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YOUR INVITATION

IN EVERY ISSUE 12

Our Take

The Talent

Celebrating 20 Years

Social Hour

RSVP

Post Toast

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IN THIS ISSUE 28

Meet the Winners

Meet Kevin, the first goat to ever grace the cover, and Birdy a friendly dog who found her forever home after losing her original owners.

Road to Second Chance

Behind every transported rescue animal is a community working together to create a pet's new beginning.

Face to Face

Libbie Patterson finds creative freedom in painting whimsical portraits of pets and young people.

Corn Pickings

Savor the summertime flavor of fresh corn with these original recipes.

Flower of Life

A collaborative effort to reduce food waste on campus creates connections throughout the Lafayette-Oxford-University community.

ON THE COVER This year’s Pet Cover Contest winners are Kevin and Birdy. Read all about them on pages 28-29. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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OU R TAKE WITH

ne of the greatest joys of publishing this magazine is celebrating the people — and pets — who make our community such a special place. Each year, our annual Pet Cover Contest reminds us that some of our favorite neighbors have four legs, wagging tails, whiskers or feathers. This contest is about so much more than choosing a cover photo. It’s an opportunity to connect with our readers and celebrate the pets that are such an important part of your families. This year, we received hundreds of submissions. Every photo brought a smile to our faces, making the task of selecting our semifinalists more difficult than ever. Thank you to everyone who entered, voted, shared photos and cheered on your favorites. Your enthusiasm is what turns this contest into a true community celebration and makes it one of the most anticipated issues of the year. And speaking of favorites... our readers surprised us this year! For the first time in the history of our Pet Cover Contest, one of the winning cover pets is a goat. Your votes proved that every pet has a chance to capture our hearts, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this one-of-a-kind winner. Thank you all for continuing to share your pets, your families and your community with us. It’s a privilege to tell your stories year after year.

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PUBLISHER Rachel West

E D ITO R I A L

ART

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Emily Welly

Bryan Nigh

EVENTS EDITOR

SENIOR EDITORIAL

AND SOCIAL MEDIA

PHOTOGRAPHER

COORDINATOR

Joe Worthem

Meg Kennedy CONTRIBUTING FOOD EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sarah Godwin

Rebekah Clayton Emers Buckley Maria Fudge Alice Keer Miller Meisenheimer Lisa Roberts

COPY EDITOR

Ashley Arthur CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lena Anderson Eugene Stockstill

A DV E R T I S I N G ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

O FFI C E BUSINESS MANAGER

Hollie Dalton DISTRIBUTION

Allen Baker Brian Hilliard

Alise Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Keith Rainer Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING

MAIN OFFICE

DESIGNERS

662-234-4008

Paul Gandy Markka Bartlett Ryan Strickland

For advertising information, contact ads@invitationoxford.com. To subscribe to one year (10 issues) or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com. To request a photographer at your event, email invitationmag.events@gmail.com. Invitation Magazines respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

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TH E TALE NT ASHLEY ARTHUR

COPY EDITOR

Ashley Arthur has spent three decades in the magazine industry, working with various titles. Her favorite part of editing is refining text to best serve the reader while maintaining the writer’s voice. Currently an Alabamian, Ashley has lived throughout the southeast, including 5 years in Tupelo. When she’s not editing, she enjoys playing with preschoolers as a teacher’s assistant in a special-education classroom. She has two fur babies, an 11-year-old rescue from the Tupelo Humane Society named Juliette and her newest addition Eloise, a 5-month-old Golden Retriever.

B R YA N N I G H

ALISE EMERSON

ADVERTISING CONSULTANT

Alise Emerson has been an advertising consultant with Invitation Magazines since June 2010. Originally from Booneville, she first connected with the magazine while working at an Oxford boutique. When she’s not helping local businesses grow, you’ll find her cheering on her two boys at the ballfield, chasing her energetic 2-yearold daughter, or being lovingly supervised by the family’s 8-year-old Aussiedoodle, Heidi Hope, who is fully convinced she’s the favorite child — and honestly, she might be right.

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Bryan Nigh, Invitation Magazines’ creative director, brings years of visual design experience to the team, including a decade in Los Angeles working in the animation industry. A northern Missouri native, Bryan now calls Water Valley home, where he lives with his wife, Lena, and their two dogs, Gus and Alice. When he’s not designing, he enjoys spending time outdoors and taking the dogs for walks along the Yalobusha Greenway.

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C E LE B RATIN G 2 0 YEAR S

PET COVER CONTEST WINNERS

FROM THE INVITATION MAGAZINES ARCHIVES To celebrate our anniversary we will rerun favorites from past issues!

ver the years, Invitation’s annual pet cover contest has become a reader and staff favorite. And even before the pet contest officially began almost 10 years ago, animals and pets were regularly featured in the magazine. Here’s a look back at the photogenic animals that have made the cover over the years.

August 2025 Sully from Oxford and Lily from Corinth were last year’s cover contest winners.

August 2024 Basset hound Dolly and Millie, an Old English Sheepdog, won the 2024 cover contest.

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October 2023 The 2023 contest winners were Titan and Olenna.

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March 2022 Ari and Oliver were the adorable winners of the 2022 cover contest. THE

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Winners Cotton, a Tibetan terrier, and Belle, a Dalmatian, were featured on these February covers.

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February 2020 Oxford’s cover featured a sweet kitten, while Australian Shepherd Rocky Ricks from Tupelo was the cover contest winner of the northeast Mississippi edition.

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A sporting dog from Little “q” Ranch in Thaxton was featured on the September Invitation cover in 2019.

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Natural Pet Products

Mississippi MUTTS

An apricot Labradoodle named Fallon won the Oxford cover contest in 2018.

March 2017 Sweet farm animals were featured in the March 2017 issue of Invitation Tupelo.

Art from the Heart

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N O I T INVITA Oxford

2017 FEBRUARY

NOVEMBE R

2016

February 2017 November 2016

American Labrador Jed, a sporting dog from Oxford was on the February 2017 cover.

Erin and Ben Napier (of HGT V’s “Home Town”) and their dogs made the cover in November 2016. FEBRUARY 2016

Rescue dog Brick was featured in Invitation Oxford’s February 2016 magazine.

R 2010 OCTOBE

February 2016

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PET ISSUE

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Local Busines WORK Four-Leggedses and Their Assistants

A TRIBU TO MAMACTEIT A Cat Quee of the Squanre

The October 2010 issue of Invitation Oxford featured Wildrose Kennels’ Labrador Retrievers.

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MEET BRICK PAGE 12

FINDING EIR FOREVER HTH A Story of Fo OMES ster Pets

AN OXFORD BUCKET LIST for Rover

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MEET THE All About Kevin Meet Kevin, the first goat to ever grace the cover of Invitation Oxford. Name: Kevin Owner: Sonny Shuffield Breed: Nigerian Dwarf Goat Age: 6 months About Kevin: Kevin lives with 3-year-old Sonny’s grandparents, Christy and Bart Glass (known as “Lulu” and “Hoppa” to Sonny). He was a Valentine’s Day gift from them along with great grandmother Glenda Drewrey, or “Jean Jean.” Christy describes Kevin as very spoiled and super friendly. “He’s a sweetie,” she said. “SIBILINGS”: Another goat named Rocket, along with five dogs and two cats. Fun Facts: Kevin thinks he’s a dog. He was raised on the bottle. He has visited school with Sonny, plays in the yard with him, runs along right behind him and sits on the porch with him. Kevin started to gain some celebrity when he won third place in this year’s Double Decker Arts Festival pet contest. More about goat life: Kevin stays in a fenced in area in the backyard and has a big doghouse for shelter. He drinks from a baby bottle that’s filled with a powdered goat milk purchased from a tractor supply store. He eats pellets along with leaves and alfalfa hay, which Kevin much prefers to munching on grass. 28 I N V I T A T I O N | A U G U S T 2 0 2 6

WINNERS Meet Birdy Congratulations to Birdy, a friendly dog who found her forever home after losing her original owners. Name: Birdy Owner: Ella Smith Breed: Cocker Spaniel / King Charles Spaniel Age: 2 (turning 3 Dec. 23) About Birdy: Birdy was 8 months old when Ella adopted her after her original owners died. She ended up at the vet hospital where Ella works and eventually became Ella’s. She started with the name Harley, but it didn’t quite fit, and she quickly became Birdy, short for “Bird Brain,” which matched her quirky personality perfectly, according to Ella. “Siblings”: Sunny, a miniature dachshund who is only a couple months older than Birdy. favorite things to do: Every morning Birdy runs in circles around the house. She loves her toys, and has at least one in her mouth at all times. She loves to go to the pool. She frequently goes to work with Ella at Companion Animal Care Center in Saltillo, where she hangs out behind the front desk. “If somebody’s here, she has to go say hey,” Ella said.

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Road to Second Chance BEHIND EVERY TRANSPORTED RESCUE ANIMAL IS A COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A PET’S NEW BEGINNING. W R IT TEN BY LEN A A N D ER SO N | I LLU STRATED BY B RYA N N I G H

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adybird had every reason not to trust people. The hound-heeler mix had been shot in the back leg and left injured in a field before making her way into rescue. Yet when volunteers picked her up, she leaned into the care they offered. “Here is this precious soul who was brutally injured by a human, but still trusted us,” said Oxford rescue volunteer Moni Simpson. “Animals are too good for us. We really don’t deserve them.” Ladybird eventually found her forever home, but her story wasn’t the result of a single rescue organization or one act of kindness. It took an entire network. Every year, thousands of dogs and cats leave Mississippi through carefully coordinated transport programs that connect Southern shelters and rescue groups with adoption organizations in Northern states. Along the way, animals pass through the hands of veterinarians, foster families, volunteer drivers, shelter staff and rescue coordinators before arriving at families waiting to welcome them home. “The reasons for surrender vary,” said Carlin Curtis, who helps coordinate transports in north Mississippi. “Many animals are owner surrenders because of moving or financial difficulties, but the majority are found as strays.” Once accepted into a rescue program, animals receive medical care, vaccinations and a behavioral evaluation before moving into foster homes for two to three weeks. During that time, volunteers learn each animal’s personality while providing a safe, temporary place to recover and prepare for the next leg of the journey. “Fosters play the most crucial role,” Curtis said. “Without fosters, we cannot say ‘yes’ to animals in need.” Unlike long-term fostering, transport fosters know that their commitment is temporary from the beginning. “Most fosters keep the animals for about two weeks,” Simpson said. “All supplies are provided, and they have the ease of knowing a date when the animal will be transported. There’s no indefinite fostering, which can be incredibly stressful.” Behind the scenes, each transport requires careful coordination. Rescue teams arrange veterinary care, recruit foster families, organize volunteer drivers, complete medical documentation and work closely with receiving rescue organizations. For more than 20 years, Wright-Way Rescue has partnered with rescue organizations across Mississippi. The partnership exists AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

because communities across the country face very different challenges. “Southern communities often struggle with pet overpopulation, fewer access-to-care resources and larger numbers of stray animals,” said Christy Anderson of Wright-Way Rescue. “In the North, shelters generally have fewer adoptable animals available to meet community demand. Transport partnerships help bridge that gap.” Each year, Wright-Way rescues between 4,000 and 7,000 animals, with roughly 70% arriving through transport partnerships. In many cases, the adoption process begins before the animals ever leave Mississippi. “When we say yes to an animal, we begin immediately advertising them for adoption,” Anderson said. “Anywhere from 40% to 60% of the animals have homes to look forward to before even arriving.” That efficiency creates space to save even more animals. “Our rescue partners have played an incredibly valuable role in decreasing the high euthanasia rates in the South,” Curtis said. “Space is in high demand within Southern shelters.” Successful transport depends on more than simply finding room in another shelter. It requires trusted partnerships between organizations that share the same standards of care. “It’s extremely important for shelters in the South to not blindly load dogs on a van without knowledge of where they’re going,” Curtis said.

“Ensuring they’re going to be cared for and ensuring vetting is completed isn’t a goal — it’s the standard.” For Anderson, those partnerships are what make the system work. “These partnerships are true collaborations,” she said. “Southern shelters work tirelessly to care for animals despite limited resources, while Northern organizations provide additional capacity through adoption programs. Neither side could accomplish the same level of lifesaving alone.” For Simpson, however, the impact is measured one animal at a time. Years ago, she fostered two dogs that had been scheduled for euthanasia because of overcrowding. Both became permanent members of her family after what she jokingly calls “foster failures.” “They both had so much life to live,” Simpson said. “And it was almost cut short for a completely preventable reason.” Every transport tells a similar story. It begins with an unwanted or homeless animal in Mississippi. It continues through a network of people willing to open their homes, volunteer their time, and work together across state lines. More often than not, it ends with a family waiting hundreds of miles away. “It’s such a symbiotic relationship,” Simpson said. “The more people that foster for a week or two, the more animals can be saved.”

Want to help?

CONSIDER BECOMING A FOSTER. Many transport programs rely on short-term foster families to provide a safe place for animals while they wait for their journey to a forever home. Reach out to these local shelters and rescue organizations to learn more about fostering opportunities:

Oxford Animal Resource Center 662-234-3981 | oxfordarc.org

9 Lives Animal Rescue

662-202-4587 | ninelivescatrescue.com

Lafayette County Animal Shelter

662-506-2461 | lafayettehumanesociety.org

Second Chance Animal Alliance

662-714-0147 | www.secondchancewv.org

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TO LIBBIE PATTERSON FINDS CREATIVE FREEDOM PAINTING WHIMSICAL PORTRAITS OF PETS AND YOUNG PEOPLE. WRITTEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL | PHOTOS BY JOE WORTHEM

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xford painter Libbie Kakales Patterson’s family history is filled with the sort of images that would make a poet weep. So, it seems to make perfect sense that she would spend her days in an art studio making blank canvases come to life. George Kakales, once a shepherd in the mountains of Greece, left the old country with his wife, Toula, and young son, John, on board the Christopher Columbus bound for America in 1969, and they literally washed onto the United States’ shores under the Statue of Liberty’s shadow. Sister Libbie arrived the next year in St. Louis. By 1972, the family relocated to Oxford. Longtime Oxonians will remember Dino’s, the downtown pizzeria owned and operated by the Kakales family. The restaurant location gave coloring-like-mad Libbie her first art show at a very young age, courtesy of the businesses on either side of Dino’s. “They gave me their gift boxes (to embellish),” Patterson said. “They would display them in their windows.” Patterson the collegian minored in art at Ole Miss, under the tutelage of the legendary Jere Allen, who painted two portraits of Patterson that hang in her house to this day. “He really influenced me,” she said. “The bright, bold colors, the looseness of style. He used to say, ‘Paint like you sign your name on a check.’” In her first year of law school, Patterson felt like she had made a huge mistake, but when she AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

told her father she wanted to drop out and study art, he refused to allow it. Patterson did wind up working for a Nashville law firm that represented Brooks and Dunn and Tim McGraw. It was only after she’d married, had two sons and found her way back to Oxford that Patterson began creating art again, by way of all the photos she took of her children. “Photography became my art form,” she said. But it also inspired her to start painting again, because she wanted painted portraits of her sons and couldn’t find what she wanted. So, she wound up doing it herself. Then she called up a few friends, including Nicole Akins Boyd, who is a state senator, painted their portraits for free and then posted them on Facebook and Instagram, as did her two buddies. “Within 48 hours, I had 24 commissions,” she said. The vast majority of Patterson’s work, available via Instagram @libbiekp, includes ebullient, color-filled portraits of cheerful kids, spaniels and retrievers and poodles, including those of her sons and the family’s dog, Dodger. Patterson attributes her affinity for portraits to those earlier days of photographing her family. “Because I was taking so many

hen Libbie Patterson’s father was diagnosed with cancer back in January 2020 during the COVID pandemic, something called graffiti art became her therapy.

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Graffiti art is the aerosol equivalent of finger painting and sometimes takes the general approach to art that made Jackson Pollack a household name. A rainbow dragon. A fluorescent BBQ pit. Hot pink chickens. You don’t have to worry about the rule book because there is not much of a rule book. You grab some cans of spray paint, maybe a few stencils, and you go to town on a canvas, creating whatever in the world your heart desires. During the pandemic, “People were not going to buy art,” she said. “I needed to create; I needed to get out of the hospital.” This was a deeply personal endeavor for Patterson. In fact, to this day, Patterson has only sold one piece of her graffiti art. The piece explodes with random colors but also has blackness along the edges. That periphery of darkness stands for the cancer of her father, who died in July of 2020. In her studio, though, Patterson displays a bunch of groovy looking graffiti pieces on small hand-sized tabletop canvases. A dragonfly, a butterfly, a bumblebee and lovely sprays of color. Simple creative expressions that freed her soul.

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photographs of my sons, it became a study in portraiture,” she said. Patterson’s happy style, comes from deep within her, influenced not only by her college instructor Allen but also by the pop art genre epitomized by the famous Andy Warhol. She creates upstairs at her house, in a sun-kissed studio she calls “my happy place,” which includes a huge circular window overlooking a picturesque neighborhood. How does Patterson work? She starts with a photograph that she shoots and prints, and then she begins to paint. She starts with a subject’s eyes and works her way to the edges of a canvas. “You see their souls,” she said. “If the eyes are wrong, the whole painting is wrong.” Patterson’s work has been featured at the Double Decker Arts Festival more than once. She recently conducted a well-received workshop on pet portraits, too, and is planning at least one or two more this fall. If you are interested in her work, contact at libbekp@yahoo.com or visit her on Instagram @libbiekp.

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CORN PICKINGS SAVOR THE SUMMERTIME FL AVOR OF FRESH CORN WITH THESE ORIGINAL RECIPES. RECIPES BY SARAH GODWIN | PHOTOS BY JOE WORTHEM

SCHOOL MAY BE BACK IN SESSION, BUT IT’S STILL SUMMERTIME, SO PICK UP SOME SWEET CORN AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE OR FARMERS MARKET TO TRY THESE TASTY RECIPES.

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ROASTED STREET CORN 5-6 ears corn, husked 2 tablespoons melted butter 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons sour cream ½ cup cotija cheese, divided Minced cilantro Tajín (or similar chili-lime seasoning), to taste 1 lime, quartered Preheat grill to about 400°F, and brush corn with melted butter. Roast on the grill for about 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through. While roasting, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream and ¼ cup cheese in a bowl. Once off the grill, brush corn with mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with additional cheese, cilantro, Tajín and a squeeze of lime. Serve immediately.

STREET CORN DIP 4 cups corn kernels (fresh, canned or frozen) 2 tablespoons olive oil ¼ cup chopped red onion ¼ cup chopped cilantro ½ jalapeno, seeded and diced Zest and juice of 1 lime ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon chili powder ¼ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup sour cream ½ cup cotija cheese Tortilla chips or corn chips, for serving In a skillet over medium heat, sauté corn in olive oil until just starting to brown, about 5-10 minutes. Let corn cool. Add corn and all remaining ingredients except chips to a large bowl, and stir to combine. Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips.

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KERNEL S OF TRU T H FUN FACTS ABOUT CORN FROM MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY’S EXTENSION SERVICE.

• Flavorful, fresh corn is generally in season in Mississippi from May through September and should be readily available at grocery stores and farmers markets. • Corn is a good source of fiber and B vitamins. • Choose medium-sized ears that have soft, green shucks and dried silks. • For corn in the offseason, you can freeze fresh corn (on or off the cob). Simply blanch husked ears of corn in boiling water for 7 to 10 minutes; drain and submerge in ice water for 30 seconds. If desired, remove kernels from cob. Place corn in ziplock freezer bags, and store in freezer. Or, purchase canned and frozen corn to eat instead.

CORN FRITTERS 6 tablespoons milk 1 large egg 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika ½ cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup cornmeal 1 cup shredded cheese ¾ cup chopped scallions 2 cups corn (fresh, canned or frozen) 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided Chopped fresh parsley, smoked paprika and sour cream, for serving In a bowl, add milk, egg and vinegar, and whisk to combine. Add salt, onion powder, garlic powder, baking powder, cayenne, paprika, flour and cornmeal, stirring to combine. Add cheese, scallions and corn, and fold until combined. In a skillet over medium heat, heat half of the oil. Working in batches, scoop spoonfuls of corn mixture into hot oil, and press each scoop into a 3- to 4-inch cake. Cook cakes until browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side, adding more oil with each batch. Garnish with parsley and smoked paprika, and serve with sour cream.

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FLOWER of L I F E A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE ON CAMPUS CREATES CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE L AFAYETTE-OXFORD-UNIVERSIT Y COMMUNIT Y. W R I T T E N B Y E M I LY W E L LY | P H O T O S B Y J O E W O R T H E M

hen the Ole Miss campus comes back to life as students return in August, so does the Flower of Life Food Rescue Project, a collaboration between students and the Oxford Community Market that benefits the Oxford-Lafayette community. Flower of Life started in 2020. Ole Miss classes were forced online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and freshman student Jackson McArthur was bored. He began looking for volunteer opportunities and after some research learned food waste is a persistent issue. He started making calls to see if there was a way he could help make a dent in the problem in Oxford. He found his solution when he talked to Betsy Chapman who heads up the Oxford Community Market. Coincidentally, Chapman had recently learned from her friend Zach Tillotson, who was a chef at Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, that food waste was an issue for the Greek houses on campus. Large meals of very good, high-quality food were prepared for residents, but leftovers were abundant. “It was a wonderful coincidence. I just happened to call at the right time. Our brains kind of converged on that,” McArthur said. Not only did Chapman have that initial connection but she also knew the communities facing food insecurity because OXCM had already been

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Shop

Local at OXCM Oxford Community Market is open every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Old Armory Pavilion. Follow the market on Instagram @oxcm for updates on vendors and upcoming special events.

AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

“

You can have all the food you want but if you don’t know where to take it, what’s the point?

”

— Jackson McArthur

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delivering produce from the market there. “That’s another huge thing too,” McArthur said. “You can have all the food you want but if you don’t know where to take it, what’s the point?” They started with Canterbury Crest retirement home. On folding tables set up under a pop-up tent outside, a small group of volunteers including McArthur and Chapman organized leftover food from that one sorority house into to-go boxes donated by local restaurants. Then they distributed the boxed meals to residents. The OXCM Flower of Life Food Rescue Project was born. Word got out. McArthur and Chapman gathered more student volunteers, community members, market staff and Greek houses to participate. Today, established community and campus partnerships enable food preparation on a larger scale and delivery to four neighborhoods each week during the school year: retirement homes Canterbury Crest and Walnut Hills along with the C.B. Webb and Wayne Johnson neighborhoods, which are part of the Oxford Housing Authority. Flower of Life’s GroupMe (OXCM Flower of Life Volunteer Squad) has more than 600 members from different organizations that show up to pack and distribute food. Notably, the UM Center for Community Engagement has partnered with Flower of Life to provide two student leaders through the university’s Bonner Leaders Program, which places students in paid internships with community partners. That’s important because it means this grassroots volunteer project now essentially has reliable paid staff. The premise hasn’t changed; it’s just executed on a bigger scale. Here’s how it works now: On Fridays, volunteers pick up pans of leftover food from Greek houses. Typically, that food includes main dishes, sides, breads and desserts. The food is transported to the Oxford University United Methodist Church kitchen, where student volunteers mix and match items to create complete boxed meals. The university’s Department of Sustainability donates the containers. The UM Center for Community Engagement provides vans used for picking up the leftover food and delivering the freshly made food containers. Additionally, neighbors in the communities being served function as liaisons to help get word out and to help get food to the right people when they need it most. Take C.B. Webb resident Verna Stokes, for example. Stokes takes care of passing out food to her neighbors after it’s delivered by Flower of

AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

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Get

INVOLVED Join OXCM Flower of Life Volunteer Squad on GroupMe to find opportunities to get involved in food distribution and more.

AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

“

The most beautiful thing about it is the connections between the students and the neighbors.

”

— Betsy Chapman

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Life volunteers. “She’s been with us since beginning,” McArthur said. “She’s just a superstar.” Also paying it forward, one neighborhood that receives food is known for taking any extra meals to the veteran’s home or their church. McArthur and Chapman estimate they serve 300 to 400 plates per week. “The food is delicious, restaurantquality food,” Chapman said, reiterating that the residents receiving the meals are not the only beneficiaries of the program. “The most beautiful thing about it is the connections between the students and the neighbors,” Chapman said. “Those relationships have just grown over time. Students come to participate not just one time. Some come every week for their entire four years.” McArthur has been involved for six years. Now in law school at Ole Miss, he is not the student leader (he passed the torch to Elizabeth Basha, who has since graduated and passed it to others), but he is still a regular volunteer. In addition to food rescue efforts, through the years, Flower of Life volunteers have dabbled in other types of outreach. They built community gardens at C.B. Webb. They started an educational “grow club” for kids in the community to participate in when they got home from school. They built relationships with those kids and with adults in the communities, too. “We got to know them really well,” McArthur said. “It was a really beautiful thing to see.” According to Chapman, the chefs from the Greek houses are also supportive and accommodating because they are thankful for the plan for their leftover food. And OXCM gets to continue to deepen its outreach Oxford neighborhoods. “It’s a win-win-win,” she said. “The goodwill just trickles throughout the community.”

AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

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S OC IAL HOU R

S A LT I L LO M A R K E T

eld June 4, the Saltillo Market featured local vendors, handmade goods, food and a special book signing with Mississippi author Makel Hood. The gathering highlighted local entrepreneurs and authors while encouraging community engagement and support for small local Pbusinesses. HOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

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Richey and Renae Hester Tacy and Mike Richey Ann Marie Payne Makel Hood Stacia, Dianne, Larry and Stephanie Hood

AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

S OC IAL HOU R

“GREASE”

upelo Community Theatre brought the beloved Broadway musical “Grease” to life May 7–9 at the Lyric Theatre with energetic performances, classic songs and nostalgic 1950s charm.

PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

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Ethan Navarro, Bella Cochran, Christi Houin and Nathan Dowling Kevin Rico, Whit Robbins, Kailyn Freeman and Erin Grady Jennifer Cummings Kevin Steele and Christy Dear Jinx Adams, Clint Reid and Sierra Brooke Caitlyn Conwill and Darby Gentry

AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

S OC IAL HOU R

T U P E L O E LV I S F E S T I VA L

eld June 3–6 in downtown Tupelo, the Tupelo Elvis Festival celebrated the legacy of Elvis Presley in his birthplace with tribute artist competitions, live concerts, familyfriendly entertainment and special fan events. The annual festival honored the King of Rock ’n’ Roll while promoting tourism and supporting Tupelo’s rich musical heritage.

PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

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Ben Kieski, Genna McAlpin, Robin Satcher, Brittany McGee, Erika Stewart and Damon Palmer Cooper Perkins and Ashton Ace Saffari Martin and Anita Kotte Jay Dupuis and Rachel Ethridge Ben Thompson and Waverly Gibson Tristan Zimkhorn and Jeremiah Wilson Molly Lovorn and Jan Pannell

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S OC IAL HOU R

M I S S I S S I P P I M A R K E T A R T F E S T I VA L

he Gumtree 10K and Mississippi Market Art Festival took place May 9 at Fairpark, combining the road race with an outdoor arts festival featuring regional artists, live entertainment, food vendors and family activities. The event celebrated health, fitness and the arts while supporting local artists and enhancing the community’s cultural offerings. PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

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Olivia Hanby and Rhonda Switch April and Margaret Callahan with Nichols Sanford Deena and Abby Tidwell with Lorie McGregor Martha and Paul Stephens Maria Hughes and Amanda Sikes Lofton and Jada Neuhaus Lexi Presley and Andy Nash J.G. Miley with Maggie and Molly David Johnson

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“ S EU S S I C A L J R .” erformed June 18–20 at the Lyric Theatre in Tupelo, “Seussical Jr.” delighted audiences with colorful performances inspired by the beloved stories of Dr. Seuss. Presented by Tupelo Community Theatre, the family-friendly production showcased young performers while supporting youth arts education and community theater.

PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

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Ruthie McCord and Wynn Funderburk Thomas Roper and Lisa Hargett Eli Kellar, Charlie Martin and Warren Funderburk Sadie Ethridge, Landen Davis, Ester Walker, Harper Claire McCustion and Mallory Kendrick Marley Tubb and Ann Kate Hinson Rose Burrell, Layla Murphy, Stella Boswell and Ambree Tally Zoey Wafler, Ella Smith and Lyla Criswell Sadie Bass, Mary Kiley Lovorn, Clair Kilpatrick, Ambre Tally and Thomas Roper Colin and Heather Tillotson McKenzie Edwards, Braden Moore, Sarah Evelyn McCord, Casper White and Ava Waide Stella Baswell, Lauren Overstreet, Ella Martin, Kellan Dees and Sadie Grace Martin Canaan Tyler and Jackson Blassingame Dan Kilpatrick, Kathleen Garner, Shiji Spragin, Kaytee-Beth Curboand River Criswell

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13 AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

S OC IAL HOU R

R O C K A B I L LY R E N A I S S A N C E FA I R E

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he Rockabilly Renaissance Faire took place June 27 in Saltillo, blending vintage rockabilly culture with Renaissance-inspired entertainment. The festival featured live music, costumed performers, artisan vendors, classic cars and interactive activities. PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

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Addie and Kelly Burleson with Dakoto Schwart Caleb Rowell, Tara Cresswell and Aubree South Jennifer and Alex Webb with Jedd Hamilton Abby Pennington Cher Jones and Elizabeth Owen Christian Floyd and Rachel Banes Christopher and Paige Doherty Anna Jae Pappa, Rachel Banes, Mika Roach, Matt Sherrer, Christian Floyd, Tanner Sheilds and Patrick Holley Allie Rose and Chase Thompson

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S OC IAL HOU R

TUPELO CON

n May, Tupelo Con brought together fans of comics, anime, gaming, cosplay and pop culture for a weekend of celebrity guests, vendors, artists, panels and costume contests.

PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

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Miley Burnard and Aubrey Nelson Skyler Gann and Kiesten Boggs Lee and Emilee Edwards Riley Davis and Gwen Barnett Shelby Pryor and Jayla Sanders Jay Below Shavar Gladney Hunter Turner, Victoria Lee and Lauren Greenlee

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SNAPSHOTS C H E R R Y C R E E K P E AC H F E S T I VA L PHOTO BY LISA ROBERTS

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Emily Speck, Anna Marie Payne and Lydia Lytal Zoey Adams and John Luke Self Pedro Gonzalez, Carlos Zuniga and Cesar Alanis Sarah Hahn and Bethany McIntosh Carol Drake and Vicki Surrette

" T H E S AVA N N A H S I P P I N G S O C I E T Y " PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

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HAPPENING NOW NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

T U PE LO FA RME R S M A RKE T AT THE DE P OT

FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER ART GALA

TUPELO SESSIONS: SONGS & STORIES

S AT U R D AY S | D OW N TOW N T U P E LO

AUGUST 15 | TUPELO COUNTRY CLUB

A U G U S T 2 5 | E LV I S P R E S L E Y B I R T H P L A C E

tupelomainstreet.com

facebook.com/GumTreeMuseum

elvispresleybir thplace.com

TUPELO FLEA MARKET

UA M AV I AT I O N DAY

AUGUST 7-9 | TUPELO FURNITURE MARKET

AUGUST 15 | Lemons Drive

BODOCK FESTIVAL PAGEANT

tupelofleamarket.net

tupelo.net

AUGUST 22 | PONTOTOC pontotocchamber.com

DA NCE LIKE THE S TA RS

“ YOUNG FR ANKENSTEIN ”

AUGUST 8 | HUNTINGTON BANK ARENA

A U G U S T 2 0 -2 2 | LY R I C T H E AT R E

L AT TE ART THROWDOWN

hbarena.com

tctlyric.com

AUGUST 29 | LOST + FOUND COFFEE tupelo.net

E LV I S P R E S L E Y BIRTHPL ACE FAN A P P R E C I AT I O N D AY

THE SPEAK OF LOVE TO U R W I T H DAV I D PHELPS

A U G U S T 8 | E LV I S P R E S L E Y B I R T H P L A C E

AUGUST 21 | HARRISBURG BAPTIST CHURCH

AUGUST 29 | FAIRPARK

elvispresleybirthplace.com

davidphelps .com

r unsignup.com

RICK HAGGARD MEMORIAL 5K

AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

PO ST TOAST

SARA ANN BROWN Sara Ann Brown is the new chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi. She brings more than 22 years of leadership experience across the military, government and private sectors, with a career dedicated to developing people, strengthening organizations and creating lasting impact. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Jeff, whether camping, fishing or enjoying the outdoors with their two German shorthaired pointers.

Q: A:

How are you feeling about your new role?

I’m incredibly grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received. This community clearly cares about its young people, and I’m excited to work alongside our team, board, volunteers, donors and community partners as we continue expanding opportunities for the young people we serve.

Q: A:

What’s special about Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi?

What makes the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi special is the role it has played in the communities we serve and the opportunity it has to make an even greater impact in the years ahead. The organization serves young people in multiple north Mississippi communities and brings together families, supporters, volunteers and partners around a shared commitment to helping young people succeed. There is a strong history here, along with tremendous potential to strengthen the club experience, expand opportunities and ensure more young people have access to the support and resources they need.

Dance Like the Stars is coming up on Aug. 8. What can you tell us about the big event?

Preparations are well underway, and it’s exciting to see everything coming together. The dancers have been rehearsing, sponsors and volunteers have been working behind the scenes, and countless details are being coordinated to create a memorable evening for our community. I give tremendous credit to Evie Storey, who has successfully led this event for years. Her leadership and commitment have helped it grow year after year into our signature fundraising event. It’s inspiring to see so many people invest their time and talents because they believe in the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi. I’m looking forward to experiencing

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it for the first time and celebrating the collective effort that makes it possible.

Q: A:

What excites you most about the future of this organization?

There is tremendous potential to deepen relationships with families, schools, businesses and community partners so more young people have access to the opportunities they deserve. I believe our greatest days are ahead, and I am incredibly grateful to partner with the communities that care deeply about investing in the next generation.

How can people get involved in and support Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi?

There are many ways to get involved. People can volunteer their time, attend and support fundraising events, sponsor programs and youth, make financial contributions that directly impact the lives of local youth, and advocate for our mission. We also encourage businesses, civic organizations and community leaders to partner with us as we continue creating opportunities for young people throughout north Mississippi.

AUGUS T 2026 | INVITATION

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