lamar County Lifetime Leadership Award. She serves on a wide variety of boards and committees: The Paris Branch of the NAACP; Habitat for Humanity; Paris Education Foundation; Lamar County Chamber of Commerce; and Miss Paris Deb Scholarship Committee; and maintains

active memberships and volunteers for innumerable other groups such as Kiwanis Club, Paris Noon Study Club, City Wide Ushers, local food pantries and the local Boys & Girls Club.

The city of Paris recognized her contributions to her community by naming a local park in her honor; the PEF established a scholarship in her name; and the B&GC have named her to its Wall of Honor.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

“Since I have been retired from teaching, I have been working part time at Maxey Funeral Home, and I teach a class at PJC called Integrated Writing and Reading, which provides tutoring for students as they work on essays for their courses, much as I had done for years at the junior college. I am a mother of

Story By: Sally Boswell

Photos: Submitted

three, a grandmother of seven and a greatgrandmother of eight. Most of them are still close; the furthest away is in Louisiana, so it’s easy to stay in touch. I am secretary of the local NAACP, a member of Kiwanis and I do quite a bit with Habitat for Humanity.

“People say I do a lot and I think ‘Yes, I do,’ but then I think ‘It’s so little.’ I do enough to know there are a lot of people out there who do so much more. I see them as they build houses for those in need. If they can be up on roofs, building houses, surely I can help them by providing a meal for them.”

What drives your involvement in volunteer work?

“For generations, this community has provided many opportunities for my family and for me. I know how my family has benefitted in this community and I want to do the little I can to pay it back.”

What is the most rewarding part of your community involvement?

“When I see young people I taught doing their jobs, with their children in the park, the little ones riding on their daddy’s back and he’s giving them attention and love. When I see the children of students I taught graduating high school — head of their class — when I read about my students’ achievements, serving on the city council, becoming principals and school administrators, opening their own businesses; that is most rewarding to me. That is exciting.”

What would you have done if you had not gone into education?

“I knew I wanted to teach as young as the age of 4. I tried to teach my brothers and sister, but I learned quickly they would not listen to me, so I brought out my dolls and lined them up and taught them. I might have gone into nursing if not education, because I loved the white uniforms and the white caps, but that just wasn’t a good enough reason to do that, so education was always my focus.” u

Kotton with egg and hen BBF Farms

Rubber boots and a Broke Best Friends Farms tee shirt are the usual attire when young Kotton Barrentine goes into the chicken coop to gather eggs. He displays a beautiful pale green egg. The eggs have a bright yellow yoke and a fresh, delicious flavor.

Broke Best Friends Farms

The founder and CEO of Broke Best Friends Farms is a very handsome young man with bright red hair and deep, sparkling blue eyes. His chief of operations and finance bears a striking resemblance to her boss, for she also has the red hair and beautiful eyes. He seems young for his duties and business responsibilities, after all, he’s only five, but with the help of his mother…errr…COO/ CFO he is more than capable of handling the business.

Kotton Barrentine and his mom, Hollie Allen Barrentine love their variety of chickens and even the peacocks they’ve raised. They not only market fresh, wholesome eggs but sell a lot of laying hens.

They wear their official uniforms, T-shirts with Kotton’s picture emblazoned with “Broke Best Friends Farms” and move from the three self-turning incubators to the boxes full of straw and baby chicks while talking knowledgeably about various breeds such as Cochin, Tilbury Polish, Bantams, Wyandottes and others.

Then, they show off the huge chicken coops with tarps that are rolled down nightly, a radio playing music to discourage predators and help socialize the younger fowl and plenty of clean water, feed and space.

Kotton said that he was hesitant to go in and check for eggs though.

“Kevin’s always been a nice guy, but yesterday he ‘attacked me” he solemnly said, pointing to the seemingly placid rooster.

“See that pen over there?” He continues, “Those are real big, mean roosters, that’s why they have their own pen.”

Anyone who has ever been attacked or chased by a rooster can understand what he’s talking about.

But his mom opens the gate and he bravely makes his way past Kevin, although he keeps a wary eye on him, saying hi to Pearl, Margot and the rest of the girl.

Story By: Nanalee Nichols

Photos: Nanalee Nichols

Reaching into a nesting box, he happily withdraws a brown, smooth egg. Another success at BBF Farms!

Why Broke Best Friend Farms? His mom says that’s what kids are, they’re your best friends but are always costing you money and don’t bring any in.

BBF Farms began when Brad Barrentine, Kotton’s dad, took him to get something at the farm store and they returned with three fluffy chicks. Makeshift chick housing was arranged and the farm was founded. An empty dog kennel became the chicks’ home, but soon that wasn’t enough. Chicken houses, incubators and a feed/workshop appeared.

It’s easy to see that Hollie loves chickens, too. She lavishes care on them, knows each one and has educated herself and her son about raising chicks and producing healthy, laying hens.

BBF Farms is in Deport, part of Hollie and Brad’s beautiful home. Brad owns and operates Truckin’ Awesome Restorations in Bogata and does amazing work with customized leather upholstery and restoring semi-truck interiors and sleepers.

In addition to her duties at BBF Farms, Hollie owns

and operates Cotton Harvest Spa and is a licensed esthetician, providing a wide range of services including permanent makeup, hair removal and beauty products.

Young Kotton has spent his life at the spa, or later, at his other job. Since he’s older he often goes with dad to the restoration shop. There he isn’t the CEO, he’s low man and works hard sanding down metal on semi sleepers. He’s been known to cry when it’s time to come home, he loves getting dirty and working with dad so much.

He also is quite a salesman at dad’s business, taking customers through the shop and showing them around with a polished sales pitch.

by the dozen››

Fresh eggs?

BeautifuleggsfromBBFFarms come in all shades, frompalecream,pastelblueto rich, dark brown.

The breedofchickenandwhatthe bird is fed influence the shellcolorbuttheyall taste great.

Five year old Kotton hands a dozen fresh, delicious eggs over. He’s the CEO of Broke Best Friends Farms, an egg and chicken producing endeavor he and his mother Hollie put a lot of time and effort into.

Among his other talents is one many people can respect. The boy can back a trailer. He hooks up the trailer to his little side-by-side, backing with accuracy and perfect skill.

His kid sized hoe keeps the weeds down around the pens and he helps with the egg gathering, watering, feeding and cleanup.

Farming is in Kotton’s blood, he comes from a long line of farmers. His great grandfather, his grandfather and his great uncles were all farmers.

Sadly, his grandfather John Allen, passed away before Kotton was born, but the child bears a striking resemblance to the Papa John that is kept alive with memories.

His beloved Nonzie, John’s widow, lives only a few houses away, his Uncle Roger and Aunt Anna Beth live just across town. In addition, he has three half-brothers whom he adores and uncles and cousins who also live close.

Life is good on Broke Best Friends Farms, but there’s one disappointment. That’s the bright red 4x4 truck with the factory lift kit he covets. It seems to always be on back order.

Kotton can be a bit shy at first, but it doesn’t take long for him to begin talking. He brought out a bright yellow, cardboard egg carton full of beautiful eggs, some white, some brown, others pale green. Like the T-shirts, the egg cartons bear the BFF Farms logo. When thanked he smiles and replies politely “you’re sure welcome.” Then he’s off, talking to chickens, climbing on a bigger trailer, asking questions.

Yes, the founder and CEO of Broke Best Friends Farms leads a busy, healthy life. It’s a joy to see and one expects great things from the young entrepreneur. u

HARD WORKIN' KID

BBF Farms Hollie Allen Barrentine and Kotton love poultry. The bantam chicken that Kotton holds is one of the pair’s favorites.Together, with help from dad, Brad, they form BFF Farms, hatching chicks, raising them to egg production.

Dirty hands and a smudged up face prove five year old Kotton isn’t afraid of hard work at his dad’s shop.

Shekedra Petty & Shayla Byers: Mother and daughter duo bring encouragement to those battling chronic illness

Story By: Nanalee Nichols Photos: Submitted

Shekedra Petty’s smiling face and flamboyant outfit belie the multitude of chronic health problems her body endures. Her only concession to her health challenges is a cane. Steadfast beside her is her tiny, frail 28-yearold daughter, Shayla Byers, who uses a walker and is on oxygen 24/7.

Yet her face too lights up easily. The duo, instead of asking for sympathy, reach out via podcast to try and bring hope and encouragement to others.

Shekedra has lupus, serious blood pressure issues and is recovering from a TIA (mini stroke) that has affected her speech. After stepping on a nail she lost half her foot from gangrene. There are several other problems, and she takes a lot of medication, but she insists there is “no use going in to all of it”.

One of her sons was murdered 28 years ago, her daughter Shayla has been inches from death multiple times. Shekedra has been through a lot. But her warm, openness just glows.

This is not a woman you would think had tried suicide multiple times or who was chronically depressed.

“God wasn’t through with me yet. Every time the pills would make me sick and I didn’t leave this world”.

Her son, Keyon Braxton, suggested she begin talking to people about how she felt, to pray and make friends.

Mother and daughter Shekedra Petty and Shayla Byers sit in Shayla’s Dallas hospital room, masked and surrounded by IVs and machines but still simply finding joy in Shayla’s survival and recovery. It is a scene that has been repeated, sometimes with Shayla, sometimes with Shekedra, but they remain undaunted.

IT’S ABOUT FAMILY

from left are Shekedra Petty’s son, Keyon Braxton; her son in law Carl and daughter Shayla Byers; Shekedra and Husband Shaun Petty and their pastor and also cousin Shawn McAffee. The family group help one another with disabilities and problems, and work at producing a podcast that seeks to promote faith, inspire those with chronic illnesses and generally make the world a better place.

“I talked to everyone I met, but my stress levels were still so high.”

The church she attended did not seem to reach out or support her she says. Then she became reacquainted with Shaun, now her husband. That changed everything.

“He was my first boyfriend back when I was a child “, she grins, “ who would have known that he would become the reason I’m happy? I’ll never try suicide again no matter what. He’s taken the load from my heart”.

Shaun uses a cane himself; he has degenerative bone disease and needs hip replacement but his diabetes complicates that. He, too, doesn’t let health problems keep him down. Many in the area know “DJ Shaun” as he does the music at weddings and parties all around, bringing laughter and breaking the ice at events.

Shayla is afflicted with tension spontaneous pneumothorax, which causes lungs to collapse. So far, her lungs have collapsed 36 times. In fact, one of her lungs is partially collapsed now.

In addition, she has a serious heart condition and is in atrial fibrillation

"He’s taken the load from my heart”

often. She, too, depends on a complicated regimen of medications. Her husband Carl is quieter, but he’s obviously devoted. They wore their “Mr.” and Mrs.” T-shirts to the interview.

When her daughter first became ill, Shekedra began documenting their journey with photos and took notes. In 2019 Shayla was in Dallas hospital on life support and doctors had given up on her survival. But with an outpouring of prayer and her remarkable desire to live, she survived.

One day Shekedra began following a podcast that documented a dying child. That helped inspire her to begin doing a podcast herself.

There’s no set time for them, but they always focus on raising awareness for lupus and for Shayla’s condition. Keyon helps them produce the podcasts. He also raps with many of his songs trying to bring suicide awareness.

Sometimes Shekedra dances while singing during the podcasts. Sometimes she just talks, throwing out encouragement to others to not give up, to trust in the Lord and to keep a positive attitude. Other times she and Shayla’s pure voices join in a gospel song. She’s always carefully dressed in bright, cheerful colors, matching earrings, bracelets and more. It’s a vital part of her personality.

The podcast is always, always aimed at helping others who may be suffering from a chronic illness or depression or in helping familiarize listeners with their diseases.

Surrounded by love & faith

LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDS

28 year old Shayla receives comfort and support from her husband, Carl after a collapsed lung and heart issues. Shayla has been on a lung transplant list but her chest cavity is so small that when a five year old boy’s lungs were available they were too large to fit into her body.

Shayla (white gown) is surrounded with the team of doctors who saved her life after her first major illness. Suffering from a collapsed lung and with a serious heart problem they believed she would die, all except the doctor with his hands on her shoulders. He never gave up. Neither did Shayla, whose tiny body is still filled with strength and the will to fight for herself

They get inspired by church now. They attend the Outpouring Church of God in Christ where pastor Kendall McAffee brings his own positive, loving message.

Shekedra has her podcast, plus always being there for her family. Shayla has her own way of giving. She coupons, really coupons. Her scissors are busy, her cell phone is scanning. She gets samples, free products of all kinds of things at highly discounted rates which she gives to the church or charities. From diapers to canned goods, she contributes a lot.

It would be easy for Shekedra and Shayla to give in to self-pity and spend their lives asking for help. Instead, they give help, they pour themselves out for the world in an attempt to help make the world a better place. They say if their podcast helps one person, it’s worth it. But it’s almost a certainty that their attitude has helped many more than one. u

Shekedra and Shayla sing a gospel duet together during the creation of a podcast. Both are afflicted with multiple chronic health issues but choose to try and encourage others through their faith and testimony both in person and with the podcast.

Reverend Gary Dean

By: Ayesha Shafiq HEALTH Director of Paris Cardiology Center

Skin Health

Beauty is only skin deep. True. But remember your skin is the first line of defense against the outside world! Your skin can reveal the inside story of your body. From acne in teenage years to radiant glow in pregnancy to sunspots of aging . Your skin reflects both your age and internal health. Skin provides a barrier against bacteria, environmental hazards, pollution, and chemical substances that are harmful to you. Therefore when skin is healthy it’s layers protect us but when it is damaged, skin being the largest organ in our bodies start getting compromised resulting in hair loss, skin rashes, itchy skin, wrinkles, acne and skin cancer. The functions of skin: Skin regulates body temperature, controls moisture loss and maintains fluid balance. It acts as shock absorber. Alerts us to pain sensation and protects us against the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. Unhealthy diet, lack of sleep , dehydration, lack of proper exercise, smoking, alcohol and particular medications can affect the skin’s ability to work as an effective barrier.

Steps to take for a healthy skin: Today, we have a multibillion dollar skin industry thatadvertises to improve skin and fight against aging. However, such products only go skin deep as

good skin and aging are controlled at a cellular level. Eating healthy foods while improving our skin care habits are as important as applying good moisturizers. Thus improving our skin health inside out.

1. Foods to eat for healthy skin: Tomatoes have skin cancer prevention benefits.

Incorporating tomatoes paste in your diet can also help against sunburn. Lycopene in tomatoes help against UV damage. Olive oil helps prevent photoaging thus protecting against the effects of sunlight exposure that causes wrinkles, dark spots and discoloration. Dark chocolate increases skin hydration by minimizing roughness and scaling. Kale protects against UV light effects. Omega -3 found in fish, walnuts, corn oil, pumpkin seeds etc. prevents drying and scaling. Soy improves crow feet skin wrinkles.

Green Tea helps with healing wounds on the skin and white tea has been known to have antiaging and anti-cancer properties. Mangoes have antioxidant properties and protects the collagen in the skin.

2. Protect against sun damage: Always use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Try not to be outside between 10 AM to 2 PM and wear

"Always use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15."

clothing that protects against the sun rays and wear a wide brimmed hat.

3. Introduce fasting in your life style: Research has shown that restricting the number of calories consumed in a day by 35% had an impact on aging inside the cell. Reducing the calories caused the protein makers inside the cell called ribosomes to slow down thus causing the aging process to decelerate.

4. Maintain your stress levels: pimple seems to pop up right before an important event. College students who

experience a higher level of stress end up with itchy skin, hand rashes, hair loss, dandruff and troublesome sweating along with acne.

5. Moisturize your skin daily: Skin moisturizers keep the top layer of skin hydrated by sealing in the moisture. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following ways to moisturize your skin; Use warm water instead of hot water to take a 5 to 10 minute shower. Use a gentle fragrance free soap. Stay away from harsh soap scrub bushes and wash cloths that can damage your skin. Pat skin gently with a towel after a bath. Moisturize immediately after shower to trap in moisture. Use creams instead of lotions to minimize skin irritation. Avoid getting too close to fire places or heat sources that dries skin out. Switch on humidifiers in the winter to maintain your skin moisture and drink plenty of water throughout the year to keep your skin hydrated.

6. Improve your sleep habits: The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults sleep between 7 to 9 hour every day. People who do not sleep properly have increased signs of premature skin aging and decreased ability of skin to repair itself at night from environmental stressors and sun exposure. Without adequate sleep your body cannot produce new collagen which prevents your skin from sagging with age.

7. Stop Smoking: Smoking ages skin quickly as it causes the narrowing of the blood vessels laying under the facial skin that supply blood therefore, exhausting the skin’s reserves of the nutrients and the oxygen it needs to remain healthy. Smoking also reduces the elasticity of the skin by reducing the collagen production in the body.

8. Reduce your alcohol consumption: Cutting alcohol consumption has been known to lower your risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancers.u

"

By: Shannon McGuire WISE WORDS

Dwelling in Unity

Ibelievethe word of God to be alive, powerful, and true. In Psalm 133:1 (NLT) the scripture says, "How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony." On a very hot Wednesday evening in July 12, 2023, which the date was not my idea....lol!! I witnessed the words of that scripture become reality as a few hundred fellow believers left the comfort of the church building to gather collectively for a night of worship in what was called Gospel on the Plaza in the great city of Paris, TX .

Our church partnered with Main Street Project to present this program for the community receiving support from not only churches, but 2 other organizations. Those that participated were Paris New Generation, United Methodist ChurchConnections, CF Paris, Solid Rock Baptist Church, New Life Worship Center, Revive Dance Team/Ruach Movement and Texas Teen & Adult Challenge- Women's Center.

I'd like to give you a brief history of the event so that that you can understand the purpose. The initial vision was to have a gospel event in the heart of downtown Paris by the fountain, which would bring together the church as a unified body of believers com-

ing together in song, crossing ethnic lines and church denominations. The first event was held in 2012 with two more events that followed. Paul Denny, who was a well-known local architect and someone that had a passion for serving the Paris community Paris, was part of the original planning group. Mr. Denny has since passed away, but He would have been thrilled that his church, United Methodist Church, took part in the most recent night of worship. Kenny Daus was also part or the initial planning and equipment set up along with, Paul Denny. Kenny Daus is still in our community but his physical health does not allow him to take part as he did in the past. Please keep him in your prayers.

I mentioned in the first paragraph that people left the comfort of the church

building. We are all comfortable in our normal environment but on this hot summer evening many people showed up on the Plaza. At first, it may have not only been the heat that caused some to be a little uncomfortable. There is so much that divides us....race, religion, politics, denominations, economic class, and more. I often say the most segregated day of the week is Sunday during worship time. We can work together, shop together, play sports together, go to school together...... you get my point. Why not worship together?

As the evening progressed, even before the temperature began to drop, hands lifted, many in the audience stood on their feet, some even cried at the moving performances of the dance & drama teams. It was a beautiful thing to witness the several hundred people in attendance unified...focused.....on one thing...praising Jesus!! The Bible, often repeats words and verses when the Lord really trying to get a point across. I think I will do the same and say once again "How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony". We can do it Paris, TX, WE PROVED IT ON THE PLAZA!!

Pastoring for 11 years and currently serves as Senior Pastor at Paris New Generation Church

Tasty ways to make Legumes A LUNCHBOX STAPLE

Legumes such as chickpeas, lentils and beans are a great source of essential minerals, fibre and protein. However, they’re not always popular with kids, so you may need to get a little creative in the kitchen. Here are some ideas for incorporating them in meals, snacks and even desserts.

SNACKS Hummus and crackers are a classic lunch box snack. Additionally, you can mix puréed legumes with plain yogurt to make a savoury dip for carrot sticks and other veggies. Another way to nosh on legumes is to roast them. Season chickpeas or edamame beans and then cook them in the oven for a crunchier snack that may become as coveted as po tato chips.

MEALS If your kids don’t like le gume salads or lentil soup, you can add navy beans to stews, chickpeas to cous cous and kidney beans to white rice. You can also re place some or all of the meat in spaghetti sauce with lentils or make a legumeinfused chili.

DESSERTS A great way to make desserts healthier is to substitute a bean purée for some of the in gredients. Puréed black beans make great brownies, for instance. Thanks to their subtle taste, your kids won’t even notice they’re in there. With a little creativity, you can make le gumes a staple of your children’s diet. With the huge variety available, there’s almost an endless array of possibilities. u

Story By: Licensed Photo: Ella Olsson on Unsplash

By: Genevieve Cooney

Old School Actioner Returns

Iwasreally excited to see the newest Indie film whip into theaters, as I have been a fan of the franchise from the get-go. Steven Spielberg directed the first four, now director James Mangold (FORD VS FERRARI, LOGAN) helms “Dial of Destiny” as Harrison Ford claims this will be the final episode of the franchise. It has something to do with no amount of money could persuade him to fall down, or fall off a horse again–which is a sensible idea coming from an octogenarian.

The typical over-the-top opening called for a new process to de-age Ford. It took Industrial Light&Magic over three years to invent the process to create a 3-D CGI head of Ford to change his face to look like it did in WWII, This flashback scene shows Indie (Ford) and his fellow archaeologist Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) sneaking into a Nazi base at the end of the war to retrieve an artifact that is in the massive trove of art and antiquities

that the Nazis are frantically trying to ship back to Germany via train. Basil is captured and loaded onto the train, while Indie sneaks on. Jurgen Voller (Mads Mikkelson) is the officer in charge of the mission. Voller, Indie and Basil end up in a hair-raising run down the top the moving train, fighting for possession of the Dial– invented by Archimedes to control time.

Decades later, in the Sixties, we find Indie, grumpy, old and about to retire from his job as a college professor of archaeology. Enter Jurgen Voller, now working for NASA, showing up with some thugs to steal Indie’s remnant of the Dial.

This leads to another wild chase through the streets of New York during a parade. To escape capture, Indie steals a horse from one of New York’s mounted police and gallops away, eventually down the stairs of the subway. He maneuvers the horse onto the track and moves toward an oncoming

train, weaving and bobbing in and out of spaces in the tunnel. He manages to jump the horse back onto another platform just as the train passes. This chase scene is incredible.

Later, he runs into his goddaughter, Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), who is also an archaeologist, but on the slightly shady side. Helena, AKA Wombat, is daring, intelligent, resourceful, and inspired in part by Barbara Stanwyck’s con-artist character in the 1941 classic “The Lady Eve.” She is charming on the outside, but incredibly ambitious and steely on the inside. She wants to join Indie and find the remaining half of Archimedes Dial for her own agenda. So off they go on a hunt that takes them to Morocco and the Aegean Sea, catching up with some old friends along the way.

Spielberg had one piece of advice for director Mangold, “Keep moving,” and indeed he does.

And that’s a wrap u

A lifelong cinephile with degrees from UT and a Masters of Fine Arts from the American Film Institute’s Conservatory Program.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

&Home LivingGUIDE

A beautiful wooden treehouse instantly adds whimsy and fun to your backyard. While you can purchase many pre-made models, most people will agree that nothing beats a treehouse built by your own hands.

AN ACTIVITY THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER

Instead of assembling a mass-produced treehouse in a few minutes, you can invest many hours with your child. You won’t regret this opportunity to spend quality time together.

A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

You can make your treehouse look like a cozy cabin or a tiny replica of your home. No matter what style you decide to build, you can teach your child about tools, technology and the construction process. They’ll also learn how to plan and execute a project, providing them with valuable life lessons.

A GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL OPTION

Your custom-built treehouse will easily outperform its commercial rivals if you choose the right materials. Whether you buy wood at a hardware store or gather it in a nearby forest, your treehouse will be unique and ecologically sustainable.

A PLEASURE TO REDISCOVER

If your child is usually glued to their video games, it may take some effort to convince them to get their hands dirty building a treehouse. You may be able to persuade them to participate by implementing screen-free days or rewarding them with small prizes for spending time outside.

Building a treehouse is a satisfying project that could turn into one of your child’s fondest memories.

Story By: Licensed Photos: Licensed

By: Megan Pedersen Find me on Youtube: Megorium

5 Stealth Games TO SNEAK INTO YOUR BACKLOG

A mission-based stealth game where you play as a ninja assassin with supernatural power. Your goal in the storyline is to free your enslaved village from invaders. As you play, you will be able to unlock a skill tree and customize your character's appearance as well. The stealth progression is smooth, and the gameplay, while repetitive, is simple and fun, with no worries about overthinking stats and weapons. The graphics are stunning, with a beautiful digitally inked menu screen and a map. During gameplay, the vivid colors pop against the dark undertones, and your armor's intricate designs glow while you sneak in the shadows. The stealth system is only "okay" compared to other stealth games already on the market, but it's not bad. I would rank this as a great beginner stealth game for newbies looking to dip their toe into the genre.

A medieval action RPG adventure game in which you play as a small mouse who must escape a prison fort. With very minimal fighting, you must use your wits to sneak around the catacombs and prison grounds.. The gameplay is simple, as you collect items that can be used to throw and knock out guards or cause a distraction. This is another great game that is recommended to those new to the genre. "Ghost of a Tale" is a stealth game that's deep in lore and has wonderful, quirky characters to interact with.

Gamers, it's time to dust off that old PS1 because I have a gem for you. One of the first dedicated stealth games of its time, Tenhu, was met with praise and sold over 1 million copies in its first 5 years. Starting off, you get to choose your character: Rikimaru (male) or Ayame (female), both ninja assassins employed by, Lord Gohda. The game is voice acted, which really allows these two characters' personalities to shine, and on top of that, the story scenes play out differently with each character, making the game worth a second playthrough. The game is set in Japan's Sengoku Period with samurai lore and supernatural enemies. The game has moderate difficulty and requires a significant level of patience and skill as you progress. The missions are played at night, causing a sense of heightened awareness and unease. To all my game collectors out there, if you haven't played this one, it's time to hunt down a copy and dive into this atmospheric masterpiece.

RIKIMARU

With the recent announcement of "Metal Gear Solid: Delta: Snake Eater", fans have erupted with waves of nostalgia. "Metal Gear Solid" has been one of the top military-style stealth titles since the 1990s. The story is heavily cinematic, with great voice acting and tons of action. The fifth installment is highly regarded as one of the greatest stealth games ever created. "Metal Gear Solid 5", offers an openworld game for the first time allowing players the freedom to approach their missions undetected from any angle they see fit. Sure, you could go in guns blazing, but stealth leads to a more refined, strategized gaming experience. Snake, even has different companions in this game, each with their own unique skill sets. This is a perfect title for players who like to think outside the box and also seeking a challenge.

An immersive military stealth game with cinematic kill-inmotion mechanics You play as Sam, an operative on a mission to take down a terrorist organization by any means necessary. As the plot unfolds, you travel around the world, jumping, climbing, and, most importantly, being undetected as you sneak-up and lay waste to your targets. What's the fun without a few toys?

Sam has many gadgets at his disposal, including a snake cam, a tri-rotor drone, a sticky shocker, and the Karambit knife. This game offers a wide range of difficulty settings, including Rookie, Realistic, and Perfectionist for those hardcore stealth gamers. The perfectionist doesn't allow the execution ability; sonar goggles don't see through walls; Sam is more easily detected; and ammunition is scarce with no resupply at weapon stations.

Happy Gaming, Stay sneakyu