Invitation Magazine - August 2021

AUGUST 2021

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FOXFIRE RANCH plus

BACK TO SCHOOL , COOKING WITH KIDS, COMMUNIT Y EVENTS & MORE!

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DEPA RTMENT S

EVENTS:

NORTHEAST

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Letter From the Publisher

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Wine Downtown

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Digital Details

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Fulton Lady Scramble

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Calendar

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Elvis Festival

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Shoutouts

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Junior Auxiliary Luncheon

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Recipes: Monster Cookies

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FRC Safety Event

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Out & About: Northeast

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Out & About: Oxford

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Good Neighbor: Francis D. Bacon

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EVENTS: 54

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ON THE COVER

OXFORD

Pie Fest 2021

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Ole Miss Women’s Golf

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Juneteenth

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Ole Miss Football Camp

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RE/MAX Legacy Opening

“Home Again,” a story about Foxfire Ranch and the Hollowell family, is our Northeast cover story this month. Our Oxford cover story, “Kids in the Kitchen,” includes tips for cooking with your children, along with recipes they can try making themselves.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

F E AT U R E S

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FE ATURES 28 Back to School

Schools look forward to a new year while remembering bright moments of 2020-21.

30 Home Again

The Hollowell family provides a gathering place for fun, fellowship and freedom at Foxfire Ranch.

34 Kids in the Kitchen

Inviting children into the kitchen to help cook can be fun and educational, and it can inspire creativity.

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L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R After a full and fun summer, I am entering into the back-to-school season with both excitement and a bit of hesitation. One thing I learned at an early age is that you don’t always have to be at school to learn new things.

In 2013, my mom moved to Oxford, and with her she brought her lifelong gift of teaching. My daughter was 2 at the time.

About a week after my mom arrived, I found her and my child up to their elbows making a pie crust for what would turn out to be Mom’s signature apple pie. I smiled, remembering the times my mom and I shared in the kitchen through the years and now, my child would get to enjoy that, too,

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and make her own memories with my mom in her kitchen.

I think learning is indeed a lifelong process, and the beauty of it is that as we age, we can discover things we want to learn rather than things we are required to learn.

On page 30, you’ll find a story about the Hollowell family and Foxfire Ranch. Read about how they practice peace, inclusion and the warmest of welcomes on their family land in Waterford, Mississippi. Spoiler alert: The family serves up more than a smattering of the blues and authentic Southern cooking.

On page 34, you’ll find some tasty recipes that will please the whole family and are easy enough for kids to make themselves.

@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

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They offer not only an opportunity for children to experiment in the kitchen but also a chance to learn about other cultures.

In ways both big and small, in this issue we celebrate the passage of time, the beginning of a new chapter of life and, most importantly, no matter what our age, the opportunities we are given to learn something new.

We’ll see you right back here in September when we celebrate football and the special season of fall.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

PUBLISHER Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leslie Criss OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Mary Moreton COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Abbey Edmonson Abigail Nichols

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Roberts J.R. Wilbanks

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham Anna Zemek ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Becca Pepper ADVERTISING INFORMATION 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 Mary at mary.invitation@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.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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D I G I T A L details E XC LU S I V E LY O N L I N E AT I N V I TAT I O N M AG .C O M

social

SNAPS We love being tagged in your photos!

T he P r ic e S t re e t P i g Flip to page 64 for an exclusive Q&A with Francis Bacon, a.k.a. the Price Street Pig, and be sure to follow his adventures around his Oxford yard on Instagram @PriceStreetPig.

C o ok i n g w it h K id s

C o n g rat s S c hol a r s h i p W i n ne r s!

It’s closing day & packing week for our little family of three…

L O C A T I O N : Indianapolis U S E R N A M E : @blissofmcbritt

Welcome your kids into the kitchen for some family time preparing meals and baking treats like these Monster Cookies (recipe on page 26). Find a story on all the benefits of cooking with kids on page 34, and check out our food blog at invitationmag.com throughout the month for more kid-friendly recipes and tips.

Every year, the Elvis Presley Fan Club awards $10,000 in music scholarships to deserving high school seniors from Mississippi. Congrats to this year’s winners, JaMya Bell from Madison ($5,000 first place); Lucas McKeown from Oxford ($3,000 second place); and Elizabeth Bouchillion from Tupelo ($2,000 third place). Visit tupeloelvisfanclub.com to see the impressive video submissions from the 2021 winners and other contestants. Also, seniors graduating in 2022 can submit applications and videos now for a chance at a 2022 scholarship. The deadline is Feb. 14, 2022.

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

Our hydrangeas have blossomed and we could not be more excited!

L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @thez_bedandbreakfast

Have an exciting event coming up? Visit our website and share the details on our online community calendar. There’s a chance photos from your event will be featured in an upcoming magazine!

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@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

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@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

@bren_gardner pie at this year’s @oxcm pie contest!

L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @photoxlucile

2021 Recital is in the books. Love seeing her on stage.

L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @loidha

Our friends @cheesestrawfactory sent us some extra yummy goodies that are a perfect addition to your patriotic themed boards…

L O C A T I O N : Meridian U S E R N A M E : @charcuteriechick_ms

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C O M M U N I T Y AUGUST 2021

OXFORD

United Way Flashback Bash

Mid-Town Farmers’ Market

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W E D N E S D AY S & S AT U R D AY S I N A U G U S T

Shop local this summer for your seasonal veggies, sweet treats, canned goods, fresh beef and eggs and more.

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7-11 a.m., Mid-Town Shopping Center. mtfarmersmarket.com

First Day of School Oxford & Lafayette County

Boogie on down with the United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County as they flash back to the ’70s to benefit the LOU community.

Tickets available online.

7-11 p.m., Oxford Conference Center. unitedwayoxfordms.org

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“The Heartbreak Henry” A U G U S T 1 1 -1 5

Based on his own experience working at the former Henry Hotel while attending Ole Miss in the 1960s, writer and director David Sheffield brings his production to Oxford. Tickets $20.

See website for times, Ford Center.

The Grove Retreat

olemissboxoffice.com/ordering-tickets

A U G U S T 3-5

First Day of School University of Mississippi

All Things Ministries invites incoming University of Mississippi freshmen to connect with classmates and get to know various ministries and churches before school starts. Register online for $125.

For more information, contact register.groveretreat@gmail.com.

1-5 p.m., The Jefferson Oxford.

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Concerts at The Lyric AU G US T 26 A ND 27

Cool off from these hot summer days with some refreshing sips and seafood. Purchase tickets, $30, online.

5:30-6:30 p.m., The Sipp on South Lamar.

Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow hosts a fundraiser event that includes a catfish dinner and entertainment.

Tickets $15.

6 p.m., Old Armory Pavilion.

The Lyric hosts Georgia-based rock band Futurebirds Aug. 26, and Robert Earl Keen hits the stage with his Feelin’ Good Again tour on Aug. 27. Tickets and more information can be found online. For both shows, a $5 underage fee will be collected at the door for minors under the age of 18.

Cash only.

Doors open at 7 p.m., shows start at 8 p.m., The Lyric.

eventbrite.com

loftms.org

thelyricoxford.com

thegroveretreat.org

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A Night for Nonprofits A U G U S T 12

Tommy Luke Concert

NORTHEAST

AUGUST 19

Blue Canoe hosts this up-and-coming country singer for a night of good tunes and good food. Free. 7 p.m.

Blippi the Musical AUGUS T 4

bluecanoebar.com

Kids ages 2-6 will be thrilled to see Blippi, a YouTube cartoon character with more than 200 million views per month worldwide.

Blippi, who teaches millions of kids about colors, letters, counting and more, jumps out of the screen and onto the stage for this energetic performance. See website for ticket prices. 6 p.m.

’90s Block Party AUGUST 7

Crossroads Arena in Corinth throws it back to the last decade of the 20th century with a block party featuring Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Tone Loc and Young MC. Enjoy a night of iconic hip-hop and rap artists. $35 floor standing pit; $45 reserved risers. 7 p.m.

bcsarena.com

crossroadsarena.com

BANCORPSOUTH ARENA

Ladies Golf Scramble A U G U S T 12

Hillandale Golf Course in Corinth hosts a two-woman golf scramble. The winner takes home a grand prize to be determined by how many people register. Call the course at 662-665-2115 to sign up. $60 per person. 9 a.m.

Your Story Matters Retreat AUGUST 21

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First Day of School Lee County

Lost + Found Coffee Company in Tupelo hosts a night of live music, coffee, food and beer. Free. 7-9 p.m.

StoryTellers Live, a podcast detailing the experiences of women with God, presents a one-day women’s retreat. Lee Reeder, Robyn Kown, Lindy Walker, Katie Dunn and Courtney Doyle are featured speakers for this time of worship, storytelling and bible study. Tickets $20, include a boxed lunch. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Orchard Tupelo.

AUGUST 5

lostandfoundcoffee.co

theorchard.net

First Day of School Tupelo

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hillandalegolfcourse.com

Milk Mustache Concert

“The Play That Goes Wrong” A U G U S T 2 6 -2 8

Tupelo Community Theatre presents this famous play-within-a-play production by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields. A plethora of disasters falls upon a cast performing “The Murder at Haversham Manor” at Cornley University.

See website for ticket pricing and schedule details. Lyric Theatre. tct.ms

Almost Jaded Concert AUGUS T 28

Amsterdam Deli & Grill invites all to enjoy dinner and a free concert by Almost Jaded, an alternative rock/pop band. Noon-3 p.m. facebook.com/AmsterdamDeli

Eight Days of Hope Golf Tournament AUGUS T 28

Eight Days of Hope partners with the Tyler Sloan Memorial for the third annual golf tournament supporting their full-time missionaries. Registration includes 18 holes, cart fees, range balls and lunch. For more ticket, event and prize information, visit the Eight Days of Hope Facebook page. Natchez Trace Golf Club. eightdaysofhope.com AUGUS T 202 1 | INVITATION

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S H O U T O U T S

TERRI HIRSCH PHOTOGRAPHY

B e s t i n Bre e d

A 3-year-old Tupelo dog was chosen the best of his breed from a field of 31 other Bernese Mountain Dogs at the 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in June.

He then competed against other breeds in the Working Group.

GCHB Greenway’s Divine Prince George, but known around Tupelo as just George, is co-owned by Kathy Kirk Cook of Tupelo and Lisa Gallizzo of New Jersey.

The Berner lives in Tupelo with Cook and her husband Kenny.

“George was one of a litter of nine,” Cook said. “They were known as the Divine Nine, so every puppy in the litter used Divine in their name.”

This was George’s first trip to the Westminster dog show, and there will likely be more competitions in his future.

His first big win prior to Westminster was the Tarheel Cluster Dog Show in Raleigh, North Carolina, in March, where George won Best of Breed and also won over all

dogs in the Working Group.

More than 2,500 dogs from more than 200 breeds competed for the 2021 top prize at Westminster, which ultimately was awarded to a member of the Toy Group, a Pekingese named Wasabi.

Though the Cook family confesses enormous pride in George and his early accomplishments, they see him as much more than an award winner.

“He’s just our pet,” Cook said. “He lives with us. He normally finds the coolest place in the house to stretch out and sleep.

He loves people, especially kids — he’s super outgoing.

“And he loves his favorite toy. When he was a puppy, some friends gave him a stuffed Bernese Mountain dog, and he takes that thing everywhere he goes.”

Two high school seniors — one male and one female — are recognized from each state every year as part of the class of U.S. Presidential Scholars. This year, Oxford’s Emma Teng received this honor and was named a 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the program’s 57th class.

This distinction, given by The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, recognizes students for accomplishments in academics, the arts and career and technical fields. More than 6,000 candidates qualified for the 2021 award, and 161 students received it. Recipients are selected based on academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and evidence of community service, leadership and commitment to high ideals.

Teng, an Oxford High School graduate, is a jack-of-all trades. She was captain of the debate team, an Envirothon club member, an artist and a Poetry Out Loud participant,

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among other things. Not only did she juggle all of these extracurriculars while maintaining an impressive GPA, but she also did this during a pandemic.

“We (Oxford High School students) actually had the option of going back in person in the fall if we wanted to,” Teng said. “I originally thought I was going to go back for the second semester of my senior year, but I ended up taking the entire year online. It was a difficult decision, but I felt like it really helped me have time to think about my priorities and how to balance everything.”

Teng will attend the University of California, Berkeley in the fall, and she plans to major in architecture. However, she has an eclectic collection of interests. She’s also considering switching to biology.

“I definitely could not have done any of this without the support of my family, especially my mom,” Teng said. “She’s been

COURTESY OF OXFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT

P re s id e nt i a l S c hol a r E m m a Te n g

constantly pushing me to get better and to improve myself through my whole life. It’s been really hard at times, but in the end, she was right about so many things, even though I didn’t see it at the time. It’s just insane to look back and see everything that we went through to get to this point. It’s really been a process, and this award is just a good thing that ties everything up.”

SHOUTOUTS

continued

STAN ROBERTSON

O x fo rd M id d le S c ho ol S t ud e nt s Fi sh i n g fo r S uc c e s s

Kyle Bennett and Rivers Robertson in Columbus May 23 with Bass Federation President Edwin Gregory.

Two Oxford Middle School students, Kyle Bennett and Rivers Robertson, made a big splash at this year’s Mississippi Jr. Bass Tournament, held in Columbus on May 23.

The eighth-graders reeled in a 6.81pound bass, which earned them fourth place in the tournament. They also received a first place plaque for their 4.4-pound lunker.

The duo also came in sixth place at the Mississippi State High School Tournament, held at Bay Springs Marina back on May 8.

Kyle and Rivers returned to the water to represent the Oxford Student Fishing Club at the 12th annual High School Championship/ National Bass Tournament at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina, which took place June 30-July 3. The tournament had over 400 registered teams with more than 1,200 participants.

Both Oxford fishermen were successful on Day One of the tournament, with each catching a fish, one of which weighed in at 1 pound, 15 ounces.

SARAH HAMILTON

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COOKIES

T H E S E C O LO R F U L C O O K I E S G UA R A N T E E S W E E T S M I L E S F R O M E V E R YO N E I N T H E FA M I LY. RECIPE AND STYLING BY SARAH McCULLEN

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reat your kids to a surprise afterschool snack, or welcome them into the kitchen to help with these sweet Monster Cookies. Made with oatmeal and almond flour, they are a more wholesome alternative to traditional M&M cookies but are still packed with plenty of yummy chocolate candies. Turn to page 34 for more fun recipes your kids can help make.

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COOKIES

½ cup softened butter ¾ cup brown sugar 1 egg 2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats ½ cup almond flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup M&M’s and/or chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Beat in egg.

Add oatmeal, almond flour, cinnamon, vanilla and salt, then mix until combined. Stir in M&M’s and/ or chocolate chips. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and bake until edges are golden, about 10-15 minutes.

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BACK to

SCHOOL

SCHOOLS LOOK FORWARD TO NEW YEAR WHILE REMEMBERING BRIGHT MOMENTS OF 2020-21.

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WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

fter more than a year of masks and distancing and periods of remote learning, administrators and teachers are facing a new school year with high hopes of a return to something close to how things were before COVID-19 entered our lexicon.

Many students have the same hopes. And no matter how excited they are to begin the 2021-22 academic year, there are likely feelings of anxiety for some.

Jane Buckley ended her fourth-grade year at Rankin Elementary School in Tupelo, where she adored her teachers. Then her parents, Charlie Buckley and Amber Nichols-Buckley, had to tell their blueeyed girl the family would be moving to Oxford, where her mom teaches writing in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric at Ole Miss and her dad is an artist.

“Actually, no one told me we were moving,” Jane said. “My grandma and my dad were Facetiming, and I overheard them talking about a house in Oxford. I was a little mad because no one told me.”

And she was sad because Tupelo, Jane said, was home.

But a house was bought, the move was made and by midsummer, Jane loved her new room, the 3 acres of woods surrounding the house and all the animals that acreage allows.

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“We have 11 chickens (including some Easter egg layers that lay blue eggs), two cats, a dog, two ducks, a gecko and a blue and red fish,” said 10-year-old Jane. “And my mom wants peacocks and goats.”

Jane’s already met a healthy handful of friends in her new neighborhood. Though some are home-schooled, she’s found a few who will attend Oxford Intermediate School with her. And that makes her a little less nervous about starting a new school.

“I’ll be able to walk on a path that goes from the university to my new school,” Jane said. “It’s very close.”

And it’s made Jane feel a little less anxious to learn that all rising fifth-graders will be starting the new year at a new school since Oxford Intermediate is for fifth- and sixth-graders.

Change can be difficult, Jane will agree. But she’s excited about a few things.

“I got my ears pierced,” she said. “And I can’t wait to meet my new teachers and friends.”

Jane is not the only one looking forward to a new year. Here are some highlights local schools and students are celebrating and anticipating.

SS C CH HO OO O LL H H II G GH H LL II G GH H TT SS Oxford and Lafayette County school districts welcome new superintendents Bradley Roberson and Jay Foster, respectively.

Students return early to the University of Mississippi for Greek life. Panhellenic sorority recruitment takes place Aug. 14-22.

High schools, including Tupelo and New Albany, offer programs that allow students to earn college credits.

Second grade Tupelo School District teacher Lesley Talley is Mississippi's 2021 Teacher of the Year.

New Albany Middle School students will get hands-on experience in the school's “Imagine STEAM Lab.” Go to www.invitationmag.com for more about what to look forward to this school year.

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Home Again T H E H O L LOW E L L FA M I LY P R OV I D E S A GATHERING PL ACE FOR FUN, FELLOWSHIP AND FREEDOM AT FOXFIRE RANCH. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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hen 68-year-old Bill Hollowell was a little boy, he often said he wanted to have a ranch one day. He learned later that turning intentions into realities was in his DNA. In 1918, Bill Hollowell’s father, Albert, fixed his written intent to purchase an 80-acre plot of land in the Waterford community in Marshall County between Oxford and Holly Springs. In 1919, his vision became a reality.

It was on this land where Albert made a home for his family; it was where his six children were all delivered by local midwives; it was where Bill Hollowell, number four among his siblings, spent his boyhood; and it was where he always felt he was home. Even today he talks of his boyhood as if it were recent.

“We were a farm family that raised a garden, cotton, corn, sweet potatoes,” he said. “We had a few cows, some chickens and hogs, some orchards. My mama did a lot of canning — we grew most of what we ate. We were independent, self-sufficient members of a Black farming community.”

His father died when Bill Hollowell was 9. His mother remarried another farmer who had farmland nearer to Holly Springs. They moved there and rented their Waterford acreage to another family.

were independent, “we self-sufficient members of a black farming community. ” -bill hollowell

“I was old enough to start doing manly type chores,” he said.

“I learned about planting and plowing and working with livestock.”

He left home at 14 to live with an older brother, and, at 17, he enlisted in the service.

“I saw a little bit of the world, including Vietnam,” he said.

His mind was never far from farming or the ranch he wanted to one day own.

After four years in the Marines, Bill Hollowell returned to Mississippi and went to work for the Holly Springs police department. He also worked with ROTC programs in the Memphis

schools and at Ole Miss. After getting a degree from Ole Miss in 1980, he returned to the Army as an officer.

He married Annie, a Mississippi girl he’d known since childhood; he traveled a lot and learned while still serving his country that his siblings wanted to sell the family land.

“So, I bought it,” Bill Hollowell said.

In 2000, he retired from the military and built a home for his wife and two daughters, Hollie and Annette, on the family’s 80 acres.

“We raised cattle for a while, had about 30 head,” he said. “We had a horse and then the horses multiplied to 13.”

In 2007, Bill Hollowell’s vision for his ranch broadened. He built a 5,000-square-foot, open-air pavilion and hosted family reunions — from his side and his wife’s side of the family. These were no small affairs — there were about 300 people in attendance.

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Hollowell, who left New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to Waterford with her daughters, Selah, 8, and Ida, who will be 6 in September.

Annette shares her dad’s vision for the family land, known since 2007 as Foxfire Ranch. She serves as manager of the homeplace that has become a venue for weddings, family reunions, retreats, festivals and other events.

When Bill Hollowell was trying to come up with a name for the ranch, a childhood memory did the trick.

“Dad’s older brothers would often go coon hunting at night,” Annette said. “He was too little to go, but they’d always come home from hunting talking about seeing this glowing moss. This story lived in Dad’s imagination.”

The foxfire phenomenon is the bioluminescence created by some species of fungi present in decaying wood. It gives off a blue-green glow.

For the past 13 years, Foxfire Ranch has continued a Marshall County tradition, hosting the Sunday Evening Blues Concerts each second and fourth Sunday from March through November. The slate of musicians who’ve graced the stages at Foxfire conjure a strong “wow” sentiment, like Bobby Rush, Cedric Burnside, Lightnin’ Malcolm, Keith Johnson and The Big Muddy Band, Afrissippi, to name just a very few.

It’s also home to Hill Country Harmonica, the largest blues harmonica gathering in the United States.

If you get hungry while visiting Foxfire, all you have to do is find Annie Hollowell. She runs the kitchen there and is known across the wide expanse of Mississippi Hill Country for her barbecue, greens, cornbread, fried chicken and other soul-soothing delicacies.

The visitors who’ve come to Foxfire — singularly and collectively — include groups of social justice advocates, transgender artists of color and women writers from New Orleans.

AS YOU LEAD WITH “ASLOVELONG AND SHOW RESPECT, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. ” -ANNIE HOLLOWELL

“The crowds that show up here are intergenerational and interracial,” Annette Hollowell said. “It’s a wonderful mix of humanity. Whether people need to be creative or refresh their spirits or just find peace, they seem to find it here.”

If there’s a most important rule that must be followed at Foxfire, this is it, according to ranch manager Annette: “As long as you lead with love and show respect, you are welcome here.”

Of course, COVID changed the day-to-day way of being at Foxfire. Large social gatherings ceased for a while, but the Hollowells used the time to make a few changes at the ranch. Two new cabins were built, bringing the accommodations to four private cabins.

There is also an indoor banquet hall and a full-service catering kitchen where Annie Hollowell works her culinary magic.

“This place is all-consuming,” Annette Hollowell said. “You’re either in or out. I surrendered years ago. It’s a gift to be (part of) a place that is peaceful, safe and comfortable for others. And it’s pretty amazing that my grandfather’s vision more than 100 years ago was big enough to hold what we’re doing now.”

Learn more about Foxfire Ranch at foxfireranch.com; on Instagram @foxfire.ranch; and on Facebook @foxfireranch2008.

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Kids in the Kitchen INVITING CHILDREN INTO THE KITCHEN TO HELP COOK CAN BE FUN AND EDUCATIONAL, AND IT CAN INSPIRE CREATIVIT Y. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

INDIAN chicken kebab drumsticks Recipe contributed by Sunita Prasad

4 medium chicken drumsticks ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ ground red chile powder, optional 4 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon ginger paste 1 teaspoon garlic paste 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon garam masala Salt, to taste 1-2 tablespoons butter or olive oil

Wash and dry chicken, then rub with black pepper and chile powder, and set aside in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, mix together yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, ginger, garlic, coriander, garam masala and salt. Add yogurt mixture to chicken, cover and marinate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

foil, and place a wire rack on prepared baking sheet.

Spray rack with cooking spray to keep chicken from sticking. Bake in preheated oven 13 to 15 minutes. Increase oven temperature to broil, and broil chicken until slightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes or. Remove from oven, and brush with butter or oil.

Let cool on rack for a few minutes, and then serve with Mint Chutney (recipe at top, right).

Preheat oven to 460°F. Line a baking sheet with

Cooking with kids in the kitchen may not be every parent’s idea of a good time, but with a bit of patience and some creativity, any mom or dad can turn the often-mundane task of making a meal into an adventure for the entire family.

The benefits of inviting your children into the kitchen to learn to cook are many. Cooking aids in cognitive development by encouraging kids to think, problem solve, follow directions and be creative. It can help with dexterity when the young cooksin-training are taught how to measure ingredients, how to safely cut fruit and vegetables and do other foodprep tasks. And kids in the kitchen may develop a more extensive list of foods they will try if they have a hand in preparing them.

Just ask Lauren McElwain of Tupelo, who several years ago came up with Cooking as a First Language, where culturally diverse members of the community come together over something they all have in common: a love of and appreciation for food.

MINTchutney Recipe contributed by Sarah McCullen

½ cup Greek yogurt ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro ½ cup chopped fresh mint 1 medium jalapeno pepper 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon ginger paste ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ lemon, juiced (about 1½ tablespoons) In a food processor, process all ingredients until well-combined and vibrant green. Serve with chicken kebab drumsticks.

As part of Cooking as a First Language, McElwain offers cooking classes for kids.

The recipes included in this article for Indian Chicken Kebab Drumsticks, Ukranian Cucumber-Dill Salad and Easy Italian Tiramisu, are from Cooking as a First Language classes for kids, and McElwain encourages families to try them at home.

“If you make it fun (in cooking classes or at home), kids are more likely to try things they wouldn’t normally try,” McElwain said.

So, how does a parent make cooking fun? Sometimes it depends on the kids and their ages. McElwain is Mom to three: Ava, 10; Clark, 9; and Phoebe, 4.

“Ava loves to cook if it’s something that interests her,” McElwain said. “We have fun; I love it when she gets in her zone. My son does not love cooking, though he does make his own ramen.”

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easy ITALIAN tiramisu

Recipe contributed by Lisa Lippincott

1¼ cups heavy cream ½ cup powdered sugar 1 cup mascarpone cheese 1 cup chocolate milk 21 ladyfingers cookies ¼-½ cup chocolate flakes or chips 2-3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa In a medium bowl, whip heavy cream and sugar until soft peaks form. In a separate bowl, whip mascarpone cheese until fluffy, then gently fold into whipped cream mixture until combined.

Pour chocolate milk into a medium bowl, and dunk ladyfingers 1 at a time, turning to coat (do not leave submerged). Place 7 to 8 ladyfingers in a baking dish in a single layer. Spread one-third of the cream on the cookies. Sprinkle with chocolate flakes. Repeat layering procedure 2 times.

Refrigerate at least 5 hours or up to overnight.

Sprinkle top with cocoa just before serving.

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young for her first cooking lessons, she has already learned to like some wholesome foods at an early age, including tomatoes and cucumbers.

McElwain said her children like a charcuterie-type experience, so she has taken that concept in different directions.

“We’ve done a sushi charcuterie and a pizza charcuterie,” she said. “Just laying things out in charcuterie-style.”

Allowing kids to invite a few of their friends over to cook together can also make the adventure more fun, McElwain said. She also suggested turning on music while cooking and letting the kids design creative tablescapes.

“That’s part of it,” she said. “My daughter loves making a festive table for fun family meals.”

McElwain also said she’s recently found kid-friendly knives on Amazon.

“Kids like having their own knife,” she said. “It makes them feel grown up.”

Parents should not be concerned about being expert cooks themselves.

“No expertise is needed,” she said.

“The only thing that might make the time more fun is having a basic fondness

for cooking.”

But even that’s not crucial.

Jessie Kilpatrick of Tupelo is not someone who loves to cook, but as her five children get older, she said she’s liking it more. Four of her kids attended McElwain’s cooking class when the menu was food from the Ukraine.

“My sister-in-law is from the Ukraine,” Kilpatrick said. “She was adopted from there in 2011.”

Clair, 9; Marshall, 8; Dan, 6; and Emma, 5, have attended other cooking classes in addition to McElwain’s. Caroline, 2, has not yet ventured into cooking.

“My daughters love cooking,” Kilpatrick said. “The boys enjoy cutting out cookies and holiday baking. What they really love to do is cut up fruit, especially strawberries.”

Kilpatrick, like McElwain, suggested trying cooking utensils made specifically for young chefs. Her kids love using them.

Lisa Lippincott of Tupelo loves sharing the kitchen with granddaughter Sidney Darsey, 8, and grandson William Darsey, 5, who live across the street from her.

For Lippincott, who grew up in

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Brooklyn, New York, time in the kitchen with her grandchildren is much more than fun: It’s educational and important. As the granddaughter of Italian immigrants, Lippincott developed an early appreciation for big Italian meals. Two nights a week when she was growing up were saved for pasta.

“Every Wednesday and Sunday,” she said. “We had a traditional Italian pasta meal.”

Now Lippincott is passing along some of her family traditions, especially in the kitchen, and both Sidney and William enjoy cooking with Nana.

“William loves things in order, and Sidney loves to learn,” she said. “This summer we are going to make Eggplant Parmesan. It’s a big thing in our family. We will do it assembly-line style — for all the steps — and we will have fun.”

She also plans to teach her grandchildren Recipe contributed by Page Thorn to make cannoli, the delicious Italian pastries.

4-5 cucumbers Teaching Sidney and ½ teaspoon garlic powder William the history of 1 teaspoon onion powder the food she loves is 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill an important goal for 1 tablespoon olive oil Lippincott, and spending 1 tablespoon vinegar time with them in the Salt and pepper, to taste kitchen, watching them

UKRANIAN cucumber dill salad

learn to make and appreciate Italian dishes brings her pure joy.

“It’s love,” she said.

“It’s passing on the love.

That’s what it is.”

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Wash cucumbers, and then thinly slice into circles. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients. Add cucumbers to the mixture, and toss. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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WINE DOWNTOWN PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

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On May 13, Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association and Trustmark Bank presented 2021 Wine Downtown, a progressive wine tasting that attendees participate in while visiting downtown shops. An after-party, with live music, food and drinks, was held at Farmhouse.

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1. Daphie Westover, Melanie Basson and Jamie Taylor 2. Pam Crabtree, Tammy Chapman, Carol Havelin and Debbie Knight 3. Shoneel Walker, Sandra Linzy and Melissa Wells 4. Dalton Russell, Chance Beck and Blake Whitehead 5. Debbie Banko, Chanda Cossitt, Genna McAlpin and Stephanie Kitchens 6. Kristi and Brett Pearce 7. Chari and Cindy Googe with Angie Henry and Grace Brymer

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FULTON L ADY SCRAMBLE PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Fulton Country Club Ladies’ Golf and Janet Tucker Hamilton hosted its 2 Lady Scramble Tournament May 15, with a brunch prior to teeing off and prizes.

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1. Lauren Nichols, Cora Polson, Heather Franks and Patsy Polson 2. Cathy McFerrin, Michelle Williams, Debbie McDonald and Susan Fowles 3. Debbie Myatt and Angela Young 4. Jennifer Ridgway and Lauren Dunlap 5. Mary Sue Boggs, Roxi Tucker, Janet Hamilton and Emily Mabus 6. Marcia Eaton and Teresa McNeece 7. Pam Willingham and Kayla Evans

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E LV I S FE S T I VA L PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The 2021 Tupelo Elvis Festival took place June 9-13 at various Tupelo locations.

The festival included Elvis Tribute Artist competitions, the Running with the King 5K, live concerts, after-parties, a Sunday brunch and gospel concert, and much more.

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1. Teresa Nichols, David Lee, Tara Rasberry and Carrie Carrubba 2. Kenny Cramer, Cliff Wright, Jody McDowell, David Fontana and Charlie Watson 3. Pam Atkins and Nell Lane 4. Peggy Seaman and Taylor Bland 5. Paisley and Christie Clark with Bill Cherry and Sandy Green 6. Tina Christian and Gino Mercuri 7. Jo and Billy Smith

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8. Michael Thomas and Bonfire Orchestra 9. Darryl Winstead, Anna Lauren and Reese Jacob 10. Rhea Edenfield and Fay Calhoun 11. Therese Gautreaux, Taylor Rodriquez and Lizzy Zenzer 12. Cooper Perkins, Katrina McElyea and Jacque Prather 13. Dixie Kendrick, JoAnne Owen, Morgan Cain, Kimberly Turner, Paula Johnson, Briannna Dreading, Lola Allen, Bobbie Henderson and Amber Brock 14. Mary Lowe and Hunter Cole

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JUNIOR AUXILIARY LUNCHEON PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo held its annual spring luncheon on May 6 at Kingfisher Lodge in Tupelo.

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1. Courtney Kinny and Jessie Leddy 2. Ashley McLellan, Megan Johnson, Emily Addison and Miley Wise 3. Kelly Gregory and Lacey Short 4. Catherine Toms, Bonnie Mize, Judy Billups and Kathy Wallace 5. JoLynn Wheeler, Katie Stuart, Ashley Martin, Allie West and Nicole Graves 6. Nicole Kilman, Candace Waterer, Amanda Perry and Liz Beavers

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FRC SAFETY EVENT PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

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Family Resource Center of North Mississippi hosted its 2021 Safety Event at Ballard Park in Tupelo June 24. Several community organizations hosted information booths, and guests were treated to food, drinks and raffle prizes. Learn more about Family Resource Center at frcnms.org.

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1. Miketra Richardson and Shane Robertson 2. Leah Graham and Rebecca Cagle 3. Shenika Cleveland, Tekemia Latham and Daryl Horton 4. Jaycee Brown, Shonteria Penson and Jada Matthews 5. Alicia Asters, Jonathan Swain, Shatara Agnew, Pam Morris and Hannah Billingsley 6. Jay Marshall and Josh Parker 7. Tammy Shelton and Relda Fugitt

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OUT & ABOUT Me mo r i a l D ay C e re mo ny at Ve t e ra n s Pa rk

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1. Scott Burns and Danny Cash 2. Keith and Kathy Hitchcock 3. Margie Burson, Pat Miller, Janice McCoy, Kathryn Vickery with Audrea, Devon, Scarlett and Mary-Esther Leckie 4. Jacob and Casey Bruce 5. Josh Logan, Sonny Miles, Meagan Whitehead, Jake Logan, Matt Belk and Kati Reynolds 6. James Talley, James Brim and Lance Gordon 7. Jake Mitchell, Justin Kitchens, Kyle Taylor, Tony Wilson and Jeff Reynolds 8. Rose Austin (author) and Adrienne McIntosh 9. Rose Austin, Pamela Haynes, Curmie Arnold and Mary Parks 10. Rose Austin and Elizabeth Payne

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PIE FEST 2021 PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

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On June 1, Oxford Community Market hosted its annual Pie Festival, designed to give pie bakers and pie baker hopefuls an opportunity to compete for the best pie in multiple categories. Prizes were awarded, but the primary pie goal was to make Grandma proud.

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1. Lily, Shoshana and David Rifkind-Lerner 2. Kaye Bryant and Kathy Allen 3. Parker Trawick and Maggie Overby 4. Ben Salvador and Emma Counce 5. Barbara Lowe with Eli and Jon Moen 6. Susanna Cassisa and Tyler Daniels 7. Jo Anne Mathis and Bathsheba Jones

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OLE MISS WOMEN’S GOLF PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

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Friends, family and fans came out in large numbers to welcome home the NCAA champion Ole Miss women’s golf team on May 27. After touching down at OxfordUniversity Airport, community members lined a parade route from the airport to the steps of City Hall on The Square.

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1. Ainslee, Jamie and Ada Grace Everett 2. Robert and Joann Ward 3. Greg and Mary Mitchell 4. Ron and Becky Hipp 5. Woody and Robin Wilkerson 6. Amelia Harvey and Tianna Baldwin 7. Kelsey and Brady Craig 8. Kelton and Aubrey Morris 9. Mary and Waimon Hendrix 10. Bailey and Lauren Winters with Maddie Scales

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JUNETEENTH PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

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Oxford’s weeklong 2021 Juneteenth Festival started June 12 with Linen on the Lawn, an event sponsored by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and held at the Old Armory Pavilion. The celebration included music

by Blue Silk Band and catering by Southern Delight Catering.

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1. Shelia Deupree and Francis Howell 2. Wilkins and Belinda Raybon 3. Jasmine Bell and Katrenia Meeks 4. Beryl Freeman and Melvin King 5. Chester Starks, Dennis Deupree and Charles Braxton 6. Johnnie and Cecilia Webb 7. Neely Mullen, Hayden Williamson and Jordan Bullock

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OLE MISS FOOTBALL CAMP PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

Football players of all ages and abilities participated in a series of football camps held throughout the summer on the Ole Miss campus. Participants received coaching and encouragement from top coaches in the sport.

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1. Billy and Lex Stone 2. Christopher Smith and Charlie Silberman 3. Amy, Cross and Matt Land 4. John Wilson and Josh White 5. Russell and Roger Wilson 6. Tylan and Tyrone Hutchins 7. Jennifer Stephenson and Austan Cristiaan 8. Brent Bigelow and Bryan Arceneaux 9. Jack, Rebecca and Thomas Cower 10. Tagen and Anton Gammage

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RE/MAX LEGACY OPENING PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

On May 20, the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting for RE/MAX Legacy-Jody Black’s new offices, located at 411 Galleria Drive.

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1. Joey Mistilis, Hallie Thomas and Jody Black 2. Jamie Butler and Timothy Miller 3. Rosie Vassallo and Babs Blair 4. Martha Thompson, Marcia Cole and Laverne Thompson 5. Levi Bramlett, Kathryn Hathorne and Amanda Arman 6. Rosemary Windham and James Dowd 7. Kristina Phillips, Shea Foxx, Callie Everett and Jennifer McClure 8. Collin Hill and Jason Plunk 9. Jim Windham, Marla Miller, Margaret Laney, Karen Morris and Donna Falkner

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3 1. Core Fitness Oxford friends and family

2. Jeff McManus and Rosie Vassalo 3. Sherri Lindekins, Sasha Hedges, Barbara Siedell and Stella Hester 4. Keith Gordy, Sid Seal, Sammy Warman, Blake Burcham, Brandon Gibens, Rodney Holley and Adam Pittman 5. Chris and Matt Sparks 6. George Hampton Edwards and Reese Alderson 7. Alise and David Emerson

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FR A N CI S INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE CRISS

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B ACO N

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Q:

Can you tell us more about your Hollywood connections?

A: I spent my formative years working within the Hollywood system, acting in a number of high-profile films, making various public appearances and developing plenty of bad habits, as is the custom in Tinsel Town.

Ultimately, I learned that glitz and glam isn’t as ideal a lifestyle as grits and ham.

Q: What is your favorite way to relax and watch the world go by?

A: If I’m not devouring lightning bugs in the front yard, I’m devouring literature from Square Books. I’m particularly fond of Flannery O’Connor and the autobiographies of revolutionary leaders.

Q: You spend a lot of time outside. What’s

your favorite season in Mississippi and why?

A: I only just arrived in Mississippi, so I’m still getting acclimated to the different seasons, but I can already tell that football season will be my favorite — provided the Ole Miss fans keep their use of “pigskins” to a minimum.

Q: Do you have a best friend and can you

F

rancis D. Bacon (a.k.a. the Price Street Pig) has become a star since he moved to Oxford from Hollywood, California, earlier this year, as evidenced by his growing fan base and multiple local media reports circulating about him. Born on Sept. 4, 1983 (coincidentally International Bacon Day), Francis has worked as an actor in Hollywood, a performer at children’s birthday parties and a Frank Sinatra impersonator. He generously shares his Price Street home — where he is regularly spotted getting into mischief — with filmmaker Ryan Byers, formerly of California.

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Q:

So, Francis D. Bacon of Price Street, what is your middle name?

A: Daniel. My favorite actor is Daniel Day Lewis.

Q:

What do you think of Oxford and the friends you’ve made so far?

A: As a Hollywood native, my time in Oxford has been vastly different. I’ve traded the smog and screaming producers in for fried catfish and a seemingly never-ending supply of new friends. I also recently got to kiss a woman named Linda on her 80th birthday. Life is good.

tell us about them?

A: It’s hard to choose a best friend, as I’ve made so many, so to be fair, I’d like to nominate the entire town of Oxford as my best friend and extended family. I might as well take this opportunity to formally announce my candidacy for mayor and to encourage new friends (and future constituents) to follow me on Instagram @PriceStreetPig. To keep tabs on everyone's favorite neighborhood pig, find Francis on Instagram @PriceStreetPig.