Forward - March 2019

®

FORWARD

March 2019 DoSouthMagazine.com

CONTENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / OWNER Catherine Frederick CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Scott Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS Marla Cantrell Catherine Frederick Dwain Hebda Jade Graves Jessica Sowards Tom Wing GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jessica Mays-Meadors Artifex 323 PROOFREADER Charity Chambers PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC

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ADVERTISING INFORMATION Catherine Frederick - 479.782.1500 Catherine@DoSouthMagazine.com

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INSIDE 14

18 38 42

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JOLIE’S HOTEL FOR DOGS Jolie plans what make

is five years old, and already she’s made to rescue dogs that need a home. Find out she’s doing, with the help of her mom, to a big difference.

WHITNEY'S RACE On the thirtieth of this month, runners will head to Fort Smith to participate in the first ever Whitney's Race. Read the heartwarming story of why the race was started and how you can help.

SPRING BREAK Spring break in the Natural State. Mountain biking, interactive museums, a trip back in history and world-class art experiences. All this and more just waiting to be explored.

BURRATA FRITTATA Fresh herbs and vegetables, delicious Burrata cheese, and lots of eggs make this the perfect recipe for springtime gatherings.

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EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell - 479.831.9116 Marla@DoSouthMagazine.com ©2019 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions contained in Do South® are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to Do South® or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893 Cover Image: Irene Davila

FOLLOW US Annual subscriptions are $36 (12 months), within the contiguous United States. Subscribe at DoSouthMagazine.com or mail check to 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903. Single issues are available upon request. Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.

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from our publisher

W

Welcome to our incredible March issue! I love

family. And mark your calendar because you

every issue of Do South , but our locally-owned

don’t want to miss The Arkansas River Valley

®

issue always holds a special place in my heart.

Lawn and Garden Show, March 15 – 17. This

I encourage you to take your time as you

year’s theme is small gardens and the list of

read over each and every business in this

events is impressive!

issue and shop local as much as possible!

It is because of these businesses that this

We’re also introducing you to a local five-

magazine is sitting in your hands right now!

year-old whose heart for dogs is as big as the

We are thankful for their support, and in turn,

sky. Her passion for animals and her heart for

they are grateful for yours.

rescue is something we should all admire. Read about her dreams to rescue them all and how she’s

We’re proud to be a magazine that supports Fort

already started to make a big difference.

Smith! When my family relocated to Hot Springs for my husband’s career, I knew I’d never give up Do South ®. Through

On the thirtieth of this month, I encourage you to support

visits, hours of phone calls, and keeping up with dear friends,

Whitney’s Race in honor of Whitney Marsh. Whitney was a

clients, and colleagues, I continue to stay connected to this

light to so many in our community, and this is a way we can all

place I’ll always call home. Along with my team of writers and

honor her life and help raise funds to fight pancreatic cancer.

designers who live in Fort Smith, we continue to produce this

Find out more on page 18.

beautiful publication, bringing you stories not only from Fort Smith, but keeping you up to date on happenings around this

Looking for a new recipe perfect for breakfast or brunch? If

great state!

so, you’ll love our Burrata Frittata (try saying that three times fast). It’s a delicious combination of veggies, Burrata cheese

In fact, we’re so local we’ve devoted seventeen pages

and farm-fresh eggs. Serve it with a side of fresh fruit or crusty

showcasing locally-owned businesses! I've learned so much

French bread!

about the history of our local businesses as we put this feature together and I know you will too! Discover what these

If you are considering advertising, I invite you to call me.

businesses have to offer and how they support our community.

I’d love the opportunity to earn your business, answer any

Our locally-owned guide begins on page 48.

questions, and explain what makes Do South® the best choice.

We thank not only our advertisers for their continued support,

With spring break around the corner, we’ve packed this issue

but also our readers. We are so very blessed to have you all

with fun things to do, both here at home and around the

in our corner!

state. Follow along as we detail ways to spend spring break right here in Arkansas with tons of activities for you and your

~Catherine Frederick

contact catherine@dosouthmagazine.com

To reserve this free space for your charitable non-profit organization, email: Editors@DoSouthMagazine.com.

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entertainment

How to Walk Away

By Katherine Center St. Martin’s Press | 302 pages | $27 review Marla Cantrell

Margaret Jacobsen works too hard, never met a standardized

could cause the family to implode. And Margaret’s mother has

test she didn’t love and has just gotten an impressive job straight

kept a deception hidden since she was a teen.

out of business school. The only thing that could make her life better is if Chip, her seemingly perfect boyfriend, would propose.

At the beginning of this novel, Margaret recalls a family trip to Hawaii when she was in high school. Afraid of the plane

On a day when she thinks it might happen, Margaret dresses in

crashing, she asked Kitty to help her come up with a survival

a strapless black dress, but when Chip picks her up, he drives

strategy. Kitty told her not to worry. If the plane went down,

her out of Austin, where they live, to an airfield where he’s been

she said, they’d be dead. Just like that.

taking flying lessons. Margaret, who’s been afraid of flying her entire life, protests, but something tells her to go. Chip just

Kitty tells Margaret that dying is easy. And then she adds, “It’s

might want to pop the question surrounded by the big blue sky.

not dying that’s hard.”

Which is exactly what happens. Since it’s not easy to

Those words come back to Margaret as she’s lying in a

communicate in the little Cessna, he points to the glove box.

hospital bed, where she’ll be for over a month. Chip’s visits are

Inside is a ring that’s been in his family. It isn’t anything

infrequent, and when he does show up, he’s often drinking.

Margaret would have picked for herself, but she tells herself

She thinks about that perfect life she had, how easily it was

the real prize is Chip.

taken away.

All goes well until Chip tries to land. The weather is against him,

Slowly, Margaret begins to change. In shock from the crash,

and he doesn’t even have his license yet. Terror rushes through

she finds it hard to feel anything, and when she does finally

Margaret, and with good reason. The plane is going down.

feel, she wonders if Chip is someone she’d want to spend a weekend with, much less her life.

Both survive the crash, Chip unscathed and Margaret seriously injured. While in ICU, her family huddles around her, and her

How to Walk Away is a breezy read, but it deals with some hard

estranged sister, Kitty, shows up to make amends. Chip is

subjects. What is love? Can it survive tragedy? Can tragedy,

finding it hard to deal with his shame over the crash, and he’s

once survived, turn a perfect life into an even richer one?

dealing with it in all the wrong ways.

Author Katherine Center answers all these questions. And she As the story deepens, we learn secrets. Chip has a big one he’s

ends the book with a panorama of hope, for Margaret, and all

keeping from Margaret. Margaret’s sister Kitty has a secret that

those she holds dear.

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calendar

Fan Mail

The Calendar March 2019

Send comments and suggestions to editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

Thank You! Thank you Do South® Magazine for being a Bonneville House Corporate Member! We LOVE your February issue!

Bonneville House

March 15-17 LAWN AND GARDEN Fort Smith Fort Smith Convention Center

Grab a Copy!

Locals, grab a copy of February’s Do South® Magazine! It is high quality work and we ran our first ad this month. Even the paper it’s printed on feels sooo nice. Do South® Magazine is a dream to work with.

Theo Nouveau Vintage Design

March 1-2 PBR Professional Bull Riders: Unleash the Beast Verizon Arena North Little Rock

Contests (Deadline is March 15) Go to dosouthmagazine.com, click on our “Contests” button at the top of the page. All who enter will be subscribed to our mailing list. Please see rules and policies on our Contests page!

IN GOOD SPIRITS

Let the good times flow with a $25 gift card from In Good Spirits, the only store in Arkansas to feature a temperaturecontrolled wine cellar! In Good Spirits also carries premium spirits, fine cigars and unique gifts.

CODE: GOOD ARKANSAS VEIN CLINIC AND SKINCARE

Enter to win a $25 gift card from Arkansas Vein Clinic for the purchase of Young Living Essential Oils!

CODE: OILS

CONGRATULATIONS Congrats to our contest winners from February!

Sodie’s Wine & Spirits: Nancy Franks Art’s BBQ: Sherrie Green

March 7-9 Growing Kids Consignment Sale Kay Rodgers Park Fort Smith

Annual Fundraiser for The Gregory Kistler Treatment Center for Children

March 8-10 Marvel Universe Live! Age of Heroes Verizon Arena North Little Rock

ARCBest Performing Arts Center Fort Smith

March 16 Outdoor Enthusiasts Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center Fort Smith March 16 Miss UAFS and Miss UAFS Outstanding Teen Fort Smith Convention Center Fort Smith

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March 9

A Night in the Caribbean

March 8-9 Wizard of Oz ARCBest Performing Arts Center Fort Smith

March 30 Whitney’s Race: Time to Cure Chaffee Crossing Fort Smith

Submit your events to editors@dosouthmagazine.com

L ive !

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calendar

Don’t-Miss March Concerts

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MARCH 6

2

MARCH 14

Gretchen Peters Gretchen Peters, a Nashville award-winning singer/songwriter, is coming to Fort Smith for a phenomenal night of music. Peters was inducted into the Nashville Hall of Fame in 2014, was a Golden Globe nominee for her song, “Here I Am,” in 2003, and a two-time Grammy nominee in 1995 and 1996. She won the CMA Song of the Year award for “Independence Day” in 1995.

AACLive!

Fort Smith

One Night of Queen Get ready for One Night of Queen – an amazingly accurate tribute concert that recreates the look, sound, pomp, and showmanship of Queen, one of the greatest rock bands of all time. This show has everything you’d want in a Queen concert, including fantastic staging, lighting, and effects.

Walton Arts Center Fayetteville

MARCH 23

MARCH 23

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Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour Alabama is headed to Arkansas! See this iconic southern rock/country group, which formed in 1969, with hits like “The Closer You Get” and “Tennessee River.” These superstars have sold 80 million albums! This performance also includes the Charlie Daniels Band.

Verizon Arena North Little Rock

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Ronnie Milsap Country great Ronnie Milsap makes his way to Fort Smith for a night of great music at Temple Live. Milsap’s hits include "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends" and “Lost in the Fifties Tonight.”

Temple Live Fort Smith

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MARCH 30

Jay Leno Don’t miss your chance to see Jay Leno in Fayetteville. The late-night TV host, stand-up comedian, author, TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, philanthropist and Emmy Award®-winner, is sure to impress!

Walton Arts Center Fayetteville

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community

Our Community Cares words Do South® staff

The Boys and Girls Club of the Alma Area is a place whose sole purpose is to provide for the children in the area. It provides a fun and safe place for children to go after school and during the summer. The Club provides a full meal and snack before the children go home.

When they see a need, they do their best to meet it, whether it’s providing a backpack or a coat, or providing homework help. CEO Elaina Damante shares more about their mission.

DS: How long has The Boys and Girls Club of the Alma Area been serving our area?

ED: The Club has served the Alma area since 2006.

DS: What prompted the creation of the Club?

ED: With over half of Alma’s children living in poverty we saw great need for a safe and fun place for these children, and all children, to go after school and during the summer.

We used this incredible opportunity to help and encourage our members to thrive not only at the Club but at school as well. We also used the opening of the Club to make sure every member is fed a full meal before they go home so that no one goes home hungry. There is still a great need, and we continually meet those needs.

410 East Main Street Alma, AR 479.632.2070 almabgc.com

DS: How many boys and girls are enrolled at the Club?

ED: Currently, there are 924 boys and girls enrolled at the Club. There are 508 boys and 416 girls.

DS: What ages do you serve?

ED: We serve those who are in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Ages five to nineteen.

Next month, we’ll showcase another worthy charity in our area free of charge. If you have a non-profit you’d like to see recognized, email us at editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

DS: Can you describe some of your programs?

ED: Our programs include SMART Girls, Passport to Manhood, and Junior Staff. SMART Girls focuses on health, fitness, prevention, and boosting self-esteem. Passport to Manhood encourages and teaches responsibility. Junior Staff is a program for Club teens.

This program helps them to develop social skills, a strong work ethic, and a sense of community while helping out around the Club.

DS: What’s one of the nicest compliments you’ve received?

ED: “I think we are blessed to have a great Boys and Girls Club in Alma. We have a community of people who care about the youth in the area with their time and/or money.

We have a solid team of people leading the Club.” – Quote from a Parent DS: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

ED: We regularly open our doors to the community for things like toy drives, festivals, parties, basketball practices, and banquets.

DS: What’s the next fundraiser you’re planning?

ED: Our Youth of the Year banquet is April 4. This allows us to showcase our Youth of the Year members and celebrate their remarkable achievements. The funds raised from the event help support our summer program.

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pets

Change the Luck of a Shelter Pet. Adopt!

F

F

F

Della

Charlotte

M

F

Hazel

Elton

F

Myrtle

Emma

3 Girls Animal Rescue is a foster-only rescue, so there is no facility. All animals are currently in foster homes being socialized and cared for by loving families. All animals are spayed or neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, and heartworm negative. 3 Girls is run completely by volunteers and operates solely on public donations.

CONTACT: Angela Meek 479.883.2240 • Mitzi Burkhart 479.651.4445 www.facebook.com/3GirlsAnimalRescue • threegirlsanimalrescue@outlook.com Each month, Do South® donates this page to local and regional non-profit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email editors@dosouthmagazine.com.

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shop

WHO NEEDS LUCK WHEN YOU CAN SHOP LOCAL? words Catherine Frederick imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors

Diamond Engagement Rings by Hearts On Fire, available in 18kt. Rose, Yellow, White Gold and Platinum

JOHN MAYS JEWELERS 479.452.2140

Thomas Jefferson Gerard Bertrand 2015 Sparkling Wine, Glassware, Boulevard Chocolate Ale

SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013

Persol Sunglasses

DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020

Marble, granite, onyx, and more.

MAJESTIC MARBLE & GRANITE 479.783.0060

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shop

We believe if you’re lucky enough to shop local, then you’re lucky enough!

Visit some of our favorite local shops and let them know you saw them in Do South® !

Ladybird Provisions Butter Coffee Bombs, Garden of Life Essential Oils

OLDE FASHIONED FOODS Livio™ AI by Starkey, the world’s first hearing aid to provide both superior sound quality and the ability to track body and brain health.

479.782.6183 / 479.649.8200

CENTER FOR HEARING 479.785.3277

Connemara Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Jameson Cooper’s Croze Irish Whiskey, St. Patrick’s Day Décor

IN GOOD SPIRITS 479.434.6604

Eau Thermale Avène Skincare Products

ARKANSAS VEIN CLINICS & SKINCARE 479.484.7100

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people

Jolie and Jericho

O J

Jolie's Hotel for Dogs WORDS Marla Cantrell images courtesy Brittany Gallaher via PeaFilms/Payton Radley

olie, five years old, strolls in carrying a cloth bag half her

Jericho has been alive longer than Jolie by four or five years; the

size, which contains a pink notebook with her mission plan.

family’s not really sure. Jolie’s mom, Brittany Gallaher, found

In her other hand is a blue leash attached to a tan dog

him on the side of the road, the week of Christmas 2012, when

wearing a red bandana.

he was four or five, she believes. Jericho, a terrier mix that had no name at the time, was hungry and lonely and afraid.

Jolie wears a red bow in her red hair, earrings shaped like paw prints. The knees of her jeans have cat faces embroidered on

For days, she took him food, and when she was finally able to

them. Her tiny feet are clad in high-top red tennis shoes.

befriend him, she took him home and made him hers. It was Christmas Eve.

“Come on, Jericho,” she says to her dog, who eyes her for a second like a teen who thinks he knows more than she does.

At that time, Brittany and her husband made up their immediate

But he steps up his pace anyway, wagging his tail while he

family, but a few months later, Brittany got the best news of

does it.

her life. She was pregnant.

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people

During her pregnancy, she prayed that her baby would not be

home. She would walk the dogs, take them to her property

allergic to animals. Living on a property with everything from

where they could roam for a bit. Brittany doesn’t have a lot

horses to goats to chickens, allergies would make loving this

of time, but she learned that even an hour could make a

kind of life nearly impossible.

difference in a shelter dog’s life.

And of course, there was Jericho to consider.

Jolie, too young to volunteer, wanted to help, and Brittany brainstormed ways to make that happen. Jolie had been

When Brittany and her husband brought allergy-free Jolie home,

inspired by a 2009 movie called Hotel for Dogs. It’s about

Jericho was waiting to meet her. In the months that followed,

a group of teens who secretly house homeless dogs at an

his gentleness never waned. As Jolie began to walk, he was

abandoned hotel.

right there with her. The two became best friends, snuggling to watch movies at home, romping outside, walking side by side,

Jolie didn’t see why she couldn’t have an actual hotel for dogs,

leash or not. He also liked to go to bed early, a big plus when

which is still in the plans but may be just a few years down the

Jolie was ready for a regular bedtime.

road. For now, Hotel for Dogs is the name of her efforts to help animals in search of a home, which includes fostering dogs for

At a little more than two months old, Brittany took Jolie with her

Almost Home.

to visit HOPE Humane Society in Fort Smith. Brittany, a lifelong animal lover, organized a drive to buy collars for the pets,

As Brittany tells this story, Jolie tugs the pink notebook from her

knowing they’d look more domesticated with them, hoping it

bag. On the cover in capital letters that look as if they were cut

was something that would cause adoption rates to rise.

from different publications, sort of like a happy ransom note, it reads “JOLIE’S HOTEL FOR DOGS.” Inside are drawings of her

Late last year, she started volunteering at Almost Home, a

hotel that looks a lot like the tower the princess, Rapunzel, was

dog shelter and rescue in Van Buren, since it was closer to her

once held in, and photos of two dogs from Almost Home, a Red

The Gallaher Family

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people

Heeler named Annelle, and an Aussie

community to help the dogs at Almost

mix named Hamlet.

Home by donating supplies. Jolie lists some of the collections, saying

Annelle is close to Jolie and Brittany’s heart. She’s been at

Almost

Home

she asked for Vienna sausages, which sounds like VIE-Nanna

since

when she says it.

March 5, 2018. Brittany makes sure she gives

Brittany

Annelle lots of attention

video

when she volunteers,

4,000 hits, and many

home to meet Jolie, as

donations. In December,

a test to see if she liked

Brittany and Jolie went

kids. She does like Jolie,

to the shelter, where Jolie

a fact that makes the

was able to see the results

little girl beam.

of

to

foster

her

good

intentions.

She’d made the dogs happy,

Hamlet is the dog Brittany home

Jolie’s

Facebook,

which got more than

and she’s taken her

brought

posted to

just in time for Christmas.

in

January. When Jolie heard the

When Brittany and Jolie finish telling

news, she and her mom went shopping,

this story, Jolie plops down on the floor

buying new bedding, toys, treats. He stayed ten days. Then, Hamlet was on his way to Rhode Island to meet his forever family. Brittany says moving a dog to a foster home in the transition between shelter life and adoption serves many purposes, socializing them and assuring they stay super healthy with all that love and attention.

While Hamlet was with the Gallahers, Jolie was able to feed him, walk him, and her favorite thing of all, snuggle with him.

so she can hug Jericho’s neck, an indication the interview is nearly over for her. Jericho nuzzles her face, and you can see him relax into her.

She looks like an angel sitting next to the dog her mom saved on a frigid Christmas Eve. Not long after, Brittany welcomed Jolie, who would grow to love animals as much as her mom, and would fight just as hard to save them.

When he was ready to be driven to Rhode Island, Jolie got up with her mom at four in the morning to meet the transport van.

“She hates getting up early, but that day she didn’t complain at all,” Brittany says, and Jolie breaks out in a grin.

Brittany had explained to Jolie that Hamlet was going to a home where he’d be loved the way Jericho is. Jolie says, “We

Almost Home Shelter, at 3390 Pointer Trail in Van Buren, welcomes volunteers, even if they can only help for a limited amount of time.

Volunteers can help in so many ways, fostering like Brittany, walking dogs, doing laundry, offering your specific talents, and so much more. Donations are also appreciated.

had fun! We weren’t sad when we had to let him go.”

Contact Almost Home on Facebook or at 479.414.3781.

While fostering was everything Jolie thought it would be, nothing quite compares to the home video she made for Almost Home in November of last year. In it, she asked the

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s y e ’ n t i h W e c a R

people

WORDS Marla Cantrell images courtesy Madison Marsh

Whitney Marsh

D

During the second week of November 2018, Madison Marsh, now seventeen years old, was working out at a gym in Fort Smith, Arkansas. On this day, all her thoughts revolved around her mother, Whitney, who cooked better than anyone she knew, planned family trips with precision and volunteered for CASA, the agency that advocates for children. Who loved to swim, and run, play tennis, ride bikes, especially with Madison’s dad.

The gym was a familiar place to Madison, and she thought that she’d be able to concentrate there, that exercising might give her mind a break from the memories that ran like a movie set on replay.

It must have seemed unthinkable to Madison that she’d never again be awakened by her mother coming in from her early morning run. That she’d never sit at the dinner table and talk about her school day, or make plans for the coming summer.

But that was her reality. Whitney Marsh, at just forty-one years of age, had succumbed to pancreatic cancer on the first day of November, ten months after her diagnosis.

After giving up on her workout, Madison sat in the locker room. Thanksgiving would soon arrive, and in the years before, the Marsh family—mom, dad (Dr. Michael Marsh), and kids— participated in the Turkey Trot run. It was one of their best holiday traditions.

Madison came up with the perfect idea. She’d talk to her family about organizing a race in Whitney’s name to raise money to fight pancreatic cancer. At home, she spoke to her dad, and her Aunt Melanie. Madison’s younger sister, Heidi, was soon involved as well.

A whirlwind of planning soon began, and then the date for Whitney’s Race: Time to Cure, was set for March 30 at 3pm, at 7500 Fort Chaffee Boulevard, in Fort Smith. The race will operate under the umbrella of the Whitney Marsh Foundation, Inc., which was organized to support local education and national research into pancreatic cancer.

Madison wondered how many people would attend since it would be the first year and knew they'd have to work hard to get the word out. But the community responded brilliantly, with sponsors signing on early, and troves of runners signing up.

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people

When the 5-and-10K race ends, there will be food trucks, a DJ,

Heidi, like her mom, loves to swim and does so competitively.

beer available for purchase by those twenty-one and older, face

She wants to be an oral surgeon one day, following her dad

painting by the Southside High School Art Club, barbeque, and

into the medical field. Heidi holds a world of memories of her

even snow cones.

mom. One that she keeps close to her heart is when her mom told her she wanted Heidi’s life to be a happy one. Her mom

Madison says they wanted the race to end in this way so that

was always encouraging. Every single day.

even those not participating in the run would be able to enjoy the day. They wanted families to have the experience they’ve

Madison blossomed under her mom’s encouragement. She’s

had so many times, of just being together and loving life.

had her pilot’s license for two years, and next year, she starts studying at the Air Force Academy.

At the heart of this race is the hope that they’ll advance the research for pancreatic cancer. According to M.D. Anderson,

Madison plans to major in astronautical engineering, attend

pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death

fighter pilot school, followed by test pilot school. Her end

in the United States. It’s estimated that more than 50,000 new

goal is to earn a Ph.D. in cosmology before she becomes an

cases are diagnosed each year. More than 40,000 people die

astronaut for a mission to Mars.

from the disease yearly.

It’s a big dream, but Madison and Heidi’s mom taught them This disease is devastating, and no one knows that better than

to reach for the stars. Her life was a guiding light for them to

the Marsh family. Holding the race is a way to honor Whitney,

follow. At eighteen years of age, Whitney was the youngest

whose life impacted so many others.

real estate broker in Arkansas. She also became a gemologist.

Madison’s sister, Heidi, wants the world to know how sweet

Even when Whitney was receiving chemotherapy, she’d often

her mom was. Heidi recalls the last family trip to Italy in 2017,

run, sometimes nine miles at a time, a distance that disappointed

where they fell in love with Sorento and Sicily. Her mom, like

her. She’d always been such a stellar athlete.

always, had planned everything down to the tiniest detail. They ate a lot of pasta, she says. Their family loves pasta.

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people

Whitney’s legacy is evident in Madison and Heidi. Listening to them talk about all they’ve lost is quickly followed by all those things that are impossible to lose, including the joy of being loved by a mom who adored them. They were blessed that she saw the light of heaven in them, that she taught them how to be the best people they could be. Whitney cradled them in her light every day. That light burns still.

Whitney’s Race: Time to Cure 7500 Fort Chaffee Boulevard, Fort Smith Madison and Heidi are looking forward to March 30, as many

March 30, 3pm

who love Whitney show up to run in her honor. They are

For tickets, visit www.whitneysrace.org.

thankful that the community has embraced Whitney’s Race, and that they’ve been able to gather so many sponsors.

Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms Some of the money they raise will help M.D. Anderson with

Source: M.D. Anderson

research into pancreatic cancer. Thirty percent will stay local,

Pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms in the

supporting programs that help those affected by this disease.

early stages. When pancreatic cancer symptoms do occur,

They plan to use all the money to fight this disease that took

they usually result from the relationship of the pancreas to

so much from them.

other organs of the digestive system.

Already, Madison is talking about next year’s race, which she

Pancreatic cancer symptoms can include:

hopes will grow even bigger. Her mom was such a generous

• Jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes

person, and she wants to carry on that generosity. It’s one of

• Dark urine or light-colored stools

the lessons Whitney taught her children, that ability to give

• Pain in the abdomen or middle of the back

back, no matter what was going on in her life.

• Bloating or the feeling of fullness • Nausea, vomiting or indigestion

“I think for me personally, my mom really taught both of us

• Fatigue

what true love and true kindness looks like and how to really

• Lack of appetite

bring that in and treat other people all the time,” Madison says.

• Unexplained weight loss

“Because I kind of look at it as if my mom can keep her spirits

• Sudden-onset diabetes

up and always be kind to people even in her worst moments and her worst time last year,” Madison says, “then people that

These symptoms do not always mean you have pancreatic

aren't going through anything like that can do it too, and it

cancer. However, it is important to discuss any of these

shouldn't be that hard for us to put a smile on our face and be

symptoms with your doctor, since they may signal other

nice to people even though it might be hard sometimes.”

health problems.

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community

LET THE WEDDING BELLS

D

Ring

words Marla Cantrell IMAGE courtesy David and Barbie Johnson

David Johnson asked Barbie to marry him in August 1985.

They’d recently returned from a mission trip to Palawan, an island in the Philippines, and while they were over-the-moon in love, they weren’t exactly flush with cash.

They planned to marry on November 30, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and during David’s drive there, he stopped at his mother, Barbara Seftner’s, house in Van Buren, Arkansas.

During that visit, David’s mom gave him the engagement ring she’d kept safe for so long. David’s father had given it to Barbara along with his promise to love her for the rest of his days. If life had been fair, his promise would have taken them into old age, the two of them adding grand memories year after year.

But the Vietnam War happened, and when David was only four years old, his father, an Army helicopter pilot, was shot down and killed.

Barbie was overcome with the gift of this family ring, and she wore it every day for a quarter of a century. On their twentyfifth anniversary, David bought her a new ring, and although Barbie was thrilled, she couldn’t let go of the original one. She wore it on her right hand until its delicate band grew thin as a thread and then broke.

That’s when she took it to John Mays Jewelers in Fort Smith.

The family-owned business understands that an engagement ring is more than a ring. A ring holds promises, love stories, beautiful beginnings. And so, they worked carefully, repairing the band, bringing it back to its glory days.

Today, Barbie wears both rings, symbols of two love stories she holds dear. She says the ring she wore on her wedding day is priceless, maybe not in society’s estimation of worth, but that doesn’t matter one bit. When she looks at it, she remembers a million moments with David and the knowledge that his mother took something dear to her and gave it to Barbie in hopes that it would bring her infinite joy.

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lifestyle

>>Do South Reviews<< ®

words Catherine Frederick Images courtesy vendors

words Catherine Frederick Images courtesy vendors

This month I’m taking you on a delicious culinary adventure and introducing you to a way to add a little, or a lot of fizz to your favorite beverages and perhaps craft some new ones of your own! Have a product to submit for consideration? Email your request to catherine@dosouthmagazine.com.

Spice Madam How would you like to go on a culinary adventure every month? Spice Madam can take you there, in the comfort of your own home (my adventure was Sri Lanka). Spice Madam is a $20 a month subscription box filled with spices, recipes, a Spotify music playlist, as well as fun facts and travel tips from the destination country. Each box comes with a menu plan and a shopping list. Every box sold supports a non-profit that impacts youth education!

$20 per month, save on multi-month, spicemadam.com

Ghee by Pure Indian Foods Ghee is a healthy, shelf-stable alternative to plain butter or other cooking oils. Pure Indian Foods ghee is certified organic, grass-fed, made from non-homogenized milk, and gluten free. They infuse the ghee with beneficial herbs and spices, with flavor profiles such as garlic, Herbes de Provence, niter kibbeh, Italian, digestive blend, and Indian dessert. Handmade in small batches by Nalini Agarwal, the family has been in the ghee business for five generations, since 1889!

$17.95 for a 1.1 oz. 6-pack sampler, $15.95 for 17.8 oz., pureindianfoods.com

Drinkmate® Carbonated Drink Maker I love sparkling waters, but they can be expensive, and I’m not doing the environment any favors with the cans or bottles. You can add fizz to any drink, including waters, cocktails or juices. You don’t need batteries or electricity as it runs on CO2 carbonators. The kit comes with the machine, a three-ounce starter CO2 carbonator, and a BPA-free bottle. So, whether you want to create healthy sparkling drinks, or craft unique cocktails, Drinkmate® has you covered.

$86.99 - $99.95, idrinkproducts.com

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community

2 01 9 A r k a n s a s R i v e r Va l l e y

Lawn and Garden Show words Marla Cantrell IMAGE courtesy Arkansas River Valley Lawn and Garden Show

You don’t want to miss this year’s Arkansas River Valley Lawn

that, small gardens have a positive impact on the environment.

and Garden Show, held March 15 – 17 at the Fort Smith Convention Center. One hundred master gardeners and more

While planning your trip to the Lawn and Garden Show, check

than 1,300 participants make the show the gem that it is.

out the demonstrations and seminars, noting the times and dates. Included are: Landscaping Small Yards; Straw Bale

The show has a long history, going back to 1994 when the

Gardening; Composting; Companion Plants; Rose Pruning;

River Valley Master Gardeners teamed up with the Cooperative

Flower Arranging; Plant Propagation; Fire Ants, Gophers and

Extension Service of the University of Arkansas to sponsor

Moles; Yoga for Gardening Health; Canning 101; and How to

the Lawn and Garden Show. Education is a big part of what

Interpret Your Soil Test.

they do at the three-day event, informing attendees about gardening, landscaping, and other horticulture topics.

Perhaps the most surprising event is the yoga demonstration, led by Terri Hargrove from Yogaterrium. It will certainly be a

The theme for the 2019 show is “Small Gardens.” This is such

popular one. After working in the garden, the movement and

an inclusive theme, encompassing anyone who wants to grow

stretching yoga offers would be a welcome relief.

a garden no matter how small their space. Gardening can be a satisfying endeavor, teaching the gardener lessons about the

Berni Kurz, the new University of Arkansas Cooperative

land, bringing a sense of accomplishment from growing food

Extension horticulture specialist and the coordinator of the

for the table, and getting outdoors on a regular basis. Beyond

Arkansas Master Gardener program, will speak as well.

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community

U of A Cooperative Extension Service’s Portable Plant Health Lab will be present all three days to look at plant samples attendees bring or pictures of plant disease problems.

Besides the opportunity to gain knowledge, attendees will be able to shop with vendors that will bring the newest and best garden products. There will also be door prizes and a silent auction, and a children’s area and train.

Dianne Heinrichs, Lawn and Garden Show publicity chair,

Hours:

is excited about this year’s small garden theme. “We will

Friday, March 15 - Saturday, March 16: 10 am – 6 pm

Sunday, March 17: 10 am – 5 pm

present ways to inspire you to grow plants in your own yard regardless of your space. The people we have invited to speak and give mini-demonstrations are here to give knowledgeable information on related topics, fresh ideas, and question-andanswer time for all attendees. We have a very diverse group

Admission:

A 3-day ticket is $5.00 / Children 11 and younger – free

planned. Pick what interests you!”

Schedule of Events: For more information, check out the Arkansas River Valley Lawn

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

and Garden Show on Facebook or at fslawngardenshow.com.

10:30am Jessie Taylor – Moles and Gophers

11:30am Jayson McGaugh – Fire Ants: What to Do

1:00pm Tina Marie Wilcox – The Right Herbs in Small Areas

2:15pm Kay Schlaefli – Flower Arranging

3:00pm Jody Neumeier – Landscaping Small Yards

4:00pm Susan Randolph – Growing a Lemon Tree from Seed

5:00pm Jayson McGaugh – Why is my Crape Myrtle Black?

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

10:00am Mary Smith – How and When to Plant Tomatoes

11:00am Leslie Wagner – A Garden in Straw Bales

12:15pm Thell Halsted – Pruning Roses

1:00pm Robert Vaught – Container Gardening

2:15pm Susan Randolph – Propagating Succulents

3:00pm Robert Vaught – Preparing the Garden Bed

4:00pm Neelendra Joshi – Pollinators

SUNDAY, MARCH 17

1:00pm Berni Kurz – Companion Plants

2:00pm Joanne Olszewski – Turning Your Trash into Soil

3:00pm Sherrie Smith – Plant Doctor

4:15pm Jayson McGaugh – How to Read Your Soil Test

Times TBA - Yoga For Gardening Health Sessions

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community

I

n years past, foraging for edible plants was common-

place. One generation would teach the next which plants were safe to eat and where to find them.

Today, though, with almost all of our food found in the aisles of grocery stores, the art of foraging has largely gone by the wayside.

But foraging does still exist.

Author Charles (Charley) Griffith, has taught the subject since the 1980s, in schools, universities, and community groups. He’s taken visitors on plant walks at Yellowstone National Park and also teaches a Master Foragers program, similar to the Master Gardeners’ model.

On March 19, at 6pm, Charles will be at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in

Fort Smith, Arkansas, to initiate attendees on what Arkansas has to offer in its natural habitat. He’ll talk about the basics of foraging. It’s imperative that you know which plants are safe to eat and which are not. words Marla Cantrell IMAGE Gábor Veres

Kendra Ingle, the education program specialist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at the Nature Center says the appeal of foraging seems to be on the rise. She bases that assumption on the popularity of the Center’s foraging

Wild Edibles Class

classes held once or twice a year.

March 19, 6pm Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center

Arkansas has many plants that are perfect for foraging.

Fort Smith

Most of us have picked wild blackberries, for example. But

www.agfc.com 479.452.3993

blackberries are just the beginning. The untamed land around us holds a bounty.

If you’d like to learn more about edible plants and how to safely identify them, this class will get you started.

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faith

30 DOLLARS IN A LITTLE TIN

I

Words and images Jessica Sowards

I received my first camera on my ninth birthday. It was an old

I loved the way it allowed me to capture the beauty of life as I

110 mm film camera loaded and ready with my first roll of

saw it. With photography, the moments that left me breathless

film. I also received thirty dollars in single bills stuffed into a

became validly valuable and I could record them to share. I never

little tin. I spent my entire first roll of film photographing my

wanted to take the posed photos. I wanted the photos of my

money, then spent the rest of my money on more film. It was

sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyelashes, and to capture the way his little tongue poked

an extravagant gift for a third grader, and I was hooked.

out of the corner of his mouth when he pushed a toy car along the coffee table. I wanted to capture the bright afternoon light

Photography was one of those passions that grew organically.

pouring through the blinds and marking temporary stripes on

It started with that first 110 mm seed and developed over the

the floor where the cat laid. I saw photography as a way to

years. Growing up, the walls of my bedroom were plastered with

express my perspective of wonder.

photos and there was always a camera in my hand. I became a photographer for the high school yearbook and then graduated

Then, I did what every good photographer seems to do, I opened

into an art-centric college path and photography courses.

a business. And for about ten years, I took family photos, engagement photos, newborn photos. I documented birthday

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faith

parties, wedding parties, and high school seniors. I took the jobs that were offered, but I was burning out in a big way.

My hard drives were full of photos of people I barely knew and I rarely photographed my own family. I spent hours a day editing photos and lived in a state of being overwhelmed.

My clients were precious. I watched their babies grow up and loved them. I celebrated with them in their milestones and mourned with them in their sadness. They became my friends.

But for every wonderful client, there was a broken and hurting one. I found myself in birth rooms with a distant father and a crying mother begging for his support. I found myself privy to dagger throwing in marriages and shouting at children for them to cooperate and smile. And my heart broke for their brokenness. Over and over, I found myself in situations completely void of beauty and wonder, and I felt like I was being paid to portray what did not exist. I’d try to be a light in the situation, to bring calm to chaos and to pray. But it was breaking me, and in the strangest way, I resented photography for opening the door to those situations.

When we moved in 2014, I closed my business and committed myself to homeschooling and caring for our farm. My cell phone became my tool-of-choice to capture my boys’ growth and my portrait camera collected dust. It has continued to do so for the better part of five years.

As my sons have grown and years have passed, I only pulled my camera out when I specifically needed a photo for a purpose.

For a long time, it didn’t bother me, but lately, it has. Lately, I started noticing the light as it shone through the blinds again.

I started noticing how quickly the roundness was leaving my youngest son’s wrists and cheeks. I started to get frustrated with my phone’s limitations in capturing these things as I see them. So, for the first time in a very long time, I made a resolution that I was going to start taking photos again.

It started as a choice, and choice overrode habit. I’d grab the camera bag even when I groaned at the inconvenience. I’d turn around and go home when I forgot it. I started leaving my camera out on the kitchen table to easily access when the kids played or helped me cook dinner. I took it to the park and the grocery store. And somewhere along the way, I fell in love with photography again.

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30

faith

Someone recently asked if I’d ever go back to owning a

not. I hope it is truly a matter of choice, that like so many

photography business, and I answered with a pretty emphatic

other things, this is a passion I can steer my heart into loving.

no. I see some people succeed in that business in a way I was

I hope I never lay the camera down again. I imagine telling my

never able to, and I cheer them on for finding their calling. I

sons’ stories through photos and being able to remind them of

realize, however, that I was given a passion for photography

things that would otherwise be forgotten. That thought makes

not to provide a service but rather to display a wonderful

me even more thrilled than that 110 mm camera and thirty

world in beauty.

bucks made all those years ago. And that’s saying something.

That was a pretty extravagant gift for a third grader.

Maybe it is just the nature of organically grown passions to have seasons of flourishing and seasons of death, but I hope

To watch Jessica’s garden tours, visit her YouTube channel, Roots and Refuge.

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taste

recipe Adapted from Pioneer Woman image Slawomir Fajer

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taste

2 Tablespoons butter 3 Tablespoons half and half 4 oz. Burrata, or fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into pieces (optional) 8 large eggs 4 oz. of pancetta (you can also use ham or bacon) 2 russet potatoes, sliced thin (preferably with a mandolin) ¼ cup green onions, sliced 1 cup spinach, chopped ½ cup red peppers, sliced thin ½ cup mushrooms, sliced 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt ¾ teaspoon black pepper Fresh fruit, French bread (optional)

Preheat oven to 425°F. Place thin-sliced potatoes (I use a mandolin) on prepared baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in oven for 15-20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F once potatoes are removed.

Cook pancetta in large non-stick skillet until crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove to paper towel, tear into pieces. Add butter and peppers to skillet, cook for 2 minutes, add spinach, cook about 1 minute, add mushrooms, cook 1 minute, remove from skillet.

Place cooked potatoes in bottom of skillet – like you would a crust. In medium bowl, whisk eggs, half and half, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Add onions, peppers, spinach, mushrooms and pancetta on top of potatoes. Pour egg mixture over vegetables.

Add cheese to top. Cook for 30-35 minutes, until center is set, and eggs do not jiggle.

Remove from oven, serve hot!

Serve sliced frittata with fresh fruit, also delicious with crusty French bread!

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entertainment

Did Someone Say Words Marla Cantrell image courtesy Walton Arts Center

I

P ie?

In October of last year, the creative minds at Walton Arts Center

This time the drinks will be pie-inspired. You’ll get a history of

(WAC) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, came up with a standing-

pie-inspired cocktails, tips and tricks on how to make them,

ovation idea. The Broadway musical Jersey Boys was set to

light appetizers and two cocktails that you will mix yourself.

perform, and the team wondered how they could make the

You must be 21 or older to participate in the class.

experience even better. They decided to offer a cocktail-making class with Steven Idlet, master mixologist for Maxine’s Tap Room.

The theme plays particularly well since Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, who enters a baking

Those who attended got to make cocktails from the 1960s, the

contest in a nearby county hoping to change her life.

same era the show covers. They were also treated to appetizers that paired well and learned about the origin of the drinks. Nick

Waitress features original music and lyrics by 6-time Grammy®

Zazal, the Walton Arts Center director of events and patron

nominee Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and

services, said the event was a grand success.

direction by Tony Award®-winner Diane Paulus.

“Patrons told us that the class really did help enhance their

If you want tickets to the show and Craft Cocktail Class, order

experience of seeing the show because it gave them more of a feel

them now so you’ll be sure to secure your spot!

for the era before they went in,” Nick said. “And that’s the goal, to allow folks to be hands-on with the show in an all-new way.”

From April 9-14, another Broadway musical, Waitress, is coming to the WAC for eight shows. And again, there will be a cocktailmaking class taught by Steven Idlet.

Patrons with tickets to the 8pm performance on Saturday, April 13 can add on a 6:30pm Craft Cocktail Class for $35.

Show tickets, reserved parking and Craft Cocktail Class tickets can be purchased at the Walton Arts Center Box Office, by calling 479.443.5600, or by visiting waltonartscenter.org.

Select the class from the calendar, add the tickets to your cart and you’ll be reminded to add tickets for the Saturday evening performance of Waitress to complete the transaction.

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taste

grapefruit cucumber

paloma

Recipe adapted from Turnip the Oven image Brooke Lark

IN G R EDIENTS (makes 4) 1 cucumber

•

2 cups fresh grapefruit juice

•

1 cup Silver Tequila

•

(more or less to taste)

2 - 3 fresh limes

•

Club soda

•

Cocktail salt, optional

•

Fresh mint, optional

•

M ETH O D Cut 1 lime into wedges, and 4 slices of cucumber, as garnish for drinks. Set aside. Peel remaining cucumber, cube, then purée with hand mixer or food processor. Strain and measure out ¼ cup of juice. Discard pulp and remaining juice. Combine ¼ cup cucumber juice, grapefruit juice, tequila, and juice from 1 or 2 limes in a shaker. Rim glasses with salt (optional), add ice to glasses. Divide mixture among glasses, top with club soda. Add lime wedge and cucumber slice to each glass as garnish. Add chopped mint if desired.

Please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.

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community

Local historian Tom Wing shares a story of our city’s rich history in this month’s edition of Do South®.

THE BATTLE OF VAN BUREN words Tom Wing, Author and Historian IMAGE courtesy Kansas State Historical Society

Following the Civil War battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862, Confederate General Thomas Hindman fell back along the Arkansas River at Van Buren and Fort Smith. While overseeing the feeding of his men and caring for the wounded, he was also making plans to occupy Little Rock.

At the same time, Brigadier General James Blunt, in command of the Union Army of the Frontier plotted to strike General Hindman and his Confederate soldiers at Van Buren.

Colonel William Cloud

On Sunday, December 27, 1862, 8,000 Union soldiers left camp in Northwest Arkansas and headed south. Snow, frigid streams,

Cloud’s men pursued the retreating Confederates along the

and freezing temperatures made it a brisk march. Following

Wire Road, roughly Highway 59 today, seven miles to Van

the Telegraph Road, the column made slow progress, and the

Buren. One Kansas soldier described the town this way. “The

next day, two miles south of Oliver’s Store, they engaged rebel

citizens all came out of their houses, some to cheer, some to

forces consisting of Colonel Crump’s 1st Texas Cavalry, who

curse, and all the ladies to cry.”

were guarding the road near Dripping Springs, and had just cooked breakfast. Fire from light cannons soon caused the

The fighting stalled at Log Town Hill, on the bluff above Van

rebels to flee towards Van Buren.

Buren, and was so intense Colonel Cloud recalled years later, “I never saw bullets as thick as at Log Town.”

At the head of the Union column was the 2nd Kansas Cavalry led by Colonel William Cloud, a fighting Methodist minister and

It was a Sunday, and townsfolk were just returning from

one of the ablest Federal cavalry officers west of the Mississippi.

church. Confederates were trying to escape across the river to Fort Smith, and Van Buren was in complete confusion. In the

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community

mayhem, the Union troops captured four steamboats and the horse-powered ferry owned by Charles Scott, John Drennen’s son-in-law. The story of the Drennen-Scott family is now told through exhibits at their family home in Van Buren.

General Blunt, the Union general who orchestrated the raid, arrived and took a stroll through the captured city, only to narrowly escape Confederate artillery fire from the Fort Smith side of the river. Blunt ordered his men to return to Log Town and wait for heavier, long-range guns to make it to town.

The Confederates, however, did not know the Union soldiers had temporarily retreated and continued to shell the town. This resulted in considerable damage before the Union batteries silenced the rebels with accurate cannon fire. One Union officer called the bombardment of the town an “outrage”

"The fighting stalled at Log Town Hill, on the bluff above Van Buren, and was so intense Colonel Cloud recalled years later, 'I never saw bullets as thick as at Log Town.'"

The whole affair left two dead and ten wounded on the Union

against the citizens.

side. The Confederates’ tally was twelve dead and twenty-five That night, the glow of fires near Fort Smith meant the rebels

captured. 1862 had seen some of the bloodiest fighting of the

were torching supplies and sinking two steamboats to keep

war with the battles of Shiloh and Antietam. The “Van Buren

them from Federal hands. The Union soldiers looted Van Buren

Raid” as it was called, could have been an encouragement for

but were eventually stopped by General Blunt himself.

the Union, but a disaster at Fredericksburg, Virginia earlier that month overshadowed any hope the Union’s Army of the

On December 29, Union General Blunt ordered a grand parade

Frontier could bring.

down Main Street. Eight thousand men marched in fine order while the people of Van Buren watched, and Generals Blunt

The Union Army of the East was soundly beaten in Virginia,

and Herron reviewed the troops from the Crawford County

trying to take the Confederate capital at Richmond. One Union

Courthouse lawn.

soldier from Illinois called it “the greatest achievement of the war.” A pessimistic Union soldier from Kansas remarked:

Freedmen and slaves were noted to be cheering along the

“Another gallant dash by the Army of the Frontier, soon to

parade route. One Van Buren area slave, John Talkington,

be forgotten.” An Iowa Union soldier perhaps grasped the

followed the Union army north and joined the 1st Kansas

situation best, “Nothing left to do, Hindman is whipped, the

Colored Infantry, fighting and dying for his own freedom.

country’s out of everything, we are in good spirits, LET THE ARMY OF THE FRONTIER GO TO VIRGINIA!”

At sundown on December 29, Union General Herron led the infantry back towards Northwest Arkansas. Blunt, Cloud, and the cavalry stayed behind to finalize the destruction of supplies that could not be carried north. The captured steamboats and ferry were sunk, warehouses on the waterfront were burned, and 20,000 bushels of corn destroyed. At dawn on December

For a complete account of the Prairie Grove Campaign, see William Shea’s Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign by the University of North Carolina Press.

30, the Union soldiers left for good, with a long line of refugees in tow.

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travel travel

Arkansas and Missouri Railroad

Sp ring B reak IN THE NATURAL STATE

words Dwain Hebda images Experience Fort Smith, Walton Arts Center, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Little Rock Convention & Visitor's Bureau, North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lori Sparkman, Visit Hot Springs, Garvan Woodland Gardens

Spring break is a time to celebrate the end of the winter doldrums and recharge for the dash to the end of the school year.

The Park at West End The good news is that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to go far to find affordable family fun. From our majestic state parks to all there is to see and do in the city, there are plenty of options right here in your own backyard.

FORT SMITH/VAN BUREN Fort Smith offers a fascinating mix of frontier history, contemporary art, historic Main Street shopping and big-time cultural entertainment.

Ride into yesteryear aboard the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad passenger excursion. This one-of-a-kind experience takes travelers through the Boston and Ozark mountains. Period passenger cars add to the ambiance.

The Unexpected

The Park at West End, is located downtown. All ages will delight in the charming attraction, complete with a Ferris wheel from the 1935 World's Fair in San Diego and vintage carousel handpainted in Treviso, Italy.

The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center and STEAM Center at Burnham Woods offer fun, educational opportunities. The Nature Center offers youngsters the chance to learn about the local environment and getting outside. The STEAM Center presents topics on green living that will earn attendant Girl Scouts their Environmental Stewardship Badge.

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travel

Check out the city’s famed murals project, The Unexpected, which is a collection of public art that’s been widely copied

Fayetteville Midsummer Night's Dream

across the state.

Adults will find music galore in the city’s many bars and music venues, a sample of which includes University of Fort Smith venue the Blue Lion, gallery and performance space Underpin, and Harry’s Downtown.

FAYETTEVILLE/BENTONVILLE Northwest Arkansas offers stunning natural beauty, an incredible array of festivals, museums and other attractions.

Crystal Bridges

Pack your mountain bike and prepare to be wowed. The 36-mile Razorback Regional Greenway can be enjoyed in sections or in its entirety, connecting Fayetteville, Johnson, Springdale, Lowell, Rogers and Bentonville’s arts and entertainment districts, playgrounds and neighborhoods. Bridges, creeks and open greenspace punctuate the family-friendly rides.

For something a little more heart-pounding, check out the award-winning mountain biking at Slaughter Pen in Bentonville, Mount Kessler in Fayetteville and Hidden Diversity Trail at Hobbs State Park in Rogers. Don’t have a bike? Rent one at Phat Tire Bike Shop or Highroller Cyclery.

Bentonville’s town square is something out of a movie set with gurgling fountains, live music in the park, farmer’s markets in season and plenty of small-town charm. The city offers various camps for spring break through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The camps, open to first-graders through teens, include Camp Lego – Minecraft (March 18-21), Camp Basketball (March 18-20), and Camp Soccer – Sporting KC (March 18-20). offer, including Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on The acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a

March 16 at the Walton Arts Center or all things magical at the

must-see. Check out its latest exhibit Men of Steel, Women

Wizard Way of the Ozarks on March 23 and 24.

of Wonder showcasing superhero themes. Nearby, the Scott Family Amazeum offers a variety of events for families on

Adults will want to check out the Fayetteville Ale Trail. Pick up

spring break.

your passport at the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce office downtown and collect your stamps as you sample some of the

A short drive away, Fayetteville offers a thriving arts and dining

best locally-made brews in the state. Cap off your adventures

scene. Don’t miss some of the unique events the area has to

with some great music at George’s Majestic Lounge, established in 1927.

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travel

Little Rock Trolley

LITTLE ROCK/NORTH LITTLE ROCK Little Rock and North Little Rock offer singles, couples, and families alike a wealth of activities any time of year.

Families have their choice of the Little Rock Zoo, Museum of Discovery, Clinton Presidential Center, Heifer International and Arkansas Arts Center/Arkansas Children’s Theatre, to name a few.

There’s plenty of entertainment for the grown-ups too with the thriving River Market for nightlife, music and great dining.

Try the many brewpubs for a taste of local craft beer paired with terrific food at Lost Forty, Rebel Kettle or sip some handcrafted spirits at Rock Town Distillery in the trendy South on Main neighborhood.

Early March brings the Little Rock Marathon, which kicks off the

Museum of Discovery

5K road race season. Most every weekend, runners can find a race to join in throughout spring and early summer.

Bring your bikes and explore the Arkansas River Trail, an awardwinning loop that offers great rides and scenic views of river, wooded wetlands and open spaces for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Commencing from the Clinton Bridge, the options are endless, from a relaxing ride to a challenging workout.

North Little Rock offers lots of attractions. During the day, explore the city’s many neighborhoods for unique one-of-a-kind shopping, or visit Burns Park for a picnic lunch and all the greenspace the kids (or your dog) can handle. Don’t miss your chance to tour The Old Mill, featured in Gone with the Wind and the USS Razorback submarine, docked on the banks of the Arkansas River.

North Little Rock At night, enjoy an evening’s entertainment on Argenta, the city’s historic original Main Street. Grab a quick dinner at one of the many restaurants and breweries. Flyway and Diamond Bear are great choices. Catch a show at The Joint, a comedy and improv club, local music at Four Quarter Bar or the national touring acts playing at Verizon Arena.

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travel

HOT SPRINGS

Garvan Gardens

The thermal waters of the area have been packing in visitors since the days of the native peoples and its designation as a federally protected area dates back to Andrew Jackson. This protected status made the city a de facto national park and the country’s first at that, predating Yellowstone by forty years.

The city’s history has seen major league ballplayers on spring training rub elbows with mafioso kingpins on holiday. The drink flowed, illegal gambling was a badly-kept secret and the ponies thrilled the crowds at Oaklawn Park.

Today, Hot Springs is the premier location for recreation, catering to all ages and tastes. Oaklawn is still here, bigger and better than ever with expanded gaming to accentuate the horse racing that now runs through May 4. The downtown district is alive with new shops, restaurants and amenities.

Garvan Woodland Gardens offers natural surprises at all times of the year. See their Daffodil Days & Tulip Extravaganza through April. Also, check out the Mid-America Science Museum for a day of discovery and entertainment.

Dining experiences are exceptional in Hot Springs; where else can you raise a pint at the only brewery inside a national park, eat a cheeseburger where Al Capone hobnobbed with pals, get great barbecue or find New-York style pizza that’s better than the Big Apple’s? Nightlife abounds, thanks to Maxine’s or The Big Chill featuring live music and libations. While you’re in town, don’t miss Valley of the Vapors Music Festival.

EXPERIENCE FORT SMITH

VISIT HOT SPRINGS

2 North B Street

134 Convention Boulevard

Fort Smith, AR

Hot Springs, AR 71901

800.637.1477

1.800.SPA.CITY

fortsmith.org

hotsprings.org

LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

VISIT BENTONVILLE

101 S. Spring Street

Bentonville, AR

Little Rock 800.844.4781 littlerock.com NORTH LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 1 Eldor Johnson Drive North Little Rock 1.501.758.1424 northlittlerock.org Mountain Biking

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104 East Central 479.271.9153 visitbentonville.com EXPERIENCE FAYETTEVILLE 21 South Block Ave, Suite 100 Fayetteville, AR 800.766.4626 experiencefayetteville.com

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The

Biggest

Little

St. Patrick's Day Parade in the World words Dwain Hebda images Visit Hot Springs

Monte Everhart, a California transplant and Hot Springs tire dealer, is dealing with his own bum wheel, hobbling around with the help of an assistive device after breaking his ankle. Not a big deal for most people, but then most people aren’t one of two designated World’s Tallest Leprechauns for Hot Springs’ legendary World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

So, Monte put his physicians on make-no-mistake notice that from March 15-17, he’s got someplace to be in his lime green getup. Cavorting through the streets of Hot Springs like an overgrown Lucky Charms mascot may seem frivolous, but it’s a responsibility he takes with near-ecclesiastical gravitas.

Hot Springs loves a good party, and there is perhaps no event that better sums up this attribute than the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Silly, offbeat and irresistible, the event draws spectators by the thousands.

The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade was cooked up by “Why does it work? It works because this community has such a

the genial mad hatters at Visit Hot Springs sixteen years ago. As

love for being able to celebrate,” said Dona Pettey, co-owner of

incongruous as the concept may be (name another parade that

the Ohio Club and Queen of this year’s parade, her King being

celebrates being the shortest in the land), Hot Springs has had to

local barbecue genius Scott McClard. “Everybody wants to be a

fight for the right to party on that claim. Once other communities

part of something that’s huge. I think that excitement is what

around the nation saw the media attention the Hot Springs event

brings people from all over.”

was drawing, several challenged for the title World’s Shortest, notably Portland. The Oregonians, like all challengers, have always been found wanting.

Still, that hasn’t made the Spa City crew any less strident.

Pre-parade festivities include the official public measuring of the route—all ninety-eight feet of Bridge Street—for which Monte himself holds one end of measuring tape. Organizers once vowed the parade would march in place if a shorter route ever challenged their status.

Other singular attributes of the event spring from sly wit or claims that are simply inarguable. The official title, for instance,

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entertainment

is the mouthful, The First Ever 16th Annual World's Shortest St.

In truth, even the most stalwart supporters have a hard

Patrick's Day Parade, to which one can only shrug and say, well,

time pinpointing exactly why this event has become such a

they’re not wrong.

phenomenon and frankly, no one cares. There’s simply no explaining people cheering a four-ton Big Idaho Potato or

Same with the massive boulder out front of the gleaming Hot

running The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s ZERO K Race (both

Springs Convention Center, which is unabashedly billed as the

new this year).

Arkansas Blarney Stone, “discovered by a leprechaun in the forests surrounding Hot Springs.” Unlikely, sure, but who’s to

“I think some of that is just Hot Springs,” says Leysa, who was

say? (Incidentally, there’s a contest to determine who can most

married in the middle of the parade one year. “We’re kind of a

creatively and, um, expressively kiss the boulder, known as

different place anyway. I think of Hot Springs as really unique in

“Romancing the Stone.”)

the state of Arkansas. We’re very multicultural, and it’s a wide age group as well.”

This year Ellen DeGeneres’ favorite DJ, Stephen tWitch Boss, kicks off the parade with his signature dance moves, and, this

She pauses, and a droll twinkle enters her eye. “It’s a little bit

year’s Grand Marshal is none other than the Karate Kid himself,

weird, maybe. But, we’re fun.”

Ralph Macchio. Past Marshals include Pauley Shores, Kevin Bacon, Jim Belushi and Mike Rowe, just to name a few. Add to that, not one, but two free concerts from legendary Three Dog Night and Smash Mouth.

The First Ever 16th Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade Bridge Street, Hot Springs, AR

Such add-on activities have only enhanced the event. Actual attendance figures vary by who’s counting, but the fire marshal headcount of 30,000 is as close as any. It’s a fair guess that thousands more jam the downtown bars and restaurants nearby on that day, not to mention Oaklawn Racing and Gaming.

Full schedule at shortestpats.com March 15: Live Music - Pop UP Pub Stage, ZERO K Race March 16: Live Music - Pop UP Pub Stage, Smash Mouth FREE Concert March 17: Live Music - Pop UP Pub Stage, Blarney Stone Kissing Contest, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Parade, Three Dog Night FREE Concert

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In twenty minutes, Laurie’s two best friends since elementary school, Pam and Tina, are due to arrive. Every March, they get together at one of their houses. It’s an all-day affair, with mimosas and later wine for lunch. With coffee all afternoon, and stories from their collective past.

Sometimes one of them ends up crying.

Tina has had a facelift, something Pam and Laurie make fun of behind her back. But as Laurie gets ready—she’s wearing a leopard-print sweater and black leggings—she puts her fingers

T

on each side of her face and pulls her skin taut. The difference is enough to cause a tightness in her throat.

When the back door opens—these three never knock at each other’s houses—Laurie puts on her practiced smile. “Pam!” she says. “Tina!”

The two drop their handbags on the kitchen counter, and Pam says, answering a question that hasn’t been asked, “Leave your purse on the floor, and you’ll always be poor.”

BOUND TOGETHER FICTION Marla Cantrell Image Mat Reding

They have a hundred sayings like this. Gathered over fiftysomething years.

Tina, who has the most money of them all, kisses Laurie’s cheek, slips a hundred-dollar bill in her hand. Laurie looks at the money, feels her cheeks burn, but she pockets it anyway.

“Let’s go in the living room,” Laurie says. She wants to sit in her Queen Anne chair by the lamp that throws off the cottoncandy light. She wants Pam or Tina, or both of them if she’s being honest, to comment on her looks.

Laurie

has painted her living room the softest

But Pam is already sitting at the kitchen table. “Wouldn’t it be

shade of pink. If you didn’t know, you

better if we stayed here for a while? Had our mimosas.” She

would see only white, but that splash of pink puts her in the

laughs. “I like to be close to the kitchen in case we need to

best light. She’s bought pink light bulbs as well. In this room,

make another batch!”

with its rosy glow, she feels as if she looks ten years younger.

“Sure,” Laurie says and feels her heart crumble in a way that

Maybe fifteen.

seems too big for this small disappointment.

This project is the first thing she’s done in ten months that made her feel as if there might be a future. When the painter

By eleven, the three have discussed old boyfriends and the

finished, she stood in front of the mirror by the entryway and

newest crop of presidential candidates. It’s election year, and

practiced smiling. It made her face hurt.

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southern fiction

Laurie can’t find anyone who seems qualified. When she asked

“Of course I’d love to be with Bill again,” Laurie says. “But that

Pam what she thought of last night’s debate, she said, “I felt

doesn’t mean Pam has to live with Harrison.”

like I was watching the U.S. Constitution burn.” And then Tina got riled up because she has a candidate she loves, though

At this hour, the sun fills her kitchen, the light nearly lemon

neither Laurie or Pam can figure out why.

yellow. When her son and daughter were children, she’d lure them into the kitchen at this point in the day, watching the sun

Now, they’re talking about their grown children, scattered here

surround their fair hair, watching the light embrace them as if

and there across the country. Tina says, “Chelsey, for instance,

they were saints. Pam holds a glass of Moscato out to Laurie,

doesn’t think a twenty-four-year-old needs a 401K. She said,

and she takes it.

‘Mom, I’m saving up for a trip to Santiago, Chile, and then the Patagonia Mountains. Who knows? I might not even live to

After lunch, the women finally make it to the living room. Tina

retirement age. Think of the waste a 401K would be then.’”

claims the Queen Anne chair before Laurie can stop her, ruining her plans.

Pam tut-tuts Tina. “Carpe the heck out of the Diem,” she says and stands to uncork the Moscato she pulls from her

“Did you do something different to this room?” Tina says to

bag, even though lunch is an hour away. Pam has recently

Laurie, who’s now sitting on the couch next to Pam. “It looks

moved to a townhouse, leaving her husband of thirty-two

different.”

years at their four-bedroom ranch. When Tina presses her on the arrangement, Pam shrugs and says, “It was either move or

“I had it painted,” Laurie says.

divorce, and you know I don’t believe in divorce.”

“That’s all?” Tina says. “It seems like a different room.”

Pam’s wedding-ring finger is stunningly bare as she pours Pam pats Laurie’s hand. “Remember our dorm room in college?

the Moscato.

That coffee table you made out of a tire we found on the side Tina has had four mimosas in the three hours they’ve been

of the road! You were HGTV before HGTV had a clue.”

together. She rarely has more than one. Still, she takes the wine glass from Pam and takes a sip. “Laurie would kill for a chance

Tina looks royal sitting there in Laurie’s pink light. “Jack is on

to live with Bill again; God rest his soul.”

a business trip.” At business trip, Tina hooks her fingers in the air, making imaginary quote marks.

Laurie has been dreading the topic of her dead husband. Guilt rushes her every time she throws away a pair of his ratty socks,

“Where do you really think he is?” Pam asks, but Tina just

every time she cuts up one of his now-useless credit cards.

shakes her head.

Today, she’d hoped for a break.

It is the alcohol of course, but suddenly Laurie starts to laugh.

Last night, Laurie dreamt Bill was in heaven, perched on a

“So Bill’s dead, Pam left Harrison, and Jack is who knows where

boulder. He was in his Saturday wash-the-car clothes. Laurie

with who knows who.”

wanted to make sure he was happy, so she said, “Must be paradise up there,” but Bill was sitting with one leg ankle

Pam fidgets. Tina sits up straighter. Tina says, “I don’t see how

crossed on his opposite knee. He was looking across the blue

any of this is funny.”

expanse. Bill sighed. “I’m not allowed to comment,” he said.

Laurie wipes her eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s not. It’s just that my Laurie can’t breathe good when she thinks about it. She had

therapist told me last week to picture someone who was

always tried to make Bill happy. She imagines she was successful

having a harder go of it than I was. She said it would help

about sixty percent of the time.

me put my problems into perspective. I couldn’t think of one person! And yes, that seems self-involved of me but it’s true.

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southern fiction

“I’ve been super jealous of you two since Bill died. Money is

Laurie is holding Pam’s hand, and Laurie realizes how much

getting pretty tight, and I need to get a job, but most days just

she’s missed the feel of a hand in hers. Tina is asleep on her

getting out of bed seems like full-time work. I doubt you two

side, her mouth slightly open, her sunglasses askew.

have to wonder if you’re going to have to sell your home or how you’re going to afford health insurance or who’s going to

Pam says, “I’ll brush your hair, Laurie, anytime you can’t.”

brush your hair when you’re too sick to do it for yourself.

“Will you go back to Harrison now?”

“But now, I don’t know. You seem about as broken as I am.”

Laurie swallows the next hysterical laugh and then says, "I think

“Maybe,” Pam says. She squeezes Laurie’s hand. “We’ll see.”

sleeping alone is making me crazy.”

“What about Tina?” Laurie asks.

“Just because I don’t believe in divorce doesn’t mean Harrison doesn’t,” Pam says. “My whole world is on the brink if he

“It could be nothing. Jack always looks at her like she’s the

decides to end the marriage.”

only girl in the room.”

Tina gets up and sits on the couch next to Pam. She puts her

“She could be wrong,” Laurie says.

arm around her, says, “What happened to us?”

“Anything’s possible.”

“Life,” Pam says, and Laurie adds, “And death.”

Laurie knows Pam has a scar on her right thumb from an icy Then, because Laurie is suddenly sick of herself, she adds, “And

Coke bottle that exploded after Pam took it out of the freezer

mimosas and Moscato.”

one day the summer between their junior and senior year. She knows Pam sleeps with a hair tie around her wrist in case she

Outside, the sun is shining. Beneath its rays, Pam and Laurie

wants to pull her hair back in the middle of the night.

look every day of their age. Tina, behind sunglasses as wide as an envelope, touches her face as if she’s afraid it might

But she doesn’t know what is wrong between Pam and

suddenly start to sag.

Harrison. She doesn’t know when Tina’s trouble started with Jack. The two stopped telling her anything important after Bill

They have brought blankets with them, and they spread two

got sick. She thinks about Bill, about the diagnosis he kept from

atop each other on the newly greening grass. They lie down

her until he couldn’t hide his symptoms anymore.

side by side, the way they used to sunbathe as teens, with baby oil mixed with iodine at their sides, the tanning lotion of

The light above her reminds her of the lavender light of Paris.

their generation.

She has been there before with Tina and Pam. She has seen night fall across the steps of Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre on

Today, though, it is too chilly to bare even their limbs. They

an anniversary trip with Bill. Laurie brings Pam’s hand to

pull another cover atop them. They lie still as the sun does its

her lips and kisses it. Everything that’s lovely ends too soon.

work, warming them until the fairy dust of sleep arrives. Laurie

She looks again at Tina, who tries so hard to be perfect. She

dreams of Bill in heaven, and this time he’s happy.

isn’t, of course.

When they wake, dusk is falling. The neighbor across the street

But Laurie loves Tina and Bill and Pam perfectly. She tells

is standing by his mailbox with his arms crossed against his

herself she should be thinking that she loved Bill perfectly,

belly, a look of worry or disapproval across his wide face, who

past tense. Right now, though, time and space, heaven and

knows which. Behind him, the sky is streaked with purple.

earth, all seem exactly the same. She closes her eyes again.

Yes, she decides, love is always in the here and now.

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LOCALLY OWNED

Live.

Love.

Local.

A family dental practice that treats the grandchildren of some of its first customers. A business dedicated to healthy living that started in a garage on Free Ferry Road in Fort Smith in 1959.

A family that serves some of the area’s best coffee alongside a trove of great books. These are just a few of the stories you’ll read on the following pages.

We think you’ll enjoy learning more about the products and services these local businesses

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offer, what makes them stand out in the crowd, and how they make our communities even better.

LOCALLY OWNED

6121 S. Zero, Fort Smith, AR 725 S. 48th Street, Springdale, AR 479.646.3484 / 479.765.5511 burtonpools.com What other product can bring a family together, turn special years to come, and improve your health, all without leaving the comfort of your own backyard? We all know the family that spends thousands of dollars on family vacations that require months of planning, but then they’re over in the blink of an eye.

Invest in a swimming pool to provide those moments of family fun, and you’ll never need to go anywhere else. Call Burton Pools & Spas today – we are your source for backyard fun!

Our family’s vision for Chapters on Main was to take an old bookstore that needed help and make it into a place where people gather, laugh, meet new people, discover new books, and enjoy great coffee! We wanted to bring younger people back to Main Street, which we’ve done. Also, every beverage is custom made, from the grinding of coffee beans to steaming the milk. Our menu includes smoothies, frozen, pour-overs, cold brew, and many others!

Our selection of new books has grown, as have our loyal customers. We host students and business people who frequent Chapters on Main to work or study. Our employees/ baristas go out of their way to make everyone feel at ease, whether their 20th time in or their first.

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moments into lasting memories, offer good, clean fun for

816 Main Street, Van Buren, AR 479.471.9315 chaptersonmain.com

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LOCALLY OWNED

4000 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR 479.782.9463 Find us on Facebook

8020 Dallas Street, Fort Smith, AR 479.452.6600 dallasstreetdental.com Dr. Bill Ligon and the team at Dallas Street Dental have designed a unique dental experience where you and

Locally-owned since 2010! Cheers is a family-owned business

your family will find custom dentistry for your general,

that is managed by a mother-daughter duo. We re-opened

restorative, and cosmetic dental needs. Our state-of-the-art

Cheers in November 2010 and treat our customers like family.

facility offers a relaxing, stress-free environment where you

We take a personal interest in our customers and cater to your

will feel welcomed, comfortable, and confident. From the

requests. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll help you select the perfect wine for a simple

moment you enter our practice, you will notice the inviting,

dinner or plan the bar for your wedding. When you walk into

unique atmosphere. Our team will take care of all requests

Cheers, you'll see a familiar face, and we will give you our full

to ensure your absolute comfort. Hot tea, coffee, cocoa,

attention. We can even carry your purchases to your car! Cheers

and chilled water are available in the lobby as well as a flat

takes great pride in being very involved in the community with

screen television and free Wi-Fi for your entertainment. With

local charities.

his dedicated team, Dr. Ligon has built a strong practice based on personalized care for each client.

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LOCALLY OWNED

Dale White, Certified General Appraiser 711 Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 479.783.5881 dbkjcoins.com

Western Arkansas Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Mercy Medical Plaza 3501 W.E. Knight Drive, Fort Smith, AR 479.709.8300 / 877.709.7100 jameskelly3md.com

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Our number one priority is your wellbeing. We understand You might be asking, what does Numismatics mean? Simply put,

choosing to have surgery of any kind requires thorough

it’s the study or collection of coins, paper currency and medals.

research and educated decision-making. If you are searching

Since 1991, DBKJ has been buying rare coins, currency, gold

for a well-qualified and experienced surgeon, look no

and silver and is the largest full-time coin dealer in Fort Smith

more. Dr. Kelly and staff strive to provide each patient with

and the largest coin dealer in Western Arkansas and Eastern

excellence in service and professionalism. Dr. Kelly, Board

Oklahoma! We buy individual rare coins, large coin collections,

Certified in Plastic Surgery, as well as Hand Surgery, has

including coin collections held by estates and trusts, and help

provided quality cosmetic surgery to area patients since

our customers locate specialized and hard to find rare coins. We

1996! At Western Arkansas Plastic, Hand, and Reconstructive

also provide appraisal services on large coin collections for estate

Surgery Center, our goal is to help you achieve optimal

or trust purposes. Visit us and see what’s in store!

results, while making you feel like part of our family.

LOCALLY OWNED

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602 Garrison Ave., Fort Smith, AR 479.788.4600 fnbfs.com

12100 Hwy. 71 South, Fort Smith, AR 479.434.6604 ingoodspiritsfs.com Let the good times flow with In Good Spirits! Since opening

Founded in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1872, First National Bank

in 2008, we have redefined the standard for liquor stores in

of Fort Smith has been a community partner and local business

Fort Smith and throughout the Arkansas area. We are the

for 147 years and counting. As one of the first and oldest

only store in Arkansas that features a climate-controlled wine

locally owned banks in Arkansas, our commitment is shown

cellar to keep our premium wines at the perfect temperature!

through resilience in an ever-changing society and driven by

We also offer exclusive tastings for new products and a large

an understanding of the symbiotic partnership between First

selection of fine cigars. Looking for a premium spirit? We

National Bank and our community. First National Bank of Fort

have that too. At In Good Spirits, if we don’t have what

Smith is proud to be your friend, family, neighbor, and local

you’re looking for in stock, we’ll order it! When you need the

bank. We are excited to continue serving our community for

best, you need In Good Spirits!

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generations to come!

LOCALLY OWNED

Waite & Co. 1719 S. Greenwood Ave., Fort Smith, AR 479.262.6232 JoWaiteInteriors@gmail.com Sixteen years ago, I never imagined I’d be both a licensed residential and commercial contractor, as well as owning a thriving interior design shop, filled with unique home I’m thankful to be living my dream, one that wouldn’t be possible without the support from all of YOU. I am truly grateful for Fort Smith! I enjoy the partnerships with my clients, seeing their joy, and knowing together we’ve transformed their space into a home or amazing commercial location! I look forward to many more exciting projects and encourage everyone to shop local!

Call Catherine Frederick, Owner/Publisher 479.782.1500

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décor and gifts—all being run out of an old gas station!

CURIOUS ABOUT ADVERTISING WITH DO SOUTH?

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5622 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR 479.452.2140 johnmaysjewelers.com Spring is here and love is in the air! Now is a great time to get

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your jewelry cleaned and checked so it sparkles for all your upcoming events. It’s also a great time to get those timepieces checked to make sure they are good to go for your spring break adventure, and you don’t wake up with a foggy watch crystal. Be sure to pay attention to upcoming ads in Do South® as we have some fun events and shows coming up that you won’t want to miss!

3011 State Line Road, Fort Smith, AR 479.783.0060 Find us on Facebook Family owned and operated, we pride ourselves on fabricating and installing the finest stone. We purchase our stone from a variety of importers, for an outstanding selection of style, color, and quality. We offer granite, marble, quartz, travertine, quartzite, and onyx. We know you have options when shopping for natural stone, and we thank you for making your home Majestic for more than 14 years. Call us for your next project!

LOCALLY OWNED

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CERTIFIED

GRASS-FED m&m FARMS

1414 Fayetteville Road, Van Buren, AR 479.474.4505 Find us on Facebook – M&M Grassfed Farm

Olde Fashioned Foods 8434 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 123 N. 18th St., Fort Smith, AR 479.649.8200 / 479.782.6183 Find them on Facebook / oldefashionedfoods.net An idea was planted in a garage on Free Ferry Drive in Fort

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Smith, in 1959. An idea of healthy living through wholesome Go beyond organic – go for Animal Welfare Approved –

food and supplements. A lot has changed at Olde Fashioned

Certified Grass-fed beef! At M&M Farms in Rudy, we raise the

Foods since 1959, but our mission has stayed the same: to

cattle from birth to processing: they stay on our farm their

provide you with the healthiest food we can find and the best

entire life. We provide an all-forage based diet for them. Farm

quality vitamins on the market. Please come celebrate our 60th

to Table from M&M Farms ensures high-quality nutrition at

year with us! We are having three weekends of 15% off the

the table, certified grass-fed since 2015. A complete selection

entire store, April 5th-7th, August 2nd-4th, December 6th-8th.

of M&M Farms Certified Grass-fed beef products, recipes,

We will have door prizes, gift card and gift basket giveaways,

and helpful hints are available daily at The Paint Store, 1414

music, food and lots more!

Fayetteville Road, in Van Buren. Call 479.474.4505.

LOCALLY OWNED

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9505 Chad Colley Blvd., Fort Smith, AR 479.222.6322 srgapts.com Looking for a place to call home? Whether you’re looking for your first home, a place to live while your dream home is being built, or an extended executive stay, we offer outstanding amenities including granite countertops, laminate floor wood floors, large walk-in closets, pool with cabanas, clubhouses, theater room, tanning bed, business center, and state-of-the-art fitness center. We even have beautifully furnished units with everything included: furniture, bedding and kitchen items, and all utilities paid.

Call today at 479.222.6322 to schedule your tour and find

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out more at SRGApts.com.

5401 Phoenix Ave., Fort Smith, AR 479.783.8013 mysodies.com At Sodie’s, we strongly believe in our local community and as a result, we support many local charities throughout the year.

We believe that our community thrives when one drives that extra mile to shop local, keeping jobs and tax dollars here in the River Valley. As we continue to grow, customers can expect to find top-of-the-line products and services, including online ordering, the Sodie’s app, and a loyalty rewards program that returns dollars toward purchases. We invite you to shop local and experience the Sodie’s difference.

LOCALLY OWNED

1308 Zero Street, Fort Smith, AR Fort Smith: 479.782.0404 NWA: 479.442.2847 tri-hill.com Locally-owned since 1986, we’re specialists in lawn and pest control! Our years in business are proof of the quality of a state license, and our company is certified by the National Pest Management Association as a Quality Pro company.

In addition to keeping up with current research, staying on top of changing weather, and having the right people and equipment to meet your lawn’s needs, we’re serious about doing things right, and we will always work hard to earn and keep your confidence and trust. Call today, and let our family take care of yours!

We love our hometown and have for generations. The Udouj family is rooted in Fort Smith! Our patients love that we have often treated their parents and even their grandparents, so we’ve established trusting relationships. As a locally-owned business, we are deeply involved in the success of our community and strive to offer our time, treasure and talents to see that “Life IS worth living in Fort Smith, Arkansas!”

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our results. All our technicians have been tested and hold

2101 Dallas St., Fort Smith, AR 808 S. Broadway, Poteau, OK 479.782.3021 / 918.647.7272 udoujorthodontics.com

LOCALLY OWNED

122 Townson Ave., Fort Smith, AR 479.782.8256 wightoffice.com Wight Office Machines has done business in Fort Smith since

Fort Smith, Greenwood, Van Buren yeagershardware.com

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1929 and has been in the business community with the same family ownership for over 50 years. This year, we are grateful

For 60 years, Yeagers Hardware has been your go-to store in

to be celebrating our 90th anniversary! We currently provide

the River Valley. We strive to have new and innovative products

service to customers within a 100-mile radius of both Fort

at everyday low prices and the friendly, knowledgeable staff

Smith and Russellville, and we’re the area’s authorized dealer

you know you can count on for the best advice. We now

for Kyocera Document Solutions America. Our mission is to

cut automotive chip keys at all Yeagers locations, which is a

establish long-term business relationships with our customers

big savings from what you’d pay at car dealerships. We have

through our knowledgeable sales representatives and highly

recently added Big Green Egg to our grill selection at all four

trained and experienced service technicians. Our company was

stores! Other lines we are known for carrying include Traeger

built upon a foundation of excellent service and dependability!

wood pellet grills, Yeti, Stihl, and Echo power equipment.

And don’t forget, we price match, guaranteed!

LOCALLY OWNED

DO SOUTH MAGAZINE

Read Chair Publishing, LLC 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110 Fort Smith, AR 72903