Venture South Magazine - March 2019 by Venture South Magazine

MARCH 2019 // FREE

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I Publisher

Jason Niblett jason@myventuresouth.com

Production Manager & Graphic Designer

THE ART OF HEALING 10

SCRMC hosts its successful annual event featuring auctions, live music, and beautiful art.

Anna Griffing anna@myventuresouth.com

Contributing Photographers

Tad Denson | Erio Picagliani Marvin Overstreet | Shannon Holder Jason Niblett | Debra Jefcoat Becky Collins

Contributing Writers

Hilda Hellwig | Marvin Overstreet Becky Collins | Holly Green Jason Niblett

MARTIN OVERSTREET: LAUREL NATIVE

Local artist Martin Overstreet 18 contributes his work to SCRMC’s Art of Healing auctions.

Advertising

Kevin Dearmon kevin@myventuresouth.com Debra Jefcoat debra@myventuresouth.com Venture South Magazine is published monthly by Venture South Media LLC. Laurel, Mississippi Pine Belt: 601-909-0990 | Meridian: 601-453-1377 Gulf Coast: 228-207-1606 | North Mississippi: 662-830-8333 email: info@myventuresouth.com facebook.com/myventuresouth © 2018 / All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher. Venture South Media LLC/Venture South Magazine cannot be held liable for errors and omissions. Copies are available at locations throughout south Mississippi.

Mobile is a picturesque place to day trip. There is no shortage of fun, shopping, and unique finds in Mobile! Cover photo by Tad Denson; courtesy of Visit Mobile.

MISSISSIPPI PROUD: JIM HENSON AT THE MAX Meridian’s The MAX hosts an incredible Jim Henson exhibit.

LEONTYNE PRICE, OPERA DIVA 28 Laurel native Leontyne Price is famous for her stunning portrayal of Aida and her beautiful operatic voice.

FUN & GAMES

Take a break on your adventure 38 with these brain teasers and games.

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An evening of great food, live music and a silent and live auction to benefit a great cause Story by Jason Niblett Photographs courtesy of SCRMC/The Art of Healing

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ne of the most anticipated events in South Central Mississippi, the Art of Healing features art from around the country which has been donated for auction by artists. The proceeds go to the South Central Health Care Foundation to fund community health education and screening initiatives. Lives are saved as a result of early intervention through the community health programs which are offered throughout the year. Becky Collins, director of Community Relations at South Central Regional Medical Center said, “The Art of Healing, an annual auction and social event, serves as the main fundraiser for the South Central Health Care Foundation. This year’s event is shaping up to be one of the best yet.” The 2019 Art of Healing auctions will feature woodwork; oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings; handmade jewelry; and more. Along with art, the event will feature a “Friends of the Foundation” silent auction category, which will include items donated by businesses and individuals, such as specialty dinners, vacations, skincare products, handbags, photography sessions, and more. Internationally acclaimed artist, Mark Landis, will donate several pieces for the silent auction again this year, and will also contribute to the live auction.

“Guests will have the ability to bid on a variety of silent and live auction items,” said Collins. “We are featuring a vacation package including accommodations for a week at Ramon’s Village Resort in San Pedro, Belize. It’s a great opportunity to buy an incredible experience for yourself, while donating to a great cause for our community.” South Central is excited to welcome back one of the top cover bands in the South, Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster. The band will keep all guests entertained with music from the 70s and 80s to current day with their performance until 11 p.m. “We had over 500 in attendance at the event last year and guests enjoyed the music and an evening of dancing. The band was so much fun those attending requested we bring the band back again this year,” Collins said. “Their music is the perfect mixture of favorites for crowds of all ages.” “The Art of Healing serves as the largest fundraiser of the South Central Health Care Foundation. The proceeds from the event, as well as financial contributions made during other foundation fundraisers contribute to the cost of community health projects. Over the years, thousands of local citizens have participated in wellness initiatives coordinated and funded by the foundation,”

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Collins said. “Early detection of disease is key. As a result of our efforts health conditions have been found early and lives have been saved.” The event has grown each year, and event planners are expecting another large crowd this year. “The cost of the event is extremely reasonable at $45. I encourage you to get your tickets early by visiting the scrmc.com website,” Collins said. “We are going to have a great time.” The 2019 event is planned for Saturday, March 23rd and will begin at 7 p.m. “The 2019 Art of Healing will be a night to remember and we hope you are there to celebrate. The dress for the evening is cocktail attire. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit scrmc.com or call 601399-0503. The event will be held at The Gables at 1915 Bush Dairy Road in Laurel,” Collins concluded. ELECTRONIC BIDDING The event will again feature Greater Giving Online Bidding – allowing for a paperless bidding system. This will allow guests to use their smartphone or tablet to bid

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on silent auction items. Also, guests can easily track auction items by “following” their activity without having to continuously return to a table or bid sheet. “Greater Giving Online Bidding was introduced to Art of Healing in 2017,” said Collins. “Electronic bidding provided guests the ability to bid on auction items from the comfort of their seat, the dance floor or while outside

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talking with friends. We encourage those interested in attending to purchase tickets early to preview auction items before the event.” WINE PULL “We are always looking to make the Art of Healing a fun and exciting event,” said Collins. “So we have included a wine pull at the event in years past. The wine pull featured over 40 bottles of wine donated by local medical providers valued from $20 to over $200. Guests randomly selected a number and paid $20 to win a bottle of wine. It was exciting and fun for all involved.” The event will feature a wine pull again this year. Collins concluded by saying, “The Art of Healing would not be possible without the contributions from numerous community partners and donations made by artists and others who contribute to the event. We sincerely appreciate their support and help.”

IF YOU GO Art of Healing Saturday, March 23rd 7 p.m., Tickets $45 Each The Gables in Laurel For Tickets: Call 601-399-0503 Online at scrmc.com

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Story by Jason Niblett | Photographs Courtesy of Marvin Overstreet

Marvin Overstreet will be one of the artists featured during the 2019 South Central Regional Medical Center Art of Healing

n September 17, 1939, my mother, Dolores Overstreet, brought me home to 624 Seventh Street where I grew up around the corner from First Baptist Church and attended First Presbyterian Church. The neighborhood consisted of approximately 45 neighbors that I would be going to school with. I graduated from George S. Gardiner High School in 1957. I attend Jones County Junior College while working at the Buick/Cadillac dealership on First Avenue. I then joined the Navy. After I came home from the Navy, I worked for Halliburton and other oil-related companies. Rather than accepting a job transfer, I took a job with the Laurel Fire Department, retir-

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ing as fire chief after serving 31 years. While I worked in the fire department, I worked parttime with AFLAC insurance company for 42 years. While working, I was a caregiver for my parents for 30 years. My mother had her first brain operation at age 65 and had two others. My father was a barber and passed away at 86 years of age. After my mother passed away at age 95, I took my camper to North Carolina and camped out for two years. It was here I went to John C. Campbell Folk Art School and took wood-turning classes, hiked the Appalachian Trail, spent time riding my mother cycle around North Carolina on the Tail of the Dragon, and meeting people in Dillsboro that put on the Pottery Festival. I went to a pottery seminar at Troy University in Troy, Alabama and bought a wheel and kiln and decided to become a self-taught potter.

Shannon Holder, a 31-year employee of the City of Laurel, would become an important part of my life. Should would also enjoy numerous hobbies, including running, bicycling, the arts, and she owns half the dogs. Many people in the area were helpful in giving advice on wood-turning, pottery, kayaking, and glass-blowing. Mr. Wooten at a sawmill in Andrews, North Carolina was very helpful in finding special wood for me. Now back home and making trips to Orange Beach, I started taking glass-blowing classes at The Hot Shop at the Arts Center. After doing arts and crafts festivals, I later put some of my art on display at the George Ohr Museum in Biloxi and the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel. During my scuba diving years in the Caribbean, I was paired with Byron Myrick, a teacher at JCJC. We talked about pottery for years and finally got around to classes. Being a runner, I became friends with Carl Touchstone and helped him establish Mississippi Trail 50 in the Desoto National Forest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 50 mile, 50k, and 20k. During my running years, I ran many 5 Ks, 10 Ks, half-marathons, 25 marathons, 25 ultra-marathons, 55 triathlons, and completed a 55-mile bicycle race over Mount Cheaha, and a 55 run on the Long Leaf Trace. I was also interested in cars through the years having a 1949 Mercury and a 1960 Corvette that I kept for 53 years.

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Story & Photographcs by Jason Niblett

f there’s one thing most people would agree upon it’s that our state is the home of legends, From the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico to the flat, rich soil of the Delta, there are stories and people that can make others from any part of the world gasp in amazement. That’s Mississippi? Absolutely. Although there are some fantastic museums in Mississippi already, it’s a new attraction in Meridian that’s sure to amaze visitors with a high-tech, unique approach to teaching about these legends. Guests to Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, commonly known as The MAX in downtown Meridian, will experience Mississippi greats such as B. B. King from the

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Delta, Walter Anderson from the Gulf Coast, and more than 250 other Mississippians. There is a Hall of Fame gallery and intriguing exhibitions, including a section designed as a church featuring gospel music. Sure, there are artifacts and historic items, but there are plenty of interactive aspects throughout the huge facility. Guests also find a recording studio, art studios, and rotating galleries. As if those permanent attractions aren’t enough to attract any proud Mississippian to Meridian, it’s a special exhibit that will certainly do the trick. The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited explores the life of Mississippi-native Jim Henson and the impact his creations have had on popular culture. The traveling exhibition will run through May 4, 2019 and features Henson’s iconic Muppets and other puppets from familiar productions like Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal and much more. Visitors, school groups and people of all ages can experience Henson’s creations and see how his early work in film and television evolved into the magical worlds that have become so familiar to audiences worldwide. The exhibition also provides behind-the-scenes material to reveal how Henson and his crew of puppeteers, writers, and designers created an iconic family of puppets and characters that continue to entertain both children and adults.

“Jim Henson was a creator and entertainer with a unique vision, and he had a tremendous influence on our culture by giving us these magical characters and worlds that many of us grew up with,” said Mark Tullos, executive director of The MAX. “This is yet another amazing story of a native Mississippian who left his mark on the world, and this exhibit allows visitors to retrace Henson’s life from his early years in Leland, Mississippi, to his establishment in New York’s advertising and entertainment worlds, to the film sets of major motion pictures.” The exhibition features a broad range of artifacts related to Henson’s unparalleled career, including more than 20 original puppets, character sketches, storyboards, scripts, photographs, film and television clips, behind-the-scenes footage, iconic costumes, and interactive experiences that allow visitors to try their hand at puppeteering on camera and designing a puppet character. Imagination Unlimited begins with a brief look at Henson’s early life through images of Henson as a young man and reproductions of some of his early drawings and sketches, and then follows his steady rise and immense contributions to the art and industry of the moving image. Highlights include a Kermit the Frog puppet from 1978; handwritten scripts from Henson’s first television series, Sam and Friends (1955-1961); a clip from his Academy Award–nominated experimental film Time

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Piece (1965); Jen and Kira puppets from The Dark Crystal (1982); familiar Sesame Street puppets including Grover, Ernie, Bert, and Count von Count; plus costumes from Labyrinth (1986). “This is a world-class exhibition,” Tullos said. “One of our objectives at The MAX has been to provide such amazing and exciting attractions as this one in addition to the experience offered by our permanent exhibits here.” The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited is a traveling exhibition organized by Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria, New York) in cooperation with The Jim Henson Company, The Muppets Studio, and Sesame Workshop, and toured worldwide by Flying Fish. The exhibition features puppets and other objects donated to the Museum by the family of Jim Henson, plus works on loan from The Jim Henson Company archives as well as from private lenders. The traveling exhibition is a version of MoMI’s ongoing The Jim Henson Exhibition, which is on view at its home in New York City. Getting there: From I-20/59: Take Exit 153 (22nd Avenue) toward downtown Meridian. Turn right onto Front Street immediately after crossing the 22nd Avenue bridge. The MAX is on the right.

IF YOU GO Hours of Operation: Tuesdays – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mondays, closed Closed New Years Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day Admission: $14, adults (18–64) $12, students (with ID), Seniors (65+), & active military $8, youth (6–17) Free, for children 5 and under $8, groups of 10 or more Free, for members Parking: Street parking is available downtown and in parking lots along Front Street.

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Above: Leontyne Price as AĂŻda in 1963 at La Scala, Milan Photograph courtesy of Erio Picagliani Page 30: Illustrations by Diane and Leo Dillon

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Story by Jason Niblett | Photographs courtesy of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art

orn and raised in Laurel, Leontyne Price rose to international acclaim in the 1950s and 60s as one of the leading opera singers of the era. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948, she was offered a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in New York City. Price’s beautiful lyric soprano voice earned her feature roles in several of the school’s operas. During her last year at Juilliard, she gave an outstanding strong performance as Mistress Ford in the student production of the opera, Falstaff. Price became the first African-American to sing leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Her most

noted role was as Egyptian princess-turned-slave Aida in Giuseppe Verdi’s opera of the same name, first singing the role in 1958. During her premier season at The Met in 1961, she sang in a production of the work opposite the great Franco Corelli. Performing as Aida many times over her career, she gave her operatic farewell in 1985 with a televised performance of Aida from The Met. This ended with 25 minutes of applause, and her singing of the aria “O Patria Mia” was voted by PBS viewers as the “Number One Great Moment” in 30 years of “Live from the Met” telecasts. In 1990, Price worked with noted illustrators Diane and Leo Dillon to publish a children’s picture book that told her

IF YOU GO The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art 565 North Fifth Avenue, Laurel (601) 649-6374 Free admission, but donations are accepted Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Sundays: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Closed major holidays

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own version of the Aida story. Price has said, “Aida is very person, very special to me.” The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art’s exhibition, “O Patria Mia: Leontyne Price and Aïda,” celebrates Price and the role that brought her to prominence. “O Patria Mia” means “oh my dear homeland,” and this exhibition in the land of her birth includes costumes worn by Price in her operatic farewell performance, original paintings for the illustrations in her book about the opera, and videos of her performances The exhibition is on view through April 28th.

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Story & Photographs by Hilda Hellwig

ust an hour away from Gulfport is a great place to visit, even though many folks from Mississippi might see it as a landmark along the way to beaches in Gulf Shores or Destin. Mobile is such a great town to visit and spend a few days with plenty to do to stay entertained or relax the hours away. Downtown Mobileâ&#x20AC;Ś what a wonderful surprise! In the middle of a concrete jungle of modern-day buildings lies downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parks, historic buildings, charming shops, and delicious food. Laced with brick roads, wonderful architecture, and trees, downtown is a great starting and ending point each day.

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Photo by Tad Denson

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Photo by Tad Denson

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On the first day, a suggestion would take travelers to Bellingrath Gardens, which is about 30 minutes from downtown. The flowers all around the 65 acres of grounds are breathtaking. The home is immaculate and adorned with all kinds of antiques. This beautiful homesite was once a fishing camp. Mr. Bellingrath made his money from bottling Coca-Cola. His awards throughout the house tell his story. Married in 1906, 30 years later the decided to build Bellingrath. Build a showplace they did, right on the Fowl River. It is an amazing home with big bedrooms, updated bathrooms and a most wonderful huge kitchen with two dishwashers, a refrigerator and a separate standing freezer, marble island in the middle and a massive pantry. For those days the house certainly had all the modern elements. The gardens are wonderful and the smell from all the flowers is intoxicating. Butterflies are fluttering all around, showcasing so many beautiful colors. There are even baby deer and other wildlife prancing into the field. There is a rose garden, and a greenhouse with some unusual plants.

Despite the home and gardens being such a famous tourist attraction, there is also a restaurant thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very reasonably priced and quite delicious. Guests should plan to have at least two hours to see the sites. For people into photography, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavenly, and there is always something going on at the gardens. please check their website at www. bellingrath.org. After spending time at the gardens, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to get checked into the hotel. The Hampton Inn & Suites in Downtown Mobile is perfect for couples, friends and families. The rooms here are so big and roomy, the beds are so comfortable, and the breakfast is fit for a king. Some rooms have a balcony overlooking downtown. During the day, a walk around Mobile to enjoy the architecture, the parks and the sites is perfect.

IF YOU GO Bellingrath Gardens: https://bellingrath.org Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown: www.hamptoninn.com Visit Mobile: www.mobile.org

Photo by Tad Denson

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A fantastic activity for the second day is the Duck Tour of Mobile Bay. This is a must-do while in Mobile. Tour guides Sarah and Ashley are absolutely delightful, and this tour is about two hours long. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so informative, and just a blast of a time! Unfortunately, duck tours may be temporarily unavailable, but be sure to check with updated schedules! One thing to remember is a visit over a Sunday will find a lot of the home-owned places closed. Monday morning, it was business as usual. At night the skyline is so colorful, with colors like blues and greens shining against the nighttime sky. If the Ducks arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t available, there are plenty of other things to do all around Mobile. There is the information USS Alabama battleship, and depending on the time of the year, college football. History abounds at every corner, and Mobile is a great vacation destination or stopover. Also, the port city is now a cruise destination, so schedule your cruise vacation with ease!

Photo by Tad Denson

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Enjoy these games & puzzles as you go on your next adventure.

WORD SCRAMBLE

Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to birds.

WORD BANK Beach Birds Blue Boardwalk Boating Conch Coral

Cove Cruise Culture Destination Dock Dune Explore Fish

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Foliage Gull Humidity Island Lush Ocean Palm Pebbles

Answer: Hotel

THLEO

Peninsula Sand Scuba Seashells Shoreline Snorkel Sunshine Swimsuit

Tide Tropics Vacation Warmth Waves

CLUES ACROSS 1. Chop or cut 4. Green veggie 7. Bar bill 10. Doctors’ group 11. One who buys and sells securities (slang) 12. Be in debt 13. Lively ballroom dance 15. Singer Charles 16. Polish city 19. Former 21. Dismissing from employment 23. Minerals 24. Plotted 25. Consult 26. After a prayer 27. Agents of one’s downfall 30. Leaseholders 34. Supervises flying 35. Voodoo god 36. Alfalfa 41. Apply another coat to 45. Witnesses 46. Jai __, sport 47. Ones who proof 50. Recant 54. Small group with shared interests 55. Part of warming headgear 56. Woolen cloth 57. Snag 59. Central American fruit tree 60. Woman (French) 61. The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet 62. Type of bed 63. Soviet Socialist Republic 64. Consume

65. Japanese freight company (abbr.) CLUES DOWN 1. Czech monetary unit 2. Able to arouse intense feeling 3. Elk 4. Muscular weaknesses 5. Geological time 6. Depths of the ocean 7. Burns to the ground 8. Becomes cognizant of 9. Cause to shade 13. US political party 14. Refers to some of a thing 17. Single 18. Type of beer 20. Ancient Iranian people 22. Grocery chain 27. Gridiron league 28. English river 29. __ and cheese 31. Peyton’s younger brother 32. Long time 33. High schoolers’ test 37. Respects 38. Organize anew 39. Filippo __, Saint 40. Intrinsic nature of something 41. Cheese dish 42. Ancient Greek City 43. Patron saint of Ireland 44. Produced by moving aircraft or vehicle 47. Shock treatment 48. __ Jones 49. Things 51. Having wings 52. Panthers’ QB Newton 53. Third-party access 58. Satisfaction

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