Invitation Oxford November 2014

NOVEMBER 2014

Local EAT

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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LEGACY R EALT Y

Mississippi ... #1 Team in Oxford Oxford, The place you want to be!

Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924

Markccleary@gmail.com

Blake Cannon (662) 380-7144 blake@oxfordvip.com

Alison Alger (662) 832-1697

alisonmalger@gmail.com

•Beautiful, quaint, small subdivision!

•Neighborhood pool!

•Bike/Walk to the Square!

• 4 Acre Park!

•AMAZING LOCATION! Starting at

Brand new construction!

Come check out these private community lake lots. Features include granite counter tops in kitchen and bath, stainless steel appliances, hand scraped floors, fireplace, crown molding, walk-in closets, and two car garages.

Three lots to choose from with multiple floor plans for you to customize. Experience the beauty and serenity of Tuscan Hills, just 5 minutes from downtown Oxford!

$319,000!

Mid $200,000’s 10 AVAILABLE LOTS IN THE LOW $30K’S

Lots at The Highlands Starting in the low $100,000’s (for 1-5 acre lots) 70+ acre crystal clear water, #1 Bass fishing lake in Mississippi

71 CR 141

Ice House

Oak Terrace

4003 Robison Road

•5 BR/4.5 Bath on 6.3 acres • 1 BR plus studio on the square • Walking distance to the Grove • 3 BR/3Baths & guest house • 2 car garage, 4 BR/3.55 bath • 72 acres w/ 3 ponds •In-ground saltwater pool •Viking appliances • Bonus room • Heart pine floors & 5 fireplaces •White oak hardwood floors •Bamboo Floor

$709,000

$388,000

LEGACY R EALT Y

$550,000

$559,900

1225 Beanland

Van Buren

•Historic Downtown •Gorgeous Wooded Backyard •Screened porch

•On The Square •Heart Pine Floors •Large Living Room

$569,000

Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com 662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 • Each office independently owned and operated.

All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.

$496,000

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

ARE YOU READY for a New Home?

Wellsgate

G N I D N PE 21023 Will’s Trace

G N I D N PE 21008 Will’s Trace

Grand newly constructed home on one of the best streets in Wellsgate!

Being built by Montgomery Construction on popular Will’s Trace.

9015 Bristol Cove

2041 West Wellsgate

Great home in the Bristol Cove area of Wellsgate! Move in ready and a great lay-out!

2082 West Wellsgate Absolutely beautiful home with wonderful outdoor entertaining space.

G N I D N PE 705 Long Meadow

Absolutely picturesque setting with an incredible gunite pool.

Spacious home in one of Oxford’s most popular neighborhoods!

11016 Covington Way

New Construction in very desirable Wellsgate!

414 Northpointe Lake Drive

4 Bed/3.5 Bath Look no further! This gorgeous home has custom features everywhere you look.

STONEBRIDGE starting at $245,000

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

21004 Will’s Trace

Timeless French look on popular Will’s Trace.

2026 Mallard Pointe 4Bed/4.5 Bath Custom estate home with spectacular view of the lake.

1145 East Wellsgate

Being built by one of the best builders in Oxford.

G N I D N PE

Convenience, Safety, and Ease of Use

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G N I D N E P

709 Quiet Valley Cove

Room for your family to spread out in this wonderful home. Fresh paint inside – ready to move in.

Wonderful pool out back for summer enjoyment.

Jamey Leggitt

662-832-7620 Visit jameyleggitt.com jamey@kessingerrealestate.com

Jones at hom e Furniture, Gifts, and Accessories November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Brighton Village

3BR/3.5BA-1725 S.F. and 2BR/2.5BA-1325 S.F. PLANS STARTING IN THE $150’S. HARDWOOD/GRANITE THROUGHOUT/CUSTOM CABINETS/ STAINLESS APPLIANCES/POOL-CLOSE TO CAMPUS!

ROSEMONT

4BR/3.5BA PLANS ON THE GOLF COURSE STARTING IN THE $350’S. SOME OF THE AMENITIES INCLUDE HUGE KITCHENS/WET BAR/ INDOOR OUTDOOR FIREPLACE WITH A COVERED PATIO/ DECORATIVE BOX BEAMS/BRICK ACCENT WALL/PINE CEILING IN THE KITCHEN/HUGE MASTER BATH

Augusta Place

The Lakes

BRAND NEW LAKE FRONT HOMES!!

4BR/3.5BA WITH OVER 2400 SQ FT STARTING AT $206,700 SOME OF THE AMENITIES INCLUDE: 10FT CEILINGS & 8FT DOORS/GRANITE COUNTER TOPS/STAINLESS APPLIANCES/ HARDWOOD FLOORS/COVERED PATIO!

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

BRAND NEW FROM THE GROUND UP! 3BR/3BA PLANS STARTING AT $267,500. LIVE RIGHT ON THE JIM FAZIO-DESIGNED GOLF COURSE AT THE COUNTRY CLUB OF OXFORD! 10 FT CEILINGS/OVER SIZED 1-CAR GARAGE/GAS FIREPLACE/GRANITE TOPS/STAINLESS APPLIANCES/2 BALCONIES OR PATIOS!

Matt McGraw

662-801-5170 matt@kessingerrealestate.com www.condosinoxford.com

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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IN THIS ISSUE NOVEMBER 2014

FEATURES

NOVEMBER 2014

58 No Place Like Home Marshall Bartlett is reinventing Home Place Pastures, his family’s farm for six generations.

Local EAT

COVER PHOTOGRAPHED

BY JOE WORTHEM

68 Conversation Starter Volunteers for More Than a Meal are needed more than ever.

86 Gunning for Change Mississippi native Britnee Kinard advocates for veterans in need of service animals.

108 Making Their Mark The Oxford Fencers Club brings an oldfashioned sport to the South.

EVENTS 27 30 32 44 46 49 50 52 54 72 74 77 80 92 94 96 100 102 104

36 Buon Appetito

Luisa Bosco Arico, who grew up in Italy, stays connected to her roots with flavors from home.

After decades of cooking for friends and family in Oxford, she published a cookbook, Inside My Italian Kitchen, to share the stories behind her favorite recipes.

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Disney Fundraiser Kickoff Comedy Arts Festival Blue Jeans, BBQ and Bluegrass Junior Auxiliary Bash to Benefit Welcome Rebel Party Barktoberfest Three Blind Wines Harvest Supper Newcomers Club Kickoff Party Sigma Chi Reunion Oxford Art Crawl Charger Challenge Thacker Mountain Radio Go Jim Go! American Red Cross Dinner Community Garden Potluck UM Museum Family Activity Day United Way Campaign Kickoff Kappa Alpha Theta Reunion

ANNOUNCEMENTS 24 Warrington & Wills

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77

102 DEPARTMENTS 18 22 66 84 115 120

Letter From the Publisher What’s Happening Pets of the Month In Season: Pasture-Raised Turkey Out and About I Am Oxford: Justavian Tillman November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Memphis Metro’s newest Mercedes-Benz dealer located across from Carriage Crossing

www.mbcollierville.com 4651 S. Houston Levee Road, Collierville, TN 38017

The newest dealer in the Memphis Metro area, located at Carriage Crossing.

Sales: 877.695.7648 Service: 888.928.0124 Parts: 888.375.4416

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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the publisher

LETTER FROM

PUBLISHER Rachel Malone West EDITOR Phil West DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Cindy Semmes MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Thompson ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lena Anderson

1 2

ART DIRECTOR Emily R. Suber

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STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson, Sheena Hagemann, Leigh Lowery, Lynn McElreath, Mary Moreton, Moni Simpson, Reed Toms AD DESIGN Rebecca Bailey, Zach Fields, Paul Gandy

I

t’s that time of year when we’re often in the kitchen, preparing everything from turkeys to pies and even pasta, just like Luisa Bosco Arico (1), whose story of Italian cooking is on page 36.

The weather is crisp, the days are short, and we begin to think about what will be on the table for our holiday feasts.

This month, we bring you the story of Marshall Bartlett and his family’s Home Place Pastures (3). After finishing college and living in New Orleans, he returned home to his roots to raise hogs in a healthy and responsible manner. We hope you will enjoy his story on page 58, along with the story of pasture-raised turkeys at Beaverdam Fresh Farms (2) on page 84.

You’ll see that this page has a different look this month. We’ve decided to try something new to give you a more behind-the-scenes look at our work. Meanwhile, we are giving thanks for you, our readers and advertisers, this month.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER CORRECTION Rebel Love Stories, an article in the September Football & Fashion issue, stated that the first wedding reception held in the SouthZone Club of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium took place in 2013. Some wedding receptions were held in the SouthZone Club prior to last year, but 2013 was the first year the University of Mississippi officially began marketing the space as an event venue. Invitation Oxford regrets the error.

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

CONTRIBUTORS Sara Camp Arnold, Leslie Brooks, Julie Cantrell, Rebecca Lauck Cleary, Melanie Crownover, Elizabeth Evans, Caroline Beffa Franks, Deborah Freeland, Megan Marascalco, Tim Summers, Hallie M. Thomas, Emily Welly, Ann-Marie Wyatt OFFICE MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney, Brian Hilliard ADVERTISING INFORMATION (662) 701-8070 ads@invitationoxford.com MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford, send payment of $50 to: P.O. Box 776, Oxford, MS 38655 or visit invitationoxford.com to pay online.

To request a photographer at your event, to obtain a copy of an event photo or to purchase an announcement, email Emily at emilysuber.invitationoxford@gmail.com.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

Sarah Hamilton 662-801-3640

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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134 Courthouse Square, Oxford, Mississippi • 662.234.9361

www.katherinebeckgifts.com

Caroline Ceramics

Wyatt Waters

Home decor • Monogramming • Kitchen/Serving Ware • Bath & Body 20

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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what’s happening November

A sampling of important, fun and interesting events in our area. For more events, visit facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Kudzu Kings 20th Anniversary Show November 28

November 21 Oxford Conference Center

November 13

LIVE PERFORMANCES November 6-8

Oxford Middle School Theatre Presents High School Musical Jr. Oxford Middle School students perform an adaptation of the original Disney movie. Tickets $5.

7 p.m., Kayla Mize Auditorium

November 7 Jazz Tones Featuring Effie Burt The Oxford Square Alliance hosts a free concert.

5-7 p.m., Oxford Courthouse Lawn

November 10 Sister Act Enjoy the famous Broadway musical comedy.

7:30 p.m., the Ford Center, fordcenter.org

November 15 Spirit Sounds: 40 Years of Celebration, UM Gospel Choir Concert The University of Mississippi celebrates the 40th anniversary of its award-winning gospel choir.

Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

7:30 p.m., the Ford Center, fordcenter.org

November 17

OxfordREADINGS Holiday Market FUNDRAISERS, HOLIDAY EVENTS, AND MORE Benefitting the Ole Miss Department of Nutrition & Hospitality Management November 3

Kick Off Preview Party Friday, November 21, 2014 • 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Oxford Conference November 14Center

William Faulkner on Speed

and Gun Good Dog Reading AllGarden Day Shopping Experience

November 2014 9:00 a.m. until 5:00DiBenedetto p.m.

Join University of Mississippi English professor Saturday, Dr. Jay Garden22, and Gun•Editor-in-Chief David and at the Oxford Conference Center Watson for a Mississippi Humanities Council lecture titled other contributors read their collection of essays from the “William Faulkner on Speed: What the Humanities Canplease contact magazine’s popular column Good Dog. For tickets, The Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management in person at Lenoir Hall (Sorority Row), or phone at 662.915.2621 Teach Us About the Velocity and Tempo of Modern Life.”

5 p.m., Square Books Kick Off Preview Party Tickets are $10 & 7-8 p.m., Bondurant Hall Auditorium All Day Shopping Saturday Tickets are $5

November 6, 13 and 20 Thacker Mountain Radio

A live weekly radio show featuring readings and music.

The Nov. 20 show is the last of the season.

6 p.m., Off Square Books

November 5, 12, 19 and 26

Oxford Holiday Market

November 12 Women of Distinction Luncheon FNC hosts the fourth-annual luncheon honoring women from Lafayette County. The event benefits the Girls Scouts Heart of the South. Tickets $30.

11:30 a.m., First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall

The University of Mississippi Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management hosts its seventh-annual food and wine tasting to raise money for scholarships. The event is held at restaurants and businesses around Oxford Square. Tickets $50.

5-9 p.m., Oxford Square, sqrtoast@olemiss.edu

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Square Toast for Scholarships

DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

After spending two years with rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, New York Times best-selling author Rick Bragg reads from his new biography Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story.

5 p.m., Off Square Books, squarebooks.com

November 21

The Oxford Civic Chorus presents a concert that also features other local singing groups.

7:30 p.m., the Ford Center, fordcenter.org

Original and current members of the Oxford-established band reunite for a celebratory concert.

7 p.m. reception, 8 p.m. show, the Lyric thelyricoxford.com

Rick Bragg Reading

Weekly selected features shown on the big screen. Drink specials and free popcorn.

9 p.m., Lamar Lounge

November 13

Kudzu Kings 20th Anniversary Show

@oxholidaymarket

Lamar Lounge Movie Night

Free at Last: Music Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement

November 28

November 17

www.facebook.com/oxfordholidaymarket

The fifth-annual holiday market features shopping, pictures with Santa, music and food. Preview party ticket proceeds benefit the Ole Miss Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management.

6-8 p.m., Nov. 21 (preview party) 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Nov. 22 (all-day shopping) Oxford Conference Center, oxfordconferencecenter.com

November 28 Oxford Square Alliance Holiday Open House An open house on the Square and Courthouse Lawn.

11 a.m.-4 p.m., Photos with Santa and art show 2-6 p.m., Carriage rides 4:30-6 p.m., Carolers, City Hall 6 p.m., Christmas tree lighting, City Hall 6:05 p.m., Square Dollars raffle drawing 7 p.m., Movie, Courthouse Lawn

Save the Date: December 1 Oxford Christmas Parade Oxford’s annual Christmas parade featuring marching bands and festive holiday floats.

Time TBA, Courthouse Square

SPORTS November 1

Auburn vs. Ole Miss Football Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Wear red.

6 p.m.

November 2 South Carolina vs. Ole Miss Women’s Volleyball 1 p.m., Gillom Sports Center Complex

November 8 Presbyterian vs. Ole Miss Football

74 CR 160, 4.5 acres THIS WONDERFUL HOME HAS LOTS OF CHARACTER! BEAUTIFULLY SITUATED IN THE COUNTRY YET STILL WITHIN THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT HAS A RENOVATED GOURMET KITCHEN AND MASTER SUITE, NOT TO MENTION A GUNITE POOL AND HOT TUB! THIS FOUR BEDROOM, THREE AND A HALF BATH IS 3,770 SQUARE FEET OF PARADISE! IN ADDITION, THERE IS A RENOVATED 1,000 SQUARE FOOT GUEST HOUSE WITH 1 BEDROOM /1 BATH, KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Wear red.

Time TBA

November 15 Oxford Fencers Club Tournament The Oxford Fencers Club hosts a fencing tournament.

The event is free and open to the public. Tournament begins 9 a.m., Oxford Fencers Club building, 606 McLarty Road, oxfordfencing.com.

1024 WHITETAIL LANDING 3 BEDROOM/2 BATH AND A BONUS ROOM $229,900

November 23

102 IVY ROAD $215,000 3 BEDROOM/2.5 BATH

Alabama vs. Ole Miss Women’s Volleyball 1:30 p.m., Gillom Sports Center Complex

November 28 Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss Women’s Volleyball 4 p.m., Gillom Sports Center Complex

November 29 Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss Football, The Egg Bowl Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Wear navy.

Time to be announced

TRANQUIL, 3.3 ACRES OF WATERFRONT PROPERTY IN THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AVAILABLE IN THE HIGHLANDS.

570 COUNTY ROAD 101 6.7 ACRES OVERLOOKING A POND 2 BEDROOM/ 1.5 BATHROOM $259,000

MARCHBANKS REAL ESTATE YOUR SOURCE FOR HOMES IN OXFORD, MS

2109 HARRIS DRIVE #35 2 BEDROOM/2.5 BATH $123,000

Lee Lee Desler 662-801-2109 Oxford, Mississippi November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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MALLORY MCKENZIE WARRINGTON

allory McKenzie Warrington and Dakota Len Wills were united in marriage on the evening of Dec. 28, 2013, at First Baptist Church in Oxford.

The bride is the daughter of the late Ricky Warrington of Cleveland, Miss., and Ms. Ginger Cobb of Oxford. She is the granddaughter of Dr. James Warrington and the late Gladys Warrington of Marks, Miss., and Mr. and Mrs. James Weeks of Oxford. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Wills of Gunnison, Miss.

Escorted by her grandfather, the bride wore an ivory, lace A-line gown with a beaded sweetheart neckline. Her elbow-length veil was delicately trimmed in silver beads and lace. The bride wore her late grandmother’s pearl necklace and carried a bouquet of white hydrangeas, white anemones and white garden roses wrapped in a handkerchief handembroidered with words from her late father.

Attending the bride as maid of honor and matron of honor were her sisters, Madison McIver Cobb of Oxford and Whitney Warrington Bondurant of Jackson, Miss. Bridesmaids were Valerie Brooke Warrington of New Orleans; Gina Elaine Whitmire of Jackson; Elizabeth Weiss Weatherall of Oxford; Fair Pender Jones of Oxford; Lindsey Gunter Williams of Batesville, Miss.; Morgan Roark Shipp of Columbus, Miss.; Courtney Phillips Parrish of Memphis, Tenn.; Jamie Erickson Hargett of Greenwood, Miss.; and Courtney Greer Stubbs of Hernando, Miss.

Each bridesmaid wore a full-length gray gown adorned with silver beading. Flower girls were Ella James Warrington and Elly Adele McClellan,

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

& DAKOTA LEN WILLS

cousins of the bride, and Katie Lynn Wills, niece of the groom. Scripture was read by Kelley Barber and Laney Brock. Program attendants were Davis Warrington and Mia McClellan, cousins of the bride.

Brother of the groom, David Levi Wills of Helena, served as best man.

Groomsmen were Dennis Leon Wills of Cleveland; Austin Larcy Casey of Jackson; Coleman Kingsley Warrington of Cleveland; John Peyton Reginelli of Cleveland; Patrick Duke Pearson of Cleveland; Tyler Seth Counts of Tupelo, Miss.; Ryan Shadrach Bostick of Madison; Clinton Jeremy Couey of Cleveland; Raybon Hawkins of Cleveland; Corey Tyler McClendon of Cleveland; and Brad Anthony Reginelli of Cleveland. Ring bearers were Clay Foster and Cade Casey, cousins of the bride and groom.

On the eve of the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was hosted by the parents of the groom at Irie on the historic Oxford Square. A reception, hosted by the mother of the bride, was held at the Powerhouse, with DMP Band providing the evening’s musical entertainment. A photo booth was set up at the reception for guests to enjoy. The couple departed through a crowd of red and blue pom-poms and faux snow before leaving for their honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico. Anne Pender of Grenada, Miss., was the wedding coordinator. Patrick Remington Photography and videographers Will and Renee Reedy captured memories of the evening.

A Twisted Twig designed the floral arrangements. The bride and groom’s cakes were both created by Sweet T’s Bakery of Oxford The couple is at home in Oxford. The groom is a nuclear medicine technologist and the bride is completing her master’s degree in nursing.

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY PATRICK REMINGTON PHOTOGRAPHY

boho chic clothing home furnishing, & handmade pillows @ The Sugar Magnolia 1919 University Ave. 662.234.6330 10-5:30 Monday - Saturday

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

photographed by Elizabeth Evans and Kyle Still

events Disney Fundraiser Kickoff

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Magical guests visited Bramlett and Oxford elementary schools Sept. 26 to kick off their Disney fundraiser events. Students sold raffle tickets for a chance to win a trip to Disney World. The events were organized by parent teacher organizations to benefit the schools.

Pat Patterson, Ashley Windham, Weaver Cain, Lona Waller and Jimmy Williams

Megan Tomes, Claire Lowe, Eliza Montgomery, King Notestone and Cole Tomes

(front row) Rachel Holman, Ashley Asmuth, Kaley Harris, Ali Corbin, Colette Huval and Toni Cruz; (back row) Austin Hartzog, Will Gatlin, Jessica Brown, Anne Banks Blackwell, Julia Jones, Catherine Holman, Callaway Cole and Kirk Thornton

Knox McCord, Jayden Ivy, John Alden Russell, Michael Tiul Lopez, Ava Jones and Mary Virginia Beard

Zoey Jones, Barrett Kamman and Bess Lawhead

Brendan Madaris, Ann Hudson and Camron Banks

Jack Hood, Ivan Li and Brady Maloney

URGENT CARE CLINIC Of Oxford

Caring for Oxford families since 1995

Voted Oxford's Best Medical Clinic for 10 years in a row!

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. • Sunday Noon to 5:00 p.m.

located on the corner of Belk Blvd & Hwy 7 North 662.234.1090 • 1487 Belk Blvd. • urgentcareclinicoxford.com

Will Dabbs, MD David Coon, MD November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Elizabeth Evans and Kyle Still

events Disney Fundraiser Kickoff

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Amy King, Dave Wollworth and Kelley Notestone

Misa Presley and Susan Harris

Donna Boyd and Heather Hobbs

Grayson and Karen Swingle

Mary Ruth Wright and Kelly Blackwood

Kathy Herbert and Renee Gurley

Jai Johnson and Aiden Walton

Inda Linzyn and Letoya McClay

Stacy Baton and Anna Pervis

Honor All that Serve Emeritus at Oxford Veterans 2014 28

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

(662) 234-9600

100 Azalea Drive, Oxford • www.Emeritus.com

i s l i k e b e i n g o n vacation d r o f x year in O ole make buying your n g n i e w h o roun Liv ple & Po me d... m a a rea tS e lit L y

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Julie Sample 601-906-2828 Woody Sample 601-955-1797

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265 N. Lamar, Suite Q • 662.236.9707 265 N. Lamar, Suite Q • 662.236.9707

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Southeastern Comedy Arts Festival View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The Southeastern Comedy Arts Festival, held Sept. 26-27 at the Powerhouse, featured workshops and performances by stand-up comics and improv comedy troupes from around the southeastern United States. The event helped promote improv comedy.

Bruce Butler and Zach Bragg

Brian Spurlock and Lance Ezell

Victor Cosentini, Christian Runyon and Amber Scullion

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Dillon Courson and Carolyn Free

Matthew Lyle and Samantha Bull

Deenie Castleberry and Allen Johnson

Christina Sobolewski, Arthur Bailey Jr. and Chris Ellis

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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events Blue Jeans, BBQ and Bluegrass View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Blue Jeans, BBQ and Bluegrass, a concert featuring music by Breaking Grass, was held Sept. 25 at Oak Hill Stables. The event featured door prizes and informed participants about the mission of the Ford Center and the programs it sponsors.

Les Carmody and Allyson Nelson

(front) Don and Paulette Starling; (back) Cotton and Beverly Westmoreland with Dora and CT Moore

Julie Starr, Jewell Turman, Marian Miller, Ann Greenlee and Carole Dye

Richard and Pat Werne with Rick and Kay Carlton

Will Lewis and Jona Keeton

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Jane Thomas Rogers, Sandy Gates, Carolyn Howard, Beth Rice and Fred Rogers

Anne Marion and Nancy Chamblee with Dan and Ann Brady

Amanda Tailyour and Doug Miller

Ailie, Laura and Katie Sale

Bo and Karen Elliott with Laurie and David Duchaine

Brandon Hecht with Andrew and Sharon Thomas

John and Beth Rice with Linda Scarbrough

photographed by Leslie Brooks

Beth Cuthbert with Nicholas and Angela Brown

HeatherLea and Jamie Hopson

Sara Beth Pinson, Jack Yates and Kathryn Black

Margo Easterbrook, Martha Hitch and Ed Sharpe November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Supporting The Pantry and Interfaith Compassion Ministry This Holiday Season M. Glenn Hunt, M.D. Julie G. Harper, M.D. Gregory O. Patton, M.D. Contact us for an appointment.

662-236-5717 1204 Medical Park Drive • Oxford, MS 38655 www.oxfordobgyn.com

Services Include:

• Second home • Personal errands • Conceirge • And More!

LIVE. RELAX. ENJOY. Let us take care of it for you.

www.dwelloxford.com

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specialty! itality is ourd, MS southern hospd loo • 234-1844 p su ite 113 • Ox for 2704 West Ox for

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Barn)

info@dwelloxford.com 662.801.1026

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

get a pink manicure or pedicure from oct 13-17

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Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm Thursdays: 10am - 7pm • Saturdays: 11am - 4pm

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Each restaurant independently owned and operated. © 2013 Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. “Zaxby’s” and “Party Platterz” are trademarks of Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc.

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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BUON Appetito

Luisa Bosco Arico, who grew up in Italy, stays connected to her roots with flavors from home. After decades of cooking for friends and family, she published a cookbook to share the stories behind her recipes.

by Lena Anderson photographed by Joe Worthem

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Luisa Bosco Arico

keeps a watchful eye on her boiling pasta. Her fresh, made-from-scratch fettuccine needs less than three minutes to be perfectly al dente.

Any longer could ruin the delicate noodles.

She’s already finished assembling her antipasto platter, an impressive array of prosciuttowrapped cantaloupe, peperoncini stuffed with blue and cream cheeses, and pomodori ripieni di riso (baked rice tomatoes).

While she cooks, she tells stories, her Italian-New York accent still thick even though she has lived in Oxford for almost 30 years. She was born in Milan, Italy, where she lived for 14 years before moving to the United States. She talks about World War II in Europe, when her father left home to fight, how her mother and aunt had to sell all their belongings to scrape together money for food for Arico and her two cousins. For those five years during the war, meals were rationed, and the family developed a deep respect for food, unsure of where they would find their next meal.

After the war, her family moved to New York, and her father resumed his trade as a fashion designer, working for a successful firm in Manhattan’s Garment District. With the

family finances less dire, Arico began to develop her respect for food into a skill. With guidance from her mother and aunt, she and her cousins began experimenting in the kitchen.

“We started playing with food and recipes,” Arico said. “What we made was horrendous, and the men wouldn’t touch it, but our mothers ate it. I loved cooking. I read about food. I listened to radio shows. I became a sous chef to my mother. And I loved Julia Child.”

Teenage Arico was glued to the television for those 30 minutes when Child’s The French Chef aired, earning her the nickname “Julia” from her mother. She studied Child’s techniques and adopted Child’s philosophy to do the best one can, never admitting to cooking mistakes.

“That’s why I love her,” Arico said. “If she made a mistake, she just incorporated it into her dish and never said a word. You shouldn’t be baffled by food or recipes; someone just invented it. It’s not a miracle that came down from heaven. You don’t need to follow things exactly. Food should be simple.”

She dabbled with Child’s recipes and some American dishes. She married Sandy Arico in 1964 (the couple will celebrate their

50th wedding anniversary in December) and mastered recipes from Sicily, the home of Sandy’s parents. But her heart always belonged to the Italian food she grew up eating. When her daughter and son were old enough, the first cooking lesson they received was how to make pasta from scratch. It was thinking about her legacy for her six grandchildren that made her want to publish her own cookbook.

Arico already had experience as a food writer. In 2004, she began a monthly food column in the Oxford Eagle called Cooking Italian Made Easy, sharing stories, recipes and cooking tips. Because of her knack for storytelling and the popularity of the column, her friends encouraged her to compile those articles into a book.

But self-publishing an entire cookbook was intimidating. She enlisted friend and fellow Italian Isabella Watt to help.

“Isabella is my guru. Anything I want to know, I call her,” Arico said. “We’ve been friends for 26 years, almost my entire time in Oxford. She is the smartest, most brilliant person I know. She’s traveled the entire universe, she knows Italian food, and most importantly, she knows computers.”

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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“ You know you’re Jtalian when you’re eating

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

one meal while planning the next.” –Luisa Arico

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

39

Inside My Italian Kitchen is available at Off Square Books and can be purchased by writing to insidemyitaliankitchen@gmail.com. The painting on the cover is by Arico.

Arico and Watt spent two years selecting and testing authentic Italian recipes, formatting, editing and studying every element of book publishing. They figured out how they wanted the cookbook to flow, what shape it should be, what binding and what graphics should be used.

“We did it all ourselves, and it was so much more complex than I ever expected,” Arico said. “We wanted to make it easy on the eye, and every detail needed to be consistent.

We agonized over every aspect of this book.”

“Just when we thought we were through, something else came up,” Watt added. “But it was all worth it. I’m easily enticed by Luisa’s kitchen.”

Their attention to detail paid off, and after working on the project for two years, Inside My Italian Kitchen was published in May. The book is dedicated to her family. It contains Arico’s own Italian recipes, and before each one she shares the story behind it.

Illustrations and notes written in Arico’s handwriting give it a personal touch – a grandmother’s advice guiding the cook. Arico cautions the reader when to add salt or use ricotta (never, ever cottage cheese) when making pasticcio di lasagne. She says her best tip is the most basic: Buy what is fresh. She centers her meals around what is seasonal and looks best in the produce aisle the day she shops.

She even admits her shortcomings, telling

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

the reader what he or she will not find in the pages of her book.

“I cannot make a hamburger,” Arico said.

“If I make one, you won’t want to eat it, trust me. No Italian can make a proper hamburger.”

Back in her kitchen, the pasta is ready.

She drains the pot and gently tosses in her homemade pesto, filling the room with the scent of fresh basil and garlic. She sprinkles on fresh Parmesan and wipes her hands on her red apron. As if on cue, Watt drops by, just as Sandy pops his head in from the other room.

With a final drizzle of olive oil over the pomodori ripieni di riso, lunch is finally ready. But before taking their first bites, the women start discussing a simple pasta al burro recipe that Arico likes to serve her grandchildren.

“You know you’re Italian when you’re eating one meal while planning the next,” Arico said.

“You shouldn’t be baffled by food or recipes.

You don’t need to follow things exactly.

Food should be simple.”

–Luisa Arico

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

41

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

As the area’s premier events magazine, we get invited to all the best parties, fundraisers, sporting events and general good times.

When you follow Invitation Oxford on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll get updates on all the latest events and stay in the know.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/invoxford

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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events Junior Auxiliary Bash to Benefit View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The Junior Auxiliary of Oxford hosted its third-annual Bash to Benefit Sept. 19 at the Lyric. The event featured music by Almost Famous and a silent auction and wine pull to benefit the children of Oxford and Lafayette County.

Joanne and Drew McGehee

Win Daniels, Timeka Davis, Laura Merrill McCaleb and Jen Cochet

Sarah DeLoach, Meghan Coyne and Samantha Weathersbee

Wesley Taylor and Elizabeth Spence

Diala Chaney, Elizabeth Ellis, Ashley Windham and Jennifer Russell

Joanne Mitchell and Jeannie Zieren

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April McLarty, Wendy Pace and Amy Tidwell

Jason and Cathy Lowe

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Susan and Greg Vaughn

Daniel and Lauren Lauzon

Allison and Ken Crain

Camie and Mike Bianco wtih Alyce Krouse

Meghan Feltenstein and Heather Nocentino

Britton Holleman and Michael McDermott

photographed by Leslie Brooks

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Catherine Adams and Amanda Clement

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Brooke and Michael Worthy

Julia Jimenez, Hannah Rigby and Tricia Joyce

Ashley and Kirk Kinard November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Welcome Rebel Party View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The Lyric hosted a Welcome Rebel party Oct. 3 to celebrate the Alabama vs. Ole Miss football weekend. The event featured music by Almost Famous and welcomed University of Mississippi alumni home to Oxford.

Cindy and John Booth Farese

Luke and Alison Abney

Mason and Miranda Bennett

Joe and Judy Chambers

Ashley and Jim Thompson

Kimberly and Ted Thompson

Lori and Michael Miller

Jane and Richard Cross

Jen McMillan and Vince Degutis

Nick Kaminer and Amanda Simpson

Adrian and Walker Love

Johanna Cole and Lisa Hall

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

V an B uren Village

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Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m.

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events Barktoberfest View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Barktoberfest, a fundraiser for the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, was held Oct. 14 at the Powerhouse. The 11th-annual, pet-friendly event featured a pet Halloween costume contest, pizza and locally brewed craft beer.

Crystal Howard and Cali Bzoch

Lynn Woo and Katie Muldoon with Stella and Abby

Ann Elizabeth Walker, Emily Curry and Stephanie Davis

Gavin Douglas and Lauren West with Pheobe and Donut

Joli Nichols with Bella

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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events Three Blind Wines View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and the Rotary Club of Oxford hosted a blind wine tasting Oct. 9 at the Powerhouse. At the event, a fundraiser for both organizations, teams competed by placing their favorite wines against other teams’ favorite wines.

Scottye and Aaron Dewey

Kate Locke, Laurie Steele, Heather Outlaw, Beth Blaha and Alana Dotson

Kate MacAllister and Joe Rychlak

April Spillers and Angel Rhea

Paige Allen and Andy Douglas

Jonathan and Carmen Mattox

Dave LaBanc and Brandi Hephner LaBanc

AJ and Claire Kiamie

Jarred and Brittni Hancock

Jeanne Zinn and Judy Seely

Lauren Braun and Heith Frost

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

photographed by Leslie Brooks

Laura Saia, Crystal Elliott and Lacey Ferguson

Kimmy and Chad Hill with Tatum and Brad Freeman

Tammy and Matt Parham

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events Harvest Supper View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Friends of the University of Mississippi Museum hosted the third-annual Harvest Supper on the grounds of Rowan Oak to benefit the UM Museum and historic houses. The event included an art auction with works by Jason Bouldin, William Dunlap and Robert Malone.

Ginny Terry and Grace Sandlin

Eddie and Martha Dale Fritts with Tricia and former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott

Sam and Robin Peeples

Glen and Paige Evans

Bill and Jan Henning

Alicia Bouldin and Greg Patton

Lynn and Woods Eastland with Valerie Burke

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Lisa Williams and Mary Haskell

Amy Wilkes with Elizabeth and Robert Paine

Polly Taylor with David Flautt Jr. and Teresa Flautt

photographed by Leslie Brooks

Andy O’Bryan with Sonya and Ross Bjork and Macon O’Bryan

Laura Antonow, Mary Leach, Beth Sanders and Kristina Phillips

Robin Hendrickson, Judge Neal Biggers and Dr. Ernie Williams

Clay Skipper and Lena Anderson

Joel Reeves, Stacy Joseph, Janet Watkins and Wesley Dickens

Sonia and Mary Thompson

Cristen Hemmins with Joy and JC Clark and Andy Hemmins

Stephanie and Chris Scott

Jon Holt, Iris Howorth, Marty Dunbar and Emma Flautt

Campbell and Suzanne Helveston with Dr. Preston and Elise Lee

Andrew Bryant and Callie Daniels

Lucia Brandt, Carlyle Wolfe, Julie Chadwick, Robert Malone and Louis Brandt November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Oxford Newcomers Club Kickoff Party View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The Oxford Newcomers Club, part of the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, held its annual kickoff party Sept. 23. The group’s mission is to provide awareness about what Oxford has to offer to new residents and retirees.

Debbie and Michael Wooldridge

Carl and Nellanne Davis

Don and Susan Mason

(front) Barbara Smith and Ron Knapp; (back) Max Hipp, Rosie Vassallo and Christy Knapp

Sally Buntin, Lynn Wells and Tyce Buntin

Sondra and Jim Clowney

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Vanessa Moore, Stacy Harrison and Gina O’Connor

Emmie Lou Brunson and Neicy Reid

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Becky Caudle and Laura Hartnett

Judy and Ron Ross with Martha and Terry Hinton

Bunny Nissen and Toni Coleman

Bonnie and Denny Siebert

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

by Sara Camp Arnold

photographed by Joe Worthem

At Home Place Pastures in Como, Miss., Marshall Bartlett is reinventing his family’s farm.

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

59

In a difficult economic climate, many young college graduates find themselves back on their parents’ doorstep. Usually it’s a poorly paying job – or no job at all – that brings them home. A year ago, Marshall Bartlett returned to his family’s farm with a different plan.

Bartlett, 25, grew up in Como, Miss., on the farm his family has owned since 1869. He finished high school at Mississippi School for Math and Science and, in 2011, earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Dartmouth College.

Bartlett made his way to New Orleans, where he first worked in residential construction as an Americorps member. When the Americorps post ended, he went to work distributing pastured beef and lamb to some of the Crescent City’s best restaurants. In a little more than a year on the job, Bartlett learned every aspect of the business: butchering whole animals, contracting with new clients and delivering meat to the kitchens of August, Emeril’s and Brigsten’s. Although he had grown up hunting, he admits, “butchering to the chefs’ specifications was a big learning curve.” In addition to carving the perfect lamb shank, Bartlett learned how to knock on a kitchen door, approach a harried sous chef and sell his boss’s product. It wasn’t long before he was ready to take those skills back to north Mississippi.

Last fall, Bartlett returned home to Como. His older siblings, May

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

and Jemison, had left the farm. His father, Michael Bartlett, who also operates Como’s cotton gin, was beginning to transition out of growing conventional row crops. Marshall spent the ginning season persuading his father that pastured pork was worth a try. With the help of Jemison, who holds an MBA in agricultural finance, Marshall eventually convinced his father of the promise of pork. Home Place Pastures, which takes its name from an early incarnation of the Bartletts’ family farm, was incorporated as a business in January.

Bartlett’s first decision was which pigs to raise. He settled on three distinct breeds: the red wattle, the mulefoot and the tamworth. As would most farmers of pastured pork, he would like to dismiss its reputation as “the other white meat.” The best heritage pork is reddish in color with a beef-like marble, closer in many ways to steak than chicken breast.

Bartlett chose his breeds with temperament and taste in mind. Red wattle hogs, named for their ruddy coats and for the distinctive appendages hanging from their jowls, are docile and easy to raise, making them a smart choice for a novice pig farmer. Their marbled meat results in a

Marshall Bartlett (opposite) holds a Home Place Pastures piglet. Bartlett, whose family has farmed the land for six generations, uses pastured, sustainable farming methods, meaning his animals roam freely and enjoy plenty of sunshine and grass. The family nicknamed the pasture “Hogtopia� because they like to say their pigs are the happiest creatures on earth.

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Marshall Bartlett walks the land with some of his Home Place hogs.

Bartlett’s work ethic and long-term plan reveal ambitions beyond his own livelihood. He envisions a day when the farm and processing operations create local jobs, and the price of his meat drops to a more accessible level. tender bite when cooked. Mulefoot hogs, even rarer than the red wattles, take their name from their peculiar, solid hooves. Their higher fat content is ideal for sausage and other charcuterie. Tamworths, eager foragers of British descent, yield a leaner red meat.

Bartlett’s pigs occupy two pastures, one on either side of Home Place Road. On the east side, he built three separate paddocks for the breeding stock: a boar and several sows for each of the three breeds. They each have sun, shade, access to water, room to spread out and – depending on the breed’s preference – wooded areas for foraging. Bartlett feeds the breeding stock once a day to keep their weight consistent. He’s contracted with a cousin to farm non-GMO corn on the family land, which will allow him to develop a homegrown feed.

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

As each litter of piglets is weaned, Bartlett ferries them over to the west side of Home Place Road, adjacent to the house his father built in the 1970s. There, they graduate to a series of increasingly spacious pastures based on their size. As they grow, the pigs have constant access to food and water, room to spread out and a few shady spots for the hottest summer days. When the pigs reach market weight, Bartlett directs them through a curved chute and onto his trailer. The chute, which he built himself, is based on a design by animal welfare advocate Temple Grandin.

It’s designed to keep the pigs calm and prevent crowding or trampling as they exit the pasture.

Bartlett faces his biggest logistical challenge once the market-weight pigs are ready to leave the farm. In order to sell his meat in both Tennessee

and Mississippi, he must have it slaughtered at a USDA-inspected facility. The closest processing facilities are several hours away in Tennessee.

Bartlett takes the pigs to one of two slaughterhouses in different parts of the state, depending on whether he wants the animal butchered or made into sausage.

This step of the process represents a bottleneck for small-scale livestock farmers in many parts of the country – farmers trying to make a go of the sustainable livestock business overwhelm the relatively small number of federally inspected slaughterhouses that aren’t tied to industrial operations. In many ways, it’s easier to start a farm than it is to build a slaughterhouse. Bartlett wants to do both.

On a flat patch of dirt between his great-grandfather’s barn and his grandmother’s magnolia trees, Bartlett has marked off a construction site with string and wooden stakes. There’s nothing there now, but he can see it: the future site of Home Place Pastures’ slaughterhouse, processing facility and retail store. He envisions a day when the distance from pasture to slaughter is measured in feet, not interstate miles. And with USDA approval, he hopes to process not only his own pigs but also those of neighboring small farmers.

Bartlett divides his marketing efforts between Memphis and Oxford.

On alternate Saturdays, he’s a vendor at the Memphis Farmers Market.

While his output is still growing to accommodate the volume demands of restaurant clients, he has sold pigs to Erling Jensen, Las Tortugas, Southward, the Trolley Stop Market and others. In Oxford, the best place to find Home Place pork is at LB’s Meat Market. LB’s sells a range of Bartlett’s products, including chops, tenderloin, bacon and sausage.

He is quick to point out his advantages: he went into business with land, equipment, a supportive family and five generations’ worth of agricultural experience. He admits that farming is a constant exercise in problem solving. “Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong,” he said, remembering the loss of a boar one Saturday last summer while he was at the farmers market in Memphis. But he relishes the challenges, both intellectual and physical, and he relies on his father, brother and cousins for advice and perspective. In his scant spare time, he plays blues guitar or cools off in his “cold tub”– a homemade plunge pool fed by frigid, clear well water, that Bartlett built as a teenager.

Bartlett’s work ethic and long-term plan reveal ambitions beyond his own livelihood. He envisions a day when the farm and processing operations create local jobs, and the price of his meat drops to a more accessible level. Right now, he acknowledges, he’s asking customers to pay more for a high-quality product produced in small quantities. To be sure, Bartlett hopes to see Home Place Pastures pork on the menus at area restaurants and the shelves of regional grocery stores. Just as important, he wants it on his neighbors’ stoves and grills. Until that day arrives, he sells his meat to nearby working-class farmers at wholesale cost when he has leftovers from the farmers market, and he hosts regular pig roasts for his neighbors.

When the sun sinks into the night sky and the lights twinkle on the farm, he is glad to be home.

Visit homeplacepastures.com for more information.

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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PETS of the Month

Adoption is the best way to help stray animals. Visit the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, located at 413 McElroy Drive, or call the office at 662-236-7631 to take home one of these furry friends or other animals that need a home.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY PAUL GANDY

BAM BAM & IZZY

PRINCESS

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

DUSTY

CHIPPER

KIT KAT

OLIVIA

BLUE BOY

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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by Tim Summers

CONVERSATION

STARTER

Volunteers and donations for More Than a Meal are needed now more than ever as Oxford grows, and as the weather cools and the holiday season approaches.

I

t’s a Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Stone Center on Washington Avenue, and more than 100 Oxford residents are lined up for a free dinner, hoping to see a friendly face and perhaps find their children help with homework.

They are waiting for the doors to open for the weekly More Than a Meal program.

In the past five years since More Than a Meal was founded, the number of people lined up for food, donated medical services and tutoring services has increased from about five or six families a week to more than five times that number. A majority of those lining up on Tuesday are children, and the program struggles to keep up with their needs.

Daniel Howie, president of the More Than a Meal board, said that so many children attend that they have run out of high chairs.

He said volunteers are needed now more than ever, especially as the holiday season nears.

“It takes a lot of people to make it all work,”

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Howie said. “If you want to get involved, we always need help. There is no experience necessary. Show up and we will give you something to do.”

A collaboration between several area churches and other organizations, More Than a Meal fills in the gaps for those who otherwise would go without.

“We just started with a prayer and a little bit of money,” said Howie, who also works for First Presbyterian Church.

While it began as a grassroots organization to provide a warm meal, the program has grown to a weekly support system for a growing group of people seeking assistance. The program also offers services such as eye exams or flu shots donated by the University of Mississippi pharmacy department. On occasion, experienced tutors are available to help adults working to complete their GEDs as well as children who need help with homework. Some people need

HOW TO GET

INVOLVED

For more information about More Than a Meal, visit mtamoxford.org.

• Tutors who can attend consistently are in demand.

• Toiletries are accepted year-round. to have a meal they can depend on. Some just need someone to talk to.

“More Than a Meal has grown into this ongoing conversation with these families. And as much as we can, we try to fill these gaps,” Howie said.

Volunteering is simple. Whether it is greeting families as they arrive, serving the meal or reading to children, there is something for everyone to do. Specialized skills such as tutoring are in short supply, according to one of the founders and first board president, Kristy Bridgers.

“People are always looking to help, and that is what makes programs like More Than a Meal successful,” she said. “The tutors are huge because it is important for the children to see the same person every week.”

There is a constant need for material donations. Bridgers said paper towels and toilet paper are always in demand.

“In the winter months, our numbers always go up,” she said. “We always need children’s hats, gloves and coats. It is something to think about as it gets a little colder.”

When discussing the program, it becomes clear that the volunteers receive a reward of a different kind from their service.

“It has always been something that my family looks forward to,” Bridgers said. “It is like inviting someone into your home. You share so much fellowship when you share a meal.”

For Howie, the son of a missionary, the service renews him.

“There is a lot of family and friendship in More Than a Meal,” he said. “I don’t see them as needy people; I see them as neighbors. I love Oxford, and I have seen this community support each other. It makes my heart grow. We are only as strong as we can be when we help people who need it most.”

• Children’s mittens, gloves, scarves and coats are especially appreciated.

• Register on the More Than a Meal website to volunteer or provide food on Tuesdays.

Groups or individuals may volunteer to help.

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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events Sigma Chi 50th Reunion View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Members of the Sigma Chi fraternity 1964 pledge class held a 50th reunion Sept. 20 at the Oxford Conference Center. Food was provided by Woodson Ridge Farms and the event included live music.

Scottie Russ and Gayle Kennedy

Alison Alger, Sue Ellen and Glenn Gallaspy with Fred McDonnell and Corey Alger

Freddy Hickman and Bill Sims

Susan and Jimmy Brown

Bob Graves with Susan and Jo Jo Payne and Harvey and Carla McGehee

Tina and Tony Montgomery

Karen and Ronny Johnson with Tricia Myers

Ronny and Anita Clark

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Debi and David Houston

Mary Margaret Hickman and Maj Perkins

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Peggy Adams, Dave Darnell, Mildred Dickson and Jimbo Adams

Foster Kennedy and James Perkins

Rusty Harris and Marvin Quin

photographed by Leslie Brooks

Mike Baker and Tommy Cribbs with Jodie and Bo Marsalis

(front) Kathy Hood and Susan Hawkins; (back) Kennon Hood and Joe Glenn Hawkins

April and Bill Harris

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Fred Peyton, Jane Anna Barksdale, Mary Ann Walker and Poo Chancellor

662-380-5056 • 2625 W Oxford Loop • Suite C •Oxford, MS November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Elizabeth Evans

events Art Crawl

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The Oxford Art Crawl was held Sept. 23 at the Powerhouse, Gallery 130, the University Museum, Southside Gallery, City Grocery and the Frame Up. The event is held the fourth Tuesday of the month and is organized by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

Lucy Ann Bartlett and Cindy Howle

Thad Hooper and Annie Zeleskey

Bob Pekala and Beth Ziegenhorn

Andi Bedsworth and Robert Saarnio

Sebastian Wicker, Lauren Freeland and Zack Grosserbacher Caitlin Pounds, Joseph Murrey, Gentry Smith, Kevin Caywood and Dan Venne

Dillon Smith and Jessica Richardson

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Bob and Debbie Myers

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Chris Applewhite and Gergo Arany

Whitney Griffin and Ben Fierman

Marilyn and Richard Frey

Warren Welch and Danielle Dean

The Caramel Factory is your one stop shop for sweets this holiday season!

127 Lakewood Drive, Batesville, Mississippi 38606

W

e Fa v a h e

ll fashion in th

e ba

•

662.563.9900

g!

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Creating happy healthy smiles one child at a time!

2408 South Lamar Blvd Suite 1 Oxford, Ms 38655 • Tel: 662-513 -4188

DIPLOMATE, AMERICAN BOARD OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

38655 A GUIDE TO OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI

2015

On stands January 2015. For advertising information, contact Cindy Semmes at cindy@invitationoxford.com or 662.701.8070 76

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Charger Challenge

CONTINUED ON PAGE 78

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The fourth-annual Charger Challenge was held Sept. 20 on the football field behind Oxford Middle School. The family-friendly carnival featured face painting, sack races and a soccer shootout to raise money for the Oxford School District Foundation.

Sarah Hollis and Claire Crews

Sara Katherine Waller with Brynnen and Carlisle Yoste

Ansley Byars and Mary Lauren Green

Fabia McDonald and Taryn Hartfield

Mallory McKinney and McKenna Cockrum

Leonard Riley with Kameron, Kalaila, Luther Jr. and Nicole Folson

Ann Leigh, Lydia and Shannon Robbins

Norah Bruce, Meridith Wulff and Desiree Hensley

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Charger Challenge

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 77

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Lillie and Paul Watkins

Kenya Robinson and Kimberly Young

Allysen Reynolds, Zoie Woolfolk, Madelyn Dale, Beth Sessums and Hannah Reynolds

1400 University Ave • Oxford, MS 38655 • 662.234.3232

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Stacy and Charles Cascio

Grace Alford and Hally Grace Hudson

Brea Rich and Lillie Floyd

Are you ready... for the holidays?

y Hott !

Toddy

Paris Nails and Salon 1906 University Ave (Across from Oby’s) • 662.513.0062 Mon - Fri: 9:30 am - 7:00 pm • Sat: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

Kajars’a Nail Tech, Multi-Cultural & Natural Hair Stylist

Amanda Color Specialist, Nail Tech

Elizabeth Nail Tech, Nail Art Specialist

Julie Ann Ho Owner Nail Tech, Esthetician

Christy Nail Tech

Angel Nail Tech, Spray Tan Tech

Amy Color Specialist, Nail Tech

Rochelle Nail Tech

Cut • Color • Style • Full Set • Full Spa Pedicure • Manicure • Slallac & Essie Gel • Waxing • Air Brush Tanning

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Thacker Mountain Radio View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Thacker Mountain Radio is a live radio show featuring a mix of local and national writers and musicians. The free show is broadcast on Thursdays at 6 p.m. from Off Square Books. For a full schedule, visit thackermountain.com. The last show of the season is Nov. 20.

Bram Bors-Koefoed and Liz Jones

Vernon Richards and Patty Lewis

John and Bess Currence with Lisa Martin

Catarina Passidomo and Will Townes

Nikki Neely and Stuart Davis

Polly Mullen and Bess Bruton

ERIC THWEATT CONSTRUCTION

Start Building Your DREAM HOME Today!

662.202.5020 80

Carter Hach and Taylor Shelley

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Marie Darden and Sarah Ball

Monica Carden and Holden Crawford

Neal and Wendy Sellers

Julie Howell and Lee Waddle

Tate Moore, Robert Malone and Corbin Evans

Mary Watts and Calvin Sellers

Mallory Stefan and Sean Anthony

Your Water Valley Real Estate Specialist!

No Matter Who Has It Listed We Can Show/Sell It!

DAWKINS FAMILY DENTAL CLINIC, P.A. DAWKINS FAMILY DENTAL CLINIC, P.A. W. EDWIN DAWKINS, Jr., D.D.S.

Tel: (662) 234-5725 See our ad in Names and Numbers.

440 North Lamar, Oxford, MS 38655 www.dawkinsfamilydental.com

Fischer Properties Sherry Fischer, Broker/Owner 662-607-1030 Toni Hill, Realtor 662-473-7773 November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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w Off your o h S am Spirit !

Te

Handmade in Mississippi

by Southern Fired Glass Plates $22.50-28.50 and Ornaments $18.50

Drive home the savings.

Car and home combo.

Combine your homeowners and car policies and save big-time.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. CALL ME TODAY. 速

Jimmy Carr, Agent 2627 W Oxford Loop Oxford, MS 38655 Bus: 662-234-3025 jimmy.carr.uwle@statefarm.com

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State 0901133.1 Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

e perfect house e in

Oxford!

765 Nottingham (Notting Hill)

346 Winner’s Circle (Steeple Chase)

inner’s Circle

eeplechase)

775 Shady Oaks (Royal Oaks)

809 Lincoln (Downtowm)

ttingham Drive

eenan, GRI -832-0729

ealestate.com

Glenda Keenan, GRI 662-832-0729 glenda@kessingerrealestate.com

2082 West Wellsgate Drive (Wellsgate) November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

83

IN SEASON Pasture-Raised Turkey

by Julie Cantrell

photographed by Megan Bean

Dustin Pinion and Ali Fratesi with some of the chickens, ducks and cattle at Beaverdam Fresh Farms.

I

t’s not a proper Thanksgiving without a beautiful bird, but Dustin Pinion and Ali Fratesi, owners of Beaverdam Fresh Farms in Cedar Bluff, Miss., believe that where and how their turkeys are raised are just as important as the way they are presented. The poultry farm operates on the principle that healthy soils create healthy foods and in turn healthy communities.

“Current agricultural practices do not take into account the needs for the future,” Fratesi said. “Rotating our livestock helps build healthier soils for future generations while providing healthy foods that are not so impactful on the environment.”

To do this, Beaverdam partnered with near-

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

by High Hope Farms in a land-sharing agreement to raise healthier beef, pork and poultry.

“We use a symbiotic method of farming,” Pinion said. “After the cattle graze on a parcel of land, we rotate them to another. Then we rotate the chickens or turkeys onto the freshly grazed parcel, where they eliminate pests, fertilize the grasses and improve the overall quality of both the beef and poultry operation. The entire process is as natural and healthy as it can get. This is our philosophy, and we have the same goals for our pork as well, allowing our pigs to rummage through acres of hardwood forests to maintain a healthy relationship with the land while consuming a natural diet.”

Beaverdam Fresh Farm does not use chemicals, antibiotics or growth hormones. In addition to turkeys, the farm offers chicken, pork, beef, milk, aged cheeses and mixed vegetables through a buying club.

“We deliver to Oxford every two weeks, year-round,” Fratesi said. “There are no minimum orders and no fees to be a member of our buying club. We just send you an email shopping order with a list of available products and prices.

We include products from our farm as well as from those of our partner farmers.”

Find Beaverdam Farms produce at the Oxford City Market every other Tuesday. Visit beaverdamfreshfarms.com for more information.

Gift Shop featuring •Indianola Pecans, •Wind & Willow Mixes, •Bridgewater & Persimmon Creek Candles, •Windchimes and unique seasonal gifts!

Beaverdam Farms Herb-Roasted, Pasture-Raised Turkey 14- to 18-pound pasture-raised turkey Kosher salt Rosemary Olive oil 4-8 cloves garlic Black pepper Basil Thyme Parsley Sage Oregano 1 white onion, chopped

BARN We are Oxford's Sweet Potato Sweets connection!

Gift cards always available.

Fresh Christmas trees, wreaths and garland arriving soon!

Voted Oxford’s Best Garden Center 662.238.7730 2657 West Oxford Loop Mon-Sat 8:00am - 5:00pm Like us on Facebook

Brine turkey overnight in kosher salt, rosemary and water.

Mix olive oil, salt, diced garlic (3 to 4 cloves), black pepper, rosemary, basil, thyme, parsley, sage and oregano. Use a mortar and pestle or food processor to blend ingredients.

Let herbs sit in the oil for an hour to infuse the oil with flavor.

Gently lift the skin of the turkey and apply the seasonings under the skin. Spread the remaining seasonings on the top of the skin, and sprinkle salt on top to let it crisp. Put olive oil on the skin to help it brown. Do not tie the legs together because they will take longer to cook.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Place 3 cloves garlic and chopped onion inside the turkey cavity.

The turkey will need to cook to 165°F. For a 14- to 18-pound turkey, anticipate about 2½ to 3 hours at 325°F. Cooking the turkey in a roasting pan allows the drippings to fall to the bottom, and the drippings can be used for making gravy.

If you are using a roasting pan, add water to the bottom, and this will help keep the turkey moist during the cooking process. Before slicing the turkey, let it rest at least 5 minutes.

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Mississippi native Britnee Kinard helped her husband, a disabled veteran, acquire his service dog, Gunner. But she didn’t stop there. Kinard now advocates for other veterans in need of service animals and financial assistance.

by Rebecca Lauck Cleary photographed by Joe Worthem and Britnee Kinard

BRITNEE KINARD is a whirlwind of activity.

She cares for her two small children, her husband, who is a disabled veteran, and his service dog, all with a smile.

Britnee, a native of Kilmichael, Miss., has Oxford roots. Her parents, Murry and Mackie Greenlee, earned degrees from the University of Mississippi in 1976 – in business and pharmacy respectively, and Murry played football for the Rebels. Britnee earned a music business degree from Middle Tennessee State University and moved to Nashville. Despite two small record label deals, she left Music City for South Carolina, where she met Douglas “Hamilton” Kinard in 2008. They married in 2010, and two children soon followed; Blayne, 4, and Maks, who is 21 months old. The family moved to Claxton, Ga., outside of Savannah, and what should have been an easy, typical American story, was not.

On March 15, 2005, years before he met Britnee, Hamilton Kinard was stationed in Iraq with the U.S. Army and on a dangerous mission to

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

escort a convoy in need of repair back to Baghdad International Airport.

Along the way, he was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), which ejected him from his Humvee. He was unconscious for three days but was never sent to the hospital. When he returned to the U.S., he filed a claim with the Veterans Administration for his injuries: a traumatic brain injury, severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nerve damage, hearing loss and a back injury. His claim went unanswered.

In 2012, the Kinards were becoming exasperated, as Hamilton’s injuries were making day-to-day activities with his young family more complicated.

Instead of shying away, Britnee took action.

“He is really dependent on me,” she said. “He can’t remember where his car keys are or where he’s left his wallet. I sent him to the bank once and he left $200 cash lying there. I didn’t want to cater to him or let him get too dependent on me, so I started doing research on service animals.”

That’s when she discovered 1Boy4Change (1B4C), a nonprofit

INVITATION Oxford IS YOUR MAGAZINE We want to hear your story ideas!

Opposite page, Britnee Kinard. Above, Britnee’s husband, Hamilton Kinard, with his service dog, Gunner, on Memorial Day last year.

organization in Brunswick, Ga., that places service dogs with veterans.

The dogs help disabled vets with daily tasks such as opening doors, picking up dropped objects or pulling manual wheelchairs.

Britnee decided on a fluffy, white Great Pyrenees because it was big enough to support her 6-foot-2-inch husband.

“My husband has difficulty walking, bending over and picking up items,” she said. “The dog needed to big enough to hold him up if necessary.”

The organization 1Boy4Change helped the family get the dog quickly. They named the dog Gunner.

Britnee began volunteering with the organization and advocating on behalf of other veterans like her husband for the Veterans Administration to cover payment for service dogs.

She has helped disabled veterans in Batesville, Water Valley, Tupelo, Grenada and Winona.

In June, 1Boy4Change ended its service dog program, so Kinard

Do you have a friend we should write about? Are you part of an organization that deserves a story?

Is there a picture-perfect place we should photograph?

Submit story ideas to us at soniawthompson@gmail.com or by calling (662) 234-4008

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Come see us this holiday season! phone:

662.473.2442 fax:

662.473.9620

323 N. Main St., Water Valley, MS 38965 turnagedrugs@hotmail.com

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

started her own: The SD Gunner Fund, which provides financial support to veterans for the expense of owning service animals. Service animals are expensive to train and purchase, and they require items like vests and custom harnesses in order to perform their service. The Kinard family spent about $10,000 for Gunner, but service dogs can cost up to $20,000 for a fully trained animal.

“Veterans are putting out all this expense and getting nothing back,” Britnee said.

Her work is to make sure her family and other families like hers are compensated. She is finally being heard. This spring, the VA approved the funding for Gunner.

Gunner is the first service dog in the Georgia-South Carolina coastal area to be approved, and one of only eight service dogs in the country for which the Veterans Health Administration has provided financial support.

Britnee says the most rewarding part about working with veterans is seeing justice come through.

“Nothing is better than seeing claims get put in, seeing veterans being treated, seeing service dogs being approved, seeing them getting the services that they are by far overdue,” she said.

To donate to the SD Gunner Fund and to learn more, visit sdgunnerfund.com.

Gunner with a double amputee at a Wounded Warrior event last year.

“NOTHING IS BETTER than seeing claims get put in, seeing veterans being treated, seeing service dogs being approved, seeing them getting the services that THEY ARE BY FAR OVERDUE.” - Britnee Kinard November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Join us December 4th for a

Ronaldo Designer

Jewelry Trunk Show

Periodontics and Dental Implants Dr. Michael M. Perry • Dr. Brenda L. Fowler Oxford • Bartlett • Collierville • Southaven • Memphis

Dr. Perry and Dr. Fowler have a periodontal practice with an emphasis on Dental Implants, the Treatment and Management of Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease) in a relaxed setting.

actice with an NT and MANAGEMENT relaxed setting.

To schedule your implant evaluation appt. please call today 866.667.4867

Dr. Perry, Dr. Fowler, and their staff are happy to schedule you for a periodontal evaluation and/or a no cost implant consult.

662.578.0290

377 HWY 51 • Batesville, MS 38606

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Go Jim Go!

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Go Jim Go! is a bicycling event featuring WREG meteorologist Jim Jaggers. He rode 333 miles in the Mid-South to benefit Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, and he stopped at Lafayette High School on Sept. 19, where the students greeted him dressed as superheroes.

Austin Corley, Savannah Baker and Charlie Johnson

John Sherman and Gary Drewrey

Meredith Lewis, Christina Floyd, Georgia Caine and Kaitlyn Melton

Laura Howell, Ann Thomas and Kelly Person

Wayne Lichliter, Will and Jim Jaggers, Hope Sneed, Jill Knight and Steve Kuhar

Sadie Wilson, Madison Hill, Sydney Osborn, Bailey Odum and Lakynn Hillhouse

Kim Maples, Maddie Leach and Emily East

Mark Brown and Calvin Worthem

Christasha Turner, Jasmine Brown, Shydrika Phillips and Malaysia Buford

Kaitlyn Bucher, Morgan Bishop and Maddie Welch

Dylan Vicknair, Shelby Yancy, Josh Purviance and Jeffrey Hill

www.sweetnessfollows.com Follow the remarkable story of Sam Lane and the recipes that helped him along his road of recovery In 2007, during his junior year of college, Sam was riding his bike in Athens, Georgia when he was hit by a drunk driver & sustained a traumatic brain injury.

Sam’s friends and family were told to say their goodbyes as it was unlikely Sam would make it.

Learn how hard work, dedication, support of loved ones and the promise of a weekly treat from family friend, Katy Houston, helped Sam to make a remarkable recovery.

Included are more than 62 recipes that helped Sam on his road to recovery.

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

$21.95 Available at Off Square Books & other retailers statewide or online at www.sweetnessfollows.com

y! dy! dd Tod ty To Ho ottty H s! bs!

Reeb Go Go R Come See us for your gameday attire!

Oxford Middle School Theater Presents:

On Square Styles, Off Square Prices!

1905 university ave • Oxford ms • 662-234-2044 10:30-6 monday-saturday • 12:00-5 Sunday SwagSocietyOxford • Shopswagsociety.com

Book by: David Simpatico Based on a Disney Channel Original Movie Written by: Peter Barsocchini Songs by: Matthew Gerrard & Robbie Nevil, Ray Cham, Greg Cham & Andrew Seeley, Randy Petersen & Kevin Quinn, Andy Dodd & Adam Watts, Bryan Louiselle, David N. Lawrence & Faye Greenberg, Jamie Houston, Music Adapted, Arranged and Produced by Bryan Louiselle

November 6th, 7th, & 8th Kayla Mize Auditorium

7:00 pm

$5 General Admission

Oak Hill Stables Oxford’s Finest Bed and Breakfast.

Dr. Owen and Laura Sale 670 County Road 101 • Oxford, MS 38655 • 662-801-2084 www.OakHillStablesBedandBreakfast.com

Tickets available 10/20 @ the OMS store & at the door Store hours: 7:30-8:15am & 11am -1pm

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events American Red Cross Dinner View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

“Miracle on the Hudson” U.S. Airways Flight 1549 survivor Dave Sanderson visited Oxford Oct. 3 and 4 to promote the American Red Cross. Chef Jay Hughes and State Sen. Lydia Chassaniol prepared a six-course meal at a private residence to benefit the organization.

Jennifer Coleman, Jennie Denton, Dave Sanderson and Jaby Stephen Whatley, Pam and Jim Fregia, Tom Hodge and Denton Rosemary Whatley

Teresa Flautt, Martha Duvall and David Flautt

Keith Henley with Rhea and Robyn Tannehill and Paula and Scot Spragins

Jody and Kerri Harrison with Peppar and Craig Garvin and Leigh Anne Coleman

Glover and Virginia Johnson with Keith Henley

James Strickland, Mindy Dunagan and Paul Pohto

Bethany Tarpley with Rush, Hannah and Brad Mayo

www.BarkleyTravel.com

A Smoky Mountain New Year’s Eve

141 West Bankhead St New Albany, MS 38652 Phone: 662-534-5203

Niagara Falls Festival of Lights (December 1-6, 2014)

(Dec 29, 2014 – Jan 1 , 2015) • Three nights lodging in Pigeon Forge • Country Tonite Show • The Grand Majestic Theater • Applewood Farmhouse Dinner • The Wood Grill Dinner Buffet • Dinner at The Old Mill Restaurant • 3 Breakfasts • Shopping at the Outlet Malls • Guided tour of the Smoky Mountains

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Paula and Scot Spragins with George Atkins

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

• Lodging in Cincinnati, OH (to & from Niagara Falls) • Three nights lodging in Niagara Falls, Ontario • Three buffet breakfasts • Skylon Tower Dinner • ”Oh Canada Eh” Holiday Dinner Show • Tour of Niagara Falls Area • IMAX Movie – “Niagara – Miracles, Myths & Magic” • Niagara-on-the-Lake featuring a winery tour with sampling • Chocolate FX (Factory tour & sampling) • Festival of Lights Tour • Local escort

23 1/2 hrs 7 days Service

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Elizabeth Evans

events Oxford Community Garden Potluck View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

A potluck dinner at the Oxford Community Garden was held Sept. 23. The garden is located on the corner of University Avenue and Bramlett Boulevard. Visit oxfordcga.org for more information about the garden and upcoming events.

Sam Lisi, Leah Tiisler and Sarah Lisi

Elaine Gelbard and Sunny Young

Sarah Ligon and Kevin Beach with their children

Aneela Usman, Juhaid Rehman and Hamahdan Hassan Buffy Choinski and William Dunn

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Kate Lechler and Will Oakes

Rory Ledbetter and Ashley Fly

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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DCT Direct Connection

Travel

327 West Park Avenue Greenwood, MS 38930 (662) 455-2901 traveltheworld@bellsouth.net Carolyn Kimbrough

Now is the time for your perfect trip!

• 1, 2, and 3 Bedroom apartments • Pets welcome • Sparkling swimming pool • Fitness center • Tanning salon • Washer and dryer provided • Covered parking • Cable and Internet included • Tennis court • Outdoor games: horseshoes, bocce ball, shuffleboard & ping pong • Free cable TV & internet • 1 mile from campus

2000 Lexington Pointe Dr, Oxford, MS 38655 www.liveatlexingtonpointeapts.com 662-281-0402 lexingtonpointe@heritageproperties.com

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

EVERYONE

NEEDS A HELPING HAND SOMETIMES

www.sittersllc.com www.sittersllc.com

sittersllc@bellsouth.net sittersllc@bellsouth.net

Providing caregivers Providing caregivers forfor families like yours families like yours forfor over years. over 1313 years.

Open 7 Days a Week Sunday - Thursday, 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

The perfect place for that special occasion or your holiday events!

This event venue is just a few miles north of Oxford in quiet downtown Abbeville, MS. Whether your next event is dressy or simple and casual you can transform this space to reflect your personality. Downtown Abbe is a great event venue for small weddings, receptions, private parties, specialty classes or meetings.

The front room is 855 sq. feet, can accommodate about 70 people seated at dinner tables or approximately 120 standing.

The back portion serves as a kitchen with sinks, refrigerator, microwave, counter space with enough room for a caterer to serve from comfortably.

w w w. d o w n t o w n a b b e . c o m November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events UM Museum Family Activity Day View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The University of Mississippi Museum hosted Family Activity Day Sept. 20. The event coincided with the museum’s “Bloomingdale’s Fashion Touchdown” exhibit. Children designed their own football helmets and tasted healthy tailgating snacks.

Names Names Names Names Names

Nash Harrell, Alyson and Cooper Williams and Acyn Harrell

Gracie, Avery and Sophie Burkes

Laura Woods and Jennifer Harrell

Bonnie and Hadley Green

Mark Kate Domino and Mattison Scardino

Carter and Caryn Burkes

Adeline and Laurie Reed

Maggie Smith and Ava Threlkeld

Lydia and Madelyne Jones

Sydeny Devers and Rosie Klimetz

Drew and Owens Smith

Lora Ellinwood, Rebel and Julie Mauldine

EXCEPTIONAL CARDIOVASCULAR CARE IN THE HEART OF OXFORD • GENERAL CARDIOLOGY • INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY • ADVANCED HEART FAILURE • PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE • ARRHYTHMIA MANAGEMENT. CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

* Most insurances accepted oxfordheartconsultants.com Phone: 662.281.1115 • Fax: 662.281.1113 Dr. Mark Campbell, Dr. Cal Laney, Tiffany Leister, N.P., Dr. Mark Strong

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

2209 Jefferson Davis Drive • Oxford, MS 38655

Doing A Better Job for 3 Generations!

409 South Lamar Blvd., Oxford, MS 38655 • 662.234.2941

Winner

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Paul Gandy

events United Way Campaign Kickoff View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The annual campaign kickoff for the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County was held Sept. 24 at the Oxford Conference Center.

The organization’s fundraising goal is $525,000, and 99 percent of the money raised remains in Lafayette County.

Connie Hwang, Alice Ricks and Lydia Jones

Glenn Baggett, Tyler and Cheryl Cannon, David Huckaby Jr., Tommy Thornton and David Huckaby Sr.

Carnilia Fondren, Effie Burt and Evelyn Smith

102

Evin Beck, Fowler Stains, Monica Lebron and Keith Carter

INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Christy Knapp, Kelley Norris and Brittni Hancock

Jennifer Coleman and Nicholas Garbacz

Karen Chain, Mary Harrington and Bryon Cohron

Protect Your Little Rebels

Confused & Overwhelmed about where to turn when looking for a realtor?

Josh White 1614 University Ave. Oxford, MS 38655 C: 662-607-8791

Auto, Home, & Life Insurance JOSH WHITE 1614 University Ave. Oxford, MS 38655 C: 662-607-8791

Tina & Tony

can make buying or selling a house simple and stress free!

Tony Montgomery • 662-801-2645 • tony@kessingerrealestate.com Tina Montgomery • 662-801-1784 • tina@kessingerrealestate.com

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Kappa Alpha Theta 35th Reunion View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae held a 35th-anniversary reunion Sept. 26-28. Activities included a cocktail party at the Lyric, a tailgate in the Grove before the Memphis vs. Ole Miss game and a brunch at the Kappa Alpha Theta house.

Ardith Morgan and Susan Winters

MK Fiorillo, Alma Pratt and Missy Schuessler with Kecia and Jamie Howell

Lisa Gorman, Susie Lofquist and Regal Green

Allie West, Angela Robinson, Tricia Thomas and Corey Ussery

Robynne Hensarling Adams, Kim Hawthorne and Debbie Huff

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

Justine Neely, Kathryn Williams and Alisa Wiggins

Mary Moreton and Tracie Riddle

Lauren Weatherall, Jennifer Coleman and Kathryn Atkins

Carra Artis and Hallie Anderson

DEPENDABLE. CHRISTIAN. CARE. w ww. pr o vco mpa n io n ca r e . co m Our certified companions are available in the comfort of your own home, assisted living residence, nursing home or hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We offer assistance in personal hygiene, meal preparation, light cleaning, errands, shopping and medication reminders.

Brittany Norman

Provider Relations Coordinator

317 Heritage Dr, Suite 7-A Oxford, MS 38655 Currently Servicing: Coahoma, Desoto, Grenada, Lafayette, Panola, Quitman, Tate, and Tunica Counties

Visit us on Facebook!

(office) 662-234-0100 (24 Hour Line) 662-645-6550

Please call our Provider Relations Coordinator for a free consultation

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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and

by Curtis & Terry

F A o L t L e i m n i T Love s ’ t I With Your Smile!

Farese Family Dental At

Curtis is available on Thursdays to help with your shade selection or help with a custom lamp made from your vessels.

Can be seen at Sugar Magnolia booth #7 662.234.6330

Sugar

Magnolia

Antique Mall

Wishes you a

Happy

Thanksgiving!

Old Town Shopping Center 1919 University Ave. Oxford, MS 662-234-6330

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

10% off NEW Patient Comprehensive Exams and Cleaning Present ad for discount valid November 1st-30th 2014

662-234-8463 • www.faresedental.com • 2212 W. Jackson Ave. Oxford, MS

Open House

Sunday, November 23 from 1:00 – 5:00 Peter will be available to sign pieces purchased that day.

Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

373 Hwy. 51 North • Batesville, MS 38606 • 662.563.4684

Our Mission

To provide the highest quality of care for each patient and to do so with integrity and compassion; by always seeing ourselves through the eyes of our patients.

Mon- Fri 7am-6pm • Sat 9-noon • 662-236-9500 • www.pawsoxford.com Spay, Neuter, & Adoption Saves Lives!

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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October 28th - November 22

The Oxford Fencers Club brings an old-fashioned sport to the South.

662.234.9090

www.southsideartgallery.com

150 Courthouse Square Oxford, MS Norma Bourdeaux

Delta Wheat

Laurin McCracken White Owl

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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2014

story and photographs by Deborah Freeland

Swords are drawn and two opponents face one another. They raise and lower their weapons, giving an elegant salute. “En garde” is called, and the adversaries adopt the position with their front feet behind the fair line and one arm behind their backs. “R-e-a-d-ddddddy?”

Swords are poised at the sixte position and tension builds. “Fence!” The bout begins with a sudden burst of energy.

It’s not a scene from a Shakespeare play; it’s the drama taking place at the Oxford Fencers Club (OFC). Sword fighting schools can be found in European historical records dating back to the 12th century. Today, fencing is a competitive sport and considered one of the martial arts.

The club’s head coach, John “Doc” Matthews, and assistant coaches, Walter Flaschka and Sean Holmes, are high-level fencers. They are proficient in all three fencing weapons, épée, foil and saber. The modern épée is a small sword derived from the European dueling rapier. The foil was invented in 18th-century France as a training weapon for gentlemen. The point was wrapped in a foil, making it safer for students to use. The modern saber is descended from the calvary sword.

Matthews, a retired University of Mississippi professor of pharmacology, started fencing at Jackson Community College in Michigan in the 1960s.

“I started coaching at the University of

“Team sports aren’t for everyone. Fencing is very much a game of the mind as well as the body. It is a very rewarding sport.”

– Max Keene, fencer

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From left, Walter Flaschka, John “Doc” Matthews and Sean Holmes, Oxford Fencers Club coaches. Matthews organized the club in 2005 and named the building in honor of his mother.

The Imo Matthews Fencing Building hosts a fencing tournament this month. Right, fencing equipment can be expensive, so the club owns some of its own for members to use.

Mississippi in 1990 because I wanted to stay competitive,” he said.

For Sean Holmes, it was more about missing a sport he loved.

“I was in the Marine Reserves and sent to Iraq as part of the ground invasion,” he said.

“I tried to keep it up a bit. I showed some of the moves to guys in my unit, but you can’t do footwork in marine boots. Fencing is a great sport and I missed it when I was over there.”

In an effort to make fencing classes and a facility more accessible, Matthews, Flaschka, Holmes and others began teaching through Oxford Park Commission. At that time fencing shared a room with karate. No equipment was supplied, and fencers had to purchase their own gear. After several years of teaching through OPC, the men began searching for a building that could be used just for fencing.

The Oxford Fencers Club was officially organized in 2005 when Matthews, using an

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“It is exceptional to have a facility like this in Oxford, Mississippi.”

– John Matthews, head coach

inheritance left to him by his mother, purchased a building on McLarty Road. He named it the Imo Matthews Fencing Building in her honor.

The large metal building, formerly occupied by an air-conditioning company, was well located but in need of a makeover. In a year and a half they had converted the building into a state-ofthe-art fencing facility.

“In the South there are very few places where the whole building is just for fencing,” Matthews said. “It is exceptional to have a facility like this in Oxford, Mississippi.”

Fencing is often referred to as physical chess.

“It is treachery,” Matthews said. “You have to plan several moves ahead and set traps for opponents and hope you don’t fall into traps.”

Flaschka said that learning to fence is a slow process and takes time similar to developing a ballet dancer. He began fencing at age 11 and fenced in college for New York University.

“I realized that in order to stay relevant

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I would have to study the sport and start teaching it,” he said. “I began researching and building up my coaching skills.”

To attract students, Matthews decided that the high cost of equipment should not be a barrier for those who want to try it out. The club owns a lot of its own fencing gear for its members to use.

“This opens the door for many people,” Matthews said. “Come on a trial night, and we will set you up.”

Looking at the photographs, plaques and a case of medals on the walls, Matthews recalls students who have passed through the club.

“Many of our students are in their early teens,” he said. “We train fencers and send them out. It is hard to see them leave but great to know that they are spreading our legacy.”

Max Keene, 16, has been a student of Matthews’ since 2012.

“I had been playing baseball, but it wasn’t the right sport for me,” Keene said. “Team sports aren’t for everyone. I had a friend that had been taking fencing. I tried it, and I loved it. Fencing is very much a game of the mind as well as the body. It is a very rewarding sport.”

The Oxford Fencers Club hosts a tournament Nov. 15. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. in the OFC building, 606 McLarty Road.

The event is free and open to the public.

Visit oxfordfencing.com for more information about classes and membership.

November 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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I AM OXFORD Justavian Tillman interviewed by Lena Anderson

photographed by Joe Worthem

The Grammy-nominated University of Mississippi Gospel Choir celebrates its 40th anniversary this month with a concert at the Ford Center Nov. 15. Choir President Justavian Tillman, a Bruce, Miss., native and Ole Miss junior, has been a choir member for three years.

Q: Did you grow up singing?

A: I’ve been singing since I was a baby. I attend Jackson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Bruce, Miss., under the leadership of Pastor Thomas Tillman [who is also the principal of Lafayette Upper Elementary School].

Q: What is the history of the University of Mississippi Gospel Choir?

A: In the early 1970s, the Black Student Union Choir was created to serve as a niche for African-American students who were searching for a sense of belonging in a place where it was not always easy, and it officially became a gospel choir in 1974. In 1991, the BSU Choir changed its name to the University of Mississippi Gospel Choir. In 1999, it became the first collegiate choir to sign with a major record label, Malaco Records in Jackson, Miss. The choir was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2001.

Q: Where does the choir perform?

A: We have performed at the annual Christmas tree lighting in front of the Lyceum; Union Unplugged on the Plaza; the 2008 presidential debate festival; the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago; the Mid-South Fair; opened for the Mississippi Mass Choir; the Boy & Girls Club of Panola County annual fundraiser; and the 50 Years of Integration program.

Q: What is the choir doing to mark its 40th anniversary?

A: Our festivities kick off with a high school choral visit day on Nov. 14. On Nov. 15, our fall concert, Spirit Sounds: 40 Years of Celebration, starts at 7:30 p.m.

Q: What is the best thing about being a choir member?

A: The positive influence that I get from each member and also the networking. We’ve evolved, but a few things remain constant: the choir is still a family, a community in which individuals find strength in each other and power in voice.

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