Picayune Living, winter 2020

Getaway home at Infinity Farms offers big city couple a bit of peace The arts: Canvas, crochet artisans share their stories

Winter 2020

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NEW TO TOWN!

EDITOR’S LETTER

By JEREM Y PIT TARI

W

ELCOME

Hot Sandwiches As 2020 winds to a close, we come to arguably the most joyous time of the year.

Looking forward to 2021, our community is hopeful a new year will bring a stark contrast to everything we’ve dealt with this year.

If New Year’s resolutions could influence the outcome of the things out of our control, many of us would probably put an uneventful hurricane season, the end to the pandemic and economic recovery on our lists.

Since those things are beyond our control, focus shifts to preparing for family gatherings and being thankful for what we have.

As you do, take a minute to peruse the pages within this latest edition of Picayune Living.

In these pages you will find stories about art, fitness and a unique home in Pearl River County that was built by a man

4 WINTER 2020

who always wanted to visit Paris, but knew such a trip was out of reach.

Painting is typically considered to be a two dimensional art form. But one local artist has found away to add texture to her work on canvas.

When most people think of the art of crochet, they think of old blankets made decades ago by skilled hands. But the individual we feature in this edition uses that skill to create her versions of fictional characters or clothing.

Getting fit is typically a exercise in self consciousness, especially for those just starting out. Check out our story about a place where women can tone up together.

Also inside is a story about Infinity Farms, a piece of property purchased by New Orleans natives as a getaway from the big city that

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CONTENTS

8 WITH TEXTURE: Painting on canvas does not have to be two dimensional, as local artist Jenny Herrin demonstrates.

12 INFINITY FARMS: One couple’s home away from home here in Pearl River County has also become a second business.

16 LIKE MAGIC: This Pearl River County artist puts her skills to work creating unique items through the skill of crocheting.

20 GET FIT: Matrix Fitness provides women in the Picayune area with a safe place to work out.

ON THE COVER

On this edition’s cover is Donna Russell, who with her husband, own a getaway home in Pearl River County that they turned into a second business.

Photo by Jeremy Pittari

STAFF DAN PHELAN Publisher JEREMY PITTARI Associate Publisher

ADVERTISING Austin Ladner Maggie Stolz

WRITERS Cathy Cook Jonathan Mitchell Free copies of Picayune Living magazine are available at these fine establishments: Forever Fabulous, Melinda’s Fine Gifts, Holiday Inn Express, MS Welcome Center, Moore Chiropractic Clinic, Scooters, Senior Center of South MS, Phillips Building Supply, City Rexall Drugs, Paul’s Pastry Shop, Apple’s LTD, James Furniture, Advanced Eyecare, Penley Family Dentistry, Picayune Drug, Picayune Chiropractic, Poplarville Dental Clinic, Glass Porch, Picayune Veterinary Clinic, Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce, and the office of the Picayune Item.

INFORMATION: Picayune Living is published four times per year by Picayune Newsmedia, LLC. All content is subject to copyright.

POSTMASTER: Please send any changes of address or undeliverable information attn: Picayune Item, P.O. 580, Picayune, MS 39466

ALSO INSIDE: 28 OUT & ABOUT See who’s attending the city’s premier events.

24 LOOKING GLASS: Stained glass creations are what this McNeill native spends her free time on.

30 WHY I LOVE PICAYUNE Picayune resident and newly appointed Police Chief Freddy Drennan shares his thoughts on why Picayune is an ideal place to live.

PICAYUNELIVING.COM 5

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ART IN PICAYUNE

By Jonat han Mitc hell

on canvas Local artist builds on childhood desire to create

8 WINTER 2020

“I DO A LOT OF STUFF WITH LAYERS, TEXTURE. THAT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO.” As a child, Jenny Herrin would weave her way through her father’s cabinetry shop picking out little pieces of wood and coalescing the pieces into gifts for families and family members.

Decades later her love for wood has grown into a passion that allows Herrin to not only make money by creating unique art, but also provide an outlet to express herself.

As the years went by, Herrin became more interested in wood and finding ways to beautify it.

Using paint, pallet knives and brushes, Herrin creates unique pieces on both canvas and wood that serve as a visual stimulant while also adding a unique aspect lacking in a lot of traditional art; tactile touch.

“I love texture. I think visual art doesn’t have to be just visual art, you can touch it too. I do a lot of stuff with layers, texture. That’s one of my favorite things to do,” Herrin said.

Her catalog ranges from places that hold personal meaning to pieces depicting the essence of historical buildings to document their historical value.

Herrin believes there’s a need to keep those historical places alive via physical art pieces

and digitally.

“The historical society has old pictures, so I’ve done one of the First Baptist Church on the boulevard. I would absolutely love that, just to bring that back. They only have a couple and they’re only on Facebook. All that’s going to be lost and I love hanging on to history,” Herrin said.

Herrin’s projects are a mix of commission work and personal collectibles she creates at her father’s cabinetry shop or at home.

In the future, crafting a full time job out of the art is one of Herrin’s goals, but for now the joy of the process and the fulfillment of bringing a client’s idea to life are enough of a reward.

“Seeing someone’s vision they have and then taking my creativity, my spin on it and breathing life into something that wasn’t there. That’s what I love. You’re taking something from a vision and you are making something beautiful and concrete out of it,” Herrin said.

The art and process of creating it not only serves as a creative outlet, but also as a way for Herrin to express herself.

Communication between friends, family

PICAYUNELIVING.COM 9

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members and loved ones is important, but sometimes words don’t do the job.

For Herrin, paint and a brush can combine to create a piece that says everything she couldn’t articulate.

“I’m very emotional, very sensitive, but as far as expressing myself emotionally and speaking with words, that doesn’t come naturally. But as far as expressing myself through painting, that is my outlet.”

“I get consumed with a painting. I feel like I’m transferred from here to there. I just get drawn in, especially if it’s a painting I choose to do and it’s really personal. It just evokes so many emotions.

It’s so peaceful holding a paintbrush or pallet knife,” Herrin said.

Herrin started small and has since acquired a unique talent built on hours of work and stylized texture.

Not everyone will have the same draw or inspiration, but the beauty of art is that it’s subjective and Herrin hopes more people take up the craft even if they don’t feel talented enough to do so.

“I believe everyone has a creative bone in their body. I think it’s a God given talent. That’s what He gives us to help us mentally. You can start with paper and a pencil, doodling is even a start. My sister and my mom say they don’t have an artistic bone in their body, but I’ve told them if you were to sit down and try hard enough (you could create something). It’s just like with anything else.

We all learn to read, all learn to write, everyone has it in them,” Herrin said.

PICAYUNELIVING.COM 11

HOME SWEET HOME

By JEREM Y PIT TARI

Money making getaway The Russells have turned their vacation home into a second business called Infinity Farms

THE UNIQUE HOMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STYLING TAKES CUES FROM THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES

On about 13 acres in the HenleyďŹ eld community sits the second home and now second business of Donna and Thomas Russell called Infinity Farms.

The couple purchased the 2,000 square foot home from family friends back in 2013, having visited it when the previous owners hosted gatherings.

Donna said she has always enjoyed the home and surrounding property because the peace and tranquility help her forget all of the tensions

12 WINTER 2020

from living in New Orleans.

Constructed in 1990, the original owner built the home in the spirit of the Palace of Versailles near Paris, France because he always dreamed of visiting the city, but never did, Donna said.

As such, the front of the home displays a boxy stature, albeit in a much smaller scale than the source material.

Additions were made by the second owner such as an in ground pool and some trees. After Donna and her husband took ownership, they added palms to the motor court, several courtyards and

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built a 7,000 square foot event venue adjacent to the home.

Within the event venue, visitors can gather in the large open area on the first floor complete with a functional bar. On the second floor are two suites, one decorated for him and another decorated for her.

Donna said the two suites provide the bride and groom with separate places to dress up for the big day and are complete with king sized beds, large closets and separate bathrooms.

Getting to one of the several courtyards brings people closer to nature, with each path covered in bushes, or surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors.

Now, the property serves as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Big Easy, while also providing a venue for Donna to host weddings and other social events.

An interior designer by trade, Donna also coordinates with clients to rent the event venue and even the home so couples can have the

14 WINTER 2020

r r

wedding of their dreams.

In the main home are ten foot ceilings and eight foot doors that lead to two large bedrooms with a bathroom attached to each. A study in the center of the home can serve as a guest bedroom via the pull out bed. Reclaimed wood adorns the floors in a number of rooms, and the dining room’s numerous windows provide a view of the heated pool in the backyard. Donna said that one of the things she likes most about the home is there is a view from every room.

On either side of the pool are covered areas where people can gather to enjoy the day, or entertain guests.

“There are so many places to enjoy and get away,” Donna said.

The kitchen in the main home is designed for optimal flow, while the kitchen in the event venue is set up to provide everything a catering company could need to feed dozens of hungry attendees.

Out back of the main home is a small structure Donna likes to call the Art House. Inside, the structure is essentially a small residence complete with two beds, working bathroom and kitchen.

PICAYUNELIVING.COM 15

THE ARTS

By C at hy Cook

yarn magic

Toys, clothes and decor through the skill of crochet Rochelle Fugatt has fast hands. She can crochet a toddler sized Yoda in two days or a baby lion costume in six hours.

Fugatt crochets more time intensive items than baby booties or blankets. Some of her more complicated items include crocheted Pokémon and an Easter dress with colorful fringe across the collar. But she still enjoys making baby booties.

“I think my favorite is to make baby stuff or kid stuff. They think it’s so amazing,” she said. “One little kid came over here and she was like, ‘You’re a

16 WINTER 2020

yarn magician’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m magic.’”

Fugatt got her start crocheting when she was pregnant with her oldest daughter.

“I actually wanted to make her a blanket before she was born and then I saw baby boots and all this other stuff, and I just figured it was like an endless imagination on it, so I just kept going.”

A week after the first baby blanket, she made baby boots. Four months later she started making headbands that drew interest online, so she went from being a hobbyist to a professional.

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Since then, she’s crocheted many scarves, hats and blankets, some with an imaginative twist: a dinosaur blanket with a bright orange T-Rex or a fish hat with a long tail and drawstrings that can be pulled closed to make it look like the fish is eating the wearer.

“If there was one project I’d never make again, it’d definitely be the Charizard. That was so hard. It’s kind of like a puzzle though when you go to make stuff like this, so that’s always fun,” she said.

Crocheting projects both large and small takes patience and concentration.

“I made a hedgehog one time and it took 155 strings to put in one by one.”

She stays focused as she works because counting stitches is an important part of crocheting. If a crocheter loses count, their project may get smaller or expand as they lose or add stitches.

Some of her favorite projects are large crocheted figures that she stuffs with polyphil, like the Jack Skellington or Yoda that her daughter loves to play with.

Along with completed projects, her shelves are also filled with yarn for future projects. She tries to

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keep white, black, gray and turquoise yarn on hand, because they are the most highly requested colors.

Although summer sales are slow, crocheted items are popular as holiday gifts. Photographers often purchase Fugattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creations to use as props in baby photo shoots.

Crocheting is completed with a singular hook instead of a pair of needles like knitting. Hooks come in different sizes to create different sized stitches. Fugatt also uses thick fabric needles for some projects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knitting it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really have the same momentum,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Hand knitting is her favorite practice, because it goes faster and is easier on her hands. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crochet needles, if you go a long time itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll leave blisters on your hands,â&#x20AC;? she said.

She uses a loom to make bands that she puts on her crochet hooks, which makes crocheting easier on her hands.

All beginners need to get started is yarn and a crochet hook, said Fugatt. YouTube is a good resource for finding instructional

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videos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of people are interested in it, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know what stitches to learn,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Someday, Fugatt hopes to teach classes on crocheting or open her own shop filled with crocheted winter sweater sets and backpacks.

Fugattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work can be found at ko-fi.com/ supacrochet or on Facebook at Supa Crochet Boutiqe or Supa Crochet.

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GET FIT

BY JONATHAN M ITCHELL

BREAKING A SWEAT

Fitness enthusiast offers safe place for women to tone up

20 WINTER 2020

Kimberly Stephens knew she wanted to create a workout space for women that would allow members to not only better themselves mentally and physically, but most of all feel comfortable while doing so.

Her vision manifested itself into Matrix Fitness that is now home to over 60 female clients who take part in the nearly 40 different classes Stephens and her two instructors provide.

Stephens previously worked out at gyms across the state, but never found one that truly embodied her idea of a perfect fitness center.

After building a group of loyal customers at a local gym, Stephens branched out on her own to form Matrix in mid 2017.

Since then two instructors have been brought on to help teach the classes, Emily Krol and Sarah Wells. The trio has since built the gym into exactly what Stephens envisioned.

“We’re all here for the same reason, to encourage each other and say, ‘You can do this. I believe in you. I see your potential, now show it to me that you see your potential,’” Stephens said.

Krol and Wells both credit their experience with Matrix and its clients for motivating and inspiring them.

Fitness and working out with others helped the two instructors fight through personal adversity and now they’re looking to do the same with others.

“Watching people come into themselves is amazing. Just working out here changed everything for me and to be able to do that for anybody else is such a gift. They morph into these people they should’ve been all along,” Wells said.

“I can’t imagine my life without it. It has shaped me into who I am today. I love walking

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through these doors every morning. This is the reason I wake up in the morning and the people here make it so worth it,” Krol said.

Instead of focusing on making their clients look a certain way, the goal at Matrix is to help the women reach realistic goals.

Stephens said all of the societal pressures put on women to have a specific physical look has led to unrealistic expectations, so it’s her job to get members to understand that their progress is important and worth being proud of.

Seeing women on Instagram or in the movies can hurt a person’s self-perception, so Stephens and her instructors have worked to create a community where everybody is encouraged and uplifted, no matter what they look like.

“When my women come in here and say, “I saw so and so on Facebook.” I say, ‘Oh did you think that was real? Because people are only posting their highlight reel (on social media).’ This is real life and the one thing I love about it being only women is that we’re all here for the same reason, whether you’re a size zero or 200 pounds overweight,” Stephens said.

Matrix also offers childcare every single day classes are held so women with children don’t feel restricted to doing certain classes at certain times because their kids will be with them.

Working out has obvious physical benefits, but mental health is just as important and something that’s stressed at Matrix.

“It’s so important those mommas get that one hour to themselves. You’re a mom, a wife doing all

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22 WINTER 2020

these things. Where are you? We need to see you. You are still that person inside that mom shell,” Stephens said.

“You’re pouring yourself into other people constantly, but you need to fill up your cup also. Even with younger girls, you have so much responsibility. You’re spreading yourself so thin. To come here and spend time on yourself, it’s a stress reliever,” Krol said.

At the end of the day, it’s not about the money.

For Stephens, Wells and Krol the importance of building a supportive community, one made entirely of women, is what takes precedence.

“It is so cool to watch them morph, not only physically because the physical part is super cool, but also emotionally and mentally. They just come into who they were always meant to be. We saw it and now they see it. We’re all in it together. We all have other things to do, so much stress to look a certain way and here we are encouraging each other. We can do this,” Stephens said.

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PICAYUNELIVING.COM 23

TR ANSLUCENT ART

By C at hy Cook

Fitting it all together PEARL RIVER COUNTY NATIVE PUTS HER TALENT OF STAINED GLASS TO WORK McNeill native Esma Irvine did not appreciate the artistry of stained glass windows until she began making them herself.

“I just never paid much attention to it, because being an antique person I’ve got all this glassware, so I’ve always looked at it…The artist stuff comes in where if I decide to make this (design) red and yellow or 10 people might do this and everybody’s might be a different color.”

Creating a stained glass window is similar to putting together a puzzle. Irvine begins with a design that is printed the size of her planned window. If she is using cathedral glass, colored glass which can be seen through and is traditionally used in church windows, then she can simply trace the desired shape onto the glass before cutting. If using opaque glass she must create a stencil of the shape that she can stick to the glass. Creating curving shapes is a challenge.

After cutting, she uses a grinder to smooth the edges of the glass before wrapping them in

24 WINTER 2020

either copper or lead. A wooden tool called a fid is then used to smooth wrinkles from the copper and ensure it is tightly attached to the glass. She assembles the design from left to right in a metal frame. The pieces are kept tightly together with horseshoe nails as she assembles the design before the pieces are soldered together.

“Everybody can do the same pattern..., all of them have the same feeling, because you can make them bold. You can make them real calm,” said Irvine.

Although it can be an expensive hobby, anyone can learn how to make stained glass windows.

“I would advise anybody to do it, because anybody can do it,” she said. “My grandsons are teenagers. We had three boys over grinding and cutting glass. Before the day was over we had a ball with our safety glasses and all that.”

She got into the craft with a class five years ago after she started having trouble working with her hands. The stained glass work helped

From Our Family to Yours, Since 1972

build dexterity in her hands, although grinding glass did make it hard for her phone to read her fingerprints. Since then she’s made stained glass pieces to place inside her own windows where they catch the light at night. A fleur de lis sits in one window, a large hummingbird design with a flower took a year to complete and over the entrance of her home she displays a small stained glass piece with the numbers of her address.

The Pearl River County Art Association has given her the opportunity to show the stained glass pieces over the years at the Knights of Columbus Hall, she said.

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OUT & ABOUT 1

By C ATH Y COOK

PICAYUNE STREET FESTIVAL

Picayune Main Street Inc. held the fall edition of its popular Street Festival in November.

1. From left are Alan and Susan Simmons.

2. From left are Gina and Micah Necaise.

3. From left are Layla Watts, Ethan Watts and Amanda Silva.

4. From left are James and Jakai Davis.

2

POPLARVILLE BLUEBERRY MINI MARKET

Community members attended a miniature version of the Blueberry Jubilee 5. From left are Dennis and Julie Bounds.

6. From left are Kingston, Robynn and Jordan Shubert.

4

3

5 6

26 WINTER 2020

OUT & ABOUT

1

By C ATH Y COOK

PICAYUNE MAIN STREET BLUES FEST

Live music and fun were on tap for Picayune Main Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Blues Fest.

1. From left are Jayla and Shannon Bates.

2. From left Jerry Billiot and Maria Diamond.

3. From left are Leslie Powell and Audi Smith.

4. From left Mack Fox and John Powell.

5. From left Star and Morris Johnson.

6. From left are Mark Bates and Paul Bates.

2 3

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PICAYUNELIVING.COM 27

OUT & ABOUT

By JEREM Y PIT TARI

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GREATER PICAYUNE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS BANQUET

Members of the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce enjoyed a night of food and socializing during the annual Awards Banquet.

1. From left are Christian and Richard Burge.

2. From left are Ed Pinero, Nickie Smith and Wayne Gouguet.

3. From left are Nick Romano and Shane Fitzgerald.

4. From left are Edward and Noel Lunsford, Courtney Knight and Laci Lee.

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28 WINTER 2020

OUT & ABOUT

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By C ATH Y COOK

POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

Emergency responders took time out of their afternoon to celebrate the best and brightest in their field.

1. From left are Alexis and Garrett Duplechain.

2. From left Jennifer Moeller and Rhonda Poche Johnson.

3. From left are Kristin Thibodeaux and Christina Holcomb.

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ST. CHARLES BORROMEO PUMPKIN PATCH

Families in the Picayune area picked out their favorite holiday gourd at the local Catholic Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual pumpkin patch.

4. From left Danielle Harrison and Chris Palmisano.

5. From left in the back row are Laurie Berges, Krystal Herrin and Amanda Reynolds. From left in the front row are Maverick Berges, Ella Reynolds and Ava Reynolds.

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PICAYUNELIVING.COM 29

WHY I LOVE PICAYUNE

By CHIEF FREDDY DRENNAN

Picayune offers a quality of life like no other When I think of Picayune, the one thing that always comes to my mind is “Quality of Life.” I think about the great quality of life that Picayune has to offer.

The hometown atmosphere is alive and well in our city. Let something happen and watch how everyone comes together to help out.

We live 45 minutes from a major metropolitan city that offers all the amenities of a big city. We live 45 minutes from a professional football team and a professional basket ball team. We are 50 minutes from a major international airport. Thirty minutes east of us are some of the most beautiful sugar white sandy beaches anywhere and numerous casinos. The casinos provide stage shows, food and of course gambling, if you like to do that.

We have a major interstate highway that runs through our city north and south that leads to another interstate 20 minutes away that crosses the U.S. from east to west making travel easy.

Our city has numerous parks for people to use and enjoy, such as Friendship Park, Crosby Commons and Jack Read Park. We also have some of the best schools in the state to educate our children.

Picayune has a very low crime rate making it a safe place to live and raise our families.

People who know me know that I

30 WINTER 2020

haven’t told you the best part yet. I love to hunt and fish. We have great fresh water and salt water fishing right here on our door step. Hunting is the same. The area around Picayune has a very good deer and turkey

population for people who enjoy this type of recreation.

Quality of life to me is paramount.

We have a great place to live and enjoy these and many other quality of life things in our city.

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$OORZ XV WR VKRZ \RX MXVW KRZ HDV\ LW LV WR VKRS IRU VHUYLFH DQG Æ&#x201C;QDQFH \RXU GUHDP FDU DW 1LVVDQ RI Picayune. See for yourself why drivers from Picayune, Slidell, Carriere and Gulfport choose for all their automotive needs. From all of us at Nissan of Picayune, we look forward to meeting you!

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