Oxford Magazine June/July - Best of Oxford 2020

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BEST OF OXFORD’S CHARACTER MAYOR TANNEHILL LEADS THE WAY

OXFORD’S BEST BUSINESS NEILSON’S TIMELESS TRADITION

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FEATURES

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NEILSON’S TIMELESS COLLECTION Neilson’s: Oxford’s Best Business

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A BALANCING ACT

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BEST OF OXFORD 2020 You voted. We tallied. See who’s who in the LOU.

2 June/July 2020

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Dr. Meredith Griffin: Oxford’s Best Doctor

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PHOTO BY JOEY BRENT

schools & sports

in every issue

11 A Choral Classic | Don Trott unveils his new book

arts & culture

17 Eden Flora | Oxford’s Best Artist

home

& style

27 Robyn Tannehill | Leading in trying times

food

& drink

4

Contributors

5

From the Editor

6

Product Picks

7

The Guide

24

5 Questions

25

Book Picks

69

Out & About

71

Said & Done

72

Marketplace

OM

33 Handy Andy | Oxford’s Best Burger & BBQ

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contributors

EDITORIAL

Anna Guizerix Ana Lauren Martinez Jake Thompson

CONTRIBUTORS

Joey Brent Jude Burke-Lewis Davis Coen Jim Dees Mary Kathryn Herrington Thad Lee Lindsey Meisenheimer Cody Morrison Christina Steube Laura Beth Walker

DESIGN

Connor Martin-Lively Jamie Dawkins Kate Sullivan Green Angela Caver

MARKETING

Lauren Jones Delia Childers

ADMINISTRATION Rebecca Alexander

Donica Phifer, writer

Donica Phifer is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and spent most of her career working for community newspapers in northern Mississippi, most recently as the Managing Editor of the Oxford Eagle. She currently works as a freelance writer and Digital Media Producer for Newsweek.

Jude Burke-Lewis, writer

Jude is a recent transplant to Oxford, having moved here from London, UK, last year. She worked as a journalist back in her home country, including three years at an education newspaper, and is now a freelance writer.

Davis Coen, writer

Davis Coen is a freelance writer and newspaper reporter from Oxford by way of South Carolina. He’s had stories published in various local publications including Oxford Eagle, Oxford Citizen and Daily Journal. He also maintains a music career--with over a dozen tours of Europe and regular airplay on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Thad Lee, photographer

Thad Lee is an award-winning filmmaker from Hattiesburg. He has earned English and Philosophy degrees from the University of Mississippi and an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of New Orleans. His film, All That You Love Will Be Carried Away is based on a short story by Stephen King. It is currently screening at festivals in America and Europe.

Oxford Magazine is published bimonthly by Oxford Newsmedia LLC. All material is this publication is protected by copyright. We are located at 4 Private Road 2050 Oxford, MS 38655. Our annual subscription rate is $40 per year in the United States and $60 a year in Canada, Mexico and other foreign countries. Our website is oxfordmag.com. We can be reached by telephone at 662-234-4331. Letters, story ideas and postal changes should be addressed to Oxford Magazine, 4 Private Road 2050, Oxford, MS 38655.

4 June/July 2020

from the editor

A

ON THE COVER

After a tumultuous Spring in which everyone’s lives have been turned upside down, I am eager for the calmness of an Oxford summer.

Ole Miss students have retreated to their hometowns for the most part, and the humidity and haze that envelopes our little town lulls everything to a slower pace. We’re missing some of the fun highlights, like Ole Miss baseball playing into June, and YAC’s live summer concert series, but what’s left at the heart of the matter is, we still have each other.

Throughout all the shutdowns, the social distancing and every other buzzword that’s become part of our daily vocabulary, what remains is a return to a strong family unit. Whether that’s the people you call family by blood, or your chosen family, it’s my belief that our interactions with each other have grown deeper.

We take the time to stop and appreciate those around us more: the doctor helping bring new life into the world, the barista pouring your morning cup of curbside coffee. It’s not a return to “normal,” or even a “new normal.” It’s one improvement that took a worldwide panic to come to fruition.

This issue of Oxford Magazine is about honoring the Best of Oxford. From the small categories, like Oxford’s best waiter, to the big categories, like the Best Business, each of these winners displays unique characteristics of the town we call home.

As the world begins to reawaken, and as we return to some semblance of the life we knew before, it is our responsibility to honor what is the Best of Oxford both in name and in ourselves.

Keep thanking our service industry workers. Keep supporting our arts community, even if it’s just the purchase of a print or tuning in to a virtual concert. Keep showing kindness to others, even when you don’t feel like it or they don’t deserve it.

We love celebrating Oxford and what makes it grand – you should, too.

Robyn Tannehill

Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill is leading the City through trying times.

anna.guizerix@oxfordmag.com

Photo by Joey Brent Design by Kate Sullivan Green

OxfordMag.com 5

Editor’s Product Picks

With summer in full swing here in Oxford, we’re experiencing a world that’s all about functionality and protection. However, that doesn’t mean it has to be boring! These product picks are all about staying safe and having fun in the sun while you do it.

1. SUN BUM SUNSCREEN | $15.99 | ULTA BEAUTY

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Sun Bum is the perfect sunscreen for my sensitive skin. You can’t be too careful when it comes to sun safety, and Sun Bum’s wide range of products (from traditional sunscreen to hair protectant to SPF lip balm and more) provide all the coverage you need. Sun Bum Sunscreens are tested, approved, and recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation. They’re also vegan and allnatural.

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2. SUMMERSALT SWIMWEAR | $95 | WWW.SUMMERSALT.COM Summersalt offers a variety of swimwear for virtually every body type and modesty level – they even offer a swimming hijab for our Muslim friends. My personal favorite style is the Sidestroke one-piece in Confetti. Bonus: This suit is part of the Mommy & Me line, so you can buy a matching suit for your little one and hit the beach (or the kiddie pool in the back yard) in style. All of Summersalt’s fabrics offer UPF 50+ protection, and they can stand up to sand, sweat, and chlorine.

3. KRISTIN ESS IN-SHOWER GLOSS | $14 | TARGET

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With some of us still holding out on frequent trips to the salon, this in-shower gloss is a life-saver for all hair types. I’ve used this product as both a blonde and a brunette, and it definitely delivers on my at-home color needs without giving my stylist a conniption. The Kristin Ess In-Shower Gloss will fade within about three weeks. While it doesn’t promise to cover those pesky grays, it does provide deep-conditioning, shine and dimension on natural or color-treated hair.

4. STARBUCKS COLOR-CHANGING CUPS | $18.95 FOR A PACK OF FIVE | STARBUCKS

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These cups were an instant classic when they first hit shelves in May, and I love them for a variety of reasons. They’re dishwasher safe and BPA-free, which is awesome, and they also provide a way to make your daily iced coffee habit a little more sustainable.

5. PACKABLE MESA STRAW HAT | $24.50 | MADEWELL This hat is perfect for hiding bad hair days at home or abroad (or anywhere else in between). Each hat is woven by hand, and it is perfectly unstructured, so you don’t have to worry about ruining it in a suitcase. Plus, it offers UPF 50 protection and plenty of shade for your face and neck. I’d recommend pairing this topper with a bright sundress or white linen shirt and slacks, for a laid-back traveler vibe.

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6. DIFF SUNGLASSES | $85 | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS ON THE SQUARE DIFF eyewear is fashion-forward specs for a cause. Pictured here in the style “Koko,” you can’t go wrong with a classic aviator frame paired with a fun color.

Polarized lenses offer you protection from the sun’s harmful rays (yes, you can get sunburn on your eyeballs – trust me), and each pair sold provides the gift of sight to someone in need through eye exams, surgeries, glasses, medicine and more.

THE GUIDE

After three months of waiting and distancing, the Square seems to be coming back to life. The Guide for this issue is comprised of virtual events that will, hopefully, become in-person events in the future.

Stay safe and have fun, Oxford!

OxfordMag.com 7

THE GUIDE JULY 14

Ace Atkins with “The Revelators” 5:30 p.m.

Instagram Live, hosted by Square Books

In this gripping new crime novel from the New York Times-bestselling author, Quinn Colson is about to find out whether his quest for justice can coexist with his loyalty to the law... Shot up and left for dead, Sheriff Quinn Colson has revenge on his mind. With the help of his new wife Maggie, rehabilitation, and sheer force of will, he’s walking again, eager to resume his work as a southern lawman and track down those responsible for his attempted murder. But someone is standing in his way: an interim sheriff, appointed by the newly elected Governor Vardaman, the man who Quinn knows ordered his murder.

Vardaman sits at the top of the state’s power structure--both legal and criminal--and little does he know; Quinn is still alive. And coming for him.

JULY 30

Natasha Trethewey signs “Memorial Drive” 5:30 p.m.

Off Square Books

At age 19, Pulitzer Prize-winner Natasha Trethewey had her world turned upside down when her former stepfather shot and killed her mother. Grieving and still new to adulthood, she confronted the twin pulls of life and death in the aftermath of unimaginable trauma and now explores the way this experience lastingly shaped the artist she became. Memorial Drive is a compelling and searching look at a shared human experience of sudden loss and absence but also a piercing glimpse at the enduring ripple effects of white racism and domestic abuse. Animated by unforgettable prose and inflected by a poet’s attention to language, this is a luminous, urgent, and visceral memoir from one of our most important contemporary writers and thinkers.

8 June/July 2020

WHAT TO DO IN OXFORD JUNE 17 Jennifer Ackerman with “The Bird Way” 5 p.m.

Zoom, hosted by Square Books JUNE 29 Four-Man Scramble Golf Tournament 1 p.m.

Country Club of Oxford JULY 1 Lora Beth Johnson with “Goddess in the Machine” 5 p.m.

Instagram Live, hosted by Square Books JULY 8 Intro to DSLR Photography Adult Summer Camp 6:30 to 7 p.m.

The Powerhouse JULY 13 Expressive Rendition of a Master Painting 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The Powerhouse JULY 15 Intro to DSLR Photography Adult

THE GUIDE Summer Camp 6:30 to 7 p.m.

The Powerhouse

JUNE 16

JULY 20 Expressive Rendition of a Master Painting 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The Powerhouse JULY 22 Intro to DSLR Photography Adult Summer Camp 6:30 to 7 p.m.

The Powerhouse JULY 27 Expressive Rendition of a Master Painting 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The Powerhouse JULY 29 Intro to DSLR Photography Adult Summer Camp 6:30 to 7 p.m.

The Powerhouse

Porochista Khakpour in conversation with Kiese Laymon with “Brown Album” 5:30 p.m.

Instagram Live, hosted by Square Books Novelist Porochista Khakpour’s family moved to Los Angeles after fleeing the Iranian Revolution, giving up their successes only to be greeted by an alienating culture. Growing up as an immigrant in America means that one has to make one’s way through a confusing tangle of conflicting cultures and expectations. Brown Album is a stirring collection of essays, at times humorous and at times profound, drawn from more than a decade of Porochista’s work and with new material included. Altogether, it reveals the tolls that immigrant life in this country can take on a person and the joys that life can give.

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&SPORTS

SCHOOLS

A CHORAL CLASSIC UM Professor Donald Trott celebrates his craft with Conducting Men’s Choirs

BY DAVIS COEN PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT OxfordMag.com 11

M

Most books we own in our lifetime we will only read once – with the first reading likely being the last.

Some may or may not earn a permanent spot on our household bookshelf – but some others are too indispensable not to have around, for fact of being a unique and helpful resource. That is, if it possesses information or insight on a particular topic that differs from anything available elsewhere on the subject, on top of bearing all of the essentials, too.

Conducting Men’s Choirs by Donald Trott, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Mississippi, is of that sort. A response and counterpart to his former colleague Debra Spurgeon’s acclaimed 2012 groundbreaking book, Conducting Women’s Choirs: Strategies for Success, Conducting Men’s Choirs is a collaborative work from top professionals in the field, including choral leaders.

Longtime choral singing professor and conductor, Trott organized the chapters of his book into three different sections: Historical Essays on Male Choirs in the USA, Working with Male Voices and Repertoire for Male Choirs. A takeaway from the

historical essays section is that collegiate and glee club singing has provided a substantial contribution to choral singing in the USA. Another is that Western European immigrants – particularly Germans – in the early days of our country, spread their influence through a need for mirth and fellowship, and planted seeds for a growth in popularity of choral music to come.

“Many German immigrants of the early-1800s continued their tradition of Männerchor (male choirs),” Trott said. “Many factories used to have their own choirs, and so, public singing was part of our culture from the beginning,” he added, with regard to the German influence on organized choral singing in America.

Choral singing, which is characterized by the participation of more than two individuals, had a peak in the mid-1800s, as is discussed in chapter one, A Brief History and Development of Collegiate Men’s Glee Clubs in the USA, by Jeremy D. Jones. All facets of singing, including Union songs, due partly to a large number of Germans in the Union army, were influenced, writes Jones in his essay.

“As soldiers returned home at the end of the Civil

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War. …Many pursued a college education and brought with them a continued interest in singing,” Jones writes in the book. “It was in this manner that the progression and development of collegiate male glee clubs across the United States began to evolve.”

The tradition of singing groups in the military is also discussed in The Right Place at the Right Time: The U.S. Army Chorus, a sharp essay by Allen Crowell, who discusses his experience as a lifelong singer and member of two renowned male singing groups – and also a ceremonial singer, who has done so before a number of U.S. presidents, and also for major political happenings.

The Bridge Between the Athlete and Singer, by Brady Bramlett, the son of an athlete and an artist, dancer and singer, highlights the second section of the book. In his story as a singer with his athletic career interwoven, Bramlett reveals how being injured and redshirted caused him to become reconnected with music.

“It always amazes me how powerful and healing music is for the soul,” Bramlett said of finding refuge from his shortcomings in collegiate choir. Bramlett credits the book’s editor, Trott, saying “the choir at Ole Miss defined my college experience.”

With regard to the inspiring appeal of Bramlett’s story and contribution Trott said he hopes Bramlett’s chapter will garner widespread attention, with a particular target audience in mind: elementary school-age boys.

“Activities we start early in life tend to become part of our continuing interests. Brady is a very talented young man in so many ways, but the focus in his chapter is on sports and music. By hearing his story, we hope to encourage more young men to sing.

Singing is great fun,” Trott said. “Many male students are inhibited to embrace it with the same energy they do with sports. Brady points out the similarities of performance on the field and in the concert hall, of practice and preparation, of individual effort and OxfordMag.com 13

team contribution.

“Athletes make great singers because of their training. Justin Tucker, kicker for the Baltimore Ravens, is another great example. As Brady discusses, he was injured and had to rehab, and so during that time he joined the Ole Miss choir. He was an experienced singer from his days at Arlington High School, and became a great contributor to our program.”

Another chapter in Section 2 is Mary Hopper’s Women Conducting Male Choirs, where she notes, “there is an abundance of evidence that men do enjoy singing in a single-sex ensemble,” although she recognizes the assets of either gender of conductor, or coach. Hopper, once the only full-time female choral conductor at the collegiate level in the state of Illinois, discusses several myths regarding women conductors, including No.1, Women Lack a Useful Vocal Connections with Male Singers, and, No. 3, Young Men Cannot Be Free with Their Comments and Jokes Around a Female.

The book’s third and final section looks at repertoire, with a chapter highlighting Shumann, a nineteenth-century champion of the craft of writing for voices. Trott closes out the book with a chapter of his own, which begins by emphasizing the gravity of repertoire, then has an extensive list of publishers,

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titles, and composers – along with the voicings on the titles, in terms of alto, tenor, baritone and bass.

When Oxford Magazine asked which chapters of the book he could imagine gaining attention, the Ole Miss faculty member for the past 17 years replied, “I believe the historical chapters are going to be referenced quite often, including Jeremy D. Jones’ opening chapter on glee club history. Major Allen Crowell’s chapter on the US Army Chorus and David Morrow’s chapter on the history of Morehouse College Glee Club both present a unique story of two very important American men’s choirs.”

A lover of masterworks, Trott said part of his fouryear plan for the Ole Miss singers is to “allow each student to experience the preparation and performance of one of these great works.” With regard to his greatest masterwork challenge, Trott credits Mass in B Minor as one of those bucket-list works that he just had to do at least once in his career.

With prospects of the new book soon becoming available for purchase on the Square, the editor of the long in-the-works compilation reflected fondly on his years with UM, saying, “I’ve had the privilege to work with many great students and faculty, and I am quite proud of our performances. Each year brings another experience and opportunity to sing new repertoire.”

OxfordMag.com 15

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ARTS

EDEN’S OASIS

Oxford’s Best Local Artist shares her inspirations STORY BY JUDE BURKE-LEWIS PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDEN FLORA OxfordMag.com 17

18 June/July 2020

A

Art is many things for painter and licensed art therapist Eden Flora – an escape, a safe place in chaotic world, and a means of communication.

But perhaps above all, it’s something that’s always been there for her.

“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t painting,” Flora said. “It was something that I loved since I was a little girl.

My parents really valued my creativity and sought to foster that, so I’m very thankful for that.”

Flora grew up in Mobile, Ala., before heading to the University of Georgia in 2002 to study for a BFA in fabric design. This was later followed by a master’s degree in art therapy and creative development from the world-renowned Pratt Institute in New York.

She and her husband Gray moved to Oxford in the summer of 2015, where she now creates colorful, vibrant paintings in her turquoise-filled home studio. Her work, which often features Bible quotes and religious iconography such as crosses and angels, is inspired by “God’s work, God’s truth,” she said.

“My paintings are focused on a bit of truth that I want to spend more time with and therefore cultivate and dream and play with that truth through my artwork,” Flora said. “I really love to find something that I want to bite into, and that leads to images that I want to explore visually. I love the

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idea of taking chaos, a chaotic idea, and turning it and organizing it for people to see.”

This “piece of truth” is the starting point for her creative process.

“Typically, the start of an image will come to mind, and I will paint a lot of sketches just trying to work out that idea until it makes sense,” Flora said.

This will often mean trying to strip down the literalness of the image so that it becomes a little more abstract.

“Once I get the idea into a way that is beautiful to me, I then can paint the paintings and just use a variety of color combinations,” she said. “Can it be true in warm colors? Can it be true in cool colors? Can it be true in a mix?”

The timeline for creating a piece of work can vary. It can be as little as two weeks from idea to finished piece, and sometimes she may need to leave an idea to simmer and come back to it a year or so later.

In addition to her faith, other influences on Flora’s work include her two young children, Vee and Bradshaw, ages three and a half, and four months.

“It’s exciting to be with a child and see how they can get so excited about some little detail that they have found or noticed. And that is really inspiring, to value just a little bitty piece of joy or beauty. My son does that and I find it exciting and encouraging and inspiring,”

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Flora said.

The boys influence not just what she creates – but when she creates it, too.

“They definitely dictate how often I can work! My whole business definitely revolves around them,” she said.

Flora’s studio is a tiny little space that can be a little cramped, she said, sandwiched in between her little boys’ rooms.

Nonetheless, she said, “It’s just such a gift to be able to step into my studio and this creative world when I can find the time. It’s often sneaking in here during nap times, or in the morning or after bed.”

The boys’ needs come first, but beyond that, Flora is very disciplined in setting solid times of the day for her work.

“I also make sure I get dressed for work every day, even though I’m not going anywhere,” she said.

“Getting dressed and treating it as a job with set hours is how I’m able to make it work.”

The coronavirus crisis has made this all the more challenging over recent months, with Gray – who normally works on campus – also working from home.

The two have a strong partnership, each taking it in turns to look after the children to allow the other one time to work.

The crisis has affected more than just her work

OxfordMag.com 21

schedule. She’s taken part in the Double Decker Arts Festival every year since she moved here, selling a range of products including prints, cards and note pads.

“I do think all the products that I sell have really stemmed from wanting to be able to provide something new and exciting for customers at Double Decker every year,” Flora said.

This year’s festival was due to be held in April, but has now been pushed back to August.

“Double Decker is a really fun way to get to interact with my customers,” she said, and its absence so far this year has been a hard hit for her business.

22 June/July 2020

However, her Instagram followers have stepped up to help plug the gap, and she’s had a “significant number” of online sales.

In addition to creating her own artwork, Flora is also a licensed art therapist – the only one in North Mississippi. Until November, she was working in the drug and alcohol recovery community, and she’s previously worked with the elderly and with children, and in schools, clinics and medical settings.

In this work, Flora uses art to “help people communicate things that are maybe outside of words, or are maybe too overwhelming to share in words, or they don’t know the words.”

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This therapeutic aspect of art is something she fully understands.

“It’s a way for me to say a lot of things that I don’t really know how to say in other ways,” she said. “It’s a really great way for me to take a break for myself. I can just be. I’m analysing and thinking and working so hard all the time, but when I’m painting, I’m getting a bit of a break from myself, and I’m able to see where it goes.

“It’s kind of that feeling when you go out to dinner with friends, and maybe you’re at Saint Leo and you’ve had this wonderful meal and a great cocktail and you look up and you realise you’ve been there for three hours, and you’re like, how did that even happen? That is what happens to me when I’m painting.”

OxfordMag.com 23

5

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Best Local Writer & Best College Professor 2020

BY DONICA PHIFER | PHOTO BY CAROLINE BEFFA

Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s voice is one of the strongest among residents to put prose to page. Nezhukumatathil arrived to Oxford in 2017 as Grisham Writer-in-Residence, but has since made the town home, with her family. Nezhukumatathil began teaching literature at Ole Miss in 2018 following her residency. She was named a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow and was awarded the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award in 2019. Her works include four books of poetry and features in The New York Times Magazine, ESPN and Tin House. Her nonfiction debut, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments, will be available in September. Voted Best Local Writer, Oxford Magazine asked Nezhukumatathil five questions about her work, her inspirations and her life. short stories?

A: My graduate degree was in both poetry and creative nonfiction, so it wasn’t ever a shift per se, but that I had focused more on poetry after grad school. For me, there are subjects so expansive, like writing about the natural world, where I don’t want to be pulled in by the tyranny of the line break and I’d Q: The Grisham fellowship brought you much prefer to stretch my wings out from to Oxford; why did you elect to stay when margin to margin. I’m genuinely endlessly curious about the creatures and foliage of this that ended?

A: As someone who moved six different planet so in essay form, I feel like there is places before she left for college, the word more space to expand upon anecdotes from HOME has always been elusive – but I am so my childhood and field observations as well. I happy to find a space for my family and my love reading novels and short fiction, but I’ll family’s art in Oxford. We’ve loved the people happily leave that to others who have studied we’ve met and our colleagues on campus, and and practiced it far longer than me. the leadership and fellowship at Oxford University United Methodist Church. Oxford Q: If you planned a perfect day in Oxford, has a complicated history to say the least, but what would it be? Where would you go?

A: My husband (also a writer/teaches at I’ve never been more valued and seen and heard than in this beautiful town. And I’m University of Mississippi) and two sons and I here to fight and push for light and love so would pack a picnic to eat after walking that my half-Asian kids also feel like this is a through Whirlpool Trails with binoculars for birdwatching, head to the square to stop at place to feel safe in and to be joyful in.

The Creamery, then pop into Square Books Q: A lot of your poetry relates to nature, be it landscapes, animals, or just the Q: You published four books of poetry Jr. and Square Books for a late afternoon of experience of immersing yourself with the and recently shifted to essays, what browsing. If we didn’t feel like cooking, we’d sights, sounds and feelings that are prompted that shift in storytelling probably grab a Happy Hippie from Lost generated by being outdoors. What is it mediums? Do you think you will continue Pizza or the best fried chicken in town from about that subject matter that is so exploring other avenues, like a novel or SnackBar if it was a Tuesday!

Q: Oxford has one of the richest literary histories in the United States. What is your favorite thing about the town? Do you have a particular place that you go to find inspiration or to write?

A: I can write anywhere, but I love being able to be outside most of the year with my family. The parks and trails really are so beautiful in this “velvet ditch.” The literary community is my favorite thing here – so many people read here and to raise sons who love to read and see such vibrant life and respite in our town’s local bookstores and literary events is so special to my whole family. We’re also big college football fans and that combo of being a household of readers/writers and who just happen to love college sports and the outdoors makes Oxford a haven for us. On a personal note, it’s the only place (much to my northern pals’ surprise) I’ve ever lived where people don’t blurt out questions like “What ARE you?” Or where are you REALLY from?” when I tell them I was born in Chicago.

24 June/July 2020

interesting to you?

A: Part of the appeal and beauty and power of writing about nature – is that is often shows how if we strengthen our connections to this planet, we ultimately can feel more connected to each other who share a small bit of space on this Earth.

READ THIS BOOK

Summer Book Picks Recommendations from

Aimee Nezhukumatathil Best Local Writer & Best College Professor 2020

Aimee Nezhukumatathil, a Chicago-born poet who has made her home in Oxford, shared her top five book picks for summer.

A former Grisham Writer-in-Residence, Nezhukumatathil began teaching literature at Ole Miss in 2018 following the completion of her residency. She lives in Oxford with her husband, fellow writer Dustin Parsons, and their two sons.

Braiding Sweetgrass

By Robin Wall Kimmerer This NYTimes best-selling book has been on my nightstand the past 2 years straight. Not because I haven’t finished it, but because I find myself coming back to it for nourishment again and again. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers.

The Book of Delights

By Ross Gay Also on my nightstand, one of my dearest pals gathered a collection of what he noticed over a year that brought delight in spite of the news and daily despairs. Most delights are short--a paragraph or a few pages tops. But you will get lost in this celebration of noticing the small things that will burst your heart open in the biggest of ways.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve given this out as a gift.

Heating and Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs

By Beth Ann Fennelly I’ve probably read this through eight or nine times already--these brief essays are utterly wise and heartbreaking and sexy and funny. These are hot jewels of intimate observations all with the precision of a poet’s eye that will make you want to savor these pages again and again. I’m still finding new ways of looking at the world through this clear and bright lens each time I pick this book up.

One Long River of Song

By Brian Doyle A posthumous collection of essays meditating on a lifetime in service of his family, his community, and his faith.

With his trademark wit, these short passages will leave you laughing out loud or wiping away tears. Reading this book is like having a cup of coffee with the kindest and wisest pal who is just as comfortable talking about baseball as he is about fishing or hummingbird hearts.

Dear America: Letters of Hope, Habitat, Defiance, and Democracy

Edited by Simmons Buntin, Elizabeth Dodd, Derek Sheffield Just released right before the pandemic–this is a diverse collection of personal essays, narrative journalism, poetry, and visual art in a timely congress of the personal and the political, a clarion call to find common ground and conflict resolution, all with a particular focus on the environment, social justice, and climate change.

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Dr. Lyndsay Shipp

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Mayor Robyn Tannehill Guides Oxford Through Uncertain Times

BY JAKE THOMPSON PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT OxfordMag.com 27

When Robyn Tannehill was inaugurated as Oxford’s mayor in the summer of 2017, she never expected her final year of her first term would include a pandemic.

No one expected that.

But, through careful leadership and turning to social media with video updates in an office that could easily be confused as a studio apartment, Tannehill has found balance in leading one of Mississippi’s largest cities through uncertain times.

The mayor’s office, located on the second floor of City Hall on the Downtown Square, did not always look like it was part of a room redone by Ben and Erin Napier in a HGTV-worthy project.

Before Tannehill made it her own, it was just another office space that helped the City of Oxford keep things running.

The front portion of the office, where visitors are greeted with two double doors and a waiting area, used to be stacked high with folders on top of bulging filing cabinets that held records of paid parking tickets.

The room was dark, dingy and look liked it belonged in the bowels of City Hall, close to where

28 June/July 2020

the mayor’s office originally was on the first floor.

With new municipal buildings being constructed in town and departments relocating, an opportunity presented itself.

“We really started the conversation of who was moving where in City Hall when the court department moved out of (Tannehill’s current office space) to go to the new court facility,” Tannehill said. “I loved my office, and so I really kept thinking of who could move.”

Tannehill kept thinking, but after some other key departments merged together and seeing that other departments she interacted with on a daily, if not hourly, basis were centrally located on the second floor, it was the mayor who ultimately decided to relocate.

“I have to say I was not really excited about moving into this space,” Tannehill said. “It was dark carpet, dark walls, dark wood. It just wasn’t very me.”

Deciding the current office atmosphere was not going to stay, Tannehill put her art and interior design degree to use and began pulling up the carpet. What she found were original wood floors – the current floors in her office.

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Peeling back the layers reinvigorated Tannehill, who along with communications director and executive assistant Kara Giles, rolled up their sleeves and put a little elbow grease into her new office.

The end results were walls with fresh coats of white paint, and a new table and chairs set was the only purchases made.

The rest of her existing office furniture moved upstairs with Tannehill.

“It just freshened it up,” Tannehill said. “It was dark walls and very dark trim and heavy bookshelves that were filled with dark old law books. Just emptying it and putting a fresh coat of paint (brought it to life).”

Tannehill had been in the space for quite some time before the events of 2020 caused her to have to use it in an unexpected manner this spring.

When Lafayette County reported its first case of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, Tannehill’s office became a central hub for strategizing and providing information to the public.

Once it looked inevitable that the United States, and Mississippi, would be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tannehill and her staff began preparing plans and a playbook of sorts in February.

The first COVID-19 case in Lafayette County was reported on March 19. That morning, a video was released through the City’s social media accounts and Tannehill’s Facebook page.

The video was the first of what would become many fireside chats where Tannehill would speak to the citizens she is responsible for, providing updates and words of encouragement.

The remodeled backdrop of her office provided a sense of comfort, perhaps unexpectedly. While she was not President Franklin D. Roosevelt providing updates on the Great Depression to families gathered by their radio each evening via “Fireside Chats,” Tannehill was still giving valuable information in a war against an invisible foe.

“This space has been great,” Tannehill said. “In my other office, there was no table and chairs to meet around. So, this has come in so handy; most of our days, there’s been five or six of us in this office around the clock pretty much. So, it’s been nice to have a spot around the table and plan.”

The first videos were shot with Tannehill sitting in a chair directly across from her desk, with a painting serving as backdrop. The painting is one of Tannehill’s favorite things, featuring paintings of different items by members of her family that reminded them of her.

Once the situation became more serious, Tannehill shifted to the table and chairs that are situated to her right when sitting at her desk.

The videos were also a family effort.

With the help of one of her daughters, Molly Catherine, filming, Tannehill delivered some of the most crucial news to the City as the Board of Aldermen continued to pass emergency resolutions through March and April.

The constant fluidity and changing of the pandemic also allowed video messages to come out of City Hall in a timelier 30 June/July 2020

OxfordMag.com 31

fashion than having to type up a press release and wait for its approval.

“It has been a good way to get the message out,” Tannehill said. “I feel like in times like this where everybody is a bit fearful, everybody’s anxious.

Nobody really knows what the next step is going to be, including those of us making the decisions. Very often things change so quickly we may have thought we knew what the next step was but about the time that you figure it out the rug gets pulled out from under you. It’s been nice to have an area where we can set up and do videos and communicate quickly with our citizens.”

Even after the pandemic ends and Oxford returns to as much of a sense of normalcy as allowable, Tannehill hopes to continue the videos for other cityrelated things. The videos could be an update to city events like the Double Decker Arts Festival, other municipal ordinances that are changed or introduced or just giving an update similar to Tannehill’s mayor’s reports twice a month at Board of Aldermen meetings.

“I think it’s probably something that we’ll continue as we can,” Tannehill said. “I think it is the best way to get our message out to the masses quickly. Your tone can be misinterpreted in written things, and I think people want to hear you say it. I think it’s important.”

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&DRINK

FOOD

OXFORD’S BEST BURGER AND BBQ Handy Andy's, still busy serving the public through strange times STORY BY DAVIS COEN PHOTOS BY THAD LEE OxfordMag.com 33

T

Turned from a grocery over to a restaurant right before Richard and Sue Carwyle purchased it back in 1984, Handy Andy on North Lamar Boulevard in Oxford credits its relevance and longevity – in a seemingly saturated restaurant market – in part to their commitment to a good, fresh product.

“Since we were established, we’ve had so many great repeat customers, from your locals, to your college kids (some who’ve graduated but come see us every time they are back in town), to the young families and kids currently in town,” Sue Carwyle said. “Handy Andy has a small, hometown atmosphere, which I think makes people want to come.”

Handy Andy has also hit the spot for Ole Miss athletes, particularly the football players.

“We always love seeing the current Ole Miss athletes

34 June/July 2020

in the store. The Nkemdiche brothers came almost daily to Handy Andy for our burgers,” she said. “Eli, Archie and Peyton (Manning) have all frequented Handy Andy.”

Given the suggested topic – Carwyle recounted one particular episode.

“The funniest story is an Ole Miss football player being at the register paying one day; he had ordered his jumbo cheeseburger, which was his usual order. In walks one of his coaches. The Coach looks at the player and says, ‘I know you’re eating a regular cheeseburger, right?’ The player winks at the cashier and says, ‘yes sir.’ Obviously, the coach wanted him on a diet. I better not name any names – but the cashier kept his secret for him,” she recounted. “The current hometown celebrity, who we love to see come in when he’s in town, is D.K. Metcalf – he’s so polite and friendly to everyone, customers

and employees.”

Many lifelong patrons cherish their Handy Andy roots, and enjoy reminiscing – as do those who carry on the business. The late Buck and Dot Zinn, original Handy Andy co-owners, hold a special place in Carwyle’s heart.

“Ms. Dot Zinn was a classy lady, who always had her makeup on and her hair fixed. She was a gracious and caring person. She also traded cars every year,” Carwyle said. “Buck Zinn was always good to us at Handy Andy. He loved to joke around and was a great landlord.

“W.D. Gray was very quiet, easy going and always willing to help you in any way he could... and Mr. Richard Carwyle – he was the face of Handy Andy. He was always welcoming everyone in the store and thanking them for coming when they left. He wiped the tables daily, so he was able to get to know the customers and he knew them well. If he didn’t know your name, he at least knew your story (where you worked, who your family was). He did the ordering, helped manage employees and was at the store every day working. The high school boys loved to work for him. We have wonderful memories with him there, and he is missed every day.”

While Handy Andy excels at hamburgers, the ribs and pulled pork should be had as well. The barbecue

OxfordMag.com 35

36 June/July 2020

is great, but the burger is even better, is a phrase commonly spoken about the Oxford mainstay, but with the tried and true, cleaver-chopped style of pulled-pork preparation, you also can’t go wrong.

It’s affordable, and an unchanging dining experience, one of those places where you always wish you’d ordered more. Just a straight, to-the-point burger; a simple, savory delicacy, well-balanced-out by unflashy steak fries or tots, served in a paper bag to boot. Good, simple fixings of fresh lettuce, tomato and onion are also an option – or add bacon, or cheese that exquisitely webs the char of a single, double, or triple-patty burger.

Although take-out has always been popular with customers, the restaurant is mostly known for counter-service – equipped with numbered tickets, and order-ready bell for pit-smoked BBQ and burgers, with classic sides. Also, the no-frills dining area, with tiled floor, wooden tables and booths, is prime for oldtime, gum-slapping conversation. There is also often an element of local law enforcement, college students and families which round out the clientele.

Like so many, they’ve had to make adjustments as of late. Although according to Carwyle, the support from the community has been enormous, in light of the curbside-only service while the country endures the global pandemic.

“We are so thankful for the faithful customers who keep coming back. Our business was slower than normal for the first few weeks, but then it picked back up and we are doing as much business curbside as we were prior,” she described.

Customers not being able to experience the establishment’s nostalgic atmosphere hasn’t been the only hurdle during trying times.

“One problem we are seeing is the increase in hamburger meat pricing,” Carwyle said. “We try to keep our prices low while putting out a good product, but we’ve had to raise the price of hamburgers because our price on the meat has doubled.”

When asked for a few final words on how the community seems to be taking care of small businesses during the recent crisis, the owner responded with encouragement.

“The crisis has taken its toll on so many people in various ways. There is a lot of stress with so much uncertainty,” she said. “We pray people remain faithful that things will improve – and keep coming to see us at Handy Andy for some normalcy. A great burger or barbecue, won’t hurt their mood either, we promise.”

Handy Andy is open Monday through Saturday at 800 N. Lamar Blvd. In Oxford. To place a to-go order, call 662-234-4621.

OxfordMag.com 37

FOOD & DRINK

“copycat”

VOLTA LABNEH

BY ANNA GUIZERIX

Labneh is a Greek-style cheese dip that is made with Greek yogurt, lemon juice and patience. Volta Taverna, voted Oxford’s Best Restaurant for 2020, won awards in eight total categories. Their labneh will always reign supreme, but we think this recipe comes pretty close when you’ve got a craving! So, settle down with a frozen mojito and get to cooking.

WHAT’S IN IT • • • • • • •

1 1/2 cups Plain Greek Yogurt A pinch (1/16 of a tsp.) kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 tablespoon Cavender’s Greek seasoning Crumbled feta, to taste Optional: Fresh Dill, Green Onion (For Garnish)

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HOW TO MAKE IT • • •

•

• • •

In a medium-sized bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice and salt until thoroughly mixed.

Line a colander with a few layers of cheesecloth and set over a medium bowl.

Spoon yogurt mixture into the cheesecloth-lined colander and fold layers of cheesecloth to cover completely. Cheesecloth will soak up excess moisture.

Place bowl and colander with cheesecloth and yogurt in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. After 12 hours, the labneh will have thickened to a standard texture; after 24 hours, it will thicken further into an authentic labneh.

Once the labneh has thickened, remove it from the fridge and cheesecloth, and transfer to a serving bowl.

Drizzle olive oil over labneh and top with Cavender’s seasoning and crumbled feta, to taste. Serve with warm pita and cucumber rounds.

Optional: Garnish with fresh dill and chopped green onions (as pictured).

neilson’s timeless collection oxford’s best business stays rooted in history by jude burke-lewis | photos by thad lee OxfordMag.com 39

40 June/July 2020

Like other businesses on the Square and around town, the doors to the J.E. Neilson Company were closed for five weeks earlier this year due to the coronavirus. But that wasn’t the first time in the venerable institution’s history that it had to shut – nor was it the store’s longest closure.

Neilson’s Department Store – along with most of the rest of Oxford – was burned to the ground by departing Union troops during the Civil War in 1864.

That could have been the end of the store, had it not been for the foresight of founder William Smith Neilson, who converted the store’s takings to gold and buried them – thus protecting them from the conflagration.

Within two short years, Neilson’s was open for business again and has been ever since.

Today, the store continues to thrive, thanks to a different kind of treasure – the loyalty and good will of its customers, built on more than 175 years of tradition and family-run business.

“We’ve had enough experience and momentum to be able to weather the storm,” said William Lewis Jr, who has run Neilson’s since the 1960s. “I’ve no doubt that we’ll be here.”

The store was first opened in 1839, making it the oldest department store in the south and the 16tholdest in the entire nation. W.S. Neilson, originally

from East Tennessee, decided to migrate to new land being opened up by the US government. He had originally intended to open a store in Memphis, but instead decided to move further south to Oxford.

The store in those early pioneer days was a far cry from today’s Neilson’s: occupying a log cabin in various locations on the Square, it sold “Feed and seed; they even sold coffins, hardware, stuff like that,” according to Lewis.

W.S. Neilson’s son, Joseph Edwin Neilson, took over the business upon his father’s death in 1892, and began shaping it to become the store it is today.

In 1897, he moved it into a new building – still in use today, and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980 – on the east side of the Oxford Square. It was at this time that it became a department store, with a focus on clothing that it retains today.

William Lewis’s father, William Lewis, Sr., began working at the store around the time of World War I, starting out as a bundle wrapper when he was still in high school. By 1930, he’d been taken on as a partner.

“Gradually, he became very important to the Neilsons and truly, he ran the store during the Depression and World War II and some other difficult times,” Lewis said. “He came to work here I think in 1917; he was coming to town and doing

OxfordMag.com 41

42 June/July 2020

limited things, but coming in every day until about 10 days before he died, which was in 1989, so that’s 72 years. He often said he was very fortunate to have a place to come to.” “(When my father ran Neilson’s,) it was a very pleasant, family oriented, comfortable, easy-going operation, where all the clerks were old-time, long-time employees, that had other relatives employed at the store, and everything moved in a friendly, gentle way – which is what my family and I have tried to encourage today,” Lewis said.

Over the years, the Neilson family lost interest in the store, and in the mid-1960s, the Lewis family was offered the opportunity to take over full ownership.

“They very generously allowed my father and myself and my sister to buy out their interest. That was a very gentlemanly thing to do, rather than put it out on the market,” Lewis said.

The move meant a change in career for Lewis, who had been working as a lawyer in town.

“I always thought I might go back to practicing law, but things OxfordMag.com 43

44 June/July 2020

worked very well here,” he said.

Change is central to any business’s success, particularly one that’s been around as long as Neilson’s has.

Its continued focus is on fashion, but calling it a department store is a “misnomer” – according to Lewis – adapting to changing trends.

In his father’s time, Neilson’s was “more of a commissary store,” Lewis said.

“We carried work clothes, we carried a lot of things, on the lower end of the price point” – a reflection of the economy at a time when the area was struggling with both the tail-end of the Depression and the impact of WWII. However, he said, “We’ve moved a bit more upscale in the price point through the years. We don’t want to get too expensive, yet we’re not Walmart, so we try to find a place there, a little niche in the market.”

That means trying to keep up with the national trends, along with what the students want. One thing won’t change, however: the store’s focus on being a friendly, small town, family business.

For example, Neilson’s hasn’t yet moved to online shopping, in the same way that the store didn’t embrace catalogue shopping when that was first introduced.

“We can’t buy 244 of one item; we have to just buy 12, so if we put it all out there and it’s all gone, it doesn’t work,” Lewis said. “We try to operate on the basis that some people, despite the computer technology, want to look at what they’re going to buy.

That is where we are.”

This mix of modernity and tradition is central to the store’s enduring appeal.

“A lot of people come down to the Square just because it does have the family, non-chain store ambience,” Lewis said.

At 84, Lewis is no longer actively involved in the running of the store – with general manager and his daughter, Amanda Lewis Hyneman, taking charge of much of the day-to-day operations along with the office staff.

But, like his father before him, he still visits the store every day.

“For as long as I’m able to come down here, no matter whether I really do anything with the business or just read the paper, I’m going to do that,” he said.

He takes deserved pride in the business he’s overseen for more than half a century.

“I’m proud of being able to take over and keep it going. And I’m proud that I will be able to pass it on my family, primarily my daughter, who’s so active in the store.”

OxfordMag.com 45

VOTED

BEST BANK OXFORD 2020

WE WORK HARD TO HELP CUSTOMERS MOVE THEIR LIVES FORWARD. At Regions, our associates are focused each day on helping customers manage their money and make smart financial decisions. So it’s nice to see that our hard work is appreciated. We’d like to thank the readers of The Oxford Eagle for naming Regions the Best Bank. We hope that every time you visit us, we give you the best banking experience possible.

Coming to Oxford in August: Jackson Avenue Branch 1931 Jackson Ave.

regions.com Follow us for helpful tips and information.

© 2020 Regions Bank. Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

a BALANCING act Dr. Meredith Griffin, Oxford’s Best Doctor, speaks on juggling family life with her career as an OBGYN

By Ana Lauren Martinez Photos courtesy of Hunt Marketing

OxfordMag.com 47

Her eyes squinted trying to make out the words on the computer screen.

Best of Oxford? Best OBGYN? Best Doctor?

Surely, she wasn’t reading this right. She had only just moved here with her family two years ago.

After five attempts at reading the email and making sure it wasn’t a dream, Dr. Meredith Griffin realized she had been voted not only as Oxford’s Best OBGYN, but also Oxford’s Best Doctor, in any specialty.

A native of Tupelo, Griffin attended the University of Mississippi. After graduating in 2001 with her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, she went on to pursue a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2005.

“I really didn’t know what I want to do when I started medical school,” Griffin said. “As I started doing the rotations, I realized that obstetrics and gynecology would let me do as much clinic as I wanted, and I could do surgeries and also deliveries.

There’s a good mix.”

While completing her residency at UMMC, she met her husband, Dr. Joshua Griffin, a urology resident. The two began dating and would eventually get married before welcoming two boys in the world.

“When we lived in Columbus, we were both full time and had two small kids,” Griffin said. “It was a

EST. 1999

48 June/July 2020

“

Josh and I have always loved Oxford,” Griffin said. “We have long known Oxford would be a great place to practice and raise our boys.

”

–Dr. Meredith Griffin

OxfordMag.com 49

50 June/July 2020

lot. You have to learn quickly to protect your time. What was so great when we moved to Oxford was that (my husband) could pursue his practice and I was able go part-time. So, I could still work, drop off the kids and pick up the kids most days.”

The family would spend five years in Columbus, Miss., with both Griffin and her husband working at a private practice while also trying to raise a family. It wasn’t until Josh got offered a job at Oxford Urology Associates that the family considered moving.

“Josh and I have always loved Oxford,” Griffin said. “We have long known Oxford would be a great place to practice and raise our boys. When Josh was asked to join Oxford Urology Associates, it seemed like the right time and all the pieces just fell into place.”

Griffin would also accept a job at Oxford Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates, where she was able to go part-time and find a balance between her home life, and working at the clinic and hospital.

“In Columbus, we had calls 24/7 on any one of our patients, and they expect for you to be the one to show up,” Griffin said.

“There was never any time where I was able to step away from my phone. Josh and the kids will always be my number one priority. I have responsibilities as a doctor. I love my job, but when I step away from it, they come back to the center. So, I just have to take one hat off when I walk through the door and put the other one on. But you never really switch it off, either.”

In addition to the family moving back to Oxford, so did Griffin’s parents. According to Griffin, having her parents close by is essential to their work and family balance. “[My parents] are essential to our work/family flow,” Griffin said. “They help us with school pickups, keep the boys when I work and are super hands-on grandparents.”

Reflecting on how she got the award, Griffin said she believes that listening to patients is the key to being a good doctor of any kind. She said that this is especially true with patients who are pregnant, because each pregnancy is different and new. “[Patients] truly know you care when you give them your time and attention,” Griffin said. “More times than not, people are going to come to the office with questions and concerns.

Before I leave the room, even after we’ve gone over everything, I ask my patients if they have any questions about anything.

Just hearing what they have to say and not trying to rush out of the room is really important.”

It’s a little difficult now to form this type of doctor/patient relationship, with the coronavirus sweeping the nation. There aren’t many visitors coming into the clinic. But Griffin stills believes that doctors should talk and listen to their patients regardless of limitations.

“I try my best to get to know things about my patients,” Griffen said. “Even the ones I see once a year. I ask them how their family is doing and how their job is going, just because it makes it more of a personal relationship. Especially if you’re seeing this person once a year for their wellness exam. I think you have to be able to talk to people and you have to be able to listen.”

OxfordMag.com 51

BEST OF

OXFORD 2020

You voted. We tallied.

Keep reading to see who’s who in the LOU.

52 June/July 2020

SEE & DO

RETIREMENT HOME The Blake Runner-Up: Elmcroft

BEST DAY TRIP Memphis Runners-Up: Sardis Lake, Tupelo

BEST LOCAL EVENT Double Decker Runners-Up: Come Together Oxford, Oxford Film Festival

BEST CHILD CARE Willie Price Lab School Runner-Up: First Baptist Church

BEST GOLF COURSE The Golf Course at Ole Miss Runner-Up: Country Club of Oxford

BEST MUSIC VENUE The Lyric Runners-Up: Proud Larry’s, The Ford Center

BEST ASSISTED LIVING/

BEST WALKING TRAILS Lamar Park Runner-Up: Whirlpool Trails BEST WEDDING VENUE The Jefferson Runners-Up: Plein Air, Rowan Oak BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY Malco Runners-Up: Proud Larry’s, Ole Miss Sporting Events BEST TRIVIA Moe’s BBQ Runner-Up: Blind Pig BEST NEW WORKOUT The Shed Runner-Up: Core Fitness Oxford

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE GAME/BIG SCREEN The Library Sports Bar Runners-Up: Buffalo Wild Wings, Funky’s BEST DANCE SPOT The Library Sports Bar Runner-Up: Tango’s Bar & Grill

BEST HOTEL The Graduate Runner-Up: Chancellor’s House BEST ROOFTOP The Graduate (The Coop) BEST STROLLER RUN Lamar Park Runner-Up: Avent Park

BEST PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS Rowan Oak Runners-Up: The Square, The Grove

FOOD & DINING

BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT Toyo Runners-Up: Jinsei, Rice and Spice BEST BAKERY Bottle Tree Bakery Runners-Up: SmallCakes, The Cakery BEST PLACE TO GRAB DESSERT TIE: Oxford Creamery Small Cakes Runner-Up: City Hall Cheesecake

Thank you, Oxford!

ALISON ALGER

voted BEST REALTOR Proudly providing the best service for all things real estate in Oxford and Lafayette for 10 years!

®

OxfordMag.com 53

BEST LOCAL COFFEE Uptown Coffee Runners-Up: Highpoint Coffee, Cups BEST ICE CREAM/FROZEN YOGURT Oxford Creamery Runners-Up: YaYa’s, Marble Slab BEST LUNCH UNDER $10 Chick-Fil-A Runners-Up: Handy Andy, Larson’s CashSaver BEST SALAD SPOT Greenline Runners-Up: Volta Taverna, Newk’s BEST SWEET TEA McAllister’s Runners-Up: Chick-Fil-A, Newk’s BEST PIZZA Lost Pizza Runners-Up: St. Leo, Fergndan’s BEST MILKSHAKES Chick-Fil-A Runners-Up: Sonic, Cookout BEST RESTAURANT SnackBar Runners-Up: Volta Taverna, Bouré

THE JEFFERSON BEST WEDDING VENUE

The Jefferson is Oxford’s premier all-inclusive wedding and event venue. Located east of town on Highway 6, the Jefferson offers ample space for even the largest of weddings. Featuring three indoor spaces, the Grand Hall, Faulkner Room and Lakeside Room, as well as bride and groom suites, weather worries are never an issue. Romantic landscaping offers breathtaking views of the onsite 8-acre lake, and best of all, there is ample parking with the option for valet setup. To learn more about the Jefferson, visit thejeffersonoxford.com or call 662-550-3065.

Runners-Up: Plein Air, Rowan Oak BEST SPECIAL OCCASION Oxford Grillehouse Runners-Up: The Jefferson, St. Leo

BEST SUSHI Jinsei Runners-Up: Toyo, Kabuki

BEST BREAKFAST Big Bad Breakfast Runners-Up: First Watch, The Beacon

Virtual visits and more!

Voted Best Catering

Subscribe to 5th and University— our monthly email— to find out about virtual galleries and exhbitions as well as the latest news on re-opening to the public. Stay safe and thanks for the heart-warming support, Oxford! tracking.wordfly.com/join/ UniversityofMississippiMuseum/

54 June/July 2020

SNACKBAR BEST RESTAURANT

Home of James Beard Awardwinning Chef Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar is one of Oxford’s premier locations for fine dining.

The menu, carefully crafted by Bhatt, his team and restaurant owner John Currence, features innovative twists on classic dishes, dubbed “Bubba Brasserie” cuisine. Bhatt is known for tapping into his Indian roots to add exotic flavors to dishes, and many regulars have a favorite special they can count on every week. The fine dining experience is punctuated by an always-fresh oyster bar and a top-shelf whiskey selection. Don’t miss out on Snackbar’s wine pairings, either; the restaurant’s wine program is second-to-none.

Runners-Up: Volta, Bouré

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BEST CATFISH Taylor Grocery Runners-Up: Oby’s, Ajax Diner

BEST WINGS Wing Stop Runners-Up: Southern Coop, Buffalo Wild Wings

BEST BAR Funky’s Runners-Up: The Library Sports Bar, St. Leo

BEST COOKIE Insomnia Runners-Up: R&R Cookies, The Cakery

BEST FARM-TO-TABLE Living Foods Runners-Up: Ravine, Tarasque Cucina

BEST BRUNCH Big Bad Breakfast Runners-Up: First Watch, McEwen’s

BEST HAPPY HOUR The Coop/Graduate Runners-Up: Volta Taverna, SnackBar

BEST COCKTAIL St. Leo Runners-Up: Southern Craft Stove + Tap, SnackBar

BEST FRIED CHICKEN Oby’s Runners-Up: Abner’s, Lindsey’s Chevron

BEST DATE NIGHT SPOT St. Leo Runners-Up: Southern Craft Stove + Tap, Snack Bar

BEST BANG FOR YOUR

BEST FINE DINING Oxford Grillehouse Runners-Up: Lenora’s, City Grocery

BEST SANDWICH SPOT Newk’s Runners-Up: Firehouse Subs, The Blind Pig

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BUCK Cookout Runners-Up: Chick-Fil-A, Moe’s BBQ BEST WINE BAR SIPP on South Lamar Runners-Up: Lenora’s, St. Leo

BEST LIQUOR STORE High Cotton Runners-Up: PJ’s Wine & Spirits, Star Liquor

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT El Agave Runners-Up: La Perla Tapatía, Casa Mexicana BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT SnackBar Runner-Up: King’s Steakhouse BEST GAS STATION MEAL Oxford Marketplace – on Sisk Runners-Up: Lindsey’s Chevron, 4 Corners Chevron BEST SOUL FOOD Ajax Diner Runner-Up: Mama Jo’s BEST KID’S MEAL Chick-Fil-A Runners-Up: Oby’s, McDonald’s

TANNEHILL, CARMEAN & MCKENZIE BEST LAW FIRM

Tannehill, Carmean & McKenzie, PLLC boasts experienced lawyers who make a lasting impact on each of their clients’ lives. Their attorneys are committed to serving your best interests at heart while upholding the law and the reputation that their practice has established through the years. The firm’s attorneys specialize in criminal defense, personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, real estate transactions and title examinations.

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BEST HOTDOG Handy Andy Runners-Up: Sonic, Oxford Canteen BEST CHILDREN’S

BEST LOCAL BURGER Handy Andy Runners-Up: Phillip’s Grocery, Oxford Burger Company

BIRTHDAY Lost Pizza Runners-Up: Chick-Fil-A, Premier Lanes

BEST LUNCH Volta Taverna Runners-Up: Ajax Diner, Southern Craft Stove + Tap

BEST BARBECUE Handy Andy Runners-Up: Moe’s BBQ, B’s Barbecue

BEST LATE-NIGHT FOOD Square Pizza Runners-Up: Chicken-on-aStick (Chevron), Secret Grilled Cheese

BEST CASUAL DINING Volta Taverna Runners-Up: TIE: Southern Craft Stove + Tap/Proud Larry’s, Bouré BEST CATERING Debutante Farmer Runners-Up: Taylor Grocery, Tallahatchie Gourmet

BEST STEAK HOUSE Oxford Grillehouse Runners-Up: King’s Steakhouse, Mesquite Chop House

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT Track 61 Runners-Up: Tarasque Cucina, St. Leo

BEST WINE SELECTION High Cotton Runner-Up: PJ’s Wine & Spirits

BEST CUPCAKES Cakery Runner-Up: SmallCakes

SHOPPING & SERVICES

BEST NEW RESTAURANT Julep Steakhouse & Flights Runner-Up: First Watch BEST MEDITERRANEAN & GREEK Volta Taverna Runner-Up: Old Venice BEST GIRL’S NIGHT St. Leo Runners-Up: The Coop at The Graduate, The SIPP on South Lamar

BEST AUTO DEALER Cannon Runners-Up: Belk Ford, Oxford Toyota BEST BOOKSTORE Square Books BEST DEPARTMENT STORE Neilson’s Runner-Up: Belk BEST EYE CARE PROVIDER MS Eye Consultants Runner-Up: Rayner Eye Clinic

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, OXFORD! Congratulations to Dr. Griffin on being honored as Best Ob/Gyn and Best Doctor in this year’s Best of Oxford.

M. Glenn Hunt, MD • Julie G. Harper, MD • Gregory O. Patton, MD • E. Kaitlyn Mize, MD • Meredith Griffin, MD • Katie Sabatier, CNM, WHNP

1204 Medical Park Drive • Oxford, MS 662.236.5717 • OxfordOBGYN.com 58 June/July 2020

DAVID CASE

BEST OXONIAN TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA David Case is a University of Mississippi law professor by day, and a Twitter sensation and Waffle House aficionado by night. Case is known for his timely anecdotes of Ole Miss sporting events and his interactions with public figures, especially Mayor Robyn Tannehill.

The pair bonded over a shared love of the manysquared breakfast pastry and look forward to a day when they can enjoy a couple All-Star Specials and talk football at Oxford’s own Waffle House.

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BEST HOME DECOR Something Southern Runner-Up: HomeGoods BEST INSURANCE AGENCY Morgan White Runners-Up: State Farm– Tom Davis, Farm Bureau BEST MEDICAL CLINIC Oxford Urgent Care Runner-Up: Family Medicine Group BEST AUTO REPAIR & SERVICES Kenny Warren Runner-Up: Deal’s Auto BEST CARPET/FLOORING Stout’s Carpet Runner-Up: Kizer BEST DRY CLEANER Rainbow Cleaners Runner-Up: Lapels Dry Cleaning BEST FLORIST Oxford Floral Runner-Up: Bette’s Flowers BEST GIFT SHOP Katherine Beck Runner-Up: Lily Pad

THE GRADUATE BEST HOTEL, BEST ROOFTOP

The Graduate encapsulates all the nostalgia that makes Oxford and Ole Miss grand. Cozy up in the hotel’s 3,000 square foot lobby stacked floor to ceiling with vintage reads, comfy seating and a chic lounge bar, set atop a wash of pink wire-brushed oak stained floors. Take in some Oxford elegance at The Coop, its rooftop terrace bar, complete with live blues, light bites and signature craft cocktails or sip a “state of the art” coffee creation at Cabin 82, a nod to the Neshoba County fair.

BEST INVESTMENT FIRM Edward Jones - Gunn Runners-Up: Raymond James - Chuck Stewart, Giles McPhail Wealth Management

BEST URGENT CARE Oxford Urgent Care Runners-Up: RedMed, Ole Town Med

BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM Sweatland Cook Runners-Up: Kinney & Associates, Grantham and Poole

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DELTA DOG BEST PET GROOMER, BEST PET BOARDING Delta Dog, located on University Avenue, specializes in luxury dog boarding, dog daycare and dog grooming. They provide owners a peace of mind while giving dogs a home away from home. They also make sure every person your dog comes in contact with are positive, dog-loving, caring individuals that love making positive impacts on your dog’s life. They also offer a dog webcam, so you can check on your furry friend anytime!

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OXFORD CREAMERY BEST ICE CREAM/ FROZEN YOGURT Oxford’s favorite local ice cream shop located on the Historic Oxford Square.

From farm to cone, Oxford Creamery puts quality above everything else and partners with local farmers and businesses to source the freshest and most delicious ingredients that this region has to offer. In addition to the creamiest signature and seasonal flavors around, they offer vegan and dairy-free options as well.

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BEST BANK/CREDIT UNIOn Regions Runner-Up: FNB BEST CONSIGNMENT/ RESALE Holding Hands Runner-Up: Mustard Seed Antique Mall BEST JEWELERS Van Atkins Jewelers Runner-Up: Lammon’s Jewelers BEST CONSTRUCTION

HOME Builders MR Construction Runners-Up: Gore and Melton Construction, Grantham Construction BEST LAW FIRM Tannehill Carmean & McKenzie Runner-Up: Swayze Alford

BEST WEIGHT LOSS CENTER Oxford Sip Runner-Up: Orange Theory Fitness BEST LAWN SERVICE Grasshopper BEST YOGA STUDIO Southern Star Runners-Up: Hot Yoga Plus, Baptiste Power Yoga BEST NURSERY/GARDEN STORE The Barn Runners-Up: Home Depot, The Oil Shed

BEST MOVING COMPANY 3 Men and A Truck Runner-Up: Oxford Moving Company

BEST T-SHIRT SHOP JCG Runners-Up: Oxford T-Shirt Company, Cat Daddy’s

BEST HUNTING AND

BEST PET BOARDING Delta Dog Runners-Up: Crossroads, Pampered Pets

FISHING STORE Hunter’s Hollow Runner-Up: Dick’s Sporting Goods BEST HARDWARE STORE Sneed’s Ace Hardware Runner-Up: Home Depot BEST PAWN SHOP Dash for Cash Runner-Up: Oxford Pawn BEST REAL ESTATE

BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Blake Tartt Runner-Up: Summitt Property Management

AGENCY Kessinger Runners-Up: ReMax Legacy, Crye-Leike

BEST LANDSCAPER MasterCuts Runners-Up: Smith Lawncare, Good Earth BEST PLACE TO FIND OLE MISS GIFTS Rebel Rags Runners-Up: Olive Juice, University Sporting Goods BEST PET GROOMER Delta Dog Runners-Up: The Spaw, Crossroads

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BEST SEAFOOD MARKET Chicory Market Runner-Up: LB’s Meat Market BEST BOUTIQUE Jane Runners-Up: I just have to have it, Lulu’s BEST PEST CONTROL Pickens Pest Control Runner-Up: Action Pest Control BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY OFFICE Endurance Physical Therapy

DOUBLE DECKER

BEST LANDSCAPING SERVICE Smith Lawn

BEST LOCAL EVENT

The Double Decker Music & Arts Festival celebrates its 25th year this year. Originally scheduled for April 24-25, Double Decker will now take place on August 14-15. Double Decker started with the bed of an old pickup truck serving as the stage for music, and only hosted a handful art and food vendors. Today, the event is centered around the historic Courthouse Square, and boasts a crowd of more than 60,000 people. Double Decker will kick-off on Friday with art demonstrations around the Square and the evening with Thacker Mountain Radio hosting a live broadcast complete with music. Saturday is an all-day affair featuring over 100 art and 20+ local food vendors while a generous mix of touring musicians take to the stage.

BEST TATTOO PARLOR Oxford Tattoo Company Runner-Up: Opus Land BEST HEATING AND AIR Brunner Heating and Air Runner-Up: Walker Electric BEST LIGHTING STORE Magnolia Lighting Runner-Up: Sunbelt Lighting BEST GROCERY STORE Kroger Runner-Up: Larson’s CashSaver BEST LIMO/TAXI SERVICE Austin Taxi Runner-Up: Roy Boy Taxi 66 June/July 2020

BEST CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE Belles and Beaus Runners-Up: Jack and Claire’s, Elliot Lane PET SUPPLY Hollywood Feed Runners-Up: PetsMart, Crossroads BEST MEN’S CLOTHING Hinton and Hinton Runners-Up: Neilson’s, Landry’s

BEST SPA Dermatology Associates of Oxford Runners-Up: Larousse, Epicure BEST CAR WASH Car Wash USA Runner-Up: L&M Detail BEST TIRE STORES Gateway Tire Runners-Up: Oxford Tire BEST OPTICAL STORE Oxford Eye Clinic Runners-Up: Oxford University Eye Care, A Look Ahead

PERSONALITIES BEST ELECTRICIAN Runners-Up: Robbie Robinson, Tod Miskelly BEST PEDIATRICIAN Dr. Dennis, Oxford Pediatric Group Runner-Up: Catherine Phillips BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Payne, Animal Clinic of Oxford Runner-Up: Crossroads BEST FIREFIGHTER Tyler Mills Runner-Up: Jody Black BEST CARDIOLOGIST Dr. Mark Strong, Stern Cardiovascular Runner-Up: Dr. Justin May, Stern Cardiovascular BEST ONCOLOGIST Dr. Yates

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPIST Michael Fulton Professional Therapy Runner-Up: Kyle Wicker Endurance BEST ARCHITECT Corey Alger Runner-Up: Tom Howorth BEST HAIR STYLIST Rachel DeLashmit Runner-Up: Debbie Roland BEST PHOTOGRAPHER Eliza Kennard Runners-Up: Joey Brent, Bruce Newman BEST COLLEGE PROFESSOR Aimee Nezhukumatathil Runner-Up: Allyn Cascio BEST PSYCHIATRIST Katherine Pannell Runner-Up: Laura at Right Track Medical BEST DOCTOR (ANY SPECIALTY) Meredith Griffin - Oxford OBGYN Runner-Up: Kuree Luber Oxford Ortho BEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER Barron Pruitt Runner-Up: Joey East

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US OXFORD’S BEST M O V I N G C O M PA N Y

MAGNOLIA LIGHTING BEST LIGHTING STORE

Magnolia Lighting has been a family owned business since 1984. While the Hernando flagship location encompasses over 8,000 square feet, they also have satellite showrooms in Oxford, Tupelo and Ridgeland. Unlike many lighting showrooms, Magnolia Lighting is committed to stocking 90 percent of everything shown in its showrooms. Non-stock items are specialordered in a timely manner so that customers have items when they need them. Oxford’s showroom is located on West Jackson Avenue.

BEST LOCAL ARTIST Eden Flora Runners-Up: Nicole Lamar, Cindy Aune

BEST OXONIAN TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA David Case Runners-Up: John Cofield, Katie Parker

BEST BARTENDER Ivey McClellan Runner-Up: Joe Stinchcomb

3 MEN MOVING and Storage

Oxford’s Oldest Moving Company • 20 Years of Experience

PICK-UP+STORE FOR SUMMER TO DELIVER F O R FA L L ! $1450 RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! CLIMATED CONTROLLED AND SPACE IS LIMITED

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BEST OBGYN Meredith Griffin OXFORD OBGYN Runner-Up: Blake Smith BEST LAWYER Swayze Alford Runners-Up: Rhea Tannehill, Jay Carmean BEST LOCAL WRITER Aimee Nezhukumatathil Runner-Up: Ace Atkins BEST WAITER James Mackey at Volta BEST ESTHETICIAN Sarah Marsalis, Dermatology Associates of Oxford BEST ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON Dr. Kerre Luber BEST HOME BUILDER Tyler Gore BEST PLUMBER Tim Traylor BEST ACCOUNTANT Melissa Swetland Runner-Up: Laura Kinney 68 June/July 2020

BEST MUSICIAN/BAND TIE: Kudzu Kings & Wannu BEST ENT Dr. Ford Dye Runner-Up: Dr. Pearson Windham BEST ORAL SURGEON Dr. Allan Ligon BEST PODIATRIST Dr. Shaun Lund BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST Kay Barron Runner-Up: Jennifer McMullen BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER Becki Huelse Runners-Up: Jennifer Russell, Something Southern

MISCELLANEOUS BEST NEW BUSINESS Lacca Nail Runner-Up: RK Beauty Bar BEST BUSINESS Neilson’s Department Store

JCG APPAREL BEST T-SHIRT SHOP

Known for its custom t-shirts and tongue-in-cheek designs that will make you laugh, blush and say ‘Where’d you get that?’ simultaneously, JCG Apparel has anchored a spot of the Courthouse Square for a few years. The brand is known for such hits as the now-iconic “Velvet Ditch” shirt, as well as designs that celebrate the Ole Miss Rebels and Oxford. Stop by JCG, located next to Ajax Diner, any time to meet all your t-shirt needs.

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OUT & ABOUT

SENIORS AND FAMILY

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2

3

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PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT AND KAYLA WALLEY

Our 2020 Seniors had an unconventional end to the school year – one that led to lots of frontporch sitting.

1. 2020 Graduate Alyssa Gill 2. 2020 Graduate Hailey Stupal 3. 2020 Graduate Max Mobley 4. Blake, Megan, and Laykin Hodge on their front porch. Dr. Megan Edwards-Hodge is a neurologist at Oxford Neurology Clinic.

70 June/July 2020

SAID AND DONE

GIMME SHELTER

W COUNTRIBUTING EDITOR JIM DEES is a writer and longtime host of Thacker Mountain Radio. He is the author of The Statue and the Fury – A Year of Art, Race, Music and Cocktails.

William Faulkner once wrote a friend that since his books weren’t selling, “I think I’ll sell my typewriter and go to work--though God knows, it’s sacrilege to waste that talent for idleness which I possess.” As we all know, the man was no idler. For long stretches he worked at his desk; hours, days, weeks, months. He was known as a homebody who brewed his own beer, had whiskey delivered and reveled in solitude and peace and quiet.

Faulkner would have fit right in with shelteringin-place and being socially distant. According to most accounts, he was socially distant before it was called that.

What about the rest of us? As our community has opened up, many citizens – particularly (ahem) those of a certain age – aren’t in a hurry to mix and mingle.

At the start of 2020, who would’ve guessed – outside a few smarty scientists we ignored – that by mid-year we’d all be stuck at home, leaving the house only for provisions or a solo walk. Or that we’d all (Most? Some?) wear a mask – like a sheet rockers convention. Who could have possibly foreseen the skyrocketing value of two-ply toilet paper?

For some, myself included, longtime work-fromhomers, the new abnormal wasn’t much of a jolt. For newbies, the pitfalls are many. The biggest trap is, now that you’re plunged into a life of topsy-turvy uncertainty, for some reason now is the time to tackle long-delayed projects. Maybe cleaning the garage, learning Italian, re-grouting the bathroom, reading Shelby Foote’s Civil War trilogy or at long last, sitting down to catalog the family history. What actually gets done is “Tiger King,” cases of yogurt and Zoomba on Zoom.

It’s a trap! “Time to do it” doesn’t have to translate into, “Must do it now!” Don’t add to pandemic panic by pressuring-washing your soul. Keep it light. The idea is to survive and come out on the other side of this – if there is one – with your finances and sanity intact. A tall enough order without throwing in guilt trips about specious tasks and bad dream chores.

Slow down, baby. Shelter-in-place means hunker down, not speed up. This is a long haul not a driveby.

Time to bug-in, not out.

Like many in Lafayette County, I’m near woods

and can be walking through a beautiful, tree-shaded nature trail within minutes. It’s been a pleasure to watch spring seep into our landscape, transforming the drab browns and grays into every shade of green imaginable – and some unimaginable.

They say nature finds a way and I was reminded of that this spring as I watched a mama robin (loudly) take up lodging in my Pyramidal Arborvitae tree (yeah, I Googled it) right off my front porch. I walked by the nest several times a day, absentmindedly at first, blundering up into mama’s fierce objections.

Finally, I would remember and walk around the other side of the house to keep the peace.

In those early April days of lockdown, it was indeed a pleasure to witness life unfolding so simply and elegantly as I peered out my window, like watching a dry aquarium.

That’s when nature found a way, an evil way. One morning I put on coffee and while it brewed, I walked out to check on the nest. What I found was a savage scene of bird carnage. Something – a neighborhood cat maybe? - had completely destroyed the nest and strewn the cracked eggs and little bird carcasses across my driveway, leaving one little bird-to-be with its head gone but its little fuzzy, fine-haired bird body intact. The scene eerily quiet, the vocal mom gone.

Quite a disconcerting scene to process before the first cup of joe.

One can only imagine the daily horrors of the natural world that transpire in this most sunny and hopeful of seasons – and right outside our own front door. A month of patient nest-building is struck down in the whip of a paw.

It could happen to you. When the deal goes down and your number is finally up, do you really want people to say, “You know, his garage was spotless.”

You never know when the cosmic messenger is going to knock on your door for your one-way ticket to Palookaville. Live every day to its fullest but don’t overdo it.

Be grateful for a place to lockdown and enjoy the sunshine before the heat. Take that morning walk and look out for bird murderers. Don’t worry about the garage, it’ll keep. It’s time to stop and smell the Pyramidal Arborvitae.

Like Mr. Faulkner, it’d be a shame to waste that talent for idleness that you possess.

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MARKETPLACE

Marketplace Oxford Magazine • 662.234.4331

Allen's Flooring. Harwood Installing and sanding.

Ceramic tile, showers, back splashes, vinyl and carpet. www.allenscpd.com 662-7140098

Anthony's Lawn Care 662380-0290 FULL SERVICE LAWN & TREE CARE •Flower Beds •Weed/Edging •Blowing •Light Tree Work •Gutter Cleaning •ETC. amp.hilliard@ gmail.com COW FEED •Damaged Corn & Soybean •Cotton Gin Trash *High in Protein •5x5 Mixed Grass Hay *Fertilized,Net Wrap Semi-truck delivery available only Please call: 731676-0857 B & B Concrete. Est. 1949. 70 years experience. Delivering quality ready-mix concrete since 1949. 662-234-7088 Cambridge Station Apartments 662-234-1801 801 Forntage Rd. Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www.liveatcambridge stationapts.com Notice: Go to www. circleiauction.com and click on “Roman Road Ministries” page.

PEACHES Cherry Creek Orchard Opening Mid-May Call:662-489-7783 Also Taking Pre-Orders: •Purple Hull Peas •Tomatoes •Blackberries •Watermelons Call:662-7600672 or 662-489-7783 Communicare Overdose Prevention/Education Grant Positions •Project Director - Master’s Preferred, Bachelor’s and Mental Health Experience Required •Outreach Coordinator/ Trainer - Bachelor’s Degree or Experience in Mental Health/ Training Submit Resumes: kclinton@oxfordcommunicare. com

72 June/July 2020

Alterations and More •Window Treatment •Small Upholstery•Cushion and Pillows and More Oxford, MS & Surrounding Areas Call for More Information.

(662)816-9804

DSL RENTALS 328 Hayat Loop,3BR/2BA, includes refrigerator, washer/dryer, microwave $1,500/month plus deposit required Oxford School District, zoned residential, fenced in yard Available 08/01/20 Call: 662296-8225 DOMINO’S OXFORD NOW HIRING DRIVERS AT BOTH LOCATIONS! REQUIREMENTS: •Insurance •Clean Driving Record •Nights & Weekends availability a must Apply in person or at: jobs.dominos.com Welcome to the newest and most complete Home Center in North Mississippi.

We offer top of the line homes from manufacturers such as Platinum Homes, in many different floor plans and sizes. Come to exit of I55 and Como, MS and find out how easy it can be to make your dreams come true! www. elitehomes.ms Office: 662526-9940 Faulkner Flats Apartments 662-234-1801 2998 Old Taylor Road Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www. liveatfaulknerflats.com H&L Underbrush, Yard Work & Much More. 662-473-4974 662-714-0132 HAWKINS HANDYMAN Lawn & Tree Removal. 24/7.

Bonded & Insured. Plumbing, Electric, Excavating, Bush Hogging, Lawn Care, Leaf Removal, Dozer Work, Gravel/ Dirt Hauling, Welding Service, Trailer Repair. For your home

OxfordMag.com

& outdoor needs. Oxford, MS. 662-473-8139 Attention Hunters!!! It’s time to do your Deer Fields Again!If you don’t have time or the way to plant them, I will, Bush Hog, Disc Up and Plant them for you.If not I will get them ready for you to plant.I have over 45 years of experience, you won't be disappointed!

•Call or Text: 662-816-6874 or 662-816-3211 GIGANTIC FURNITURE AUCTION Stay Tuned For More Information Call Rudy 662-346-1965 •Auctioneer: KRISTIE KASIMAKIS MS LIC #1409 Follow Us On Auction Zip & Facebook ***ALL MAJOR CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED LAFAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTIRCT NOW HIRING BUS DRIVERS AND SUBSTITUTE DRIVERS•CDL License/Background Check Required. Offering Insurance Benefits for Full Time Drivers.To Apply Complete online application at: www. gocommodores.org Questions contact:Lafayette County School Bus 662-234-4552 Lafayette County School District 662-234-3271 Lexington Pointe Apartments 662-281-0402 2000 Lexington Pointe Dr, Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www. liveatlexingtonpointeapts.com Pyces ITS Healthcare is seeking RNS, LPNs, and CNAs to provide healthcare services. Must be licensed in MS. Please send resumes: cynthia.house@pycesitshealthcare.com 662-2982019

Sardis Community Nursing Home Now hiring •CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS (CNAs) Competitive Pay & Benefits Send Resume: cgassion@asimgt.com Apply in person: 613 East Lee Street, Sardis Southern Healthcare Agency. LPN’s Needed Day Time Hours. Home Care Setting. $18 per hour. Oxford, MS. Call 601-933-0037 Or email resumes to: jscott@ southernhealthcare.com TRAILER WORLD Goosenecks, Equipment, Stock & Enclosed Trailers.

Mid-South's Largest Selection.

SOUTHLAND CO. Batesville, MS 662-563-9428 Office space for rent: Single office includes all utilities and use of common area. Also 2500 square feet available.

662-902-7135 or w.stevecox@ gmail.com Tommy’s Refinishing & Repair LLC Professional antique restoration since 1974.

188 CR 215, Oxford. 662816-7135 Estate purchasing/ appraisal services.

4BR/3BA All Appliances $1200 deposit & $1200/month College Hill Area Available August 5th Call 662-473-2114 Cozart's Professional House Cleaning • Need a house cleaner? I'm ready when you are! 662-469-1193 References Available Pugh Lawn Management & Landscape Let Pugh Lawn Management take care of all your landscaping and lawn maintenance this season. All quotes are free! 662-202-2346 Patton's Home Remodleing •Painting•Remodeling •Sun Decks•Additions •Room Additions•Plumbing •Electrical•Shingles •Metal

Roofing •Mobile Home Repairs •Privacy & Chain Link Fences FREE ESTIMATES State Licensed & Insured 662852-9720 Providence Companion Care Hiring Companions/ Certified Nursing Assistants/ Homemakers in the Oxford area to provide one-onone companion services & daily activities in home/ hospital/facility settings.

Requirements: •High school graduate/GED •18 years of age •Driver’s license/car insurance •First Aid/CPR cert. preferred •Communication skills •Ability to perform duties independently Email Resume: bfleming@ provcompanioncare. com Apply online: www. provcompanioncare. clearcareonline.com/apply.

A & A Care at Heart Please let us provide you with great service & companionship to your loved ones! Let us give your loved ones the best care at heart in the comfort of their own homes. Call (662)8161589 LCSW or LPC: MississippiCare is accepting applications for a Full Time LCSW or LPC to work our clinics in Oxford and Pontotoc.

Duties: Direct clinical services, clinical & admin processes & compliant documentation.

Qualifications: Masters degree in Social Work or PhD in Clinical Psychology preferred; Telehealth experience and Substance abuse treatment experience preferred. Other licensure may be considered.

2 year experience preferred.

Apply at www.mississippicare. net. EOE DFW