ARKANSAS’ LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2026 | AYMAG.COM
LEGACY OF
SERVICE Broyles Award celebrates 30th year
Home Issue | Interior Design Awards | Dental Health $5.00 U.S.
TRIUMPH FOR YOUR
For Debbie, every day is a celebration thanks to her zest for life, close circle of friends and her cardiac team at Baptist Health. FOR YOU. FOR LIFE.
Debbie
Heart Condition Champion
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The U.S. Marshals Museum tells the story of our nations’ Marshals. Located in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Where legacy
meets purpose
Photo by Tim Hursley
✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪
The Experience. Immersive exhibits. Interactive story-telling. From tales of colonial days, to the western frontier, to challenges of a Marshal’s life today, you’ll encounter an America you never knew and be inspired by the men and women whose service and strength helps hold it all together.
Special 25% admission discount for local supporters with zip codes beginning in 727, 729 and 749.
Tickets available on www.MarshalsMuseum.org
Local or Abroad, We Design Spaces That Dreams Are Made Of
(501) 932-7608
HuntDesignGroup
contents WHAT’S INSIDE
10 Publisher’s Letter 12 Connect 14 Top Events 156 Murder Mystery 160 Diamonds: Jacob Lofland
COVER 20
A Legend Turns 30
HOME
26 Pool Party 32 Love Language 34 Extended Digs 38 Go Big and Build Homes 40 Redefining the Art of Home 46 Built From Scratch 48 Creative Outlets 52 An Eye for Style 54 Casa Couture 57 The Finishing Touch 58 Top of the Class 62 AY’s Interior Design Awards
FOOD
74 Another Round 78 Roasted Winter Vegetables 80 Winter Cocktails
HEALTH
84 Sound Bites 88 Bridging the Gaps 90 Tooth Ferry 94 At the Root of it All 96 Picture Perfect 102 Get ‘Endo’ It 104 Early Smiles 108 A Smile that Matters 111 Wisdom Teeth 112 A Career of Smiles
TRAVEL
117 AY’s Arkansas Treasures
ARTS & CULTURE
Confection Connections page 70
PEOPLE
ON THE COVER
128 ’This Story has Held Onto Us’ 132 Shake Your Body 136 Love and Art 140 Arkansas Soul 146 Great Scott!
NONPROFIT
150 Enshrined for All Time
The late great Head Hog Frank Broyles lives on through the Broyles Award, presented by the Broyles Foundation. Story starts on page 20.
ABOUT YOU 16
AY’s 14 Days of Valentines
6
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, ARKANSAS
the first ever
23rd annual
tuesday, march 17, 2026 6:30 pm
GRAND MARSHAL
CARMEN ELECTRA PARADE STARTER
MATT ISEMAN, AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: DAN HAMPTON, THE DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERELEADERS, & THE DANCING UMPIRE PLUS! FREE CONCERT WITH THE MOLLY RINGWALDS AFTER PARADE
SHORTESTSTPATS.COM
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
Heather Baker hbaker@aymag.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Dwain Hebda dwain@aymag.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Mak Millard mmillard@aymag.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Darlene Hebda darlene@aymag.com
COPY EDITOR
Sarah DeClerk sdeclerk@aymag.com
STAFF WRITERS
Doug Crise dcrise@aymag.com Alex Hardgrave ahardgrave@aymag.com Mary LeSieur mlesieur@aymag.com
MANAGING DIGITAL EDITOR
Kellie McAnulty kmcanulty@aymag.com
ONLINE WRITER
Kilee Hall khall@aymag.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Mike Bedgood mbedgood@aymag.com
Joe David Rice, born in Paragould and reared in Jonesboro, probably knows Arkansas as well as anyone alive. The former owner of an outfitting business on the Buffalo National River and the state’s former tourism director, his Arkansas Backstories is published by the Butler Center.
Margie Raimondo blends culinary skills with storytelling. She specializes in Mediterranean cooking classes that emphasize healthy eating and has authored two cookbooks: Mangiamo and Finding Your Path. Additionally, she is a filmmaker. She produced the awardwinning documentary The Soul of Sicily.
Terrance Armstard is a photojournalist who has worked at institutions such as the University of Louisiana Monroe, the News Star in Louisiana and El Dorado News-Times. In addition to his freelance work, Armstard teaches courses in photojournalism, sports journalism, multimedia journalism, advertising and public relations.
Justina Parker has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and is the creator of We Belong, a blog that features women in leadership across Arkansas. She loves people’s stories of selfdiscovery and spending time with her two boys, and she has never met a dog or potato she did not like.
Steve Lewis is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High who moved away a long time ago. His accomplishments include jumping freight trains through the Canadian Rockies in the summer of ’97, finally getting a bachelor’s degree and surviving more than 10 years as a photojournalist before returning home to contribute to AY Media.
Lori Sparkman, owner of Lori Sparkman Photography, has traveled the globe to work extensively with beautiful brides and grooms, fierce fitness clients, and growing families, as well as high-profile and corporate clients. She prides herself in capturing their personalities with a sophisticated and lighthearted style.
Jamie Lee is a freelance photographer originally from southwest Louisiana who now resides in Little Rock. With a strong focus on portrait, branding and food photography, she loves capturing people’s stories and cultures through the lens, helping businesses build their brands visually, and showcasing the local food scene and small businesses.
Jane Colclasure is a Little Rock native with more than 25 years of experience in product, architectural, and home and garden photography. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado and an associate’s degree from the Colorado Institute of Art.
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Jerry Cordova jcordova@aymag.com Lora Puls lpuls@aymag.com Lee Smith lsmith@aymag.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Linda Burlingame lindaaymag@aol.com Michelle Daugherty michelle@aymag.com Mary Funderburg mary@aymag.com Karen Holderfield kholderfield@aymag.com Carrie Sublett carrie@aymag.com
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Jessica Everson jeverson@aymag.com
ADVERTISING ASSISTANT
Katie Beth Smith ksmith@aymag.com
PRODUCTION & AD OPERATIONS Jay Danzy ads@aymag.com Lara Keck ads@aymag.com
CIRCULATION
circulation@aymag.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Emily James, Mark Carter, Ryan Parker
ACCOUNTING
billing@aymag.com
ADMINISTRATION
Marissa Porter ayoffice@aymag.com Vicki Vowell, CEO
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501-244-9700 or hbaker@aymag.com
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501-244-9700 or aymag.com Please submit press releases & news to press@aymag.com
AY About You Magazine is published monthly, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9 AY Magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) by AY Media Group, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2025, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY. Please recycle this magazine.
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BIG DREAMS DESERVE A PLAN
We all have big dreams for our children and we know they’ll have dreams of their own. No matter what type of education those dreams call for, I have a plan. The Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan allows our education savings to grow tax-deferred.
And every little bit helps. Help their dreams become a reality whether they study in the U.S. or abroad. Look into opening an Arkansas Brighter Future 529 Plan – their dreams deserve it.
BrighterFutureDirect529.com 1.800.587.7301
publisher’s letter
Lots to Love Ah, February, when many thoughts turn to flowers, chocolate and romance! I am lucky to get to spend time with my significant other every day of the year, working to build and promote AY About You magazine, but we still make time for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day. In this issue, we provide the blueprint to allow you to do the same. First stop — Arkansas’ favorite spots for chocolate. The Natural State offers a lot of hidden gems, and couples can get as bougie as they desire for their loved ones. You do not want to miss this guide to a sure-to-be-loved gift. Next — a night out. There is always something happening in Arkansas, and whether you want something for the big day itself or at a later date to avoid the crowds, we have got your ticket. Check out our previews of The Thorn coming to Robinson Center in Little Rock and MJ: The Musical coming there via Celebrity Attractions. Do not forget the flowers! Our outstanding partner, Norwood-Day Floral Co., shares this month about how to choose the right buds and blooms for the home to set the ideal romantic atmosphere. Finally — the gift. Besides the aforementioned chocolates, do not miss our 14-day giveaway, where lucky winners will take home fabulous prizes provided by our wonderful advertisers. Delight the one you love, or treat yourself. Also this month, we preview the Broyles Award event returning to Hot Springs for its 30th presentation and the 20th year of the Broyles Foundation. Our section about dental health provides tips and advice about keeping all smiles healthy, while another section about homes covers everything needed to re-create your living space in 2026. There is a lot to love in this issue of AY About You, just as we have a lot of love for our advertisers, our readers and our beautiful home state of Arkansas. Thanks for picking us up!
Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com / heatherbaker_ar
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Photo by Jason Burt
we saving lives As Katie McClanahan was unpacking boxes at her family’s new home in midtown Little Rock, a powerful storm blew through. She was crushed under the weight of a massive tree that fell on her house. As fire and rescue teams worked to extract her from the rubble, they quickly realized she was bleeding and wouldn’t survive without medical help. The UAMS Health trauma team, from the state’s only adult Level 1 trauma center, came to the scene and administered blood and medications that saved Katie’s life. She spent the next 17 days at UAMS undergoing several surgeries to repair her broken bones. This experience led McClanahan to become an advocate for blood donations and prehospital transfusions for others like her who need blood before they reach an emergency room. Katie and Alan McClanahan and their children
“I am alive today because I was close to UAMS and have friends who know doctors there. I want everyone to have access to life-saving care like I received. Everyone deserves this chance at life.” – Katie McClanahan, Little Rock
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THE CROISSANTERIE OPENS NEW HOME I am so excited to visit this weekend!! Chanel Owens MOVIE STARRING NICOLAS CAGE WRAPS FILMING IN ARKANSAS They bought the old cash register used in the movie from me. Thank you for this article. We’ve been waiting for more information about the movie. Phillip Jones ASTRAL SPA NAMED ONE OF NORTH AMERICA’S TOP 10 SPAS Well deserved! I love it there. Shanice Michelle ASK THE EXPERT 2026: MARSHALL MOON, CFP He is absolutely the BEST!!!!! Katherine Denys
Funky Stretch Pizza coming soon to North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District. (Photo by Jenn Terrell Photography)
SO FETCH! MEAN GIRLS MUSICAL TO HIT THE STAGE IN LITTLE ROCK FOR ONE WEEKEND ONLY Can’t wait to see this one! Emily Harrison Young GOODWILL INDUSTRIES TURNS DONATED POSSESSIONS INTO NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARKANSANS They do tremendous work for the community and state with their programs! Sonia Lucas-Meyer FUNKY STRETCH PIZZA IN ARGENTA PROMISES UNIQUE CULINARY EXPERIENCE Thank you so much! We can’t wait to give this community an out-of-this-world experience! Funky Stretch Pizza
Master of many arts Rick Springfield is set to perform live at the Oaklawn Event Center in Hot Springs at 7 p.m. May 1.
AY’S 2026 DINING GUIDE: WALDO’S CHICKEN & BEER They have the best sides too! Mona Brown Williams
TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM AY’s Best of 2026 nomination round Top Weekend Events Movie starring Nicolas Cage wraps filming in Arkansas The Croissanterie opens new home Funky Stretch Pizza in Argenta promises unique culinary experience
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Buffalo River Aviation has taken flight with a new mission: helping grant travel wishes for Arkansas children with critical illnesses. (Photo by Jeff Rose, Buffalo River Aviation)
MASTER POET. FEARLESS WARRIOR. ANOINTED KING. From still waters to shadowed valleys, David’s ascent to the throne is filled with towering giants, wild animals, and Philistine soldiers. After unprecedented victories lead to devastating failures, this passionate warrior will face the biggest battle of all: the one within himself. With original music inspired by the Psalms, DAVID is a state-of-the-art theatrical experience the whole family will enjoy. Witness one of the most legendary Bible stories as it comes to life with spectacular special effects, massive sets, and live animals during this final season in Branson, MO.
MARCH – OCTOBER | BRANSON, MO BOOK EARLY. BOOK DIRECT. | SIGHT-SOUND.COM
agenda
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Top
you just can't miss!
LITTLE ROCK ANIME FEST Feb. 7-8 Statehouse Convention Center — Little Rock
Little Rock Anime Fest is back, offering a weekend full of panels, events and cosplaying for fans of all things anime. Guests include Erika Henningsen, Amir Talai and Blake Roman of Hazbin Hotel, comic book artist Steven Butler, and Little Red Fox Cosplay.
THE THORN
Feb. 10-11 Robinson Center — Little Rock See the story of Jesus like it has never been presented before, featuring aerial acts, movement, modern dance and special effects. The Thorn has been empowering audiences for 30 years with a story of love, sacrifice and redemption.
THE BROYLES AWARD Feb. 12-13 Oaklawn — Hot Springs
Every year for 30 years, the Broyles Award has been awarded to those who display excellence in assistant coaching. Named after the great Razorback coach Frank Broyles, the award also remembers his legacy. Over the years, many award winners have gone on to become well-known college and NFL coaches.
CHOCOLATE FANTASY BALL Feb. 28 Statehouse Convention Center — Little Rock
Giving back tastes even sweeter at the annual Chocolate Fantasy Ball. Join Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana for an evening of dinner, dancing and sweet treats, all to benefit families of critically ill children in the region.
2026 LITTLE ROCK MARATHON WEEKEND
Feb. 27-March 1 Statehouse Convention Center — Little Rock Ready, set, go! The annual Little Rock Marathon offers a traditional marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K and kids race, so there is something for every type of runner. Stretch those hamstrings and lace up those sneakers because it is time to have some fun and go for a run.
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events 1
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Full Moon Adventure Mississippi River State Park Marianna
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Walton Arts Center Fayetteville
Divas of Soul UA-PTC CHARTS North Little Rock
Dog Man: The Musical Robinson Center Little Rock
Lane Bricker George’s Majestic Lounge Fayetteville
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Justin Furstenfeld The Hall Little Rock
Inzo: Mirrorverse Tour Ozark Music Hall Fayetteville
49 Winchester: Spring Tour 2026 Ozark Music Hall Fayetteville
Katt Williams: The Golden Age Tour Simmons Bank Arena North Little Rock
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The Magic of Motown Robinson Center Little Rock
Rumours ATL: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute The Hall Little Rock
Great Backyard Bird Count Lake Chicot State Park Lake Village
2026 Prime Time Dance Competition Statehouse Convention Center Little Rock
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Aaron Lewis Oaklawn Hot Springs
Logan Crosby George’s Majestic Lounge Fayetteville
Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special Fayetteville Public Library Fayetteville
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Redveil RØDE HOUSE Bentonville
Motown Sound Revue Vapors Live Hot Springs
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Presents River Rhapsodies IV ASO Stella Boyle Smith Music Center Little Rock
Concert Series: Lost Bayou Ramblers Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Little Rock
Eric Church: Free the Machine Tour Simmons Bank Arena North Little Rock
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Ballet Arkansas World Premiere: Cinderella Robinson Center Little Rock
Penelope Road George’s Majestic Lounge Fayetteville
SoMardi Gras Parade and Street Festival South Main Little Rock
John Mulaney: Mister Whatever Simmons Bank Arena North Little Rock
Water for Elephants Walton Arts Center Fayetteville
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Heart: Royal Flush Tour Simmons Bank Arena North Little Rock
Eli Young Band George’s Majestic Lounge Fayetteville
Send It South Bike & Music Festival The Momentary Bentonville
Gary Allan Oaklawn Hot Springs
Monster Jam Simmons Bank Arena North Little Rock
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Arkansauce The Rev Room Little Rock
aymag.com
14
days of Valentine's
Giveaways R
oses are red, violets are blue, and at AY About You, the 14 Days of Valentine’s Giveaway holds something for you! Love is in the air this month, and AY About You is celebrating with 14 days of giveaways designed to make your month extra sweet. From distinguished dining to crafted masterpieces, AY About You is here to elevate your Valentine’s plans. Whether you are celebrating romance, friendship or a little self-love, we invite our readers to spread the love, enter daily and make this Valentine’s Day truly top tier.
How To Win — Each day of February leading up to Valentine's Day, visit AY’s social media platforms for the code word of the day. Enter it at aymag.com/contests for your chance to win. Items must be picked up in person. 16
TWO DOZEN RED ROSES AND CHOCOLATE Norwood-Day Floral Co.
1 DAY
Value: $200 7509 Cantrell Road, Suite 4, Little Rock 501-255-8883 norwood-day.com The classics are called that for a reason. On this most special occasion, there is nothing quite like flowers and chocolates to make the heart flutter. Send a statement of affection to that special person with the help of Norwood-Day Floral Co. A beautiful and timeless arrangement of two dozen fresh red roses and a box of creamy chocolates is sure to impress, and same-day delivery to Little Rock and surrounding areas makes for a convenient way to show one’s affection.
TWO TICKETS TO CINDERELLA Ballet Arkansas
3 2
Value: $225
DAY
520 Main St., Little Rock, 501-223-5150 balletarkansas.org
DAY
GLASS-BLOWING EXPERIENCE FOR TWO Hammer & Stain
Win tickets to Ballet Arkansas’ world premiere of Cinderella, classical ballet’s comedic gem. Experience Cinderella performed live by Ballet Arkansas, one of the top 75 ballet companies in America, at the Robinson Center Feb. 20 to 22.
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FLORAL DESIGN AND DECOR WORKSHOP Eden’s Flower Truck & Botanicals
DAY
Value: $200
Value: $260
825 Central Ave., Hot Springs 501-547-9411 hammerandstainhotsprings.com
3959 N. Steele Blvd., Suite 101 Fayetteville 479-356-9377 edensflowertruck@gmail.com
Create a romantic masterpiece for the ages by personalizing a thoughtful gift with this glass blowing class from Hammer & Stain Hot Springs. From newbies to maestros, this ideal date night activity allows anyone to unleash their inner artist. Crafters can also visit the gift shop, where Hammer & Stain offers custom engravings on a variety of items to create heartwarming keepsakes for that special someone.
Plan an out-of-the-box date with four free tickets to a private flower arranging workshop with a complimentary charcuterie board and champagne. Taught by award-winning florist Eden Garrett, create fragrant memories and arrangements that special someone will not forget.
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aymag.com
DAY
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IV THERAPY PACKAGE Recover Restore Revive Value: $230
110 E. South St., Benton 501-430-4968 recover-restore-revive.com This Valentine’s season, give the gift of energy, immunity, and inner glow. One lucky winner will receive a Myers’ Cocktail IV with a 200-milligram glutathione add-on — a physician-guided infusion designed to refresh, recharge and restore balance from the inside out. This powerful treatment supports energy, immune health, stress resilience and radiant skin just in time for Valentine’s Day.
GIFT CARD Southern Interiors Value: $500 8713 Warden Road, Sherwood, 501-214-0268 southerninteriorsfa.com
DINNER FOR TWO Pasta Grill
What screams adoration more than a home improvement project? Let this Valentine’s Day mark the project that special someone has always dreamed of with Southern Interiors. With a $500 gift card towards any project or service, let this one-stop shop reimagine the home.
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Value: $200
DAY
Locations in Conway, Russellville and Van Buren pastagrillrestaurant.com Sit back, relax, unwind and dine at Pasta Grill. Indulge in the “Pasta Grill experience” with this very special dinner for two. Enjoy intimate, unhurried dining while sampling their pastas, seafood and prime hand-cut steaks — served just the way you like them.
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DAY
DAY
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SILVER HOOP EARRINGS Jones & Son Value: $300
BLACK LEATHER WATCH WITH SILVER DETAILING Jones & Son
11121 N. Rodney Parham Road Little Rock 855-901-7464 jonesandson.com
Value: $300 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road Little Rock 855-901-7464 jonesandson.com Any man can feel more sophisticated with this elegant watch by Jones & Son Diamond & Bridal Fine Jewelry in Little Rock. Featuring a large face and black leather band, the sleek design transitions seamlessly from day to night, making this a winning gift for the man on the go. Enhance any man’s personal style with this classic timepiece.
9 DAY
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Show that special lady how much she means with these remarkable sterling silver earrings. Whether for a wife, mother, daughter or oneself, these lovely earrings are an excellent addition to any jewelry collection and pair nicely with everything from a little black dress to a power suit. Tasteful yet elegant, these earrings are just as beautiful as the woman wearing them.
12 DAY
GIFT CARD Mack Rae Permanent Cosmetics Value: $250 3020 E. Kiehl Ave. Sherwood 501-366-8947 mackraepc.com Why get dolled up for just one evening when it is possible to make every day fabulous? Led by one of the state’s leading technicians, Mack Rae Permanent Cosmetics gives clients an extra boost of confidence that does not wear off after date night. For eyes, lips and more, this $250 gift card has them covered.
LOVE WELL COUPLES PACKAGE Beyond Wellness Value: $400 Little Rock (West) Little Rock (Hillcrest) Hot Springs Village Rogers (coming soon) 501-476-7171 beyondwellnessar.com
11 DAY
Fall head over heels for this “Love Well” couples package from the health experts at Beyond Wellness. With two of everything – IVs, lymphatic compression, sauna, red-light therapy and vitamin D sessions – this gift is a great way to rejuvenate together.
TWO-NIGHT STAY WITH BREAKFAST FOR TWO Best Western Winners Circle Value: $400
13 DAY
2520 Central Ave., Hot Springs, 501-387-7470 Nothing says relax more than a weekend getaway to the Spa City. Enjoy a special two-night stay at Best Western Winners Circle in Hot Springs, and with breakfast for two both mornings, this gift is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Some black-out days apply.
10 DAY
14 DAY GIFT CARD Copper Well Retreat Value: $250 12418 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, 501-904-1978 copperwellretreat.com Melt away the holiday stress with a gift card to Copper Well Retreat. Calm the mind and leave feeling deeply renewed for Valentine’s Day. Copper Well Retreat offers a wide variety of spa services, and nothing says “I love you” more than the gift of rejuvenation and relaxation.
METABOLIC RESET AND IV PACKAGE Revive Health and Wellness Value: $650 1517 S. Main St., Malvern, 501-382-1577 health-revived.com Enjoy a Valentine’s Day reset with Revive Health and Wellness’ metabolic reset package and IV infusion therapy. Revive Health and Wellness’ metabolic reset package is designed to support hormones, target stubborn weight and boost metabolic support, and with IV infusion therapy, feel the instantaneous boost of hydration, energy and overall wellness.
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aymag.com
nonprofit
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A Legend Turns
Broyles Award recognizes coaching excellence, showcases great cause T
By DWAIN HEBDA
here was a time when a mention of the name Frank Broyles would make even the casually interested Razorback fan sit up and take notice, and today, the Broyles name still carries weight but in a more diverse set of circles. There are some who immediately hearken his legendary coaching career on The Hill and others who have learned to be better caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease thanks to resources from the Broyles Foundation. Still other ears perk at the name via the Broyles Award, of which AY Media Group is a sponsor, one of the most prestigious awards in college football.. However one remembers or is exposed to the legend of Broyles today, he easily ranks among the most impactful figures in the state’s history. Even being born and raised in Georgia and coaching one season at rival University of Missouri is not enough to dim his luminous reputation as one of Arkansas’ most important figures. So it was with no small amount of trepidation that flashy Floridian turned former Hogs linebacker David Bazzel sought an audience with the storied coach. Bazzel, now a broadcasting legend and one of the most conspicuous promoters the Razorback football program has ever had, was seeking Broyles’ approval of his idea for a national
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Frank Broyles (Photos courtesy of Broyles family)
Pacing the sidelines or raising money, Frank Broyles elevated the Hogs in everything he did. (Photos courtesy of UA)
you get $10,000, you get $25,000, whatever, which is nice. “The bigger thing is the recognition that you get. If your name is on the finalist list, not only do you get a raise; you’re on the radar of coaches who are hiring assistant coaches or schools looking to fill a head coaching vacancy. That was sort of a cool thing I always felt good about seeing happen.” For his part, Broyles enjoyed seeing the award that bore his name grow in stature and prestige, as much for the men it highlighted as for the one it was named after. “Dad loved his assistant coaches,” said Broyles’ daughter Betsy Broyles Arnold. “He would not take raises; he would give his raises to his coaches. He also would help you get a head coaching job. He was very close with all of his assistants.” Broyles Arnold shares her father’s love for the award but for different reasons. In addition to memorializing the beloved coach, it has also provided an important spotlight on the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation, of which she is founder and her daughter, Molly Harrell, is executive director. “A few years ago, I went to Betsy and Molly and said, ‘You guys are still hustling to make an impact with the foundation and folks who are Alzheimer’s caregivers,’” Bazzel said. “‘I’d like to give you the award and let it be used for something bigger and something Coach Broyles would be happy with.’ “It’s been really cool because now when these coaches come in, it’s not just an award about them; it also has a purpose. Some of them are too young to remember Coach Broyles, but they learn about him, and they know it’s a great cause because Alzheimer’s affects everybody. It’s really been a good relationship, and I’m thrilled that the foundation has taken it over.”
Dad loved his assistant coaches. He would not take raises; he would give his raises to his coaches. He also would help you get a head coaching job. He was very close with all of his assistants. — Betsy Broyles Arnold award. The honor would recognize the best college assistant coach in the country and bear Broyles’ name to boot. Bazzel remembers getting grilled by the famed coach to ensure he had sweated the details, after which he got Broyles’ blessing — on one condition. “Coach Broyles said, ‘Well David, I like the idea. I know the value of assistant coaches, but here’s the thing: If we do this, you can’t ask for any money from any of the people who give to the Razorback Foundation,’” Bazzel said. “I said, ‘OK, Coach. Whatever.’ “I walked away from that meeting and thought, ‘I’m in big trouble.’ Everybody gave to the foundation. He gave me the blessing to go forward, and I think he knew it was an honor, but it was really, ‘Prove it to us that you can get this done.’” Bazzel chuckled at the 30-year-old memory, a turning point in college football history. After pulling off the first award on a shoestring, each successive Broyles Award gained another unit of momentum. “After about Year 5 or 6, winners and even finalists were starting to get bonuses or raises,” Bazzel told Arkansas Money & Politics in 2023. “Now agents will put that in contracts: If you win the Broyles Award,
HONORING A LEGEND The winningest coach in program history, Broyles racked up 144 victories in 19 seasons as Head Hog — more than twice that of secondplace Lou Holtz — during an era that featured such luminary opposition as Paul “Bear” Bryant of Alabama and Darrell Royal of Texas, a particularly bitter rival program to this day. During his coaching tenure, Broyles led Arkansas to seven Southwest Conference titles and 10 bowl bids while producing 20 All-Americans and 88 all-conference players. In 1964, he reached the pinnacle of his profession with an undefeated season and a narrow 10-7 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers to claim national championship honors awarded by the Football Writers Association of America.
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Coach Broyles was a familiar sight at Broyles Award events, now in the capable hands of daughter Betsy Broyles Arnold and granddaughter Molly Harrell. (Photos courtesy of Broyles family)
“People all sort of understand what the process looks like with cancer or heart disease or diabetes, but you start talking about cognitive issues and dementia, people really don’t know what to do,” Harrell said. “There’s really no way to completely understand the isolation that caregivers feel. They need a playbook, and that’s what Mom and my grandpa gave them, drawn directly from their personal experience.” The foundation, formed in 2006, and its cause were tirelessly promoted by Frank, who used his celebrity in the state and his famous force of will to reach medical audiences, tap sources of funding, and align state and federal lawmakers in service to as many struggling families as possible nationally. It was a challenge he never backed down from, right up to his own battle with Alzheimer’s that took his life in 2017. “My grandpa threw himself into it and did a lot of public speaking and traveling and talking to people and raising money for the playbook,” Harrell said. “In fact, before the foundation started, any Alzheimer’s caregiving group that needed help, he would help raise money for. He advocated in Washington, [D.C.]. He did all types of things. “I do think that a lot of people that knew him were very aware, after Broyles took on the additional role of athletic director in 1973, transitioning to the job full time three years later. Broyles’ tenure as AD was as successful as his coaching career, overseeing 43 national titles, 57 SWC titles, 48 SEC titles and 22 football bowl games in just less than 35 years. Along the way, he built or renovated multiple facilities at the university, including Bud Walton Arena, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field, John McDonnell Field, and the Fred W. and Mary B. Smith Razorback Golf Center. His impact continued for six additional years at the Razorback Foundation following his retirement as athletic director. Away from work, Broyles was a dedicated family man. He and his high school sweetheart, Barbara Day, married while still in college, where Frank was a three-sport letterwinner and 1944 Southeast Conference Player of the Year at Georgia Tech. The couple raised three sons and twin daughters. “Dad loved the Hogs, but family was important,” Broyles Arnold told AMP in a 2023 cover story. “He always came home for dinner. Then he would go back to work. He wasn’t home a lot because the job was demanding, but my mother always made us feel like he was home — and Daddy loved us. He treated us always with respect. He was a loving, very caring father. “When I was a junior in high school, he turned our dining room into a film room so he could watch film. I would sit in there with him, so I probably know more about football than most people because I used to break down plays with him, and I’d listen to him. I love football.” That sort of dedication and focus turned from the Hogs to the home front in 1999 when Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Broyles Arnold returned home to care for her mother and give her father someone to lean on. Neither knew anything about the disease or what to expect as caregivers, lessons that were learned slowly and painfully over the last three years of Barbara’s life. The experience left them with a new understanding of what the typical family goes through under such circumstances and precipitated the formation of the Broyles Foundation and its seminal resource manual, Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers.
Broyles Award creator David Bazzel, right, with football great and ESPN commentator Desmond Howard at last year’s event. (Photo by DeWaine Duncan)
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my grandma passed away, of his mission and passion to help caregivers and do it all at no cost. That was such an important thing.” A NATIONAL PLATFORM At the same time the Broyles Foundation was getting its sea legs, the Broyles Award was picking up steam as a prestigious national honor. “I thought once it starts, once we get past Year 3, 4, 5, then you have these guys becoming head coaches who are former Broyles Award winners,” Bazzel said. “With that self-perpetuation, I felt deep down in my gut that it would catch on, and that’s what it took. After about four or five years, I could see people starting to notice.” The awards event, which had always taken place in Little Rock, took a big step up last year, having been lured to Hot Springs for the first time in its history. Oaklawn Hot Springs executives lobbied hard for the awards event, pointing to the resort’s amenities as a way to turn a single night’s presentation into a weekend’s worth of celebration. It all sounded good, but Bazzel said he had some first-year jitters about the new location. “It was something to do an event in one place 29 years and then move it,” he said. “It was a risk for us, you know, to leave something and wonder if the sponsors would follow you to Hot Springs or if anyone would even show up — but I’m telling you, it was almost a perfect 10. It was absolutely amazing. Broyles Award finalists include the top tier “I don’t know if of college football assistant coaches. there’s any other award in the country that offers what we do when you consider the spa and the casino and the horse racing and the luxury accommodations. To have 800 people there for our first time and shatter the attendance record in our first year over there, I think that says it all. It was a great way to start.” This year’s event, slated for Feb. 12 and 13, offers a unique confluence of anniversaries — the 30th edition of the Broyles Award, the 20th year for the Broyles Foundation and the 10th year the award has resided with the organization. Sitting at that historic crossroads gave Broyles Arnold a chance to reflect on all that has been built, as well as what lies ahead. “It makes me emotional to think about it,” she said. “I know my parents would be very proud of Molly and what she’s done because ever since David gave us the Broyles Award in 2016, she has absolutely run with it for 10 years. A lot of her vision has brought it to where it is today. “I’m so thankful to David that he gave [the Broyles Award] to the foundation because it’s just something else of Dad’s. Dad’s two legacies are, one, football, and his second legacy, the one in the fourth quarter he was so very passionate about, was helping families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. I think I’m most proud that we have continued the heart that my dad had for helping caregivers. That’s the name of the game, you know — helping as many people as we can.”
Broyles
AWARD WINNERS
Schools and positions of winners listed at time of award.
2024 Al Golden, defensive coordinator, Notre Dame 2023 Phil Parker, defensive coordinator, Iowa 2022 Garrett Riley, offensive coordinator, TCU 2021 Josh Gattis, offensive coordinator/WR, Michigan 2020 Steve Sarkisian, offensive coordinator/QB, Alabama 2019 Joe Brady, passing game coordinator/WR, LSU 2018 Mike Locksley, offensive coordinator, Alabama 2017 Tony Elliott, offensive coordinator/RB, Clemson 2016 Brent Venables, defensive coordinator/LB, Clemson 2015 Lincoln Riley, offensive coordinator/QB, Oklahoma 2014 Tom Herman, offensive coordinator/QB, Ohio State 2013 Pat Narduzzi, defensive coordinator, Michigan State 2012 Bob Diaco, defensive coordinator, Notre Dame 2011 John Chavis, defensive coordinator/LB, LSU 2010 Gus Malzahn, offensive coordinator/QB, Auburn 2009 Kirby Smart, defensive coordinator, Alabama 2008 Kevin Wilson, offensive coordinator, Oklahoma 2007 Jim Heacock, defensive coordinator/safeties, Ohio State 2006 Bud Foster, defensive coordinator/ILB, Virginia Tech 2005 Greg Davis, offensive coordinator/QB, Texas 2004 Gene Chizik, defensive coordinator/DB, Auburn 2003 Brian VanGorder, defensive coordinator/LB, Georgia 2002 Norm Chow, offensive coordinator, USC 2001 Randy Shannon, defensive coordinator, Miami (FL) 2000 Mark Mangino, offensive coordinator, Oklahoma 1999 Ralph Friedgen, offensive coordinator/QB, Georgia Tech 1998 David Cutcliffe, offensive coordinator, Tennessee 1997 Jim Herrmann, defensive coordinator, Michigan 1996 Mickey Andrews, defensive coordinator, Florida State
For additional information or to buy tickets, visit broylesaward.com.
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Luxury Pool & Spa celebrating a cool 50 years By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos courtesy of LUXURY POOL & SPA
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I
n 1976, the world was watching Montreal and the Summer Olympic Games, U.S. theater audiences flocked to see the ultimate underdog turned top box office draw Rocky, former Georgia peanut farmer Jimmy Carter won the presidency over Gerald Ford, and bicentennial fever was sweeping the country. Meanwhile, in Arkansas, Bob Parker and his son-inlaw, Kenny Lawson, launched a pool construction company, Luxury Pool & Spa, that would grow from a plucky startup to a multigenerational family business. Now passed down to its third-generation owners, Kenny’s sons, Shane and Jeremy, and employing fourth-generation help, the company is a bona fide Arkansas success story as much for its quality of work as for mere longevity. “We grew up in this business,” Jeremy Lawson said. “It’s really in our blood.” Over the decades, the company’s physical presence grew into two stores in Conway and Russellville, while its reputation for creativity and quality ballooned well beyond that. In the early days, pools were limited in shape, and add-ons didn’t get much fancier than adding the occasional underwater light or a diving board. Not so today, when fire features, infinity pools, fountains, waterfalls and just about anything else the consumer can dream up works its way into the design, all controlled by the swipe of a smartphone. For the company, it is all in a day's work, thanks to the well-oiled teamwork of the Lawson brothers whereby Jeremy sells the product and Shane, who oversees the construction side of the business, brings it to life. Leveraging the company's team of tenured craftsmen, even the most complicated designs are executed with flawless precision. “Pools have changed a lot in 50 years, but we’ve kept up,” Shane said. “In fact, we’ve kind of become known for the more unique designs and challenging jobs. We gravitate toward those because we’ve developed the expertise to do just about anything the customer can come up with. It’s a lot of work, and it’s a challenge, but it is also fun to push the envelope sometimes just to see what we can pull off.” Tackling such jobs is only part of the company’s formula for longtime success. Any pool company — be it specializing in complicated or routine builds — is only as good as the people who stand behind the work. Jeremy Lawson said providing service after the sale, as well as a pro shop stocked with pool supplies and knowledgeable, friendly staff, has only become more important with time. “In the pool business, there are companies that are builders, there are service companies, and there are those that are maintenance professionals,” he said. “We do all of it, providing turnkey services so our customers don’t have to go anywhere else. I think that’s what people really love about us. "We have an amazing crew from our service managers to our pool techs to our construction crew to our retail staff. We are truly blessed with a special group of people who share the same vision and goals." In addition to being a leader in gunite pools, the company is equally regarded for its line of luxury spas. Coveted by homeowners for the therapeutic value, as well as relaxation factor, the tech-forward spas have little in common with the clunky monsters of yesteryear.
“We grew up in this business, It’s really in our blood.”
— Jeremy Lawson, Luxury Pool & Spa
Kenny Lawson, late father of current owners Jeremy and Shane Lawson, oversees a construction project in the company's early days.
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“The models that we carry today are totally self-contained tubs, very energy efficient,” Lawson said. “Many of them also have a feature where you can add salt to the water, and a lot of our customers like to do that. Those salt systems have been perfected over the years to where they’re really much more user friendly than they used to be. “Really, all you need is a level concrete pad or a reinforced backyard deck, depending on the spa model, and you’re ready to fill it, plug it in and go. You don’t even need a special power source, since they plug into either a standard 110- or 220-volt household outlet.” As with the swimming pools the company builds, Luxury Pool & Spa personnel are always happy to help people get the most out of their spas. “We test their source water to help achieve the right balance. We help them set their chlorine or bromine levels,” said Andrea Lawson, general manager and Jeremy’s wife. “We carry a full line of chemicals and products and are always happy to advise our customers according to their needs, whether they bought their hot tub from us or not.” Reflecting on everything that’s been accomplished over the past five decades, Andrea said the most telling attribute of the company’s success is that it literally has generations of satisfied clients to show for its time in business. “We’ve built multiple pools for people over the years, and I think that repeat business says a lot about us,” she said. “We have customers that we’ve had for 40-plus years that we’re still taking care of their pool, or now their kids own the house, and we’re taking care of the pool for their kids.”
As part of its anniversary celebration, Luxury Pool & Spa will host some special events and offer price discounts this spring. The once-in-a-lifetime event five decades in the The company's reputation making will take place April 11 to 17 at both the Conway and has grown right alongside its Russellville locations. showroom space and locations. “We started holding annual sales several years back, but this is going to be a much bigger celebration given it’s our 50th year,” Andrea said. “We’re going to have discounts on products during the celebrations, and we’ve partnered with a lot of our vendors for special giveaways or rebates that double the savings on equipment or chemicals. “We’ll be giving away a pool pump, a saltwater system, a spa, automatic pool cleaners and much more. We’ll even have special pricing on the Big Green Egg outdoor kitchens and our recently added line of POLYWOOD outdoor furniture. Plus, there will be a lot of other surprises, so we encourage everyone to come check us out over our anniversary celebration.”
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“Pools have changed a lot in 50 years, but we’ve kept up. In fact, we’ve kind of become known for the more unique designs and challenging jobs.” — Jeremy Lawson, Luxury Pool & Spa
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Any way one chooses to look at it, Luxury Pool & Spa is a runaway success story — an ethical, homegrown company that keeps its promises and overdelivers for the customer. While success is its own reward, the owners also take immense pride in watching the fourth generation of family members working in the stores, cleaning pools or cutting their teeth on the jobsite. “We’ve never pressured our kids into taking over the family business, but we do expect them to work because having that work ethic is going to serve them well in life no matter what they do,” Jeremy said. “The fact that they can learn those lessons here and work side by side with family is just icing on the cake. “Shane and I are very, very proud to be able to continue what Grandpa and Dad started, and it’s really rewarding to see that next generation pick it up and go with it. It’s been a great journey, and we can’t wait to see what the next 50 years will bring.”
Luxury Pool & Spa's skilled craftsmen bring backyard retreats to life in a variety of styles and finishes.
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LIVE THE LIFE OF LUXURY
Serving Arkansas for 50 Years.
5 Stanford Rd, Conway |
luxurypoolarkansas.com
510 S Arkansas Ave, Russellville | (479) 968-7772
L ove Language floral
Flowers a classic way to show Valentine’s Day affection
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othing says, “I love you,” like a fresh bouquet of flowers. While the blooms are a wonderful way to show affection any time of year, the gift takes on added significance come Valentine’s Day. We at Norwood-Day Floral Co. in Little Rock consider it a privilege to help make our customers’ Valentine’s Day dreams come true, and I consider it an even greater privilege to give AY About You readers a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the floral industry’s busiest holidays. Although many might assume that florists make most of their profits on Valentine’s Day, the reality is quite the opposite. In fact, many growers sell their flowers at a premium leading up to the hol iday, knowing they will be able to sell their wares on the mass market even if they are not bought by retailers. Add to that the number of staff members needed during the big day and the days leading up to it — nobody wants Valentine’s Day flowers Feb. 15, after all — and there is not a lot of profit to be made from the season. In fact, many florists, myself included,
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By CHRIS NORWOOD, AIFD, PFCI, AAF Photos courtesy of
NORWOOD-DAY FLORAL CO.
absorb the increased costs as much as possible to avoid passing them on to the consumer. What is more, since Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, it is likely couples will focus less on flowers and more on dining out or taking weekend trips together. When Valentine’s Day occurs during the middle of the week, everyone wants to send their sweethearts flowers at work so the whole office can see how much they are loved. While it may be tempting to grab the nearest bouquet of a dozen roses from a big-box store, consider that locally owned florists put more care into their blooms, which helps the gift last longer and ensures it looks fresher when it arrives. That said, I do not mind if people buy flowers on the mass market because it brings flowers into homes — always a good thing. Plus, those who buy flowers at big-box stores may eventually upgrade to the more unique and high-quality offerings at locally-owned florists such as Norwood-Day. Consumers sometimes turn to wholesale florists on the internet for their gifts. However, buying boxed flowers is much like buying someone cake mix, eggs and oil instead of a cake. Since the flowers are not processed or arranged, it is best to order wholesale flowers only for people who enjoy flower arranging and know how to do it properly. Red roses are, of course, a Valentine’s Day staple, but I encourage people to open their minds to groupings of flowers that may be more available, less expensive and just as romantic. Since roses have a nineweek grow cycle, the roses that will light up faces on Valentine’s Day this year were planted in December, and there are only so many that were produced. Red roses, garden roses and David Austin varieties are especially costly because of their scarcity. Tulips and spring mixes that incorporate a few roses are a fresh alternative, and arrangements do not have to be all red either. It is possible to get an elegant result with a collection of vibrant pinks, purples and oranges or a pastel arrangement with soft pinks, lavender and yellow. Lavenders and purples have become especially popular for Valentine’s Day in recent years. Think of the classic conversation hearts — they do not just come in pink and white but include orange, soft blues and butter yellows. It seems that Galentine’s Day is here to stay, and the trend just
keeps getting bigger every year. Celebrants often give flowers to each other or create playful tablescapes that embrace the spirit of the occasion. At Norwood-Day, we offer flower-arranging kits that allow guests to make their own arrangements to take home. Those looking to go over the top to express their love for a special someone can order bags of rose petals to create trails or scatter across surfaces and then use additional arrangements and scented candles to set the mood. My main piece of advice for those shopping for Valentine’s Day is to plan ahead of time. Whether one is buying flowers, chocolates, stuffed animals or other gifts, it is important to shop early for the best selection. Also, be sure to order ahead for delivery Friday or Saturday, since most florists will reach a point where they can no longer accept delivery orders. Those lucky enough to receive a gift of flowers this year should be sure to take care of them properly to help them look their best for as long as possible. Keep the flowers out of direct sunlight, and change the water every few days or when it becomes cloudy. Also, be sure to recut the stems every few days and add a floral preservative to the water. Happy Valentine’s Day! Chris Norwood and Christina Day-Essary are coowners of Norwood-Day Floral Co. in Little Rock. For more information, visit norwood-day.com.
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Extended
Homeowners continue to emphasize outdoor spaces
Digs
By MARK CARTER Even as 2020 recedes farther into the rearview mirror, homeowners continue to prioritize outdoor living. (Photo courtesy of Ninth and Co.)
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hese post-COVID-19 days, outdoor living has come to represent much more than a secondary consideration to a homeowners’ digs. Outdoor living has evolved to represent an extension of homeowners’ everyday lives. With the pandemic-fueled lockdown keeping so many at home throughout the early 2020s, homeowners began to emphasize outdoor living to a greater degree. If folks were stuck at home, by golly, they were going to get the most out of our surroundings. The trend has only grown as COVID-19 recedes further into the rearview mirror. For example, swimming pools now come with so much more than a diving board in 2026 and a foldback leisure lawn chair or two. Megan Thomas, owner of Ninth and Co. in Little Rock, said her team focuses on what makes sense for clients, and more often, that means an emphasis on outdoor patios and amenities. “We approach outdoor living with the same level of intention
as indoor living,” she said. “Every piece is considered for scale, material, longevity and how it will actually be lived with. We don’t chase trends or overstyle spaces. Instead, we focus on timeless design, thoughtful layouts and products that age beautifully.” Ninth and Co. grew out of Little Rock’s Antique Brick & Block when the iconic dealer expanded to offer furniture and accessories for outdoor living in 2005. Antique Brick Outdoors spent almost 20 years alongside the parent firm on Ninth Street in downtown Little Rock before
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Megan Thomas
Outdoor furniture at Ninth and Co. in Little Rock has an emphasis on beauty and durability. (Photo courtesy of Ninth and Co.)
spaces. “COVID really did drive an increased focus in outdoor living space design for new construction, and we are seeing results from that shift still today,” he said. “Builders and homeowners both are still focusing on the outdoor-living area as a main focal point of the home, with larger areas being designated in budgets to achieve a comfortable and inviting space that homeowners will want to spend time in.” Aside from the aesthetic impact of emphasized outdoor spaces, there Owner, Ninth and Co. is a return on investment to consider, he added. “Nicer outdoor-living areas enhance a home’s value through increasmoving to a new space in west Little Rock’s The Proming usable square footage, wellness and lifestyle enade at Chenal and changing its name to honor the appeal,” he said. “Enhanced curb appeal is driving original location. higher buying demand.” “As the outdoor-living side of the business developed Acme’s TruCedar line of board-and-batten its own voice and focus, the name Ninth and Co. felt steel siding is currently trending. It offers a lifelike a natural extension rather than a departure,” Thomtime warranty and a wide range of solid colors. as said. “The impact has been positive. It clarified our The most popular currently, Crabtree said, are identity and helped clients better understand how our white and iron ore colors, as well as several wood outdoor furnishings and spaces are informed by a deep colors not traditionally available. foundation in exterior materials and long-term design.” Swimming pools themselves are no longer Turns out, the market was ready for Ninth and Co. simple “cement ponds” — far from it. Andrea Thomas said her team is seeing a continued, growing Lawson, general manager at Luxury Pool & Spa, shift toward outdoor spaces that feel like true extensions said the popularity of systems that allow clients of the home. to control every aspect of poolside lounging from Chase Crabtree “Softer silhouettes, warmer finishes and materials their phones is growing. that feel collected rather than overly polished,” she said. Remote apps allow users to control the pool “We’re also seeing growing interest in outdoor seating that supports mul- lighting, set the exact temperature of the pool and more. Those featiple uses and gatherings, allowing spaces to adapt naturally to how people tures have been around a while, she said, but are now considered more live and entertain.” routine as technology improves. Chase Crabtree, district sales manager at Acme Brick, Tile & Stone Lawson said nontraditional pools such as plunge pools and more in Maumelle, said he continues to see homeowners emphasize outdoor usable, shallow pools are coming into vogue as homeowners look for
We approach outdoor living with the same level of intention as indoor living. Every piece is considered for scale, material, longevity and how it will actually be lived with. We don’t chase trends or overstyle spaces. Instead, we focus on timeless design, thoughtful layouts and products that age beautifully. — Megan Thomas,
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With no shortage of creative enhancements, today's pools are a far cry from what they used to be. (Photo courtesy of Luxury Pool & Spa)
Nontraditional pools such as plunge pools and more usable, shallow pools are coming into vogue as homeowners look for ways to best utilize available space.
ways to best utilize available space. “Smaller pools with a sun ledge where you can relax on a bench or in a chaise that are partially in the water are popular,” she said. “We also do a lot of grotto coves and slide combinations.” Lawson agreed that after the pandemic, homeowners are investing more in spaces, and the spaces they prefer are more often outside. “The whole backyard has turned into a staycation spot,” she said. Families are swimming, cooking, eating and watching television together all out back. Why not do so in style? “There’s a continued shift toward outdoor spaces that feel like true extensions of the home,” Thomas said. “People are asking more thoughtful questions about materials, sourcing and longevity. There’s less interest in what’s new and more curiosity about what will still feel good 10 years from now.
That shift has been encouraging.” Clients with the disposable income required to create comfortable outdoor spaces know what they want or at least have a vision. That’s where Thomas and her team, led by designer Megan Golden, come in. “Many of the requests we receive can be incredibly specific. Many are simply rooted in how people live day to day,” Thomas said. “We’re designing around a favorite view, a long family table tradition, an existing treasured piece or even a dog that claims a particular spot on the patio. Those details might seem small, but they often lead to the most meaningful solutions.” Thomas and her team welcome the attention to detail. When clients visit the Ninth and Co. showroom, she wants them to feel comfortable lingering, asking questions and imagining how pieces might live in their own homes. “We listen first, then guide each client toward selections that feel authentic to them and appropriate for their space,” she said. “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What we offer is a thoughtful level of service, design expertise and attention that elevates the entire experience.
Andrea Lawson
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There is no shortage of finishing materials to make outdoor spaces just as beautiful as those indoors. (Photos courtesy of Acme Brick, Tile & Stone)
Nicer outdoor-living areas enhance a home’s value through increasing usable square footage, wellness and lifestyle appeal. Enhanced curb appeal is driving higher buying demand. — Chase Crabtree, District Sales Manager, Acme Brick, Tile & Stone “We start by listening and gaining a true understanding of who lives there, how a space will be used, what already works and what doesn’t. From there, we guide. The goal is always to create something that feels intuitive to the client, not imposed by a trend or formula.” Thomas believes the emphasis on outdoor living amenities will continue but in a more thoughtful way. “Outdoor living is no longer about adding as much as possible to fill a space,” she said. “It’s about creating environments that feel natural, functional and connected to daily life with spaces that invite moments of connection and enjoyment. That mindset isn’t going away. If anything, it’s becoming more refined. “Our tagline, ‘live outside,’ reflects that philosophy. Especially in Arkansas, the Natural State, there’s an inherent invitation to step outside, look up, and enjoy the landscape and pace of life that make this place feel so distinct.”
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Go Big
and Build Homes
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By DWAIN HEBDA
Custom homebuilder breaks the mold
any women who carve their own space in a malecompleted three when someone approached her for her first custom dominated industry such as residential construction home, of which she is already up to five completed jobs. grew up in the industry or have another long-standing “The first one was someone that went to my church,” she said. relationship with the jobsite. “Then I met a guy that had developed a neighborhood in Heber Chassie Sharpmack, founder of CS Springs. He’d walked through one Custom Homes in Cabot, had neither of of my specs in Sherwood and was those advantages, having started down a like, ‘Will you build me this house decidedly different path in life. In fact, in Heber?’ I was like, ‘Well, sure, her beginnings were about as far away I’ve already built it once,’ you know, from designing and building homes as so I built that up there for him, and one could get. now I’m building a second one up “I grew up in Pine Bluff, and I went there.” to the University of Central Arkansas Despite being relatively new in [in Conway]. I’m a registered dietician,” the market, Sharpmack is already she said. “I worked at Arkansas Chilgetting custom work off of referdren’s for the last eight years before I rals, a testament to the quality and did this. We hired a company to build style of her residential builds. She a house for us, and I got really into it. said she still gets some strange Later, when we decided to build anothlooks when meeting a customer for er house, that builder hired me to be a the first time but has found being project manager. a woman has some unexpected ad“He actually hired me, I think, to vantages with clients. be more like a secretary, and he found “As far as the husbands go, some out really quick that that was not what of them are like, ‘Are we really hirI wanted to do, so I project-managed for ing this little blonde girl to build him for about three years before getting our house?’” she said, “but I have my general contractor license and startother customers, like an older lady ed building on my own.” right now that I’m building a house Of course, having never done that for, and I think [my gender] makes sort of work before, there was a lot her more comfortable. I’ve had Sharpmack had to learn about the busiwomen as clients who really had ness before hanging her shingle. For no idea what they wanted or what that, she credited the input of two coto do or what to pick. After I met workers and her own determination to Chassie Sharpmack with them and helped them, I said, get her skills where they needed to be to (Photo by Kalyn Brown Photography) ‘What about this? What do you open her own business. think about this?’ They were like, “[Construction] is a man’s world, and I had to put up with a lot from ‘We’re just going to trust y’all.’” people who didn’t really think that I was worth having around,” she Sharpmack said she enjoys changing people’s perceptions, somesaid. “There were two other male project managers that worked for this thing that started during her childhood. Back then, the focus was builder, and I would just literally get in the truck with them and follow not building houses but working out in the garage with her father. them around when I first started working there. After that, I just pretty “I’m an only child, and I was in my dad’s shop a lot. He built cars, much learned on my own.” which is how I got my name, Chassis,” she said. “I’ve just always Once the business launched three years ago, she cut her teeth on wanted to do the things that nobody else thought that I could do, spec houses and has since already completed 10 of them. She had only you know?”
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Arkansas remodelers shape new era of design
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(Photo courtesy of Southern Interiors)
By MARY LESIEUR
he heart of the home has always been the kitchen, but in today’s Harnessing the ability to be a one-stop shop is no easy task, yet Brian most inspired remodels, it is no longer beating alone. HomeHagewood, founder of Southern Interiors in Sherwood, has spent the owners across central Arkansas are reimagining both kitchens past few decades making the idea a reality. After launching Southern and bathrooms as deeply personal spaces that balance beauty Interiors in his mid-20s, Hagewood felt called to change the narrative with everyday function and where thoughtful design decisions shape of home renovations. how families gather and unwind. “We started as a flooring company and evolved into a true one-stop From custom cabinetry that tames kitchen clutter to spa-like bathhome remodeling company,” Hagewood said. “Today, we do almost evrooms, the modern kitchen and bath story is one of intentional transforerything in-house.” mation. Following similar style philosophies and trends, the kitchen and “Because we build everything in-house, we control the quality, the bath scene has never been more transformative as local kitchen and bath schedule and the process from start to finish. That allows us to put our experts have redefined the once-utilitarian area of design. name behind every part of the project.” “Homeowners in Little Rock and Maumelle are repThe most valuable aspect of choosing Southern Interesentative of most homeowners in the South,” said Suriors is the outfit’s ability to not rely on third-party consan Johnson, owner of Kitchen Tune-Up in Maumelle. tractors, which Hagewood said is often the root cause of “They want their kitchen to be a place of enjoyment for a client’s stress during remodels. all the family, and they want to maximize their storage. “There’s never downtime on our projects because Most of our homeowners’ taste and requests tend to be we’re not waiting on third parties to show up or follow more traditional in style and functionality.” through,” Hagewood said. Johnson has operated the Little Rock franchise since Southern Interiors prides itself on guiding customers 2008 and was drawn to it, she said, by the ethical stanthrough any project. Blending technology and age-old dards that rule company operations. techniques, Hagewood and his team offer an unparal“What originally attracted us to the Kitchen Tuneleled level of service that transforms a living space into Up franchise was the Franchise Trust Points.” Johnson a home. said. “Those trust points include listening carefully, ar“Clients usually come in with some sort of idea, and riving on time, respecting the customer’s home, providif they don’t, we help guide them,” Hagewood said. “We ing solutions and communicating. Eighteen years later, take their selections and put them into our software to Brian Hagewood our team still values those behaviors.” create a 3D model of their actual space before we ever Johnson said she has seen an increase in total restostart demolition. rations and remodels over the past two decades. By blending aesthetics “Remodeling your home is challenging, especially when you’re living and functionality, her team focuses on the homeowner’s vision while also in it. Our goal is to make that experience as simple and stress free as adding a budget-friendly element to her work. Johnson said the new possible.” year has brought new trends in design, which are already in full swing. That same craftsmanship defines the work of Scott and Cindy Lucas, “Trends for 2026 are for more warm tones in our color selections,” owners of Lucas Construction in Conway. The husband-and-wife remodJohnson said. “Stained wood is becoming popular again. White and gray eling duo has built their reputation on relationships, as well as results. The are neutrals that will continue to be popular, but expect to see more couple focuses first on listening, believing that the success of any kitchen earthy and brown undertones.” or bath project is rooted in understanding the homeowner’s story.
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“The way our process starts is homeowners reach out to us — social media, TV, radio or word of mouth — and we set up an in-home consultation,” Scott said. “We listen to their ideas first. Most people already have a vision, and our job is to help navigate that and fill in the blanks.” From that first conversation, the process moves into a highly collaborative design phase, one that turns inspiration into reality. “Once we understand what they want, we set them up with our design team to start making selections and creating a mood board,” Scott said. “That’s where the fun part really starts.” For many homeowners, the greatest anxiety comes not from choosing tile or cabinetry but from the unknowns of construction itself. The Lucases allay those fears, offering clear expectations and constant communication so clients feel supported from start to finish. “Construction is chaos,” Scott said. “To us, it’s another day on the job, but to homeowners, it can feel overwhelming. Our goal is that when we shake hands at the end, they are absolutely in love with what we’ve built.” That care extends to every detail, from clear, realistic timelines to visual tools that help homeowners see the finished space before the first wall comes down. “We use 3D renderings and drawings so clients can really visualize the space,” Scott said. “Most homeowners aren’t trained to read plans the way we are, so we do everything we can to help them see it before we build it.” While Scott manages the technical side of the business, Cindy brings a deeply personal layer to the experience, serving as both advocate and guide for homeowners navigating what can be an emoSusan Johnson tional process. “Scott and I are a husband-and-wife team, and that really sets us apart,” she said. “We understand what homeowners are thinking and feeling because we live it ourselves.” “I came from a legal background, not construction, so I relate deeply to homeowners who don’t understand the process. I ask the same questions they ask: ‘Why are we doing this? What comes after this?’ Sometimes Scott is handling subcontractors and job issues while I’m calming
(Photos courtesy of Kitchen Tune-Up)
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nerves and answering questions for the homeowner. Other times, we switch roles.” That empathy is born from experience. Cindy remembers living through a major remodel growing up, and she carries that memory into every project. She said the ultimate goal is to work and communicate in partnership with their clients in a manner reminiscent of longtime friends. “[Remodeling is] messy and overwhelming, and I can empathize with clients who feel stressed while work is happening in their home,” she said. “We’re striving to be not just contractors showing up with a crew but Scott and Cindy. We want our clients to know us, trust us and feel comfortable with us in their homes.”
“Construction is chaos. To us, it’s another day on the job, but to homeowners, it can feel overwhelming. Our goal is that when we shake hands at the end, they are absolutely in love with what we’ve built.” — Scott Lucas, Lucas Construction
Scott and Cindy Lucas
(Photos courtesy of Lucas Construction)
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“Remodeling your home is challenging, especially when you’re living in it. Our goal is to make that experience as simple and stress-free as possible.” — Brian Hagewood, Southern Interiors
(Photo courtesy of Southern Interiors)
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ounded in 2002 by Gary and Kevin Haney, Haney Contractors has built a reputation for quality construction throughout Arkansas. Based in Little Rock, the firm specializes in residential and commercial construction, offering both general contracting and construction management services with a clientfocused approach. Haney Contractors is committed to creating long-term value for every construction dollar spent. The team takes pride in delivering exceptional craftsmanship, with proven results showcased in some of North Little Rock and Little Rock’s most recognizable projects — particularly within the vibrant Argenta Arts District. Notable work includes Draft & Table, Brood & Barley, the Root Café, Flyway Brewing and latest culinary destination, Funky Stretch Pizza. Serving commercial, multifamily, historical renovations and select single-family markets, Haney Contractors brings experience across new construction and renovation projects of all styles and scopes. From initial consultation to final walk-through, clients can expect responsive service, cost-effective solutions and high-quality results built to last.
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aymag.com
home
Built from
Scratch
By DOUG CRISE
Central Arkansas builder provides a path to a dream home
J
errod Phillips did not have to do much on the marketing front part as protecting his clients’ investments. He is aware clients are putwhen he went into the homebuilding business, and looking back, ting their hopes and dreams into their custom homes — not to menthat was the first sign he was onto something. tion a significant financial commitment — and that is part of why he “It actually started just by word of mouth, just doing a friend-type spends most of his time on-site. Even if it is a part of the job that can deal,” said Phillips, who went on to found Homes By Jerrod in Benton be subcontracted out, Phillips still trusts his eyes and experience when in 2020. “I grew up in the construction business starting when I was evaluating every aspect of a home’s construction. young, and there were people I knew “I’m not one of these guys who sits who I went to church with or just in the in the office,” Phillips said. “I’m on the community.” site every day. I don’t have an office to Building homes could not feel more go to.” natural for Phillips, who first developed Even as his business grows, adding an affinity for building after his father’s more locations throughout central Arjob took the family to Texas. kansas, Phillips stays plugged into the “We actually had a mobile home details. He said the most important park,” Phillips said. “I grew up with aspects of building a home are often tools and drills and this and that. Durthose not readily seen by the client, and ing high school, I worked on houses that is when he draws on his decades of during the summer. I just had a knack experience. for it and pretty much grew up with a “For me, the quality starts behind drill in my hand.” the walls — foundations, framing, What Phillips does today is a mix moisture control and inspections — of art, science and business. It begins in not just what looks good at the end,” the consultation phase and continues Phillips said. “I’d rather overbuild the on to an intense planning phase before structure and never get a callback. We construction even begins. The end goal want to build above code, so we use is to create a home that is not built via a guys that have been loyal to us. Most set of standard plans but rather a wholly of our workers have been here probably unique property that matches the cliat least five years, and we’ve got some ent’s initial vision. who have been here 14 years. There’s “For me, every house is like a crossa trust and a bond, and they know the word puzzle,” Phillips said. “I like a standard.” challenge every day. I like something As his business continues to grow, different. I like fulfilling somebody’s Phillips is committed to staying abreast dream home. People work hard their Diana and Jerrod Phillips (Photo courtesy of Jerrod Phillips) of what potential clients want in whole life, and so to be able to be a part their homes while also committing to of that and make a dream come true, it’s rewarding. I’ve seen people emerging technologies to help make it happen. with happy tears, and it’s one of those things that wake you up in the “The biggest thing that I see is that customers want space,” Phillips morning to do what you do.” said. “They don’t want to feel confined. They want a great floor plan that If Phillips sees part of his job as solving a puzzle, he sees another is spacious.”
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Creative Outlets
home
Lighting dominates emerging smart-home trends, but tech advances are everywhere
By MAK MILLARD
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ove it or hate it, just do not ignore it — smart technology is making its presence felt more around the home with every passing year. “Smart” itself is a bit of a catch-all term, the Consumer Technology Association calling it the most widely-understood description for connected home devices and reporting that “half of connected home device owners used ‘smart’ to describe their products without prompting.” Security-related gear such as smart doorbells and wireless security cameras make up half of the top 10 most adopted technologies, the CTA states. Inside the house, smart speakers are second only to what is far and away the most popular product, smart TVs. In its most recent report from November, the CTA noted that half of U.S. adults own one or more types of smart-home devices. That figure jumps to 80 percent when accounting for homes with only a smart TV. “I think the media room, the multifunction media room, has been really popular for a while, and the theater space has kind of diminished,” said Naaman Freifeld, owner of Eleven Hi-Fi in Little Rock. “Now I think the theater space is becoming a little more popular again, where people want maybe one dedicated theater because they’re not going to the movies as often.” For homeowners seeking the full cinematic experience, a home theater room with a big screen, projector, and full light and sound controls can make for an ideal setup. For most folks, however, entertainment needs can be better met with a more multifunctional space — think a TV with surround sound for more casual, everyday use. When it comes to audio, while Freifeld noted the growing prevalence of vintage media such as vinyl records and even CDs lately, streaming quality has gotten to the point where, “Pretty much, if somebody wants to listen to something in my store, we’re going to stream it because streaming has gotten that good now. It’s as good or better than a CD or a record.” There is one corner of the smart-home market turning heads at an even more impressive clip, however, to the point of prompting the director of the industry’s premier trade show, Jason McGraw, to describe it as “a golden age” — lighting. At the annual CEDIA Expo/ Commercial Integrator Expo in Denver, Freifeld said, the focus used to rest mainly on the likes of Sony, Samsung and LG showing off the latest in TV and theater room tech.
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“Now, it’s — LG didn’t even show up. One of the biggest TV manufacturers didn’t even show up,” Freifeld said. “Sony tried to pull out, but they had a contract, and they wouldn’t let them. Fifty percent of the floor, at least, is now companies doing lighting and shades, doing smart lighting and color lighting and all these different lights. That’s what has just become the biggest segment of the market because I think they’ve realized that at the end of the day, everybody can use that. They don’t have to be a hi-fi theater nerd. It’s something they can get in everybody’s house because when people see it, they go, ‘Oh wow, I get it.’” Lighting design fees have climbed right alongside consumer interest, some high-end homeowners shelling out up to six figures for functional, fashionable illumination. A key benefit to technological advances is the ability to achieve top-tier performance while still meeting the various aesthetic demands of clients. “Some fixtures are integrated, which means there’s no light bulb per se in the fixture; it’s just the source is built into the fixture,” said Charles Coles, general manager at TEC Electric in Little Rock. “You see a lot of, especially, the more contemporary things in a slimmer [design]. Finishwise, we’re seeing a lot of the gold. Softer gold finishes and black finishes seem to be the popular colors right now, where bronze and nickel used to be the popular ones.” Straight lines, sleek edges and clean, minimalist looks make up the modern home’s light design brief, a far cry from the days of swirling fixtures and soft amber hues. Accent lighting is also popular, Coles said, and TEC Electric finds itself installing LED tape lights for a variety of, applications, such as cabinets and small spaces. A CEDIA Expo report on lighting trends noted as much, as well, pointing out the growing popularity of a “layered” approach to cohesive lighting design. Playing with types, colors and tones adds both a nuanced look and functional solutions to meet various lighting needs. The real revolution has come in the form of advanced controls. From color-changing bulbs, automated shades and timers to systems that adjust the interior lights to mimic the movement and intensity of the sun throughout the day, the sky might genuinely be the limit for those looking to make controlling their homes as seamless as possible. While not an inexpensive upgrade by any means, the ability to utter a phrase or press a button that, all at once, turns off the lights, locks the doors, turns on the alarms and even plays a bit of music to help one sleep can noticeably improve a homeowner’s, well, home-owning experience. “I’ve got a decent-size house, not huge, but having to walk around
Naaman Freifeld
Charles Coles
Jurek Makowski
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and press all the buttons at night, as mundane a task as it is, now I only press one button. It’s kind of a big deal,” Freifeld said. “I don’t have to go to this closet in my office and turn off the light. I know it’s off. I know my garage is locked. I know my alarm’s on and everything’s just set. Having your house work for you and fully customizable to work with your life — I wish everybody could have that. It seems frivolous on the onset, but it’s really nice once you have it.” As anyone who has attempted a do-ityourself approach to automation can attest, the setup behind all of those devices and scenes can leave something to be desired as far as ease and usability. Proprietary platforms can lock homeowners into a certain brand or app, leaving them at a loss if their desired changes do not mesh with their already-installed systems. For Jurek “Jerzy” Makowski, founder and CEO of InstallAV in Little Rock, improvements could not come any sooner — and, indeed, they are finally making their presence known in the United States after widespread adoption overseas. “KNX is an open, international platform used in millions of buildings across Europe, Asia and commercial projects worldwide,” Makowski said. “Over 500 manufacturers produce KNX-certified devices — lighting, shades, HVAC, sensors, keypads and controllers — all designed to work together on one universal standard. That means a home is never locked into one brand. If a device fails years later, it can be replaced without redesigning the system. That is true long-term investment protection.” The KNX standard enables devices from different manufacturers to communicate over a single network for lighting, climate, security and more, meeting consumers’ needs for flexibility and reliability in their smart-home
systems. Instead of depending on a cloud or Wi-Fi connection, KNX is designed to be a local building infrastructure. That also allows automations to continue working even in the case of a network outage, Makowski said. “KNX also unifies the entire home,” he said. “Lighting, motorized shades, HVAC, occupancy sensors and energy management work together automatically. A single scene can dim lights, close shades and optimize comfort without relying on apps, subscriptions or cloud services.” The benefits of the system are manifold, from improved energy efficiency to scalability as one’s space or automation needs grow. Having been adopted commercially by clients such as airports, hospitals and hotels, KNX is primed to bring a new level of integration to higherend homes, as well. “Automated shading, daylight harvesting and occupancy-based HVAC control directly reduce energy use while increasing comfort,” Makowski said. “As building codes and utilities push toward smarter and more efficient homes, KNX fits perfectly into where the market is going.” KNX is the world’s more widely adopted building-automation standard, and InstallAV is investing heavily in its growth stateside. Makowski's company is bringing the technology to Arkansas and the surrounding region through professional design, training and installation of the KNX system. “We are building local expertise, demo systems and certified infrastructure so that homeowners, builders and architects can finally access the same automation standard used in the world’s most advanced buildings,” he said. Technological leaps aside, the relative intelligence of any home often comes down to the smart humans putting everything into place. Calling upon the services of local businesses such as TEC Electric, Eleven Hi-Fi and InstallAV is one way to ensure a guaranteed level of expertise, not to mention an element of personal customer service hard to find elsewhere. “I’m not saying that people in the [big-box stores] don’t know anything, but it’s a job for them, where for us, it’s more of our passion,” Freifeld said. “You know, I retired from the military, and I took my chunk of money, and I put it into this not because I knew it was going to make me a lot of money but because it’s something I always wanted to do. People that are doing this are not doing it as purely a monetary thing. Hopefully, it is, but they’re doing it because it’s something they enjoy, because it’s something they like.”
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home
An
Eye for
STYLE
By DOUG CRISE
Little Rock builder uses love of design to build homes with a timeless feel
T
he name of the Little Rock business may be Keith HarYet Hardin is more than just a style advisor. At KHC, the process din Construction, but for Hardin himself, building custom is just as important as the design, if not more so. Those who come homes has as much to do with designer clothing as it does to Hardin seeking a new home or a renovation of an existing home blueprints and power tools. find a business that prides itself on handling each and every aspect “Many, many years ago, I was into fashion and design,” Hardin said. of homebuilding, not just the design. “I’ve always had a good eye for things and always had a vision where “We’re basically a one-stop shop,” Hardin said. “We can help you I could walk into a project and see with the design. We can help you what it’s going to look like comwith the layout. We can basically pleted.” help you from A to Z.” To this day, Hardin does not To Hardin, there is no real trick know where his interest came from. to it. Old-as-time concepts such as “I don’t know how I got it. I didn’t customer service and personal rego to school for it or anything,” he lations still resonate at KHC, and said. they take the lead from the first cliHardin eventually bought a piece ent meeting to the last coat of paint of property and tried his hand at reon a brand-new custom home. designing it and selling it. That led “The first thing you’ve got to to him flipping another home — and do, you’ve got to build up a rapport then another and another. with the client,” Hardin said. “You More then 30 years later, Hardin meet, and you listen to their ideas. is still the same person who fell in You have to figure out exactly what love with design and watching things their goals are and what they’re trycome together. ing to accomplish. Once we figure “The design side of it is the most that out, we can come into the deHome renovation by KHC (Photo by Jason Burt) sign process.” interesting part of it to me,” Hardin said. “I enjoy sometimes doing some That planning process is vital, things outside the box.” Hardin said, because the nature of home construction and the costs Hardin’s lifetime love of design makes KHC unique in the homeinvolved very rarely allow for do-overs. Once the plan is in place, building field. Whether looking at clothing or construction, Hardin has Hardin is able to call upon a time-tested network of architects, elecseen plenty of fads come and go. He holds a firm belief in timelessness, trical experts, plumbers and more, all to ensure that each aspect of which is a core foundational principle of his work with clients. the home benefits from the absolute best in the field. “I’m not a trendy person,” Hardin said. “If I’m going to do some“We’re not looking to build you a new house every three to five thing, I’d like to do more classic design. If you want to change someyears,” Hardin said. “If you buy in the right neighborhoods and if thing up, change an accent wall or your pillows and things like that. You you do it the right way and you do it with a classical feel, you’re godon’t want to design a house on current trends, in my opinion, because ing to get all the money back out of your house someday when you in three years, it’s going to be out of style.” go to sell it.”
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Always Acme
Acme Brick, Tile and Stone delivers its namesake and more Whether it is a homeowner tackling do-it-yourself jobs or a professional home builder handling multimillion-dollar projects, Arkansans know Acme Brick, Tile & Stone is the state’s premier source for all manner of building products. Four Arkansas plants manufacture the company’s locally made brick, and Acme’s residential brick carries a 100-year warranty. The company has also continued to innovate in response to the needs of its customers, providing a bevy of stylish and durable options across tile flooring, metal cladding and stone. From timeless • Maintenance free • Board-and-batten profiles
products such as brick, thin brick and pavers to the cutting-edge designs of Quality Edge and MAC Metals, Acme Brick, Tile & Stone remains the clear choice for homeowners and builders statewide. With the most in-demand styles and colors at competitive prices, Quality Edge siding is the ideal choice for new builds and remodels alike. The company’s American-made TruCedar line of steel siding offered by Acme comes with a lifetime warranty, not to mention a host of other benefits:
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Locally Owned & Operated 53
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home
Casa
Couture Debi Davis
Mara Lamb Malcolm
Interior designers a worthwhile investment for a beautiful, functional home
Natalie Biles
Stacey Breezeel
Garry Mertins
Garry Mertins Design (Photo by Rett Peek)
By SARAH DECLERK
Amy Terry
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h
iring an interior designer may seem like a luxury, but a successful design scheme is not just about cultivating a magazine-worthy home; it is also about creating spaces that fit homeowner needs while avoiding pitfalls that could cost them money. Amy Terry, founder of AC Designs in Little Rock, said designers can be especially important when it comes to new construction. “There’s a lot of people that are actually really good at design and have a great eye, but there’s so many decisions that come into play and so many factors that I just think it’s a wise investment to meet with [an interior designer] early,” she said. She added that designers can also provide a new set of eyes when it comes to refreshing an existing space. “I think people tend to buy what they’ve always bought, and I think when they look at rooms that they love, there’s maybe something different about it that they don’t tend to normally buy,” she said. “That’s where bringing a designer in can maybe help you — within a comfortable range — push your limits and take chances on some things that maybe you wouldn’t have taken before.” Garry Mertins, owner of Garry Mertins Design in Little Rock, said developing a master plan can help clients make their money go further.
Shine Interior Design Studio (Photo by Payton Perkins/ The Editor’s House )
Debi Davis Interior Design (Photo courtesy of Debi Davis Interior Design)
AC Designs (Photo courtesy of AC Designs)
“It’s really easy to take a chunk of money and spread it out through the whole house and feel like you haven’t made any accomplishments at all,” he said. “Develop a master plan mapping things out and working on the public spaces first and then going from there into the other areas.” He added that interior designers can give clients insight into products they might not have known about, such as fabrics that repel stains or bespoke pieces not available at retailers. A seasoned professional can also help clients understand their personal tastes. “People might say, ‘Oh, I love this room,’ but they have no idea why they love it,” he said. He added that he encourages clients to pull images they like from magazines to use as inspiration. “Then we’ll figure out what you like about it and why,” he said. “Is it because of the color? Is it because of the things that are in the room? It’s just a matter of sitting down and working through the basics of what they like and what their style and their tastes are and then taking it from there.” Stacey Breezeel and Natalie Biles, co-owners and lead designers at Shine Interior Design Studio in Lonoke, said it is important for the interior of a home to meet the residents’ needs, whether for a five-person household, a one-person household or a family with live-in grandparents. “From a functional perspective, that’s important,” Breezeel said. “It can be beautiful, but if it doesn’t work, we haven’t really been successful, so the style is very important, but it has to function, as well.” Debi Davis, owner of Debi Davis Interior Design in Little Rock, agreed that the homeowner’s lifestyle is a top priority. “I think what’s important is to look at the style of the house, make the inside and the outside work together and then listen to
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Develop a master plan mapping things out and working on the public spaces first and then going from there into the other areas. — Garry Mertins, Garry Mertins Design of thrift finds and antique finds,” she said. “There’s an appreciation for craftsmanship. You see that in coffee shops. You see that starting to be more important in how furniture’s built. That’s always been important in the past, but with mass production, there’s kind of been a loss of that.” She and Biles also noted a return to color among homeowners. “A lot of what we’re seeing people gravitate toward is really earthy and rich colors that may have nature connections, so the terra cottas, the deep greens and the deep blues,” Biles said. “Chocolate brown has been very popular; it’s been popular in fashion, and we see that translate into home trends. That really seems to be what people are gravitating toward right now, away from the gray and into that warmth and comfort.” While interior designers all take a slightly different approach to their work, most follow a similar process. After a consultation with the client to determine his or her needs and preferences, the designer measures the space, develops a plan, and presents it to the client using design boards, product samples and even 3D renderings. After revising the plan based on client feedback, the designer brings the vision to life. “I personally like to start with some type of inspiration piece, whether it’s a piece of art, a piece of furniture, a fabric,” Terry said. “I like to start with that and then really think through all the details and bringing in different colors and different textures but kind of all being cohesive in that we have something to inspire us.” Malcolm said she makes it a point to ask clients what sentimental items they would like to keep so she can be sure to incorporate them into the design. “A design has to reflect the family for whom you are designing,” she added. “Obviously, every designer has personal taste, things that they love and that feel right for them in a home, and I feel like it’s important to include the pieces that are special to the homeowner and to showcase those.” For homeowners working toward a well-designed home, Biles recommended setting an intention and then making a plan and following through, even by just making small changes such as replacing the linens. “Take the time to reflect and see what your intention is for your home, whether that is more calm or more fun or more relaxation, more time with your family, better hosting, more hosting,” she said. “Take a little bit of time to reflect and ask what you want of your home, and then make a plan to do that a little bit at a time.” Davis suggested starting with an audit of what does and does not work in the home currently. “What furniture do they want to keep? Are all the floors right? Are the draperies right?” she said. “They need to make a list of what they want to keep, and then, after that, we can see what we can do to make it all have an updated look.” Not only can designers help clients develop interiors that are beautiful and functional, but they can make projects more enjoyable, as well, Terry added. “The details, the decisions can just kind of rob all the joy from it, and it should be joyful. It should be fun,” she said. “You don’t always get to build a house. You don’t always get to remodel or buy new furniture. I think so many decisions can start to kind of take away from that fun, and I think bringing the designer in to kind of help bear the burden of some of those decisions and make sure everything’s getting done right can help keep it more of a fun process.”
Lamb’s Interior Design (Photo by Jason Masters Photography) the client,” she said. “What is their lifestyle? Do they have dogs? Do they have children? Grandkids? Everybody has a different pace that they’re going these days, and you need to make the house work for them and make it comfortable, family friendly.” Mertins noted that interiors change as people’s needs and tastes change. New families have vastly different lifestyles than empty nesters, he said, and the interior design services they require are different, as well. Newlyweds may simply want help picking paint colors, while a client at a later stage of life may be ready to fully design a vacation home. That does not mean clients must completely overhaul their belongings at each new life stage, however. “Success comes from making sure that you buy things that are quality and that you can grow with,” he said. “What we might buy for the living room right now might end up going into a bedroom or a den at a later date. Buy quality pieces, even if you have to wait a year to buy something. I always tell my clients, ‘You’re past that point of disposable furniture.’ Investing in quality is key.” Mara Lamb Malcolm, co-owner of Lamb’s Interior Design in Little Rock, also advised homeowners to invest in quality base pieces — such as upholstery and casement items — that are classic, rather than trendy, and then update the look with easy-to-swap accessories such as lamps, mirrors and art. “My pieces are almost always relatively traditional, and then it sort of allows me to have fun and go crazy with color and with sculpture and with other pieces that are more modern,” she said. “The mix is magic. I can’t tell you how I do it or why I do it, but I’ve always done it, and my clients love that.” Breezeel added that as millennials and Gen Z start to design their own spaces, they are incorporating a blend of old and new. “To me, antiques have always been in fashion, but I think more and more people are adapting that approach
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g n i h s i n i F the touch
home
Studio West leading a fine-furniture revolution
By AY STAFF
S
iblings Olivia and Katie Schuster are nowhere near old enough to The store fits neatly into a recent trend among the furniture-buying pubremember the time when quality furniture, some it crafted in Arlic that suggests consumers are willing to pay more for durable goods that kansas, was the expectation, not the exception. However, as co-owners of last. According to WoodnBits, the global artisan wood market is already Studio West in Little Rock, the duo is doing its best to reintroduce unique, valued at $765 billion and is projected to grow nearly 7 percent annually heirloom-quality furniture to the local market. through 2030. “We just really like to highlight quality pieces,” Olivia said. “We like to Consumers in that category are motivated by a desire to own customized, do really fun pieces, statement pieces that you’re not going to see just everyhigh-quality, eco-friendly wood products and are particularly interested in where, that can really make your house your own.” reclaimed and sustainable wood options to go along with artisan craftsmanship. Custom furniture is benefiting from the overall trend; according to Open since mid-2024, Studio West offers the kind of character and solid Business Research Insights, the global custom furniture market is expected construction that used to be standard in the industry. Not only is the store’s to grow by more than 2 1/2 times, to $115 billion, by 2035. inventory a refreshing change of pace for consumers, but it is also a conThat trend appears to be creeping into the tinuation of the family’s tradition of outfitting local market, since the sisters were inspired to Arkansas homes in style. bring Studio West to life as a result of being “We’re actually fourth generation in the repeatedly approached by local interior decorafurniture business,” Katie said. “Our greattors looking for unique, high-end furnishings. grandfather started in the 1970s up in Fort Smith “We actually had some designers that shop and then moved to Little Rock and opened with us at Cost Plus who came to us saying they Schuster’s. When he retired in 2000, our dad, needed another place in Little Rock to shop,” Marshall, opened Cost Plus Furniture in about Katie said. “They said they weren’t finding what 2002. Furniture is kind of in our blood.” they needed locally, so that’s kind of what got While holding little in common with Cost Plus our interest in it and what made us move forin approach and price point, Studio West extends ward with it.” the family’s reach to the top end of the market. True to plan, designers make up about half “I’d say the only thing similar between the two of the store’s clientele, and female consumers is the ownership,” Katie said. “They’re completely overwhelmingly make up the other half of sales. different. Cost Plus has a lot of things where how Delivery of customer orders takes an average of you see it is how it comes. There’s only one opsix to eight weeks but can be shorter or longer tion really. With Studio West, if you don’t like the depending on manufacturer. seam on something, you can get very detailed on The clientele provides a good mix of people exactly what you want.” looking for one major statement piece and those To help customers achieve a desired look, delooking to fill a whole room or house with more sign services are not only available at Studio West neutral designs, dictated by style or color, that but can be had on location at customers’ homes to can be detailed differently as tastes change. fully integrate the pieces into the setting. “Some people really just want a bold sofa, “Our designer will actually come out to your whether it’s going to withstand trends or not. house and get a feel for your space,” Olivia said. It’s just what they like, and that’s what they go “You can send pictures, but it’s sometimes hard for,” Katie said. “A lot of other people do try to to understand the depth and how big the room keep the fundamentals kind of basic and then really is from that. He’ll go and see exactly what Olivia and Katie Schuster spice it up with the pillows and the accessories you’ve got to work with. (Photo courtesy of Studio West) and the art, things that aren’t as much of an in“Once that’s done, we help the customer walk vestment to change. through their options. There’s a lot of different “Whatever their approach, we always encourage customers to follow applications you can do on upholstery that can make a statement, whether their own likes and dislikes. Sometimes people come in shopping with their it’s a contrast welt or the fabric or a fringe trim. There’s a lot of different friends, and everyone has an opinion, but it’s what the customer thinks that things that can kind of make it unique, and I think that’s one of the things really matters most. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to that brings people to us is the custom upholstery.” buy what you love.” More than just style and color, a designer’s input also helps the consumer Olivia said the unique, high-touch shopping experience at Studio West make furniture choices that fit families’ lifestyles, as well as their tastes, takis one of the most enjoyable elements of the furniture-buying experience, ing into account children, pets, room ambiance and utilization. something that sets the store apart. “I think you have to really think about how you use the space, you “It’s fun. It’s a fun business,” she said. “I mean, when we go to market, it’s know?” Katie said. “Maybe it was built as a formal living room, but do you all about finding those standout pieces. It’s fun to put that out on the floor use it as that, or is it a more casual space? Defining how you use your space and see how the customers react. Some of them send us pictures of their and purchasing with that in mind is a better approach than just going with new furniture in their homes. It’s just a fun process from start to finish.” the first thing you see.”
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home
Top of the
Class
F
By DWAIN HEBDA
Longstanding builder leads the luxury home field
or businesses that produce something tangible — from furniture to automobiles to magazines — every product that rolls off the line is, in effect, a resume for every prospective client that would come after. Build it well, and people notice; so, too, do they notice when the product, service or experience is lacking. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the field of luxury homes. Satisfying people for whom money is practically no object — and who are used to getting their own way — is a tall order. Delighting them enough to stay in business, many by referral, over decades is a mark of greatness for any builder who can pull it off. Bill Parkinson, founder of Parkinson Building Group in Little Rock, is just that builder, one of the elite names in high-end residential construction. He said how the company got where it is and how it remains on top is one and the same formula. “I think our clients can feel that we’re different,” he said. “There are the things that most residential builders shy away from just because they’ve never done it or it’s not in their wheelhouse. That’s never our approach. We’ll spend the time. That’s why people are hiring us. “It is nice when our customers tell us, ‘Something about your company is different. We really like working with you.’ That, to me, is a sign that we’re practicing what we preach. That’s something, no matter what the future holds, that will continue to define us as a company.” Parkinson launched the company in 1999 on the simple belief there was a better way to build homes, even — and perhaps especially — the ones being built for top dollar. The company’s unique concierge-level service model puts a structured team approach to work on every job, streamlining communications and enhancing efficiencies throughout the process. “We see a combination of things [from clients],” Parkinson said. “We’ve had some people bring us fully developed plans, but most come
to us with just a lot or a desire for a lot. We’ve had couples where we walked lots for them and gave them feedback. I have a client we’re going to build for that has 100 acres in west Pulaski County, and they wanted me to go look at three or four spots where they were considering putting the house and give them my advice. “The fact is most of our clients have never done this before, and it can be one of the most stressful things that have ever gone through. We try to walk our clients through the full process and give them all the advice we can so they can have the best experience possible.” Parkinson said as the company has grown from just serving Little Rock addresses to recently moving into the Hot Springs market, the system has proven invaluable in keeping Parkinson Building Group operating according to its own high standards. The only downside to the company’s success, he said, is that it frequently demands his attention be placed on operational and back-office elements rather than the client-facing processes that bring him so much satisfaction. He hopes to one day reduce one in favor of the other, he said, adding that his own obsessive commitment to Bill Parkinson quality of product and the customer experience makes pulling away a difficult proposition. “We’re a 14-person team, and we did a reorganization that put me back in a position where I’ve got to be super involved in day-today operational stuff,” he said. “I’ve got a pretty high level of control, so I’ll be interested to see if I can allow myself to get to a point where I can really let go and focus on the things that I enjoy doing most. “It’ll be interesting to see if I ever get to that place. I know people that get to live that dream, and I’m excited for them and get to work for several of them. I have not made it there yet, but that’s the elusive dream.”
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AY About You
2026 Interior Designer Awards
S
avants of Styled Spaces E
veryone knows not to judge a book by its cover — once inside, however, it is open season. From first impressions upon passing the threshold to endless personalized details meant to turn a house into a home, interior design quite literally dictates the character of one’s space. Homeowners seem to understand the point well, since, according to Fortune Business Insights, the global interior design market size was valued at $145.96 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $214.35 billion by 2034. Even a less-than-enthusiastic housing market in recent years has not been enough to dampen design demand, as the company also noted the dominance of remodeling projects with an aging housing stock. Functionality, sustainability, personality — these and more are the expectations of today’s consumers, and it goes nearly without saying that one cannot turn just anywhere for advice and expertise. AY About You’s 2026 Interior Design Awards are meant to help discerning readers cut through the noise and find the ideal designer to make their dream rooms a reality. From traditional to avant-garde, from classic residential styles to cutting-edge commercial looks and from bedroom to bathroom to boardroom, this year’s honorees represent the Natural State’s go-to interior design professionals. Readers are invited to call upon the talents of any of these magicians of the maison for their next project, and we at AY congratulate this year’s class of honored companies.
S
andy Sutton Design Center in Hot Springs is at the forefront of making homes and businesses more stylish and functional. A Spa City native, Sutton caters to diverse clientele across the nation. Sandy Sutton Design Center offers an unmatched balance between uniquely personalized designs, timeless appeal and functional style. “A hallmark of my ongoing success is that I have a rare ability to absorb my client’s personality and lifestyles and then transform that into rooms of livable luxury,” Sutton said. “I have vast experience in residential design and commercial properties. With over 30 years in the interior design business, I continue to provide excellence for a wide variety of clients from coast to coast.” In addition to garnering awards from AY About You readers such as winning the prestigious “AY Interior Design Awards” and “AY’s Best Of” in 2024 and 2025, Sutton’s design prowess has been recognized and celebrated by industry peers at the highest level. Her own Lake Hamilton residence, Southampton, earned the prestigious American Society of Interior Designers Gold Award. Clients can expect the same award-winning creativity and attention to detail on their own projects.
4112 Central Ave., Hot Springs 501-624-6700 | Cell: 501-617-4279 sandysuttonsdesigns.com Sandy Sutton’s Design Center
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INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS
A
my Terry, founder and lead designer at AC Designs in Little Rock, draws on her extensive experience to transform clients’ spaces from concept to completion. Since 2018, the company has provided services such as floor planning and drafting, 3D rendering and design, and assistance with new construction, remodels and home decorating, along with custom draperies, pillows, window coverings and seasonal decorating. Supported by a talented team of three in-house designers, six assistant designers and various team members, AC Designs is committed to bringing clients’ visions to life. Terry emphasized her gratitude for the work, saying, “We feel so blessed to get to do what we love for a living and create beautiful spaces.”
Photo by Jane Colclasure
W
hat sets apart Debi Davis Interior Design in Little Rock is that the team puts its own spin on the projects it works on, not getting too deep into trends or fads. The central Arkansas-based company works within a broad range of design styles to bring out the clients’ individuality with each project. Working with families with children, families with pets and those with grandchildren, the team designs for every chapter of one’s life. Davis first fell in love with interior design 28 years ago and has gained renown for creating beautiful, functional spaces. The 2026 AY Interior Design Award adds to many accolades, including from Southern Home and Southern Living magazines and inclusion on numerous Arkansas “best of ” lists.
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hrough her award-winning design firm, Hunt Design Group in Conway, Tracy Hunt has carved out a stellar reputation over more than three decades for tasteful designs that stand the tests of time and utilization. Hunt’s career has taken her all over the country and around the world. The variety of projects she has tackled demonstrate a breadth of experience that is hard to match, from designing resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean to schools, universities, churches, hospitals, manufacturing plants, office buildings, performance art venues, retail stores and more. “Each project is an ‘original’ for me, as I make each project unique to the vision or goal decided upon,” she said. “In other words, no cookie-cutter design.” Hunt Design Group focuses on luxury custom designs for multimillion-dollar homes.
Photo by Jane Colclasure
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Congratulations
Debi Davis
on being named an AY Interior Designer Award winner 2026
2222 Cantrell Rd. | Little Rock 501-221-2032 debidavisinteriordesign.com
Weaving beauty, function and wellness into your every space.
TOM CHANDLER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
@SHINEIDSTUDIO
RESIDENTIAL + COMMERCIAL FULL-SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN STACEY BREEZEEL, ASID | LEED-AP REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNER NATALIE BILES, ASID, REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNER
2210 Cantrell Road, Little Rock tomchandlerandassociates.com TomChandlerandAssociatesInteriors tchandler_assoc
Ready to shine? Request your project here
W W W . S H I N E I D S T U D I O . C O M
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INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS
M
ara Lamb Malcolm, owner of Lamb’s Interior Design in Little Rock, was born into the world of design. Her mother, designer Retha Wyatt Lamb, instilled in her daughter a love for beauty, balance and gracious living. Lamb’s Interior Design reflects those values, creating functional, gorgeous home and office spaces that fit the personalities and tastes of the people who occupy them. “A good interior designer can change your life,” Malcolm said. “We find that sweet spot — a space with both optimal functionality and comfortable, gorgeous, inspiring interior elements. It’s a game changer.” From space planning to accent pillow fluffing, the full-service, family-owned Lamb’s Interior Design specializes in creating casually elegant living and working spaces for real people.
Photo by Jason Masters Photography
A
ward-winning interior designer Lori Carpenter is redefining aging in place for today’s 60-plus homeowner as an opportunity to live with joy, purpose and intention. With more than 25 years of experience, Carpenter, a certified aging-in-place specialist, creates homes that seamlessly balance beauty, function and long-term livability. Through Lori Carpenter Designs, she helps clients transform homes into spaces that support independence, comfort and joy without sacrificing style. Her philosophy challenges the outdated notion that aging-in-place design must look clinical or utilitarian. Instead, Carpenter’s work proves accessibility can be elegant, intuitive and deeply personal. “For me, aging in place isn’t about preparing for limitations,” Carpenter said. “It’s about designing environments that allow people to continue living fully and confidently.”
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imberly Mannis purchased Little Rock-based Providence Design in 2023 after beginning her professional career in computer programming and designing personal construction projects. From a beautiful showroom at 2314 Cantrell Road, Mannis and her team begin each project by gaining an understanding of the client’s personal style and budget to help ensure the final design is something everyone loves and is comfortable with. Most of all, she and her team work to make the process as enjoyable and stress free for the client as possible. “A designer helps to ease the stress of making each important decision,” she said. “We oversee the project to make sure that every detail works together to create a space that will reflect our client’s vision.”
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INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS
S
andy Sutton Design Center in Hot Springs is at the forefront of making homes and businesses more stylish and functional. An interior design expert and Spa City native, Sutton caters to diverse clientele across the nation. “A hallmark of my ongoing success is I have an uncanny ability to absorb my client’s personality and lifestyle and transform that into rooms of livable luxury,” Sutton said. With more than 30 years in the interior design business, Sutton is the recipient of many awards, including AY About You’s prestigious “2024 AY Interior Design Awards” and “AY’s Best Of ” in 2024 and 2025. Her Lake Hamilton residence, Southampton, earned the prestigious American Society of Interior Designers Gold Award.
H
ome should be one’s most cherished sanctuary, a place where one unwinds, nurtures family, rejuvenates the spirit and finds solace. That is the simple yet profound philosophy that guides Shayla Copas, founder of Shayla Copas Interiors in Little Rock. That concept has blossomed into a multifaceted lifestyle brand. Known for integrity and dependability, Copas and her team prioritize clients’ time, budgets and individual styles, from incorporating a vibrant color palette to infusing spaces with her signature Southern glam. As a proud Southern girl and sweet tea lover, Copas’ innate sense of hospitality puts clients instantly at ease as she transforms their visions into professionally curated spaces that remain deeply personal, helping clients rediscover the love for their homes. Photo by Jason Masters Photography
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stablished in 2019, Stacey Breezeel and Natalie Biles, co-owners of Shine Interior Design Studio in Lonoke, bring award-winning interior design to new construction and remodeling for homes and commercial interior spaces of all types. With more than 60 years of combined experience, the central Arkansas-based team embraces each project with boundless creativity to achieve spaces each client wants and needs. “Hiring a designer can really reduce your stress,” Biles said. “It can help you achieve your goals and support what you’re wanting to do with your life.” The owners formed their business with the goal of providing balanced and thoughtful spaces that reflect each client’s unique personality and style while stressing health and sustainability in their designs.
Photo by Yennifer Lopez Photography
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INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS
C
lients have come to depend on Stacy SheidEpps, founder of Stacy Sheid Interiors in Fayetteville, for help in making smart decisions about timeless decor. “There are so many choices, especially on a new build. It’s absolutely overwhelming,” she said. “An educated designer can simplify decisionmaking and make life much easier.” Sheid-Epps developed her customer-first mentality early through her parents’ furniture store and her mother’s work as an interior designer, and she has strived to understand what clients want their homes to become with each project. To that end, she and the SSI team do their very best to attend to every detail while creating spaces that feel comfortable and warm.
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ongtime designer and educator Tom Chandler, founder of Tom Chandler and Associates in Little Rock in 1980 and Chandler School of Interior Decorating in 1981, has advanced the art and science of creating beautiful, functional spaces for more than four decades. Based in Little Rock, the firm’s clients span from Arkansas to Hawaii and all points in between. Together with his team, Chandler offers a wide range of services, from one-day home makeovers to complete home move-ins and holiday decorating. Leading the charge is Chandler himself, who is known for his creativity, work ethic and his catalog of famous quotes, including, “Get up early and be the best that you can be.”
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ivid Designs in Little Rock offers clients assistance with remodels and interior design projects, as well as operates a gift shop providing a wide array of jewelry, apparel, gifts and furnishings. Launched in 2002 by Amber Doggett, the third generation of her family in the furniture business, Vivid Designs assists clients with interior design needs ranging from kitchens and bedrooms to entryways. For each, Doggett brings a wealth of experience and the highest attentiveness to customer service to create spaces that are tranquil and inviting. Engaging a range of tastes and styles, Doggett and her team capture the essence of each remodel or design project in ways that delight clients time after time.
designs furniture & Accessories
designs furniture & Accessories
Photo by Chasity Brighton, CBrighton Photography
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designs furniture & Accessories
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section header food
Confection
Connections Chocolate continues to reign supreme on Valentine’s Day By MAK MILLARD
R
egardless of one’s feelings toward Valentine’s Day, there are few who would actually turn down a box of chocolates simply to thumb their noses at the corporate holiday. An aphrodisiac and an easy gift besides, chocolate’s place as a classic component of the season of love is well deserved. “Chocolate is one of those rare things that manages to be both deeply personal and universally understood,” said Lauren Blanco, co-founder and CEO of Markham & Fitz in Bentonville. “When you give someone quality chocolate, you’re giving them an experience — not just something sweet but a moment to slow down and taste something made with care.” While its versatility and ubiquity is much appreciated everywhere from convenience store shelves to artisanal counters, the same traits can make it difficult to know just what to grab when shopping for that special someone. Following the latest food trends can be one way to catch a loved one’s eye and tickle their sweet tooth at the same time. “The new hot item is Dubai chocolate. That’s one everybody’s going crazy for,” said Richard Morris, franchise owner at Rocket Fizz in Little Rock. “Then they have another one called Angel Hair, which is like a chocolate with cotton candy stuffed inside of it.” Dubai chocolate, made from milk chocolate bars stuffed with pistachio-tahini cream and strands of kadayif pastry, has taken the world by storm and inspired scores of variations on the form. In addition to popular Dubai truffles, Kilwins in Little Rock has its own housemade treats, such as Dubai Buckeyes and Dubai Delights, both of which owner David Lister esteems even more highly than the original. Neither comes close to the true Valentine’s powerhouse, however. Annual demand for chocolate-dipped strawberries turns the holiday into nothing short of a Super Bowl moment for Kilwins. It is far and away the busiest day of the year, Lister said. “We get through about 150 to 200 pounds of berries on a typical Valentine’s Day,” he said. “With it being a weekend this year, we’re probably anticipating 250 to 300 pounds of berries.” Timing is key when it comes to gifting a
showstopping box of berries. The biggest mistake people are liable to make, Lister said, is picking up their strawberries on a Friday and giving them to their loved ones on Saturday. The problem is once the fruit is enveloped in chocolate, the product’s shelf life drops off a cliff. “The golden rule with berries is they need to be consumed on the day that they’re purchased, and every single berry that we sell in this store is made on the
Markham & Fitz in Bentonville prioritizes real, quality ingredients for artisanal delights such as its Valentine’s Day truffles and caramels. (Photos courtesy of Markham & Fitz)
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to become a central part of the flavor experience, and we find that vanilla often can detract from that.” Without filler or masking ingredients, the quality of what remains is easy to taste. A chocolate-covered caramel from Markham & Fitz, for example, has real butter, dairy and vanilla in the caramel and only three ingredients in the chocolate: cocoa beans, organic cane sugar and cocoa butter. Simplicity and authenticity, Blanco said, allow artisanal products to stand out from their mass-produced peers. Kilwins likewise takes its proprietary recipe and exclusivity seriously — everything is made fresh, and Kilwins chocolate cannot be found at other stores, Lister said. “Over the years, supermarket chocolate, there’s less and less chocolate in it, more and more sugar in it, and as a result, people have really forgotten what proper chocolate should taste like,” he said. “Coming into Kilwins, it’s a quality product. We’re very proud of the quality of our chocolate, whether it’s milk, whether
Owner David Lister and manager Judith Centeno show off Valentine’s Day favorites. At right are Kilwins-style takes on the Dubai chocolate craze. (Photos by Mak Millard)
Over the years, supermarket chocolate, there’s less and less chocolate in it, more and more sugar in it, and as a result, people have really forgotten what proper chocolate should taste like. — David Lister, Kilwins owner day that it’s sold,” Lister said. “They’re going to be freshly made every single day, regardless of whether it’s the middle of the summer, the middle of the winter or on Valentine’s Day.” As for Lister, his Valentine’s Day will start at about 1 a.m., and the first berry will be dipped at about 2 a.m. With the big day falling on a Saturday this year, he anticipates dipping nonstop until about 8 p.m. unless, of course, the berries run out sooner. A word of advice: The best practice is to call ahead and reserve an order sooner rather than later. “I can promise you, within 20 minutes of me stopping dipping, we’ll have sold out, and we’ll be getting complaints that we’ve got no berries,” Lister said. Skeptics and those unlucky lovers scouring
supermarkets for the last heart-shaped box on the shelf might want to contend that, as far as these things go, “a chocolate is a chocolate is a chocolate.” In reality, even nonfoodies can discern between a high-end bar and so-so sweets. Sometimes the difference can be sniffed out from the very moment it is unwrapped. “Usually, mass-produced chocolates contain vanilla or vanilla flavoring. Vanilla can taste good, but it is generally used as a flavor masker, something to hide deficiencies in the cacao itself and create a homogenous flavor,” Blanco said. “Our chocolate or other high-quality chocolates I find usually do not contain vanilla because they are allowing the higher-quality cacao to shine in the product. We want the flavor of the unique cacao bean
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it’s white chocolate — and ours is a real white chocolate, not just a pale imitation that you get in the supermarket. Our dark chocolate is especially really, really good.” In that regard, chocolate follows a similar rule of thumb to other Valentine’s Day gifts, such as jewelry or an upscale dinner date. More often than not, one gets what one pays for. “It takes four to five days just to make the chocolate. We roast the beans in-house, grind them for multiple days — the longest step — mold them into bars and hand-wrap them,” Blanco said. “There’s a soul to artisanal products that you can literally taste, and you lose that soul in industrial processes. Industrially made products are cheaper for a reason.”
Markham & Fitz has Valentine’s gift sets and a seasonal selection of chocolate bars, including Berry Bisous, which is 70 percent dark chocolate with raspberries, strawberries and fleur de sel, and Orange Creamsicle, comprised of goat-milk white chocolate and orange extract. Kilwins has classic heart-shaped and square boxes of the good stuff, in addition to the option of hand-selecting sweets from behind the counter for a more personal touch. That is not even to mention the truffles, caramels and other delightful mouthfuls to be found. “We have enough of everything to satisfy most tastes, whether it’s nuts, whether it’s creams, whether it’s truffles, a mixture of all of it,” Lister said. “Caramel-covered apples, they are always very popular, and we do a few nice little designs on those the week of Valentine’s Day. We’ll have some specially decorated cookies. There’s something for everyone,
whether it’s your classmates in elementary school right through to the larger boxes of chocolates for a special one at home.” There might yet be a place for more runof-the-mill chocolates in the Valentine’s Day panoply, however, if only to prove one was listening when a significant other mentioned a favorite childhood candy. Hunting down that bit of nostalgia, while not expensive, can be priceless in the end. Sometimes that kidin-a-candystore feeling is a thoughtful gift in its own right, and after all, it is still the thought that counts. “We have everything from your common chocolates that you find everywhere, Reese’s and Hershey’s and all that, and then we have some European selections, Cadbury, Milka, things of that nature, imported candies,” Morris said. “We’re going to have a lot more of the hard-to-find candies and what you don’t just find anywhere. Anything you can think of that you haven’t seen or can’t get your hands on, we’re the place to come check. Odds are, we have it.” All that is to say: Whether shopping for family and friends or treating oneself, Valentine’s Day is as good as any occasion to splurge on whatever sweet treat one likes best. “Anything that brings people back into a chocolate shop and gets them to fall back in love with chocolates, in my opinion, is a good thing,” Lister said.
Whether shopping for family and friends or treating oneself, Valentine’s Day is as good as any occasion to splurge on whatever sweet treat one likes best.
Rocket Fizz carries the hits for that kid-in-a-candystore feeling. (Photos courtesy of Rocket Fizz)
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food
ANOTHER
ROUND Beer lovers taking Rogue Roundabout for a spin By MARY LESIEUR Photos courtesy of ROGUE ROUNDABOUT
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tepping into The Rogue Roundabout microbrewery and restaurant, one might hear the hiss of an espresso machine or the laughter of close friends connecting after a long week, but seldom is the Conway hotspot silent. Jessica and Chris Smith, owners, built their business on the philosophy of creating a community hub while offering a variety of ciders, beers, seltzers, cocktails and nibbles, rapidly building a diverse customer base. “We didn’t want to be a normal brewery,” Chris said. “We wanted to set a new tone for what that could look like for anyone entering the market in the future.” After eight years of brewing in his garage, Chris pursued his dream of opening his own spot. He said his training in the craft started with the help of trial and error, YouTube videos, and books. His do-it-yourself efforts to learn brews did not disappoint the community, and his garagelevel brewing grew into a 26-tap storefront within the span of a decade. Nestled in the heart of downtown Conway, Rogue Roundabout
Jessica and Chris Smith
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opened its doors in 2023, and after months of navigating Faulkner County laws, the dynamic duo created a brand image through the roundabouts. Thanks to Act 681, microbrewery-style operations could open with limitations in dry counties. “We had to build a brand and business plan before we ever opened while also working to change the wording of the law to include spirituous liquor,” Chris said. “In the beginning, we couldn’t even openly talk about being a brewery or post photos. Alcohol still can’t leave the building, but legislative changes since 2019 have allowed us to do more.” Offering a full-service microbrewery-restaurant experience, Chris and Jessica said their vision for the local hotspot was to create a hub that was family oriented, welcoming all from near and far to try blends of passion, flavor and artistry. From the City of Colleges cream ale to their Rip Van Ronkel, an India pale ale, Chris said The Rogue Roundabout is regularly turning out new concoctions to the tune of offering three new beers a week. Chris
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said his approach to brewing is to evaluate how each cider, ale or beer is selling with a heavy reliance on customer feedback. “We make base recipes and then alter flavors at kegging, so we can create multiple variations from one recipe,” Chris said. “If a beer doesn’t sell well, I’m not stuck with 10 to 15 kegs I can’t move. We’ve built a system that keeps us flexible and avoids excess inventory.” The establishment also features local artists regularly, as well as weekly events. From ‘90s country music nights to celebrating local Girl Scouts, the Smiths have brewed a legacy of pouring into their community. “When we started focusing on events and partnerships, that’s when everything really changed,” Jessica said. “Everyone feels welcome here because they’ve been to something here before. I feel like we have the most unique customer base because it’s made up of so many different types of people who come in for different events.” She added that the partnerships have also educated locals about the couple’s mission. “It’s hard for the community to ignore you when you’re constantly part of what the community is doing,” Jessica said. “I honestly think our biggest success has been becoming a community hub.” Known for their willingness to experiment, the couple recently added a new item to the drink menu: sugar-reduced cocktails.“We’re very proud of our cocktails. They’re approachable, not overpriced and usually something you can’t get anywhere else,” Chris said. “We’re focusing on sugarreduced cocktails, which I don’t think anyone else in the area is doing.” Chris and Jessica have also added an event concept to their offerings by turning their microbrewery-restaurant into a rentable venue. From corporate events to birthday gatherings, The Rogue Roundabout can accommodate anywhere from 32 guests for private events and will rent out the entire restaurant. At its core, Rogue Roundabout is less about what’s in the glass and more about what is happening around it. The Smiths have built a space where experimentation is encouraged and conversations linger. In a city known for its roundabouts, Rouge Roundabout is one diners may not want to miss.
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CHEERS TO WHAT’S NEXT! RAISE A GLASS TO NEW BEGINNINGS. AT T I C B A R
801 W MARKHAM ST. LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 LOCATED UPSTAIRS FROM BACK HOME BARBECUE
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recipe
Warm Up
Roasted winter vegetables with herbs
a hearty seasonal meal By MARGIE RAIMONDO Photos by MARGIE RAIMONDO
imple preparation lets the natural sweetness of winter vegetables shine. High-heat roasting caramelizes their edges while keeping interiors tender — a technique that transforms humble root vegetables into something extraordinary
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ROASTED WINTER VEGETABLES With Herbs SERVES 6-8
Ingredients: • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch wedges • 3 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces • 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 3 medium turnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch wedges • 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved • 1 medium red onion, cut into wedges
• 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 3 cups) • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves • 4 garlic cloves, smashed • 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Aged balsamic vinegar for finishing (optional) • Flaky sea salt for finishing
Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven.
2. In a large bowl, combine all cut vegetables. Drizzle with olive oil, and then add rosemary, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss with hands until vegetables are evenly coated.
3. Divide vegetables between two large, rimmed baking sheets, spreading in a single layer with space between pieces. Crowding prevents caramelization, so do not skip this step.
4. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, rotating pans and stirring vegetables halfway through. Vegetables are done when golden brown at the edges and tender when pierced with a fork. Brussels sprouts should have crispy outer leaves. 5. Transfer to a serving platter. If desired, finish with a light drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Arkansas Grown: Look for locally grown carrots and turnips from Five Acre Farms near Bradford. Brandon Gordon and Catherine Morris grow beautiful vegetables using sustainable, no-till practices. Their produce is available at local farm stands and through online shopping throughout Arkansas. Cook’s Note: These vegetables are endlessly adaptable. The combination of turnips, carrots and parsnips creates a wonderful balance of sweet and earthy flavors. For a touch of sweetness, toss with a tablespoon of honey before roasting.
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e s i a R
s s a l G
the
Passion Drop In-house infused passionfruit vodka, Rocktown Lemon Vodka, lemon juice, housemade simple syrup, triple sec, Sugar-coated rim and lemon wheel garnish KEMURI 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock 501.660.4100
Photo by JAMIE LEE 80
Off to the Derby 2 ounces Warfield whiskey 1 ounce grapefruit juice 3/4 ounce ginger/honey syrup
Mountaintop Breeze
Bright Star
2 ounces Warfield gin , 2 muddled cucumber slices 1/2 ounce Aperol , 3/4 ounce grapefruit juice 1/2 ounce scarlet glow tea syrup
2 ounces Warfield vodka 8 muddled mint leaves 3/4 ounce lemon juice 1/2 ounce orgeat
Shaken, served up with cucumber.
Shaken, topped with club soda and mint.
Warfield Distillery drinkwarfield.com 81
Photos provided
aymag.com
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: EAT MORE BARBECUE. 801 W MARKHAM ST. — LITTLE ROCK @BACKHOMEBBQLR — BHBBQ.COM
DJL Health Strategies: A Better Year Starts Behind the Scenes A new year can mean a fresh start both in the personal and professional worlds. That may look like scheduling a medical appointment one has been putting off, freshening up one’s home or office space, or even figuring out how to fix a logistics issue that has been causing problems at the company since the summer. When it comes to making life better for both leaders, practitioners and patients in the health care industry, DJL Health Strategies is the name to remember this year. Founder and principal consultant Kassidy Hill-Howard has worked in many health care settings and frequently bore witness to the gaps between the kind of care providers wanted to offer and how systems worked — or, more often, did not work — for their patients. The company specializes in a wide range of nonclinical consulting designed to revamp internal processes and structural supports at health care organizations looking to improve their quality of care and company culture.
Kassidy Hill-Howard
This new year and always, DJL is committed to helping guide and grow the companies who keep communities thriving — because people deserve better care.
info@djlhealthstrategies.com | 501.529.2601 | djlhealthstrategies.com 82
Oral health is about more than just a pretty smile
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hen it comes to wellness, healthy teeth are nothing to smirk at. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the teeth, gums and entire oral-facial system are crucial for eating, speaking and showing emotions. Poor oral health due to tooth decay and gum disease can cause pain, decreased academic performance, productivity losses and a lower quality of life. The centers state that about 34 million school hours and about 92 million work hours are lost annually due to unplanned and emergency dental services, and about $46 billion dollars in U.S. productivity is lost yearly due to untreated oral health conditions. Oral health is linked to overall health, as well, and has ties to a number of chronic diseases. A study published by the National Library of Medicine examined the connection between oral health and chronic diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, heart conditions and respiratory conditions. The study found that not only does oral health provide a window into a person’s overall health, since many chronic conditions can affect the oral cavity, but oral health can impact the progression of other diseases. The study also found that regular dental checkups and proper oral hygiene can enhance quality of life while helping prevent and manage chronic illnesses. AY About You is proud to shine a light on pearly whites in our dental section. In the pages that follow, get to know some prominent dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons in Arkansas. The section also provides insight into the latest trends and technologies, as well as highlights work being done to ensure central Arkansas children can access the dentist. For those looking to have a smile that lights up a room and enhances overall wellness, the CDC offers the following tips: Brush twice daily, floss once a day, and limit foods and beverages high in added sugar. The CDC also recommends at least one yearly dental check-up and professional cleanings, as well as additional dental visits as recommended by a health care provider.
By AY STAFF 83
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health
SOUND
Bites Increasing dental technology creates more comfortable visits, better oral health
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By ALEX HARDGRAVE
n the past, a biannual visit to the dentist had a tendency to sneak up and was met with apprehension the day the appointment arrived. Today, however, dentists in Arkansas agree that sentiment is changing thanks to technological advancements. “If I see you at Walmart, instead of hiding behind the greeting cards, I want you to come up and say hi,” said Dr. Michael Bourns, who has been in the business for 47 years and owns Carroll and Bourns Family Dentistry in Benton. Bourns and three other Arkansas-based dentists said it is vital to not skip exams as an important component of caring for one’s teeth. “There is, of course, the self-confidence piece,” said Dr. Jeff Wisener at Wisener, Cooper & Fergus, DDS. “A healthy smile is a confidence booster and generally leads to a much better overall quality of life. When you invest in your mouth, the time and the money it takes to keep your mouth healthy, it’s an investment in your quality of life.” Beyond the hygiene and aesthetic aspects of caring about oral health, ignoring more serious oral issues has been linked to serious health issues throughout the body. Wisener said recent studies show links between unhealthy mouths and some serious health issues, including dementia, premature births and plaque in patients’ veins.
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Dr. Michael Bourns and Dr. Ann Carroll
Dr. Jeff Wisener
“In other words, if you take better care of your teeth and keep them clean, keep your gums healthy, you’re less likely to have dementia, especially at an early age,” Wisener said. Bourns explained it like this: If the body is having to fight more bacteria in someone’s mouth, that divides its fighting forces to other parts of the body, causing more health issues. “The healthier your mouth is, the healthier your body is,” said Dr. Bryan Austin at Austin Family Dentistry. If patients wait until there is pain in their mouths to see a dentist, Austin said, it is already too late, and a lot of damage has likely already been done. “You don’t know there is a problem until you go for a routine exam,” he said. “I’d rather fix a small problem that’s inexpensive than a big, expensive one.” Austin said that while some of his older patients remember the days where dentistry was still rather painful and still may be scared of going or dread their appointments, younger patients are becoming less and less nervous about the experience. That is because many of today’s dentists stress comfort and fun at the appointments, often providing toys and giving out rewards to young patients to make them want to come back. Many dental offices also offer various forms of sedation for patients who are especially nervous about dental cleanings or procedures. Wisener’s office features a nurse who can administer IV sedation, which is just like having anesthesia for a surgery at a hospital, Wisener said. “We try to treat our patients right, do good work, whether it’s a regular filling or a big surgery,” he said.
Thanks to 3D scanning technology, dentists no longer have to use messy impressions for crowns and implants. 86
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If you take better care of your teeth and keep them clean, keep your gums healthy, you’re less likely to have dementia, especially at an early age. — Dr. Jeff Wisener
Wisener, Cooper and Fergus, DDS
Dr. John Dean at Dean Dental Solutions in North Little Rock said that for some procedures, his practice sedates patients in the consultation room before ever going to the operating area to ensure they stay calm and comfortable. “They don’t remember the [operation], and they certainly don’t feel it,” Dean said. All the dentists echoed the idea that prevention is better than treatment, but if serious treatments are needed, they stay up to date on the latest tools and techniques to ensure patients are getting the best care. “Technology is good, but you have to up your game as far as being able to use it,” Bourns said. Less common now are the tools that scrape the teeth during cleanings as many dentists turn to newer products such as ultrasonic scalers, which remove plaque and tartar from teeth with high-frequency vibrations. Bourns also recommends people consider switching to ultrasonic toothbrushes at home rather than mechanical toothbrushes, since the ultrasonic ones are less likely to strip away enamel by brushing too hard. Technology on the cosmetic dentistry side also continues to expand as the demand for more cosmetic dentistry increases. “It’s really exploded,” Dean said. Wisener agreed that more patients are seeking out cosmetic procedures these days. “There has always been a pretty fair demand for [cosmetic dentistry], but I think as the population ages and everyone wants to look good, it causes a higher demand for that today than years ago,” he said. Many of the dentists are installing or recommending veneers and permanent implants as opposed to full and partial dentures, which have to be taken out and have the chance of falling out, Dean said.
Austin’s office uses CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, a tool that allows dentists to create crowns and other implants quickly during a single visit. The process uses 3D scanning, which means gone are the days of the messy, gooey impressions. Other local dentists have similar tools and technologies that are speeding up the process for creating implants and crowns, meaning that patients do not have to wear temporary ones as long, if at all. Another field that some dentists work in does not relate to teeth but still has a lot to do with one’s health — sleep apnea. Austin has been helping his patients deal with the condition for more than 25 years by offering sleep studies, prescribing continuous positive airway
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the dentist and also ensuring a proper fit. While it is easier and safer to get many of the common cosmetic procedures done today, including veneers and implants, Wisener said it is important for patients to make sure they are going to a dentist they can trust. “Do your homework by asking friends, family and coworkers what their experiences have been and if they have somebody they can recommend,” he said. He also suggested asking dentists questions about how many relevant procedures they have done, the quality of materials they use and where they source the materials from. “Get somebody who has been in the game for a long time,” he said. Installing veneers used to require taking away parts of the existing real tooth structure,
Learning new things makes the field a lot of fun. It’s a great time to be a dentist.
Dr. Bryan Austin
— Dr. John Dean
Dean Dental Solutions
pressure, or CPAP, machines and oral sleep apnea appliances, all of which help improve breathing and snoring, which improves sleep quality and has additional benefits, as well. “I’ve saved a lot of marriages,” he said. Austin, who has worked in the dental field for 33 years, said the industry is totally different than when he started. For example, he used to have to develop X-rays the old-school way by dipping them into a chemical developer. Today, the process is digital, and images are sent instantly to computers. He also noted the X-ray machines are now faster and safer for staff and patients because they use so much less radiation than the older models. Many dentists are utilizing cone beam computed tomography scans, which allow a 3D view of the nerves and bones of the face and mouth, as well as the teeth, allowing dentists to make sure to avoid the vital areas during implantations, Dean said. The scans can also be used to help diagnose issues such as temporomandibular joint disorder. Dean’s office also uses a tool called X-Guide navigation, which is a screen that helps guide implant placement, making it even easier on
Bourns said, but nowadays, veneers can be put on with little to no prep. That is because today’s veneers are so thin — as thin as contact lens in some cases, he said. The advancements both on the clinical and cosmetic side have led to treatments having much more long-term success, meaning patients have to come in less often for issues related to implants or other procedures. “These advancements give patients the confidence to pull the trigger and do the treatment because it’s going to last longer and it’s going to look better than ever before,” Wisener said. Science has reached the point where dentists can even harness patients’ blood to regenerate bone and tissue growth after a root canal or other types of tooth surgery, Dean said. “Learning new things makes the field a lot of fun,” he added. “It’s a great time to be a dentist.” While the new technology is helpful and exciting, it is not easy to keep up with, which is why leading dentists complete many annual course hours to ensure they know the best and latest processes. It can also be expensive to stay
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Dr. John Dean
up to date on the latest and greatest tools on the market, and Austin said he has seen some new tools go obsolete quickly. With all the new tools, technology and science at work targeting the patient experience, visiting the dentist is really a “no brainer,” Dean said, as an important step in keeping one’s teeth and gums healthy, “The science is strong,” he said. “It’s easy to have a good, comfortable experience.”
aymag.com
health
Bethany Abbott
Bridging the Gaps Searcy entrepreneur helps streamline dental payments
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few years ago, as Bethany Abbott stepped up to the counter to pay for her husband’s dental work, she was shocked to learn the practice would not take her medical insurance. “I gave him our insurance card, and I was basically laughed out of the office,” she said. “The office manager at the dental office was like, ‘Oh, we don’t accept medical. We’re a dental office.’” Any other patient might have shrugged the transaction off and pulled out a dental insurance card, but Abbott is not just another patient. Having spent decades in health insurance billing, where she helped build medical claims systems, she was more educated than most about the vagaries of reimbursement across all health care specialties. “Dental insurance started back in the 1950s,” she said. “Back in the ‘50s, you could get a significant amount of care for $1,500. Well, they haven’t updated those rates more than just a little bit in 30 years. Somehow, big dental convinced doctors that they weren’t worthy of the reimbursement and pay that other doctors are. “When my husband needed those services, I went back and made sure I was right before I argued. Sure enough, we got his whole reconstructive case completely paid for.” Abbott felt vindicated, but more than that, she felt inspired and soon thereafter launched her own company, claimSTAT, which is changing the manner in which dental services are paid for. Specifically, the company makes it possible for people to use their medical insurance to pay for dental work, coverage that often reimburses at higher rates than dental policies. The barrier that has confounded the industry for years is medical coding, the system that identifies covered procedures, upon which insurance reimbursement is based. The labyrinth of codes did not line up between medical and dental care, Abbott found, which made filing a claim akin to having access to a room with a safe in it but not having the right combination to open it. Abbott developed an end-to-end system that fixes the coding gaps, thus allowing patients to tap into the dental benefits within the medical insurance policy they are paying for. Cracking that formula, Abbott recognized a mammoth business opportunity, even if it meant selling the dental industry on getting reimbursed through insurance in a whole new way. “They just didn’t know. They’d never been taught,” she said. “An insurance company is not going to stand out there and wave a big shiny red flag and say, ‘This is how you get us to pay for things.’ Many people have tried to do this. Many companies nationwide have tried, but we’re the first to market with a full solution.” Abbott started her career at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arkansas, through which she was able to graduate from college. Over the next three decades, she also gained experience from government work and aerospace. “I ended up working for Blue Cross off and on through the
years and then moved to different payers. I built many, many, many claims systems,” she said. “I was senior director of project management at Dassault Falcon. I built a fraud detection system for Medicare and Medicaid services out of Washington, D.C. I was director of implementation for Molina Healthcare right before I left to do claimSTAT.” Based in Searcy, the company employs more than 20 remotely and handles more than $100 million in claims volume per month — not bad for a kid from Huttig, a speck on the Arkansas map that counted 450 souls as of the 2020 census, proving big ideas can take root anywhere. “It’s just a little mill town. It’s in the middle of nowhere,” she said. “We didn’t even have a stop sign.” As for her secret to revolutionizing an industry, she credited sheer perseverance for the bulk of her success. “I stepped down from everything I was doing to launch claimSTAT. I haven’t looked back since,” she said. “I’m hardheaded. I knew this could work.”
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photo courtesy of BETHANY ABBOTT
MEDICAL BILLING
Founded by Bethany Abbott - an industry executive with over 25 years of leadership experience at some of the nation's top medical insurance payers - claimSTAT LLC is the first company to successfully specialize in billing medical insurance for all categories of dental services. By bridging the longstanding gap between dental and medical billing, claimSTAT empowers providers to deliver medically necessary dental care while unlocking new reimbursement opportunities.
WHAT SETS US APART
Empowering Providers to Deliver Services Without Financial Barriers Pioneering Model: First-to-market solution for comprehensive dental-to-medical billing
Deep Industry Expertise: Led by a veteran in payer operations, compliance, and reimbursement strategy
End-to-End Support: Full service billing, documentation review, and claims management
Mission-Driven Impact: Expanding access to care and increasing practice revenue through medically necessary services
OUR MISSION At claimSTAT, we are proud to be the first in the industry to introduce a first-to-market solution for comprehensive oral care billing—bridging the longstanding gap between medical and dental services. As the boundaries between medical and dental care continue to evolve, dental providers are increasingly required to navigate the complexities of medical insurance reimbursement. This process is often confusing, timeconsuming, and unrewarding—leaving both providers and patients underserved. claimSTAT was created to change that. Our mission is to redefine what’s possible in medical billing for the dental sector by delivering a ull-service, end-to-end solution that ensures medical insurance covers all levels of dental restoration. We are dedicated to helping providers receive fair, timely, and complete compensation for their services—while improving access to medically necessary oral care for patients. Backed by a skilled team of medical review analysts, claim coders, and documentation specialists, claimSTAT delivers a boutique-style experience with enterprise-level results. Every claim is handled with the highest level of detail and care, ensuring maximum reimbursement and outstanding patient outcomes. A t claimSTAT, we don’t just follow industry standards—we set them.
800-668-2517
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www.claimstatbilling.com aymag.com
health
Tooth FERRY
Ronald McDonald House mobile dental program meets children where they are
By SARAH DECLERK // Photos courtesy of RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF ARKANSAS & NORTH LOUISIANA
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magine a little girl walking up to a teacher at school, clutching her jaw and whispering that her tooth hurts, or a young boy who cannot eat at lunchtime because his mouth is in so much pain. How about a child who lost his toothbrush and now shares one with his aunt? For children across Arkansas without access to dental care, that is the reality. “I always like to tell the story that we heard a few years ago about a little girl who couldn’t stay awake in class because she was just so tired and her mouth hurt,” said Donna Csunyo, chief operating officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana. “They finally got her on the care mobile and looked in, and she just had a mouthful of trouble, but one tooth in particular was abscessed, so they ended up having to pull the tooth.
“They said by the time they started treating her and got the tooth out, she had fallen asleep. They left her sitting in the chair, sleeping, because she was in such a good sleep.” The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a 40-foot van that travels to elementary schools in six counties across central Arkansas, providing free comprehensive dental care to students. A full dental office, complete with an X-ray area and two treatment rooms, it is packed into a camper-like structure, which is equipped to provide everything from fillings to extractions. The global Ronald McDonald House Charities organization began implementing mobile care programs as a way to improve health outcomes and provide continuity of care to children around the world, Csunyo said. Each program looked a little different,
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The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a 40-foot van that travels to elementary schools in six counties across central Arkansas, providing free comprehensive dental care to students.
By bringing this comprehensive dental care directly to neighborhoods, directly to schools, it’s one way that we can help ensure that people don’t have to worry about transportation getting to the dentist or even the cost of the exam.
she added. The local organization identified dental care as the area’s greatest need when it started the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in 2009. “I believe it’s one of the most important programs we have,” she said. Arkansas ranks 50th in the nation for overall health, and access to care plays a major role in that statistic, said Dr. Angela Frantz, dental outreach dentist at the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. Arkansas Children’s is the clinical provider for the program. Arkansas has only 42 dentists per 100,000 people, one of the lowest ratios in the country, she said, and more than half the state’s counties are designated as dental health professional shortage areas, meaning there are more than 5,000 people per dentist. A 2019 survey found two counties in Arkansas had no active dentists, she added, and with about 45 percent of Arkansans lacking dental insurance coverage in a 2019 census, cost creates an additional barrier. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, children from lowincome families are twice as likely to experience tooth decay in their primary teeth compared to children from higher-income households, she said. “There is a common myth that baby teeth are not important because they eventually fall out,” she added. “In reality, they play critical roles in eating, speaking and maintaining space for future adult teeth. Unfortunately, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in childhood — five times more common than asthma. Over 40 percent of children entering kindergarten have tooth decay.” Without treatment, cavities can progress quickly in baby teeth, causing severe pain and infection, she added. Poor oral health can also impact a child’s academic performance, she said, noting that studies estimate 34 million school hours are missed annually due to acute dental needs. She added that research has also shown oral health problems can lead to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease and dementia. The good news, she said, is that cavities are treatable and preventable.
— Sharon Lanier, Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation
Donna Csunyo
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Dr. Angela Frantz aymag.com
a fear of the dentist, and it started in childhood.” Frantz said the care mobile team works to make children comfortable with visiting the dentist from the moment they step foot in the van. “We talk with them about their day and what they’ve been learning, and over time, we really get to know them,” she said. “At subsequent appointments, it makes their day when we remember their favorite color or ask whether they enjoyed the field trip they told us about previously.” During their first appointment, children receive a dental exam, cleaning and any needed Xrays, she said. After the appointment, each child gets to pick a prize and select an oral health kit with a toothbrush in his or her favorite color, along with floss, child-friendly toothpaste and a sand timer to help children brush for the recommended two minutes at home. Then, during follow-up visits, care mobile dentists complete any necessary treatment, such as fillings, crowns and extractions.
Dr. Angela Frantz, left, speaks with dental hygienist Dominique Parker aboard the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
“With proper access to dental care and consistent oral hygiene, the risk of decay drops dramatically,” Frantz said. “Preventative treatments like dental sealants can reduce future cavity formation by up to 80 percent. Prioritizing early oral health care not only protects a child’s smile — it can lay the foundation for a lifetime of better health.” Delta Dental Foundation of Arkansas helps support the care mobile program and recently awarded Ronald McDonald House a $40,000 grant toward operating costs. “This is what access looks like in action — seeing the need and then meeting the need — and we’re proud to be a part of a partnership that is truly helping change lives because a healthy smile impacts your overall life,” said Sharon Lanier, executive director. “We’re proud to help support that one smile at a time.” Supporting nonprofit and community-based organizations that improve access to dental care, the foundation is dedicated to meeting people where they are, she added, from providing prenatal dental education to expectant mothers to improving education and access for older adults. “What we want organizations to know is if you have a population that you serve, they all have a mouth,” she said. “Whether you’re an after-school program, whether you are a work-readiness program, whether you’re a food pantry, all the people accessing services, they have a mouth, and they need to get regular oral health care.” Lanier said the Ronald McDonald House Care Mobile is powerful because it eliminates nearly all barriers to care, from transportation, time and cost to a fear of going to the dentist that might develop during childhood. “By bringing this comprehensive dental care directly to neighborhoods, directly to schools, it’s one way that we can help ensure that people don’t have to worry about transportation getting to the dentist or even the cost of the exam,” she said. “It also helps to create a spirit of getting over fear of going to the dentist because we know Sharon Lanier that a lot of people will say they have
Arkansas ranks 50th in the nation for overall health, and access to care plays a major role in that statistic.
Dentists explain in clear, age-appropriate language what they will do at the beginning of each appointment and demonstrate how dental tools work so that nothing feels scary or unfamiliar, she said. The team also works to empower children as much as possible by letting them choose a toothpaste flavor or what to watch on TV during the appointment. “Our goal is that the children we see will look forward to the next time they see the dentist,” she said. “By creating positive experiences early on, we hope to prevent dental anxiety and set them up for a lifetime of good oral health.” Csunyo said the Ronald McDonald House Care Mobile is working to expand its programs and recently began visiting the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Southwest Little Rock Clinic during the summer to provide additional care to children. “We would love to increase the number of schools we visit and students we can see,” Frantz added. “Our goal is to make a lasting impact on the oral health of Arkansans. If we can provide children with a good foundation of oral health and good oral hygiene habits, I truly believe we will see Arkansas’ national ranking of oral health skyrocket.”
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Smiles for All Community dental resources can be found across the Natural State. Here are some other community oral health resources as provided by the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation: Boston Mountain Rural Health Center Sliding-fee programs available to qualified patients in north-central Arkansas bmrhc.net
Healthy Connections Accepts both insured and uninsured patients in Mena and Hot Springs healthy-connections.org
School-Based Health Alliance of Arkansas Works to strengthen the capacity and quality of school-based health centers across the state sbhaar.clubexpress.com
CABUN Rural Health Services Provides comprehensive care in Hampton regardless of ability to pay cabun.org
Lee County Cooperative Clinic Provides affordable and convenient dental care with transportation to Marianna clinic available lccc.us.com
Shepherd’s Hope Health Centers Provides emergent care primarily for extractions in Little Rock shepherdshopelr.org
CHI St. Vincent Community Care — East Clinic Provides medical and dental care to low- and moderate-income patients in Little Rock commonspirit.org
Mainline Health Systems Offers comprehensive care in Ashley, Chicot, Drew and Desha counties mainlinehealth.net
Community Clinic of NWA Provides services on an income-based sliding scale in Rogers and for children only in Springdale communityclinicnwa.org
Mountain Home Christian Clinic Provides free dental evaluations and extractions for adults by appointment mhchristianclinic.com
UAMS Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation Oral Health Clinic Located at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences campus in Little Rock uamshealth.com
Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council Community Dental Clinic Serves low-income residents of Sebastian and Crawford counties cscdc.net
River City Ministry A faith-based nonprofit in North Little Rock that offers dental services rivercityministry.org
Conway Regional Interfaith Clinic Provides dental care to low-income children with no access to medical insurance conwayregional.org Dental Lifeline Network Provides dental care to those who cannot afford it who are older than 65, permanently disabled or need medically necessary dental care dentallifeline.org
River Valley Dental Ratcliff clinic provides professional services regardless of patients’ ability to pay rvpcs.org
University of Arkansas Fort Smith Dental Hygiene Clinic Provides comprehensive dental hygiene care at an affordable price uafs.edu Welcome Health Offers urgent and emergency dental care in Fayetteville, as well as oral health education welcomehealthnwa.org Learn more at deltadentalar.com/giving-back/ dental-care-resources.
Samaritan Community Center Provides essential charitable and Medicaid dental care in northwest Arkansas samcc.org
East Arkansas Family Health Center Provides care for underserved residents of Crittenden, Poinsett, Mississippi and Phillips counties eafhc.org Harmony Health Clinic A free, nonprofit medical and dental clinic in Little Rock harmonyclinicar.org
(Photo courtesy of Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation)
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Dr. John Batson
At the Root of It All
Fate, family led to a career in oral surgery
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here is little in Dr. John Batson’s early life to suggest that he would have ended up where he is, an Little Rock oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Batson does not come from a family of dentists, nor was a career in dentistry always his dream. However, getting to where he is today may have been due to a few key moments of fate along the way, he said. “I never had this burning desire to go into dentistry or medicine,” Batson said. “If you asked me what I wanted to be in high school, I would have said a professional baseball player.” He played baseball from age 4, but a major sports injury, pressure from his mother and matters of the heart changed that pathway. Just as he was turning 18 and setting his sights on school at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he met Rachel, the woman who would one day become his wife. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew I had a serious girlfriend,” Batson said. “I actually proposed to her when I was 19.” Batson also knew he needed to find a path that would give him a stable career to take care of Rachel and a family. The first career that came to mind was as a doctor, but when he talked with his doctor about it, the physician advised against it, telling him instead to become a dentist. “I talked to my family dentist, and he said he was super happy,” Batson said. “‘[He told me], ‘I’d recommend dentistry to anyone.’ It was just kind of fate intervening.” After undergrad, Batson entered the dental program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City on a military scholarship. At the end of his second year of dental school, he took the first part of his board exams and scored in the 92nd percentile. Batson said he realized that meant he could specialize in any form of dentistry he wanted, so he began to shadow different types and landed on oral surgery. “It was really cool,” he said. “You’re putting people’s faces back together.” After years of grueling residency hours at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, he continued in the Army, working in Georgia, which he said was a nice change of pace compared to
the almost 20 hours days he had been putting in before that. The newfound free time offered him the chance to help coach his children’ s baseball teams and spend time being a dad. As his eldest child, Maggie, began to reach high school age, he and his wife started to consider whether to stay in the Army or make a permanent move back to Arkansas. When both Batson and his wife’s fathers died within a week of one another, the couple knew they needed to move back to be close to their mothers. After leaving the Army and moving back to Arkansas in 2017, Batson worked at a few local practices with different partners, but this year, he has made plans to finally set out on his own. Batson hopes his middle child, who is a sophomore at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and wants to become a dentist, may join him at the new practice one day. If that happens, it would be the latest sign that everything up to now has been the right move and set the stage for more chapters of the story to be written in the years to come. “Again, sometimes fate intervenes to make your decision,” Batson said.
Dr. John Batson and his wife, Rachel, with their children, Maggie, from left, John Jr. and Bobby.
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Picture Perfect L
COSMETIC DENTAL PROCEDURES AIDED BY TECHNOLOGY By AY STAFF
ocal dentists say advancements in dental technology continue to revolutionize the ease and durability of cosmetic procedures. From new implant and veneer materials to better scanning devices that provide more accurate and more comfortable results, there has never been a better time to improve one’s smile. “Digital dentistry has come about in the last five or so years and has really improved in the last two or three years” said Dr. Jahon Zehtaban at Smile Arkansas. “The biggest change has been in terms of treatment flow and protocol. Five or 10 years ago, if we wanted to do a smile makeover and make somebody veneers, we’d first take one of those old-timey impressions with all the goo that gags our patients. Then we’d have to pour that model up in stone, design them on that stone model, make a transfer and then bring the patient back in. “Now we have these intraoral scanners that will basically scan the teeth, and then we 3D print a model of them. There’s no goo, no pouring of stone and making a mess. We get these 3D printed models in a day.” Zehtaban also noted new ways of designing veneers that represent a huge time savings while producing superior results. “Probably new within the last year is we can actually digitally design the veneers on the computer and print something that can transfer to the mouth instead of hand-designing them,” he said. “When I first started, you had to hand-design them in wax and then make a transfer system. Now we have all these digital capabilities, which not only make it easier on the patient but lets the dentist get a better visual representation of what they’re doing.”
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Dr. Jahon Zehtaban
Dr. DJ Dailey
Dr. Caroline Mehaffy
Dr. Leslie Monroe
DIGITAL DENTISTRY HAS COME ABOUT IN THE LAST FIVE OR SO YEARS AND HAS REALLY IMPROVED IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS. — Dr. Jahon Zehtaban, Smile Arkansas
Invisalign systems have become more sophisticated and are outpacing traditional braces in many situations.
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Something else that has become more common in dental offices are tools that help patients overcome long-held fears of going to the dentist. “We’re hitting an age group where some of the baby boomers are starting to age and are needing a lot more dental work,” Zehtaban said. “During the time when they were getting work done as children, it was done way more aggressively, and it created a lot of trauma and dental fear. I would say probably the second-biggest issue or hurdle we face is just the anxiety of getting the work done. “Luckily, I saw this coming, and I got certified in oral sedation and conscious sedation. In cases where [fear] is a hurdle, we’re able to help them overcome their fear by sedating them. They don’t remember the procedure. They basically just wake up with new teeth. That helps us a lot.” Dr. Caroline Mehaffy and Dr. Leslie Monroe at Dental Solutions of Little Rock said while the procedures themselves have not changed much over time, the materials and components used to rehab a smile or align teeth continue to evolve. “The porcelains continue to evolve and become more lifelike,” Monroe said. “We also utilize specialty labs that hand lay the porcelain. That integrates the color, so even as it fades over time, it fades in an aesthetic way. That’s not necessarily a dramatic change, but they’re ever improving. “The same goes with the materials we use to bond the veneers. The cements are always improving in their adhesion and ability to limit leakage of the restorations. That contributes to less debonding and fewer crowns and veneers coming off.” One well-known orthodontic device — Invisalign — also continues to improve, Mehaffy said. According to the company website, the groundbreaking system, which has been used by 20 million patients, can be used to treat a wide range of clinical situations. Using a system of custom-fit mouthpieces, the system applies precise forces to gently move teeth into alignment. “It’s evolved dramatically,” Mehaffy said. “[Invialign] can do virtually everything that conventional braces do, and there are some orthodontists that are utilizing it almost more so than conventional braces. As long as the patient compliance is there, the technology has come a long way to be able to achieve things that we didn’t used to be able to achieve.” Just last year, the parent company Align announced yet another advancement that not only straightened teeth but helped correct Class 2 malocclusion, one of the most common orthodontic problems, characterized by a discrepancy in jaw alignment where the lower jaw is positioned too far back relative to the upper jaw. “There’s a reason why [Invisalign] is a household name; it’s just kind of state of the art in the orthodontic world,” Mehaffy said. “There really is no other provider that has the technology and the research to back it up.” The advancements and other factors have cosmetic procedures on the rise worldwide. According to Grand View Research, the global cosmetic dentistry market size was estimated at $33.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $89 billion by 2030, representing a rate of growth of 13.5 percent from 2023 to 2030. Patients in North America dominated the market, accounting for a 40 percent revenue share.
“Developing countries have generated a large amount of disposable income, which is the main reason why cosmetic dentistry is flourishing,” the report states. “The geriatric population, in general, has propagated the growth of this industry, owing to old age-related tooth ailments. “Treatments that include teeth whitening, changes in dental appearance and malocclusion are the most frequent procedures that patients undergo in cosmetic dentistry.” While the level of disposable income plays a big role in who gets the procedures done, other factors are pushing more people to address dental issues. GVR’s report noted such procedures are gaining in popularity due to the promotion of sugary food and drinks, as well as tobacco and alcohol, which has resulted in an increase in the consumption of products that can cause oral health issues and other noncommunicable diseases. “According to the World Health Organization Global Oral Health Status Report (2022), nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide were affected by oral diseases, with 3 out of 4 affected individuals residing in middle-income countries,” the report reads. “Globally, approximately 2 billion people have tooth decay in their permanent teeth, and 514 million children have tooth decay in their baby teeth.” The report said sustained demand for such dental work was likely as technology continues to advance, making such procedures more comfortable and convenient than in previous eras. Dr. DJ Dailey, CEO of Smile Dailey in Little Rock and a 25-year dental practitioner, said dental practices have access to tools that were previously unimaginable. “The advancements in 3D printing of dental materials represents the cutting-edge side of things,” he said. “Honestly, they haven’t been around long enough to have proven themselves at this point, but it’s showing great promise to be faster and potentially more cost-effective for getting a cosmetic change.” Dailey said while wholesale in-office 3D printing is still a rarity, digital design systems are becoming much more common in creating entire templates from which to perform the work. Meanwhile, expanded materials options give dentists more freedom and more options. “When it comes to materials, that really is doctor specific as to what materials feel best in their hands or works best with their patients,” he said. “There’s not one size fits all anymore, for sure.” Dailey is quick to add that while technology has changed much of modern dentistry, the most important element — that of the experience and expertise employing those tools — is as important as it ever was. Automation, artificial intelligence and robotics are all valuable tools but only that, meant to augment the skill and artistry of the physician. “As far as what we’re doing with designing smiles and, at least in my office, doing the most conservative approach that I can use to create a new smile for someone, that hasn’t changed. When I say conservative, I mean doing what I can to maintain as much of the patient’s natural healthy tooth structure as possible with minimal impact on their biology or their life or both,” he said. “The basics, the fundamentals of what we do in aesthetic dentistry, even though there’s material changes, there’s process changes, the fundamentals are still the same.”
TREATMENTS THAT INCLUDE TEETH WHITENING, CHANGES IN DENTAL APPEARANCE AND MALOCCLUSION ARE THE MOST FREQUENT PROCEDURES THAT PATIENTS UNDERGO IN COSMETIC DENTISTRY. — Grand View Research
The materials used to bond veneers have improved over time, leading to fewer problems with adhesion.
Teeth whitening and other cosmetic treatments have become more popular in recent years.
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SAMARIA MASCAGNI, DDS
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Our practice is about so much more than enhancing smiles – it’s about creating a place where people feel welcomed, valued, and understood. We aim to redefine dental care with a warm and inviting atmosphere that feels like home, setting a new standard for what a dental visit can be. 13600 David O Dodd Rd., Little Rock, AR
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People all over Arkansas trust Dr. Jahon Zehtaban with their smile. With years of experience in providing clinical excellence you know your smile is in good hands. Dr. Zehtaban is a proud member of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Credentials, experience, and caring concern for each individual patient ensure that you’ll receive exceptional esthetic results regardless of the challenges presented. Learn more how Dr. Zehtaban can help you have an incredible smile by calling today for your complimentary smile consultation.
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COSMETIC SERVICES Porcelain Veneers & Crowns Dental Bonding Zoom® Whitening Dysport Injections Invisalign • Dental Implants
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Dr. James A. Penney III
Get ‘Endo’ it
Little Rock dentist takes the pain out of root canals
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or the average dental student, specializing in endodontics sounds about as much fun as — well, as a root canal. Luckily for Little Rock dentist Dr. James A. Penney III, that was far from a bad thing. He was put onto the specialty while shadowing a dentist friend of his parents. In dental school, Penney realized he had not only an interest in root canal treatments but “was pretty good at it” to boot. He was also fortunate, he said, to be completing his endodontic residency at Boston University just as major advances in root canal techniques and technologies were taking off. “Our BU education included training on the advancing technology of surgical microscopes by the developers and leaders in the field, and we were trained on the use of the newly invented motor-driven files to use with traditional hand files,” Penney said. “These technologies have decreased the time it takes to perform root canals, eliminating the source of some of the old root canal horror stories.” Uneasiness at the prospect of a root canal paired with the common misconception that the procedure will fail anyway leaves a number of people wanting to skip straight to extraction and implants instead. While, indeed, sometimes the tooth cannot be saved, Penney said, he is honest and upfront with patients to help them make the best decision possible based on their circumstances. “If you have the option to save the tooth with root canal treatment, it is usually a faster, cheaper and less traumatic option,” he said. “Implants do sometimes fail. Keeping your natural teeth is most desirable.” Penney has also made it a point throughout his career to implement the most up-to-date, evidence-based products and procedures to improve patient outcomes. He has often attended annual meetings of the American Association of Endodontists to keep up with the latest research and technology. In 1998, he became just the second dentist in Arkansas to introduce digital radiography to his practice, and he added a CT scanner in 2008. “Even though this was initially a very costly addition years ago, my subsequent upgrades to my equipment and software have dramatically decreased costs,” Penney said. “CT imaging has greatly improved patient outcomes by giving such a clear and detailed image of the teeth and the surrounding tissues. When I do implants, we use a special software to virtually place the implant [and] make sure it is restorable, thereby avoiding potential damage to nerves and other important structures. We are then able to have a guide device 3D printed so the implant is placed correctly.”
Dr. James A. Penney III with registered dental assistants Tabitha Basinger, from left, Lana Baker and Jennifer Dornblaser. Tooth pain is uniquely upsetting and can even be debilitating, Penney said, and every person deals with that pain differently. That is not to mention the compounding anxiety many people feel in dental settings. He and his staff are dedicated to meeting the specific needs of each patient as an individual both in terms of the actual root canal procedure and the emotions that may come with it. “My staff makes all aspects of our practice work smoothly and efficiently,” Penney said. “We see a large number of patients every day, and having intelligent, experienced, well-trained, hard-working and highly motivated long-term staff is invaluable to our success. I have five employees, and two have worked for me for over 20 years.” At 59 years old, Penney said he looks forward to continuing his practice for many years to come. He is also excited to see his daughter-in-law, Skyler, return from dental school in Kansas City to begin a general practice residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock this summer. She loves endodontics, as well, Penney said, and hopes to apply for an endodontics residency program in the future. “I enjoy what I do,” he said. “I love taking care of my patients, giving them quality, state-of-the-art root canal therapy, helping save their teeth and making them feel much better.”
By MAK MILLARD // Photo provided by DR. JAMES A. PENNEY III
Welcome to the Best Dental Practice in North Little Rock Dean Dental Solutions has been delivering exceptional dental care to seniors, working families, and young professionals since 1994. If you’re looking for a new dentist, talk to the practice that makes your comfort and care its #1 priority.
2524 Crestwood Rd., Suite 2 | North Little Rock 501.771.2911 | deandentalsolutions.com deandentalsolutionsofficial deandentalsolutions | @deandentalsolutions8903
James A. Penney III, DDS
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Happiness Is A Root Canal It is our mission to provide our patients with the ultimate care in Endodontics. With stateof-the-art technical care, as well as treating our patients with respect, courtesy, and compassion, we make endodontic care accessible, attainable, and personal.
13239 Cantrell Rd. | Suite B | Little Rock (501) 227-7668 idoendo.com @jamesapenney
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Early Smiles Establishing good dental habits in kids is not as hard as one might think By DOUG CRISE
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things first: Going to the dentist is not that bad. “Dentists, unfortunately, get a bad reputation for being kind of condescending and mean, and a lot of people have bad childhood trauma from dentists,” said Dr. Luke Fruchey, founder and owner of Two Rivers Dental Care in Little Rock. “They’ve done a lot of studies on what leads to bad oral hygiene, and the No. 1 cause is fear of the dentist. It all goes back to this simple idea of being scared of the dentist.” The concept of dentistry being painful or brutish does not hold up to close inspection, but old ideas die hard. For parents, finding a dentist for young children can be especially nerve-wracking, particularly if families are lugging outdated ideas of what a trip to the dentist actually entails. “Dentistry has truthfully come a really long way in not a super-long time,” Fruchey said. “Root canals are a great example of that. Twenty or 30 years ago, we used Novocaine. Nobody uses Novocaine today. It’s not even on the market anymore. The reason is it stinks. It never gets you fully numb. In the ‘90s, you’d get a root canal with Novocaine, and you weren’t fully numb. It hurt like crazy. Now we have fantastic numbing agents, and nobody feels anything.” That is obviously great news for parents, but even then, dental care for children can
spark anxiety. After all, a child’s oral health relies heavily on the formation of good habits — brushing, flossing, staying away from sugar and the like. If that does not sound like a challenge, try convincing a 4-year-old he or she needs to brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time. “We want to start brushing as soon as we see new teeth coming into the mouth,” said Dr. Samaria Mascagni, founder of Arkansas Family Dental in Little Rock, “and I think, a lot of times, parents are reluctant to make sure that happens regardless of behavior.” There are tricks and approaches to make brushing less of a daily battle for parents and kids alike, but being a parent often means existing in a state of total worry, and it is easy to fret about not doing enough. When it comes to healthy teeth in children, there is good news and bad news. Yes, sugar is a big cavity culprit, so if parents are able to monitor their kids’ intake of the sweet stuff, they are already ahead of the game. Yet other dental hazards remain, and not all are quite as obvious. Take milk, for
The general rule of thumb for brushing is the same for kids as it is adults: twice a day for two minutes each.
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They’ve done a lot of studies on what leads to bad oral hygiene, and the No. 1 cause is fear of the dentist. It all goes back to this simple idea of being scared of the dentist.
Dr. Luke Fruchey
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We want to start brushing as soon as we see new teeth coming into the mouth.
Dr. Samaria Mascagni
example; many remember growing up with parents insisting that they finish a big glass of cow’s milk at every meal. Many also grew up drinking juice in various forms and containers, not realizing both can blast the teeth with refined sugars. “With our first visit, one of our biggest questions that we ask is if the kid is going to bed with juice or milk,” said Dr. Jordan Marsh, a pediatric dentist based in Cabot. “It’s been found that going to bed with those sugary drinks is the leading cause of severe early childhood tooth decay, and it’s something that a lot of parents don’t consider.” The only foolproof beverage option is water, and that means just water. Even carbonated water, flavored or unflavored, can pose a threat. The reason for that is sugar’s equally problematic cousin, acid. “I would say sugar is probably the main culprit,” Fruchey said, “but really, what breaks down teeth is acid.” It is, in fact, hard to find one without the other. It is the various forms of bacteria in the mouth that consume sugar, and the chemical by-product produced by that action is acid. Even if a carbonated beverage claims to be sugar free, carbonation in itself means acid is present. The good news is that does not mean having to toss one’s beloved Perrier or LaCroix. A quick swish with regular water after drinking the carbonated version will help stop acid before it starts. When it comes to school breakfast or school lunch, while it may not be perfect, chances are children are reasonably protected. That is because the U.S. Department of Agriculture passed a new batch of school meal regulations in July 2025 capping the amount of added sugar that can be found in mainstays such as cereal (6 grams maximum of added sugar per dry ounce), yogurt (maximum 12 grams of added sugar per 6 ounces) and chocolate milk (10 grams of added sugar per 8 ounces).
In Arkansas, schools must comply with the Arkansas Department of Education’s Smart Snacks program, meaning vending machines are prohibited in elementary schools. Even in middle school or high school, healthier options such as water and 100 percent juice must be offered, and vending machines must be switched off during breakfast and lunch periods. In addition, schools are prohibited from selling food from outside sources except for prior to the start of classes, 30 minutes after the lunch period ends and 30 minutes after the last school bell of the day. Even if a child’s school complies with all the regulations, hazards still exist. Gatorade, a popular nonsoda alternative for vending machines, still packs 34 to 36 grams of refined sugar per 20 ounce bottle of its original formula. As for juice, even if there was a school that fresh-squeezed organic oranges daily, a child’s mouth is still taking on fructose, or natural sugar, and acid. Chances are, anything that can survive in a vending machine is not going to do wonders on the nutritional or dental front. “As far as hidden sugars, everything now is so processed,” Marsh said. “The cheap things are not necessarily the best things for us. They’re a lot more accessible for us nowadays, leading to more cavities.” It can feel like the Wild West at times. A concerned parent may start to feel overwhelmed — and this article has not even touched on thumb-sucking and how much that can impact young teeth. Yet just about any dentist worth his or her salt will concede that, when it comes to parenting, one can only control what one can control. “I have three kids,” Fruchey said. “My oldest is 6. Then I’ve got a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, so I’m in the thick of the whole parenting thing right now.” A common complaint of parents is that toothbrushing time can often turn into a
As soon as a child has teeth that are touching — think about age 2 or 3 — flossing should be taught and modeled.
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The American Dental Association recommends children should not use oral rinses until they can do so without swallowing, usually at about age 6. battleground for both getting a child to not just brush but to brush long enough. The general rule of thumb for brushing is the same for kids as it is adults: twice a day for two minutes each.
To help make the process a little more bearable and establish habits, try brushing with the child each and every time. Not only are parents ensuring brushing is repeated until it becomes a habit; they are also able to keep an eye on the elapsed time. “I think a lot of times, parents don’t intervene enough,” Mascagni said. “Typically, a parent may have to assist with brushing until age 6 or 7. I think a lot of times, they may think, ‘Oh, they’ve got it,’ but they’re not cleaning all the surfaces of the teeth.” The goal should be making sure that every surface area of the teeth is contacted, and that goes for flossing too. As soon as a child has teeth that are touching — think about age 2 or 3 — flossing should be taught and modeled. As for mouthwash, the American Dental Association recommends children should not use
oral rinses until they can do so without swallowing, usually at about age 6. Children can practice by swishing around small amounts of water in their mouths. If there is no problem there, parents can start them on an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash with the ADA seal of acceptance. The key is managing expectations for both parents and children. Dentists prefer to think in terms of frequency rather than what is being consumed, so if a child returns from a birthday party having eaten plenty of cake and ice cream, it is likely not the end of the world. At the same time, if a child sucks down four peppermints over the course of a day, that’s a problem. Repeated action, more often than not, is where trouble starts. As for finding the right dentist, the best course is to follow one’s gut and keep a few things in mind. Just because dentists or dental practices do not include the word “pediatric” does not mean they are not great with kids. Parents who love their dentists can consider bringing along children to see if they can be treated during the same visit. Chances are, if a dentist is good with grown people, they might be good with kids too. “I feel like parents feel a lot of guilt or maybe pressure to do everything perfectly when it comes to their kids’ oral health,” Fruchey said. “I often tell parents one thing we try to focus on, instead of perfection, is consistency. Kids catch on to things way quicker than they can understand instructions, so it’s really vital for parents to lead the way on that.”
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It’s been found that going to bed with those surgery drinks is the leading cause of severe early childhood tooth decay, and it’s something that a lot of parents don’t consider.
Dr. Jordan Marsh
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Matters Arkansas orthodontists blend personalized care with technology
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ith technological advancements that include digital scanning, clear aligners and unique treatment plans, orthodontic care has never been more accessible. Headgear and painful wires have become a foe of the past, and in 2026, local providers are proving the steadfast fact that a straighter smile has a deeper meaning than a flawless appearance. Local orthodontists are changing the narrative of treatment plans and intermingling
By MARY LESIEUR
the importance of personalized care for all, regardless of age. Dr. Natalia Hodge at Hodge Orthodontics has spent the last nine years proving how life changing a smile can be, and that individualized care starts with going the extra mile for patients. Between the practice's inviting atmosphere and its advanced treatment options, Hodge Orthodontics specializes in unconditional care for its patients. “At Hodge Orthodontics, we believe we treat people, not just teeth,” Hodge said. “Whether that means choosing a removable or fixed option, a more discreet approach, or simply taking extra time with someone who feels anxious about dental care, our goal is to meet patients where they are.” When building her business, Hodge said family was at the forefront of her mind, meaning striving to create a familyoriented clinic and a family of patients within the community. Alongside working to personally know every patient, Hodge said remote treatment tracking has allowed the clinic to cut down on unnecessary office visits, allowing the clinic to offer more availability. “We consistently invest in innovations that
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make treatment more efficient, more precise and more convenient for our patients,” she said. “We are committed to staying at the forefront of orthodontic technology and will continue to adopt advancements that improve patient experience, efficiency and outcomes.” “We strive to create an experience that blends advanced care, genuine hospitality and thoughtful attention to the whole person — patients, families and team members alike.” Hodge said there are many joys to her work, the ability to create a lasting impact with patients being the most meaningful. “I have personally seen how much a person’s confidence can be affected when they are uncomfortable with their smile,” Hodge said. “Orthodontic treatment has the power to remove that barrier, to help people feel proud of how they look and how they present themselves to the world. That transformation is incredibly motivating.” At Vondran Orthodontics, customized treatment is not just a routine — it is a philosophy. As a leading Invisalign provider, Dr.
Andy Vondran has actively improved smiles since 2001, and with three statewide locations, his care has served generations. “I see patients every other month, so I get to watch them grow up,” Vondran said. “After 25 years, we now have second-generation patients as people I treated years ago bring in their children.” Throughout his career as an orthodontist, Vondran has seen the life-changing aspects of Invisalign since his residency more than 20 years ago, and his experience with the invisible correctors is a focal point of his treatment plans. By offering the treatment option, he has been able to see the duration of its success and development. “I’ll often see patients who were told somewhere else that they couldn’t use Invisalign for their bite, but it’s really based on experience, continuing education and being a specialist in orthodontics,” Vondran said. “I always say, ‘Would you rather go to a heart surgeon who’s done 7,000 surgeries or one who’s done 70?’ Experience matters.” When approaching treatment, Vondran said his team excels
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I have personally seen how much a person’s confidence can be affected when they are uncomfortable with their smile.
— Dr. Natalia Hodge, Hodge Orthordontics
at conservative treatment and viewpoints, treating what needs to be treated and identifying the best course of action. Easy, painless and effective are Vondran’s driving motives. “Our approach is conservative backed by great science and diagnosis, and we use the latest technology to pinpoint exactly what needs to be improved,” he said. “We customize every treatment plan so it addresses each area of need. We identify the areas of malocclusion, bite issues or jaw balance, and we also identify what’s already good.” Vondran’s family-oriented philosophy also extends to his exceptional team of colleagues. He said he is excited for the opportunity to invite his family into his practice, his daughter being in her final year of residency. At Westrock Orthodontics, the goal of improving access to high-quality, family-centered orthodontic care and a strong focus on personalized treatment has remained a guiding principle since its 2015 opening. With more than 50 locations, the team of doctors regularly shares knowledge and techniques, allowing the brand to provide consistent, high-quality care while still treating each patient as an individual. “Orthodontic treatment is a journey, especially for children, and we want them to feel proud of their progress and confident as they watch their smiles transform,” said Dr. Katie Guelos Gibson. “Our approach is guided by education, prevention and compassion, helping families feel informed and supported every
Natalia Hodge
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Andy Vondran
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We’re excited to partner with local elementary schools to share age-appropriate dental health resources. It’s a simple but impactful way we’re able to support schools, celebrate kids and keep oral health top of mind for families. — Dr. Katie Guelos Gibson, Westrock Orthodontics
step of the way.” Gibson said that the evolution of 3D imaging and digital scanning has changed the quality of care as this advancement facilitates more precise and proactive treatment plans. “Tools like digital scanning give families a clear 3D view of what’s happening in their child’s mouth without messy impressions, making it easier to understand treatment needs and track changes over time,” Gibson said. “Orthodontics continues to evolve, and we’re always looking for ways to make treatment more efficient, comfortable and kid friendly.” Westrock has four central Arkansas locations, and with February being National Children’s Dental Health Month, Gibson said care goes outside the walls of the offices through local partnerships with schools. “During Children’s Dental Health Month, we focus on meaningful, kid-friendly outreach that connects with families where they already are, especially in schools,” Gibson said. “We’re excited to partner with local elementary schools to share age-appropriate dental health resources. It’s a simple but impactful way we’re able to support schools, celebrate kids and keep oral health top of mind for families.” Gibson added that the practice emphasizes evaluating new patients at earlier ages. “We work with children every day, so creating an environment that feels positive and welcoming is incredibly important to us,” Gibson said. “From the front desk to the treatment chair, we focus
Dr. Katie Guelos Gibson
Dr. Alex Jones
on making kids feel comfortable, supported and even excited to come in. “Most importantly, we want families to know that we’re partners in their child’s oral health. Questions are always welcome, and education is a big part of what we do.” Daniel & Jones Orthodontics has been building smiles across central Arkansas since 1990, resulting in a practice with a legacy of delivering the highest quality orthodontic care in an environment that feels personal, thoughtful and approachable. “We’re locally owned, doctor led and deeply invested in the communities we serve,” said Dr. Alex Jones. “As the practice has grown and our new doctors have stepped in, we’ve been intentional about evolving without losing sight of what matters most.” Jones, who has been at the practice since 2020, said the mission to serve the community has not faltered, which helps explain why the brand has grown exponentially to offer dental services through advancements such as an in-house printing lab. “Instead of traditional gooey impressions, our digital scanners capture the shape of your smile in less than 5 minutes,” Jones said.
The evolution of 3D imaging and digital scanning has allowed orthodontists to deliver more precise treatment plans. “A cone beam X-ray provides 3D imaging to evaluate jaw position and tooth position, allowing us to plan treatment with precision. “We also have an in-house lab with dedicated staff at each location to print retainers, ensuring that new smiles shift as little as possible and are ready to last a lifetime. These tools help us deliver great results while making the experience easier and more comfortable for patients.” Communication and clear explanations are what Jones and his colleagues pride themselves on, he said. “Patients often tell us they choose our practice because they feel comfortable in the office and confident they’re receiving excellent care,” Jones said. “Our doctors lead by example of high standards and patient-first care. From the front desk to the clinic, our team is experienced, detail-oriented, approachable and kind.” As orthodontic care continues to evolve, one truth remains unchanged among the state’s top providers: A confident smile is more than straight teeth. By blending personalized care and treatment plans with family-oriented environments, local orthodontists are changing smiles daily.
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TEETH
By ALEX HARDGRAVE // Photos courtesy of LYON COLLEGE
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine roars to life
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yon College School of Dental Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of students last June to its new building on Allied Drive in Little Rock. The three-year Doctor of Dental Medicine program is the first of its kind in Arkansas and is filling a vital need — Arkansas ranks last in dentists per capita, said Dr. Burke Soffe, dean of the school. Soffe added that the 80 students selected for the first class had tall orders to create an entirely new student culture, as well as help get the program up and running for the first time. “This inaugural class could not be more exciting,” Soffe said. “We needed leaders, and they’ve lived up to that.” Soffe said he and the rest of the Lyon faculty are working to create an environment where every student feels heard, valued and comfortable, and it seems to be working. Andrew Dean, student, said what originally drew him to apply to Lyon and what he points to when recommending the program to others first and foremost is the faculty. “We’re in it together with the faculty,” he said. “They want you to succeed, and help is easy to get.” Dean, whose father is a longtime dentist and owner of Dean Dental Solutions in North Little Rock, was originally unsure if he wanted to follow Andrew Dean in his father’s footsteps. He said shad-
“This inaugural class could not be more exciting. We needed leaders, and they’ve lived up to that.” — Dr. Burke Soffe, dean
owing other dentists and trying out some science classes in college eventually “snowballed” into him applying to dental schools. He added that Lyon College School of Dental Medicine first attracted him because as a native of North Little Rock, the school is close to home. Since joining the school and completing his first semester, he said he has enjoyed helping cultivate a tight-knit community. He said the student culture is very collaborative, and he does not feel as if he is competing against his classmates. Instead, they all help each other study and share notes when they can. The next milestones for the school include welcoming the second class of 80 students, who were selected from a pool of more than 1,700 applicants. Additionally, in May, the school will start to offer its clinic, where students will get hands-on experience working with real-life patients. Dean looks forward to continuing to learn more and working hands-on with patients soon, he said, even though he knows it will be intimidating at first. As the school continues to make an impact on Arkansas, Soffe said Lyon College cannot do it alone. “This is a big endeavor,” Soffe said. “We welcome help from the community with open arms.”
Curious about becoming a patient at Lyon College School of Dental Medicine? Scan the QR code to schedule an appointment. Clinics are set to open in late spring. 111
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Dr. David Rainwater
A Career of Smiles
Little Rock dentist knew where his future lay
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ust as there was no real question of whether Harry Potter would be sorted into Gryffindor house at Hogwarts, Dr. David Rainwater’s path to dentistry was laid out before him from an early age. Rainwater had a plan when he graduated from Little Rock Christian Academy and headed up the Hill to attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and that plan entailed dental school. He credited his family orthodontist, Dr. Jim Phelan, with inspiring him to become a dentist. “I always enjoyed being in his office and seeing how he interacted with patients,” Rainwater said. “As I continued through school, I realized that the art of dentistry combined with the science and mechanical sides of the profession were incredibly appealing to me. In dental school, I was drawn to general dentistry mainly for the relationship of patient and doctor. Taking care of 3-year-olds that have their first teeth and then helping patients care for their teeth into their 90s and beyond is something very special to me. “It’s a profession everyone can relate to — sometimes negatively but in so many positive ways too. We see some wonderful folks in our office, and that’s what makes this job great.” Even though Rainwater earned a degree in biological engineering from the UA, dentistry was always the goal. Now he is living his dream as a partner at Hawkins Rainwater Dental Group in west Little Rock. “I could maybe sound smarter and tell you that I had a big-time engineering career ahead of me, but the truth is that I chose that degree in case my aspirations of dentistry did not work out,” he said. “My dad encouraged me to get a degree in something other than a basic science, so I chose the branch of engineering that most closely aligned with the dental school requirements.” Rainwater said he is thankful he did because doing so helped him see “a mechanical side of how things work.” “I do think it has helped me in my practice,” he said. Rainwater received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, graduating with honors in 2012 and completing an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency. He said when he first started dental school, he was shocked to learn that going to the dentist was not considered a popular activity. “You start seeing patients in the summer before third year, and it hit me like a ton of bricks that almost every patient asked me why I ever wanted to be a dentist,” he said. “I loved my childhood dentist and hygienist, and going to
Dr. David Rainwater the dentist or orthodontist meant a lunch out of school with my mom and brothers. It was always a win.” Now on the other side of the equation, Rainwater still finds the joy in everyday tasks associated with the job. “There are components that are more necessary and components that are just really enjoyable,” he said. “I generally love the work of this profession, but without question, leading a patient through a total rehabilitation is my favorite aspect of this job. Whether that is getting them caught up from many years away from the dentist or restoring an aging smile, those cases that make people proud of their teeth and allow them to smile confidently are the ones that I enjoy the most.” Rainwater’s practice just added a new dentist to its roster — Dr. Michael Drake, another Little Rock native, who joins Rainwater, Dr. Drake Hawkins and Dr. Suki Scott. At Hawkins Rainwater, the smiles are emanating from both sides of the dental chair. “Thankfully, dentistry continues to advance and get better, and the digital advancements that we continue to see are exciting,” Rainwater said. “We utilize [computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing] technology with the latest advancements in radiographic imaging for most aspects of our cases. Materials are getting better and better to make crowns stronger and more naturally beautiful. Of course, the teeth you were born with are the best, but dentistry offers a good replacement when needed.”
By MARK CARTER // Photo courtesy of DR. DAVID RAINWATER
Not mass-produced health care. Curated care. Conway Regional has a vision. For more than a century, our team has brought together key service lines, providers, and technologies to create patient experiences that are highly intentional and refreshingly personal. It’s about blending access and excellence. Familiarity – and fierce commitment. Advocating for patients while providing the services our communities deserve. See what curated care looks like for you.
Your Path to Optimal Living
W
hile the average passerby might see a sign promoting Revive Health and Wellness, there is a deeper meaning to every service owner Courtney McKinney offers. Blending professionalism with genuine care, McKinney has built a brand that does more than healing through her various philanthropic ventures. Located in Malvern, Revive Health and Wellness has offered primary care services, hormone replacement therapy, weight loss management, IV hydration and vitamin replacement services since 2023. The multifaceted clinic has become a hub for the community. McKinney’s willingness to help others was ingrained in her through the service of her grandmother, who was a local nurse and inspired McKinney to not only see the need for care but to seek the solutions for those who feel unseen and unheard. “She was the driving force for me to want to succeed in life,” McKinney said. “I went to nursing school because she was a nurse and I wanted to be like her. I thought she was the greatest thing ever, and I still do. She’s a saint.” Today, McKinney is the owner of a rapidly growing medical practice where she specializes in hormone and menopause care for women while also serving as a lifeline for some of the region’s most underserved patients. Her work is deeply personal, shaped by her own health journey. At Revive, McKinney specializes in hormone and menopause care for women, an area informed by her own health journey. After fertility treatments and a hysterectomy at age 29, she said she struggled to find clinicians who took her symptoms seriously.
1517 S. Main St., Malvern 501-382-1577 health-revived.com “Even as a medical provider,” she said, “I was thrown to the wayside. No one listened to me, so I took a deep dive into those hormones because I wanted to figure out what was wrong with me. Now I refuse to let anybody ever live that way.” That commitment to listening defined her approach to care. Patients receive comprehensive evaluations and individualized care plans that blend traditional primary care with functional medicine principles. Revive Health and Wellness also fuels Revive Community Outreach, the nonprofit McKinney owns and leads, which addresses food insecurity, homelessness and basic needs across the region. “My clinic is great. I love what I do, but it helps fund my nonprofit, and that’s where my true passion’s at,” she said. “We feed the homeless, clothe the homeless and host community meals. Anyone can come by the clinic on Tuesdays for a hot lunch.” Through a partnership with the Malvern School District, the clinic serves as the school-based provider, caring for students and supporting families facing deep poverty. The clinic also operates a food pantry open to the school and the community, no questions asked. For McKinney, success is measured in trust and outcomes, not volume. “The most important part of any visit is listening,” she said. “It’s OK to ask for help. If your check engine light is on and no one’s listening, find a different mechanic. I want to be the person who takes you seriously.” In a small town with big needs, Revive Health and Wellness is building a network of service and care that goes well beyond county lines.
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A FAMILY PHYSICIAN’S CANCER FIGHT
Why Proton Therapy Was the Right Choice When Dr. Mahlon Maris, a retired family physician, was diagnosed with stage 3 larynx cancer, his treatment options came with serious risks. Surgery would have cost him his voice. Standard X-ray radiation risked permanent nerve damage and difficulty swallowing. To avoid those risks, Dr. Maris chose the Proton Center of Arkansas, where cutting-edge proton therapy successfully treated his cancer while protecting surrounding critical structures. The Proton Center of Arkansas is the state’s first and only proton therapy center and a collaboration of UAMS Health, Baptist Health, Arkansas Children’s and Proton International.
Mahlon Maris, M.D. Past President, Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians
ProtonCenterofArkansas.com 501-664-4568 Radiation oncologist Dr. Santanu Samanta visits with patient Dr. Mahlon Maris.
Located on the UAMS campus in Little Rock
“You’re not just dealing with the site manager. You’re dealing with our team. We’re going to provide the same personal touch. We’re going to be on your job site. You can call us anytime — there’s always an open line of communication.”
For more than three generations, James A. Rogers Excavating has shaped the landscape of Arkansas excavating — literally and figuratively — through a combination of modern technology, traditional work ethic and a natural knack for age-old trade excellence. Under the leadership of President and CEO Chris Meyers, the once-small business has continued to grow into a powerhouse name. “What sets James A. Rogers Excavating apart is our deep-rooted commitment to quality, reliability and integrity — values that have guided us for over 60 years,” Meyers said. “As a third-generation family-owned business, we bring decades of experience and personal investment to every project we take on.” Striving to provide comprehensive expertise with thorough evaluations, Meyer’s forward-thinking approach has expanded the scope of service while staying true to the company’s core values, many of which were instilled by his grandfather. “My grandfather taught me to do what you do and do it great,” Meyers said. “He did a really good job teaching me the dirt-work business, and his name was established. I wasn’t going to change it because it’s a household name in central Arkansas.” From small-scale jobs to large-scale projects, Meyers and his talented team have created a seamless process for projects of all sizes.
“We do heavy civil work,” Meyers said. “We do construction management where we bid projects and manage the site work. We bring in concrete, utilities and asphalt subcontractors, and we manage the site work as a one-stop shop.” Meyers added that when working with James A. Rogers, he and his team offer a personalized experience with open communication. “People want to know who’s running things,” Meyers said. “They want individualized service. You’re not just dealing with the site manager. You’re dealing with our team. We’re going to provide the same personal touch. We’re going to be on your job site. You can call us anytime — there’s always an open line of communication.” For Meyers, growth has always been at the forefront of his mind. After becoming president and CEO in 2016, he grew the company into a behemoth excavating operation on a mission to succeed in every corner of the state. “I wanted to create that same type of name in northwest Arkansas where my grandfather didn’t have a presence,” Meyers said. Through that pursuit, Meyers acquired two local businesses to grow the James A. Rogers name: McHenry Excavating in Hot Springs and NOEC Construction, a statewide utilities contractor. With 150 years of combined experience and growing, the James A. Rogers name is setting the bar for construction in the Natural State.
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16800 West Baseline Rd. | Little Rock, AR 72210 | (501) 455-2439 | info@jamesarogersexc.com
&Gems
Treasure
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ull out this bit of trivia at your next house party — the word “gem” comes from an old, old root word meaning something like “sprout” or “bud.” Likewise, “treasure” has its origins in a verb with the sense of “to set” or “put.” OK, so maybe that will not draw many interested listeners over dinner. However, it does give us some clues as to what it takes for a place to be considered, in the truest sense, a gem or a treasure. It is not enough to simply be someone’s favorite hiking trail, coffee shop or hidey hole. Those spots around the Natural State that have truly earned the title of Arkansas gems and treasures are those that were set down — put in place — with intention, and those that have sprouted — grown — into more than the sum of their coordinates.
Luckily for residents and visitors alike, every corner of Arkansas is home to at least a few of these special places. They run the gamut from natural wonders and outdoor excursions to local restaurants and historic neighborhoods. There are more than enough mountain bike trails and museums, wildlife sanctuaries and downtown festivals, city streets and rural escapes to keep Natural State explorers busy, and that goes for everywhere from Eureka Springs down to El Dorado and a whole host of stops in between. Here at AY About You, we are obviously big fans of everything Arkansas affords its people in terms of natural beauty, rich history, close-knit communities and inescapable Southern charm. This month, we are proud to once again offer up a collection of places embodying that spirit in ways as unique as the people who run them. As both the veteran venturer and the first-time Arkansas traveler can attest, this state has something special around every corner. Whether one is stopping for a bite to eat, looking for a place to stay or just collecting memories as they traverse from the Ozarks to the Delta, one thing is clear as prime quartz crystal — when it comes to the Diamond State, these kinds of “gems” are easy to find and impossible to forget.
AY’s Arkansas Treasures
Museum of Discovery 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 • Little Rock 501-396-7050 • museumofdiscovery.org What started as an antiquities and curiosities museum in 1927 has evolved into central Arkansas’ premier hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and math museum. From toddlers to grandparents, Little Rock’s Museum of Discovery offers fun and educational experiences for people of all ages. The museum’s calendar is full of exciting events year-round, from Mini-Camp Days to Spring Break activities, week-long summer day camps, and the annual Tinkerfest. Among the museum’s latest gallery additions is Small Fry Fish Camp for little ones, which also houses the Jump In! area catering to infants and toddlers. Get hands-on at the Curiosity Spot with exhibits such as the 15-foot mirrored Kaleidoscope tunnel, digital self-portraits at Make a Face and custom instruments at Make a Fiddle. From the PPG STEAM Studio and Tornado Alley Theater to fan-favorite exhibits in Discovery Cove, the Museum of Discovery has something for every guest to explore.
Park Plaza
6000 W. Markham St. • Little Rock 501-664-4956 • parkplazamall.com Park Plaza brings together shopping, dining and community in one welcoming destination. Home to more than 60 retailers — including Dillard’s flagship store — the center offers a thoughtfully curated mix of fashion, jewelry, specialty goods, home furnishings, dining and personal services. More than a place to shop, Park Plaza is a true community hub. The center hosts year-round events and experiences such as Touch-a-Truck, the Mall Walkers Club and Kids Club, along with educational programming in partnership with the Central Arkansas Library System and the Museum of Discovery. Seasonal celebrations and wellness-focused events further reflect Park Plaza’s commitment to connection, enrichment and community. Park Plaza is a place where people come together to connect, socialize and shop.
Red Door Gallery & Framing Studio 3715 John F. Kennedy Blvd. • North Little Rock 501-753-5227 • reddoorgalleryonline.com
Joy and Paul Floyd
A longtime staple of the Park Hill Historic District in North Little Rock, Red Door Gallery was opened in 1981 by Phil Langley and later passed on to Tom Bratton, who, in turn, handed the keys to Melody and Steve Stanley. Upon the retirement of the Stanleys in 2024, current owners Joy and Paul Floyd took the helm at Red Door, carrying on the space’s legacy of curating a diverse selection of vibrant artwork from talented regional and national artists and putting a special emphasis on works that showcase Southern culture. The gallery features more than 30 artists who work across various mediums, including paint, pastels, metal, ceramics, glass and more. Whether taking advantage of Red Door’s custom designer framing for one’s own precious memories, having a piece installed or perusing among the always-unique collection of original art, every visit to Red Door Gallery is well worth the trip.
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Oaklawn Hot Springs 2705 Central Ave. • Hot Springs 501-363-4625 • oaklawn.com Oaklawn’s eight-story Forbes-recommended hotel offers unparalleled views of the racetrack or surrounding Ouachita Mountains. The resort seamlessly blends high-end finishes with historic touches that allude to its illustrious past. The state’s first casino resort opened in 2021 with gray and navy accommodations that pay homage to the track outside, while imagery throughout the marble-clad corridors showcases notorious Hot Springs visitors like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. Luxurious amenities include 100 percent cotton Frette bed linens, in-room tablets, quartz vanities with lighted mirrors, rain shower heads and more. Book a trackside room for even more excitement on race days.
Astral Spa
Escape to the ultimate wellness retreat at Arkansas’ only Forbes-fourstar-rated spa — and one recently named a top-10 spa in America and No. 1 spa in Arkansas by Spas of America in its “Top 100 Spas of 2025” showcase. Astral Spa is the first new full-service spa to be built in the historic resort town in more than a century. A contemporary Roaring ’20s-inspired interior evokes the glamour of Hot Springs’ heyday with art deco design details and framed black-and-white photos of glitterati from days gone by. Relax and be pampered by the spa’s professional service team while indulging in luxurious signature treatments. Engage the senses with the vitality pools, heated pool loungers, needle showers and infrared saunas, alongside a robust menu of therapies to please any modern-day spagoer.
2705 Central Ave. • Hot Springs 501-363-4670 • oaklawn.com
Mainline Sports Bar 2705 Central Ave. • Hot Springs 501-363-4625 • oaklawn.com Come visit Oaklawn’s newest family-friendly sports-themed experience, Mainline Sports Bar at the Oaklawn racing grandstand. Guests can watch their favorite games on one of more than 90 largescreen TVs, and those looking to get in on the action can try their hands at ax throwing or challenge friends to a game of shuffleboard. Mainline Sports Bar also features three Topgolf Swing Suites offering simulated golf, baseball, hockey, soccer and more. Feed your appetite with the best wings in Arkansas, along with burgers, pizza and other classic sports bar fare. Mainline Sports Bar is a watching — and playing — experience like no other.
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AY’s Arkansas Treasures
Scott Family Amazeum 1009 Museum Way • Bentonville 479-696-9280 • amazeum.org Looking for a spring break that lights up the kids’ faces? Head to the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville — it is worth the trip. Enjoy hands-on exploration, playful learning and unforgettable moments. From tinkering activities to outdoor play and interactive exhibits, there is something for every curious mind. Spark creativity, embrace messy science fun and make memories together. Bring the family, and the Amazeum will take care of the rest!
Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Trails 3000 NW A St. • Bentonville 479-271-9153 • visitbentonville.com/bike
Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Trails stands as the city of Bentonville’s premier mountain biking park, where purpose-built single-track trails welcome riders of every skill level. The free trail system thoughtfully integrates progressive features while ensuring accessibility for all abilities through award-winning trail building. For local riders seeking daily adventure or visiting cyclists exploring Bentonville’s world-class trails, Slaughter Pen provides the ideal gateway to the city’s mountain biking community. Find easy access from the Bentonville Square, or 3000 NW A St.
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve 2500 NW Third St. • Bentonville 479-507-8360 • peelcompton.org Located just 2 miles from the Bentonville Square, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is where adventure meets intentional design. With more than 20 miles of trails, Coler offers world-class mountain biking alongside thoughtfully crafted amenities that invite visitors to stay awhile. From flow trails and technical features to scenic overlooks and peaceful woodland paths, every element of the preserve is designed to connect people with the landscape. More than a trail system, Coler is a true outdoor destination. Visitors can camp on-site, participate in year-round programming for beginners through advanced riders, and gather at a coffee shop in the woods. Coler is also home to the only firefly sanctuary in the region, preserving a rare natural habitat and adding a sense of wonder to summer evenings. Whether one is chasing the next ride, planning a weekend escape or discovering northwest Arkansas for the first time, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve offers an unforgettable experience where recreation, community and conservation come together.
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Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 600 Museum Way • Bentonville 479-418-5700 • crystalbridges.org The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville is to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 13 million visitors across its spaces with no cost for admission. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions. Crystal Bridges also offers lectures, performances, classes and teacher development opportunities. Additional amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and 5 miles of walking and art trails. In 2026, Crystal Bridges will complete a 114,000-square-foot expansion that will allow the museum to expand access for all.
The Momentary 507 SE E St. • Bentonville 479-367-7500 • themomentary.org Located in downtown Bentonville, the Momentary is a venue for the music, art and food of today. The Momentary is an extension of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and serves as a “living room” where the community gathers to find inspiration, connection and joy. Its commitment to cultivating arts and cultural experiences provides more opportunities for education, engagement and enjoyment in the northwest Arkansas region. The Momentary welcomes all with free general admission. Additional offerings include live music; visual and performing arts; an artist-in-residence program; culinary experiences such as Onyx Coffee Lab and the sky-high Tower Bar; indoor and outdoor gathering spaces; an outdoor festival space and a retail shop.
The Walmart Museum 105 N. Main St. • Bentonville 479-273-1329 • museum@walmart.com Step into retail history at the Walmart Museum, housed in the original Walton’s 5&10 store on Bentonville’s historic downtown square. That is where Sam Walton opened his first store in 1950, laying the foundation for what would become the world’s largest retailer. The museum preserves the vintage five-and-dime atmosphere while telling the remarkable story of innovation, determination and small-town values that transformed American retail forever. Explore authentic exhibits featuring Walton's original office, his famous red pickup truck and interactive displays chronicling Walmart’s evolution from a single storefront to a global enterprise. Whether one is a business enthusiast, a history buff or simply curious about this iconic American success story, the Walmart Museum provides fascinating insights into entrepreneurship and the community that became home to a retail revolution.
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AY’s Arkansas Treasures
North Little Rock 600 Main St., Suite 100 • North Little Rock 501-758-1424 • northlittlerock.org There are few better places than North Little Rock to get out and about in the Natural State. The city has something for every member of the family to enjoy, from outdoor adventurers and foodies to music lovers and history buffs. Enjoy the scenery along the Arkansas River Trail by foot or bike, and head over to the Crystal Bluffs Climbing Area for some unique views of the state’s largest urban crag. After a day of strolling the trail or scaling the bluff, the Argenta neighborhood is conveniently close by — kick back with a drink at Flyway Brewing, enjoy dinner at any one of the area’s topnotch restaurants, and look forward to exploring what else the city has in store.
Revive Health and Wellness 1517 S. Main St. • Malvern 501-382-1577 • health-revived.com
Revive Health and Wellness in Malvern helps clients on the path to optimal health and well-being. Led by nurse practitioner Courtney McKinney, Revive takes a personalized approach to care that goes beyond treating symptoms to help patients truly thrive. With primary care services, hormone replacement therapy, sustainable weight-loss management, functional medicine, and tailored IV hydration and vitamin replacement therapies, Revive supports both foundational health and proactive wellness goals. Medically guided hormone optimization and weight-loss programs focus on restoring balance and energy while emphasizing lifestyle improvements. Functional medicine at Revive examines the root causes of health concerns by considering lifestyle, environment and genetics, while IV treatments deliver essential nutrients for rapid recovery and revitalization.
Holly’s Country Cookin’ 116 Harkrider St. • Conway 501-328-9738 • hollyscountrycookin.com When it comes to the tradition of homemade Southern cuisine, “treasure” hardly begins to describe things. When it comes to actually capturing the feeling, however, Holly’s Country Cookin’ in Conway has diners more than covered. Pulling from the authentic family recipes of owner Holly Hayes, a weekly menu of rotating staples at the beloved lunch spot features favorites such as hamburger steak, chicken and dumplings, and fried fish, while fried chicken and country-fried steak are available throughout the week. Fresh sides — great northern beans, butter beans, turnip greens, purple hull peas and fried okra to name a few — and a deep lineup of daily desserts round out what can only be called comfort food done right.
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Pine Hill Ranch
19513 Congo Ferndale Road • Little Rock 501-366-8436 • director@thepinehillranch.com thepinehillranch.com Tucked away among wooded trails and rolling pastures, The Pine Hill Ranch now offers a new way to experience the beauty and tranquility of ranch life with the introduction of Everpine Cabin. Nestled in the woods near the pastures, Everpine Cabin invites guests to slow down and immerse themselves in the Pine Hill experience. The charming twobedroom cabin sits on the grounds of a world-class equestrian center, blending rustic elegance with modern comfort. Take advantage of chefprepared meals, as well, for a truly stress-free escape to the country. Well suited for couples, families or horse enthusiasts, Everpine Cabin is ideal for those seeking a reset where time moves more slowly and tranquility comes naturally. Guests are welcome to tour the stables and arenas and meet the ranch’s diverse herd of horses and ponies — each with their own unique personality.
The Gangster Museum of America 510 Central Ave. • Hot Springs 501-318-1717 • tgmoa.com
Fifty miles southwest of Little Rock lies a sleepy valley in the Ouachita Mountains that is abundant with hot and cold springs. Native Americans believed the water had healing powers and considered the area sacred. Settlers poured in, and hotels and bathhouses were built to accommodate the bathers. Saloons and gambling establishments soon followed, and Hot Springs became America’s first resort. While a lot of people came to get in the hot water, some came to get out of hot water. The city became a sanctuary for outlaws, bank robbers and gangland luminaries such as Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello and more. That history is told in vivid detail at the Gangster Museum of America in Hot Springs.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge 239 Turpentine Creek Lane • Eureka Springs 479-253-5841 • turpentinecreek.org Nestled in the Ozark Mountains near Eureka Springs, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a haven for big cats and offers an unforgettable experience for visitors. As one of the nation’s largest accredited sanctuaries for rescued exotic animals, TCWR is home to more than 100 tigers, lions, cougars and other wildlife, each with a unique rescue story. Stroll along pathways to witness these majestic animals thriving in spacious, natural habitats. Join the guided tour to learn about the refuge’s mission to provide a lifetime sanctuary for neglected and abused animals while learning the individual histories of each creature that calls Turpentine Creek home. TCWR is an inspiring destination for nature lovers, wildlife advocates and families in search of an adventure, leaving every visitor awed.
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Keller’s Kove Cabin & RV Resort 141 County Road 851 • Elizabeth 870-488-5360 • kellerskoveresort.com Norfork Lake is one of the Natural State’s crown jewels of outdoor recreation, and Keller’s Kove Cabin & RV Resort has been welcoming guests to the area since the 1950s. Nestled on more than 10 acres overlooking the lake in Elizabeth, Keller’s Kove is one of the premier destinations for enjoying everything Norfork Lake has to offer. Whether setting up camp in one of the RV spaces or unwinding in one of the resort’s newly renovated cabins, visitors have access to boat slips, a swimming pool, a large covered pavilion, a camp store, full laundry facilities, a bath house and 5G internet throughout the property. Keller’s Kove is also ideally situated for all kinds of outdoor adventures, from swimming, skiing and scuba diving on Sand Island to accessing some of the lake’s best fishing spots from shore or boat. No matter the reason or the season, Keller’s Kove is a place to relax, recharge and enjoy time away.
Live Healthy Farms 1001 Caddo Gap Road • Bonnerdale 214-862-3869 • livehealthyfarms.com Founded in 2020 by John and Betty Ballard, Live Healthy Farms in Bonnerdale is rooted in faith and guided by purpose. Centered on regenerative farming practices, the farm offers pasture-raised beef, raw milk and eggs, along with a selection of tinctures, teas and natural supplements — all available through the farm’s store, Sparrow’s Nest. With an emphasis on biodiverse soil, nutrientrich forage and healthy animals, everything produced at Live Healthy Farms is free of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. The Ballards have also expanded the property to include an on-site Airbnb and spa that offers deep-tissue massages, creating a space for rest and connection to nature. Live Healthy Farms is home to 100 Angus cattle, 10 dairy cows and 100 laying hens, as well as beehives, an orchard and a paddock and greenhouse. Each element supports the farm’s holistic, God-honoring approach to health and sustainability. Guests can book their farm visits with Betty directly.
Scoops Homemade Ice Cream Locations in Hot Springs and Little Rock scoopshomemadeicecream.com • scoops.homemadeicecream Beloved by ice cream devotees since opening up shop in 2003, Scoops has expanded its footprint with the opening of two new locations in Little Rock in Breckenridge Village and on Broadway downtown. The company has also expanded into catering with a food truck and mobile ice cream freezers ideal for weddings, corporate events, parties and other special occasions. Wherever it goes, Scoops makes fast fans thanks to its slow-churned, homemade product in 25 mouthwatering flavors. Servings are huge and come with a number of sweet options for portage, from a traditional dish to regular and specialty cones of all descriptions. Made fresh daily in small batches, the ice cream shop promises to craft a scoop unlike any other — or, as the Scoops team tells it: It’s the real deal.
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Main Street El Dorado 101 W. Main St., Suite 410 • El Dorado 870-862-4747 • mainstreeteldorado.org
Visit Main Street El Dorado, and experience the heart of the city. Powered by passionate local businesses and volunteers all working together to help show off the best of what south Arkansas has to offer, El Dorado is a nationally recognized, family-friendly community filled with great restaurants and unique shopping at boutiques and antique stores. The charming atmosphere of downtown might well be first among the city’s highpoints — the 1930 commercial historic district invites discovery around every turn, punctuated by locally owned shops and eateries. Come explore the Queen City of south Arkansas, enjoy the atmosphere and make memories along the way.
Murphy Arts District 101 E. Locust St. • El Dorado 870-444-3007 • eldomad.com El Dorado’s Murphy Arts District has been shaping up since 2017 to be one of the state’s hottest arts and entertainment spots. As a hub for music, art, food and fun, MAD brings out the best in the community for immersive experiences where locals and visitors alike can enjoy big-city entertainment and small-town vibes. Best of all, MAD is just steps away from El Dorado’s historic downtown and all of its shopping, dining and lodging options, so there really is something for everyone to enjoy. Kicking off the 2026 concert season at First Financial Music Hall — and fresh off his breakout run as the American Idol runner-up — is John Foster, country singer and songwriter out of Addis, Louisiana. Foster has already graced the likes of the Grand Ole Opry stage, and he will light up the Murphy Arts District on Feb. 13 with special guest Clara Rae. Tickets are on sale now.
HAMMER & STAIN HOT SPRINGS
825 Central Ave. • Hot Springs 501-547-9411 • hammerandstainhotsprings.com Whether one’s definition of a good time includes anything from paint throwing to glass blowing, Hammer & Stain Hot Springs can make that dream a reality. Want to custom marbleize a silk scarf or straw hat? Hammer & Stain has that too. The do-it-yourself crafting studio is great for bachelorette parties, corporate team building, murder mysteries and more, and customized engraving also makes it a destination for gift shopping. Most items are made in-house, allowing guests to personalize the ideal items for their friends and family. Through workshops, private parties and drop-in sessions, family, friends and strangers find that Hammer & Stain is more than a place to create — it is a place to connect.
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Pasta Grill Locations in Conway, Russellville and Van Buren pastagrillrestaurant.com • Pasta Grill It takes more than good food to make a restaurant worthy of the “Arkansas Treasure” name. At Pasta Grill, delicious food is matched only by great service and an atmosphere that has kept diners returning since 1994. From fresh-made lasagna and manicotti to prime, hand-cut steaks — not to mention Southern and Cajuninspired classics such as shrimp and grits and jambalaya pasta — Pasta Grill patrons appreciate a wide and eclectic selection of delicious made-from-scratch dishes for most every taste. The restaurants serve lunch and dinner, in addition to offering takeout and delivery. Pasta Grill also provides large, family-style dinners to go and caters weddings and events across the state. A true labor of love fueled by the steadfast faith of owners Wes and Suzanne Hall, Pasta Grill looks forward to serving many more satisfied diners in the years to come.
BUFFALO CAMPING & CANOEING 1 Frost St. • Gilbert 870-439-2888 • gilbertstore.com
Floating the Buffalo National River is practically a rite of passage in the Natural State. Whether one is a seasoned kayaker or a firsttime floater, Big Ben and the experienced team at Buffalo Camping & Canoeing have everything travelers need to embark on a river adventure. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of lodging, floating and shuttle options, and all accommodations are within walking distance of the river. The Gilbert General Store is also a historic landmark all its own, established in 1901 and featuring an array of nostalgic Ozark finds. From a quick day trip to a multiday camp and canoe excursion, Buffalo Camping & Canoeing is a floater’s best friend. Ads paid for by state and Ozark Mountain Region funds
Fitzroy Riverdale 1200 Riverfront Drive • Little Rock 501-800-4035 • fitzroyriverdale.com
Fitzroy Riverdale delivers a lifestyle of effortless luxury in one of Little Rock’s most sought-after waterfront locations. Designed for residents who appreciate refined living, the premier residential community blends sophisticated design, elevated interiors and resort-inspired amenities into a truly exceptional experience. Each residence features open-concept layouts complemented by upscale finishes including stainless-steel appliances, sleek granite countertops and generous walk-in closets. Select homes offer private balconies with breathtaking river and skyline views, creating a private retreat high above the city. Fitzroy Riverdale offers amenities curated for luxury living — from a resort-style pool with cabanas to a state-of-the-art fitness center, stylish coworking lounges and beautifully designed social spaces. Located just minutes from Little Rock’s premier dining, shopping, entertainment and riverfront parks, Fitzroy Riverdale seamlessly blends luxury, convenience, and natural beauty, all in one iconic address.
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MOU N TA I N H A R B O R RESORT & SPA ON LAKE OUACHITA
Celebrating America’s 250th—one Harbor family, many generations.
CELEBRATING 70+ YEARS More than 70 years ago, my father’s dream – a simple “boat dock and café” – became a reality on the shores of Lake Ouachita. From those modest beginnings, it has been my lifelong privilege, passion and joy to be part of what has grown into Mountain Harbor Resort. Thank you for 70 incredible years serving you on Lake Ouachita – we look forward to creating new memories together!
MOUNTAIN HARBOR RESORT & SPA Tri-Pennant Family of Resorts (870) 867-2191 • 1-800-832-2276
MountainHarborResort.com
~ Bill Barnes, Owner
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arts&culture
‘This Story has Held Onto Us’
Th e Th o r n pr e s ent s ag e- o ld s to ry i n n e w way By ALEX HARDGRAVE // Photos courtesy of THE THORN
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“The show stands alone as an art piece, but the story grabs people in a way that is unique and new, even if it’s an age-old story that you kind of know.” — Sarah Bolin, creator and producer
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arah Bolin and her husband, John Bolin, grew up going to church, but Sarah said she never would have expected her life to have led her to help create The Thorn, a “cirquestyle” telling of the life of Jesus Christ. The production, which will take the stage Feb. 10 and 11 at Robinson Center in Little Rock, follows Bible stories from the creation story to Jesus’ resurrection and beyond. It even depicts a supernatural battle between good and evil. The storytelling is done through acrobatics, martial arts, other movement arts, immersive visuals and narration, creating an experience that is neither a play nor a musical but something all its own.
Sarah Bolin
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“The show stands alone as an art piece, but the story grabs people in a way that is unique and new, even if it’s an age-old story that you kind of know,” she said. The story behind The Thorn begins at a church in Colorado. Even though the Bolins are both religious, they never expected to find themselves as youth pastors at the church. However, once the opportunity presented itself, Sarah said they loved having the chance to help the children and youth learn and grow their personal relationship with Christ. “[We were] looking for a different way to express the story of Jesus to our students without more sermons and things that they’ve heard before,” she said. aymag.com
“That’s what started a very simple dramatic presentation for a couple hundred young people to express the great love of God.” When one member of their youth group came to John and he noticed the girl had been self-harming, he realized just how important it was to teach the children that they were loved. “There was one Wednesday night after a youth meeting, I’m sitting on the edge of the stage, and this 16-year-old girl is sitting next to me, and she’s bawling,” John Bolin told The Christian Post in a 2023 interview. “She holds out her arms, and I could see where she’d been cutting up her arms. I turned to her, and I said, ‘You don’t have to do that because Jesus did that for you.’” That was 30 years ago, and since then, the Bolins have made a name for themselves in show business as the creators and producers of The Thorn. Since its first, much more humble iteration, the production has grown in skill and scale. The audience sizes for The Thorn continue to grow, as well. “We did not intend to be in this business. We just love the story of Jesus. We’re the ones stewarding it by accident,” Sarah said. “This story has held onto [my husband and me] more than we’ve been hanging on to it, trying to make it into something. It’s a powerful message that has permanence and keeps ringing true for people.” The Thorn cast first took the show on the road nearly two decades ago, playing to large churches around the country until, after 12 years of touring, the COVID-19 pandemic brought it to an abrupt halt. Thinking they may stop doing the show entirely, the Bolins created a movie version of The Thorn, which was released to about 800 theaters in 2023. That same year, however, they also had the chance to take the show
back out on the road, this time in municipal auditoriums rather than churches, broadening their reach and audience. “Could this work?” Sarah remembers asking herself. “Would people come?” Now, three years later, the cast and crew are gearing up to set off for another year of touring, which will kick off in Little Rock and wind through performances in 22 cities before ending in Orlando, Florida. “Only God could have opened those doors for us,” Sarah said. “It was a tremendous success, and it’s so encouraging to know that the arts are celebrated, that people want to be a part of a story that is bigger than themselves — one that brings hope and positivity.” In all, a team of about 55 people travel to share the show, which will be on the road until May. Sarah said the enduring messages of hope and salvation are sorely needed in modern times. “There are so many hard things all around us, whether it’s nationally or even personally, so having something that brings some hope and has such a great message and makes us universally feel good is a great thing to be a part of,” she said. The production has also been effective in bringing more people to a spiritual awakening. In a 2023 review, ChurchLeaders.com reported that since its launch in 1997, The Thorn had led to more than 100,000 commitments for Christ. “Through that immersive experience, thousands of people have found freedom from various sins, addictions and temptations,” wrote Stephanie Martin in the review. “One attendee admitted he had been planning to commit suicide that night until seeing The Thorn.” Speaking to The Christian Post, John Bolin said the degree to which people are moved by the production seemingly at every stop is humbling to witness. He confessed being amazed by the stories he hears from those who have been impacted by the play. “There was one time in Denver, we were at the Magness Arena, and one of the Denver Broncos running backs ran to the cross and just about knocked it over; he was bawling. Just the encounter with the Lord that happened there at the cross was powerful,” he said in the article. “We’ve seen God deliver people from depression, from addiction. We’ve seen healing happen. We’ve seen, certainly, emotional healing, physical healing, marriages coming together again, people just encountering God in a way they haven’t before.” Jennifer Garner, senior director of event operations at the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, said The Thorn fits in well with shows offered at Robinson Center and will resonate with audiences because of its strong storytelling. The Thorn has never been presented in Arkansas before, so people from around the state may be traveling in for it. LRCVB CEO Gina Gemberling said many people travel multiple hours to Little Rock to see productions at Robinson Center every year. In addition to The Thorn, this year features a diverse array of other shows, including ballet, Broadway musicals and symphony performances. Sarah said everyone can enjoy The Thorn, but it includes a graphic depiction of the crucifixion, so it may not be suitable for audience members ages 12 and younger. “We’re excited for people to come and experience the show,” she said. “It’s not like anything they’ve ever seen before.” Asked by Martin why faith leaders and Christians should see and recommend The Thorn, John Bolin said it helps Christians to become light-bearers to the unchurched, as well as reinvigorate their own spiritual commitment. “[The goal] is to let people with no church background hear the Gospel in a crystal-clear way,” he told the site. “This will also reignite your passion for Jesus and rejuvenate your faith.”
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At Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.
NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER at
GOOD SHEPHERD Jennifer Siems, Administrator 3001 Aldersgate Road, Little Rock AR 72205 • Phone 501-217-9774 • Fax 501-217-9781 www.goodshepherdnr.com
arts&cutlture
Shake Your Body
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MJ: The Musical to bring the King of Pop to Robinson Center By DWAIN HEBDA Photos by MATTHEW MURPHY
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t has been nearly 20 years since the death of Michael Jackson, the biggest act in the history of modern music, and several decades more since the cultural phenomenon graced a stage in Arkansas. Now a new musical is bringing the King of Pop back to the Natural State. MJ: The Musical, presented by Celebrity Attractions, will be at Robinson Center in Little Rock March 4 to 8. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday. The four-time Tony Award-winning musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2022, is described in promotional materials as “a blend of music, dance and storytelling … offering a fun experience that celebrates Michael Jackson’s life and legacy.” The show, set during rehearsals for Jackson’s 1992-1993 Dangerous World Tour, is more than a “jukebox musical” cranking out the hits while deifying the hitmaker. Jackson and his life are shown, according to a 2024 review in The Independent, “for the haunted circus it was,” including flashbacks to a challenging childhood under the thumb of an oppressive father determined to drive his kids to superstardom. The lingering effects of that experience haunt the star in adulthood as Jackson is driven to outperform his previously packaged self and establish his adult persona, tragic though that can be. “MJ, like its subject, is captivating and hard to shake,” wrote Lovia Gyarkye for The Hollywood Reporter in a 2022 review. “The musical takes audiences through Jackson’s life and catalog with impressive ease, expertly chronicling major milestones. After breaking up with Motown Records, Michael goes to Epic, where he works with Quincy Jones to produce Off the Wall and Thriller. “His vision and work ethic become more exacting, his drive to best himself at once breathtaking and worrisome. As the narrative burrows deeper into Michael’s mind, the toll his artistry took on him is clear. He wanted to bring his audiences joyful and spectacular experiences, but he felt isolated and misunderstood.” Writing for the Washington Post, Peter Marks addressed the show’s light-handed treatment of the sexual abuse scandals that rode shotgun with Jackson’s musical genius later in his career.
Jordan Markus as Michael Jackson and the cast of the MJ: The Musical First National Tour
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Markus with Devin Bowles as Rob in the MJ First National Tour
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“The show’s decidedly selective memory may be off-putting to theatergoers appalled by the stories of Jackson’s alleged misdeeds,” he wrote. “Nevertheless, the creative team’s painstaking work has resulted in a riveting, adrenaline rush of a show.” Devin Bowles knows about walking that tightrope between celebrating genius and acknowledging reality. The Tennessee native plays Jackson’s father, Joe, who in real life was almost universally vilified as an intense Svengali driving his talented musical prodigy past the point of abuse. The musical demonstrates Joe’s intensity and authoritarianism, particularly with the marked-for-greatness Michael, in how he molded the entertainer and his siblings through intimidation, fear and mockery over any shortcoming. Bowles said the challenge in portraying a figure such as Joe Jackson — who, incidentally, was born in Fountain Hill in Ashley County and lived in Arkansas until age 12 — was to provide depth to someone the world sees as one dimensional. “It would be very easy to fall into the trap of playing the quote-unquote villain,” said Bowles, who also appears in the production as Rob, Michael’s show manager for the Dangerous tour. “For me as an actor, I really love understanding why people are the antagonist and why people are the villain. I started off with making Joe as human as possible. He’s a human just like all of us, you know what I’m saying? “The baggage that I have as an actor that I really enjoy carrying and really enjoy executing every single night is making sure the audience knows that Joe really loved Michael. Do I, as Devin, agree with some of the ways that he exerted that love? No, but at the same time, it’s not my job to judge how that man lived his life. My job is to tell the story of his life.” Unlike other musicals, the show contains no original music but leans exclusively on the Jackson catalog. “We go back to the Motown days. We go through Thriller, go through Off the Wall, go through Bad, you know, and we
end up with the Dangerous tour,” Bowles said. “We do a great job of playing the hits but also the underground hits and the B sides. I’ve got to tell you, brother, when I joined this show, there were some songs I did not know about, so we do a really, really solid job of blending this story in with his music.” On that point, the critics almost universally agree; for sheer entertainment, choreography and musical value, MJ: The Musical is an unforgettable spectacle. “I could probably go on and on about MJ: The Musical for several more paragraphs, but the real point is simple: Get your tickets now,” raved Broadway World in January. “Do not walk, run to the box office because you won’t want to miss [it].” “‘Thriller’ is worth the price of the ticket alone,” chimed Syracuse.com. “I felt like a child again, with the indescribable buzz in my stomach you get before seeing your first big concert.” Bowles said the hyperbole is justified, especially in the show’s closing number. “It’s spectacular, and I don’t just say that because I’m part of that. I was a fan of the show when I first saw it,” he said. “A lot of times, the audiences are in the aisles, dancing, they’re singing, because it touches on this childhood nostalgic moment of their lives. They’ve probably seen Michael on TV do these exact dance moves and perform, sing these exact songs. “One of the most spectacular numbers happens at the very end of the show. It’s a full spectacle, full costume, full vocal — I mean, full, top-to-bottom Broadway. You have to see it.” Tickets for MJ: The Musical are now on sale, starting at $39. Tickets are available in person at the Robinson Center Box Office, located at 426 W. Markham St.; online at celebrityattractions.com or ticketmaster.com; or by phone at 501-244-8800. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 918-796-0220.
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arts&culture
Red Door Gallery and Framing beautifying Arkansas one wall space at a time
Love
Art and
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By DWAIN HEBDA Photos by JAMIE LEE
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t is said that true beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and if that is true, then there is lots to admire about North Little Rock’s Red Door Gallery and Framing. Just ask Joy and Paul Floyd, who bought the store a little more than a year ago, graduating from customers to owners in the process. “Paul had been in here, and he had mentioned that it’s a really cool place,” Joy said. “Then last year, I stopped in there to get a couple of things framed and met the owners. We started talking, and the more we talked, the more we found common background. “It came up in the conversation, ‘Have y’all ever thought about owning an art gallery?’ because they’d been looking to retire. I came home that night and started talking to Paul, and from there, he just got really excited about it. It just all kind of all came together very quickly.” Any small-business venture represents a leap of faith, and that held especially true for the Floyds, who were entering strange and unfamiliar territory. They had learned the reputation Red Door had among both framing customers and the artists it featured, but the day-to-day has been a nonstop learning experience.
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“We were fortunate in that the previous owners had already had some really good artists in there that were associated with the gallery, who had been in there for a while and who had a following,” Paul said. “I was able to meet with them and see who was interested in staying on. After that, I began looking at some of the artists that had previously been there, and as we moved in, other artists would connect with us.” The upshot of this early networking has paid off. Over the past year, the gallery side has increased the number of artists represented from about 20 to 35. While that alone boosted the diversity of work, Paul also took the approach of broadening the types of art being supplied by artists already established within the store. “The artists who already were in there, we knew that their stuff could move,” Joy said. “What Paul would do is try to develop them, you know, ask them what else they did, what is their passion? We found some hidden talents with some of these artists who’d all of a sudden show some new work, which was a different medium, and it would take off.” In visiting with the couple, one of the most palpable attributes that comes across is their enthusiasm for their business and the
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I love a lot of different kinds of art, and that’s also a little problem sometimes because, at times, I want to crowd a little bit too much into the gallery. — Paul Floyd, Red Door Gallery merchandise they deal in both on the gallery side and on the framing side. Channeling the passion they have for art and beauty overall as consumers has translated to their ownership style and creating an environment their clientele can easily connect with. “I love a lot of different kinds of art, and that’s also a little problem sometimes because, at times, I want to crowd a little bit too much into the gallery,” Paul said. “We try to come to a consensus of what we choose to carry. We have data about what’s selling, but for something that might be a little edgy, a little different, we’ll expose people to it and see if it strikes a chord. A lot of young artists have a different twist on something, and unless they
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get in a gallery or have a show somehow, we may never know how great they are.” For as much emphasis as the couple pays to curating the gallery collection, the foundational element of the business has been on the framing side, which also receives its share of attention. As Joy noted, with art becoming more commoditized by big-box retailers and mass production, a healthy framing department helps ensure the survival of the business. “The framing studio is really a wonderful part of what we do,” Joy said. “Not everybody wants or thinks they need a piece of original art, but the majority of people do need framing. It also often happens that people will come in to get something framed and then
Paul and Joy Floyd, owners of Red Door Gallery in Little Rock, said the business had an established base of artists and customers when they bought it — a base the couple is working to expand. start developing an interest in something else. We have a lot of crossover business in that way.” Adding the finishing touch to a piece of artwork through framing is a rewarding exercise, especially in the store’s specialty of restoration work. “We have a working relationship with some people who actually do restoration and deacidification work on older documents,” Joy said. “People will come in and go, ‘This is falling apart. How do we preserve it?’ It’s been fun to take on that challenge.” One job was especially poignant for the couple, particularly Paul, a veteran. “One of the most interesting things we’ve been allowed to frame is a U.S. flag from World War II that was found in a cave in Germany,” Joy said. “They tracked that to an actual unit that the last time they were heard from was in the area where it was found. Paul, with his military background, immediately understood you do not let your flag be captured, so when that unit was overrun, that flag was buried. “It was very emotional to have this huge 4-foot-by-6-foot flag that we had to work with not only in restoration but very carefully framing it. It’s phenomenal. It’s going to be part of a really cool military exhibit. Things like that are just the icing on the cake of things we get to deal with.” The business has thrived under the couple’s ownership, so much so that it recently moved next door to a larger space. The couple was also honored last year as business of the year by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, but even beyond all that, the Floyds say the greatest accolade they have received has been seeing the faces of customers light up as they find the right piece for their homes or places of business. “When you come into our gallery, hopefully rather than just a big canvas with a lot of color that’ll fill a space, you’ll see a work of art, whether it’s abstract or realism or whatever it is, that will somehow move you. Something that just speaks to you,” Paul said. “It could be the colors. It could be the objects on it. It could be just the mood you were in that day. Whatever it is, there’s something about that piece, whether it’s large or small, that creates a memory. That’s what we do. Whether it’s framing or art, we try to preserve those memories for people.”
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Arkansas
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rkansas has always been a place that evokes strong emotions — rooted in the landscape, expressed by the people who live there. Many stirring writers, inspiring musicians and powerful actors have called Arkansas home through the years, some of them born in the state and some drifting in from all over the country. Artists of color represent an important subset of the state’s legacy as people who brought intricate jazz and gritty blues to life at juke joints and honky tonks all across Arkansas. The Black voice has been represented in painting, sculpture and architecture and captured in lyrical poetry or gripping prose. Black actors, actresses, writers, directors and filmmakers have vividly illustrated the beauty and tragedy of life in the South and all that entails for people of color. With February being Black History Month, AY About You is proud to once again salute a few such voices in the community. Each one carries his or her own unique experience and perspective and, in sharing that with others, inspires and impacts everyone around them. Our community and our state are better for having such people as these in it. AY About You salutes their accomplishments.
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Arkansas O
New Rep director returns to roots, spreads Southern soul
ne year ago, with the announcement of his hiring as artistic director at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock, Steve Broadnax III experienced a homecoming in more than one respect. Not only did the role bring him back to his hometown but, more than that, to the spot that launched his theatrical aspirations. “I was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, by my grandmother, who has just turned 93,” he said. “She was into education, and her discipline was music. I’ve always been around music all my life. I also have other relatives that were educators who taught English and drama in their classes. “But for me, my exposure to the arts, especially theatrical arts, was The Rep. That’s what is so ironic about being the artistic director of it now, which I never thought was possible.” As a youth, Broadnax sustained his theater fix by ushering at The Rep, which got him into productions for free. The experience fueled a desire to perform, which he did at what is now Parkview Arts & Sciences Magnet High School. A senior trip to the Big Apple put the stamp on a desire for a life in the performing arts. “I grew up at The Rep. I was that kid that I look back and go, ‘There never was a time that I wanted to do anything else,’” he said. “I remember Parkview took my senior class on a trip, my first trip to New York. I saw my first Broadway play and got to see a scope of theater outside of Little Rock. That sealed it, you know, but Arkansas and The Rep were my foundation and my first exposure to professional theater.” After graduation, Broadnax headed to Webster University Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, a choice inspired by the TV drama Fame. The show followed the fictional lives of aspiring artists at a school for the arts patterned after the real Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York, but for Broadnax, it was a blueprint. “It was my Fame because the main focus, all my classes, wasn’t a usual undergrad situation where you have these basic math and science classes. I didn’t study any of that. It was all day, you know, acting, voice and speech, movement, dance, tap, jazz, ballet, modern choir, music theory, Shakespeare. It was just all theatrical, and I was in heaven.” After graduation, Broadnax returned to his roots to appear in The Rep’s production of Dreamgirls in 2004. Through the years, he’s kept his hand in the organization’s projects, directing productions of Marie and Rosetta and Native Gardens and performing in Jitney. In addition, he has also built an extensive resume as a writer, actor, director and educator and serves as co-head of Pennsylvania State University’s Master of Fine Arts directing program. When The Rep shifted from fall to a summer performance slate, he saw it as a sign. The change enabled Broadnax to keep his other projects, including freelance directing and remaining on the Penn State faculty where he is the mouth of a pipeline for talented students to work at The Rep. Today, the theater veteran and 2025 inductee to the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame said he is most excited about reimmersing himself in the local culture and expressing it through his art form. “I love the South, and I want The Rep to be the lens of Southern culture. I want people to come and see themselves and celebrate the culture of the South,” he said. “I want it to be uniquely Arkansas — you know, rhythmic and musical and melodic. At the same time, I want to expand the discourse beyond Southern culture, beyond our region, our state, our country even. I think when we do that, we’re expanding the lens beyond a stereotype of what the South is and who people from the South are and what we’re capable of.”
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photo courtesy of STEVE BROADNAX 141
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Joe Booker Not “Broadway” still working it on the
Your AVERAGE JOE radio, in community
“B
roadway” Joe Booker’s voice has been floating along on the airwaves in Arkansas for more than 37 years now. His first foray into broadcasting was while he was in the Air Force and stationed in Korea. Later on, the military brought him to Arkansas, where he attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. After college, he landed a comfortable job at Dassault Falcon Jet in Little Rock, but it was just that — a job — he said. He wanted a career, and the airwaves were pulling him back in. While he was working at Dassault, he had also been working weekends at a radio station and mentioned to the program director that if a
full-time opening came up, he would be interested. The program director warned him that the job would not pay as well as Booker’s current position, but the would-be broadcaster did not mind. “I made a career decision to do something that I like to do,” he said. “I had a job at Falcon Jet, but it wasn’t something I got excited about getting up and going to work every day. I get excited about getting up and coming and doing the radio thing.” Booker has been at Cumulus Media studios for almost four decades and is currently hosting shows six days a week on KOKY-FM and Power 92 Jams. He has found success in broadcasting and won numerous awards along the way but has also turned his career behind the mic into so much more, continually striving to help Arkansans. Through Booker’s talk shows, he welcomes pillars of the community to talk about their upcoming events and fundraisers. “I was taught a long time ago that to have a successful radio station, you have to have the information, the education and the entertainment,” Booker said “Those three elements are key to succeed, so I preach it, and the staff knows about it.” Though he could share lore from his storied career all day long, one highlight he points to is organizing the Power 92 Juneteenth celebrations concerts that took place in Little Rock in the 1990s and early 2000s. The festivities would bring about 10,000 young people into the River Market to see some of the biggest musical acts of the day. Since it was before Juneteenth was an officially recognized federal holiday, Booker remembers having to explain to label executives what the day was when he was trying to book acts for the event. At the Juneteenth concert celebration, organizers would always start by sharing the meaning of the holiday to teach the young people in attendance. “We didn’t know things were going to take off like they did with Juneteenth and those big celebrations, and I tell people all the time that it’s nothing but God that did that and it’s for a reason,” he said. Beyond his music work, his other passion is sports. He coaches the Mighty Vikings, a youth football team in Jacksonville, which helps kids with the costs of expensive football equipment so that they are still able to participate. In addition to that, he helps with the Jammers, a charity basketball team created by Power 92 back in the ‘90s that plays games to raise money for various causes. While Booker loves the work, it leaves him with little free time for the typical hobbies of men his age. “I tell people this is my golf,” he said. “They ask, ‘Do you play golf ?’ No, I ain’t got time. I’m dealing with this stuff. It keeps me busy.” Booker does not seem to have plans to slow down or retire from any of his pursuits anytime soon. “I want to be of service, and when I feel like I’m not serving anymore, that’s when I’ll sit down,” he said.
By ALEX HARDGRAVE // Photo by LORI SPARKMAN 142
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CHILLS still ON
FIRE
Arkansas-raised screenwriter centers on family, Black stories
“F
amily over everything” is the tagline of the 2025 actionthriller Shadow Force, a movie starring Kerry Washington and Omar Sy. For Leon Chills, who co-wrote the script for the movie, the slogan holds true in his work and life. Chills grew up in Little Rock before moving to Maryland in eighth grade. He came back to the state for a private screening of his movie put together by his family last May. During that event, Chill’s stepfather read a proclamation from Mayor Frank Scott Jr. that decreed May 9, 2025, the day Shadow Force premiered in theaters, as Leon Chills Day. Chills said being back in Arkansas for the premier was emotional and that he shed a few tears that day. “Everyone hopes they can make wherever they are from proud,” he said. Chills did not originally set out to become a screenwriter and started his professional life working at JPMorganChase after attending Morehouse College in Atlanta. “A quarter-life crisis made me do some soul searching,” he said. As he searched, he remembered being a kid watching TV and running to his computer to write episodes of the shows and movies he liked. That inspired him to turn to screenwriting, and he wrote his first script in 2011. “I’ve been getting after it ever since,” he said. When there was a bidding war between different studios for his script for Shadow Force, he said, that was a “dream-come-true moment.” The filmmaking process for Shadow Force was a roller coaster, and there were many times when Chills said he was not sure the movie was going to actually come to fruition. When the movie did finally come out in theaters and he attended the premiere, it almost felt unreal, he said. “Every movie is a miracle,” he said. Shadow Force features a couple who go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer and the bounty that is on their heads.
While it is an action story, it is also a story about family and parenthood. Chills said many of his current projects seem to revolve around those themes, which makes sense because he is a husband and father to three young children. He also said he works to center Black characters in the stories he writes, especially in genres where they have been historically underrepresented. His newest project, Believe in the Boy Who Dreams, is an anime about a 12-year-old Black youth who slips into a coma and his family’s journey with experimental technology that allows them to enter his dreams and attempt to save him. In an unusual move, Chills released the script for his project to the public last fall, even though the movie has not been made yet. He said the new approach was sparked with feeling disheartened by the recent contraction in the movie industry due to writer strikes and recent studio buyouts, which created fewer buyers for projects. Chills hopes that by releasing the script, he will build an audience for the project and show studios that people want it to be made. He has also been documenting his journey through videos to show the ups and downs of the moviemaking business, “even when I don’t know if it will work out,” he said. In true Hollywood fashion, Chills landed a producer only to have the deal fall apart. The next step may involve him taking the leap into producing the project himself, he said. “I am excited and nervous about that,” he said. As for future releases, Chills said people can stay tuned in on his Instagram to see where he goes, which could be anywhere from another action movie to a love story to something else entirely. “I don’t have any control where the ideas come from,” he said.
By ALEX HARDGRAVE // Photo courtesy of LEON CHILLS 143
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Tomboy to Songbird Vocalist brings cool grooves to Arkansas music scene
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icky Parrish was never far from music growing up, but it was not her primary passion either. Parrish, an in-demand songstress and CEO of NI-CE Entertainment, first dreamed of fame on a different kind of stage and under a different set of lights. “I was actually a tomboy growing up, playing ball,” she said. “I played everything: volleyball, basketball, ran track. I even had an opportunity to play quarterback in football, but my dad wouldn’t let me.” Parrish dominated the varsity ranks of her sports while attending Little Rock Central High School, enough to plant the idea of walking on to play Division I basketball with the Arkansas Razorbacks after graduation. “I was up there through the summer, going to classes,” she said. “I was playing basketball every day with the guys, and I broke my ankle in three places. That ended that.” Coming home to Little Rock for treatment, Parrish instead enrolled at Philander Smith University on a choir scholarship. She performed with the group from Arkansas to the White House for President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. She also became a formidable entrant in talent shows, becoming all but unbeatable as a competitive performer. She is a six-time Apollo winner, the 2011 Arkansas Urban Music R&B Artist of the Year, and recipient of the
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2013 Arkansas Platinum Hood Award. Moving from her dream of athletics to life as an entertainer was not as drastic of a change as it seemed, given her genetics. “I’ve always been able to sing, but let me tell you, my mom is a singer. She was a lead singer in church, and she used to sing under Art Porter Sr. back in the day. She actually didn’t pursue her career because she got married and had me,” she said. “My dad is also a singer, and his grandmother was a guitar player. My grandfather actually recorded with his gospel group. “I've always been able to sing, but I never really wanted to be a solo singer. I started singing in church because of my mom.” Outside of her family, Parrish was influenced by titans of American vocalists. “In my era, when I came up, you had the big voices, like Pat LaBelle, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston,” she said, adding that she has had the chance to cover all of them, especially Houston, who she sang in tribute at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, for BET Apollo Live. Over her career, Parrish has shared stages with the likes of Michael Bublé, Gerald Alston, Will Downing, Tyrese Gibson, Cameo, Howard Hewett, Jay Lamont, Tyler Perry, Steve Harvey, Midnight Star and others. She also sang backup for gospel empresario and Grammy phenom Smokie Norful, touring with him for five years. “I guess you could say I’m a vocalist for all occasions, and that’s what keeps me working a lot,” she said. “I can sing just about anything.” These days, Parrish splits her time among various projects. She is the music coordinator at GiGi’s Lounge in Little Rock, band leader and lead vocalist for the group Khemistry, and owner of her own entertainment company. She also has new music in the works, the long-anticipated follow up to her 2008 debut album, Earthtön’z. “I have new music that I’ve been sitting on for two years, and it is full of everything,” she said. “I have jazz. I have R&B. I have pop, a little soul — kind of like a bluesy soul. I also actually have one song that sounds country-western.” On top of that, Parrish is looking forward to developing other performers this year, showcasing some of the abundant talent in Arkansas. “We have so much talent here, but a lot of artists don’t know how to get started. Things as simple as making yourself available to go sit in with a band so people can know who you are,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to helping other artists.”
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photo by JAMIE LEE
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On the air or on the ground, Roger Scott leaves ‘em laughing By DWAIN HEBDA
Roger Scott in studio (Photo by Dwain Hebda)
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Thursday Night Trivia at Oaklawn Hot Springs' Mainline Sports Bar (Photo by Emily James)
“I’m telling you, man, I’m so blessed that people come and hang out with me at these places. Listen, they know what they’re getting when they come to see me. It’s an honor when they come in.”
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t a break in the action during his regular gig leading a trivia contest for patrons of Boudreaux’s Grill and Bar in Maumelle, Roger Scott took a moment to seemingly get serious. “If you’re a regular, you know we’ve celebrated a lot of things here during trivia,” Scott announced to a crowd of about 50 players snuggled into the Maumelle watering hole. “We’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries. We’ve remembered people who have passed, family members. We married somebody once. We celebrated a couple of divorces. We even did something in between when we celebrated a couple’s three years of shacking up.” The windup brings down the house and leads to the singing of “Happy Birthday” to one patron in attendance, a burly gent who raises a glass in toast to those serenading him. It also fittingly sums up the community Scott has built there one night a week, one question, one joke and one person at a time. He calls the trivia nights, which have grown to include a second standing evening a week playing Mainline Sports Bar at Oaklawn Hot Springs, “a longevity-plusjoy combo” and spares no small measure of enthusiasm in talking about them. The evenings are Scott at his back-slapping,
BS-ing best; a place where he can be himself and wallow in the pure joy of silly one-liners and staccato rapport. “I’m telling you, man, I’m so blessed that people come and hang out with me at these places,” he said. “Listen, they know what they’re getting when they come to see me. It’s an honor when they come in. Yeah, we’re giving away prizes, but it’s all about having a good time.” For Scott, having a good time means connecting with people, be it over the radio or live and nonstop during on-location gigs, especially the trivia nights. At no point during the roughly two-hour contest does the Hot Springs native stand still for long, his distinctive, raspy voice ringing out above the barroom din. Scott craves interaction, so much so that he is a blur of motion, slapping a regular on the back, shaking hands with strangers, touching a shoulder as he makes a point or delivers a punch line. A tavern jester, he makes himself the butt of the joke as often as possible, the crowd fitting neatly into the palm of his hand. “I tell you, every time I step out on the floor to do trivia, I’m nervous,” he said. “I always wonder, ‘Is anybody going to be there? Who’s going to show up? Is anybody going to hang out?’” (Photo by Dwain Hebda)
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(Photos by Emily James) Scott’s path to celebrity began in the lean environment of his childhood, self-described as “somewhere between white trash and blue collar.” The fifth of six kids born to a Korean War vet and his bride, who thought the senior Scott a dead ringer for a member of the Rat Pack, Roger’s life was a mishmash of cultural and comedic influences. “My dad met my mother when he was stationed in Germany,” he said. “She liked Dean Martin and she thought he looked like Dean Martin, which I’m still trying to figure. I grew up listening to Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, all the crooners — all that kind of stuff. Then, being the fifth of six kids, each of my siblings would bring a different music genre to the household. My oldest brother brought in Motown, and every two or three years after that, a different music was brought into the house. “Then cable hit, and we were able to watch all kinds of TV shows with comedy and all that. The accessibility of comedy, you know, came about with HBO when I was able to watch my idol, which was Richard Pryor.” Over the years, Scott has dropped hints on air about the rougher elements of growing up in meager environs and the neighborhood crowd he ran with. Smaller than his peers, his deft touch at harnessing humor helped him fit in, make friends and escape the occasional tight pinch. “It was defense, OK? It was total defense,” he said. “Look, I wanted everything growing up, but I never needed anything. I mean, we never went hungry. We never had on dirty clothes or anything like that. I didn’t know that I was poor until I got a little bit older. “Growing up poor, I tried to disarm you with humor, you know? I loved to entertain. I loved to make people laugh because it was always one of those things where if you’re laughing with me, you’re not laughing at me — so yeah, it was a defensive mechanism, long story short.” As any comic might admit, making someone laugh is a psychological
battle of wits often waged against an unsuspecting target. Scott developed a well-honed ability to read people to go with a natural sense of timing and clever witticisms that not only made him the life of many a party but paid off in his professional endeavors. “I was always in some sort of sales, man, whether it be a tobacco sales rep or getting into industrial packaging and shipping supplies for a local company,” he said. “I was very successful at it.” During his time in sales, Scott developed two other habits in life, one being a well-publicized bout with addiction. “I had a weakness for alcohol and drugs,” he said matter-of-factly. “I let those things take a hold of my life and take me down a path. I’m proud to say, by the grace of God, I will be 19 years clean and sober next month.” The other thing that took root in between sales appointments was his love of calling into local radio under the guise of alternate personas. “You can’t do the things now that I did then,” he said. “I mean, I was different dialects. I was different genders. I was the whole thing, dude. There was a time when I was calling Tommy Smith and Big Dave on Magic 105 where I was six different characters at any given time.” Scott was so good that Smith paid him on the side as a professional caller, sometimes for comic effect and sometimes to stir the pot with listeners. “I could be an African American guy or an Italian guy or Hispanic or gay,” he said. “I could be Dean Martin, and I’ll tell you what, anybody who sounded like he was from New York calling in talking about hillbillies really ticked off some of the local people here back in the 1990s. I was that guy. “It was different then. It was a whole different game back then, man.
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It was almost Howard Stern — not to that degree but whatever we could do like that here. It was just, like, anytime you’re a character, you can get away with doing anything. Just like being an actor, you put on makeup, it’s over. The thing about me was my characters, regardless of who they were, were all to grab a laugh and have a good time. It was never meant to be mean spirited at all.” Like all on-air personalities who pushed the envelope, the party came to an abrupt halt on Feb. 1, 2004, when Justin Timberlake pulled the front off Janet Jackson’s outfit, exposing her breast to a Super Bowl halftime audience of about 150 million people worldwide. It was the half-second slip heard around the broadcasting world, and with more than half a million complaints flooding the Federal Communications Commission, free radio and TV were threatened to clean up their on-air acts or face stiff fines. National shock jocks such as Stern and Don Imus jumped to pay platforms such as satellite radio and rolled on; the local guys who survived had to pivot — hard. If there is one thing Scott knows as well as humor, it is survival, be it over the bottle, the puritanical FCC, and even the retirement of longtime co-host and Arkansas radio legend Smith. Today the graying grandfather is the picture of health and one of the elder statesmen of Arkansas broadcasting who, along with David Bazzel, forms the isotonic nucleus of Morning Mayhem at 103.7 The Buzz. There, Scott’s patter is tamer, but his wit no less sharp in chiding bad callers, amusing guests or delivering his eagerly awaited song parodies during Razorback football season. “I’ve turned a love for talking sports, music and nonsense into a multidecade run that makes people’s mornings better in Arkansas — at least I hope I have,” he said. “Not everyone gets to say they’ve done that.” “Gerald Ford!” “Popsicle!”
Back at Boudreaux’s, the points are piling up as the game winds to the lightning round and the evening’s prizes. Plates and beer mugs empty steadily on the tables while Scott gains steam, cajoling, shouting out correct answers, breaking into song as a hint. “Rio de Janeiro!” “Kellogg’s!” Oaklawn’s crowd brings bigger numbers, but it is clear the little bar on Maumelle Boulevard brings the intimacy. Even strangers just watching or trivia first-timers are treated like family. Among the regulars, no one wonders who the sprightly leprechaun up front with the bullhorn is, nor are they awed by his celebrity. “It’s a different crowd,” he said. “It’s a clique, a clique that comes in and plays. This is a group of people that this is what they do on Tuesday nights. They can do anything they want to, dude, but they come here to hang out.” Radio is one of those professions where the only people who have not been fired at least once are the people who have not done it at all. While it is hard to fathom his career taking such a turn at this point, given his 31-year run that has consumed half of his lifetime, no one stays on the air forever. Perhaps that is why Scott chases the opportunities that come his way — commercials, personal appearances and even a part in an independent movie a few years back — with the gusto of one who came close to losing it all. “I guess as you get older, you start reflecting, and you start thinking about all the things you’ve done in your life,” he said. “I’m blessed that I have a wonderful wife of 40 years, Samantha, who has put up with me through thick and thin and all that. My children are healthy and successful. I’ve got grandkids. “When I look back, yeah, I’ve got some regrets, but mostly, I’m proud to be doing what I’m doing in my home state. I mean, I’ve done nothing on my own. It’s all been by the grace of God and the people in my life that have thought enough of me to help me along in my career. I think I have fallen up in so many ways.”
“I’ve turned a love for talking sports, music and nonsense into a multidecade run that makes people’s mornings better in Arkansas — at least I hope I have. Not everyone gets to say they’ve done that.”
(Photo by Dwain Hebda)
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nonprofit
Enshrined for All Time New hall of fame honors fitness professionals
Riley Hill, President of the Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame
By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by JANE COLCLASURE
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personal trainer of nearly 20 years. “I really think the professionals of fitiley Hill never imagined she would be the driving force beness actually change people’s lives, and those people should be honored.” hind the formation of a fitness professionals hall of fame. She The hall of fame will induct its first class of honorees March12 durnever envisioned herself as a fitness instructor, for that matter, ing ceremonies at the Chenal Country Club in Little and, in fact, never considered fitness a parRock starting at 6 p.m. Tickets for the dressy-casual ticular priority until adulthood. event, presented by AY Media Group, can be purLooking back, however, each of those dominos chased at arfitnessprohalloffame.com/events. falling led to 2026, when, after nearly a decade as a “Health and fitness are two of my personal pascertified group fitness instructor, Hill is now founder sions,” said Heather Baker, president and publisher at and president of the Arkansas Fitness Professionals AY Media Group. “Every single aspect of my life — Hall of Fame honoring outstanding certified personal professionally, personally, mental health, stress relief, trainers, certified fitness instructors and gym owners. you name it — goes back to the gym. When I look Hill said the creation of the hall fills a gap in at the dismal health grades we have in this state and the awards marketplace by recognizing a group that the staggering amount of obesity in adults and even contributes mightily to the health and wellness of children, it breaks my heart. the community. “Fitness professionals are working against that “Almost all of the other professions already have every day and are leading countless Arkansans to a something like this, or if nothing else, they have some vitality and quality of life they didn’t know existed. sort of an Arkansas association that has a hall of fame We are proud to play a major role in honoring the or some other awards program,” she said. “The reason pioneers of Arkansas fitness professionals by presentwe kept it to fitness instructors, personal trainers and ing the hall-of-fame induction celebration.” gym owners is we’re kind of this niche group where The event, which includes dinner, will feature everybody does what they do because they love it. I Heather Baker former Arkansas Razorback and well-known meknow a lot of people in this field that are only making dia personality David Bazzel as speaker. Bazzel noted that he has long $20, $25 a class while holding down another full-time job. They really go championed health and wellness in Arkansas as chairman of the govabove and beyond just because they love it.” ernor’s council on fitness under three governors and also spent time in “We are the people who are responsible for helping a lot of people’s the gym business following college. He echoed the importance of fitness dreams come true. We play key roles in very important milestones of professionals in improving the overall health of the state. their lives,” said Quen Spencer, owner of Tap In University and a certified
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David Bazzel
Quen Spencer
“I realize the positive impact of working out and taking care of yourself physically, and this banquet gives attention to people who are doing a good job leading that,” he said. “These are really qualified people, people who have been innovators in encouraging others to be active, lengthening their lives and improving their quality of life. I’m super supportive of this and really excited to be a part of it.”
“We are the people who are responsible for helping a lot of people’s dreams come true. We play key roles in very important milestones of their lives. I really think the professionals of fitness actually change people’s lives, and those people should be honored.” — Quen Spencer, Tap In University
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Spencer, a member of the AFPHF board of directors who will emcee the hall-of-fame event, said the inaugural slate of honorees is impressive. “Fitness is a very diverse field, and when I look at these inductees, I see that diversity,” he said. “It includes a wide range of people who specialize in different areas of fitness and have touched different types of clients. It’s great to look at their accomplishments, what they’ve done in this state, and think about how they’ve inspired so many people.” Hill agreed, saying that while getting the nonprofit formed and the hall of fame off the ground was hard work, it was a goal she was determined to reach. “Over the years, I have met exceptionally skilled and seasoned instructors and trainers who I proudly consider my mentors. They helped launch my fitness career and molded me into the instructor and trainer I am today,” she said. “I couldn’t ignore the voice in my head, urging me that the Arkansas fitness community desperately needed its own hall of fame.”
Riley Hill
“Over the years, I have met exceptionally skilled and seasoned instructors and trainers who I proudly consider my mentors. They helped launch my fitness career and molded me into the instructor and trainer I am today.” — Riley Hill, Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame
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Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame Honorees 2026 This year’s inductees include: Kerry Dare A fitness instructor of some 30 years, Dare’s career began when she answered a posting on her local gym’s wall seeking fitness instructors. From leading her first step class, her repertoire expanded to include sculpt, spin, Zumba, barre, kickboxing, Body Pump and Insanity through the years. Robert Farquhar (1957-2025) A fitness professional who trained more Mr. and Mrs. Arkansas bodybuilders than anyone in Arkansas, Farquhar was also a successful entrepreneur, opening Arkansas Fitness in Little Rock, later renamed The Gym, where he remained owner-operator and head trainer for more than 30 years. He is also remembered as a tireless advocate for animal rights. Guy Gill (1990-2025) Starting in 2016, Gill’s career was short but burned brightly. At Fit Factory and The Gym in Little Rock and Iron Muscle & Fitness in Benton, he demonstrated a unique ability to connect deeply with clients. Many students fondly remember “Gilly” less as a personal trainer and more as a friend and confidant.
Cynthia Gregory (1977-2025) A former collegiate athlete, Gregory’s day job was at Baptist Health Foundation in Little Rock, but she was equally known for her skill as a certified yoga instructor. Over more than 10 years, her gentle spirit and calming presence built a legacy of love, compassion and service that continues to inspire all who knew her. Allen Maxenberger A bodybuilder, fitness athlete and Masters National Physique competitor, Maxenberger is also a personal trainer of some 40 years. The founder of AmaxFitness Personal Training in west Little Rock, he serves as an online fitness/nutrition coach specializing in sustainable, long-term results. Still active at 63, his philosophy centers on general fitness and longevity. Kristen Mougeot (1961-2024) Beginning her group fitness career at Jim Bottin’s Fitness Center in Little Rock in 1984, Mougeot joined The Athletic Clubs in 1995. There she led spin, PowerPump, yoga and body sculpt classes at 5:30 a.m. every weekday. The ultimate excuse-buster model for students, Mougeot accumulated more than 6,000 on-time class starts.
Eric Godwin Godwin grew up in his family’s Powers Fitness Center in Hope, which hooked him on building muscle. He originally sought to be a physical therapist, but it was not to be. Needing a job, he landed at The Athletic Clubs, thus launching a hall-of-fame career as a personal trainer.
Angela Singleton Singleton’s two-decades-plus career has played out in commercial gyms, outreach programs and health centers at local churches, health care institutions, and in her home during the COVID-19 pandemic. In each case, she has leveraged her certifications in class instruction, nutrition and personal training to help students reach their goals and enjoy a better quality of life.
Michael Gray (1971-2018) A familiar face in the local fitness industry, Gray is remembered for a remarkable gift for making everyone feel valued, be they lifelong friends or new acquaintances. Coming from the worlds of bodybuilding and kickboxing, he was known for boundless knowledge and abundant empathy that far exceeded weights and workouts.
Andy Stallings Raised in Jonesboro, Stallings graduated from Arkansas State University there and then moved to Little Rock to begin his career. Over 31 years and 17 different gyms, he has taught hi/lo, step, cycling, kickboxing, boot camp, BodyPump, jump rope and slide. Now retired from teaching, he is proud to watch a new generation of fitness professionals develop.
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Best of
2018
When you you walk walk into into the the Robinson Robinson Nursing Nursing && Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Center Center you you will will feel feel aa comfortable comfortable atmosphere atmosphere different different When from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area. a covered outdoor patio area. We specialize specialize in in short-term short-term rehabilitation rehabilitation and and long-term long-term care care services. services. The The short-term short-term rehabilitation rehabilitation area area has has its its own own We diningarea areaand andday dayroom. room.From Fromthe themoment momentyou youenter enterour ourfacility, facility,we wewant wantyou youto toexperience experiencethe thedifference differenceour ourfacility facilityhas has dining to offer. offer. From From our our light-filled light-filled day day areas areas to to our our beautiful beautiful outdoor outdoor areas, areas, we we want want you you and and your your loved loved one one to to feel feel comfortable comfortable to and safe safe when when staying staying with with us. us. You You will will also also notice notice the the pride pride we we take take in in our our facility facility by by keeping keeping our our building building sparkling sparkling clean clean and from the the inside inside out. out. from Our team team isis dedicated dedicated to to providing providing aa safe safe and and comfortable comfortable environment. environment. Robinson Robinson Nursing Nursing and and Rehab Rehab offers offers modern modern Our conveniencesin inaagracious gracioussetting. setting.We Weprovide providedaily dailyplanned plannedactivities activitiesled ledbybyCertified certifiedActivity activityDirectors, directors, like like social social events events conveniences and outings outings and and pastoral pastoral services services with with spiritual spiritual care care for for all all religions. religions. We We strongly strongly encourage encourage family family participation participation in in group group and activities, meals meals and and celebrating celebrating family family birthdays birthdays and and special special days. days. activities, To help help you you plan plan your your visits, visits, we we provide provide aa monthly monthly event event calendar calendar and and aa monthly monthly meal meal planner. planner. Robinson Robinson Nursing Nursing and and To Rehab does does not not have have set set visiting visiting hours. hours. We We view view this this facility facility as as the the “home” “home” of of each each resident. resident. Rehab We try try our our best best to to communicate communicate with with patients patients and and families families to to help help alleviate alleviate the the anxiety anxiety that that accompanies accompanies this this journey. journey. We Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient but the entire family. each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient,
501.753.9003 •• 519 519 Donovan Donovan Briley Briley Boulevard, Boulevard, NLR NLR •• www.robinsonnr.com www.robinsonnr.com 501.753.9003
SHERWOOD
NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER, INC
We are devoted to providing high quality care which celebrates the dignity and grace of every person who enters our facility. At Sherwood Nursing and Rehab we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities. We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services.
SHERWOOD
NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER, INC
245 Indian Bay Drive Sherwood, AR 72120 Phone: 501.834.9960 Fax: 501.834.5644
murder mystery
Julie Heath
By SARAH RUSSELL hey were just two strangers going opposite directions on the same highway that night. Soon it would be all too clear how opposite the directions of their lives were, as well. She was the girl with a light-filled smile. He was the man who turned back to darkness. About 9 p.m. Oct. 11, 1983, a black Camaro drove onto U.S. 270 West. The pretty, redheaded driver was 18 year-old Julie Heath, a recent graduate and former cheerleader at Malvern High School. She would be gone just a couple of hours, she told her roommate, a quick ride over to Hot Springs to see her boyfriend. The IROC-Z Camaro? Well, that was a teenager’s dream, but this one was a major work in progress. Every paycheck from her two jobs went to the auto parts store. Her father was helping her fix the car up, but that night, it let her down. As it overheated, she pulled onto the shoulder. Eric Nance, 33, left his girlfriend’s place in Hot Springs about 9:30 p.m, taking U.S. 270 East to Malvern. Having only been home for five months, he already had a job, a truck, a girlfriend and even a church. That was substantial progress for an ex-felon who had just done 11 years in an Oklahoma prison. Nance chose not to make a good choice that night. Instead, he stopped. Ultimately, that would lead to three deaths. The Camaro was found within a few hours, her body a week later off Wild Hog Road, less than 8 miles away from her car. Heath never made it to Hot Springs. She never made it home either. Instead, she had been dragged back into the brush after being murdered. The location was a clear indicator to officers it was unlikely anyone other than a local left her there. The heat and humidity had accelerated her body’s decomposition, leaving both questions and answers. There were deep cuts to her neck and blunt-force trauma to her head. She was fully dressed, yes, but articles of her clothing, including her pink panties, were inside out. Actual sexual assault could not be determined, but it appeared there had been intent.
Eric Nance Heath had wanted to become a law enforcement officer. Those in the blue did her right, relentlessly tracking for nine days until they had the perpetrator in custody. Their efforts to get her killer were matched by the community, including those in Nance’s own family. A woman quickly came forward, having seen the Camaro on the highway with a dark truck pulled behind it. Employees of a nearby convenience store called officers about a man who had literally run in after midnight. He had a flat tire, he said, so they let him use the phone. Their description of him? No shoes, no shirt, no socks — just overalls with dark wet stains on the front. That was not, Nance’s girlfriend said, how he left her place. Nance’s minister came forward too. The morning after Heath vanished, Nance called him, afraid police would try to implicate him in a missing girl’s case. The minister added that Nance had since checked himself into the state mental hospital. Within 24 hours, Nance demanded to be released, which he was. What he said or did during that time has not been made public, but it was enough that an employee felt compelled upon his departure to call the Arkansas State Police. Now in possession of the truck, Nance’s brother brought it in to police. Yes, he had picked his brother up that night. He gave them the location. It was, unknown to him, just 100 yards from the spot where Heath’s body was found. The next morning, he said, Nance had cleaned his truck, even shampooing the interior. The forensics team was undeterred, finding blood and hair — red hair. It was Nance’s sister who recovered the knife. Told by Nance where to find it, she carefully wrapped the blood- and grass-covered weapon in
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her sweater. No, she did not “burn it” as Nance wanted her to. Instead, she took the knife to the cops. When she told Nance, he hysterically laughed, saying, “You’ve just given me the electric chair!” Actually, the jury did that. On the stand, his sister and brother, believing his innocence, repeated his confession to them. Nance told them Heath, who got in his truck willingly, panicked and became physical when she saw the knife fall out of his pocket. He was, he said, just leaning across her to put the knife in the glove box when she moved in the opposite direction, impaling herself on his knife. It was quite the story, but it did not account for the multiple knife wounds, blunt force trauma or redressing of her body. His four appeals brought more creativity. While purchasing the knife at Walmart earlier that day, he said he overheard someone say Heath had AIDS. Why did that matter to him? Because, he said, he and Heath had been having an ongoing sexual relationship prior to that night, so yes, when he came across her that night, they began to fight verbally and physically, and she impaled herself on the knife. Then came the claim that he had a developmental disability, his mental age being that of a third grader. Wrong, said an expert, pointing out that his 105 IQ was actually normal. In 1982, Oklahoma authorities
had no doubt his mental capacity met the constitutional criteria. They had imposed a 20-year sentence for his having severely beaten, sodomized and raped two underage girls. They survived. After that, it seems Nance got smart enough to figure out dead girls do not talk. On death row, Nance got his GED certificate and funneled his emotions into poetry. Among death penalty opponents advocating for him were the Celtic Tenors, a trio from Ireland. Their album Remember Me includes “Eric’s Song,” a recording of one of his poems. One verse reads: And even though I may never ever see My life the way it used to be, There has to be a better way Than to live like this another day. How ironic that the one person who seemed to be feeling those words just as deeply as Nance was Heath’s mother. Nancy Heath endured a pain that became a living, breathing force of its own. Her family often found her dressed in Julie’s clothes, her hair now colored red, lying beside Julie’s tombstone. Despite her family’s vigilance, she made multiple suicide attempts. On Christmas Day 1984, the 38-year-old woman succeeded. With exceptional grace, the Heath family, on Nov. 28, 2005, came to the execution, one cousin saying, “This is not easy for any of us, and we do feel for his mother, his family.” That night made for the third death. Nance had taken not only Julie’s and Nancy’s lives, but, essentially, his own. Nance’s death did not cease the pain of the Heath and Nance families, and it is quite probable that the two Oklahoma victims and their families are still dealing with the effects of the nightmare Nance imposed on them. “You have to teach your family how evil people are,” said Julie’s closest cousin, Belinda Crites. That is because in life, there are those going opposite directions, some following the path of light and others turning back to the darkest of the darkness.
“You have to teach your family how evil people are,” said Julie’s closest cousin, Belinda Crites. That is because in life, there are those going opposite directions, some following the path of light and others turning back to the darkest of the darkness. 157
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Colonel Glenn Health & Rehab is central Arkansas’ newest premier-skilled nursing and long-term care facility. Our skilled team is focused on serving you and your family with excellence.
LONG-TERM CARE
REHABILITATION
RESPITE CARE
13700 David O Dodd Rd, Little Rock, AR 72210 501.907.8200 • colonelglennhr.com 158
NURSING & REHABILITATION LIVING PROFILE
2025
Briarwood Nursing and Rehab is a 120-bed skilled facility located in an urban setting within the heart of Little Rock, in the neighborhood of Briarwood. We are located just minutes from downtown Little Rock and are only one block off interstate 630. We provide long-term care and short-term rehab care. All residents are monitored throughout the day with assistance in providing daily care as is needed: bathing, dressing, feeding and providing medications. Briarwood staff also work at ensuring the best care for residents through individual care plans of residents' needs, as well as daily activities, which allow for a variety of interests and abilities. Nearly all - 98 percent - of our rehab residents return to the community as a result of positive, caring therapists. Briarwood's approach has provided healing to many people in the community. At Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we are committed to ensuring that the best possible care is given to you or your loved one in an atmosphere that is calm, quiet and focused on healing. We endeavor to ensure that all aspects of your well-being — mental, physical and spiritual — are cared for in a peaceful and safe environment. Our staff strive to promote dignity, respect, and independence as much as possible, in a beautiful, soothing enviornment that was designed with our residents' comfort in mind. Briarwood's service-rich environment is made possible by its dedicated staff, from our nursing staff and therapists, to our operations and administrative employees. At Briarwood, our residents enjoy three generations of staff and families. That is over 30 years of service to the community!
501.224.9000 • 516 S. Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock • briarwoodnursingandrehab.com 159
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diamonds
Jacob Lofland
B
Actor | Briggsville, Arkansas
riggsville native Jacob Lofland got his first taste of Hollywood playing Neckbone in the 2012 film Mud when he was just a teenager. He went on to act in the 2014 indie film Little Accidents, TV series Justified and Texas Rising, and the Maze Runner franchise, among other roles, before being cast in the popular Paramount+ series Landman, now in its second season. Lofland’s character, Cooper Norris, is an aspiring petroleum landman hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father, Tommy Norris, played by fellow Arkie Billy Bob Thornton. Directed by Taylor Sheridan, the series has seen incredible success. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Season 2 was the most watched season or series premiere to date for Paramount+ at more than 9.2 million views over the first few days.
WHAT ABOUT COOPER, YOUR CHARACTER ON LANDMAN, IS MOST LIKE YOU, AND WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFERENT? What’s the most like Cooper? Probably his heart, just his demeanor in general. I think I’m pretty similar. Me and Cooper are pretty close together on that aspect, and then the most different would probably be the romantic that Cooper is. I’m probably not quite as romantic.
COOPER AND HIS SISTER, AINSLEY, HAVE A PRETTY FIERY RELATIONSHIP ON THE SHOW. WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP ACTUALLY LIKE WITH MICHELLE RANDOLPH, WHO PLAYS AINSLEY? Me and Michelle, we fell in love with each other as soon as we met. It’s actually the funnest thing to play that we don’t like each other. That’s always our joke is that’s the hardest thing to act, but no, we get along great. We’re really good friends in everyday life. I HEARD A RUMOR TAYLOR SHERIDAN FORBID YOU FROM GETTING YOUR TOOTH GAP FIXED WHILE YOU PLAY COOPER. IS THAT TRUE? It never really was talked about. I think it was just something that I don’t know if they liked it or not.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO COME BACK HOME TO ARKANSAS AFTER HAVING SO MUCH SUCCESS IN HOLLYWOOD? Restful. Peaceful. I love coming home and just sitting for a little bit. Where we live, we don’t even have phone service, so as long as we get away from Wi-Fi, we can’t be bothered. It’s peaceful. IF YOU COULD DO ONE THING TO GIVE BACK TO ARKANSAS, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I just love to help people. I don’t really know exactly what it would be. I’ve thought about that a lot, actually, and I haven’t come up with one conclusion, but I want to give back in some way, whether it be the children or maybe a class or something. I don’t know if I want it to be in the arts or money management or what it should be but something to teach people a skill. WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT FILMING LANDMAN ON LOCATION IN TEXAS? The heat and the cold. Texas, I think we shot in 112 F, and we shot in 17 F with a 20 mph wind, so the extremes in temperature are probably the hardest thing to deal with.
YOU HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT OF A-LIST CELEBRITIES DURING YOUR CAREER, BUT WHO IS ONE CELEBRITY YOU WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH AND HAVE NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO YET? That’s a great question. Up until this point, it was Billy Bob Thornton, just because we were both from Arkansas and Slingblade was an absolute staple, and now I really haven’t given it much thought. I’ve just been living in such a crazy world, getting to work with him and Sam Elliott and all these other guys. I really haven’t thought of anybody else.
The monthly “Diamonds” feature shares the lives and views of a diverse roster of proud Arkansans who are doing amazing things and are outstanding representatives of the Natural State. To nominate someone, email dwain@aymag.com.
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Black Family Expo Saturday, February 7 | 11AM–2PM Main Library, 100 Rock Street Little Rock, Arkansas
Black family at Fair Park, 1959
Men and women at dance hall, Wilson, Ark., circa 1938-1943
Two women talking on sidewalk, Wilson, Ark., circa 1938-1942 Images courtesy of CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
Visit the Central Arkansas Library System’s Black Family Expo to learn about families with strong ties to Central Arkansas’s Black history. Explore the CALS resources available to preserve your own family’s history, sign up for a library card, get a free family photo, and have fun with the entire family. Giveaways will be happening all day, so stop by and celebrate our community’s Black History with the CALS team! To reserve a table to display your family memorabilia, please call community outreach archivist Danielle Afsordeh at 501.320.5726. Organizations are also welcome to display.
cals.org | 501.918.3000
Not mass-produced health care. Curated care. In partnership with Arkansas Vascular and Vein Specialists, Conway Regional offers specialized vascular surgery services. Drs. Kalenda Kasangana, Kyla Shelton, and Christian Simmons care for conditions affecting arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. Our expert providers use advanced technologies to create patient experiences that are highly intentional and refreshingly personal. See what curated care looks like for you.
501-506-2747 conwayregional.org