Oxford Magazine Mar/Apr 2021

SPRING RENEWAL • SPICY CRAWFISH BOIL • ARTFUL HOME

HOME AT LAST

CURTIS WILKE TALKS ABOUT TEACHING AND RETIREMENT

MARCH/APRIL 2021 OxfordMag.com Volume Five | Issue Two $4.95

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OxfordMag.com 1

SPECIAL FEATURE THIS ISSUE: RENEWAL: BEAUTY, FASHION, FITNESS

27

BEAUTY IS SKIN DEEP Feeling beautiful and confident in your own skin.

29

TAKING CONTROL Two Oxford women’s weight loss journey.

FINDING YOUR OWN BEAUTY Interview with Amy Head, co-founder of Amy Head Cosmetics.

2 March/April 2021

PHOTO BY JOEY BRENT

31

27

35

PHOTO BY REBECCA ALEXANDER

ARTS & CULTURE

IN EVERY ISSUE

8 Home is Where the Art Is

4 Contributors

17 Tips for Transformation 35 Renew Your Senses with Spring Activities in Oxford

SCHOOLS & SPORTS decades long career.

& DRINK

19 Cajun Crawfish Boiling At The Landshark 21 Recipe: Seafood Gumbo

HOME

& STYLE

6 The Guide 16 Book Picks

12 Home At Last: Curtis Wilkie on teaching and retirement after a

FOOD

5 From the Editor

43 5 Questions 44 Out & About 46 Marketplace

OM

39 Style Picks - Fresh Fashions and Fun Finds for Spring

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contributors EDITORIAL

Anna Guizerix Jake Thompson

CONTRIBUTORS Jude Burke-Lewis Neely McMullen Joey Brent Thad Lee Jim Dees

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.

DESIGN

Jamie Dawkins Connor Martin-Lively Brittani Myers Kimberly Myers Briana Sansom

MARKETING

Neely McMullen, Contributor

Neely Mullen is a student at the University of Mississippi pursuing degrees in journalism and graphic design. She’s an Oxford native, and loves to tell stories about people and places that matter.

Delia Childers Amelia Miller

ADMINISTRATION Nikki Bufford

Joey Brent, Photograher

Joey Brent is a local photographer in Oxford, MS

Thad Lee, Writer and 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.

Jim Dees, Writer

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.

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 $27 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 March/April 2021

FroM tHE EDitor

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ON THE COVER

We are excited to bring you this edition of Oxford Magazine. The theme this month is Renewal: Beauty, Fashion, Fitness. After a long cold winter with more snow than most have ever seen in Oxford, we welcome a chance to cast off our heavy coats of winter and step into the sunshine and newness of Spring. We also have hope that our 2021 will be better than the pandemic year we just survived with more events and in-person activities again like Ole Miss baseball and the Oxford Film Festival.

In this issue, we are inspired by two Oxford women who used the 2020 pandemic to get fit and lose weight. This was a personal journey for each and they had different ways to approach the task. We celebrate their success in this issue.

We also are challenged by a new contributor and Oxford counselor Sarah Grey to think again about changes we want to make in our lives this year. She gives us ideas to think about transformation and how to make the changes we want stick. There are many goals to tackle and Spring is a great time to get started.

Beauty is not just skin deep, as we discover in the article by Hayden Wiggs about the still new business Skin in downtown Oxford. The business itself is a great addition to Oxford and the article explains tips to make our skin feel and look best for the season ahead. We also have tips for warmer weather makeup behind the mask in our interview with Amy Head.

For Food and Dining, we celebrate crawfish season which are perfectly plump and juicy this time of year in our feature about The Landshark.

New Spring fashion and beauty items abound at boutiques and stores in Oxford. Take a look at our fresh finds in our Style section. We also welcome Jim Dees column as he always entertains with his local insights on life.

Rebecca Alexander Publisher rebecca.alexander@oxfordmag.com

Curtis Wilkie

Curtis Wilkie, author, University of Mississippi professor retires in Oxford after a decades long career.

Photo by University of Mississippi Communications Design by Kimberly Myers

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MARCH 9

TEDX-University of Mississippi 7:00 PM Gertrude Ford Center

TEDx University of Mississippi is a studentrun organization that focuses on ideas worth sharing. Speakers from different backgrounds will take the stage to share their stories in 8-12 minutes. For more information about this event, tedxuniversityofmississippi.com.

WHAT TO DO IN OXFORD

OLE MISS BASEBALL Swayze Park

MAR 2 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Memphis MAR 3 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Jackson State MAR 5 - MAR 7 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Belmont Series MAR 9 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Alcorn State MAR 12 - MAR 14 Ole Miss Baseball vs. University of Louisiana Monroe

MARCH 24-28

Oxford Film Festival Malco Oxford Commons and other various locations

TheOxford Film Festival (March 24-28, April 1-30) 18th annual edition of the popular film festival will be a hybrid presentation including open-air outdoor theaters, drive-in, and a full month of virtual screenings. The premiere-rich schedule will showcase 183 films, including 33 features (15 narrative and 18 documentaries), 126

short films (narrative, documentary, LGBTQIA+, animation, and experimental, student, and Mississippi-based productions), 19 music videos with a new expanded global category, and as well as 5 scripts selected for audience vote to win $1000 and mentorship by producer John Norris (Ma, Get On Up).

APRIL 6

Municipal Election Polling locations in Oxford, MS.

On March 24-28, screenings will be held all in the Oxford Commons area in two specially designed open-air circus tents, Malco Outdoor Cinema, and a special drive-in at the Oxford High School. From April 1-30, Virtual Cinema screenings will be offered via Eventive globally.

6 March/April 2021

MAR 19 - MAR 21 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Auburn Series MAR 23 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Central Arkansas MAR 24 - MAR 28 Oxford Film Festival MAR 30 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Northern Alabama APR 9 - APR 11 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Arkansas Series APR 13 Ole Miss Baseball vs.

Southeastern Missouri APR 20 Ole Miss Baseball vs. Little Rock APR 30 - MAY 2 Ole Miss Baseball vs. South Carolina Series May 2021

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OxfordMag.com 7

&CULTURE

ARTS

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS Walter and Vivian Neill built their home in Lafayette County around art and the natural beauty outside.

BY THAD LEE PHOTOS BY THAD LEE 8 March/April 2021

S

Seven miles from the Oxford Square on a county road off Highway 334 is a property that spans fifty-eight acres. Upon it, Walter and Vivian Neill, have built their home, a chicken coop, a blacksmith shop, and a gallery.

There is an ever-changing flow between the spaces.

Still, few places feel so complete. The reason for that is the respect that Walter and Vivian have for the land, creativity, and each other.

Vivian moved to Oxford twenty-two years ago. “I was living in Grayton Beach, FL with my daughter, Zita, and the school system at that time would not have worked for us. Being from Jackson, Oxford had always been on my mind as an option, particularly because of the public school system. I decided to move here for the schools, proximity to our family in Jackson, and the friend base I had in Oxford.”

At the time Vivian and Walter were dating. “I moved here to be with her.”

They married the following year and lived in a pretty, wooden house on Highway 30. The property had a freestanding studio across the driveway. It was plentybig for a painter, but Walter is a sculptor and needed more space for a blacksmith shop.

“We are cyclists and ride all over county roads in this area, so we were familiar with areas that most interested us,” Vivian explained. “Our friends, Julie and Billy Chadwick, alerted us to a parcel of land near them that was available. It was a complicated sale, but eventually worked out.”

Walter designed a modern ranch-style home with the help of Jonathan Maddox of Howorth & Associates. He then hired a crew of three and built the house, himself.

“He has a good eye for reclaimed material,” explained Vivian. “The cherry in our house (bookshelves, kitchen booth and counter) came from a downed tree in Memphis that he hauled back to Oxford and had milled.

The wood had cured nicely when it was time to build the house. It took about one and a half years of extreme focus and was worth every minute. We love the openness all the windows and sliding doors provide.

Every view from the interior is like looking at a life-size, landscape painting. There is one huge dogwood out our back windows that I sketch every season. The property is not landscaped, so we enjoy the fields, cedars and daffodils that were planted around the old homesites on the property. I plant a large zinnia garden every

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year.”

While the windows and their views dominate the exterior walls, the interior walls and shelves are enriched by the works of other artists, many who exhibit and are represented by Oxford Treehouse Gallery, which is a two-hundred-yard walk from the house.

Walter originally built the space as a painting studio and office for Vivian, who joked that “Walter ‘Overkill’ Neill, as is typical for him, overbuilt it. We soon knew that we would share the space with other artists and open a gallery, which will celebrate its seventh anniversary in April.” In that time, they have cultivated an environment where over thirty artists, mostly from Mississippi, exhibit and sell their work. “Our curatorial process is not complicated. We look for a range of work 10 March/April 2021

that we both agree is a good fit. We offer very affordable original art as well as art for the serious collector. The work has to speak to both of us.”

That same agreement applies to the art that they bring into their home, which is fortunate, because in spite of the collection being blended, the works are compatible with each other, speaking to each other, creating a song that can rival the window views. There are birds and fish, angels and brides, landscapes and nudes. There is folk and formal, canvas and print, pottery and sculpture. “One of my favorite pieces is a black walnut female figure carving by Lewis West of Jackson” declared Walter. “My son and I cut the section of walnut he used from a pile of timber on a road construction site and took it to Lewis. He was a fantastic

sculptor. There is a painting by Michael Maxwell that Vivian and I bought years ago. He is now carried in the Gallery.

We have small ceramic animal head sculptures around the house by Sarah Teasley that always make me smile. Vivian’s sister, Carole Pigott, was a great painter, and we have several of her paintings. I could go on and on.”

Pigott also painted the large Walter Anderson prints in the two bedrooms with rich orangey-yellows and pastel violets that have a harmony with the patterns and bright colors on the bedspreads and quilts. Vivian said her oldest sister “showed me a path. Though her path was a tough one, she always encouraged me. I have been making art since I can remember.”

Walter’s artistic journey was also encouraged by a sibling. “My brother, Cooper, was into photography, so we spent a lot of time together shooting and developing photographs.” Several of those photographs hang in the bedroom hallway. Two of them are of his late father, Walter Sr, a neurosurgeon from Jackson. One is a close up of the doctor performing an operation. The other is a wide shot of the man deep sea fishing.

At the end of the hallway is Vivian’s studio, where she focuses on figurative and still life works in oil. She also enjoys making block prints and gouache sketches. “I love to see Vivian painting in her studio,” confessed Walter. “That is as inspiring as seeing the finished product.” While many of the canvases are taped to the walls. her favorite view of the house, at least in the winter, is the one she has when she walks out of the studio and into the hallway. There, past the two rows of photographs, the kitchen, on the far side of the den, stands what she calls, “the heart of the house,” a Pacific Energy wood stove from Canada.

As soothing as it is to gaze upon the wood burning behind the stove’s smoky, glass door, I must disagree with Vivian. The heart of the house is not the stove, but rather Walter and Vivian’s relationship, itself. The support each supplies to the other’s hopes and dreams is as strong as their mutual love for art and cycling. The respect they have for each other’s gifts and past adds up to a marriage that can thrive and endure. Or simply, as Walter put it, “Sharing life’s experiences really lightens the load.”

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&SPORTS

SCHOOLS

HOME AT LAST

Curtis Wilkie on teaching and retirement after a decades-long career

BY JAKE THOMPSON PHOTOS BY UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI COMMUNICATIONS 12 March/April 2021

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When Curtis Wilkie left Mississippi for the East Coast in 1969, he did it with a promise that he would never return. Last December, Wilkie put a period on the end of a nearly 20-year teaching career at the University of Mississippi.

The son of a University of Mississippi professor, Wilkie views himself as one of six generations of Wilkies that have lived in Oxford and gone to Ole Miss. He lived in Oxford twice as a child, once with his mother and a second time with his grandparents in a house on Van Buren Avenue, less than a mile from the historic Downtown Square.

Despite calling the small southern Mississippi town of Summit his birthplace, Oxford feels just as much Wilkie’s home.

“I can claim I’m sort of ‘Old Oxford,’” Wilkie said.

“My grandparents lived here and my mother grew up here and I’ve still got some cousins in Oxford or around. …I always enjoyed coming here, visiting my grandparents and going to a few Ole Miss games.

When I finally settled here, I felt I had at last come home.”

Starting his teaching career at Ole Miss in January

2002 as an adjunct professor, Wilkie found himself doing what he never envisioned himself doing after decades-long career as a reporter for The Boston Globe newspaper.

He returned to Lafayette County in 2001, where he rented a home in Taylor during football season, which led to a discussion with Stuart Bullion, then chairman of the Journalism department, about the proposition of teaching a few classes the upcoming semester.

“I didn’t have anything else to do and quite frankly a little bit bored. Kind of like I am now,” Wilkie quipped when recalling his entry into the world of teaching. “I thought I’d do it and I found out I enjoyed it. So, they hired me for the next semester.”

At the time, Wilkie was living in New Orleans at his French Quarter apartment. The chairman of the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University approached Wilkie about teaching as a visiting professor.

Wilkie took LSU up on its offer, but wanted to return to Oxford for the next football season.

“It was when Eli (Manning) was here and they were good,” Wilkie said.

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OxfordMag.com 13

years, Oxford had not become his “home,” yet.

“For another year or two I think I still had Louisiana plates and voted in New Orleans,” Wilkie said.

“Finally, I said, ‘This is kind of dumb, because I spend more time (in Oxford).’’

Somewhere around 2005 and 2006, Wilkie became an official Oxonian.

The teaching style of Wilkie’s could be viewed as unorthodox by some. He never gave his students tests, homework or covered subjects that did not interest him. A textbook would never be found in any of Wilkie’s classrooms as he views them as “duller than dishwater.”

“I would never subject my students to what I had to suffer through when I was a student,” Wilkie said.

Teaching in the world of journalism allowed certain By then, Bullion had died and Dr. Samir Husni was freedoms for Wilkie, who could rely on his wealth of interim chairman of Ole Miss’ Journalism department. experience covering war zones, political campaigns Wilkie took over the classes of a professor who had and everything in between. recently died and Husni asked him if he knew of Having such freedoms also allowed for Wilkie to anyone interested in taking over those duties and create his syllabus how he saw fit and would sometimes becoming a full time faculty member. change the courses he offered depending on the The more Wilkie thought about it, the more he events taking place during those specific semesters. became interested in the job himself. The rest, as they Courses about how to cover a Presidential election say, is history. cycles and debates. When Ole Miss hosted one of the Even though becoming a full time professor at Ole three Presidential debates between John McCain and Miss, Wilkie kept his French Quarter apartment for Barack Obama in 2008, Wilkie tailor his class

14 March/April 2021

accordingly and had guest speakers and lecturers.

“I was a very unorthodox teacher, but I thought it worked,” Wilkie said. “There were some that were basically tied to current events. Those courses just made themselves.”

Nearly 18 years later, Wilkie finally began contemplating calling it a career in the teaching realm.

During the early months of 2020, the thoughts of retirement began to seep in with Wilkie turning 80 in September of last year.

A plan was formed between colleague Dr. Charles Overby and Wilkie, who taught several courses together over the last 20 years. The pair made a pact to teach Presidential election courses in both semesters of 2020, coinciding with the actual elections taking place last Fall and then calling it quits.

With Wilkie already having thoughts of giving up teaching altogether, he agreed to Overby’s idea before, as he put it, “started drooling in class or something.”

Knowing 2020 was going to be it for him, Wilkie began notifying his colleagues of his decision to enter retirement.

Easing into the retirement life was made simpler for Wilkie due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s

effect on academia. With classrooms shifting to virtual lectures via Zoom in students dorms or living room’s, teaching lost its shine with Wilkie, which made it easier for him to say goodbye.

“For the last nine months or so it wasn’t a hell of a lot of fun teaching, because of the situation,” Wilkie said. “I had to teach the latter part of the spring semester on Zoom. It worked okay, but it was not nearly as appealing to me as being in the class with a students. In the fall, I did teach in person …but it was like I was working in a mausoleum. There was hardly anybody around the building.”

Three months into his retirement, Wilkie finds himself at peace, but also restless as he walks around his downtown Oxford home, waiting for the opportunity to catch another Ole Miss baseball game.

Now, Wilkie enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren, who are continuing the legacy of attending Ole Miss.

The summer may provide a little bit more of a structured schedule as he will be promoting his upcoming book “When Evil Lived in Laurel: The ‘White Knights’ and the Murder of Vernon Dahmer,” which comes out in June.

OxfordMag.com 15

READ THIS BOOK

Book Picks Recommendations from

Lyn Roberts

General Manager at Square Books

This issue’s book picks were hand-selected by Lyn Roberts, General Manager at Square Books for more than 20 years, and can usually be found behind the counter at Off Square Books – along with many of the titles below.

A Place Called Mississippi | by Ralph Eubanks

While many books have covered Mississippi literature, most are of the reference variety. Ralph Eubanks gives us so much more in this beautiful, splendid book that includes around 40 writers --about half of whom are alive today. Kiese Laymon said, “While Mississippi is 50th in many things, when it comes to riveting textured, literary art, we are one of one,” and correctly praises Eubanks’ new book as “literary and geographic lineage so beautifully and rigorously explored and valued...” As a visiting professor at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, Eubanks has spent a lot of time in Oxford and includes a chapter on the literary history and community of our town. -Richard Howorth

The House Uptown | by Melissa Ginsburg In New Orleans, a young girl and the artisitic and eccentric grandmother she does not know are forced together by tragedy, and soon discover they not only have to learn about each other but that the traumatic memories of the past can lead to dire consequences for both of them. As an associate professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Mississippi, Melissa Ginsburg has a poet’s ability to be concise in her language yet still create a beautifully layered portrait of her characters and their travails. -Bill Cusumano Sooley | by John Grisham

For readers a positive result of the pandemic is that John Grisham has had more time to write, so besides his annual legal thriller, Sooley will be published April 27th. Sooley is a basketball novel that only America’s favorite storyteller could write, full of all the thrills of the game—the drive to succeed, the gripping play-by-play, the victories and the defeats—as well as the powerful story of a young man who faces daunting adversity to triumph on the court while plotting to deliver his family to safety.

16 March/April 2021

Tips for Transformation

H

Spring is a time for renewal, and growth.

Story by Sarah Jay Gray

How are those new years resolutions going? If you are less than thrilled to answer that, know that you are not alone. Studies show that 80% of Americans have reverted to their old ways just 4 weeks into the new year and only 8% were able to stick to their resolutions for the full year. But all hope is not lost! Spring is here and offers another opportunity for a fresh start.

Although most of us tend to think fitness, money, or housing when you hear transformation you may be seeking more of an internal transformation like finding inner peace, healing, or balance. Regardless of the type of transformation you are pursuing these tips may provide you with a little motivation: When beginning your journey, it is helpful to identify your who, what, when, where, why, and how. Writing these out will clarify what exactly it is you want to

transform. Be as specific as possible when setting your intentions and allow space to change these as needed on your journey.

Be honest with yourself about barriers that could get you off track. Decide how to work around these obstacles when they show up (because they will pop up!). Having a plan in place ahead of time will ensure minimal progress lost. Ask yourself “when life gets in the way, what is it that I need to still feel successful?”

Choose small shifts rather than drastic changes.

When you come out of the gate full speed you may lose steam quickly. Remember that slow progress is still progress. Set yourself up for success by choosing realistic goals that are sustainable. Once you have created new habits you can build on these.

Celebrate your progress rather than adopting an “allOxfordMag.com 17

or-nothing” attitude. Set periodic check-ins to measure your improvement. Plan incentives for small victories ahead of time to help keep you motivated toward your end goal. When setting rewards think about what recharges you and brings you joy. Resist the urge to compare yourself to others. Your starting point and your journey are unique.

Create a list of your top 5 values and priorities and keep these handy by writing them down in a safe place or store them on your phone. When you encounter adversity, you can consult your list and make sure you are making decisions based on your values. Checking in with our “why” from an earlier tip may provide you with the extra push you need. There may also be days where another one of your priorities takes precedent over your daily transformation goal. This is to be expected, and sometimes we need to adjust our plans to keep our lives on track.

Set up a support system. No matter what change you are attempting to bring about, it is always easier to have someone cheering you along. Consider your personality along with your transformation goals to create a support system that will best benefit you. Your support system may include someone who is working toward achieving similar goals, asking for support from your family and friends, seeking out expert knowledge to guide your transformation, creating or joining a

18 March/April 2021

community to keep you motivated, or hiring professionals like a therapist or trainer to hold you accountable and help you reach your specific goals.

Give yourself permission to adjust. Approaching life with a mindset of flexibility over rigidity fosters the ability to adapt. Life happens! This year, more than ever, we have been reminded that many circumstances are out of our control. You may need to regroup when you hit a rough patch, and that is okay. Your resiliency alone shows progress. If you are feeling you have failed and are coming from a place of shame, you are more likely to throw in the towel. Setbacks are going to happen, and acknowledging this from the beginning will reduce their impact.

If you failed at a previous attempt of making a change in your life you may feel like you don’t deserve the transformation you seek. However, we are always learning and developing new skills. Think about these attempts not as “failures” but as opportunities to learn about yourself and build on your personal development.

As human beings we are ever changing, and if we are intentional in approaching change as the opportunity for improvement, then that alone can lead to personal transformation.

Sarah Jay Gray is a counselor in Oxford. Reach out at 662-260-6543 and thriveoxford.com or follow along on Instagram @sarahjaygray_counselor.

FOOD & DRINK

Cajun Crawfish Boiling At The Landshark

M

Spicing Up Spring Story by Rebecca Alexander Photos Contributed

March and April are peak season for crawfish according to Dylan Hults, owner of The Landshark Cajun Cooking & Catering food truck that is open on Thursday through Sunday behind The Mustard Seed Antique Mall on Jackson Avenue.

From January through early June, The Landshark boils between 1,500 to 2,500 pounds of live crawfish per week in addition to snow crab, King crab, two kinds of Gulf shrimp, sides and other seasonal dishes.

The fragrant spices from the crawfish boil waft through the open-air courtyard as a line forms at the window.

Just outside The Landshark food truck and cooking trailer is a courtyard with four to six tablse and bright green artificial grass covering that creates a cozy backyard atmosphere where people can eat.

“It is set up like a backyard crawfish boil. People feel like they can stop in and not be dressed up. It’s convenient to eat right here and leave the shells,” said Hults.

The best way to eat crawfish, Hultz explains, “You have to suck the heads. That is where most of the flavor is.”

Although the majority of his customers have experience eating crawfish, he does show people who need a lesson in how to peel and eat them. The average person will eat between two to three pounds of crawfish, along with corn, potatoes and sausage.

“Everyone loves crawfish” – Dylan Hults The Landshark attracts several different kinds of customers. Some come for a complete meal, like the Landshark platter with all the seafood and side. Some come just to take home Cajun boiled crawfish to peel and put into their own dishes. There are also a few who get a sack of live crawfish to do their own boils at home.

There is also a catering side to this spring season business. Spring baseball teams, fraternities,

sororities and apartment complex open houses call for complete set up of a Cajun crawfish boil. The Landshark sets up tables and brings coolers full of steaming crawfish and other seafood for large and small groups. It also offers delivery through BiteSquad

CRAWFISH 101 uCrawfish are small crustaceans that live in fresh

water and are similar in flavor to shrimp and lobster. uThe best crawfish for consistent quality are farmraised and trucked in several times a week.

Live crawfish must be kept at 45 degrees or below. uCrawfish are then cleaned to remove grass and mud and the live ones separated from the dead

ones. (The dead ones are mushy and give off a gas and can ruin the batch like a bad apple, so The uLandshark is careful when separating them.)

uOther terms for crawfish are crayfish, mudbugs, freshwater lobsters.

OxfordMag.com 19

and Fetcht.

The Landshark is owned by partners who were both raised in South Mississippi and knew good crawfish. It started in 2015 as a seasonal business by Jared Foster who has connections on the coast with seafood and crawfish suppliers. Dylan Hults had been involved in restaurants since he was 19 was impressed with the taste of the product, saw the success of the business and bought in as a partner in 2018. While Dylan and his crew operate the Oxford location each week, Jared is in charge of distribution. Jared is also in the process of opening up a new Hattiesburg location. The partners are dreaming about future expansion with possible operations along the coast and a full-service restaurant at some point.

When asked about the logo and the name Landshark, it preceded the official team mascot for Ole Miss. It was named after the landshark defense, long before the mascot change. It certainly is a lucky coincidence in Oxford to have a restaurant with the same name as the mascot.

“In 2020 we didn’t know how Covid would affect business, but when it was announced that curbside service would be allowed, we knew it would work perfect,” said Hultz. “Covid if anything gave us a bit of a boost.”

Before, the business was a niche seasonal business only open for 20-25 weeks a year. This past year the partners decided to open up in the fall with a menu with crab, lobster tail, shrimp and sausage.

Citing the success of the fall business, Hultz extols “We plan to do it again this fall. We will close at the end of crawfish season and take a break for a few weeks and open for fall.”

20 March/April 2021

Seafood Gumbo with Crawfish Serves 4-6

While The Landshark keeps their crawfish recipe a secret, you can buy their seasoned Cajun crawfish to add to your own gumbo. uCajun gumbo base

chopped coarsely

like Lousiana brand or

uMinced garlic,

Zatarains. (Make sure

Tablespoon

it is one without rice

uBell pepper,

added.)

chopped coarsely

uTwo pounds of whole

uAndouille sausage,

crawfish, pick out the

sliced into ¼ inch discs

meat. (Save a few

uChicken breast or

unpeeled for garnish

tenders cut into bit

on top.)

size pieces

uShrimp, peeled but

uHot sauce like

with tails on

Tabasco or Crystal to

uFresh or frozen

taste

okra, cut into bite size

uOil – tablespoon

pieces

uLong grain rice, cup

uWhole small onion

and a half

HOW TO MAKE IT uYou will need a large

uIn a separate pan

soup pot.

cook the long grain rice.

uSaute onions, bell

(Bring three cups of

pepper and sausage in

water and a pinch of salt

the oil at the bottom

to a full boil. Add a cup

of the soup pot until

and a half of long grain

slightly brown and the

rice and cover for 20

onions are translucent.

minutes.)

uAdd gumbo base and

uAdd uncooked shrimp

2-3 cups of water

and simmer for another

uAdd okra, chicken and

5-7 minutes until shrimp

cook on medium heat

turns pink

for 15-20 minutes, or

uAdd cooked crawfish

until okra and chicken

and simmer for the last

are soft.

2-4 minutes.

TO PLATE

uPut half a cup of cooked rice in the boil first, and then cover with the gumbo. Garnish with a whole crawfish.

OxfordMag.com 21

Taking Control During Covid Inspiring weight loss story of two local women who did not let Covid stop them from making dramatic changes to get fit.

Story by Jude Burke-Lewis Photos Contributed

22 March/April 2021

“It’s just changed the way I look at life. I’ve got more energy, and more confidence. I feel like I’m getting out more.”

-Courtney Gordon

F

For many of us, the pandemic has not been kind to our waistlines. What with spending more time at home, stress-related comfort eating, and limited options for exercising safely, it’s perhaps inevitable that the pounds have crept on over the past year.

But not for everyone. For some, the pandemic has been an opportunity to hit the refresh button on their health and to lose weight – bringing about the kind of transformation they’d previously only dreamed of.

This includes two Oxford women, Courtney Gordon and Elisabeth Alexander, who have lost an incredible 140 pounds between them in the last 12 months.

When COVID hit last March, Gordon – who owns The Lily Pad on the Square – hunkered down at home.

The combination of “doing nothing” and being “very stressed out because my business was closed for a month” meant she soon started gaining weight – a familiar pattern for the 43-year-old mom of three, whose weight had fluctuated for most of her adult life.

But by May she’d decided it was time to break the cycle. With more time on her hands during quarantine, she and her family had “started walking with our neighbors around the neighborhood and that made me realise I needed to get out and get moving” – and also that she could do it.

At the same time, a friend convinced her that she needed to invest in herself, telling her “You’re your best investment. That really hit home,” Gordon said.

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She signed up for a weight-loss program called Optavia, which combines meal replacements with one home-cooked dinner of a protein and three servings of vegetables a day. Since then she’s lost 50 pounds and is now supporting other people to lose weight as a health coach for Optavia.

Gordon credited the program – which she described as a “lifestyle change” rather than a diet – with teaching her to make “better decisions” about what she ate.

Previously, she said, “I probably ate with emotion, and ate more than I should have. If my kids were having fast food, I would grab fast food. I just wasn’t making good decisions.”

Gordon’s weight loss has inspired the rest of her family to get healthier. Her husband of 18 years has also lost “a very good bit too, just through making better choices”, while her kids have “learned a little bit about health and exercise” and often join her on her walks around the neighborhood.

For Alexander, who works for the school of business at Ole Miss, the trigger for her weight-loss journey was a visit to the doctor in January 2020.

24 March/April 2021

The 45-year-old had struggled with her weight since leaving high school, and had “tried everything” in her quest to slim down. But even when she was able to lose a few pounds on a “really restrictive” diet – for example, spending one summer eating “nothing but yogurt and bananas” – the weight would come back again once she started eating normally.

It was when she was at her heaviest last year that her doctor diagnosed her with insulin resistance, a condition that can be a precursor to prediabetes. The diagnosis was, quite literally, life-changing.

“I started taking medicine to help control that, and once I did that and started controlling what I eat and exercising then the weight just started coming off,” Alexander said.

To date, she’s lost almost 90 pounds, and has dropped five sizes in tops and seven in pants.

“In fact, the other day I was able to put both of my legs up to my waist in an old pair of jeans,” Alexander said.

Her teenage son, Tanner, has told her how proud he is of her, “which is nice especially coming from a 14-year-old boy, who are very close-lipped.”

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She doesn’t follow a particular diet or program, but instead gives her body “what it asks for”. That might be a short period of intermittent fasting, a protein shake, a salad, or a protein with vegetables – or, on occasion, fajitas.

“I learned a long time ago that if I deprived myself things are not going to last, so I’m just not doing that,” she said.

Like Gordon, Alexander has started walking a lot more – helped by her 10-month-old puppy, Lake, whom she takes out for regular walks. She’s also taken up running – “just short distances but getting longer and longer” – and went for a 22-mile bike ride over Thanksgiving.

While the pandemic may not have prompted her weight loss, Alexander is confident she wouldn’t have been so successful without it. Like many people she’s been working from since last March, an arrangement which has “actually been helpful” as it’s allowed her to cook healthy food and get regular exercise.

“I don’t know that it would have gone the way that it has gone if I had been in an office on campus and having to figure out how to walk and make food and all that during the day,” she said.

Losing so much weight and getting healthy has had a huge impact on both women’s lives.

“I can go out and do stuff without getting winded,”

26 March/April 2021

Alexander said. “I don’t have back pain anymore. I don’t have hip pain anymore. I’m sleeping better.”

“It’s just changed the way I look at life,” Gordon said. “I’ve got more energy, and more confidence. I feel like I’m getting out more.

“Before, I didn’t like to get dressed up and go to social events, just because when you feel like you’re overweight you can’t find anything to wear. That just puts a little bit of depression on you,” she said.

Both women have their own ways to keep themselves motivated and to ensure they stick to their weight-loss plan. For Alexander, it’s daily check-ins with the bathroom scales – and “just finding a really cute piece of clothing and being like, I’m going to get into that” – while Gordon uses her role as a health coach as a way of keeping herself accountable and ensuring she doesn’t “fall back into the rut that I was in”.

The role is also an opportunity for Gordon to give back to others the support and encouragement she received throughout her transformation.

“I want other people to have the success that I’ve had,” she said.

“I believe that I could see where I was before I started this, I could see that I was overweight and unhealthy, but I never believed that I could achieve these goals – and I did.”

Beauty is Skin Deep

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Feeling beautiful and confident in your own skin Story by Hayden Wiggs | Photos by Joey Brent

Bright neon lights, sparkling geodes and smiling faces characterize SKIN medical spa, the premier location for facials, Botox injections and medicalgrade skincare products.

The spa, located at 319 North Lamar Blvd., was started by Dr. Scott Runnels of Jackson who, after becoming enamored with the town of Oxford, decided to open the location on the Square. “[Dr. Runnels] has always had this dream of opening up a location here,” said Lisa Dyer, the manager of SKIN. “We just felt as though Oxford was in need of it, and everything just kind of fell into place like it was meant to be.”

Dyer, a licensed esthetician and Natchez native, has been working with Runnels for 21 years. It is because of this professional relationship and her passion for skincare that Dyer moved here to Oxford.

“Although selfishly, I’m also glad that I get to be closer to my son and his wife,” Dyer said. “But I do love skincare, and I have been doing it for 20 years.

I am so passionate about taking care of people’s skin and understanding it and understanding what they want out of the products in our spa!”

The spa is filled with other licensed estheticians, each of whom knows a great deal about facials, dermaplaning and other beauty treatments.

Popular services include BBL laser treatments, laser hair removal, lash enhancements, chemical peels and Hydrafacials, the latter of which is a crowd favorite.

“The Hydrafacial is a newer type of facial, and it’s just so glamorous,” said SKIN assistant manager Ann Leighton Malouf. “When you leave, you’re going to look perfect and feel perky, plump, and pretty. You’ll be ready to take on the world!”

But her personal favorite is the dermaplaning treatment. Dermaplaning is where an esthetician uses an exfoliating blade to remove dead skin cells and hair on the face. It is also recommended for

removing acne scars. The SKIN estheticians, especially Malouf, even recommend dermaplaning to follow every facial; for her, the treatment helped to resolve what she called “terrible” skin.

“I’ve been getting facials since I was in elementary school,” said Malouf. “But in late elementary school and early junior high, I had horrible, horrible acne. I learned about dermaplaning, and the rest is history. It’s something that now, I almost crave. It just makes everything feel better.”

Malouf started with SKIN after meeting Dyer and chatting with her about the business. Ever since joining the team, Malouf says she has “loved every minute,” and is so grateful for her role.

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Lauren Miller explains some products to a customer.

28 March/April 2021

“God gave me the opportunity to have the job that I do,” said Malouf. “I’m just so lucky!”

Dyer, who works with Malouf daily, praises her social media skills and outreach programs that have helped SKIN reach an unprecedented number of followers on Instagram and Facebook.

“She is the media guru,” said Dyer.

Both Dyer and Malouf knew that social media would be critical to the spa’s growth, particularly during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“In a time where people are only looking at their phones, they aren’t actually going around looking for places to go,” said Dyer. “And Leighton is doing an over-the-top, amazing job in getting people in our doors.”

SKIN has launched a series of giveaways and collaborations with other local businesses to increase traction, including Oxford T-Shirt Company, Oxford Floral, Lenora’s, and more. A recent giveaway even included a one-night stay at the popular Graduate Hotel and a gift certificate for a custom facial at SKIN. “That giveaway was huge,” Malouf explained.

“We had over 7,000 people just comment, and we had over 1,000 people that shared it. If you think about how many people that reaches, it’s just crazy, especially for being a newer, smaller business.”

Dyer agreed. “I think that if this had to happen at a time when social media wasn’t booming, we would not have had the same outcome with SKIN. But luckily, we have been able to get ahold of people through sponsored ads.”

Collaborating with other Oxford businesses is something the SKIN team is very passionate about, especially considering the recent Shop Local movement.

“We are really grateful to get to work with other local Oxford businesses,” said Dyer. “They have been a huge, huge help to us.”

Looking forward, both Dyer and Malouf want to launch more collaborations with other businesses, and extend their outreach to the University of Mississippi student body and an older demographic.

SKIN has already made connections with a few Ole Miss sororities including Alpha Phi and Chi Omega, with hopes to reach out to more.

“Word of mouth is incredibly important to us,” said Malouf. “We love when people come in and say ‘oh, my friend told me about this place,’ and now they’re a regular customer! I just love that.”

For both women, it is all about sharing their love of skincare and SKIN itself with others.

“I am so grateful for my relationship with these girls [that work here] and their relationship with the people that come in here,” said Dyer. “I couldn’t OxfordMag.com 29

ask for a better group of women who care about how somebody else feels about themselves and about each other. I want everyone who walks through our door to feel welcome and to feel beautiful.”

Malouf agreed, citing her personal skin story as her driving force.

“With the whole mask situation, people are getting crazy breakouts.

I’ve been there, and I want to help these people and want to give them something that will make them feel beautiful and confident in their own skin.”

This message is conveyed through the spa’s décor; geodes are implemented into many of SKIN’s design elements, including their logo.

Malouf commented that this was an intentional choice, chosen by both Dr. Runnels and the spa’s

30 March/April 2021

designer.

“Geodes are not too pretty on the outside,” said Malouf. “But, when you open it up, it’s absolutely gorgeous and has multiple different colors and shapes. Our goal is for everyone who walks in here thinking that they are not so glamorous on the outside, we want to expose them to how beautiful they really are; once you get into the inside, you’re gorgeous too.”

SKIN is located at 319 N Lamar Boulevard on the Oxford Square, and is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday thru Friday and from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays. The spa maintains a sanitized location to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and is open and ready to accept new and returning customers every day.

Finding Your Own Beauty

Amy Head, co-founder of Amy Head Cosmetics, approach to cosmetics is more than looking good, it is feeling good too.

Story by Neely Mullen | Photos by Contributed OxfordMag.com 31

Amy and Harold Head

32 March/April 2021

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This year, we are entering an unprecedented kind of spring, one that will be characterized both by the pain of what, and who, we have lost, and by the hope that there are better times on the horizon. To Amy Head, co-founder of Amy Head Cosmetics, this unique means that we are all ripe for a little self-care and healing.

“I can’t say enough how people are just deeply energized by that. They are so craving the spark of being out,” she said. “I feel like too there’s gonna be a lot of appreciation for the little things because everyone’s been so robbed of simple interactions.”

Head said that founding her own cosmetics line was far from her original plan in life. She has a background in styling and modeling, and fell into makeup as a career after realizing that she could couple her artistic skills with her passion for helping others.

“I grew up painting,” she said. “I wasn’t necessarily a lover of makeup, but I was a lover of fashion. And I’m a colorist; I knew color. I thought everyone did [...] You’ve heard of people, musicians that have perfect pitch? They just can’t help it. They hear a pitch and it’s just gonna be exactly right. Well, I can see color in my head like that. And so, it has just been a way to use that gift.”

Head’s business, co-founded with her husband Harold in 1987, has three brick-and-mortar locations, with two retail concepts in Oxford and Ridgeland, Miss. and a studio space in Nashville, which is run by the couple’s daughter, MacKenzie. To the Heads, their business exists primarily as a place where real women and girls can find their own beauty.

“We specialize in teaching,” Head said. “It’s not only like, ‘You look good in this color,’ but ‘Where should it go? And what else should it be with? And what should it mean to you?’ [...] So our makeup sessions are known for not only coming up with what looks really great on you after listening to you, but how to do it so that you can do it. I mean, I could do your face and feel like I could please you like crazy, but can you do it? And if we don’t accomplish that, then we haven’t really done anything yet.”

Head says that her approach to makeup isn’t focused on covering or concealing – instead, it’s founded on the belief that we all can find that special kind of energy by realizing our own beauty.

“Say you put on a pair of jeans and you love the fit,” she said. “You love how you look, and it gives you this lift. It’s an energizer. … When you look into your eyes, and it looks like the light is shining into your eyes, like

MacKenzie Head Second Generation of Amy Head Cosmetics in Nashville.

Claire Wright Manager of Amy Head Cosmetics in Oxford.

you’ve got this pearlized top sheet, and your eyes just kind of have this vibrancy. You just, you feel different.

This is the synergy between the two. And that’s been my study this whole time.”

For Head, the synergy between the inside and the outside is where true beauty lies – and it’s something that has sorely been missing in a year marked by loss OxfordMag.com 33

and isolation. As we turn the corner into spring, she says that recapturing that appreciation for your own beauty can be transformative.

“Sometimes, it can be downright healing for people who have not felt good about themselves,” she said.

This season, Head says that we are uniquely poised to explore beauty in new ways.

“Spring is probably going to be the most different spring ever, because people have been covering their faces for coming up on a year now,” she said. “So makeup has been in a weird spot, right? Where 75 percent of your face is covered a lot with a mask, and that means makeup wipes off from a real-life standpoint.”

Although wearing a mask poses a few barriers for makeup, Head has a few tips on how to look your best no matter the circumstances.

“Well, one thing is anyone out there who might call themselves lazy about cleansing their face at night, don’t be anymore,” she said. “It’s terrible with the masks, and people are getting breakouts, so step up the skincare routine. I think do some foundation, but do more minimal. And make sure that you apply some foundation all over the eye socket area before painting shadow on, and it will freshen the whole eye area. I don’t want to sound salesy with a specific product... but I do have a killer setting powder that is

34 March/April 2021

called Smoothing Veil that I like to use with my fan brush. You want to set the foundation. Also, definitely make sure your brows look good when wearing a mask.”

And, even though masks have changed much of the way that we approach beauty, Head says that many of the usual spring trends can be expected this year.

“I will say that as far as just pure fashion, not talking about the real person but just like what fashion says, not much has changed,” she said. “I mean, you’ll see pops of color on the lip. The nude lip is still quite in. But also really striking pops of color will be in.”

Head does predict that there will be one particular focus this season, though: the eyes.

“People are more focused on their eye makeup than ever before,” she said.

However, Head says that the most important thing in spring makeup won’t be sticking to trends – instead, it’s most important to embrace beauty in a way that feels most authentic to you.

“The main thing about beauty, which comes to my philosophy about it, and particularly makeup, you just want it to be something that looks like it belongs on you,” she said. “What that means is that the colors don’t look artificial or forced. So you don’t have to worry too much about makeup trends this spring.

That’s the truth of it – anything is gonna be good.”

Renew Your Senses with Spring Activities in Oxford After record winter weather, enjoy the sunshine, sights and smells of Spring Story by Rebecca Alexander Photos by Rebecca Alexander, Glennie Pou and Contributed OxfordMag.com 35

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As we thaw out from record cold temperatures, snow and ice, we look forward the Spring season in particular to awaken our senses. With its increased sunshine and warmer temperatures, spring is a beloved time of year in Oxford. It is the perfect time to be outside to enjoy the outdoors before the arrival of our muggy, hot days of Southern summer.

Here are things you can do to break out of the house and take a deep breath Spring: Wake me up, buttercup. Check out the daffodils that bloom on the Ole Miss campus in March on the hill overlooking Jackson Avenue. With hundreds of blossoms in different varieties, you can enjoy these blossoms for weeks. It is a nice spot to take a selfie or family photo. You can also enjoy the colorful tulips in the planters around the Square and courthouse that are meticulously groomed each year.

Check out the tulip trees. Flowering tulip trees make a spectacular showing in the Spring and can be

36 March/April 2021

found in the older neighborhoods around Oxford.

Their enormous white blossoms are one of the first signals that winter has ended. Tulip trees bloom over the course of several weeks, and temperatures will dictate how early or late these trees will showcase their spectacular flowers. Visit Lamar Park and other areas known for dramatic cherry blossom and flowering tree displays. A drive down Lamar Boulevard north of the Square is a showcase for flowering azaleas and other Spring displays in front of stately homes.

Watch a sunrise or sunset. Wake up extra early and start the day with the sunrise. If you’re not a morning person, then wait until the last of the amber and red streaks light the sky and watch the sun drop below the horizon. There are always cars at the overlook at the Ole Miss Airport enjoying the sunset on nice days.

Sunset on Sardis Lake is also a beautiful site to enjoy.

Fly a kite. There is a reason why the adage “March

Top left: Lake Pusgus in Lafayette County, Bottom left, Trails and South Rail Trails. Right hand photo, azaleas in full bloom on the campus University of Mississippi

goes in like a lion and comes out like a lamb” is so fitting. Early spring weather can be gusty and unpredictable here in North Mississippi. Take advantage of windy conditions by flying a kite at a city park or in an open field.

Head to a farm. Spring is not only about the rebirth of trees and flowers, but also a prime time for various animals to give birth to their young.

Check out surrounding towns. Take a short road trip to Taylor, Water Valley or Batesville. Spend the afternoon shopping, dining and supporting a smalltown community.

Enjoy al fresco dining. While outdoor dining during the pandemic may have been done as a necessity, do not forget how it also can be a relaxing way to enjoy a meal. This can be at the restaurants with expanded outdoor seating at the Square, or the many restaurants around Oxford that have covered patios and second floor patio bars. Among the many spots are the top

deck at City Grocery, The Blind Pig outdoor dining, Boure’s top deck, McEwen’s, Proud Larry’s, Volta, Oxford Canteen, Fergndan’s, San Jose Mexican, Hawaiian Poke Grill, Dairy Queen, Newk’s, McAllister’s, and soon the new Lamar Yard. You can also pack your own picnic and head to Avent Park to enjoy the fresh air and dine outside.

Cheers on the rooftop. In Spring, the rooftops of Oxford can’t be beat for atmosphere and the taste of a cold beverage or crafted cocktail. The Coop at The Graduate, Chancellors House and Roosters are all good for enjoying a cocktail and the sunset.

Recycle and Repurpose Items. Visit a thrift shop, flea market or yard sale. Spring cleaning can serve as the catalyst for people to put items on sale. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Spring can be a great time to shop for antiques as well.

Go fishing. With most of Sardis Lake inside Lafayette County, we have plenty of shoreline to sink OxfordMag.com 37

a line. The crappie, bream and bass will be biting.

Children can fish at the lake at Lamar Park, and adults who are accompanied by a child.

Ride a Bike. Oxford has miles of bike lanes on city

38 March/April 2021

streets and places for trail riding like the South Rail Trail. Grab your bike helmet, water bottle and feel the freedom of being on two wheels.

Get lost on country backroads. Just minutes out of town you can find county roads that have the tree canopy over the road. When the trees have just sprouted the tiniest green leaves the size of a squirrel’s ear it is time to open the sunroof or put the top down and drive down the winding country lanes. The road from Highway 30 to Puskus Lake is picturesque with small hills and tight turns that seem to go to nowhere until you see the glorious small lake. Puskus Lake Recreation Area and Trail is a secret spot in Lafayette County for many with few visitors. There are days when you may feel like you have it all to yourself and feel like you are a world away.

Cheer for the Rebels at Swayze Field. With one of the most gorgeous parks in all of college baseball, enjoy going to a game and cheering the Rebels. Last year, the Rebels were one of the top teams in the country before Covid shut the season down. This year many of these top athletes return to continue their winning ways. Although seating will be limited, there are still a lot of games this season.

Whatever you do this season, enjoy getting outdoors this Spring. The cool mornings, warm but not hot days will not last long.

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42 March/April 2021

5

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Laura Beth Walker Head Librarian

Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library

Laura Beth Walker helps people access books and library services in the literary town of Oxford.

more people should take advantage of?

Curbside pickup of materials is the best thing we have offered during the How have the library services changed pandemic. While we are allowing thirty this past year and what challenges minutes visits to the building for our have you overcome during Covid.? public computers and to pick up The pandemic has definitely changed materials, I really believe more people us but the library staff are creative about should try curbside. There is no contact finding ways to safely serve the and we will pull items from our shelves community. We miss what used to be, but for you. As many as you like. If I didn’t we are proud of what we are doing. And work at the library, I would be a constant the appreciation we receive from our curbside user. patrons makes all of the hard work worth it. This community understands why If you could have your perfect day in things have to be different to keep them Oxford, where would you go and what What attracted you to live and work in safe. All of the staff are thankful for that. would you do?

I love a spring day in Oxford. I would this community?

What service do people not know that take a walk, visit with friends, and then I love the LOU community. My family lives here. Oxford and Lafayette County is the library provides that you think sit on my back porch with a book.

How long have you been in Oxford and the librarian in charge of the Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library, a branch of First Regional Library?

I have lived in Oxford my entire life. I graduated from Oxford High school in 1991.

After graduating with an English degree from the University of Mississippi, I waited tables, worked retail, and tried to figure out what to do with my life. Dotsy Fitts, my childhood librarian and branch manager, hired me as a substitute first and then a Library Assistant in 1997. She retired in 2012 and I was hired as the manager.

my home. And I consider myself lucky to serve my hometown that I adore so very much.

OxfordMag.com 43

OUT & ABOUT

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OXFORD FIBER ARTS FESTIVAL

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PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT

The 11th Annual Oxford Fiber Arts Festival was held Jan. 15-23. It was held at various location this year due to COVID-19. This is a celebration of traditional and cutting edge contemporary fiber arts.

1.

Allison Movitz puts the finishing touches on her entry

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Ed and Allison Movitz

3.

Adam Davis and Andi Bedsworth

4.

Adam and Andi rolling Earl Dismuke’s aftwork to the Square

5.

Clementine Bedsworth, Jason Plunk, Kesha Howell-Atkinson, Robert Saarnio, and Rebecca Cornelius

5

Virtual visits and more!

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/

44 March/April 2021

OUT & ABOUT

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3

THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

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A record-breaking snowstorm in the LOU Community means lots of chances for winter fun. Residents from across Lafayette County took advantage of the weather, bundled up and took turns adventuring in their own real-life snow globe this week. Check out the gallery to see some familiar faces!

1. Lee, Heather, Landon, Ayden and Wade McCullough in Taylor, MS enjoying the snow!

2. Cumberland neighborhood kids after hours of sledding. Davis & Jacob Trout, Micah Parker, and Barron Rosson.

3. Madi spending time with our birthday puppy, Dixie! She’s five today.

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4. Clark and Maggie Hazlewood gearing up for a fast sled ride off of Highway 334.

5. Mary Naden, Carter Reece and Swayze in Shelbi’s Place!

6. Council and Mary Mac Young enjoy the snow in Windsor Falls.

7. The Martin family didn’t have any sleds so they improvised with laundry baskets.

8. Jaylee Doris, 2 years old, telling mommy to go faster in Abbeville.

9. Magnolia Bailey Guizerix, age 6 months, plays in the snow with her mother, Anna Guizerix, on Feb. 17, 2021 in Oxford, Miss.

OxfordMag.com 45

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Applications will be accepted until position is filled. Applications can be dropped off at: City Hall 114 West Lee Sardis,MS 38666 8:00am-5:00pm 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

1 Single Office (11’x12’) $500 monthly in professional office building. High visibility, excellent parking. Close to campus, Square and hospital. 662-236-8026.

Faulkner Flats Apartments 662-234-1801 2998 Old Taylor Road Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www. liveatfaulknerflats.com

Cambridge Station Apartments 662-2341801 801 Forntage Rd. Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www. liveatcambridge stationapts.com

Looking for a Rewarding Career? Become a Home Instead CAREGiver!

You’ll support seniors in their homes by providing companionship, home helper and relationship based care.No medical degree necessary! Join for a job that nurtures the soul Home Instead Senior Care Call: 662-671-5292

PEACHES Cherry Creek Orchard Opening MidMay Call:662-489-7783 Also Taking Pre-Orders: •Purple Hull Peas •Tomatoes •Blackberries •Watermelons Call:662-760-0672 or 662-489-7783 The Town of Sardis is accepting applications for a •Full-Time Public Works Director with managerial/supervisory experience.Preferably a Certified Water Operator (Class-D)and Certified Waste Water Operator (Class-1) Applications can be obtained from our website or City Hall.

Lexington Pointe Apartments 662-2810402 2000 Lexington Pointe Dr, Oxford, MS 38655 NOW LEASING FOR 2020 www.liveatlexington pointeapts.com •Office Suite or Retail 103 Inmon House Off Square 1,359 sq.feet Gated Private Parking •Professional Office Suites or Retail Anchorage Building 426 South Lamar (662)816-5315

Getting that Spring and Summer Glow – While Protecting Your Skin

T

Apply self-tanner like a pro Staff Report

The Skin Cancer Foundation warns that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation is a major risk factor for skin cancer. Damage from UV rays is cumulative, meaning skin cancer risk increases each time the skin is exposed to the damaging rays of the sun.

Self-tanning lotions and creams as well as cosmetic bronzing powders are the safest ways to achieve a sunkissed glow.

Many products are available, and the key to getting even coverage and natural-looking results comes down to a few steps. uTackle other beauty regimens prior to selftanning. Various treatments like shaving legs, getting a manicure or even touching up hair color can require the use of products that can remove self-tanner. uRecognize that self-tanner will come out darker in areas where the skin is thickest. Exfoliate the skin with a warm washcloth prior to applying self-tanners.

The American Academy of Dermatology suggests using an exfoliating product that contains glycolic or salicylic acid as well, and spending more time exfoliating on the elbows, knees, heels, and ankles, where skin is the thickest. Moisturize these areas as well. uWait until you are completely dry after showering and avoid using any products that are oil-based. Oilbased products can leave residue behind that causes streaks, advises Allure magazine.

uWork in sections (such as the legs, torso, then arms and hands).

Massage the product into the skin in a circular motion. This technique separates a professionallooking glow from a bad faux tan because it prevents weird creasing or marks from bending over with product on.

Wash your hands after each section with soap and water to avoid orange palms. uUse product sparingly in certain areas.

Don’t go heavy with product on wrists and ankles, lightly extending the tanner from wrists to hands and from ankles to feet, suggests the AAD. uDab off any excess product. Moe Kittaneh, an entrepreneur, e-commerce strategist and founder of SVELTA Tan, a skincare line featuring self-tanners, says to brush a slightly damp paper towel over knees, wrists, elbows, feet, and ankles to pick up excess color and eliminate unevenness. uUse product sparingly on the face. Dab a dimesized amount of product on areas that would tan naturally, such as the cheeks, the bridge of the nose and chin, then blend outward. uAllow product to dry and set according to the directions. Avoid making contact with water or getting dressed too soon. Avoid water for four to eight hours after applying product.

Self-tanners are a safe way to get a golden glow reminiscent of days spent at the beach.

OxfordMag.com 47

SAID AND DONE

A SHOT IN THE ARM

I 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.

48 March/April 2021

never dreamed I’d allow a National Guardsman to stick a long needle in my arm. I appreciate his service but his day job isn’t physician. He’s an accountant, lawyer or a bricklayer doing his duty. Again, I appreciate his/her service.

Likewise, I never dreamed a shot would involve making an appointment for a drive through; like a car wash with life or death as the option instead of wax.

We are, as they say, cursed to live in interesting times.

In my Cub Scout youth, we stood in the scout hut and waited our turn to eat a small sugar cube laced with a red polio vaccine. This was the same room where we learned (or didn’t) to tie a square knot, two half hitches and a taut-line hitch to earn the Webelos badge.

Fast-forward over half a century and the world is gripped by an altogether different epidemic-turnedpandemic. No sugar cubes this time around, but rather, hefty needles wielded, literally, with military precision, not in a friendly scout hut but out in the windy parking lot of the National Guard headquarters.

Here in Oxford that means Ed Perry Boulevard.

As I sat in my car awaiting my shot, my mind wandered to Ed Perry, Jr. the namesake of the boulevard, and friend to so many, who passed away in January, 2019. Ed was a friend and a dutiful public servant, serving for years as Oxford’s City Attorney, and representative in the state legislature.

In the latter position, he rose to become the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. His ascension led author (and thenOxford resident) Willie Morris to refer to Ed as, “Third Most,” as in, “the third-most powerful man in the state.” The two became best buds.

To know Ed was to see the man, not the power.

He was famously, “stature-challenged;” standing 5 feet-ish. But his intellect and advocacy loomed large. (As it happens, an aunt of mine taught Ed in grade school and recalls he would hand in his homework, in class, on the spot, just moments after she assigned it.)

Part of Ed’s power as a lawyer and legislator was his gift for oratory. In public and private, he could regale his audience. He was known for his hilarious (and over-the-top) delivery of the famous Soggy Sweat “Whiskey speech,” a classic of political

doublespeak that simultaneously decries, and celebrates, whiskey. There’s an amateur video on YouTube of Ed reciting the speech, but it doesn’t do him justice.

It gives one pause to think about all the streets that are named for actual people – let alone boulevards! - and to realize that those so honored were real, live, breathing humans, many of whom led long, fulfilling lives that admirably displayed their formidable talents.

As the vaccine line inched closer to my date with the jab, I thought of Angelo Mistilis, another heroic Oxonian. Angelo passed away on Jan. 31 of this year. He was part of the Mistilis family who operated a series of restaurants, a cafe and a bait shop in Oxford. The bait shop was located two blocks off the square in the old Oxford Eagle building. Can you imagine a bait shop on the Oxford square today?

Angelo and his brother Steve opened Mistilis Restaurant on College Hill Road (now location of King’s Steakhouse) in 1962 just in time for the James Meredith integration crisis. Angelo remembered the army being bivouacked across the street (now the Oxford airport). Later, he and his wife, the inestimable Jo Dale, married 60 years, operated the restaurant at the College Hill location throughout the 1980s.

Sunday at noon, following a bleary Saturday, my pals, Ronzo, Willie and I, would slither in and take a booth. Angelo would generously (or out of pity) whip up life-affirming omelets that weren’t on the menu.

Later in life, he cooked for the Lafayette County Jail and that crowd never ate so well. He encouraged long-term inmates to pursue art and Angelo arranged for public exhibitions of their art work.

I was day-dreaming that Angelo should have a street named after him when a Guardsman in fatigues and surgical mask waved at me, signaling my turn for the needle. As I eased my vehicle into place, I thought maybe Ronzo should have a street too. Wait, no, a roundabout would be more fitting.

I pulled up and raised my sleeve and just like that, I was back in line to leave.

I appreciate the Guard and health officials, but on this day, on a sunny Oxford boulevard, thinking about Ed, Angelo and Ronzo was the real shot in the arm.

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