alt magazine january 2012

Janu

ary

2012

. Vo

l. 6,

Issu

e 1

Family, Fashion, FaithIt’s a reason to buy a new dress...It’s a fun time with friends...It’s a true “Winter Wonderland”...It’s for a great cause...

Find out why you, too, should be going to...

*Offer expires February 29, 2012. Promotional rate quoted good for the first 12 months when New Customers subscribe with a contract to our Standard Cable, Standard Internet and Standard Phone services’ 24-month promotional bundle. Promotional rate increases to $35 per service in the second 12 months of the contract period. Equipment, taxes and fees are not included in above rate. At the end of 24 months, the additional Elite Package benefits expire and the rate for the Standard level of services reverts to the regular rate in effect at that time. Full discounted installation requires enrolling in our Cable ONE Easy Pay program. Elite Package benefits Caller ID and Voice Mail continue with the phone service but revert to regular monthly rate after promotional term. All other Elite Package benefits cease at end of agreement term. Cost savings based upon buying services individually. Other levels of service are available. Some HD programming requires leasing an HD receiver for $5/mo. Peak speed 50 Mbps. Speeds may vary. Call for details. Elite Internet service includes a data plan providing bandwidth usage of up to 50 GB per month plus an incremental 50 GB per month. Usage greater than that will result in incremental access charges of $0.50 per GB. Please read our Acceptable Use Policy and http://help.cableone.net for details. All services are not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. For full details contact your local Cable ONE office.

Get the most out of it with Cable ONE!

The holidays may be over, but our BEST DEAL is still going strong!

$25 Cable $25 Internet $25 Phonen Over 100 of our most

popular channels

n Over 27,000 hours of HD each month—including local stations (where available)

n Our 5 Mbps Internet upgraded to 50 Mbps—the fastest streaming available!

n 50 GB monthly data plan— with a bonus 50 GB FREE

n Unlimited Long Distance within the Continental U.S., day or night

n Upgraded to include Voice Mail and Caller ID!

Upgraded to

50 MBPS SPEED!UNLIMITED LONG

DISTANCEFREE INSTALLATION*

available! A $90 savings!

CALL NOW! 1-877-204-5896

Get All 3 for just$25 each

per mo.*

NEW YEAR

NEW GEAR

6 ALT Magazine

J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 / c o n t e n t s

k / FEATURE STORY

Phantom Ball...This team of creative people has been hard at work all year long to help raise money for children in need. Find out what they, and the fabulous committee members, do to make the 9th Annual Phantom Ball something you will be taking about all year long!

F E AT U R E S

1 0 H i s N a m e W a s R o g e r

2 2 Te x a s A & M U n i v e r s i t y D a n c e Te a m

3 1 T h e R e s o l u t i o n M a k e - O v e r

3 4 M y P l a t e

3 6 F i t n e s s F o r K i d s

4 3 4 , 0 0 0 Ye a r s a n d C o u n t i n g

5 0 I n - V i t r o U p d a t e !

5 7 S u p e r b o w l F u n !

Resolution MakeoverIt’s that time of year again! Time for those resolutions to be healthy and get fit! Find out the best ways for 2012!

10

31

J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 / Vo l . 6 , I s s u e 1

Publisher and Editor / Debbie Brower

Associate Editors / Jaclyn Gooding, Miranda Johnson

Photography / Image Forward Photography, Debbie Brower, Jaclyn Gooding, Miranda Johnson, Rozana Page, Sherrie Hewitt

Sales & Marketing Manager / Charlie McMurphy

Feature Writers / Jane Bouterse, Anne Fruge

Contributing Writers / Mike Brower, Anne Fruge, Vincent Senatore, Dustin Stringer

Cuddler / Mike Brower

If you have an event you would like to include in our Upcoming Events section, please email us at: [email protected].

www.alt [email protected] Heather Dr., Texarkana, TX 75501(903) 334-9605

ALT Magazine is published the 1st business day of every month. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission of ALT Magazine is strictly prohibited. ALT Magazine is distributed free of charge. Direct mail subscriptions are available for $36.00 per year. Contributions from our readers are welcome. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material.

©2012 ALT Magazine

E V E R Y M O N T H

4 6 D e s i g n e r S h o w c a s e

8 E d i t o r ’ s L e t t e r

3 8 F i n a n c i a l F o c u s

1 6 F i s h Ta l e s

7 5 R e a l E s t a t e

5 2 R e s o u r c e G u i d e

7 2 S e c o n d C h a n c e s

6 0 S t u d e n t H i g h l i g h t s

2 0 T r u e L i g h t

4 8 U n c o r k e d

E V E N T S

1 6 S a n c t u a r y M e d i c a l S p a H o l i d a y O p e n H o u s e

1 9 A LT M a g a z i n e C h r i s t m a s P a r t y

6 2 J . B r o w n O p e n H o u s e

6 4 B u n c h - W o o d v i e w O p e n H o u s e

6 6 S n o w f l a k e s a n d Ta b l e s c a p e s

6 8 U A C C H Te x a r k a n a S t e e l S i g n i n g

6 9 C i r c l e o f F r i e n d s P a r t y

6 9 H a r v e s t Te x a r k a n a P a r t y

7 0 W o m e n f o r A & M H o l i d a y L u n c h S o c i a l

C U LT U R E

7 4 C a l e n d a r o f E v e n t s

2 5 M e d i c a l G u i d e

You are a mom, a wife, a daughter.

You are your family’s caregiver.

Almost all their healthcare decisions are made by you.

This is wThis is why we are committed each and every day to providing you with

an exceptional patient experience.

Our commitment has earned CHRISTUS St. Michael the honor of

being recognized as one of

by WomenCertified®, the collective voice of the of the female consumer and a

trusted referral source among women.

America’s Best Hospitalsfor Patient Experience

Women’s Choice Award

We thank you for choosing CHRISTUS St. Michael as Your Hospital.

MORE. WOMEN. DO.

8 ALT Magazine

W i n t e r W o n d e r l a n d . . .

Publisher/Editor

Cold, blustery days. Winter brings about all sorts of

memories for most of us. From cuddling under blankets while we

attend college championship games, or maybe even high school

championship games, to cuddling by the fire, memories come flooding

back.

For those of you who lived here during the ice storm in

December, 2000, the memories were plenty. I remember the sound

of limbs breaking as they became ice laden, much to heavy a load for

the majority of the trees in our area to carry. Of course, along with the

snapping of limbs came the snapping of power lines -- many of which

were out of service for weeks. Luckily for my family, our power was

only off for a few days. We were also lucky that we had natural gas --

a luxury which afforded us -- and our friends -- the opportunity to take

hot showers at a time when most people had no hot water!

It was definitely a time for cuddling! Sleeping in front of the

fireplace, cuddled in blankets, with Mike and Jaclyn and our babies,

was almost like camping out! Since our power wasn’t out for long, it

was more of an adventure than a hardship. However, that was not

the case for many in the area. Many were out of power for weeks

and after a few days, that’s not nearly as fun! I was truly blessed and

lucky!

I will admit that I am a a beach baby -- I love warm weather.

However, without the cold of winter, the wonderful things that happen

in the spring would not be possible. And of course, in the New Year,

there are lots of possibilities to start afresh. Everything seems to be

wiped clean and new possibilities abound!

It’s like any new start -- you can be anything you want to be if

you want it badly enough! I truly believe that because it was instilled

in me from the time I was a small child. Anything is possible!

This month’s issue is all about setting goals and DOING

something with your life! Let’s take our cover story. The Temple

Memorial Rehabilitation Center is in the business helping others.

E D I TO R ’ S l e t t e r

In order to do that, they must rely on the support of our wonderful

community -- and our community, indeed, supports them! I hope you

are as moved by this month’s story as I was. I must say that Jane

Bouterse has a knack for making me cry -- and she didn’t disappoint

me this month! Jane made the work of Temple real to me and if I

had not already been willing to help, I would have been now! I hope

you will be, too! Come have fun at the Phantom Ball, enjoy our

Winter Wonderland theme, and help those who are treated by Temple

Memorial. You will be amazed at what just a little bit of help does for

those in need.

Of course, January wouldn’t come and go without

resolutions! So many people make those promises to themselves

to get fit, quit smoking, diet -- and very few ever actually see them

through! Last year was a first for me -- I lost weight, started Zumba

classes, worked out at the gym, and in general got fit! You will find

lots of tips on fitness in this issue -- and lots of interesting information

on New Year traditions!

So with winter in full swing, and a new year here, make

sure you dream big and jump! With God’s help, each jump is a little

easier! Who knows what the new year has in store for me, but I know

God knows! He is in control and with Him by my side, I will be fine!

He has blessed my life beyond belief!

So when the cold starts to sink in and you start feeling a little

bit down, remember those who are in need -- and you, too, can make

a decision to not only help yourself, but help others. Sometimes we

just think we are in bad shape -- until we hear the problems of others

and realize just how blessed we are.

May God bless you in the coming year. Happy New Year!

Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories. ~From the movie An Affair to Remember

January 2012 www.alt-mag.com 11

And it was unimportant that he could not tell me that. His large, brown eyes danced, yet his

long, thin, legs which hugged his chair would never dance. The chair’s metal rests comfortably

accommodated his very large feet, and his consistently untied tennis shoes begged, “Run,

run… with me…walk, walk.” Roger could do neither.

Roger’s groping hands seldom stopped moving, even though the large wheels on each side of his

chair offered resting places and were within easy reach. Most of the time his bony arms -- absent of muscular configurations -- punched the air uncontrollably. When he was asked to use his ever present tissue for interrupting the constantly flowing stream of saliva dripping from his chin (Roger had to be reminded to swallow), he would exert the enormous energy required to get hand and mouth together. His success was acknowledged by a smile. Oh yes, Roger’s smile. I’ve never seen one quite like it. Roger’s smile extended almost from one side of his face to the other and usually just looked like his open mouth. But there was a detectable difference, a slight curve on one end of those parted lips and a lingering presence. Creating that smile required such concentration that Roger shared it selectively. Roger’s smile was the most precious gift he had to give. I was a student at Texas Avenue Junior High, a member of Mrs. Levonne Rochelle’s Junior Historians. To be a member in good standing required us to

make some history of our own through our volunteer efforts, so I had chosen to work for the summer at the Temple Home. In 1952, Dr. S. A. Collom and a group of Texarkana citizens founded The Temple Home for Crippled Children to deal with those casualties of the nation’s polio epidemic. At that time, the Temple Home was, literally, the transformed Temple Home across the street from St. Michael’s Hospital. The home was large, multi-storied and beautiful with its red brick façade, wrap around white-columned porch and multiple entrances. Inside staircases and floors were genuine hardwoods, polished and perfect for an ornate residence; doorways of various sizes were beautifully framed, and small rooms whose tall ceilings were outlined by artistic moldings spilled into each other. Physical Therapist Ms. Beverly Schaefer had guided the extensive alterations necessary to accommodate the Home’s new population—those whose bodies and/or brains needed some assistance to function. She was one of the hardest working, most amazingly patient and caring people I have ever known. When I arrived at the Temple Home to assume my responsibilities, I was given

by Jane Bouterse

Left: Miranda Johnson, Anita Carver, and Jaclyn Gooding have been hard at work for the past year on the 9th Annual Phantom Ball!. The hard work of the entire Phantom Ball Committee make the Ball possible. In addition to Miranda, Anita and Jaclyn, thanks to these members: Sandy Varner, Mike and Debbie Brower, Judge Sherry Hawkins, Kip and Mary Ann Pavey, Frank Poff, Jennifer Crawford Ogburn, Jeanna McDonald, Melinda Vammen, Kim Fowler, Charlie McMurphy, Cathy Van Herpen, Adrianne Rathburn, and Shawn Edmonds. This committee works hard to ensure that the Phantom Ball is a great success!

a tour and assigned some general duties for working with the children. I did my best to attend them all. I was never specifically asked to work with Roger who was older than the others. For some reason I could not resist his cocky, always present baseball hat and TEXAS sweatshirt. I found myself turning from the other children to return to Roger and his wheelchair. At first, he chose to ignore me. He might try to do what I asked; occasionally, I would get that guttural sound that was the only language he had at his disposal. Eventually, he would allow me to tie his shoes and maybe even help him to move his legs, as Ms. Schaefer directed. If the weather cooperated, Roger and I would go outside. I could push his wheelchair around the porch until we found the perfect spot where we would sit and “talk.” Together we would watch the busyness of a growing Texarkana or just admire the territory. Those big, brown eyes of his absorbed everything his unpredictably moving head would survey. As the summer progressed, Roger became my charge and I, his. When it was possible, on the day of my arrival the caretakers would roll him onto the porch to wait for me or place him just inside

12 ALT Magazine

the entrance so that he would be the first person I would see. I have never again known the feeling that swept over me the day I arrived at the Temple Home. Roger was waiting, and as I walked toward him his shaking, hug-seeking arms extended toward me, his “uh, uh, uh,” loud and clear and I saw his smile. I had a hard time seeing anything else because the tears which filled my junior high eyes clouded my vision. Roger touched my life as no one ever has. He helped me to understand the value of a single life and formulate my definition of “being alive and being of service.” His short life would not have been possible without the Temple Home. “Being alive and being of service” is what the Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center (new name) is all about. Today, the building is larger and more accommodating than that first Temple Home; Beverly Schaefer has morphed into four speech therapists, two occupational therapists, one physical therapist and a physical therapist assistant, and the patient population has grown to include hundreds of children. Two items have not changed: first, no one is turned away from Temple because of inability to pay; second, trained professionals administer to their patients with the same caring and concern of their predecessors. Roger’s spirit remains real.

Expansion comes at a price; therefore, the Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center is involved constantly in fund raising. Development Director Anita Carver, one of three administrators at Temple, is chiefly responsible for the fundraising activities, although almost anyone involved with the Center encourages contributions. Sandy Varner, Executive Director, and Anita often laugh together, “We can’t find people to go to lunch with

us. They fear we’re going to hit them up for something.” Actually, the funding pursuits of the Temple Center, an Easter Seals facility, are more open than a luncheon date. The two major events of each year are a golf tournament and the Phantom Ball. The golf tournament is staged during the summer months, and the Phantom Ball, during winter’s grasp. The Ninth Annual Phantom Ball will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at Northridge Country Club—and what

an event it will be! The theme of the Ball, carefully created and choreographed by Committee members Jaclyn Gooding and Miranda Johnson, will be Winter Wonderland and will be a black-tie gala—a genuine “red carpet experience.” Women who attend will have the opportunity to adorn themselves in furs and gorgeous ball gowns, while the men don their “ties and tails” to complement their beautiful companions. Masks and fans will

add to the mystery and magic of each attendee’s appearance. Many of the women prefer their masks be elaborately decorated and mounted on colorful stems so that they can be moved flirtatiously back and forth and elaborate hairstyles will remain unruffled. A few lessons have been learned about the masks, however, as last year one of the

masks sported feathers which got too close to a burning candle.

Feathers are flammable. Miranda and Jaclyn have promised no fires this year but plenty of snow. Jaclyn, the Super Organizer and Miranda, the Dreamer-Creator, work all year developing a theme, exchanging ideas, designing decorations and gathering materials. They haunt thrift shops as well as surf the internet to stay within their Ball budget while building an inventory to which they can continue returning. Even this year’s snow can be recycled. Their plans for Winter

Roger touched my life as no one ever has. He helped me to understand the value of a single life and formulate my definition of “being alive and

being of service.” His short life would not have been possible without the Temple Home.


Wonderland anticipate an entry so WOW that Ball goers will get excited before they ever enter the building. The two are in the process of working with their committee members to develop a signature “blue” drink for the Ball, while designing a photo op area; and using lighting and a Brandon Thrash ice sculpture to create a winter atmosphere without the chill. Silver, white and icy blue will dominate the scene created during three days of decorating. Songs from “Phantom of the Opera” will greet guests as they enter the foyer. A highlight of the evening will be recognizing the Phantom —someone from the community whose enthusiasm and efforts for the Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center deserve recognition. Without a doubt, a special event of the Ball’s evening is the presentation of the “Kid of the Year.” This special child is one of Temple’s unique children who will be the public representative of the Center for one year—from one Phantom Ball to the next. This year’s chosen child is two year old Lillian Holmes. Lillian receives physical, occupational and speech therapy at the Rehabilitation Center which she attends six times a week. Lillian’s blonde hair and blue eyes and enthusiasm for life are inspiring to all who know her, and no one ever doubts how she feels. On happy days, her “Whee! Whee!” shouts can be heard throughout the Center and cheer up everyone within their range. Although Temple Memorial Treatment Center accepts children from birth through age 21, some adults, such as stroke victims, may also receive rehabilitative attention. The children, however, represent the program of the Center best. Today the Center’s program addresses the needs of increasing numbers of autistic children as well as birth defects, orthopedic or neurological disorders, in addition to hearing, speech or mobility impairments. According to Carver, “Our fund raising efforts are essential. We never turn anyone away, yet we lose about $34.05 for every 30 minute visit from 8-5, Monday through Friday. Our clients pay what they can, and we treat them regardless of their ability to pay.

With information like that, the $100 price for each Phantom Ball ticket pales in comparison to the need. Although about 1300 invitations are extended, approximately 250-300 people attend the Ball which is limited by the size of the venue. Many of those invited but unable to attend make contributions. Coupled with the Silent Auction, held during the evening, the Ball usually raises about $40,000. “But we would welcome more,” Anita adds. Cooperative merchants, like Twisted Vines, enhance the Ball experience and donate their services while ingenious efforts (like the decorators’ cutting down dead trees and painting them) pare down many of the costs. Money raised by The Phantom Ball is applied to Temple’s operating expenses. One area of greatest need this year is the Uncompensated Care Fund, the fund which sometimes just helps people meet their deductible. “Last year,” Carver explains, “the Fund ran out of money. We had to find more money and provide more services than we thought we could, but to my knowledge we have never turned people away.” Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center, with its team of Medical Director Dr. Belinda Hutcheson and knowledgeable therapists plus dedicated administrators and volunteers, offers some of the youngest among us services unique to both Texas and Arkansas citizens. Need further proof? Just look at the numbers: 2010, 382 kids were treated in the Center for a total of 11,598 visits, up from 8,636 the year before. But numbers only hint at the story. Anita Carver says it best, “I am one of the luckiest people in the world to get to work here. Miracles happen here every day. I am so lucky to be able to see them.”

For 59 years the Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center has been a Center of miracles and has made a difference -- a real difference -- in people’s lives. There have been many Rogers, some now phantoms, many still real. The Phantom Ball provides the community an opportunity to share in the miracle-making and to say “Thank you.”

“It’s really like an adult prom,” Jaclyn explains. Miranda adds, “It gives everyone a chance to really dress up and have lots of fun.”

The Night Belongs to…

The 9th Annual Phantom Ball

SaturdayJanuary 28, 2011

Northridge Country Club

For more information or tickets please call Anita Carver at 903-794-2705.

14 ALT Magazine

EVENT Sanctuary Medical Spa Holiday Open House

WHERE The Sanctuary

WHEN 12/8/11

1. Nikki Anderson, Leslie Nolte, Emily McCasland and Emmanuel Otero2. Darla Cigainero and Ellen Brennon3. Renay Turner and Darla Cigainero4. Carri Campbell, Teri Rice, Michelle Miller and Emmanuel Otero5. James Rochelle, Chris Ross and William Morriss6. Paul and Beverly Tye, with Bill Crutchfield7. Mark Bledsoe, Dr. Kimberly Parham and William Morriss8. June Hatchett and Dr, Jo Kahler9. Rita Collins and Annette Veal10. Rita Collins, Crystal Donelson and Courtney Hodge11. Kristen Thomas, Brad Crittenden and Lorie Holder12. Justin Sutton, Stacy Mckee, Christal Browning and Shane Nichols13. Choctaw Williams, Julie Collins, Aaron Collins, Bess Gamble Williams and Nathaniel Smallbeck14. Choctaw Williams, Bess Gamble Williams and Amy Cavazos15. Dana Farley and Jerry Jasper16. William Morriss, Dr. Bix Rathburn and Ron Collins17. Steve Weed, Sharon Strawn and Jerry Jasper18. Dr. Jo Kahler and Dr. Kimberly Parham19. Back row from left: Renay Turner, Kimberly Parham, Crystal Donelson, Angie Foster and Bethany Samuels; Front row from left: Courtney Kilgore, Shelly White, Rita Collins, Angela Turner, Starr Freeman and Jenna Looney

19

3 4

1 2

1615

11 12

7 85 6

17

1413

9 10

18

16 ALT Magazine

Bass are very fickle -- love you one day, hate you the next.

The Alabama Rig will catch a LOT of fish in 2012.

Russian women weightlifters are still UGLY.

Wright Patman Lake is back in a big way.

The cost of fishing swimbaits will be stupid with the Alabama rig.

The EPA is full of idiots.

Your outboard motor will blow up after about 300 hours of WOT if you run E85 fuel in it.

Those people who look for gold in Alaska are downright goofy.

And last but not least:

If the Mayans are right we won’t be fishing this time next year -- unless we wear our tin foil hats in the closet under a blacklight while chanting something I can’t remember.

Hope you have a wonderful new year full of fishing luck!

A Look Back...

Well, we come to the start of another year and it’s time to look back at the past year to see if there is anything we have learned. In my case there are

several things.

You can’t fish around drunks running limb lines.

You can drive through the State of Mississippi without problems if you can get a Sheriff’s pass from a friend who lives there.

by Mike Brower

Beef or Chick’n Taco Salad

DQ13-7282-01

Offer good for 6 per visit for 6 visits.






Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Limit six items per coupon. Not valid with other offers, promotions or discounts. Good at participating Texarkana area DQ locations

only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. DQ and the ellipse

shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN ® Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. Tx. D.Q. Op. Coun., © 2012.

Expires 1/31/12

Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Limit six items per coupon. Not valid with other offers, promotions or discounts. Good at participating Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN ® Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. Tx. D.Q.

Op. Coun., © 2012. Expires 1/31/12

$299

Buy One Dude®

SandwichGet One Free

$399DQ® Crispy

Chick’n Salad

3 Texas T-Brand Tacos®

Extra Long Chili Cheese Dog

and Medium Fries$399$399

Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Limit six items per coupon. Not valid with other offers, promotions or discounts. Good at participating Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged

or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN ® Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. Tx. D.Q. Op. Coun., © 2012. Expires 1/31/12

Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Limit six items per coupon. Not valid with other offers, promotions or discounts. Good at participating

Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchangedor where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN ®

Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. Tx. D.Q. Op. Coun., © 2012. Expires 1/31/12


Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN ® Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. Tx. D.Q. Op. Coun., © 2012. Expires 1/31/12

Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Limit six items per coupon.Not valid with other offers, promotions or discounts. Good at participating Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or

where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN ® Reg.U.S. Pat. & TM Off. Tx. D.Q. Op. Coun., © 2012. Expires 1/31/12

DQ13-7282-01

Buy One Blizzard® Treat and Get One of Equal or Lesser Value Free

Buy One Banana Split Get One Free

Buy One Waffl e Bowl

SundaeGet One Free

Buy One PeanutBuster® Parfait

Get One FreeLimit one coupon per customer, per visit. Limit six items per coupon. Not valid with other

offers, promotions or discounts. Good at participating Texarkana area DQ locations only. Voidif altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No

cash value. Plus tax if applicable. MooLatté, DQ and theellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN © 2012. ©2012 Great Lakes Dairy Queen Owners Marketing

Group, L.L.C., All Rights Reserved. Expires 1/31/12

Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Limit six items per

coupon. Not valid with other of-fers, promotions or discounts.

Good at participating Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. CheeseQuake, Blizzard, DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp.,

Mpls. MN ® Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. Tx. D.Q. Op. Coun., © 2012. ©2012 Great Lakes Dairy Queen Owners Marketing

Group, L.L.C., All Rights Reserved. OREO is a registered trademark of KF Holdings, Inc. The Reese’s trademark is used

under license. Expires 1/31/12


Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. Peanut Buster, DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN © 2012. ©2012 Great Lakes Dairy Queen Owners Marketing

Group, L.L.C., All Rights Reserved. Expires 1/31/12


Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN ©

2012. ©2012 Great Lakes Dairy Queen Owners Marketing Group, L.L.C., All Rights Reserved. Expires 1/31/12


Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. Blizzard, DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls.

MN © 2012. ©2012 Great Lakes Dairy Queen Owners Marketing Group, L.L.C., All Rights Reserved. Expires 1/31/12

Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Limit six items per coupon. Not valid with other offers, promotions or discounts. Good at

participating Texarkana area DQ locations only. Void if altered, copied, sold, exchanged or where restricted by law. No cash value. Plus tax if applicable. DQ and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. D.Q. Corp., Mpls. MN © 2012. ©2012 Great Lakes Dairy Queen Owners Marketing Group, L.L.C., All Rights Reserved. Expires 1/31/12







Buy One MooLatté® and Get

One of Equal or Lesser Value Free


EVENT ALT Magazine Christmas PartyWHERE Julie’s Deli

WHEN 12/13/11

1. Anne Fruge, Emily Cook and Miranda Johnson2. Wendy and Dustin Stringer3. Anita Carver and Jaclyn Gooding4. David Melson, Marshall Gooding and Christian Cisneros5. Miranda Johnson and Leslie Bates6. Julie Fulow, Vincent Sentore and Debbie Brower7. John and Rozana Page, Sherrie and Billy Hewitt8. Julie Furlow, Debbie Brower and Jennifer Tanner9. Julie’s Deli crew10. - 14. All the wonderful courses served15. Anita and Mike White16. John and Becky Moore17. Jane and Wayne Bouterse18. Sherrie and Billy Hewitt19. John and Rozana Page20. Jerome and Charlie McMurphy21. Marshall and Jaclyn Gooding22. Miranda and Tyler Johnson23. Debbie and Mike Brower

3 4

1 2

5 6

7 8

13

1211

9 10

14

1615 17

1918 20

2221 23

20 ALT Magazine

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. John 1:9

by Anne Fruge

David Markham started Truth Infusion Ministries so that he

could spread the news about his true passion: awakening the church. In the past three months since the establishment of Truth Infusion, David has taught and preached at various local churches, led a revival, and recently expanded his ministry to radio where he reaches a possible population of over 500,000 people. David’s unique call allows him to travel where he is called to reach people through music, the Word of God, and prayer. “I guess most would label Truth Infusion Ministries as a horse of a different color,” David says. “It doesn’t fit into most of the traditional ministry niches of today. I preach, but I’m not just a preacher. I teach, but I’m not just a teacher. I sing, but it’s not just about music. My goal is to infuse truth into the body of Christ by whatever means is possible.” David’s close relationship with the Lord began at the young age of six, and his spiritual connection has been a constant guide throughout his life. “I can honestly say in all humility that God gave me eyes to see things in ways that kids and teenagers usually can’t,” David says. “It kept me from many of the pitfalls that most teens deal with: parties, drugs, alcohol. I screwed up plenty, but I never was able to stray too far from God. In many ways, my heart has been after him since I was a child.” Before he could even read, David’s father was setting him on a stool in front of their church to sing. Some of the first songs he can remember is “Jesus is Alive and Well” and “Step into the Water.” “I couldn’t read so I would listen to songs tilI memorized them,” David says. “I’ve always loved singing for God. It comes easy to me. My approach has always been to preach with a song. I don’t just want to sing the word, I try tell the message. I try to sing as if Jesus is the only person in the room.”After graduating from Hallsville High School in 1998, David attended Kilgore Community College and then University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He graduated in 2009

from UAMS with a Bachelors degree in Science and Nursing, later became certified in Rehabilitation, and currently works for Kelton Home Health Care out of Atlanta, Texas. “I’m fortunate enough to work for a boss like Ryon Kelton who is a true man of God,” David says. “Now my daily work is just another opportunity to be a servant of God in every capacity of my life. At work, I’m a case manager for about 20 patients, and I see about their medical needs as well as their spiritual needs.”

David began ministering at Partnership Church of Texarkana after he moved back to the area and met his wife, Jennifer, at church one Sunday. They got married six months later and now have three kids: Kollin, 15, Reagen, 8, Taylor 7. “My family is my greatest earthly treasure. They are my first and foremost responsibility and truly the light of my

life,” David says. “My wife is a wonderful woman of God and she is my reality check. She is the one that keeps my head out of the clouds and keeps me grounded.” While members at Partnership Church of Texarkana, David helped the congregation forge a praise and worship ministry. For the 12 years that his family served there, David was able to serve in many capacities as an elder, teacher and preacher, but was especially integral in building up a music department. “We formed a very effective and powerful worship group over the years,” David says. “I’ve seen many lives touched and many people worship for the first time. Many people have come to the Lord, through this worship group, and when it started most of the members had never even picked up and instrument.” In September of the last year, David felt that God was leading him in a new direction, and though it was a bittersweet decision to leave Partnership Church of Texarkana, David has been blessed by the lives already touched by Truth Infusion Ministries. This new outlet allows David to utilize his passion for music, the Word and his personal mission to revive churches. “I believe today’s church is asleep at the wheel for the most part. At best we are just preaching to the choir,” David says. “My theory is this: if the church wakes up and becomes the Church again, everything else will fall naturally in place. Families, communities, politics, schools, our nation…the reason everything is in chaos is because the Church is asleep. My desire is to tell the Church that nap time is over. But I don’t just want to startle them awake; I want to show them how.” Recently, David had the opportunity


to lead a revival at First Bikers Church of Texarkana. His untraditional methods are sometimes a surprise for churches, but because of his singular desire to be driven by the Word and God’s calling, his choice to do things differently often leads to the biggest results. “One of the things I requested was some time on Saturday morning to do a simple Bible study,” David says. “That study became the catalyst for the weekend; it ended up lasting 3 hours. They were so pumped that I didn’t even get a chance to preach during the Saturday night service. The Spirit of God was moving and about 7 people came to know the Lord. It was a true movement of the Spirit and I was honored to be a part. To me, revival is that way: it’s not planned or controlled.” David’s radio ministry where he does a sixty second “drive by devotional” began out of KPYN 900 out of Atlanta and then moved to KEWL 95.1, and recently added a frequency out of Indiana where he can reach Lafayette, Indiana, the home of Purdue University. He has hopes to expand to another station after the first of the year. The coming year holds lots of opportunities for David and Truth Infusion Ministries. Tentatively, David will be recording a new music CD, is considering taking a part of a gospel quartet, and has several preaching and teaching events on the schedule. “I know God has a great plan for my family and this new ministry,” David says. “I’m looking forward to seeing individuals, pastors, congregations, and our community revived by the truth.” For more information about Truth Infusion Ministries, please visit Truthinfusion.com.

22 ALT Magazine

Texas A&M University-Texarkana recently launched its new club sports program, called Eagle Athletics. The

sports being offered to students include soccer, golf, crew, cross country and tennis. Only one sport was featured at the university during the past 40 years. The university hosted a men’s golf team in the early 1980’s. To further enhance Eagle Athletics, the university has also started a dance team. The team is coached by local well known dance instructor Gayle Burrow. Gayle is assisted by her daughter, Ali Burrow, who is an A&M-Texarkana student and former Miss Dallas 2010. The dance team is comprised of seven members: Kendall Barajas, Caitlin Clem, Kelsey Davis, Jayme Vaughan, Kayla Rozell, Taylor Granberry and team Captain Lydia Knight. After tryouts were conducted in October, the team immediately began training for performances. The dance team’s first performance was before an audience of about 400 on lookers at this year’s Mistletoe Fair. The team performed before The Texas A&M University System Chancellor, John

Sharp, during a recent campus visit by the Chancellor. Some of the team members were also introduced to the Women for A&M-Texarkana organization at their holiday social. The team’s next performance will be on January 28 at the Miss Texarkana Pageant, followed by a performance at the Pleasant Grove High School Showstoppers Spring Show.

Gayle, along with Ali’s assistance, has done a marvelous job getting the dance team to where it is today. Gayle is passionate about her love for dance. “I was a ‘Showgirl’ at Texas Christian University and I had a wonderful experience with that,” says Gayle. “I had danced since I was seven years old and found the dance team to be

an avenue to experience school spirit and feel like I was part of the university in more ways than just a student in the classroom.” Gayle also started the Pleasant Grove Showstopper drill team back in the 80’s. Ali is also enjoying her affiliation with the team. “I really enjoy working with the girls on the team,” says Ali. “They are

wonderful dancers, which makes my job much easier.” Ali also feels her work with the dance team is rewarding since she is about the same age as the team members. Gayle is looking forward to working with many high school girls in the area and beyond who will be coming to A&M-Texarkana and trying out for the dance team. The team plans to attend national competitions, host summer camps and continue to bring pride to the campus.

Tryouts for next year’s team will be in May and information will be available soon on the university’s website (TAMUT.edu). For more information about tryouts and becoming a team member, contact Gayle at [email protected] or Ali at [email protected].

Texas A&M-Texarkana Dance TeamAnnouncing

24 ALT Magazine

W I N T E R 2 0 1 2

Most Long Term Care Insurance Accepted Private Pay Rates Available Veterans Aides & Attendance Plans Call Today For Information

903-831-5555

Serving Texarkana and Surrounding Areas

28 ALT Magazine

W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 / c o n t e n t s

Publisher and Editor / Debbie Brower

Associate Editors / Jaclyn Gooding, Miranda Johnson

Photography / Image Forward Photography, Debbie Brower, Jaclyn Gooding, Miranda Johnson, Rozana Page

Sales & Marketing Manager / Charlie McMurphy

Feature Writers / Jane Bouterse, Anne Fruge

www.alt [email protected] Heather Dr., Texarkana, TX 75501(903) 334-9605

©2012 ALT Magazine

F E AT U R E S

3 1 T h e R e s o l u t i o n M a k e - O v e r

3 4 M y P l a t e

3 6 F i t n e s s F o r K i d s

4 3 4 , 0 0 0 Ye a r s a n d C o u n t i n g

5 0 I n - V i t r o U p d a t e !

H E L P F U L I N F O

4 6 D e s i g n S h o w c a s e

4 8 U n c o r k e d

5 2 A r k - L a - Te x R e s o u r c e G u i d ek / COVER

Healthy choicesMake healthy choices in the coming year! We’ll help you decide the direction you need to go!

35

36Kids and Fitness

Kids need to stay fit throughout the year! Here are some great

suggestions to help keep your kids in shape all year long!


New Year’s Resolutions have earned a bad reputation over the years, and rightly so. The dawn of the New

Year has quickly become a time to exasperatingly rectify our regrets of the past year, and then we shun the list after a few short weeks of struggling to reach our superhuman goals. This is especially true when it comes to fitness goals. As we struggle to button our favorite pants after holiday gorging and vow to never eat again or to work out every day of the next year, we set ourselves up for failure. Therefore, it’s time to give our resolutions a make-over of hope. This year isn’t about achieving the things that we can’t begin to have time for—unless our resolution is also to quit our jobs, stop cleaning our houses or spending time with our family. This year we are going to clear the muddied name of resolutions and replace our shame with accomplishment.

The good news is, we don’t have to look far. Opportunities abound locally for the Texarkana citizen to reach their fitness goals, whether it’s to build more muscle,

burn more calories, or find a way to eat healthier.

Break a Sweat

Even though its winter and the sweatpants are calling, don’t ignore the urge to get active. Not only will it feel better to get our hearts pumping and break a sweat, but it’s a great way to encourage our families

to do the same. Plus, when everyone in a household is all working toward a healthier lifestyle, choices to work out and eat better

will be easier.

According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, aerobic activity has life-long benefits for both our body and our minds. Their top reasons to get out and exercise are because it can “keep excess pounds at bay, increase stamina, ward off viral illnesses, reduce health risks, manage chronic conditions, strengthen your heart, keep your arteries clear and boost your mood.” So, join the gym, and check your workplace to see if they offer any gym discounts. Find a walking partner and head to Spring Lake Park or the Four States

Fairgrounds, take Fido for a much needed jog, or sign up for a fun exercise class at our local college or gym. With everything from step aerobics to Zumba, there is an exercise class that will fit your fitness goals.

Don’t have time to leave the

by Anne Fruge

ResolutionMake-over

The

32 ALT Magazine

house? Peruse your favorite website or local shopping center for DVDs from professionals who can help you work out at home. There are also personal trainers who will whip you into shape from your own living room. The possibilities are endless, and it only makes it easier to find something that you can stick with because of the vast opportunities to work out in a way that you enjoy.

Don’t torture yourself by walking miles on a treadmill if you dread doing it every day. Instead, if we can find a workout that we can look forward to, we will end up sticking with it longer.

Change Your Diet

Starvation is not an option. Remember, we are doing this the healthy way, which means that we want our bodies to get stronger and feel better, not weaker and sicker. Plus, no one can starve themselves forever, and then we are, once again, facing failure and shame. The truth is, we all know what to do to lose more weight. We need to drink more water, eat less processed and fast food, eat smaller meals throughout the day and make good dietary choices. If you’ve picked up a fitness magazine or watched any talk show in the last few months, you’ve heard the experts say the same things. Now, it’s time to put them into practice, and that can be the really hard part.

For accountability dieting, there are several great options to help get you started and keep you on track. First, most gyms have trainers who will talk to you about diet plans and take your personal food preferences into consideration. There are also healthy protein and smoothie places around the city where you can pick up a quick meal instead of swerving into a restaurant for a greasy burger and fries at the last minute, which you will inevitably, regret. In addition, appetite suppressants are available at local medical clinics. Another great way to curb calorie intake is through a diet system that either offers accountability through meetings or prepackaged meals. Plus for that last minute party, wedding or reunion, there are places that offer cellulite reduction, body wraps to lose inches, and of course, every woman’s best friend: Spanx.

Ultimately, it’s time to make a plan, and not just any list of resolutions, but the kind of plan that we can stick with. The changes that are true-lifestyle changes will stay with us in time to see bathing suit season, instead of being thrown away at the end of January. Let’s be good to ourselves this year and give our resolutions a break; they aren’t miracle workers. But with the right help and a little insight into our true goals, we can make this year a time of hope for a better, healthier future.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aerobic-exercise/EP00002/METHOD=print

www.alt-mag.com 33

Your Local Resource Guide

All About You4100 Summerhill Sq.Texarkana, TX903.792.7775

Anytime Fitness Richmond Road3415 Richmond Road.Texarkana, TX 75503903.794.5348

Christus St. Michael Fitness Center2223 Galleria Oaks DriveTexarkana, TX903.614.4441

Express Care5483 Summerhill RoadTexarkana, TX 75503903.223.5931

Salon Visage Esthetique4506 Summerhill Rd.Texarkana, TX903.794.4007

The Sanctuary3502 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX 75503903.334.8661

Training WheelsIn-Home Personal Training903.319.3096

Zumba with Lyndsay(Next to Sears(903.293.3647

Give these local businesses a call or visit to help you achieve your health and fitness goals for 2012!

34 ALT Magazine

Over the years, the food pyramid has taken it’s fair share of scrutiny and revisions, but all that is over now. First Lady Michele Obama has taken down the mighty pyramid and replaced it with a much simpler model called "my plate," a simple image of a plate divided into the major food groups people should consume most: fruits, vegetables, grains and protein. Dairy is featured as a beverage to the side of the plate.Many nutrition experts are praising the new design as a major improvement from the confusing and even misleading food pyramid, which critics said was too hard to understand and didn’t emphasize the right foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

Out with the old...

Information found at: www.theglobeandmail.com


Out with the old...

In with the new...

Others believe the food plate is a marginal improvement to a deeply flawed food pyramid that will likely have minimal effects on what the public consumes.

Bill Jeffery, national co-ordinator of the Canadian branch of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group, agreed the food plate has many flaws. For instance, it doesn’t recommend that people should control how many calories they consume in a day. It also fails to emphasize that people should eat foods that are low in sodium, a major oversight, he said.

But at the same time, while not perfect, the plate highlights serious problems with other guides to healthy eating, he said.

Major highlights of the new food plate:Simple design: Instead of a multicolored pyramid, the U.S. is now using a simple image of a plate to show Americans what the makeup of their diet should be.

No minimum amounts:

Unlike many food guides, including the one used by Canada, the new food plate model doesn’t suggest people eat a “minimum amount” of servings, which critics suggest leads to confusion because few consumers understand what constitutes a serving. In Canada, the food guide recommends how many servings of various foods people should eat a day, but critics argue few take the time to measure portions to get the right serving size.

Protein, not meat:

The food plate suggests people consume protein every day, but does not make mention of meat products. It’s an important distinction because many food guides have been criticized for recommending the consumption of red meat, for instance, which is tied to potential health risks.

Move over, dairy:

Although dairy is still included in the new design, it is featured off to the side as the image of a beverage. Some experts praised this move, saying it may emphasize consumption of low-fat milk over, say, cheese. Yet, others suggest dairy shouldn’t have been included as a food group at all.

36 ALT Magazine

ith obesity in children growing to a critical level many are concerned. Wonder how to promote fitness for kids? Start by getting in the game yourself — and allowing your child’s interests to guide the way.

For many kids, biking to the playground and playing kickball in the backyard have given way to watching television, playing video games and spending hours online. But it’s never too late to get your child

off the couch. Use these simple tips to give your child a lifelong appreciation for activities that strengthen his or her body.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLEYour active lifestyle can be a powerful stimulus for your child. If you want an active child, be active yourself. You can’t just “talk” activity — you need to make activity a priority for yourself as well. Go for a brisk walk, ride your bike or take a yoga class. Better yet, invite your family to play catch or to join you on a walk. Talk about physical activity as an opportunity to take care of your body, rather than a punishment or a chore. Praise, reward and encourage activity.

Wonder how much physical activity is enough? Consider these guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services: Kids. Children and adolescents age 6 and older need at least an hour a day of physical activity. Most of the hour should be either moderate or vigorous aerobic activity. In addition,

children should participate in muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities at least three days a week. Many classic activities — such as playing on playground equipment and jumping rope — cover all the bases at once. Adults. Most healthy adults

need at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking or swimming, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, such as running — preferably spread

GETTING CHILDREN OFF THE COUCH AND STAYING FIT TOGETHER

Encourage your children to get involved in physically active activities like dance, sports and other active interests they may have. Group activities as a family benefit all parties physically and promote

positive family life.


throughout the week. Adults also need strength training exercises at least twice a week.

LIMIT SCREEN TIMEA surefire way to increase your child’s activity level is to limit the number of hours he or she spends in front of a screen — including television, video games and online activities. For example, you might consider a limit of one or two hours a day and, for a better night’s sleep, no screen time in the hour before bed. To make it easier, don’t put a television in your child’s bedroom, don’t watch television while you’re eating dinner, and restrict computers and other electronic gadgets to a family area. Also consider limiting

other sedentary activities, such as text messaging or chatting on the phone.

If your child plays video games, opt for those that require movement. Activity-oriented video games — such as dance video games and video games that use

a player’s physical movements to control what happens on the screen — boost a child’s calorie-burning power. In a Mayo Clinic study, kids who traded sedentary screen time for active screen time more than doubled their energy expenditure.

ESTABLISH A ROUTINESet aside time each day for physical activity. Get up early with your child to walk the dog or take a walk together after dinner. Start small, gradually adding new activities to the routine as you — and your child — become more fit.

LET YOUR CHILD SET THE PACEFor many kids,

organized sports are a great way to stay fit. But team sports or dance classes aren’t the only options. If your child is artistically inclined, take a

nature hike to collect leaves and rocks for use in a collage. If your child likes to climb, head for the nearest jungle gym. If your child likes to read, walk or bike to a local library for a book. Or simply turn on your child’s favorite music and dance in the living room. Get creative as you

search for activities your child enjoys.

PROMOTE ACTIVITY, NOT EXERCISETo keep your child interested in fitness, make it fun: Get in the game. Play catch, get the whole family involved in a game of tag or have a jump-rope contest. Try classic movement games such as Simon says or red light, green light. If you don’t remember the rules, make up your own! Try an activity party. For your child’s next birthday, schedule a bowling party, take the kids to a climbing wall or set up relay races outside. Put your child in charge. Let your child choose an activity of the day or week. Batting cages, bowling and neighborhood play areas all count. What matters is that you’re doing something active. Give the gift of activity. Offer activity-related equipment, games or outings as gifts and rewards — both for your child and others.

Remember, incorporating physical activity into your child’s life does much

more than promote a healthy weight. It sets the foundation for a lifetime of fitness and good mental and physical health.

Information from www.mayoclinic.com

Teaching your child games like hopscotch and other physically active games is fun and beneficial!

Doing fitness activities with your children makes them feel special and also teaches them by example. Even teaching your child about healthy foods can be a fun and productive activity.

38 ALT Magazine

If you have already retired or if you can count the number of years until retirement on your fingers then please heed this friendly warning: Unless you’re already making the most of your current

retirement planning strategies, then it may be difficult to lay the groundwork for a financially secure future.

Don’t just take my word for it, though. Look at the numbers: The median income in households of Americans who are at least 65 years old is under $25,000, whereas the median household income for Americans under 65 is more than double that amount.*

Is your portfolio on a course that’s destined to lead to a retirement income shortfall? Consider these strategies that can help improve your long-term outlook.

During Your Working Years?Determine an appropriate time frame for applying for Social Security benefits. If you plan to apply before your so-called “full retirement age,” then you can expect to receive lower monthly benefits. Delaying your application could increase your benefits. Detailed information about your specific situation is available in the Social Security Statement mailed to you each year about three months before your birthday. Contact Social Security at least three months before retirement to apply for benefits.

When You Reach Retirement?Make arrangements for your retirement account distribution strategies. If you participate in a workplace retirement plan, contact your employer’s human resources office to learn what withdrawal options are available to you. Once you have that

information handy, you’ll need to decide whether to begin withdrawing money

from your taxable accounts first or from tax-deferred accounts first.

Keep in mind that the IRS requires most retirement savers to begin taking withdrawals known as required minimum distributions (RMDs) from employer-sponsored retirement accounts and traditional IRAs after reaching age 70½. If you don’t take your RMDs, you could be forced to

pay substantial tax penalties. RMD rules recently became less

complex, but it’s still important that you understand them and

implement an appropriate distribution strategy.

All Retirement Investors?Review your post-retirement medical

A Retirement Reality Check

by Dustin StringerStringer Wealth Management

LPL Financialwww.stringerwealthmanagement.net

insurance needs. For example, you might want to think about purchasing coverage to supplement Medicare benefits.

If you have made all eligible contributions to other qualified plans, then you may also want to consider funding an annuity now in order to receive a guaranteed income stream later in life.**

Your retirement security is very important. A smart first step to keeping your retirement strategies on track is to contact a qualified financial professional.

*Source: AARP, August 2005.

**Fixed annuities are long-term, tax-deferred investment vehicles designed for retirement purposes. Gains from tax-deferred investments are taxable as ordinary income upon withdrawal. Withdrawals made prior to age 59½ are subject to 10% IRS penalty tax and surrender charges apply. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company.© 2010 Standard & Poor’s Financial Communications. All rights reserved.

Find us on

Why is Oak Creek Furniture Different? We have chosen Amish furniture craftsmen who are recognized leaders in the solid wood furniture industry. Amish furniture is made by hand in small Amish wood shops so every piece of furniture receives the same attention to detail. Our Amish handcrafted furniture is built to last.

The Holidays Are AlwaysBright at Oak Creek Furniture!

Why all the fussabout details? Because the Amish craftsmen build furniture that your children and grandchildren will be proud to inherit. Come see our Amish-built bedroom furniture and oak dining room furniture. The selection of the boards and the grade of the hard wood, along with dovetailed drawers, mortise-and-tenon construction and the multi-step finish are all just small parts of the build process that add up to an heirloom quality piece of oak or cherry furniture.

Get CozyWith Your Valentine!

Double Rockers, Cozy Quilts, Portable Fireplaces, Delicious

Gourmet Foods to Share... Oak Creek Has the

Goods for Your Perfect Valentine’s Day!

New Year...New Remodel?

Visit Oak Creek Furniture!

Did you know...That most of the furniture made today uses substitute materials such as particleboard. Because particleboard is made from wood fragments bonded with resin, it is considered an all wood product BUT IT IS NOT solid wood.

Our Amish furniture is made of SOLID Oak, Cherry, Maple, Hickory or Quartersawn Oak.

Polywood Outdoor Furniture...At Oak Creek Furniture, you will find many different styles of polywood furniture. The material used is water and weather resistant, and most

importantly, created from recycled polyethylene. For this reason, our polywood lawn furniture is considered a green product.

There is no maintenance required, no cracking or splinting, and the polywood material does not promote bacterial growth or mildew. Choose from seven different colors and products such as swings, gliders, benches, deck chairs, table & chair sets, bridges and footrests.

The Holidays Are AlwaysBright at Oak Creek Furniture!

Lasting elegance...There is no better place to sit for a meal than around Amish dining room furniture. Amish dining room furniture is made for a family to sit around and enjoy not just the meal, but each other’s company, as well. All of our dining room furniture is sturdy and durable - your family and future generations of your family will be able to sit at and around our dining room furniture for years to come.

Huge Selection of GourmetGift Baskets& Goodies!


46 B.C. arbitrarily solved that problem when he created the Julian calendar which again established January 1 as the beginning of the new year.

Not surprisingly, the Romans started the ball rolling with Janus, their mythical king/god with two faces so that he could look backward and forward at the same time. The face on the back of his head could look back on the past. Because of what he saw, many Romans sought forgiveness from their enemies. On the front of his head his forward face was able to look ahead to new happenings; then the Romans began the tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year’s Eve. The gifts were usually branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Eventually the imprint of Janus on nuts or coins became more common New Year’s gifts. Choosing Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances, as the god who presided over the first month of the new year was an obvious choice. As a tribute to Janus, January—the year’s first month —was named after him.

Tampering with the calendar over the centuries may have changed the times of the new year’s arrival, but the tradition of

celebrating chances for change has existed throughout societies for at least 4000 years. Most traditions center on the presence or absence of good luck within the household, still a major motivator for new year’s choices. For example--The BRITISH place their fortunes for the coming year in the hands of their first guest. They believe the first visitor of each year should be male and bearing gifts. Traditional gifts are coal for the fire, a loaf for the table and a drink for

4000 Years and Counting

by Jane Bouterse

He appears often and obviously, so take a look at his hair. President Obama’s once dark hair is now sprinkled with a generous helping of gray—a visible reminder that having the

most powerful job in the world brings with it not only perks but also problems. Although there is only President at a time (so none of us have to worry, do we?), his appearance reminds us all that life is demanding. The arrival of a new year, then, is an ideal time for taking inventory of our own demanding lives—What are our priorities?—and resolving to change for the better-- What do we want to do? But first, a look at the history and traditions of the New Year’s arrival builds a base for understanding its importance.

Actually, the arrival of the New Year has moved around because of calendar changes—solar calendars, lunar calendars, seasons, manipulation. Since most early societies had no written calendars, they based their definition of a year on agricultural cycles. Four thousand years ago the new year was determined for the Babylonians by the spring and autumn equinoxes, the times for planting and harvesting. Almost 2,000 years ago, the arrival of the Babylonian new year would have been about March 23. When the new year arrived, Babylon was one big party marked by paying debts and returning borrowed goods for starters. Celebrating lasted about 11 days—celebrations which (historians report) make today’s festivities seem tame. The Roman celebration in 153 B.C. followed the Babylonian tradition until tampering by various emperors got the year totally out of sync with the sun. Julius Caesar in

44 ALT Magazine

50% of adults in North America will make a New

Year’s resolution

the master. For good luck, the guest should enter through the front door and leave through the back. Guests who are empty-handed or unwanted are not allowed to enter first.-- HAITIANS wear new clothing and exchange gifts in the hope that it will bode well for the new year.– In SPAIN, when the clock strikes midnight, the Spanish eat 12 grapes, one with every toll, to bring good luck for the 12 months ahead. PERUVIANS eat the 12 then add a 13th grape for good luck.– The JAPANESE decorate their homes in tribute to lucky gods. One tradition, kadomatsu, consists of a pine branch symbolizing longevity, a bamboo stalk symbolizing prosperity, and a plum blossom showing nobility.– For the CHINESE New Year, every front door is adorned with a fresh coat of red paint, red being a symbol of good luck and happiness. Although the whole family prepares a feast for the New Year, all knives are put away for 24 hours to keep anyone from cutting themselves, which is thought to cut the family’s good luck for the next year. Traditions dominate the New Year’s holiday celebrations, and many of those extend to the food consumed either on New Year’s Eve or the first day itself. In SICILY an old tradition says good luck will come to those who eat lasagna on New Year’s Day, but woe to those who dine on macaroni, for any other noodle will bring bad luck. A special GREEK New Year’s bread is baked with a coin buried in the dough. The first slice is for the Christ child, the second for the father of the household and the third slice is for the house. If the third slice holds the coin, spring will come early that year. Good luck food choices in America vary from one region of the country to another. Pork and sauerkraut are absolute necessities

in Pennsylvania Dutch country along with cooked apples. Southern tables groan with Black-eyed peas and cooked Collard Greens complemented by Buttermilk cornbread. Ethnic traditions abound as well. Food traditions in the U. S. may prove difficult to enjoy if followed by a night of revelry. Midnight is the magic moment for American celebrants who may have welcomed the New Year with a kiss as the toll of the New Year’s first moments splits the air. The kiss at the stroke of midnight is derived from masked balls, commonplace throughout history. As tradition has it, the masks symbolize evil spirits from the old year and the kiss is the purification into the new year.

New Year’s revelry in the U.S. tends to look toward New York City’s Times Square and the dropping of the ball, a tradition begun in 1907 when the iron ball commissioned by Adolph S. Ochs, publisher of the New York TIMES, was dropped from a 70-foot flagpole at midnight. That iron globe was lighted by 216 electric

lamps. Today’s 1,200 pound sphere is clad in Waterford crystal and carries 30,000 watts of light-emitting diodes. Over 100 cities around the country have created their own versions of the globe drop—still at midnight on the first day of the new year. REVELRY is an important part of the New Year’s Eve celebration, but one night of revelry is followed by 12 months of routine. During those 365 days the new year’s RESOLUTIONS, i.e. usually plans for changing behavior during the year, must be accomplished. RESOLUTIONS begin …. First, with an inventory. Maya Angelou, The Phenomenal Woman reared in Stamps, AR, provides a jump start on this project:


“I’ve learned,” she writes, “that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life.’ I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people never forget how you made them feel.”

Obviously our lives are comprised of those things not only learned but also those actions desired. Aha! Therein lies much of the problem, and that has been true for almost 4000 years. Enter: New Year’s RESOLUTIONS for action. Some interesting “Miscellaneous Facts About New Year’s Resolutions” appear on the www.psychologytoday.com web site:

50% of adults in North America will make a New Year’s resolution (Nor-cross & Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60).

The top two resolutions are behavioral commitments related to improving one’s health namely to cease smoking and decrease one’s consumption of alcohol (Norcross & Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60). Losing weight and implementing a regular exercise program also rate very high.

Some discouraging information: Most people fail in adhering to their stated New Year’s resolutions. Specifically, 22% fail after one week, 40% after one month, 50% after three months, 60% after six months, and 81% after twenty-four months (Norcross &Vangarelli, 1988, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 60).

Three reasons for failing to achieve one’s stated goals (Baumeister and

Heatherton 1996, as cited by Koestner 2008, p. 61)

(1) Unclear and vague goals. It is better to state “I plan on losing 20 lbs. by June 1st” rather than “I plan on being more healthy.”

(2) Failure to gauge one’s progress toward the stated goals. It is bet-ter to weigh yourself every Friday morning as a means of gauging your weight loss rather than leav-ing it to how “well you feel in your pants” or weighing every day.

(3) Weak self-control and self-regu-lation when facing challenges that impede one’s ability to achieve the stated goals. It is better to state that once you go on vacation, you will only have a single plate at any meal at the all-you-can-eat buffet (respective of the offerings) rather than having to respond to the temptations at each meal void of a self-regulatory action plan. Choos-ing single helpings also assists in self-regulation.

Several suggestions may assist in succeeding at whatever RESOLUTIONS are made: First, Write your RESOLUTIONS. Keep them specific and simple. Read them often.

Second, Find a buddy so that you two can share your successes and shore each other up in moments of weakness and weariness Finally, Track your progress. Keep a journal or use www.43things.com

Lia Steakley Dicker is a Seattle based journalist and editor of the 43 Things Book: Dream It. List It. Do It. How to Live a Bigger and Bolder Life. She has created the website to assist goal-setters in achieving their goals. Who knows? You may achieve one goal and create yet another

As Hallmark reminds us LIFE IS A SPECIAL OCCASION—so live it to its fullest—

In 2012…

READ

RECALL

REVIEW

RESOLVE

REVEL

REJOICE

IT’S 4000 YEARS AND COUNTING!

GOOD LUCK!

46 ALT Magazine

Design Showcase

After redecorating the dining room two years ago, the homeowner decided recently to update the kitchen.

The family has grown and they felt a need for more seating, so a larger table in the breakfast area and more bar stools around the island was the perfect solution. For the perfectly coordinating table, we ordered a new table in a custom size and chairs in the same finish as the newly painted cabinets in the breakfast area from Oak Creek Furniture.

To bring in the new, more accommodating island, the old island and the desk area in the breakfast room had to be torn out. The new and improved island, in knotty alder with a walnut stain, was put in to accommodate four

1) Cream Cabinets with Java Glaze.

2) New Island with Extra Seating.

3) New Custom Dining Table.

4) Painted Cabinets and Quartz Countertops. 5) New Bronze Appliances.

6) New Large Tile Floor.

7) New Vinyl Wallpaper.

8) New Faucet and Backsplash.

bar stools instead of just two. New flooring was installed, a larger tile on the diagonal. The painters came in next and painted the existing golden oak cabinets in a cream color with a java glaze. The ceilings were painted in a slightly lighter color than the cabinets, accented by white trim.

The new wallpaper is a commercial grade vinyl. It has a texture and a tone on tone look to it, which really adds visual interest. It made the most impact to the room. The fruit wallpaper that was there just had to go!

Copper Canyon granite was installed on the island and a quartz (Jerusalem Sand) was installed on the newly painted cabinets. A combination of ceramic tile, glass and metal

made for an interesting look as the backsplash. New appliances, cabinet hardware and lighting in bronze added to the custom look. The window treatments and accessories are the finishing touch. I think the kitchen turned out fabulous and my client is very happy. I love my job!

-Janet,Janet Green

Interior Design


1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6. 7.

8.

48 ALT Magazine

by Vincent Senatore

It’s January and time for us to begin a new year with zest and enthusiasm. The holiday lights and ornaments are

stowed away and it’s time for us to make the memories that we will be discussing later this year.

First, we’ll be making those pesky New Year’s resolutions that will be forgotten by Valentine’s Day. Then we will search for new ways to make our lives more interesting and fun. This is the part, I like.

I was thinking about how many new wines and unique foods I found last year (2011). Further, as I thought back through my 35 years in the wine Industry, I was amazed to realize that there were quite a few surprises during 2011 and I suspect there will be equally as many new surprises in 2012. I wish I had a dime for every time I used the expression “This was one of the best dinners, or best wines, or best dishes that I have tasted in years. I was not trying to be nice. I really meant it.

From a wine perspective, there are hundreds of wine producing regions from all over the world. Further, there are hundreds of grape varieties and clones of those grape varieties that are planted in many different soils and micro-climates. Each of these grapes will produce a totally different and unique style of wine. That’s why retailers should be very careful in qualifying their customers as to the style of a specific grape variety. If I’m asked for a Chardonnay, I need to ascertain where in the flavor profile my customer wants to be.

Basically, most wine is produced in the same manner. When the grapes are ripe and the natural sugar levels are high enough, the grapes are picked and brought to the winery for fermentation. The stems are separated from the berries and the grapes are crushed. Some white varieties are fermented with their skins and some are separated from the

skin. All red grape varieties are fermented with the grape skins because the wine gets its color from the skins while it is in contact with the juice. Prior to fermentation, all grape juice is clear.

Once the grapes are crushed, fermentation begins immediately. Either the natural yeasts that are present on the skins or the addition of cultured yeast will start this process. The yeast will interact with the sugar in the juice and the sugar will be transformed into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. If the gas is allowed to escape, we have still wine. If the gas is retained, the by-product is sparkling wine.

Obviously, there are thousands of variations to the process that I just mentioned. However, this is how wine is produced. As long as there is sugar and yeast present, there will be some sort of fermentation. The fun part of this process is every year there will be a completely different grape grown on the same vines and the weather will determine the degree of sugar present in the grape juice.

Remember this: as a vine gets older (12 to 50 years),

the vine produces a more complex wine. Also, the vineyard master (grape grower) will control the quality of the future wine by pruning the buds and the leaves to maintain the maximum concentration of nutrition and photosynthesis for the remaining bunches of grapes on that vine, therefore producing the perfect number of grape clusters and the best growing conditions per vine. When all of the above is “just right,” fermentation is just a process.

Starting from the Beginning...


The reason I keep getting fascinated by the new wines that come across my desk is because every year they’re unique to the vintage, to the vineyard and the value. It seems to me that as the single vineyard wines get older and the vines are producing higher quality grapes, food seems to work better with the same wines from a newer vintage. One of my favorite examples from 2011 was at a wine dinner that we produced at the Fillin Station Grill with Jeff Loving. I had tasted 2007 Santa Barbara Vineyards Pinot Noir with food earlier in the year. Later that year we tasted Grilled Quail, stuffed with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto. This time, we had the 2008 Pinot Noir and I was absolutely awestruck by the quality and the compatibility with the dish. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for their new wine.

It’s 2012 and it’s time for us to renew our palates with some old favorites from new vintages and try them with some old favorites. I’m looking forward to the Santa Barbara Pinot Noir paired with a Roasted pork tenderloin drizzled with a red wine reduction. In fact, with all the great chefs in Texarkana, I’m really looking forward to an extraordinary year of food and wine affinities.

All I can say is… “Fuggetaboudit”

Remember to consume your adult beverages in moderation.

50 ALT Magazine

On August 1st, 2010 we had the last two of our seven embryos implanted. 39 weeks later, April 13, 2011, Eden Blue Harris came into this world and blessed our family, weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz and 19 inches long. She had a head full of hair! (none of which has she lost). Everyday she changes and grows and gets more personality. She now has 2 teeth, is trying to crawl and walk, and she makes silly faces when she knows you are watching her. We cannot imagine life now without her; she truly completes our family. We feel so blessed after everything we went through and we just want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. And thank you to ALT magazine for sharing our story. We hope that if there are couples out there struggling with infertility that this will give them hope and inspiration and help them to come to a decision that is right for their family.

Update!

Remember our in vetro

fertilization article from January 2011?

We’re so excited to share with you an

update on a few of these families!

It has been an exciting year for the Reardon household. Holden (our first, conceived after in vetro fertilization)

The Reardons: Shannon, Kirk, Cooper and Holden

celebrated his first birthday on January 12, 2011. He went from baby to toddler in the blink of an eye and has given us more laughter than we ever could have imagined. I was pregnant (a wonderful surprise by natural conception) most of 2011 and went on bed rest for several months so Kirk did most of the duties during that time, which created an unbelievable bond between the two. We transitioned from baby to toddler and then back to baby when Cooper Dean Reardon was born on August 12, 2011. Weighing in at 7.4 lbs and 19.5 inches, he was a little thing compared to big brother. Holden loves “Tooter” and we have to be careful of his rough love. :) We feel truly blessed with our growing family and sometimes I can not believe I have two under two years when just several years ago, I didn’t know if I would ever be able to have just one. Who knows what the future will bring us. Since Cooper was conceived naturally, we could be a family of 5. For now, I am happy with the wonderful chaos our family of 4 brings.

The Harris’: Alex, Lisa, Eden and Jordan

Eden Blue Harris

FROM THE HARRIS FAMILY

FROM THE REARDON FAMILY

52 ALT Magazine

Air and HeatingCentral Air450 S. Kings HighwayTexarkana, TX 75501903.832.1212

Kraus Heating and Air200 Industrial Blvd.Nash, TX 903.831.3912

ApartmentsArista Apartments3515 Arista Blvd.Texarkana, TX903.255.7869

Legacy at Pleasant Grove5911 Richmond Rd.Texarkana, TX888.763.2676

Richmond Oaks Apartments2815 Richmond Rd. Texarkana, TX 903.832.6150

Summerhill Woods Apartments4501 Summerhill Rd.Texarkana, TX 903.793.7888

Westwood Apartments101 Redwater Rd.Wake Village, TX 903.832.8446

AttireAbby Gayle’s4012 Summerhill SquareTexarkana, TX 903.792.0088

Gayle’s4059 Summerhill SquareTexarkana, TX903.792.0056

BanksGuaranty Bond Bank2202 St. Michael Dr.Texarkana, TX 903.792.8600

Red River Federal Credit Union2700A University Ave.Texarkana, TX 75503903-735-3000800-822-3317

Texar Federal Credit UnionRichmond Rd.Texarkana, TX 903.223.5626

Texarkana First Bank3601 East 9th St.Texarkana, AR 870.772.0222615 Sam Houston Dr.New Boston, TX 3625 Richmond Rd.Texarkana, TX 903.793.6955

CakesColdstone Creamery4228 St. Michael Dr.Texarkana, TX903.838.2653

Julie’s Deli4055 Summerhill Sq.Texarkana, TX903.792.3354

Reception ArtsBecky RisingerAshdown, AR870.898.5273

Caterers/Private ChefChappo’s Italian Restaurant1617 New Boston RoadTexarkana, TX 75501903.791.1726

Chef on the RunJeff Loving903.276.8081

Christine CorleyPrivate Chef850.728.0900

Culinary CreationsPam Elliott903.831.4674


Smokey Joe’s BBQ300 W. New Boston RoadNash, TX903.223.8227

Wendy’s4201 Stateline AvenueTexarkana, TX2902 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX3737 New Boston RoadTexarkana, TX1615 N. HerveyHope, AR124 N. Loop Highway 59Atlanta, TX

Wingstop2700 Richmond Road, Suite 14A1Texarkana, TX903.255.00904501 N. State Line,No. 106Texarkana, TX903.792.9464

ChurchHighland Park Baptist Church2401 Hazel St.Texarkana, TX903.792.6996

ClothingAbby Gayle’s4012 Summerhill SquareTexarkana, TX903.792.0088

Gayle’s4059 Summerhill SquareTexarkana, TX903.792.0056

OMG Lulu3211 Kennedy LaneTexarkana, TX 903.223.8135116 Polk St.Jefferson, TX903.665.8855

Ark-La-TexResourceGuide

Cosmetic SurgeryCarmony Oral, Facial and Dental Center5305 Cowhorn CreekTexarkana, TX 903.791.8405

Dry CleaningHoliday CleanersLocations throughout Texarkana Area 870.773.4072

EntertainmentBounce-A-LotTexarkana, TX903.792.0113www.bounce-a-lot.org

Oaklawn Opry124 Oaklawn VillageTexarkana, TX903.838.3333

Event LocationsGarrison GardensTexarkana, AR 71854870.773.0275www.garrisongardens.net

Prissy Chrissy Ranch915 FM 2148 SouthTexarkana, TX 75501903.838.6121www.prissychrissy.com

Regional Arts CenterCabe Hall321 W. 4th StreetTexarkana, TX 75501903.792.8681www.trahc.org

Financial PlannerDustin StringerStringer Wealth Management1620 N. Kings HighwayNash, TX903.223.0011

Fitness CentersAnytime Fitness Richmond Road3415 Richmond Road.Texarkana, TX 75503903.794.5348

Minton’s Sportsplex5610 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX 903.838.4697

Zumba with LyndsayCentral Mall(Next to Sears)903.293.3647

FloristsQueen City FloralHighway 59 NorthQueen City, TX 903.796.2891

Ruth’s Flowers3501 Texas Bllvd.Texarkana, TX 903.793.6711www.ruthsflowers.net

Twisted Vines Florist and Cafe406 N. Stateline AvenueTexarkana, AR870-772-2700

FurnitureOak Creek Furniture8024 West 7th St.Texarkana, TX 903.832.0793

GiftsDot’s Ace Hardware3411 Richmond Rd.Texarkana, TX 903.838.0059

Pleasant Grove PharmacyBaits and Blades3302 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX903.832.4545

Queen City FloralHighway 59 NorthQueen City, TX 903.796.2891

Twisted Vines Florist and Cafe218 W. Broad St.Texarkana, TX903.792.2700

Hair CareHeadmasters Hair Salon3703 Mall DriveTexarkana, TX903.832.6261


Style StudioLisa Harris3201 Kennedy LaneTexarkana, TX 903.223.1719

Home Designs/RemodelingRed River Lumber CompanyHighway 71 NorthTexarkana, TX903.794.0039

G&A Carpet1019 N. Kings Hwy.Nash, TX903.832.0553

Taylored Home Solutions2840 Richmond Rd.Texarkana, TX903.278.2353

HospiceDierksen Hospice6500 N. Summerhill Road, Suite 2BTexarkana, TX903.793.6350

HospitalsChristus St. Michael Health System2600 St. Michael Dr.Texarkana, TX903.614.1000

Health South Rehabilitation515 West 12th St.Texarkana, TX903.793.0088

Wadley Hospital1000 Pine St.Texarkana, TX903.798.8000

HotelsBest Western Texarkana Inn & Suites5219 Crossroads ParkwayTexarkana, AR870.774.1534

Clarion Lacross Hotel5100 N. Stateline Ave.Texarkana, AR870.774.3521www.lacrosse-hotel.com

Courtyard by Marriott5001 North Cowhorn CreekTexarkana, TX903.334.7400

Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott4209 Mall Dr.Texarkana, TX 903.838.1000

Holiday Inn Express & Suites4545 Cowhorn Creek RoadTexarkana, TX 903.223.0008

TownePlace Suites by Marriott5020 North Cowhorn CreekTexarkana, TX903.334.8800

InsuranceBrian PurtleAllstate Insurance3301 Richmond Rd.Texarkana, TX 903.832.5881

Elite InsuranceTammy McDowell1705 N. Kings HighwayNash, TX 903.794.0000

Farm Bureau Insurance4140 McKnight Rd.Texarkana, TX903.838.8707

Greg Cockerell State Farm Insurance4807 Texas Blvd.Texarkana, TX 75503903.793.7502

Kelli Ashbrook State Farm Insurance3410 Moores LaneTexarkana, TX 75503903.223.8100www.kelliashbrook.com

Kristi Smith State Farm Insurance418 Walton DriveTexarkana, TX 903.223.3276

Ron Morrow State Farm Insurance3306 Richmond Rd.Texarkana, TX 75503903.832.5505www.ronmorrowagency.com

JewelersAlexander’s Jewelers3701 Mall DriveTexarkana, TX903.832.3557

Blue Isle Expressions3402 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX903.791.9992

Crocker’s Jewelers3117 Kennedy LaneTexarkana, TX903.832.8686

Micah’s Jewelers2812 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX903.735.2336

Make-upGayle’s4059 Summerhill SquareTexarkana, TX903.792.0056

Salon Visage EsthetiqueMary Ann Robbins4506 Summerhill Rd.Texarkana, TX903.794.4007

SanctuaryKimberly Parham, M.D.3502 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX 75503903.334.8661

Medical EquipmentRespiratory Solutions3101 Kennedy Lane, Suite 1000Texarkana, TX 75503903.793.2110

PhotographerImage Forward Photography200 Heather Dr.Texarkana, TX 75501903.334.9605www.imageforwardtxk.com

PhysiciansExpress Care5483 Summerhill RoadTexarkana, TX 75503903.223.5931

Vision Source4401 Morris LaneTexarkana, TX 903.838.9063

PlumbingCentral Air/Roto Rooter450 S. Kings HighwayTexarkana, TX 75501903.832.1212

Real EstateConnie WalkerColdwell Banker United3001 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX903.277.0100903.832.2486

Impact RealtyBill and Tracy Spradlin1200 N. Kings Hwy., Suite 104Nash, TX903.748.3186903.748.2477

Satterfield Construction, LLC903.832.4591www.satterfieldservices.com

Teresa LiepmanRemax5120 Summerhill Rd.Texarkana, TX 75503903.276.9464

Bryce’s Cafeteria2021 Mall DriveTexarkana, TX 903.792.1611

Chappo’s Italian Restaurant1617 New Boston RoadTexarkana, TX 75501903.791.1726

City Blends600 N. Kings Hwy, Suite 5Wake Village, TX430.200.2814

Coldstone Creamery4228 St. Michael Dr.Texarkana, TX903.838.2653

Daddy Dougaloo’s905 New Boston RoadTexarkana, TX 75503903.791.0172

Dairy QueenLocations throughout Ark-La-Tex

Golden Corral3809 Sowell LaneTexarkana, TX 903.334.8399

Ironwood Grill4312 Moores LaneTexarkana, TX903.223.4644


RefreshmentsBolls Distributing700 E. Broad St.Texarkana, AR 870.774.9283

Vincent’s Fine Wines6900 N. StatelineTexarkana, AR 870.774.7217

RentalsBounce-A-Lot903.276.2961www.bounce-a-lot.org

Dot’s Rentals814 N. Robison RoadTexarkana, TX 75501903.792.70113413 Richmond Rd.Texarkana, TX903.838.0551

Twisted Vines Twisted Vines Florist and Cafe218 W. Broad St.Texarkana, TX903.792.2700

RestaurantsAmigo Juan Mexican Cafe4301 Morris LaneTexarkana, TX903.334.69711200 N. HerveyHope, AR 870.777.0006611 Loop 59Atlanta, TX 903.796.2400

54 ALT Magazine

Los Agaves5100 N. Stateline Ave.Texarkana, AR870.773.2300

Shorty’s Donuts2729 New Boston RoadTexarkana, TX 75501903.832.6686


Tasty Donuts1443 N. Kings HighwayNash, TX 903.838.0422

Twisted Vines Florist and Cafe218 W. Broad St.Texarkana, TX903.792.2700

Wendy’s4201 Stateline AvenueTexarkana, TX2902 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX3737 New Boston RoadTexarkana, TX1615 N. HerveyHope, AR124 N. Loop Highway 59Atlanta, TX

Wingstop2700 Richmond Road, Suite 14A1Texarkana, TX903.255.00904501 N. State Line,No. 106Texarkana, TX903.792.9464

Retirement/Assisted Living HomeCornerstone Retirement Community4100 Moores LaneTexarkana, TX903.832.5515

Edgewood Manor4925 Elizabeth St.Texarkana, TX903.793.4645

The Magnolia4205 Richmond MeadowsTexarkana, TX 75503903.838.7319

Spas/SalonsAll About YouDiana Gregory/Lori Campbell4100 Summerhill Sq.Texarkana, TX903.792.7775

Hawaii Nails & Spa4280 St. Michael Dr.Texarkana, TX 75503903.832.0198

Salon Visage EsthetiqueMary Ann Robbins4506 Summerhill Rd.Texarkana, TX903.794.4007

The SanctuaryKimberly Parham, M.D.3502 Richmond RoadTexarkana, TX 75503903.334.8661

Sporting GoodsBaits and Blades3302 Richmond Rd.Texarkana, TX903.832.4545

Wedding AttireBridal Castle3209 Kennedy LaneTexarkana, TX903.838.3886

Wedding CoordinatorsAbracadabra Wedding and Event PlanningDebra Mason, Event [email protected]

Wedding FavorsPop Pop Shoppe2011 Mall Drive, Suite BTexarkana, TX903.793.0209

Wedding OfficiantJeff [email protected]

Wedding PlannersAbracadabra Wedding and Event PlanningDebra Mason, Event [email protected]

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner LocationsJulie’s Deli4055 Summerhill Sq.Texarkana, TX903.792.3354



ired of the same old Superbowl party staples? Check out these upgraded takes on traditional Superbowl food and decorations!

Total Time: 1 hr 30 minPrep: 15 minCook: 1 hr 15 min

Cut the tops off 2 heads garlic, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil and bake at 400 degrees until tender, 45 minutes. Make Onion Dip using the roasted garlic pulp in place of the sauteed onions. Add 6 slices chopped crisp bacon.

Onion DipSaute 1 each chopped yellow and red onion in olive oil over low heat until caramelized, 30 minutes; cool. Mix with 1 1/2 cups sour cream, 3/4 cup mayonnaise and chopped chives and scallions. Add Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.

Total Time: 3 hr 15 minPrep: 15 minServings: 30 servings, about 2 Tbsp. spread and 5 crackers each

Ingredients:2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened1 pkg. (8 oz.) KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese1/2 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing1/4 tsp. pepper2 green onions, chopped1 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans2 Tbsp. pimiento stripsRITZ Crackersmake it

Beat first 5 ingredients with mixer until blended. Stir in onions. Refrigerate several hours.

Form into football shape; coat with nuts.Add pimentos for the lacing. Serve with crackers.

Total Time: 1 hr 5 minPrep: 25 minServings: 48 servings

Ingredients:1-1/2 cups balsamic vinegar1 lb. trimmed thin cut boneless beef rib-eye steak1/2 tsp. each granulated garlic, chili powder and dry mustard1/2 tsp. each dried thyme, basil, kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper1/4 tsp. each white pepper and cayenne4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided1 cup sweet onion, quartered, thinly sliced1 cup red bell pepper, cut in julienne stips, 1” long1/2 cup each yellow bell pepper and Anaheim chile, cut in julienne stips, 1” long1 Tbsp. minced garlic1-1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce1 pkg. (8 oz.) KRAFT DELI DELUXE Process Jalapeno American Cheese SlicesRITZ Crackers

58 ALT Magazine

In a small saucepan, bring 1-1/2 cups balsamic vinegar to a boil, then simmer gently over low heat 40 min. until reduced to 1/3 cup.

Cut meat across the grain into ¼”-thick slices, then julienne to 1”-long pieces. In a large bowl, combine dry spices. Add steak pieces; toss to evenly coat. Set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers and Anaheim chile and sauté 4-5 min., stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook 1-2 min. Remove to a plate. Heat remaining oil in same skillet. Add steak and cook 2 min. until done, stirring frequently. Add the 1-1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar and the Worcestershire sauce, stir to combine. Add the vegetables and cook until heated through. Drain excess liquid.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut each cheese slice into 6 pieces. Place 1 piece on each of 48 crackers, then top with approximately 1 Tbsp. of the steak mixture. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake 5 min., or until cheese melts. Place on serving plate and drizzle with the balsamic reduction. Top each with a second cracker.

Makes: 16 snacksPrep: 15 minsBake: 18 minsCook: 5 mins

Ingredients:16 large frozen French-fried waffle-cut potatoes (1/3 of a 22-oz. pkg.) 1 pound ground beef or turkey 2 - 3 teaspoons grilling seasoning blend

4 slices cheddar cheese, cut into quarters (4 oz.) 4 cherry tomatoes, sliced Mustard, ketchup, dairy sour cream, and/or dill pickle slices

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Evenly space potatoes on baking sheet. Bake potatoes for 18 to 20 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned. Remove from oven. Adjust oven racks and preheat broiler.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine meat and seasoning. Form into sixteen 1-ounce mini burgers (about 2 tablespoons). In a 12-inch skillet cook burgers, uncovered, over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until temperature registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, turning burgers once halfway through cooking. Drain fat. Top each potato with a burger, cheese quarter, and tomato slice. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted and tomato begins to brown. Serve with mustard, ketchup, sour cream, and/or pickles.

Total Time: 1 hr 50 minPrep: 10 minInactive: 10 minCook: 1 hr 30 min

Ingredients:3 russet potatoes, scrubbed4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled2 tablespoons butter, melted1 clove garlic, minced3/4 cup Cheddar1/2 cup barbecue sauce, warm1/2 pound pulled porkSour cream, for topping2 tablespoons snipped chives, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake potatoes on middle rack until fork tender, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and let sit until cool enough to handle.Bake 4 strips of bacon on a small sheet pan in the oven for 15 minutes. Crumble bacon when it’s cooled.

Preheat grill to medium heat.

Taco or Frito Pie in a bag! No mess to clean and very easy!

Cute and easy grass/football cupcakes.

Choclate covered strawberry footballs.

Carved melon helmet.

Football deviled eggs.

Turn the classic Mexican layered dip into a football field!

You know we had to put in a plug for our Cowboys, even if it is just wishful thinking!

Great idea for a table cloth, using the fake turf material with “yard lines.”

And, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of the fake turf using simple green felt

and white ribbon looks great, too.


Cut potatoes in half, lengthwise, and spoon out the flesh, leaving a half inch shell.

Melt the butter in saucepan and add minced garlic. Brush potatoes with the butter and garlic mixture. Flip over and butter the bottoms.

Place potatoes on grill and cook until crisp, about 4 to 4 1/2 minutes on each side and remove from grill.

Divide the cheese, barbecue sauce and pulled pork among the potatoes. Top potato skins with sour cream, crumbled bacon and chives for garnish.

(We think this would also be great to make minis potato snacks with!)

Yields: 12 servings

Ingredients:2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni1 tablespoon butter1 egg, beaten1 cup milk1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs2 teaspoon olive oil1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 to 1 teaspoon truffle oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. In a small bowl, mix the bread crumbs, olive oil and salt.

Cook the elbow macaroni for about 8 minutes; they should still be a little bit firm. Remove from the heat, drain and place in a pan. Stir in the butter and egg until pasta is evenly coated.

Reserve 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar cheese. Stir the remaining cheddar cheese, Parmesan and mozzarella, along with some milk and truffle oil into the pasta.

Spoon into the prepared muffin tin. Sprinkle the reserved cheese and the bread crumb

mixture over the tops.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Makes: 24 servingsPrep: 10 minsFreeze: 30 minsBake: 350°F 12 mins

Ingredients:1/2 17.3 ounce package frozen puff pastry (1 sheet), thawed 1 tablespoon milk 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry sheet into a 14x10-inch rectangle. Brush pastry with some of the milk; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and pepper. Starting at a short side, loosely roll up into a spiral, stopping at the center. Repeat rolling up, starting at the other short side. Wrap in plastic wrap; freeze for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or foil; set aside. Unwrap roll and place on a cutting board. Brush with remaining milk. Using a serrated knife and a sawing motion, cut pastry roll crosswise into 3/8-inch-thick slices. Place slices 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets, reshaping as necessary.

Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until crisp and golden. Transfer to a wire rack; cool slightly. Serve warm. Makes about 24 spirals.from the test kitchen

Make Ahead Tip Prepare as directed through Step 1. Freeze for up to 1 month. Unwrap, cut, and bake as directed. (If roll is too hard to slice while frozen, let it stand at room temperature until it’s easy to slice.)

Step One – Team Colors Gelatin2 cups water2 envelopes Knox gelatin

2 3 oz. boxes flavored gelatin dessert in team colors (For the Packers, I usedPineapple and Lime flavors - for the Steelers black, I added two drops of McCormick black food coloring before chilling. Sugar free or regular gelatin is fine - sugar free gelatin dissolves very easily!)2 cups ice cold vodka or rum (separated, and note that flavored liquor is nice but not required)

Pour water into a small saucepan and sprinkle with gelatin. Allow to soak for a minute of two. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved (about 5 minutes).

Pour the flavored gelatin powder into two separate bowls. Divide the hot gelatin mixture and add one part to each bowl. Stir until dissolved. Let cool for a few minutes, then stir in the liquor. Pour into four separate containers to chill - (standard 1 lb loaf pans, about 8” x 4”, work well in order to have relatively symmetrical gelatin blocks.) Chill until fully set, several hours or overnight.

Step Two – Creamy gelatin2 cups water2 1/2 envelopes Knox gelatin (1/2 envelope is about 1 tsp gelatin powder)1/2 of a 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Pour water into a medium saucepan and sprinkle with the gelatin. Allow to soak for a minute or two. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved (about 5 minutes). Stir in the can of condensed milk. Set mixture aside to cool to room temperature. Remove the colored gelatin from the refrigerator and cut into small blocks. Carefully mix the blocks as desired and place in a 9 x 13 glass or non-reactive metal pan (or use two standard 1 lb loaf pans – that’s what I used to make the colors for both Superbowl teams). Return blocks to refrigerator until milk mixture is cool.

Once the milk mixture is cooled, divide equally and pour it over the gelatin blocks. Skim off any small bubbles that form. Chill until fully set, several hours or overnight.

To serve, cut into squares and plate.

60 ALT Magazine

Makenzie StovallParents: Tracy and Cheryl Stovall School: Atlanta High School Junior

Sports/Achievements: 1 year Golf; 1 year JV Cheerleader; 2 years Varisty Cheerleader; Student Council, Spirit Club, 2 years Academic Awards; 15 years Dance, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade dancer for three years. What motivates you to do your best? What motivates me to do my best is that I know younger children are watching my actions all the time. I volunteer with chidren at my dance studio and in cheer camps. Knowing that they are looking up to me helps me to strive to have a good attitude, keep my grades up, and be a positive figure in the community.

What famous person has been an inspiration to you? It is very difficult to pick just one influential famous person in my life. I am surrounded by a successful family and friends who make a difference in my life and our community.

ALT is proud to highlight our area students for their accomplishments in sports and the arts!

Our children are our future...and the future looks bright for the Ark-La-Tex!

If you know a student you feel should be included in upcoming months, see below!

If you know someone you feel would be great to be highlighted, please have them submit a photo in their uniform, via email, to [email protected], along with responses to the following questions:

Name:Parents:School/Grade:Sport(s)/postion(s):Achievements:What motivates you to do your best?What famous person has been an inspiration to you?

If they are submitting a professional photo, we will need a release from the photographer to use it.

Note: They do not have to be high school seniors! They must be in the 9th through 12th grades.

Now, meet some amazing young people from around the area! We are proud of all of you!


Laura Marilyn AtkinsParents: Shawn and Doris Atkins

School: Pleasant Grove High School Senior

Sports/Achievements: I participate in softball and plan to continue my career in college. I played volleyball my freshman and sophomore year, and ran cross country my junior year (qualifying for regionals). I have played Co-Ed softball at Hobo Jungle park where our team was the Division Winner.

I have spoken at a Technology Convention in Orlando, Florida about Texthelp. Which is computer software to help accommodate people with Dyslexia. I also have taught students at a summer camp and Southern Methodist University how to use the software. I am a member of the Coastal Conservation Association. I achieved my silver award in girl scouts. I have been accepted and will be attending Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC.

What motivates you to do your best? I don’t believe anything comes easy, I think you should work for everything you have. I never want anything handed to me. A motivational speaker came to a class I was in and told my class to write down our goals on note cards. So I did. I read them every morning and I will continue to until I can reach every single goal on those cards. I want to be better than my best and I am a firm believer in the quote, “The day you rest, is the day your opponent gets stronger.”

What famous person has been an inspiration to you? Mallory Holtman is a girl I have great respect for. She played softball for Central Washington. The reason she inspires me so much is her immense amount of sportsmanship. She was the team leader in home runs her senior year. During a game against Western Oregon a girl named Sara Tucjolsky had never hit a home run in her life, until that game. In her happiness from the bomb she knocked over the fence she skipped first base. While turning around to go back to touch it her knee didn’t twist with her, resulting in a torn ligament. Unable to get up she knew the ruling was if a pinch runner came in it would be considered a single. Mallory Holtman walked up to the umpire to ask if she could carry Sara around the bases and touch her foot to every bag. He gave her a funny look but couldn’t find a rule against it. So Sara got her home run that day thanks to Mallory. Mallory showed a true act of sportsmanship. Even being as good as she was she was still humble. Stories like this one make me love the game even more.

62 ALT Magazine

EVENT Open House

WHERE J. Brown for the Home

WHEN 12/2/11

1. Carly Loving, Stacey Miner and Dr. Quinton Miner2. Debi Cook, Jim Cook, Trey Connolly and Kim Fowler3. Jeff Brown and Cathy Lee4. Kim Polk, Richard Savaus and Sann Terry5. Brenda Sutton, Trish Reed and Lauren Sutton6. Colby Belk and Michael Rhodes7. Stanley Johnston, Maggie Johnson and Tim Johnson8. Tavo Cruz, A.L. Crawford, Keaton White and Easton Dillehay9. Toni Nix, Mary Jane Orr and Carolyn Allen10. William Gage and Carl Mills

3 4

1 2

7

8

9

10

5 6

64 ALT Magazine

EVENT Holiday Open House

WHERE Bunch Woodview Center

WHEN 12/1/11

1. Heidi Adams and Michelle Miller2. Brian Glenn, playing piano3. Chris Slade, Kandis Jones, Sandy Marvel, Sharon Turner and Jenifer McDonald4. Chuck Lewis, Shirlena Hanes, Alicia Manley and Steve Matlock5. Natasha Crabbe, Ben Sandefur and Steve Matlock6. Chris Slade, Ben Sandefur, Linda Pearson and Rose Skinner7. Ben Sandefur, Emily McCasland and Leslie Nolte8. Cindy Marsh, Janet Brand, Heather Kiser, Krystal Gilbreath and Liz Britt9. Zeke and Kathi Couch10. Danielle Anderson, Geneva Moore and Natasha Crabbe11. Mizette Solomon and Shauna Stevens12. Carrie Trusty and Christal Browning13. - 14. Photos of Cookies, Brownies and Cheesecakes!

13 14

3 4

1 2

1211

9 10

7 8

5 6

66 ALT Magazine

EVENT Snowflakes and Tablescapes

WHERE Northridge Country Club

WHEN 11/30/11

1. Trish Reed and Haley Reed2. Gayle Moore, Nancy Sandefur and Mary Ann Oden3. Novella Medlock, Marti Newell and Sandra Warren4. Pat Allen, Penny Attaway and Remica Gray5. Pam McCoy, Nita Craytor and Remica Gray6. Mel Walsh and Mimi Fuller7. Mary Jo Essex, Karolyn Poe and Judy Crutchfield8. Miranda Johnson, Collins Tuohy and Jaclyn Gooding9. Francine Francis, Collins Tuohy and Sue Johnson10. Table decor11. Patsy Bell and FaEllen Yates12. Anna Marie Hornsby and Julie Mitchell13. Mary Fore and Barbara McCash

1211 13

10

2

9

1

8

5 6

7

3 4

68 ALT Magazine

EVENT UACCH-Texarkana Steel Signing

WHERE Future Location

WHEN 11/30/11

1. Drawing of UACCH-Texarkana building2. Rosaland Dunn, Mekisha Johnson and Uana Lee3. Bobby and Matine Furguson, Katie and Jim Powell4. Steve Harrelson, Prissy Hickerson and Charles Nickerson5. Arkansas High School Band and Cheer6. Charlie McMurphy and Debbie Brower7. Debbie Brower, Ed Holt and Charlie McMurphy8. Brian Matthew and Wendy Butler9. Kathi McFarland, Kaye Cheatham and Marla Hudson10. Chris Thomason Chancellor of UACCH11. John Goodson, Gov. Mike Bebee and Dr. Don Bobbit12. Steve Harrelson and Chris Thomason13. Gov. Mike Bebee14. John Goodson15. Dr. Don Bobbit16. Mayor Wayne Smith17. Harold Bolt18. Ann Nickolas with Charles Dieffenbacher (who donated the land)19. John Goodson and Ann Nickolas20. John Goodson, Wayne Smith and Charles Dieffenbacher

18

14

17 19

13

20

3 4

9 10

1 2

5 6

11 12

7 8

1615


EVENT Circle of Friends Texarkana USA of Arkansas Children’s Hospital Christmas Party

WHERE The Collins Building

WHEN 12/13/11

Although located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Arkansas Children’s Hospital plays a major role in our region in the care of children with over 4500 patient visits from Bowie and Miller counties last year. The local Circle of Friends chapter has a fund raising goal of $41,000 during 2012. For those interested in more information or joining the Texarkana USA chapter of Circle of Friends, contact Erica Ramage at 903.276.6764.

1. Linda and Joe Strickland2. Chris and Ronnie Walraven3. Neal and Winnie Courtney4. Travis and Whitney Jackson5. Karlton and Linda Willis6. Whitney Jackson and Felita Gilmore7. Bob and Dean Ransdell8. Laurie and Ray Galloway

5 6

1 2

7 8

3 4

EVENT Harvest Texarkana Holiday PartyWHERE Hands On Texarkana Center

WHEN 12/6/11

1. Brandon Cogburn, Maura Johnston and Jill Whittington2. Andi Darby, Brandon Cogburn and Jill Whittington3. Brandon Cogburn Jeff Brown and Jill Whittington4. Brandon Cogburn, Schlundyra Ivory, Andy Prince, Heather Keith and Jill Whittington 5. Kelly Mitchell, Jill Whittington and Brandon Cogburn6. Fay J Durrant, Martha Prieskorn and Jeff Prieskorn7. Andi Darby and Rose Stewart8. Jeff Brown and friends

21

85 6 7

3 4

70 ALT Magazine

EVENT Women for A&M Holiday Lunch Social

WHERE The Home of Lisa Mitchell

WHEN 12/2/11

1. Adrianne Rathburn, Mel Walsh and Sandy Varner2. Camille McGinnis and Florence Crank3. Jo Ann Rice and Jennell Ingram4. Bob Bruggeman, Debbie Brower and Victor Caldwell5. Gayle Burrow, Kayla Rozell, Kendall Barajas, Jayme Vaughn and Ali Burrow6. Dr. Bix Rathburn and Jordan Robertson7. Dr. Bix Rathburn and Casey Roberts8. Dr. Bix Rathburn and Dr. Doug Julien9. Dr. Bix Rathburn and Ashley Spearman10. LeAnne Wright and Dr. Bix Rathburn11. Peggy Kososki and Bob Bruggeman12. Charlie McMurphy, Debbie Brower, Amy Carwile and Glenda Ballard13. Judy Folsom, Dr. Bix Rathburn and Sally Patton14. Lisa Mitchell and LeAnne Wright15. Judy Davis, Dr. Doug Julien and Carla Snyder16. Remica Gray and Ruth Ellen Whitt17. Jon Purifoy and Annell Langdon18. Barbara Wilson-Whitney and Carolyn Allen19. Beck McWilliams, Angela Brewster and Gloria Mugno20. Sally Patton and Joan Carter

18

14

17 19

13

20

3 4

9 10

1 2

5 6

1615

11 12

7 8

72 ALT Magazine

Texarkana Humane SocieTy

1. Bunny is looking for her forever family. She will be 3 years old in February and weighs 16 pounds. Bunny is fully vetted, including a microchip. She is housetrained but does like to be outside. A fenced yard will be required. Contact her foster home at (903) 838-4965 for more information.2. ColumBo is a gentle giant, as a matter of fact he thinks he is the size of a chihuaha. He loves to love and play with everyone. He gets along well with other dogs and loves kids. His eye had been injured and unfortunately the vet was not able to save it and it had to be removed but that hasn’t slowed him down a bit. He is neutered, current on all shots, heartworm negative and is a little over a year old, weighing in around 125 pounds. If you are wanting the big, friendly fella call (903) 838-4965. 3. Jill is one of our newest senior rescues.

1 2 3

The Texarkana Humane Society is always needing volunteers as well as foster homes. if you would like to get involved and lend a helping hand they would love to talk with you. They are also needing the following items to help with the care of all the babies that come into foster: Puppy and kitten chow, formula for the babies, animal baby bottles, as well as monetary or debit card donations. We have a big need for individuals who have the time to bottle feed some of these babies. it is so sad when we cannot take any in because we are full and would welcome a few more bottle moms. it is a great expereince as well as very rewarding taking care of these little ones. if you can help with donations or feeding call Sherrie at 903 838-6334.

The Texarkana Humane Society is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to re-homing orphaned animals, promoting the human-animal bond, preventing animal cruelty, educating children and adults about responsible pet ownership and preventing pet overpopulation.

in order to reduce the number of unwanted animals and the euthanization of them at the shelter people need to spay/neuter their pets. The Texarkana Humane Society has a program to help individuals do this and urge everyone to get involved and tell your neighbor, family, and friends to be responsible and do their part in putting a stop to this problem here in our city. Have them contact us regarding our program. Call 903 838-6334 and we will be glad to help you.

4 65

She is a very spunky lady of 9 years and is a very happy dog that loves riding in the car or sitting in your lap. Jill is housetrained and gets along well with other dogs and children. She is a beautiful little blonde Pekingese with a black mask around her face. Contact (903) 838-4964 for more information on her. She was surrendered to our organization due to illness in the family. She is fully vetted and micro chipped 4. foxy is a 12 lbs, 3 year old Yorkie mix. She is spayed and current on all vacanations. She is on heatworm and flea prevention, and micro chipped. Foxy is doing very good on her housetraining. Contact (903) 838-4965 for more information.5. rudy is a lovable Chi-weenie male puppy. He is about 8 weeks old and has been wormed and received his first puppy shots. He is looking for his forever home.

Contact (903) 277-3389 for more information.6. SWeeTie is a beautiful hound mix. She is around a year old, weighs 49 lbs, is spayed, current on shots, negative for heartworms and she has been microchipped. This pretty lady is a very loving and friendly dog. She enjoys people and children. For more info please call Susan at (903) 826-9004.7. Holly is a Boxer/hound mix. She is around 6 months old. She has been spayed, current on all her shots and heartworm negative. She has been microchipped. This little girl weighs 47 pounds. For more info call Diana at (903) 277-33896.8. This is Jolly, a black lab mix. He is around a year old, neutered, and fully vetted and micro chipped. He is looking for that perfect home. If you would like more info on this wonderful fella call Diana at (903) 277-3389.

Volunteers who agree to provide a foster home for our strays are provided with medical care for the animals. The Humane Society pays for all immunizations and spays or neuters the animal.

our goal is to place these animals in permanent homes with responsible, loving pet owners.

All of our services are provided through private donations from our community. donations are accepted and needed! our animal friends appreciate you and your donations are tax deductible! (The Humane Society is all volunteers and all money goes towards the animals.)

We’ve got a full house! Please come visit us! you might find the addition your family has been looking for!

do you have an animal that needs a new home? Please don’t neglect it! Call us and let us help you find a foster home. We will list your animal on our facebook page at no charge. let us help!

for more information, contact Sherrie Thompson, President, at 903.838.6334, or got to www.texarkanahumanesociety.com. We’re also on facebook!

Come visit us at Petsmart on the fourth Saturday of every month!

87


1 2 3 4 5

6 7

6. JABBy is about 2 years old. He weighs about 25 lbs.7. molly is 1 year old and she weighs about 25 lbs.8. SToney is 1 year old and he weighs about 15 lbs.9. TAnk is about 2 years old. He weighs about 30 lbs.

10. Terri is 1 and she weighs about 15 lbs.

Happy Tails!

The mission of the Animal Care & Adoption Center of Texarkana, Arkansas is to be a technologically advanced, self sustaining, human and animal friendly facility that specializes in personal customer service from a team of knowledgeable, caring individuals who endeavor to achieve rapid placement of all adoptable animals.

We are always in need of caring, capable volunteers to assist in with duties at the center, adoption events, fund-raising activities and more.

your tax-deductible donation will help care for and assist in the adoption of loving animals to good homes!

The Animal Care & Adoption Center of Texarkana, Arkansas is located at 203 Harrison, Texarkana, Ar, 71854. for more information, call Connie Slater at 870.773.6388, or visit www.animalcareadoptioncenter.org.We’re also on facebook!

We’re open monday-Saturday from 10:00 - 5:00.

Please note, all dogs adopted from this shelter muST be spayed or neutered. Spays cost $89-$104, neuters are $76-$92 depending on the weight of the dog.

WHo elSe CAn HelP?

Artex Animal Welfare, inc.(mostly horses)903.824.1990

Three rivers Animal rescue903.490.4048

Poodle Patch & [email protected]

Passion for Pooches(mostly small dogs)

903.832.8632

Texarkana Animal league(must leave message)

877.525.4825

1. Owen finally got his own family with two cute little boys to play with. He has a beautiful fenced back yard, complete with a creek and a few squirrels to keep him entertained. Thanks to David for sharing his home and his boys with Owen.

(Courtesy of the Texarkana Humane Society)

2. Tracie and Kelley are engaged to be married this summer, but they already have first addition, Chevy, a very spoiled baby they adopted from

1. ACe is about 2 years old. He weighs 60 lbs.2. APollo is about 1 year old and he weighs about 6 lbs.

3. BB is 8 months old and she weighs 10 lbs.4. Booker is about 2 years old. He weighs about 30 lbs.

5. grAdy is 1 year old and he weighs about 40 lbs.We’ve got lots of kittens needing

good homes right now!

Want to help but can’t adopt?

With the cold upon us we can use beds, plastic dog houses, hay, bed warmers, water

warmers, and as always we need pet food, heartworm and flea medications, gift cards, and monetary donations. These donations

are all tax deductible, as the Texarkana Humane Society is a 501c3 organization.

if your are interested in donating, helping with events, fostering or working fundraisers

tickets call Sherrie at (903) 838-6334.

the Animal Care and Adoption Center. Thank you two for

8 9 10

1

2

giving Chevy a wonderful

home!

74 ALT Magazine

January Calendar of Events

January 1

New Year’s Day!

January 7Bridal Fair 2012. Exhibitors with bridal products, ideas and services to plan a wedding. Fashion show displays door prizes. Four States Fairgrounds from 10:00AM to 3:00PM. Call (903) 244-4282 for more information.

January 7 Caddo Area Council OA Banquet at Camp Preston Hunt. 6:00PM to 9:00PM. For more information, (903) 793-2179.

January 8Willie Nelson at at the Perot Theatre - 7:30PM. For more information, 903-792-4992.

January 13OA Banquet at Texarkana Country Club. 6:00PM to 9:00PM. For more information, (903) 793-2179.

January 21 Live at the Perot Theatre - The music, the event, the KING! ELVIS LIVES! is a live concert celebration including a multi-media presentation of photos, video and correspondence of the life and times of Elvis Presley. Three Elvis impersonators will take the stage Monday night along with a live band and an Ann-Margaret look-a-like tribute artist that will make you do a double take. Slip on your

blue suede shoes and join us for the ultimate Elvis tribute concert – sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises and the Presley family. Every ticket buyer will be entered to win a VIP trip for two to Graceland, valued at over $400! Someone in our audience is guaranteed to be a winner. Sponsored in part by BancorpSouth. 7:00PM to 9:30PM. For more information, (903) 792-4992.

January 26Wild Beast Feast at Camp Preston Hunt. 6:00PM to 9:00PM. For more information, (903) 793-2179.

January 28 The Phantom Ball - On Saturday, January 28, 2012, we will celebrate our ninth annual Phantom Ball at Northridge Country Club. The proceeds of this event will benefit the client services of Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center.This event will honor a very special member of our community as the “Phantom”. The criteria for “Phantom” is one who gives generously of their time and financial support to the Temple Center and the community of Texarkana Texas. In order to build suspense and intrigue for our event, the identity of this year’s honoree will not be revealed until the night of the Ball.In 1952, Dr. S.A. Collom and a gathering of Texarkana citizens founded the Temple Home for Crippled Children in response to the polio

epidemic which was sweeping across our nation. Since that time, the Temple Center, an Easter Seals affiliate, has evolved and expanded into a premier facility providing physical, occupational and speech therapy for children and adults with disabilities. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the staff and Board of the Temple Center are committed to providing service to clients regardless of their ability to pay.We are asking you to join in our effort to raise funds for the children of the Temple Center. We hope that you will consider supporting this exciting event. If you have questions please feel free to call Anita Carver at (903) 794-2705.

January 30Live at the Perot Theatre - A young girl’s tale of ‘rags to riches’ comes true…with the wave of a wand and a “Bippidi-Boppidi-Boo!” Direct from Moscow, Russia, this Columbia Artist Production is a beautiful combination of some of Russia’s greatest dancers and extravagant costuming. This is the first time since 2007 that the troupe has performed in Texarkana...follow Cinderella as she searches for her glass slipper in this beautifully choreographed production of “Cinderella.” Sponsored in part by Texarkana Community Ballet. 7:30PM to 10:00PM. For more information, (903) 792-4992.

Residential . Land . Timber Recreational Property

Commercialwww.realtyexecutivestexarkana.combillsprad@[email protected]

Realty Executives Impact,1200 N. Kings Hwy., Suite 104, Nash, TX 75569Each office independendly owned and operated.

903.223.0710or 903-628-3186

1200 N. Kings Hwy., Suite 104, Nash, TX 75569117 NE Front Street, New Boston, TX 75570

Click in 24/7 for all your real estate needs!www.realtyexecutivestexarkana.com

Two locations to better serve you!

Nash - 1200 N Kings Hwy and

New Boston - 117 NE Front

Bill SpradlinRealtor

903-748-3186

Tracy SpradlinBroker

903-748-2477

Jan WilliamsRealtor

903-277-5771

Karyn BaucumRealtor

903-278-3836

Stephanie MaddoxOffice Manager903-223-0710

76 ALT Magazine

alt magazine january 2012

Documents

s s u e

u t i o n

t h e r e s o

f i t n e s s f o r

h i s n

n d c o u n t i n g5

e r s i t y d

u r e s1