KaDazia Brown of Wesson was named to the Spring 2023 President's List at Mississippi College. The Mississippi College Office of Academic Affairs releases the president's list after the close of fall and spring semesters each academic year. To be eligible for the President's List, a student must maintain a 4.0 grade point average, based on a 4.0 system. The student must take a full course load of at least 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit with all academic courses impacting their grade point average. Mississippi College, affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, is a private, co-educational, Christian university of liberal arts and sciences serving more than 4,100 students from approximately 35 states and more then three dozen countries. Founded in 1826, MC is the oldest institution of higher learning in Mississippi, one of the largest private universities in the state, and America's second-oldest Baptist college. MC offers 84 areas of undergraduate study, 45 degree programs in graduate studies, more than 10 certificate programs, two educational doctoral degrees, a doctor of jurisprudence, and a doctor of professional counseling. MC seeks to be a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum will host the award-winning Mississippi Pickle Fest from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10. Admission is $12 for ages 3 and up. “I want to invite the public to come out to the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum for the annual Mississippi Pickle Fest,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “Our dedicated museum staff work hard to bring entertaining, family-friendly events to the public year-round and were recently awarded the 2022 Small Festival Event of the Year for the Pickle Fest. And this year’s festival includes all the fan-favorite attractions and activities that the whole family will enjoy.” In addition to the various exhibits and educational demonstrations offered on the grounds, visitors will enjoy live music, 90 food and craft vendors, two water slides, a dunking booth, obstacle course, dry combo bounce house and jousting arena. Competitions such as the Pickle Eating Contest and Pickle Jar Packing Contest will take place during this event. The Children’s Barnyard and Small Town, Miss., will also be open. This event is sponsored by the Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum Foundation, Chick-fil-a Byram, Southern Beverage, Cathead Distillery, T-Mobile, and Visit Jackson. For more information on the Mississippi Pickle Fest, visit link. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook. The Ag Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

By Kara Kimbrough “Nibbling on sponge cake, watching the sun bake,” has to be one of the most hummable summertime lyrics. Penned by Mississippi native Jimmy Buffet, the line from the song "Margaritaville" is the perfect hot weather ballad except for one tiny detail. Something more substantial than sponge cake is necessary to get the party started at upcoming outdoor gatherings. Memorial Day officially kicked off movable feast season. It’s when families and neighbors get together, bring food and catch up on each other’s lives. It doesn’t matter if it’s a family reunion, beach vacation, neighborhood block party or backyard cookout, food is the tie that binds family and friends together for the rest of the year. Casual gatherings bring out the best of classic American food. In this category are appetizers like homemade dips and antipasto platters; cold salads and grilled meat ranging from burgers to dogs to sausages and ribs. All that's needed to top off a hot weather meal are simple desserts like cookies, cobblers and brownies. In the midst of summer fun, remember hot weather can spell danger for some summer favorites. Travelling long distances without keeping food chilled or letting dishes languish in the heat can prove disastrous. Potential problems can arise with potato salad and other mayonnaise-based dishes; dips filled with sour cream; custard-based pies and seafood. Two hours is usually the cut-off point for these items. If it’s out of the refrigerator or cooler longer than that, bad things can happen. On a brighter note, many dishes can be assembled quickly and enjoyed until the party's over. Choose well-cooked, marinated beef and poultry; cold pasta and vegetable salads with vinaigrette and oil dressings; fresh fruit skewers minus sugar or syrup; salsa instead of creamy dip and crisp homemade cookies instead of cakes with butter-cream or cream cheese frostings. As for me, I’ll take a cue from another of Buffett’s hit songs as I plan my own summer gatherings. I'll add lots of "lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes" to my Cheeseburger in Paradise Pasta Salad and other light, cool dishes. Cheeseburger in Paradise Pasta Salad 1 pound of your favorite pasta 1 small onion 1 pound ground chuck 1 tablespoon olive oil 1cup chopped cherry tomatoes 1/4 cup chopped red onion 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup chopped pickles 1 cup shredded lettuce Salt and pepper to taste Dressing: 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1-1/2 tablespoons ketchup Boil pasta and drain. Chop onion and garlic, pour olive oil into a pan over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic with salt and pepper until soft. Add ground beef to pan and cook through. Drain any excess oil from the ground beef and set aside in another bowl. Chop the tomatoes, onion, pickles, and lettuce. Combine the ketchup and mayo until smooth in a small bowl. Once the pasta and ground beef have cooled, add 1 1/2 cups of the ground beef mixture to the pasta. Then add the tomatoes, onion, pickles, lettuce and cheddar cheese. Combine everything. Stir in desired amount of the burger sauce dressing. Fruity Cooler 1 quart boiling water 4 tea bags 1-1/2 quarts cold water ½ cup orange juice ½ cup lemon juice Sugar substitute to taste Pour boiling water over tea bags in heat-resistant pitcher; allow tea to steep five minutes. Add cold water and juices; chill thoroughly. Sweeten to taste with sugar substitute. Marinated Chicken Sandwiches 1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice 4-1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1-1/2 tablespoons black pepper 1-1/2 tablespoons honey ¾ teaspoon minced garlic 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts Combine lemon juice, vinegar, pepper, honey and garlic. Pierce chicken breasts and place in a shallow pan. Pour marinade over chicken, turning once to coat both sides. Refrigerate at least one hour. Marinated chicken can be grilled, baked or broiled. When done, place in French or hoagie rolls and top with mustard spread. Summertime Mustard Spread ½ cup prepared mustard 1 teaspoon parsley 1 teaspoon horseradish 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Use as a spread for hot dogs, hamburgers or sandwiches. Campfire Stuffed Dogs 8 hot dogs 2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper 2 tablespoons finely chopped white onion 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 8 hot dog buns Partially split hot dogs. Mix pepper, onion and cheese together. Fill each hot dot with mixture. Grill over charcoal, split side up, until cooked thoroughly. Top with Summer Mustard Spread and place in hot dog buns. Summer Coleslaw Dressing: 1 cup vegetable oil 2 tablespoons sugar 1/3 cup cider vinegar 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard 1 tablespoon celery seeds 1 tablespoon prepared white horseradish 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper Slaw: 2 heads green cabbage, about 3 pounds each 1 head red cabbage, about 3 pounds 1 red onion, sliced thin 6 carrots, peeled and shredded 3 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut into thin strips 3 large green bell peppers, seeded and cut into thin strips 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill 1/4 cup chopped parsley Prepare dressing by combining all ingredients in a blender and blending well, about 30 seconds. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour or up to four days. Prepare slaw by cutting cabbage into quarters. Remove cores and shred quarters as fine as possible across the width. Toss with onions, carrots, peppers, dill and parsley in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 24 hours. Add dressing to slaw mix 5 minutes before serving. Toss well. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), Co-Lin’s adult education program, is completing its hunt for a scholarship student to assist at the college Each year, ILR awards a scholarship to a student enrolled at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, with preference given to a family member of an ILR member. The deadline for the 2023-24 scholarship candidates was March 31. ILR’s scholarship committee is Mary Ann Smith, Diane Clopton, and Sonya Cowen. This year, they will award a $350 scholarship. The 2022-2023 scholarship recipient was Zack Woods, grandson of both Mary Lou Barlow and Nancy Woods.

Recently we were in a lot of different churches, where we were introduced to a bunch of people and made a lot of new friends. Met a lot of smiling, friendly folks – but also a few who probably wouldn’t remove their frown if they were standing in front of Jesus, face to face. But there was one in those crowds. One man who stands out in our memory. He was a member of a small community, in a town of about fifteen hundred, with several hundred more in the outlying rural areas. We were in that town for a few days, and everywhere we went, people knew that man’s name. They knew he was, what he did, and how he treated people. Whenever his name was brought into the conversation, faces would light up with recognition, admiration, and respect. How did that happen? How did one man come to be known and generally liked by everyone we met? We can’t pretend to have the all-knowing answer to that. Maybe he secretly hands out twenty-dollar bills on the sly. Maybe he tells everyone what they want to hear – truth or not. “Aw man, don’t worry about it, that extra one hundred and twenty-five pounds you’ve gained looks fantastic on you!” That could be the reason, but I doubt it. Based on what we observed, we believe we know why this man is so beloved in his community. He just sincerely loves. Everyone he meets. Pastor Frankie’s attitude toward everyone he knows – a great person or a person with a hopelessly bad attitude is simply this: “I just love that ol’ boy! Yeah, I know he has a few issues. But there is just so much to like about him. God sure made a good ‘un when He created him. I sure love him.” How do we know this? Simple, we kept hearing it from his lips. No matter who he had been talking to. Happy people, angry folks, thieves, church-going or non-church-going folks, the alcoholic, or the drug-addicted. He never seemed to vary in his attitude toward them. It seems he’s just decided to love everyone who crossed his path. Is this man a simpleton, who can’t perceive that some folks need to be condemned and lectured? Nope, he holds a Doctorate in Ministry from a well-respected seminary. Is he blind? Can he not smell the booze on someone’s breath? Not at all. He functions just as well as you and I in all aspects of living. He knows what is going on around him very well. But he does dislike some things. Seeing what sin does in the life of people. He would much rather see people living for God. He knows that is where they will receive help with their problems. So, he just loves and offers help. He reminds me of Another who walked around in His community. He also just loved.

By Bob Arnold Yoga, steeped in the rich history of the Orient and grounded in Eastern religion, isn’t a natural fit in the culture of Mississippi and the South so greatly influenced by the Baptist faith, but is helping locals address their physical, mental and spiritual issues through a retired Brookhaven kindergarten teacher who has come to grips with its benefits in spite of her own deeply held religious beliefs. Cheryl Myers is conducting yoga classes in the area for Co-Lin students, the college faculty, members of Co-Lin’s Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), volunteers and patients at a nursing home and the general public in weekly evening sessions she holds in Brookhaven. Some 20 years ago, Myers tried yoga on the suggestions of physicians to address a variety of health issues. “Following several surgeries, I was trying to cope with anxiety and stress as well as the underlying health problems,” she says. “Not only did yoga offer an exercise regimen of movement and breathing that strengthened and oxygenated my body, but relaxation, stillness and quiet in which I could connect with my physical needs, relieve mental stress and progress spiritually within my own personal understanding of religion and faith.” In her classes, Myers tries to bring this experience to participants in an “interesting, informative and enjoyable” way that “demystifies the practice of yoga, presenting it as a wellness resource that combines body and mind benefits that they can take into their daily lives.” Television and other audio-video resources introduced her to yoga, but she drifted away from practicing it until she found a local teacher who provided one-on-one coaching within the context of in-studio classes. When her teacher asked her to assist with conducting classes, she decided to pursue training for certification, although it is not required. “I wasn’t comfortable with the spiritual aspect of yoga – connecting with the universe and the elements of fire, earth and light rather than a personal God,” Myers recalls. “I prayed about it and concluded I could reconcile that part of yoga with my personal spirituality.” So Myers embarked on 200 hours of classes covering yoga history, techniques and styles over eight months in Joyflow Yoga Teacher Training, a registered Yoga Alliance Teacher Training school, and started teaching yoga to locals ten years ago. The size of her classes vary. Her ILR class, in which she teaches “chair yoga” to older persons who often find the rigors of traditional mat yoga too taxing, has five to seven participants once a week, while regular yoga classes like the ones for Co-Lin students and faculty members may have as many as 20 participants in some sessions. Myers’ ILR yoga participants tell these stories: Mary Ann Smith: “After eight to 10 years of movement and stretching exercises, my balance is better and I walk better.” Smith, who taught second grade and early elementary students at the Mamie Martin School and kindergartners at the Faith Presbyterian Church in Brookhaven, also practices yoga at the Stillwater Studio in Brookhaven and at Summit. Her daughter-in-law encouraged her to try yoga. Opal Smith: “I can do house work and laundry, and am thankful to God I can.” A widow, she lives with her two daughters, can no longer drive after a brain bleed two and one half years ago and suffered two strokes and a third mini stroke. Ketti Breaux: “I have been taking yoga class for six years after taking exercise classes and body pump for strength training. Yoga helps to rejuvenate me mentally and physically, helps tremendously for bone strengthening, and the classes are a great way to meet new people and make friends.” Breaux, a retired accountant, and her husband moved to the area two and one half years ago from Houma, Louisiana, to get away from hurricanes. Zoula Huffman: “I take yoga to improve my balance and flexibility.” A retired college teacher and administrator with four children, 11 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, she and her husband have spent 12 years traveling around the U.S. in an RV and taken cruises and guided bus trips with visits to 50 states and 35 foreign countries. She also enjoys sewing, gardening and helping at church. Rob Rector: “I gave up subba diving for exercise and as a hobby a couple of year ago and found yoga to awaken some tired and unused muscles.” A retired engineer who worked in the oil and space exploration industries, he moved from Houston to Wesson “to put my wife in a memory care facility” and to be closer to his daughter and her family. Myers and her husband are both retired. She taught kindergarten for 13 years at Brookhaven Academy and he worked for the Farm Bureau. They have two daughters and seven grandchildren, like to travel, and are members of Central Baptist Church. For information about her yoga classes, call Myers at 601-757-2133 or text her at cherlyjmyers9869@yahoo.com.

The Stewpot Food Pantry will be open on Thursday evenings during the months of June, July, and August from 4:00pm-7:00pm beginning on Thursday, June 8th. Stewpot is encouraging our friends in the media to help us spread the word to neighbors in our community who may benefit. Scheduling an appointment to receive groceries is not required, but encouraged. To schedule an appointment, please call Stewpot at (601) 353-2759. To be eligible for groceries, you must live in Hinds County. We ask for an ID and proof of residence (a utility bill or copy of a lease) upon arrival, although no one is turned away. The Food Pantry will remain open during our regular operating hours. Regular hours of operation are Monday-Thursday 9:00am-11:00am. On Tuesdays, the Pantry reopens from 1:00PM-3:00PM. Stewpot is also seeking help with food to stock the pantry. Donations and food drives are welcomed and greatly appreciated. For a complete list of our food pantry needs, please visit stewpot.org/volunteer/need. Volunteers are needed to assist shoppers, sort and stock donations, and organize food drives to fill the shelves. To schedule a time to volunteer, please contact Contyna McNealy, Director of Volunteer Services, at cmcnealy@stewpot.org or by calling (601) 353-2759.

By Mika Hartman After sailing on the 2022 Buddy Cruise, I knew it was not only something that every family on this journey deserves, but I also recognize that this journey has more expenses for some and vacations this big can be hard to go on. So I thought outside the box; if I could raise awareness, raise funds and pull off a fun day for the participants, it would be a win-win for all. And that’s exactly what I did! On Friday, May 19th, I held my first ever charity golf tournament and Mississippi’s first ever Buddy Cruise Charity Golf Scramble. The day was filled with love from start to finish; but a lot of work went into the planning of such a big day. What I learned through the planning: Everyone loves the story of our journey, people want to help, and there is a need and desire to be a part of something that is real. Yes, it was a lot of work, but just like everything that is rewarding, the hard part melts away at the finish line. Every call made built new friendships and support for my mission. Every face to face had smiles and warm hugs. From sponsors, to donations, to players and volunteers, each piece was met with excitement to learn from me and find ways to help. Some of the people I called on are very familiar with the life I live and understood the importance of what I was doing; additionally, the ones who I never met before were just as eager to help. I called on donations from across the country for my “I CAN” basket to raffle from friends with Down syndrome doing incredible things with their lives. I called on local help to make sure we were growing together and making Pass Christian the “Best Place to Live on the Coast” for ALL. The day is certainly a beautiful part of this story, but, the seeds planted are absolutely going to continue to grow. A love like this is one that naturally grows from here. The golfers were met by moms and dads on this journey who came from Florida, Louisiana and from here locally, too. Think about this, the families who adore their life so much, they showed up to help. They understand the importance of opportunities, like these, best. The golfers also arrived to huge marquee lettering “BUDDY CRUISE” with balloons; in front of the balloons, there were photos that told a story of why they chose to play in THIS tournament. The photos were our families having the vacation on their lives: dancing, swimming with dolphins, riding surfboards, making crafts and making forever memories, together. From donuts to swag bags, our tournament with heart was off to a wonderful start. I had the pleasure of sharing a glimpse of my heart before the carts took off. What I wanted the players to know was how honored I was that they showed up for us, for my Hudson, for all his buddies. Had you told me five years ago that I would be hosting an event like this, umm, not even on my radar. Not only did I host an event, we changed some hearts forever. This is all because my son, Hudson, was born. I have had the biggest doors open and welcome us in. Our friends and friendships have grown, because he was born. Life’s meaning and purpose have both changed in the most gratifying ways, and sharing this impact I’ve felt means everything. Our special guest, Gadget the Clown, was dressed all in yellow and blue; she was ready to have fun with the players on the course. Mayor Jimmy Rafferty hit the first golfball of the day with a fun ball brought by our clown. He hit it solidly and the ball exploded with a poof cloud of white powder…. And they were off! Seventy-five players took the course. And if golf wasn’t enough, fun, prizes, treats, extra drink tickets, dancing and more happened thought the morning. I ran around with friends and the clown to see to it that the players were having a great time. Gadget the Clown played music, swapped out white golfballs for red ones, put clown noses on the players and even hit some golfballs herself with her silly clubs. The 7th Hole was our “Hole in One” prize of a brand new 2023 HISUN Golf Cart with a $10,000 value. Our 12th Hole was our “Closest to the Pin” with a prize of a Bay Pointe Golf Package with a $320 value. The 18th Hole was the “Longest Drive” with a prize of a Hudson Motors Inverter with a $800 value. Yes, Hudson Motors is named after my Hudson. And we, also, had a ‘Putting” contest in place. This contest had a prize of Biloxi Shuckers Dugout Box Seats for a family of four. A huge highlight to our day was our “Celebrity Couple” Austin Underwood and Jenny Stone. Austin was there to serve lunch to all the players, but he also joined a golf team; his team came in 3rd place. Austin owns Austin’s Underdawgs and he brought his truck all the way from Texas to be a part of our day. Another huge fun fact: Austin’s fiancé, Jenny Stone, was the 2013 Inspire Winner on Buddy Cruise. How cool is this!!! This is what inclusion looks like, folks. When everyone returned, they grabbed a dawg by Austin’s Underdawgs; they could choose from the Classic Dawg, the Straw Dawg, or the Jalapeño Straw Dawg. Several bought raffle tickets, looked at all the incredible silent auction items and even shopped at The Mustard Seed’s pop-up store on site. Our friends at The Mustard Seed came from Jackson to be a part of our day and what a beautiful piece they provided. The laughter and the conversations that took place made my tired vanish. We did it. I looked around at the faces; old friends, new friends, shared stories, and all the hearts on full display… what a day. At the closing ceremony, it was time to wrap up my why. Why did I do this? Well, I love my life. I love this gift of an extra chromosome. My son is exactly who he was born to be. I did this to do something big for a family on this journey. I did this to feel the impact of the work it took to make this happen. Months ago, I set out to raise awareness, host something meaningful, and I wanted to give something big to a local family. The family I selected would get a cabin on the 2023 Buddy Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, if I could make this tournament successful. We did it! It was a super successful day. It was a joint effort that superseded my every expectation. The love poured out… I was thanking everyone for making this day possible. I honored all the families with loved ones with Down syndrome, by having them stand for applause. I then called out to the family I chose for the big gift; Krishelle’s face said it all. The surprise was truly a surprise. I had filled in her husband and her mom, but to Krishelle, this was felt in that very second. You see, I selected this family because I knew that they had adopted a little boy with Down syndrome. That’s pretty much all I knew outside of us being close neighbors. I said I needed this to be local. I love raising money for impactful causes, but we often don’t feel the money raised in the areas we live. Thats why this was so important to me. The crazy perfect to this is that I could not have selected a better family for this gift. This family has adopted two children, both with special needs. Krishelle prayed for a baby with Down syndrome. When she was little, she loved a boy with Down syndrome and always wanted a baby like her friend, Dennis. Two weeks after her prayer, she got a call. This baby would die she was told. He had outlived the expectation of the hospital, so he needed a home to go to until he passed. This baby’s mom was, also, born with Down syndrome and told he would die. He had zero human touch the first five months of his life… until Krishelle got that call. She has loved him and saved his life; I know he has likely saved hers, too. Krishelle’s boy is growing and thriving. She, also, makes sure that he has opportunities to know his birth mother, too. We all have our stories, our heavy life brings us, but, this family has taken hard things and made them beautiful. This is a deserving family of a needed vacation like this. It was meant to be. It was time to give out the contest prizes, award the winning teams with trophies and with amazing prizes, too. Our golfers who placed were given golf packages: 1st Place to Saddlebrook Golf Club in Tampa, 2nd Place to Grand Bear, and 3rd Place to Bay Pointe. After everything was handed out, Austin Underwood came up to me and shared that he had played ALL 18 HOLES and that he played with the team that came in 3rd place. I had no idea he played them all, we had talked about him playing, but, even I didn’t know he played the entire course. So it was obvious that he needed a trophy. I shared that I would need to get him one made and we even made arrangements for this. A player on his team stepped up, he said, “I got you”. This complete stranger who won a trophy was happy, really happy, to give his to Austin. And Austin lit up with excitement. Think about that, how far kindness can go for both people. As the day came to a close, my heart was so full… everyones hearts were full. The entire day was beautiful and so full of joy. Laughter, happy tears and kindness truly made this a golf tournament with heart. I was told that this was the most fun tournament some had played, the most laidback tournament, the most organized, the coolest and even some said they had never played in one like this in the most positive way. Please know this, I didn’t do all this alone. I had our story to share and arms opened. This tournament was embraced by so many. The huge part for me is that we have now planted seeds that will definitely grow the most beautiful flowers. EXTRA big thanks to all the love Pass Christian and beyond showed us. Extra big thanks to the ones who believed in me. EXTRA big hugs to all the people who came together to see this level of goodness come to life. From the donuts, to the cake, the letters, the dawgs, the swag, the adult beverages, the sodas, the prizes, the auction items, the baskets, the entire day was because of people who love our children with Down syndrome and children with other disabilities. This was our EXTRA perfect day because of EVERYONE who showed up for my Hudson and all his buddies. If you get a chance to participate in EXTRA perfect days like this, show up however you can. Days like this can be your EXTRA perfect memories, too. If you would like to know more about local events planned or about Buddy Cruise, please contact Mika Hartman at 719-822-6497. Buddy Cruise is hosting "A GRAND SLAM" evening at The Biloxi Shuckers on August 11. You can get your tickets today.

By Bob Garver Few blockbuster franchises are as reviled by critics as “Transformers.” The 2007 original and its 2009 sequel “Revenge of the Fallen” both have special places among the worst movies of all time. Later sequels weren’t exactly improvements (though 2018 spinoff “Bumblebee” was surprisingly-well-reviewed), but they didn’t inspire the same vitriol, if only because everyone knew to lower their expectations. Still, the “Transformers” brand is associated with eyesore special effects, nauseating mechanical whooshing noises, and unfunny comedy. Director Michael Bay is out, as apparently even he’s sick of these movies, but Steven Caple Jr. steps in seamlessly to ensure that the new movie is still a blemish on the summer movie calendar. Having said that, I’ll start off with a compliment: at least I like the main human this time. Original lead Shia LaBeouf was almost as insufferable onscreen as he was off, and all-American bohunk Mark Wahlberg was bland. But Anthony Ramos manages to inject enough charm into underwritten, down-on-his-luck ex-soldier Noah Diaz that he sails right over that low bar to be the most affable human yet. Danielle Fishback as artifacts expert Elena Wallace isn’t quite the best second banana in the series (that would be Isabel Moner from “The Last Knight”), but at least she’s better than the sleazily objectified love interests from the LaBeouf era. Noah and Elena soon find themselves in the middle of a war between the good Autobots, this time aligned with a new race called Maximals, and the evil Terrorcons. The Autobots, as always, are led by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), and feature load-carrying member Bumblebee, though this time the human’s entry point isn’t Bee, but Mirage (Pete Davidson), a trickster that likes undercover work. The Maximals are led by gorilla-like Maximus Primal (Ron Perlman), though the show is stolen by recent Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as the falcon-esque Airazor. They’re all banding together to stop world-devourer Unicron (Colman Domingo) and his army, led by Scourge (Peter Dinklage). The inter-planetary war comes down to a battle over an artifact, and the various heroes aren’t on the same page about whether to protect it or destroy it, so they all need to learn a lesson about teamwork and sacrifice. Once they do, it’s just a matter of the usual clanging and whooshing. The movie makes the odd decision to set itself in 1994, which gives the filmmakers an excuse to throw some mid-90’s hip-hop on the soundtrack (Bumblebee gets the best music cue, big surprise), but there’s little reason other than that. Not that Earth is likely to get eaten by Unicron anyway, but the stakes seem lower knowing that we made it to 1995. Similarly, we know that Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are going to make it to 2007, so there’s no need to worry about their fates here, even when Bumblebee is apparently killed for the umpteenth time before whatever resurrection they have planned for this installment. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” gives people exactly what they expect from a “Transformers” movie, but much less than what they should expect from a blockbuster. It had the bad fortune to come out the week following the best blockbuster of the year in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” a film that will probably overtake it at the box office next weekend because this movie is so disposable. The film ends with a promise to soon cross over with another franchise, one whose last installment was “Transformers”-level bad without the admitted commercial success. It might not be so bad if they bring Ramos along for the ride, but I know better than to hold these movies to a high standard. Grade: C- “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language. Its running time is 127 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

By Kara Kimbrough I don’t know about you, but when an iconic restaurant closes after decades of serving customers, it’s like the loss of a good friend. So many wonderful restaurants have closed in Mississippi and other parts of the U.S., especially during and after the pandemic. However, as long as a recipe or two from these old friends survive, it’s like a little piece of them still exist. Last week, I learned about the closing of an iconic New York City area restaurant. I’d never been but had hoped to one day after seeing it in one of my favorite movies. The following day, I received the original recipe to comeback sauce, created in the previous century at a long-time Jackson restaurant that closed down, also before I had the chance to visit. The lesson I learned from both of these closures is this: if you really want to experience a restaurant, make the time now to go. You never know when it’ll close its doors. Brooklyn’s “Lenny’s Pizza” became famous after it appeared in the hit movie ‘Saturday Night Fever’ starring John Travolta. In the opening sequence of the movie, Travolta's character, Tony Manero, orders a double slice of pizza by uttering the famous words, “Two...gimme two!" He eats the two pieces stacked on top of each other while strutting down the street to "Stayin' Alive." Following the release of the blockbuster movie in the 1970’s, Lenny's became a favorite of locals and tourists from around the world who loved to walk up to the take-out window and yell Travolta’s line: “Two...gimme two!” I always imagined myself doing the same, but as of now, there are no plans for anyone to reopen the pizza joint. It was a bittersweet moment when I realized I’d never get to experience Lenny’s. However, learning about The Rotisserie restaurant’s creation of comeback sauce and being given the famous recipe eased the sting a little. Comeback sauce is now served in some variation in restaurants from Coast to Coast, but it actually did originate in Mississippi. Greek restaurateur Alex Dennery opened The Rotisserie in the1920s in Jackson’s Five Points section near Woodrow Wilson Avenue and the present-day Jackson Medical Mall. Sometime in the early days of the restaurant, Dennery developed a house dressing originally used for salads and called it Kum-Bak, a funny play on “come back.” The feeling was, if customers enjoyed the unique dressing, maybe they’d “come back” soon. Some have credited the Mayflower Cafe in Jackson as the spicy sauce's place of origin, but the Mayflower's owner, Jerry Kountouris stated in a 2016 interview with the Clarion-Ledger that, "It was The Rotisserie.” Today, comeback is used as a salad dressing, dipping sauce for fried onion rings, shrimp and chopped vegetables. For many, simple saltine crackers dipped straight into a cool bowl of comeback sauce is the ultimate hors d’oeuvre. What can I say, it’s a Southern thing. Despite getting the comeback sauce recipe, I’m still sad about the closing of Lenny’s. On my next visit to NYC, I may travel over the Brooklyn Bridge and try to locate the address. I can at least walk by, stand at the window where Travalto stood and snap a photo of the building. I may even shout, “Two...gimme two!" Recreating memories of The Rotisserie will be a lot easier. I’ll simply pour the ingredients for comeback sauce into the food processor. In a matter of minutes, I’ll have the perfect dressing, dip and sauce. The Rotisserie’s Famous Comeback Sauce (This recipe is at least 100 years old!) 1 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup ketchup 1/4 cup chili sauce 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce 1/4 cup olive oil Juice of one lemon Note: I add more ketchup and chili sauce (about ¼ cup more of each) to mine to overpower the mayonnaise taste. Mix all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Pulse until well blended. Refrigerator in a covered container for at least an hour to allow flavors to meld. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Lt. Col Adam Marsh, Commander, United States Army Recruiting Battalion Baton Rouge. I am an American Soldier. In honor of the U.S. Army’s upcoming birthday, June 14th, 1775, I wanted to share my Army Story. I was born in New Orleans, La, but I was raised in Ocean Springs, Ms along the Gulf of Mexico. I grew up fishing, riding dirt bikes, playing sports, and spending time with my friends. This was the beginning of the video game age, so I didn’t spend a lot of time on the computer, but I do know the Contra “cheat code”. I was a decent student in high school (As and Bs), so I applied for several colleges and was accepted. Although I didn’t get any “big” scholarships, I did have several options available to me. They were, in no order: I could go to junior college close to home, get a part-time job, and stay at home and live with my parents. That was pretty much what I was already doing, and it didn’t sound like much of an adventure. Or as a second option, I could go to a four-year university, but I had no idea how I was going to pay for it, and I really wasn’t even sure what I wanted to study. My third choice, I could forgo college and get a job in the shipyard, the refineries, and even offshore. There were plenty of businesses that were always hiring, but those jobs didn’t appeal to me. I had another choice available to me; I could join the Army. Despite what some people think, the Army is a valid option for young Americans to consider, it should not be thought of as a “last resort” option. To tell the truth, the Army was my first option because it offered the things I wanted: travel and adventure, a way to pay for college, facing new and exciting challenges, and being part of something bigger than myself. Unlike my first three option listed above, everything the Army had to offer did appeal to me. So, I spoke to an Army Recruiter, I went to the Military Enlistment Processing Station, got a physical, swore the oath, and enlisted. I was 17 years old when I signed up which meant I needed my parents’ consent to enlist. They were apprehensive, but they understood and ultimately agreed. I left for Basic Training just after high school graduation and just before my eighteenth birthday. There were some rough days and I missed home, but I made the right choice, because it was the beginning of a great adventure. I joined the Army not knowing how long I would stay. I knew I could get out and go to college after my initial enlistment and many of the friends I made throughout the years did just that; they moved on, went to college, started businesses, had careers and families. They look back on their time in the Army with great memories, and they are better for having served. I decided to stay in. I liked my job; it gave me everything I was looking for. The first thing that appealed to me was the ability to travel and have adventures. I have traveled to twenty-five countries. I have lived on five of the seven continents on Earth. I have seen the northern lights, the great pyramids of Egypt, I have walked among ancient Macedonian ruins, the ruins of Stonehenge, the Tower of London, and the Castle at Edinburgh. I swam in the Indian Ocean, the Panama Canal, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. I have visited Prague, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Scotland, Luxembourg, and Japan, just to name a few. I even had a vacation in Hawaii. When I married and had children, I learned about even more benefits of service, medical benefits. Having a baby is an expensive proposition but I had no hospital bills, I never had to pay for check-ups or the ER visit when my two-year-old fell down the stairs. I was able to raise a family and bring them along on this adventure with me. The other appeal was money for college. I got that covered with the Army’s tuition assistance program, I found I could go to school for free while serving. I did not have to come out of pocket at all for any of the college classes I took. I was able to attend Officer Candidate School and earn my commission. The Army paid for my bachelor’s and my master’s degrees. The G.I. Bill that I enlisted for; well, I ended up transferring that money to my daughter so she could go to college. The ability to face new and exciting challenges was another benefit for me. There are over 150 different jobs in the Army, from supply clerks, truck drivers, mechanics, culinary arts, telecommunications, electricians, pilots, firefighters, police, to veterinarians. All these skills and certifications directly transfer to civilian jobs. Many jobs in the Army are not directly combat related, and when you join the Army, you can choose the job you want from whatever job you are qualified. The job I selected was combat related, it was Infantry, and not just any Infantry because I volunteered to be an Airborne Ranger. The training I received was like nothing I could have imagined. Airborne School, Ranger School, Military Freefall, hand-to -hand combat, shooting, demolitions, fieldcraft, navigation, survival. To say that I was challenged is an understatement. I was tested to my very core. I stumbled and I fell a few times, but I got back up and continued moving forward. “Surrender is not a Ranger word… Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude require to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor.” (The Ranger Creed) And finally, and maybe the most important, was being part of something bigger than myself. The most common question I am asked is about going to war. Yes, I deployed to combat in Somalia, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I have been part of history; I have watched it unfold. I watched news reports on the television, and I knew what really happened because I was there. When I was in high school, we were given an assignment to interview a WWII vet. Now I have students coming to talk to me about my service in the Global War on Terror. I wanted to go, and I was upset about the times when they went without me. Not because I like war, but because my “Army family” was going into harm’s way and I wanted to be there to help in any way I could. I didn’t fully understand the reasons for the deployments when they occurred, and now that I am older and had time to study and think about it, I understand it even less. Despite failed policies or flawed strategies, I was part of something bigger than myself. I can honestly say “I was there, I made a difference, I saved lives.” Don’t forget that civilian control of the military is at the core of our nation’s constitution and every deployment was on orders from the political leaders who we elected. I enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 1992. That was thirty-one years ago. I am still proudly serving, still going strong. I am in excellent shape for someone my age, thanks to a scheduled workout program, regular doctor’s visits, nutritionists, strength coaches, trainers, all from the Army. The Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program does wonders. I must admit it is getting tougher trying to outdo these younger Soldiers. I will be retiring soon. I will be able to fully retire in my 50’s and not have to work again. I haven’t decided yet where in this great land I am going to settle down. When I do, the first thing on the list is to buy a house. With a VA home loan, I won’t have to pay mortgage insurance and won’t have to make a down payment. With the Federal and State benefits for Veterans, I will not pay property taxes on my new house. My younger kids can go to state college for free. As I look back on my career, I am glad that I chose to serve. I received everything I wanted back then and even things I didn’t know I needed. I am constantly amazed at the benefits of service. The greatest benefit of all was the honor and dignity in being an American Soldier. It has been my honor to be able to serve my family, my community, and my country. Before I retire, I have one last mission from the Army. To find the next generation of Soldiers. To seek out tomorrow’s Army leaders. This year is also the 50th Anniversary of the “All-Volunteer Army”. The draft ended in 1973, so while military service is no longer an obligation, it is still the duty of young Americans to serve their nation in some form or another. So, for all the young men and women who are reading this… What are you doing for yourself, your family, your community, and your country? Do you believe America needs an Army? If you do, then you must know that the Army needs Soldiers. Who will those Soldiers be? Don’t look over your shoulder for another to carry that burden/weight, why shouldn’t it be you? You have the education, the ambition, and the commitment. You will get the skills, training, and discipline. You have a personal stake in the future of this country. You also have a personal duty to serve. Whether you serve for two years or for twenty, I can guarantee you will be better for it, and you will be proud of your service. At least you won’t have to explain to your grandchildren, “I almost joined.” Even with the pay, the bonuses, the benefits, the education, the experience, the travel, and the excitement (the list goes on), fulfilling your duty and serving a greater purpose is the most rewarding of all.

Chautauqua Arts Foundation, Inc. (CAFI) is joining the Crystal Springs Chamber of Commerce Tomato Festival to host the inaugural Tomato Fest Art Show to raise funds for construction of a new amphitheater at Chautauqua Park. The 2023 show will be in the historic and recently renovated The Marion Building, formerly Biggs Pharmacy, located at 101 East Georgetown Street. Show General Information: Theme: Artist may create what ever inspires them. Media Categories: Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Wood, Fiber, Ceramic, Mosaic, Metalsmithing, Glass, Sculpture, Photography, Print making Piece must be original handcrafted work. Categories/Fees: Juried – open to all artists - $25 fee per category Student –$10 fee per category open to children and youth up to 18 years old Awards: Juried: $250 Best of Show, $100 Judge’s Choice (2 awards) Student: $25 Best of Show First, Second & Third ribbon in age category Artists may show 3 pieces of work for sale, including non-juried pieces, on festival day. CAFI will receive a 10% commission, maximum $50, on each sale. There will be a Silent Auction and artist donations will be much appreciated. Download the show guidelines and an entry form at website: cafi-ms.org. Information: chautauquaeventinfo@gmail.com or 601.927.1533. Forms are also available at the Crystal Springs Chamber of Commerce office, 210 East Railroad Ave. The Crystal Springs Tomato Festival is a popular, family-oriented event and draws thousands to the Tomatopolis for a day of fellowship, good food, entertainment, shopping, MTK Car Show and Tomato Fest 5K Run/Walk. Contact the Chamber of Commerce (telephone: 601-892-2711 or email: crystalspringschamber@gmail.com) for information on renting a vendor space.