Oxford Magazine Nov. Dec. 2020

JARKEL JOINER’S HOMETOWN DEBUT • FALL BOOK PICKS • HOLIDAY FINDS

FALL FASHION

THE NEW “FUR” IS IN STYLE THIS SEASON

SHARING A SECRET

BELOVED PIE RECIPE IS REVEALED AT LAST NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 OxfordMag.com Volume Four | Issue Five $4.95

TINY OXFORD

ARTIST LEE HARPER CREATES MODELS OF OXFORD LANDMARK BUILDINGS.

Your Premier Lighting Store and So Much More...

Hernando · Oxford · Tupelo · Ridgeland

www.magnolialighting.com

GUIDE TO GIVING 32

THE PANTRY

33

LOVE PACKS

35

ST JUDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

36

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS

37

CASA OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY

38

MISSISSIPPI CRITTERZ

40

CANOPY CHILDREN’S SOLUTIONS

41

PALMER HOME UNITED WAY

43

LEAP FROG

2 November/December 2020

PHOTO BY THAD LEE

43

19

15

PHOTO BY JOEY BRENT

ARTS & CULTURE

IN EVERY ISSUE

9 Tiny Oxford

4 Contributors

12 Book Picks

5 From the Editor

SCHOOLS & SPORTS

6 The Guide 8 Facebook Feedback

15 Native Son, Jarkel Joiner

FOOD

& DRINK

52 Out & About 55 Marketplace

15 Spicing Things Up, Oxford Gourmet and Gifts 29 Secret Recipe, Famous Fudge Pie

HOME

& STYLE

19 Southern Style

56 Jim Dees Column

OM OxfordMag.com 3

contributors EDITORIAL

Anna Guizerix Jake Thompson

CONTRIBUTORS Joey Brent Jude Burke-Lewis Davis Coen Jim Dees Thad Lee Hayden Wiggs Bruce Newman

Carrie Stambaugh, Writer

Carrie Stambaugh is a multimedia storyteller and outdoor adventurer based in central Appalachia. Her passion is telling stories that connect people to one another and to the planet we all share.Â

DESIGN

Jamie Dawkins Kimberly Myers Connor Martin-Lively Briana Sansom

MARKETING

Delia Childers Amelia Miller

Joey Brent, Photographer

Joey Brent is a local photographer in Oxford, MS

PUBLISHER

Rebecca Alexander

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.

Lauren Jones, Contributor

Lauren Jones is an Ole Miss Alum and is the marketing and communications specialist at TVEPA and TVI Fiber. She lives in Oxford with her husband, dog and three cats.

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 November/December 2020

FroM tHE EDitor

C

ON THE COVER

Can you believe we are in the last two months of 2020, and the holiday season is here? It is a thankful season and a giving season.

As Oxfordian’s, 2020 has been a pivotal year. In this issue we explore the stories of people coming together with team work, creativity and reliance. We celebrate the people in our community dealing with a pandemic and thriving with ingenuity, generosity and resolve.

We are pleased to publish “Guide to Giving” as a special feature in this edition in this most challenging year for non-profits. Local charities are highlighted to tell the stories of how they are helping meet needs in our community and ways we can help them continue their mission. Each non-profit is partnered with a local business, another example of generosity. Consider these non-profits for your end of year giving.

We hope you enjoy the story from Oxford Gourmet that pivoted to create new offerings to thrive during the pandemic. There are few new businesses that have as many lines of products and are willing to share a great recipe with us.

Speaking of recipes, we thought back to recipes that are part of our collective Oxford memory and asked Linda Fleming to share her famous Fudge Pie recipe that was at the former restaurant Emileigh’s Kitchen.

We also asked readers share what dishes they enjoy as a family, but the recipe is still a secret in our Facebook Feedback page. Secret family recipes are a fun part of connecting us as family.

As a special offer during this giving season, if you start or renew your subscription, you will receive a gift subscription for someone else. Just give us a call at 662-234-4331 before Dec. 31st and someone will get the gift of Oxford Magazine for 2021.

Thanks for reading and for being a subscriber. A joyful holiday season to you all.

Rebecca Alexander Publisher, Oxford Magazine

Lee Harper

Local artist Lee Harper and her Tiny Oxford recreations are a delight for those who remember these long gone locations.

Photo by Bruce Newman Design by Connor Martin-Lively

OxfordMag.com 5

THE GUIDE Photo by Bruce Newman

DEC. 10–12

Winter Wonderland Virtual Family Day ‘Tis the season! Join YAC Arts Council for this special virtual holiday event. Create seasonal art projects, watch demos, explore our transformed galleries virtually and more! Pick up your free ‘art kit’ on the Walton-Young House front porch anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through Thursday, Dec. 10 through Saturday, Dec. 12, then access this virtual family day through the YAC website. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DEC 3, 12, 19

Santa At Visit Oxford Santa’s annual visit to Visit Oxford on Saturdays at 1013 Jackson Ave 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.

NOV. 6-7

How to Slowly Kill Yourself & Others in America with Kiese Laymon and Reverend Carolyn Coleman.

Virtual event Square Books 5 p.m. Registration required to attend this event.

Email rsvp@squarebooks.com.

6 November/December 2020

AROUND TOWN NOVEMBER 13 Double Decker bus at Visit Oxford- photo op 3 to 4 p.m.

NOVEMBER 13 Tunes Around Town 5 to 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER 14 Ole Miss vs. South Carolina Vaught Hemingway Stadium Time TBD NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 30, 2020 Southern Lights Central Park - Desoto County Dusk each night NOVEMBER 27 Square Alliance Holiday Open House Downtown Square - Oxford Time TBD NOVEMBER 28 Egg Bowl 2020 Vaught Hemingway Stadium Time TBD NOV 30 New Albany, Union County= Christmas Parade 6 p.m.

THE GUIDE NOV. 27

Extreme Egg Bull Riding Event Time TBD

Lafayette County Multipurpose Arena In post war Paris, romance is in the air and youthful optimism reigns. Gershwin’s soaring melodies are matched by gravity-defying dance as the world rediscovers the power of love in this breathtaking production. Hoping to start a new life, World War II veteran Jerry Mulligan chooses newly-liberated Paris as the place to make a name for himself as a painter.

But Jerry’s life becomes complicated when he meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret – and realizes he is not her only suitor. Winner of four Tony Awards and inspired by the Academy Award-winning film, this exquisite production features your favorite Gershwin songs including “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “’S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” and “Stairway to Paradise.”

Tickets start at $63 for balcony. More information available at the UM Box Office or Ford Center website.

NOV. 6-7

Literary Bit Of... Festival

DECEMBER 1 First Tuesday Music Series in Bryant Hall Bryant Hall, University of Mississippi noon to 1 p.m.

The Literary Bit of Festival returns with the Literary Bit of Indie Authors to coincide with Indie Author Day on Nov. 7. Join the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and the Oxford Comma, a community-based writing workshop, for two days of COVID-19-friendly, inperson and online literary readings and webinars.

Festival is all day. See https://www.oxfordarts.com/literarybitof for the full schedule.

DEC. 8 Batesville Christmas Parade 7 p.m.

NOV. 5–7

Art’rageous Animal Adventure Virtual Family Day Join YAC on this ‘animal kingdom’ virtual museum adventure. Create art inspired by our furriest friends! Watch demos, explore our virtual galleries in search of animals, see special guest appearances (furry friends?), and more! Pick up your free ‘art kit’ on the Walton-Young House front porch anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Thursday, Nov. 5 through Saturday, Nov. 7, then access this virtual family day through the YAC website!

OxfordMag.com 7

“ ” FACEBOOK FEEDBACK

Facebook readers answered our question about “secret” family recipes. These are dishes that everyone expects to be on the table at family gatherings but the recipe is a tightly guarded secret.

No Photo Provided Mashed sweet rutabaga is my secret family recipe!

-Mackenize Foltz

My homemade mashed potatoes with rosemary and garlic! And an honorary mention to a corn casserole recipe a bestie of mine gave to me a few years ago (Hannah Morris)

Pillsbury crescent rolls...... ssshhhh.

-Ryder Paige

-Nitu Singh

Dr. Pepper salad -Julie Arnold

8 November/December 2020

Gumbo

-Deany Ardoin Hillhouse

&CULTURE

ARTS

TINY OXFORD

Artist Lee Harper creates mini versions of Oxford landmarks from the past STORY BY JUDE BURKE-LEWIS PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN OxfordMag.com 9

T

The Hoka. The Gin. Dino’s Pizza. For Oxonians of a certain age, the mere mention of these longdeparted establishments is likely to evoke a flood of memories – stories of late-night beer and cheesecake, of dancing on tables, and of goofing off in the DJ booth.

It’s precisely because of these stories that artist Lee Harper – known locally for her History Bones miniatures – has turned her hand to recreating these and other landmarks from Oxford past for her latest project, ‘tiny oxford.’

The plan is that six of these models will feature in a self-published book that she and New Orleansbased photographer Pableaux Johnson are aiming to have available in time for Christmas.

The project began last year when Harper, who

10 November/December 2020

has called Oxford home for the past 20 years, decided to recreate the Hoka for her contribution to the Powerhouse’s annual Christmas auction.

Following the passing of local legend and Hoka owner Ron Shapiro, in August last year, “there were all of these beautiful stories about him and the Hoka and I thought, that would be a good one to make for the auction,” Harper said.

“It was super fun because I got to talk to a bunch of people that used to go there. The stories and memories that people offered up were wonderful.

It was so fun to just be a part of that. What friends they went with, they brought coolers of beer in, and they loved the cheesecake, this and that. Just every bit of it. Everybody had something. I just thought it was wonderful.”

OxfordMag.com 11

“So I thought, maybe I should make a couple more things that don’t exist anymore.”

For the self-described “rogue historian and genealogist,” the idea appealed: “it’s fun to dig up old pictures, and to ask, and to research them,” she said.

Harper said she wasn’t interested in recreating the “typical tourist spots” – such as the main house at Rowan Oak – but instead was guided by the stories that people told her. The ones that pulled her in were the ones that made the cut.

Her research for remaking The Gin brought back tales of dancing on the tables during its heyday in the 80s and 90s, while the owners of Dino’s Pizza on the Square were described as “kind of people’s second parents, the way they ran the place.”

12 November/December 2020

“They had a DJ booth and they’d let you get up there and goof off. They had a family table where you could go and play backgammon, and it was kind of an honor to be invited. You didn’t just sit there, you got invited.”

Other gone but not forgotten landmarks to feature in ‘tiny oxford’ are Isaiah’s Busy Bee, a small café run by Georgia Isaiah, who had cooked for two former university chancellors for 30 years, and Collie Rogers’ house, which used to be on Hathorn Road just off Jackson Avenue.

According to Harper, the house was surrounded by a white fence that Rogers made herself, supposedly from sticks and wire coat hangers.

“Apparently, she had purple flowers all over the yard and when they bloomed in the spring, against

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/

that white, you’d drive out of your way to see this yard.

“I was obsessed with that fence when we first moved here, and apparently it was an iconic thing here in Oxford.”

Harper, who grew up in Meridian and studied art at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, began making miniature masterpieces around 15 years ago.

It started almost as a joke, her way of “rebelling against Elf on the Shelf” by making a Halloween skeleton for her son, niece and nephews.

From that “single skeleton doing nothing, except maybe waving,” each year, the models grew more intricate, until she realized she was “having way more fun at this than the kids” and it became a thing of its own.

The History Bones, as these models became known, incorporate the skeletons into tiny recreations of obscure and overlooked scenes from history.

“I’m a sucker for history and for stories, period: any interesting history, especially something that’s been forgotten or is fascinating, that you’ve never heard of,” she said.

The ‘tiny oxford’ project isn’t the first time Harper has recreated parts of Oxford lore. She’s made a number of commissions for local residents, including a replica of Shadowlawn, the Greek-revival house on South 11th built by the founder of Neilson’s department store. She’s also made a couple of models for Rowan Oak director Bill Griffith, not of the house itself but of some of the many stories associated with it, such as Judith Sheegog, the ghost that Faulkner invented to stop his wife from cutting down his favorite magnolia tree.

Each model takes many hours of painstaking work; Harper estimates that she spends about six hours per day working, and OxfordMag.com 13

one model can take multiple days.

As well as the more traditional wood, wire, foamboard and paper, she uses a wide variety of found objects to create her miniatures: the buttons from an old phone became medical cups in a History Bones model of St Bart’s Hospital Museum; some crepe myrtle seeds that she’d had in a jar for three years became magnolia leaves for the Judith Shegog model; the lawn of Collie Rogers’ house was “literally dried up grass” cut into a fine powder;

and the bases to the ‘tiny oxford’ models were made using wood that her father – like Harper, an inveterate “treasure hunter” – had scavenged from old buildings.

All this time and effort means the models are beyond the reach of most people’s wallets, so the idea behind the book was to make her work available to a wider range of people.

“A lot of people want one, but can’t afford to buy, because they take a long time. I’m already probably working at about $3 an hour!” Harper said. “But everybody can afford to buy a book.”

It’s likely to be the first book of many. While she may look further afield for future books – a ‘tiny mississippi’ or a ‘tiny new orleans’ could be on the cards – this first one is Harper’s way of paying tribute to the town that she loves.

“If they can bring back any fun, sweet memories of any kind, that would thrill me. That would be wonderful. Because Oxford is really special,” she said.

Come Home For The Holidays!

Join The Blake at Oxford for holidays without any hassle. We’re here for you.

Call (662) 638-0899 today to meet our team and learn more about Mississippi’s premier Assisted Living and Memory Care community!

110 Ed Perry Blvd. | Oxford, MS 38655 | www.blakeatoxford.com 14 November/December 2020

&SPORTS

SCHOOLS

NATIVE SON

Oxford’s Jarkel Joiner ready to make hometown debut

BY JAKE THOMPSON PHOTOS BY JOSHUA MCCOY, OLE MISS ATHLETICS OxfordMag.com 15

T

Taking the floor for the first time in Rebel uniform is something Jarkel Joiner has dreamed about since he was a child.

This fall, that dream becomes a reality when the Oxford native makes his debut in front his hometown fans and family as a key contributor in head coach Kermit Davis’ lineup.

Getting to that point was a journey all in itself, though. After graduating from Oxford High School, Joiner traveled 1,897 miles to Bakersfield, Calif. where he joined the Cal State Bakersfield Road Runners.

There, Joiner played for former Ole Miss head coach Rod Barnes, who was a long-time family

16 November/December 2020

friend. He found success in California, playing in 30 games as a freshman, and was the only player to start all 34 games as a sophomore. The stat line was there, but Joiner entered the transfer portal in the spring of 2019.

Schools courted him, but when Davis and Ole Miss reached out, the former Chargers standout decided it was time to come home. Transfer rules dictate that Joiner had to sit out the 2019-20 season, but he took that opportunity to sit under the learning tree and better himself on the court while spending a season off.

“You really learn a lot off the court,” Joiner said.

“You see things differently when you’re off the

court. You read situations differently. I learned a lot about the clock. The timeouts, the media. I really bought into that. ...Coach Davis, he’s one of the best coaches I’ve played for. He’s so smart. He’s very detailed. Hard-nosed and he loves the game of basketball. When you got a coach that loves the game, you’ll run through a wall for him.”

Now, Joiner returns home where he was a star in the Mississippi high school basketball world. The former Charger earned EAGLE Player of the Year three out of his four seasons as a varsity player at Oxford, and helped lead them to a semifinal appearance during 2017 MHSAA state playoffs.

Having that reputation precede him as he prepares to make his debut for the hometown school he played just minutes away from growing up, there is the expectation for Joiner to put pressure on himself, though that is not necessarily the case.

“To be honest, there’s no pressure at all,” Joiner said. “I’ve been playing in front of this town all my life. So, when you put in a lot of work and you come to the game, there’s no pressure. It’s fun. Basketball is fun, so you shouldn’t put pressure on yourself.”

Joiner knows, and hopes, Oxford boys head coach Drew Tyler will be in the stands this fall watching every minute. The two still talk to each

other every day and Joiner said views Tyler as another dad, but he also knows that coaching never stops.

“He’ll probably still be coaching me from the stands,” Joiner said.

Joiner may be getting some constructive coaching tips from the stands inside the Pavilion from his former coach, but he will also be following the instruction of his current coach in Kermit Davis.

Ever since Joiner joined the Rebels’ roster ahead of last season, Davis has spoken highly of his forward. Despite not being able to take the court last year, Joiner soaked up all he could in practice.

Now, Joiner is ready to take the next step and become a leader on the court, something Davis has noticed during summer and preseason workouts.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Davis said of Joiner.

“I’ve been in it a long time, and I don’t know if I’ve had a guy that’s as serious about basketball as he is. His leadership is off the chart. Comes in with that same smile and bounce every single day. I just think it’s going to equate to a really good year for Jarkel.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything in 2020, including how players are handling their free time away from practice. Joiner said he has

OxfordMag.com 17

made the choice to be proactive when it comes to social distancing and “be in his own bubble” and not spend a lot of time with friends, as he is wanting to play basketball this season and understands the risk of hanging out in large groups.

On the court, the pandemic has affected practices. Joiner said he wears a mask when at the Touhy Center, including during practice and following the protocols and guidelines. Wearing a

18 November/December 2020

mask has been a transition for a sport where constant movement is part of the game.

“You can’t really breathe, but I guess it works on our conditioning,” Joiner said. “It’s an adjustment, having something over your mouth.”

Ole Miss is currently scheduled to begin their season on Nov. 25 after the NCAA amended the start of the play due to COVID-19. When Joiner takes the floor for the first time, it will be a moment he’s thought about for a long, long time and one he intends to soak in for as long as possible.

“I think about it every day,” Joiner said. “The smell of the popcorn. Taking a deep breath and soak it all in and just get ready to have fun. Go out there and do what I’ve been doing my whole life. I can’t wait to get back out there and play in front of my friends and family or the fans here. I know how crazy they get and they love basketball. I can’t wait to play in front of them.”

&STYLE

HOME

SOUTHERN STYLE Making a house an Oxford home STORY BY CARRIE STAMBAUGH PHOTOS BY THAD LEE OxfordMag.com 19

D

Drs. Barry and Laurie Babin have a passion for golf and fine wines. The couple knew they wanted a home that combined both those loves when they relocated to Oxford in 2019 to take jobs at the University of Mississippi.

Dr. Barry Babin is Chair of the Department of Marketing and a Morris Lewis Professor of Marketing while Dr. Laurie Babin is an instructional associate professor of marketing. The couple initially moved into a small condominium, while they looked for a new home. Unable to find exactly what they were looking for, they decided to build a new house at The Grove at Grand Oaks, located at the Country Club of Oxford. While it was under construction, Laurie Babin discovered the work of Andrea Harmon, a design consultant with Something Southern, at the Country Club’s model cottage, and set about hiring the firm.

Something Southern Design and Furnishings was founded by Becki Huelse in 1996. It has two retail locations one on The Square in Oxford and another in Starkville. A family-operated full-

20 November/December 2020

service interior design firm, the business specializes in home furnishings, window coverings and custom design services. They work with clients at any stage of a home project – helping them to customize building plans or simply redecorating a room in an existing home.

The team at Something Southern helped the Babins turn their new construction house into an oasis of individualized comfort. The four-bedroom home with a large, open floor plan and includes a custom-designed wine room located off the dining room. Barry and Laurie each have their own office space (Barry’s is one of the bedrooms above the garage) and there are plenty of large windows, some with dormers, that offer views of the golf course or the woods behind the home. The true gem of the home is a custom putting green featuring five holes in the back of the home and a large terrace in the front of the house that overlooks the tee box of the 18th hole of the public golf course.

Helping the couple choose paint colors for the interior and exterior of the home was among the

OxfordMag.com 21

Did you know

1 in 5 children has a significant

mental health challenge?

Please support Canopy's mission to help all children become a success story.

mycanopy.org/give

22 November/December 2020

first and most important steps, said Harmon, noting this is a common request. She explained not only are there thousands of colors to choose from but the type of lighting inside a home and the natural light it receives outside can make the same color look quite different.

Finding the perfect colors scheme, that both balanced and compliment the home’s exterior copper design elements –now and in the future – was tricky. “It was a challenge. The copper is so orange when you first put it up, it takes years to patina and calm down a little bit,” said Harmon, noting “Laurie wanted that copper to really, really pop.” With her help, the couple ultimately chose two shades of white. The slight contrast, said Harmon, “makes it known that there are shutters there but yet makes the copper show up.”

Inside, the Babins also had some unique design elements they wanted to compliment and draw attention to. These included pickled wood beams, reclaimed brick archways, wrought iron scroll work on the door to the custom wine room, and a tile inlay behind the range in the kitchen. They also needed help choosing the correct type of window coverings for each space, and furnishing it with furniture and other décor.

To make the kitchen island stand out from the white cabinets and subway tiles in the rest of the kitchen space, and pick up on the colors in the reclaimed brick, Harmon suggested painting the island’s cabinetry a soft blue-green color called Underseas

by Sherwin Williams. In addition, a blonde wood hutch the Babins had used in previous homes to hold their china got a makeover. To make it blend in with the homes color palette, Harmon sent it out to be refurbished with a coat of new paint in a Sherwin Williams shade called Rocky River. The color is in the same family as Underseas but is just a bit darker.

Now, said Harmon, “When you look in from the front door, you see the island first and then the hutch.” Many of the downstairs walls are painted a soft, calming gray color, also by Sherwin Williams, called Crushed Ice. It ties together the bluegreen tones of the hutch and island and complimenting the color of the bricks in the home. “That was pretty cool to bring everything together and make it look kind of rustic with a

relaxed feel as well,” said Harmon.

When it came to furnishing the home, said Laurie, “Andrea was wonderful helping us with recovering some of our chairs and couches, and finding some end tables, lamps and rugs, and just putting it all together for us.”

A local upholsterer revived two beloved club chairs by covering them with a soft, blue-green fabric and adding a skirt, said Harmon. “Sometimes furniture isn’t worth recovering but a lot of the older furniture is so well made and can be utilized and brought back to life in a new build or new house or color scheme.”

She also helped choose linens for all the bedrooms, working with the couple’s existing bedframes and a large armoire in the master, choosing a color palette that paired up with the soft blue in the bathroom, and the soothing tones of the rest of the house.

Harmon also incorporated the family’s existing

personal items including artwork and other ornaments to create a beautifully curated space. “I just had everything out and Andrea just started taking things and placing them. She supplemented with things from Simply Southern and we have a beautiful home,” said Laurie.

“Andrea has been fantastic. She was really good at finding the right things to go with our taste and our furniture and the style of the house too without me having to explain it,” said Laurie Babin. “The best thing is she just brings items over, and puts them in the house, and I realize, ‘yes that’s really beautiful.’”

Visit SomethingSouthernOnline.com to learn about the businesses full slate of offerings and to see completed projects. Something Southern has two locations, 1223 Jackson Avenue East in Oxford, and 200 South Montgomery Street, Suite 2, in Starkville. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and at Houzz.com.

OxfordMag.com 23

READ THIS BOOK

Books that Make Great Holiday Gifts Recommendations from

Lyn Roberts

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.

General Manager at Square Books

Pappyland

By Wright Thompson | $27, signed copies available The story of how Julian Van Winkle III, the caretaker of the most coveted cult Kentucky Bourbon whiskey in the world, fought to protect his family’s heritage and preserve the taste of his forebears, in a world where authenticity, like his product, is in very short supply.

Where I Come From

By Rick Bragg | $26.95, signed copies available From the best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All Over but the Shoutin’ and The Best Cook in the World, a collection of his irresistible columns from Southern Living and Garden & Gun magazines.

How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America

By Kiese Laymon | $16, signed copies available A revised collection with thirteen essays, including six new to this edition and seven from the original edition, by a “star in the American literary firmament, with a voice that is courageous, honest, loving, and singularly beautiful” (NPR).

This Will Make It Taste Good: A New Path to Simple Cooking

By Vivian Howard | $35 From caramelized onions to fruit preserves, make home cooking quick and easy with ten simple “kitchen heroes” in these 125 recipes from the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Deep Run Roots.

A Time for Mercy

By John Grisham | $29.95, signed copies available Jake Brigance is back! The hero of A Time to Kill, one of the most popular novels of our time, returns in a courtroom drama that showcases #1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham at the height of his storytelling powers.

24 November/December 2020

&DRINK

FOOD

SPICING THINGS UP

Food ямБnds at Oxford Gourmet and Gifts STORY BY HAYDEN WIGGS PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT OxfordMag.com 25

W

With its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious oven-ready meals, Oxford Gourmet and Gifts is the perfect place to step in and shop. The store, located on South Lamar Boulevard just off the Oxford Square, opened in August 2019. It offers a wide selection of oils and vinegars, unique gifts and cooking supplies, a coffee bar and a weekly menu of homemade oven-ready meals. “[Oxford Gourmet] is somewhere that, if I didn’t own it, I would personally go and shop at,” said owner Pam Beck.

Beck, an Ole Miss graduate and native Southerner, said she wanted to combine her love of stores like Williams-Sonoma with her experience as a dietitian to bring something new to Oxford.

“When I was a dietitian, I started my own business for consulting, but this is my first retail venture,” Beck explained. “A lot of hard work and love has gone into this place. I’ve pulled it all together so that you can do a one-stop shop and come in and have an experience.”

When one first enters the store, they are

26 November/December 2020

immediately greeted by a warm light and the smell of fresh coffee and the kitchen. Beck or her associate Nancy Greer are always at the front desk, ready to welcome guests with a smile. The mélange of rustic décor is evocative of traditional Southern homes, with the abundance of Ole Miss-inspired items creating a local, homegrown feel.

“Oxford is a great, loving community,” Greer said.

“It’s a great place to live, and people here, they just love each other. We wanted to show how much we love it here with our products.”

For Beck and Greer, the store is the perfect reflection of that Oxford love. The two met at the store last Christmas when Greer, who is a retired teacher, was shopping for gifts for her sister.

“Pam and I just started talking, and I just knew we were supposed to be friends,” Greer explained. “We are like sisters from another mother. At this point, we can even finish each other’s sentences.”

Greer said she loves the work she does with Oxford Gourmet, and wants every guest to feel the same way she does whenever they enter the store.

“It’s wonderful to work with somebody that just loves what they do, and Pam loves it,” Greer said.

“We’re always happy here, always joking. If you walk in and you’re in a bad mood, this place will cheer you up.”

Greer pointed to the novelty towels and napkins that are sold throughout the store, adorned with clever sayings and jokes.

“These things will crack you up,” she laughed. “No one stays mad here. It’s just wonderful.”

While these gifts have proven to be popular, the most enticing aspect of Oxford Gourmet are its mouth-watering weekly menus and oven-ready meals. The dishes, beautifully presented in takehome containers, are made fresh in the store’s kitchen. At home, they can be prepared in just 20 minutes, making it a perfect option for fast-paced, on-the-go families.

The menu items, which are cataloged on all their social media pages, are updated weekly to provide variety and intrigue.

Past menu items include Southern pot roast, chicken marsala, fresh jumbo lump crab-cakes and buttermilk-breaded chicken breasts. Despite the menu’s ever-changing nature, there are still several items that are considered “staples,” such as dips and

chicken salads.

“My personal favorite thing we make is the green chili chicken enchiladas,” Beck said. “Everyone can make enchiladas, but these are just magical. We even get requests for them, days before we cook them, so we have a list of people we call anytime we cook them. It’s definitely our go-to meal.”

To add another unique aspect, the in-house chefs utilize the products sold inside Oxford Gourmet, effectively connecting both sides of the business.

Oxford Gourmet is also dedicated to shopping and eating local, and incorporates as many local businesses as they can into each meal.

“We use products from local farmers markets,

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www.oxfordms.com | #ShopOxford Shop Oxford is an initiative of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce OxfordMag.com 27

Recipe: Butter Chicken uBoneless, skinless chicken breasts, 6 pieces u1 cup butter, softened and cut into cubes u13.5 ounces Ritz crackers, 3 packages (each pkg has 37 crackers) uSeasonings: salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

HOW TO MAKE IT uPreheat oven to 350°. uRinse chicken, letting most of the water drip off; place on plate. uPrepare a baking dish or pan with non-stick spray and set aside. uPlace Ritz crackers in the blender and blend until finer than breadcrumbs. uAdd seasonings into the blender along with the Ritz crackers for the best blend. The type and amount of each seasoning depends on individual preferences. uPlace blended Ritz crackers into a gallon Ziplock bag. uDip 2 chicken breasts in the bag at a time, fully coating each breast in the cracker pieces. uPlace all 6 cracker - coated chicken breasts on the baking dish or pan. uBake for 45 minutes.

28 November/December 2020

such as honey, fruit and vegetables, and that’s something that we are really proud of,” Beck explained.

This combination of in-house and local ingredients creates mouth-watering smells that fill the store. Because of this, it is almost impossible to visit without leaving with a dish.

Current renovations are being made to further the connection between guests and the kitchen by knocking down the wall separating one from the other. For Beck, this renovation is essential.

“Food is so personal,” she said. “And we want our customers to feel that. Once that wall comes down, folks will be able to come in, smell the food, walk up and see it, and then ask the chef questions. That just makes it so much more personal.”

This dedication to connecting with customers is what drives another of Oxford Gourmet’s upcoming projects: cooking classes.

“Since I started as a dietitian, I always get requests to teach people how to eat healthier foods,” Beck explained. “Food doesn’t have to be fattening or gross; there is so much more to be explored. And I feel that as we continue to grow and evolve here at Oxford Gourmet, we have a way to demonstrate this with a cooking class. We can show people that you can make things healthier and make it a lifestyle versus

just trying to lose weight.”

Another unique feature of Oxford Gourmet is its artisan coffee bar, neatly tucked in the corner of the store. Inspired by her husband’s coffee shop, Common Grounds Coffee, Beck wanted to create a “gathering place” where college students could study, friends could meet up, and families could connect.

“Common Grounds is always packed, so bad that we often have to turn people away,” said Beck. “This is our mini version here for this side of the Square, and it’s in the perfect location. It’s close to campus and to places like the Chancellor’s House, so anyone can stop in.”

And that is exactly who Oxford Gourmet is marketed to: everyone. For Beck, the store is all about creating a welcoming environment for the community she loves.

“I wanted a place that, when I walked in, if I didn’t own it, I would feel right at home,” she said. “I want this to be an extension of your home. I’m always here, and I keep the door open so that I can talk to anyone that comes in. I could just be here all day. I love it, and I want you to as well.”

Oxford Gourmet and Gifts is located at 400 South Lamar Blvd. and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

SECRET RECIPE:

Famous

Fudge Pie Linda Fleming shares her family’s much loved Fudge Pie Recipe that was served in her former Oxford Restaurant, Emileigh’s Kitchen.

Story and Photos by Lauren Jones Before Pinterest, Food Network, and immediate access to thousands of recipes online, there was a spiralbound cookbook, which had the page of the favorite family recipe bookmarked with stains of several holidays worth of spilled ingredients. These timeless, southern recipes have played a symbolic role in preserving family traditions and connecting loved ones.

For Linda Fleming, an Oxford local and well-versed baker, one particular recipe holds a special place, both in her heart and in her kitchen. One morning in the early 1950s, Linda’s grandmother, Mary Katherine Clay Luncford, sat at her home in Sardis, Mississippi reading the Commercial Appeal when the chocolate lover came across an alluring recipe for “School Fudge Pie.” She was so delighted with how the pie turned out that she called her church, Sardis United Methodist, to have the recipe added to their church cookbook.

It didn’t take long for the decadent fudge pie to become a staple in her home, and to become a sweet symbol of love that connected her friends and family.

“There was never a time when Grandmother didn’t make the pie,” Linda recalled. “She always had some to offer a neighbor, a friend, or to anyone who came into her home, even if it was just the delivery man. She’d have the man installing the dishwasher sit down for pie and coffee,” Fleming laughed as she reminisced about her grandmother’s kind, hospitable nature.

Although she grew up eating and loving her grandmother’s pie, the young baker had never actually made the pie herself; nor did she have the recipe. In early 2000, Linda, alongside her husband, John Henry Fleming, embarked on their dream of opening a restaurant and bakery and opened Emileigh’s Kitchen.

The couple knew that their grandmother’s beloved pie would be equally as loved by the Oxford community, so they gave her a call and made their first batch of pies.

As the two restaurant owners predicted, the Fudge Pie was an immediate hit.

“Grandmother was shocked that people were paying $12 for her pies,” said Linda with a smile. “I thought twelve dollars was a great deal for a whole pie, but my OxfordMag.com 29

grandmother just could not believe we were selling them for that much.”

Emileigh’s Kitchen became a popular local eatery with loyal customers of all ages. Similar to Mrs. Luncford’s approach, every guest of Emileigh’s was greeted with John Henry’s southern hospitality and Linda’s sweet smile –and of course a piece of fudge pie if you wanted one. The pair did everything from providing breakfast and lunch to catering events and taking hundreds of birthday cake orders each week.

With fresh fudge pies always on-hand, they also sold other pre-made snacks to take home, such as Archie Manning’s personal favorite, the Fleming’s homemade pimento cheese. Football season and holidays kept the hard-working couple busy. Mrs. Luncford, though still shocked about the price of her pies, constantly told her granddaughter how proud she was of her. Although it kept her busy, Linda enjoyed making her grandmother’s pies and thought of her each day while she prepared them for dozens of orders.

Mrs. Mary Katherine Clay Luncford, a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away in June of 2013. Though she was devasted over the loss of her grandmother, Linda felt blessed to have connected with her through this recipe.

“I sobbed through the first batch of pies I made shortly after she passed,” Linda shared.

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Unrelated to the death of their grandmother, in 2014, Linda and John Henry decided to close the restaurant.

The Flemings miss the restaurant from time to time and often reminisce about the wonderful times they shared during their time at Emileigh’s, but the loving couple has made a new dream into a reality, and in 2017, became foster parents. With no children of their own, Linda and John Henry knew they wanted to make a difference in a child’s life but they weren’t sure how to go about it. John Henry mentioned the idea of fostering but neither of them was knowledgeable of the process, nor had they heard much about it. After toying with the idea for so long, though hesitant, Linda drove to Georgia for a conference where she befriended a lady who shared her personal experiences as a current foster parent and inspired Linda to fill out the application.

After receiving a phone call only two short days later, the excited couple proceeded with the process and became certified foster parents to two beautiful boys.

Now ages five and three, the two children have stolen the hearts of their foster parents and the adoption process has already begun.

The Flemings and the two boys spend a lot of time in Sardis at Linda’s family home where, while reading the morning paper, her grandmother’s love for chocolate, inspired a sweet family tradition.

Guide to

Giving 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, but especially non-profits who have a mission to help others. Here you will how our local charities have adapted to the pandemic and continue to serve people in our community in need.

Local businesses partnered with charities to help them get their story out about the ways they help and how we can help them continue their mission. Consider these charities in your end of year giving.

OxfordMag.com 31

Feeding Your Community: The Pantry

By Carrie Stambaugh | Sponsored by Core Fitness Oxford The COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent economic downturn have created more need among community members for food provided by The Pantry in Oxford. The agency is in need of financial support as well as food items to ensure community members can continue to receive the food items they need.

Board of Directors President Ann O’Dell said there has been an increase in visits to The Pantry’s in 2020 compared to 2019 when approximately 14,000 visits were made. During the first half of 2020 visits were up by more than 2,000, putting the agency on pace to serve 30 percent more visitors by year’s end.

The agency, which is supported by a collaboration between 16 local organizations, has had to change the way it operates in light of the virus. Instead of visitors being able to shop the pantry themselves, since March they have instead been provided prepared sacks of food with enough items to feed a family of four for a week.

32 November/December 2020

All monetary donations made to The Pantry are used to purchase food items from the Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis and local vendors. Donations of food items, particularly soups, hot cereals, canned and dried beans and peas are strongly encouraged and needed. Donated items help provide more variety than bulk purchases made from the food bank.

Donations may be mailed to: The Pantry, P.O. Box 588, Oxford, MS 38655 or made electronically via paypal.me/pantryoxfordms

A Gift of Hope and Health: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

By Carrie Stambaugh | Sponsored by Endurance Physical Therapy St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a leader in developing treatment for childhood cancers and other life-threatening diseases and no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for their care.

“It will cost $1 billion s to operate St. Jude this year, and the majority of that funding must come from generous donors,” said Lee Bobo Aldridge, a senior regional development director. “A great deal of those funds are generated through events that we’ve had to postpone or transform into virtual events due to social distancing guidelines.

Community members and businesses can support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this holiday season through the 12 Days of Giving Campaign, a virtual fundraising campaign for individuals and business to register and raise funds for the organization together. Register at fundraising. stjude.org/12daysofgiving, and get tools including a personal and team fundraising website, email

templates to send to friends and family, and fundraising tips.

“We continue to discover new innovative ways to virtually connect with our supporters, like we are today. Thanks to the community and partner support, we’ll show the world that even when we have to be physically apart, together, we can make a difference for others and the children at St. Jude,” said Aldridge.

Donations are used to feed patients and their families, fund celebrations (like No More Chemo parties) provide toys, books and art supplies to children undergoing treatment and directly support research that is freely shared with doctors around the world. Since St. Jude opened more than 50 years ago, treatments invented there have helped to push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent.

For more information, visit StJude.org

OxfordMag.com 33

Filling the Food Gap Lovepacks

By Hayden Wiggs | Sponsored by Oxford University Bank Lovepacks is a local non-profit organization working to eliminate food insecurity in the Oxford and Lafayette County school districts. The group, led by a coalition of moms and student volunteers, discreetly provides convenient, non-perishable foods to students in need before they leave school on Friday afternoons.

“At school, our kids get a free breakfast and free lunch during the school week, but then, they are going home and may not have enough food for the weekend,” explained Camie Bianco, one of the Lovepacks board members. “The mission of Lovepacks is to make sure our kids have supplemental food on the weekends and holidays during the school year.”

The organization came about in 2010 when Lovepacks founder Mary Leary went to visit a family member and volunteered with a similar program.

When she returned to Oxford, she and her Ole Miss college roommate Helen Phillips met with the principal of Bramlett Elementary School to determine if there was a local need for Lovepacks.

At first, the women purchased and distributed the food themselves before creating a larger team in the summer of 2010. The directors are Leary, Phillips, Bianco and fellow mom Alyce Krouse. Since receiving a small start-up donation from the local food pantry, Lovepacks has continued to grow each year.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of the Oxford community over the past 10 years,” said Bianco. “We often refer to ourselves as very ‘grassroots,’ as we are a bunch of moms that saw the need wanted to fill it.

And now, we have a lot of different groups that help us fill these needs.”

According to Bianco, it is imperative that these needs are filled. It is important for growing children to eat three meals a day, as food insecurity is linked to more than just health problems.

“Food security is connected to attendance at school, as well as with behavior and focus,” said Bianco. “If you are hungry, it is really hard to concentrate on your math or reading assignments.

We have seen that a lot of kids who know they are getting a Lovepack come to school, so the program is vitally important.”

The organization has several pantries throughout 34 November/December 2020

the area to provide for the highest number of students. The primary pantry is in Oxford Middle School, with secondary locations at Lafayette Upper Elementary and at Oxford High School.

“Within each pantry, we have a group of students that actually pack for us and organize our pantries,” said Bianco. “It’s a well-oiled machine at this point.

It’s pretty amazing.”

Lovepacks could not carry out their duties without the help of donors and volunteers. Those interested in getting involved can either email lovepacks@ gmail.com, or visit their website at lovepacksoxford. com.

“The best way to get the word out, though, is through word-of-mouth,” said Bianco. “Because the parents and the kids are talking about it, our community has learned who we are and what we do.”

For Bianco and her fellow board members, what they do is “immensely rewarding.”

“What we feel, as a board, is just gratitude to the community,” Bianco said. “They have believed in our mission and have supported us all these years. We feel so blessed to get to do this every week, and so blessed to live in the Oxford-Lafayette community and have these generous people all around us that help make this happen.”

Steady, Supportive Friendship: Boys and Girls Clubs

By Carrie Stambaugh | Sponsored by Delta Dog The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi has resumed programing at their five clubhouses, including the L.O.U. Barksdale Boys and Girls Clubhouse in Oxford, but COVID-19 restrictions have affected the number of children served and increased the need for funding and supplies.

Only 60 children ages 6 to 18 can attend the club’s afterschool and summer activities at one time – less than half the usual number of youths served daily, said Unit Director Kenorus Wilson.

Activities including sporting lessons and support services like tutoring and mentoring have also had to be modified to comply with safety precautions but the focus has remained on making a positive difference in the lives of youth every day. “The pandemic has allowed us to rethink things and build on what we pride ourselves in: educational and enrichment activities,” Wilson said.

“It takes a village, one child at a time,” Wilson

36 November/December 2020

added, noting “Supportive relationships go outside the four walls,” and staff have remained in touch with youths who are unable to be at the club.

Helping youth to feel positive about themselves at home and at school is important to building confidence and helping them make good decisions and reach their true potential.

The community has rallied to support clubs during this time, but more help is needed.

Monetary donations to cover activity fees and supplies, utilities and transportation are needed.

Community members can also donate snack foods, gift cards, hand sanitizer, masks, and cleaning supplies. To donate specific items, contact the LOU Barksdale Boys and Girls Club directly at kwilson@bgcnms.org. Monetary donations can be made to the organization via BGCMS.org. Follow it on Facebook at Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi.

Child Advocates CASA of Lafayette County

By Carrie Stambaugh | Sponsored by Bank of Commerce Every child in foster care in Lafayette County now has a volunteer advocate to look out for their best interests, but demand is growing amid the pandemic.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lafayette County advocates for abused and neglected children by recruiting, training and supervising volunteer advocates, who are appointed by the youth court judge to be a child’s voice in court. Currently, 30 CASA Volunteer Advocates are able to serve all the children in foster care within Lafayette County, but an influx of children has led to an increased need for volunteers and funding.

CASA also supports foster children by helping pay for needs that range from psychological assessments and therapy to bedding, clothing, and equipment for extracurricular activities.

Founding Executive Director Erin Smith said the agency is in need of monetary support to continue its mission.

“Children in our community are being abused and neglected every day,” Smith said. “There is such a huge need for volunteer advocates and awareness so we can support these children’s needs.”

Founded in 2017, CASA of Lafayette County achieved its nonprofit status in 2018. It is partially funded by a cadre of federal, national and local grants, but it relies heavily on financial support from community members and businesses. In normal years, CASA hosts two large annual fundraisers, but COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted this year’s events and is likely to affect 2021’s too.

Donations are tax deductible and can be made at www.CASAofLafayetteCounty.com. For more information on becoming a CASA Volunteer Advocate contact CASAVolunteers@gmail.com. Follow it on Facebook at CASA of Lafayette County and on Instagram at Lafayette County CASA.

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OxfordMag.com 37

Caring for Animals In Need: Mississippi Critterz

By Hayden Wiggs | Sponsored by Stouts Carpet and Flooring Mississippi Critterz is proud to be the city of Oxford’s first no-kill animal shelter. With its numerous transports, adoption and education events, and foster programs, Mississippi Critterz is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing temporary shelter to stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals in the Oxford and Lafayette County area.

“Every animal deserves to be saved, and every animal deserves a chance to be in a loving home,” said Aynslee Smith, an Ole Miss graduate and the President of Mississippi Critterz. “That’s why we do what we do; we want to be a voice for the animals who have no way of speaking up.”

If there is anything that all members of the Mississippi Critterz staff have in common, it is their love for animals. Mississippi Critterz Executive Director Jenn Petermann, a veterinary tech and a graduate of Indiana University, is a self-identified “animal person,” having grown up on a farm and feeling a devotion to animals since birth. Smith, as well as Vice President Tamara Austin, share this sentiment.

“I have always loved animals,” said Austin. “They just bring you so much happiness and love you no matter what.”

It is this love that pushes the shelter to gather volunteers to achieve their goals. There are several ways for members of the Oxford community to get involved, from fundraising events to donation drives, adoption days, and fostering animals.

Their most notable program, however, are their transport services. Transports are where a volunteer offers to drive an animal to another reputable animal shelter or rescue group as a means of promoting “nokill” within the community. For Petermann, the transport program is a vital part of the shelter’s mission.

38 November/December 2020

“Transports are important because we are facing an overpopulation problem that we cannot adopt our way out of,” she explained. “We often don’t have people lined up to adopt animals, at least not enough to match the number of animals that are coming in the door.”

Overpopulation is a devastating issue that often leads to overfull shelters who use euthanasia as a means of population control, a practice that Mississippi Critterz is striving to eradicate.

“We are using fostering, adoption, and transports as a means to control population so that we do not have to use euthanasia,” said Petermann.

Each member of their staff is dedicated to helping animals and making a positive change in the community. Merideth Roberson, an Oxford Animal Control Officer and partner with Mississippi Critterz, was even named a “Hero of Oxford” by Ole Miss Pix in April 2020.

“We are absolutely committed to making a difference,” said Smith. “There is no doubt about it.”

To see how you too can make a difference, be sure to visit mscritterz.com and explore the variety of available volunteer opportunities, all of which are being conducted in accordance with state and local COVID-19 mandates.

By appointment, volunteers can take part in outdoor activities such as: taking dogs to the park, cleaning kennels, or taking part in the shelter’s developing Walk a Critter Program. Or, if you are unable to volunteer, you can still donate to help save local animal lives.

“We appreciate all of our volunteers’ efforts,” said Smith. “We couldn’t accomplish our goals without the help of our supporters.”

Mississippi Critterz is located at 413 McElroy Drive, and is open Tuesday through Friday from noon until 6 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

OxfordMag.com 39

125 Years of Growing Hope: Palmer Home for Children

By Carrie Stambaugh | Sponsored by Baptist Memorial Hospital For the last 125 years, Palmer Home for Children has been caring for youth in need throughout Mississippi and Tennessee. Founded in 1895 as a small orphanage, Palmer Home for Children is now a multi-faceted faithbased nonprofit that provides superior care to vulnerable children, while introducing the love of God. In 2019, Palmer Home expanded its scope of services with the addition of foster care, family care and transitional care for young adults. It now offers four distinct care settings designed to meet the needs of each child throughout the various stages of life.

The campus care program houses children on a 150acre Panther Creek Ranch campus in a Christ-centered family atmosphere. Living in cottages with ‘house parents’ children also receive personalized therapeutic and educational services. A $7.8 million capital campaign is now underway to build a 25,000-squrefoot Wellness Center on the property that will provide gymnasium space, a swimming pool, a large meeting room and private suites for tutoring and counseling.

New, additional programs include family care, which ministers to infants and incarcerated mothers with the goal of reunification. The foster care program works with certified foster parents to provide a loving twoparent family to children in need, while the transitional care program helps young men and women ages 18 to 24 navigate adulthood and learn skills to lead a healthy, independent life.

“Our proprietary approach to care, called the Whole Child Initiative, provides a trauma informed, holistic, and relationally centered foundation and guides all that we do,” explained Palmer Home Vice President of Communications Lauren Waites. “We seek to help vulnerable children overcome trauma by addressing 40 November/December 2020

their unique and varying physical, educational, spiritual, social and emotional needs. Other factors that set us apart are our commitment to keep siblings together, our focus on reunification with children’s biological parents, and the fact that we do not pay our foster parents.”

Palmer Home served approximately 270 children across its four programs last year and is making plans to expand its operations by 30 percent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know from our history that the COVID-19 pandemic will only increase the need for our services,” said Waites. Palmer Home has also supported the community through the pandemic by providing meals, opening an additional house for transitional care students displaced by the closing of college dormitories and providing help with housing, groceries and utilities to foster care families and mothers in family care who lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic.

Palmer Home for Children accepts zero funding from state and federal government, instead relying on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, civic organizations and groups. Donors can provide a one-time gift or sign up to be a sustaining member through monthly donations.

This Christmas season consider making a donation of any amount to Palmer Home in honor of a loved one.

Palmer Home will send a personalized greeting card directly to the recipient and you will be helping a child in need.

To learn more about Palmer Home for Children, donate or volunteer opportunities visit palmerhome. org, or follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Transforming Lives: Canopy Children’s Solutions Sponsored by Regions

Canopy Children’s Solutions has served the needs of vulnerable children since 1912. Working to find loving forever homes for orphaned children, to later helping victims of trauma and emotional challenges learn to feel whole again, Canopy has pioneered solutions to meet the most vexing challenges facing Mississippi children and families.

Children like Zion...

Zion saw how untreated mental health destroyed her family. As a young child, she had a wonderful life, a mom who had a good job, showed her love and attention, and encouraged her emotional and developmental growth. However, after her younger brother was born, she saw a decline in her mother’s mental health and physical well-being that ultimately led to Zion and her brother to being placed into foster care. While receiving care from Canopy’s team, Zion learned to process her anger and frustration and eventually came to a place of acceptance and understanding with her mother. She graduated

42 November/December 2020

second in her high school class and was offered a scholarship to Xavier University where she now studies pre-med psychology. Zion aspires to become a psychiatrist working with both adults like her mom and helping children cope with the struggles of mental health.

Not all wounds can be seen, and Canopy believes that every child, like Zion, can be a success story.

Employing nearly 500 mental and behavioral health experts, educators and social service professionals throughout the state, Canopy is committed to driving innovation and offering effective and accessible solutions for children and families.

Canopy is thankful for community partners, like Regions, who support our mission to helping kids thrive. When you consider how you can make an impact in your community, we hope you will consider supporting Canopy’s long-standing mission helping children in your local area. Learn more about Canopy at mycanopy.org. Together, we can transform lives.

Helping the Community Together: United Way

By Hayden Wiggs | Sponsored by Swetland Cook, PLLC United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County is a nonprofit organization benefiting the well-being of the Lafayette-Oxford-University community. UWOLC and its Board of Directors partners with individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and public entities to mobilize resources, promote collaboration, and support programs that make a significant impact in the community.

“We focus on four interrelated areas: health, education, financial stability, and basic needs,” explained Kurt Brummett, the Executive Director of UWOLC. “Even though United Way is a global brand and entity, United Way Oxford is completely local. Our staff is local, our volunteers are local, and our focus is local.”

“Our volunteers that serve on the Advisory Committee look at the applications to see if there is a need in our community in regards to what is being proposed. They then make certain that the program

being proposed is going to make an impact in the community.”

Through this process, UWOLC has partnered with several incredible organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi, CASA of Lafayette County, the Girl Scouts Heart of the South, the Leap Frog Reading Program, and the Salvation Army.

“What I love so much about our organization and partners is that we are able to touch every age group and demographic throughout our community,” said Brummett. “We have everything from Leap Frog, which works with children, all the way through to the Meals on Wheels program, which delivers healthy meals to homebound seniors. It’s so great to be a very small part in what all is being accomplished here.”

Volunteers from the Lafayette-Oxford community are also encouraged to take par and can find volunteer opportunities at unitedwayoxfordms.org.

For Future Minds and Dreams: The Leap Frog Program

By Jacob Palmer | Sponsored by Swetland Cook, PLLC The Leap Frog Program is an after-school tutoring and mentoring program that serves students first through third-grade from the Oxford City and Lafayette County public school systems throughout the academic year. Leap Frog offers reading intervention services to students who are at-risk for falling behind academically free of charge.

“Because of the pandemic, we have opted into an all virtual tutoring program. We have paired students with tutors to work via Zoom or Facetime. We provide tutors with training, online materials and resources. So far this semester our tutors have logged over 130 hours, read over 38 hours/75 books virtually with their students,” said Teresa Adams, Executive Director of the Leap Frog Program.

“We consider this a huge success as we are all learning this new way of communication and e-learning. In addition to virtual tutoring, we host “Open Saturdays” once a month. Students and their families are able to sign up for time slots to come to

pick up supplies, Traveling Trunk art supply bags, and return and check out books from our library. Even in these strange and uncertain times, we wanted to be able to still reach out to our students. We are very proud of how our program has adapted.”

“Our students bring such joy and life into the program. It has proven to not only be a huge benefit to the students but also to the volunteers who serve with us. The students and volunteers create such meaningful relationships that can often last for years. The volunteers are such a large part of the success of the program. Without our volunteers, we would not be able to serve these students,” said Adams.

Leap Frog offers its services free of charge to participating families. Donations made to Leap Frog help supply books, educational materials, student support services and programming costs.

For more information, visit https:// theleapfrogprogram.org/.

OxfordMag.com 43

F

F

Faux- La- La..

Fab finds

the season

1. JANE $325

We are loving this bold & edgy RED short coat! Its comfy-chic oversized fit allows plenty of room for layering.

Wear this fab faux fur while shopping the Square on a cold day, or dress it up for a holiday party at night!

2. ZOE $250

This bohemian chic mid-length coat is

super soft with an elegant floral lining.

The coat's front pockets and buttoned

closure will keep you extra warm this

season!

3. NEILSON'S $269

A perfect piece to transition from Fall to

Winter, this poncho has an elegant faux fur trim along the collar and cuffs that

creates the right amount of luxury to go from casual to glam!

4. FROCK $99

This cozy coat in Powder Blue is an ultra

fuzzy faux fur with patch pockets and snap closure. Light-weight enough for Fall, it will also layer well for the colder temps!

OxfordMag.com 45

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland 1. HINTON & HINTON $298 These Trask waterproof suede and calfskin booties are ready for whatever the day may hold! Style meets quality and comfort with a rustic block heel, topped off with a buckled harness strap of tanned leather and finished with a lugged rubber outsole for good traction.

2. HEMLINE $100 Sleek and undeniably chic, the Milla boot statement long boot M illa bo oot is s tatteme ent lo ong g bo oot luxe croc look. ffinished iniished d in n a lux xe c roc look k. This perfect boott iis s tthe he p erffect ffinishing iniishing g ttouch ou uch that elevate your winter th hatt will ele evate y ourr w inte er wardrobe. w arrdro obe.

3.. M 3 MY YF FAVORITE AVO ORITE SH SHOES HOES $14 $149 49 Sho S ho de e in in tthe he e leop extured le eop ext ture ed b These comfortable pull T hes se comfor rtable e p ull ons provide rugged traction p ro ovid de ru ugged d tractio on with a chunky platform heel and ch hun nky y lug g pla atform he eel a nd rubber soles. ru ubbe er so oles.. $62.50 4.. LULU 4 LLULU'S ULU U'S $ 62.50 62.50 your y our cool w with these w itth th hese re he pointed toe onh e poin nted to oe iis s o nd,, an and d nd upport u pport and an nd a fun fu un n night ig ght o on n The T he 5.. JA JANE $199 5 ANE $ 199 9 The J/Slides Waterproof boot will T he J/ /Slid des W atterproo of b oot w ill embolden your cold-weather style embol lden y ourr c old-we eatther sty yle this season with mid-top design, th his s ea aso on w ith a m id d-ttop d esign, classic round toe, faux-fur collar, c la assic ro ound toe e, fa auxx-fu ur c olla ar, and buckled straps the vamp. a nd b uckkled strap ps along g th he vam mp.

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Holiday Hosting In Style

Table Runner Lily Pad $52.95 Cocktail Plates Oxford Floral $129 (4) Gold Cake Stand Neilson's $79 Nora Fleming Stoneware Prices Vary Oxford Gourmet & Gifts Etta B XL Round PLatter Olive Juice $115 Stemmed Wine Glass Katherine Beck $32 Oxford Pepper Jelly Katherine Beck $10 Cocktail Napkins Provisions $5.50

OxfordMag.com 47

Icon Ornaments (Various characters available) Neilson’s $30 Ole Miss Landmark Inside Discount $14 Vietri Hunting Dog Oxford Floral $46 Etta B Snowman Olive Juice $28 Phone Booth Inside Discount $10 Vietri Holiday Tree Oxford Floral $39 Oxford Courthouse Katherine Beck $55 48 November/December 2020

Masked Santa Olive Juice $25

5

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Wayne Andrews

Director of Yoknapatawpha Arts Council PHOTOS BY DANNY KLIMETZ

You have lived other places, but what attracted you to and keeps you in Oxford?

My wife and I wanted to find a place in which our work and involvement in the community could make an impact. We wanted to have a connection to our neighbors, be an active part of the community and enjoy the place in which we live. The LOU offered us walking trails, public parks, great restaurants, access to programs through the University and a community that enjoyed experiences from art shows to projection events on the historic square, and live musical performances. The LOU is a place of possibilities in which a small group can make an impact.

50 November/December 2020

How have you adapted these past few months to COVID-19 in a way that has been a positive? (new hobby, habit, etc.)

COVID-19 has changed all of our lives.

It did inspire my wife and I to think about our overall health and our connections to those who have impacted us over our lives. Together, we have taken up yoga.

Three times a week, we carve out an hour to focus on our physical and mental health. It has been something we both wanted to learn. Our friends at Oxford Bicycle Company helped us tune up our bikes so we could enjoy the paths and trails. I also started writing thank-you letters to people who have impacted my life. We all have people who have inspired,

helped or shaped our lives. I thought now was the perfect time to reach out and say thank you.

As head of YAC, what is one thing people are surprised to learn about you?

That I lied my way into David Bowie’s office! I didn’t really expect to meet him or find him in an office. If you are 18.

Learn the location of his office. One must try. Aside from that, I think most people would be surprised to learn that I was captain of my college fencing team.

Looking into 2021 events that YAC has planned, what are you most looking forward to and why?

COVID-19 has caused havoc. Our work centered around live performances and events. Pre-COVID, the Arts Council coordinated 320 days of in-person programs from art classes, plays and large events. We have been reimagining our programming to include social distancing and other guidelines. Key events such as the Fiber Arts Festival will return. New events, including the Pro Rodeo at the Lafayette County Arena will make their first appearance. I am excited by our Creative Cohort, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, and offered in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce which is helping creatives launch businesses in Lafayette County. We are also planning a new Valentine’s event.

If you planned the perfect day in Oxford, where would you go and what would you do?

I would cook breakfast with the items we pick up from the Oxford Community Market and Chicory Market and have it with my wife on our deck. After a little

reading, we would take a short bike ride through Lamar Park to the campus to see the sculptures and stopping for a rest on The Square. A visit to Square Books, End of all Music, Southside Art Gallery and

some ice cream before the ride home. An evening of live music, hopefully with the return of Thacker Mountain Radio, and then cocktails and dinner with friends.

Isn’t every day perfect in Oxford?

OxfordMag.com 51

OUT & ABOUT

1

YALOBUSHA GIANTS/ PRCA RODEO

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PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT

Pro Rodeo event was held Oct. 2 and 3, at the Oxford-Lafayette Sportsplex to benefit a North Mississippi youth baseball organization.

1. Jeremy Patridge with Ashley and Donny Chesteen 2. Kensley and Ashley Tutor 3. Hannah Lucius and Kallie Daniel 4. Hallie Grace Hickson, Macy Lane Sowell, Lollie Frace Lucius, Kallie Daniel and Hannah Lucius

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5. Paisley Doty rides the bull 6. John Robert Wortham shows his bullriding skills 7. Parker, Mackenzie, Jon, Eli and Sara Kreder 8. Paisely Doty and Joanna Mattox 9. Ethan Lewis, Jada Fulce and Luanda Freeman 10. Matt, Walter, Arrabella, Rebecca, Bo and Ann Wallace Bishop 11. Cody Johnson with Tammy and Stan Kraps 12. Eli and Michael Neal 13. Katherine, Merritt, Chris and Collier Boggs 14. Charles and Tavia Dennis

52 November/December 2020

OUT & ABOUT

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OxfordMag.com 53

OUT & ABOUT

1

LAFAYETTE HOMECOMING 2020

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PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT

Oxford High and Lafayette High Homecoming was held Oct. 2, 2020.

1. McCala Marie Kilpatrick, Reese Carwhile and Gabbie Hunt 2. Shelby Louise Wiley and Dewayne Clark 3. Gabbie and Chad Hunt 4. LHS Student Body

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5. Julia Jo and Marc Bryan 6. KaNija BreAnn Gipson and Lee-ahtoe Horton 7. Alyanash Ka’nya Lashae Jones and Anthony Dwayne Jones Jr 8. Julia Kate and Josh Perkins

54 November/December 2020

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SAID AND DONE

‘ALL IS STILL BRIGHT’

O 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.

ne of the sad signs of Covid Christmas is mall Santas being laid off. Retailers realize that no mom wants her precious bundle of joy breathing in a sweaty stranger in a wool suit, long hat and a fake beard. How many droplets could cluster in a 10-inch beard? Once the kid starts crying, suddenly it’s Droplet City.

USA Today interviewed Mike Hadrych of Canoga Park, CA, a 72-year old who has taken the time and trouble to grow a real Santa beard. He told the paper he normally has 20-30 bookings but this year had two.

“There’s just a lot of unknowns out there,” he said, knowingly.

The paper also talked to the folks at HireSanta.com, (yep, that’s a thing) a database of roughly 2,000 fake Santas – or “entertainers,” as they prefer. The website estimates their Santa bookings are down 50%.

Then there’s the Michigan Association of Professional Santas (yep, also a thing). According to USA Today, these “brothers in red” have brainstorming sessions via Zoom to come up with ideas. Plexi glass shields have been mentioned as well as virtual visits and personalized videos and Instagram accounts.

Santa as influencer.

Closer to home, Jon Sparks of Memphis, plays Santa on the Polar Express train that rolls through North Mississippi. Writing for Memphis magazine, he describes each show as going “through four rail cars, fully enclosed, windows shut. That’s 500 people per show, six shows a day for most of the month of December. That is risky, even in non-plague circumstances.”

Between shows, he notes that the cast and crew repair to a converted baggage car as their backstage area where they down juice, aspirin and Vitamin C. They steel themselves for coughy, runny-nose toddlers, like First Responders of Joy. Reuters reports that a London entertainment company called the Ministry of Fun (where’s Ronzo?) runs a “Santa School.” Among their Covid innovations are red velvet masks in white trim for Santa; keeping kids several feet away and a novel approach to giftgiving: Santa places the gift on a small sleigh and the child pulls it to them.

Even with these precautions in place, bookings are down by half.

Christmas ornaments are also getting in on the fun.

Amazon offers a small, dangling heart-shaped porcelain

56 November/December 2020

piece depicting a roll of toilet paper with the inscription, “2020 - The year nobody wiped.” Because, you know, nothing says season of joy like turmoil in the toilet.

Covid Christmas cards were inevitable: “Deck the Halls with masks and Lysol, Fa-la-la-lal-la-la…” One card says, “Best Year Ever” with the word “Best” crossed through and the word “Okayist” Year Ever written in. Another one says “Merry Christmas from our couch.” Another insists, “All Is Still Bright.”

Even the time-honored tradition of “Driving around looking at lights,” may be grounded.

McAdenville, NC, known as Christmas Town USA, announced it will reduce its lights display which is normally in the hundreds of thousands. According to the Charlotte Observer, the display is in its 65th year and attracts a half-million visitors to McAdenville, a town of 660 people.

And, in perhaps the cruelest cut of all, the Old Time Christmas Farm in Spring, Texas, has announced that “little red wagons” will no longer be available for customers to carry pumpkins and other items. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own little red wagons.

Unemployed Santas drinking their way through Zoom meetings, toilet jokes, dark Christmas lights, a ban on little red wagons… welcome to Covid Christmas – bring your own cheer.

There is in fact, good cheer for some sectors of the economy. The aforementioned Zoom has seen its stock soar, ditto Amazon, liquor stores, “loungewear” makers (nobody’s getting dressed), but people are cycling, there’s a waiting list for new bicycles. Perhaps people are biking in their pajamas.

Car travel is expected to be down this holiday season as people opt to stay home and FaceTime with grandma; a virtual Christmas with spotty sound.

Still, in our little hamlet of Oxford, we can think globally but act locally – albeit with a mask and hand sanitizer. We can still stroll around and take in our neighbors’ Christmas lights. Still enjoy a child’s laughter, the crisp weather and the warmth of a good fire.

In my case I can still open the home bar and blast whacko Christmas music like the immortal, Pee Pee Dynamite, “A Groovy Christmas and New Year” or Arthur Lyman’s “Winter Wonderland.” Or just put on the Ray Charles Christmas album.

The joy of Christmas is all around us even if we have to feel it from six feet away. I’m glad we’re all here.

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