By Bob Arnold Chris McSweyn came to Wesson in 1993 to play golf for Co-Lin, but his destiny was to become the town's premier chef and restaurateur. For more than 25 years, McSweyn was the primary chef at Porches Restaurant in Wesson. He moved the Porches' menu for a year to Le Soul in Hazlehurst after closing the restaurant in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to Wesson as Executive Chef at Aladdin Campus Dining at Co-Lin. Growing up in Pearl, Mississippi, McSweyn had two passions -- cooking and sports. "I grew up in a cooking family, and I loved preparing dishes for meals at home," McSweyn recalls. "When I left the kitchen, I went to the golf course or to the soccer field. Between school, playing golf and soccer at Pearl High School and cooking at home, I also squeezed in a job at the Pearl Donut Factory, where I made the donuts and other pastries." After graduating from high school and heading for Wesson to play golf, it was only natural for McSweyn to enroll in Co-Lin's culinary classes taught by Kay Woodrick at the time -- his first step towards his destiny. When his parents -- Al and Cele McSweyn -- visited their son in Wesson, they took the next step on his behalf -- buying a house in town with a large kitchen and enough space to feed a lot of people if that was your inclination. "Mom and Dad were looking to get out of the Jackson area," McSweyn recalls. "Dad had retired after a career at Bell South and working in accounting and as a computer software specialist. Mom had worked for years at Carter's Jewelry in Jackson." After lunching with Chris, they drove around town, and it was love at first sight when they spotted the Victorian home on Highway 51 that happened to be for sale. The next step was turning the lovely old house his parents purchased into a restaurant. "I needed to intern at a restaurant as part of the Co-Lin culinary program," McSweyn recounts. "I got a job, but not enough working hours at the Inez Hotel restaurant in Brookhaven. So dad suggested I start my own restaurant in my parents' home to meet the course requirements, and Co-Lin agreed." McSweyn and his mom and dad brought their love of cooking and Chris's Co-Lin studies to what they anticipated would be a four-month project, but they had no real restaurant experience outside of Chris's work at the Pearl Donut Factory. Then came the fourth step that sealed McSweyn's career destiny. A food columnist from the Jackson Clarion-Ledger heard about the small luncheon restaurant in Wesson called "Porches" where McSweyn and his parents served small plates and daily specials featuring southern cooking with an imaginative flare. He visited the eaterie, liked what he tasted there, and wrote a column about the experience. "Business boomed," McSweyn recounts. "We were generating 40 to 50 customers for our daily lunches, and traffic tripled. My parents and I said to each other: "Let's make it go.'" Over 25 1/2 years, Porches became known nationally, consistently ranked by travel and tourist guides among Mississippi's top ten restaurants, and drawing customers from throughout the South, including New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and as far away as Florida. COVID-19 forced Porches to start serving its meals on a takeout only basis, and McSweyn decided to shut it down so his parents could finally enjoy the retirement they had anticipated in the old Wesson house they bought in the 1990s. McSweyn took his Porches' menu to Le Soul in Hazlehurst in 2020 and 2021 and then accepted the job with Co-Lin's food service. At Co-Lin, McSweyn continues to cook the dishes he perfected at Porches and served at Le Soul. He says his vision is making the college a food service venue for the wider community beyond the student population and a stop for the same regional customers who came to Porches, with Sunday brunches, and movie nights, a detective theater and other special events to complement his food. As he works towards this goal, he is also finding more time to spend with his family -- his wife Tonya, a judge in a cooking competition he met at Co-Lin and now a food service manager for Brookhaven Public School; and two daughters, Carrie, 22, a nursing student at Co-Lin; and Katie, 19, who is studying elementary education at Mississippi State. What are your hobbies? I enjoy my new found time with family, still play golf, cook meals that are not associated with my job, do yard work and get some sleep when I can. Are you a reader? I like science fiction -- Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Marvel, Lord of the Rings. Do you enjoy movies or theater? When I have time, which is rare, I follow the same science fiction I read. And I like cooking movies, such as Chef. What would you do with lottery winnings if you were so lucky? I would invest it. How would you change the world? With internet technology, we've lost the closeness to other people that comes for talking and playing. The internet may be our best and worst invention. We have to get back what we've lost.

The Army National Guard (ANG) thanked the Wesson Police Department (WPD) for its assistance in producing its first ever Career Day with a unique memento of appreciated -- a personalized track pad from an Abrams tank stenciled with the department's name, the Mississippi National Guard logo, and a description of aid provided by WPD and the date of the event. The Career Day on the Wesson campus of Co-Lin earlier this year was an interactive event highlighting a host of Guard careers with actual equipment and subject matter experts. The ANG needed to coordinate closely with WPD and required its assistance in addressing a number of logistical issues to convoy in materials and supplies for the event. Sergeant First Class William Gentry from the ANG presented the track pad Wesson Police Chief Chad O’Quinn.

By Bob Arnold Organized in 1934, Wesson Garden Club (WGC) has been beautifying the area and educating locals about growing plants, landscaping and how to treat nature for 88 years. "We're an active civic organization whose members want to give back to their community and seek to be faithful to the motto that inspires the work of garden clubs -- "making things happen," WGC President Dixie Thornton told the Wesson Lions. Thornton said the local group is recognized for its work within the community of garden clubs as evidenced by eight state awards and one national award during the past year for its projects and activities. Walt Grayson, the broadcast journalist whose beat is people and events throughout Mississippi, put the public spotlight on WGC throughout the state when the Club's members divided into teams that competed in decorating Wesson for the fall during its Scarecrow Challenge, she said. "The publicity brought dozens of tourists to town," she added. Partnership with other Wesson organizations is a key in the impact the group makes on the town, Thornton explained. "We worked with local business like Steel Outdoors, which crafted whimsical butterfly sculptures that we placed in Fountain Park," she pointed out. "We work with the town government in maintaining the municipal park and the Chamber of Commerce in keeping up its garden in the downtown area. We work with Co-Lin on projects like a memorial bench on its campus. The public library and Friends of the Library are partners in education projects." Thornton highlighted WGC's work with special population. "We organized children in grades three through six into a junior garden club, which we call Butterbeans," she said. "They learn about plants and growing and help maintain garden s at Wesson Attendance Center and the Old School Community Center. We have a garden therapy the involves seniors and the Boswell Center's developmentally challenged clients." Other WGC projects cited by Thornton: Plantings around six historical markers in town. A breast cancer garden in front of Wesson Public Library memorializing victims of the disease and celebrating the lives of survivors. Maintaining brick planters and hanging flower baskets around town. Arbor Day tree plantings in the municipal park -- a Japanese Maple honoring decease members and a Garden Club tree honoring all work of all the Club's members over the years. Cooperative activities with other state garden clubs in maintaining the cutting garden at the Governor's mansion, reforestation activities, working with Habitat for Humanity in landscaping building projects, the Horticulture Camp at Mississippi State University, scholarship grants and planting wild flowers.

Like so many of us, I have a lot of my family and friends’ birthdates in my phone’s calendar, and I have it set to notify me when a loved one’s birthday is on the horizon. I prefer to tell myself that “I have so many family members now, and combined with all my friends, I can’t possibly remember all those birthdates anymore.” But truthfully, probably just getting too lazy and too dependent upon my phone reminding me. Tend to take the easy way out when it is available. Recently, it faithfully did its job and sent me a birthday reminder. One of my sisters was turning a year older the next day. So, knowing I might forget to call if I waited until then, I immediately called and told her “Happy birthday a day too early! I am calling you today, ‘cause I might not remember to call you tomorrow.” Did this sweet lady laugh at me? Let me off the hook and tell me she understood completely and has been known to do that also, for the exact same reason? Oh yeah, she laughed at me and remarked that she completely understood, but then this is what she went on to say. “You’re not calling me a day too early! Today is my special day! When I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait to become a year older. And then when I was almost twenty-one, I thought being only twenty was going to drag on forever. But some years ago when I - ahem- turned that dreaded corner that heads towards old age, I decided to quit celebrating the first day of being a year older. Nowadays, I recognize and celebrate the very last day of being only ___. Who in their right mind wants to celebrate and acknowledge that they have to add a number to their age?” This dear lady has decided to thumb her nose at the tradition that says we are to rejoice and party on the official day of getting a year older, even though most of us hate the idea of aging. So, she decided it made better sense to celebrate the last day of still being able to say she is that young. Quote, “Cause after today, being able to say I’m ___ ain’t never gonna roll around again!” What a great way of looking at life! Celebrate where you are today, right now – instead of where you are headed. Do your best to enjoy exactly where God has placed you. No, I realize that not everything is enjoyable in your life at the present, but deliberately look for the good stuff. Life can be so much better for you, if you decide to search for the hopeful and happy. Instead of deliberately staring at the dark and depressing. Both exist in your world. Choosing which one to stare at - that is for you to decide.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting has won a 2022 Southeast EMMY® award for its popular children’s education show, “Ed Said,” and the broadcast agency’s news team has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for outstanding achievement in continuing coverage and newcast. Interim MPB Executive Director and News Director Teresa Collier said the recognition is a reflection of the agency’s commitment to its mission to inform, educate and entertain. “Recognition for MPB's work is always humbling. I’m honored to work alongside this professional staff and so proud of what the news and television teams have accomplished. These awards highlight their dedication to providing MPB’s statewide audience with reliable, thorough, and balanced news coverage, as well as engaging educational resources.” The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Southeast Chapter recently announced the Southeast EMMY ® winners during a ceremony in Atlanta. MPB received the Emmy for Outstanding Children/Youth/Teen – Short Form Content: “Ed Said – The Roots.” Producers were Taiwo Gaynor, Keri Horn, Ezekiel Bandy and Ed Foose. “Ed Said” is an “edutainment” program featuring a character who uses rhymes and rap to teach youth the importance of being healthy. The Emmy-winning song can be found here. The news team received regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association for coverage of the water system failures in Jackson, Miss., and the Oct. 4, 2021, 7 a.m. newscast. The water system failures coverage also received a Division B second-place award from the Public Media Journalists Association. For more information on MPB, visit www.mpbonline.org. Find all MPB press releases here.

As food prices continue to increase, Mississippians over 60 years old can easily connect to services that provide socialization, nutrition, and contribute to the overall health and well-being of older individuals. The Mississippi Department of Human Services Senior Nutrition Program aims to reduce older Mississippians' hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Through the agency's Division of Aging and Adult Services, senior adults can access home-delivered meals and congregate meal locations across the state. Home-delivered meals are meals provided to eligible homebound persons in their homes. Congregate meals are served in community settings such as senior centers, churches, or senior housing communities. Meal sites offer an opportunity to meet friends and engage in social activities while having a nutritious meal. Services are provided in all 82 Mississippi counties through the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). To connect to the AAA in your county, please visit Area Agencies on Aging - Mississippi Department of Human Services (ms.gov). Another program known as the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) offered by MDHS can supplement the diets of older Mississippians by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost. MDHS provides the food to local food banks, which distribute the items to over 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters across the state. For more information or to locate a food pantry, soup kitchen, or homeless shelter near you, visit - My Resources (ms.gov) *Food pantry services are available to all eligible Mississippians regardless of age. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) shortens the interview with a case manager, making the verification process much easier. Eligibility workers use data matching to verify an applicant’s information from other government data systems without all of the paperwork of the traditional application process. Once submitted, the eligibility worker sees that the application fits ESAP; it is moved immediately into the ESAP status. ESAP households will not be given a fixed certification period. However, such households will be required to return an interim report provided each year for reporting changes in household income or household size. Everyone in the household must be at least 60 years old and have no earned income to qualify for the Elderly Simplified Application. The benefit amounts are based on income and household size. To determine eligibility for SNAP benefits or to apply, please visit the Pre-Assessment Pre-Assessment | Common Web Portal (ms.gov).

With the rising summer temperatures come rising energy bills. Don’t let the summer heat get you beat Mississippi; get the help you need with LIHEAP. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides financial assistance to eligible households for managing costs associated with: Home energy bills Energy crisis Purchase, repair, or replacement of air conditioners and heaters To be eligible for LIHEAP, an applicant's household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income (approximately $27,906) to qualify for these programs. “Rising temperatures and fuel costs are having an impact on Mississippians,” said Robert G. (Bob) Anderson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. “For many, LIHEAP and the Power to Care programs serve as a lifeline. Connecting these important resources to our neighbors is critical to our mission of offering Mississippians young and old tangible help today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.” For residents who do not meet the eligibility criteria for LIHEAP, The Mississippi Department of Human Services works with utilities to provide energy assistance to low-income households across the state. Entergy Mississippi’s The Power to Care Program, administered by the Salvation Army, provides bill payment assistance to low-income elderly and disabled customers. Employees and customers contribute to this fund. Their donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by Entergy shareholders up to $500k. "By giving to The Power to Care, donors are providing relief for people in our communities who need it most," said Valarie Mabry, Entergy Mississippi public affairs representative. "Helping build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities is an important part of Entergy's mission and our goal to become the premier utility." Entergy also offers level billing for customers of any income level. Level billing gives the option to spread out the annual cost of a utility bill over 12 months so that no one will be surprised with higher bills in the summer due to the heat. This service is excellent for budgeting. Energy-efficiency tips are also offered to Entergy customers. These tips will help customers manage their energy use, and most tips are low to no cost. Examples of these tips range from letting customers know the ideal temperature to set their a/c on to save money and be comfortable. MDHS is working with Entergy and other energy providers to ensure that the people of Mississippi have access to affordable utilities and assistance with budgeting. For more information or to register for utility assistance through MDHS, please visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/energy-assistance-programs-benefit-mississippi-families/ or call 601-359-4500.

Mississippi students and families can now benefit from a new program that will help bridge the digital divide. As Mississippi students prepare to return to the classroom in August, digital connectivity will play a key role in preparing students for the workplace of tomorrow. The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) in partnership with the Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) are working to spread awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Program. “BEAM encourages all who are eligible to take advantage of ACP. Connectivity is such a vital part of education, healthcare, and the workforce today. We want all Mississippians to be connected and a part of today’s digital world of opportunities”, stated Sally Doty, BEAM Director. This program is for eligible households struggling to afford internet service; the long-term benefits will help lower broadband service costs for households. Those eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program can receive up to $30 off their broadband service per month and up to $75 off their service if they live on tribal lands. Benefits also include a $100 discount per household on a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes between $10 - $50 to the purchase through a participating broadband provider. A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below: Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline; Participates in one of several Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard), Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision; Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program. “Connecting Mississippians to tangible help today to create lasting hope for tomorrow is the mission of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Internet connectivity in the home is an essential resource in preparing students for the workforce of tomorrow,” said Robert G. (Bob) Anderson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or by (1) going to AffordableConnectivity.gov to submit an online application or print a mail-in application and (2) contacting their preferred participating broadband provider and selecting a plan. For more information about the Affordable Connectivity Program, please visit www.fcc.gov/ACP or call 877-384-2575 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET any day of the week. Learn more about other utility assistance programs by visiting Community Services - Mississippi Department of Human Services (ms.gov). To determine if you are eligible for SNAP benefits, please visit the Pre-Assessment Pre-Assessment | Common Web Portal (ms.gov).

By Kara Kimbrough Here’s a suggestion: don’t just drive through the Capitol City and adjacent counties in search of beaches, mountains and attractions in other states. Instead, slow down, stop and enjoy the natural beauty, scenic water views and wonderful places and sites to experience on and near the Barnett Reservoir. The 33,000-acre Reservoir, or “Rez” as it’s called, and 17,000 surrounding acres with 105 miles of shoreline offer natural beauty and opportunities for boating, fishing, camping and dining. Two of my favorite spots are scenic Lakeshore Park and Shaggy’s on the Rez, a sprawling eatery on the water featuring stunning views and outstanding food. To work up an appetite, first visit Lakeshore Park, located on the southeastern shore of the Rez in Rankin County. The area is open to the public year-round for picnicking, boating, fishing off the pier and swimming in a secure sand-filled water area with an adjacent beach. Birdwatchers are fond of the area due to its annual influx of Canadian geese, mallards and other birds. In short, it’s the Jackson area’s version of a beach. If none of those pastimes sound appealing, let your dogs run loose in the dog park or lie back and relax in one of the hammocks strung between trees and enjoy the picturesque views of the shimmering water. Admission is free Monday through Friday. A $5 parking fee is assessed on Saturday and Sunday at Lakeshore and other parks. Picnicking or grilling may not be your idea of fun, but don’t worry; Shaggy’s on the Rez is nearby and can more than adequately satisfy cravings for cool beverages, fresh seafood, juicy burgers and po’boys, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes and so much more. Driving up to the colorful restaurant hugging the shoreline, it was easy to tell the latest Shaggy’s in a lineup of five popular eateries owned by two Gulf Coast restaurateurs (three are on the Gulf Coast; one is in Pensacola) has become a central Mississippi favorite since opening in 2018. Despite an overflow crowd during a holiday weekend, there was plenty of room to dine and take in the water views courtesy of four separate areas, each one with its own purpose and vibe. An outdoor table on the deck just inches from the shimmering water provided cool breezes and an up-close view of boaters pulling up in search of a meal. My waterside table turned into an indoor table when raindrops began to fall. However, large windows continued to provide unparalleled water views that paired nicely with the numerous seafood offerings on the lengthy menu. Like its Gulf Coast sisters, the Rez restaurant is a two-story waterfront building with a bright façade. The sprawling restaurant is composed of the light and airy main dining area, spacious outdoor deck, adjacent “tiki bar” with a livelier atmosphere and an upstairs events area with spectacular water views. Water view aside, many people come to Shaggy’s for the food. Shaggy’s menu is filled with a dizzying assortment of appetizers and dishes. Everything that emerges from the kitchen is fresh, well prepared and served with a creative flair. If you have a predisposed opinion about food served in a brightly colored wooden restaurant, check your attitude at the bottom of the stairs and come on in. I promise you won’t be disappointed. As regional director Adam Gully explains, “We strive for the best possible ambiance, personal service and meal for every guest. We want every visit at every location to be an ‘experience.’ We know what our customers want because we read every review, listen to feedback and quite simply, give them what they want and have come to expect from one of our restaurants." Shaggy’s Rez location is a few hours from the Gulf Coast, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of fresh seafood prepared a multitude of ways. The restaurant is known for its sumptuous royal reds ($18.99), a half-pound of extra-large, tasty shrimp served with Country Pleasin’ sausage and red potatoes served in a white wine and seafood broth. Shaggy’s snapper ($27.99) is another favorite dish that never disappoints. Fresh red snapper is topped with shrimp and mushrooms in a sherry cream sauce with a side of coconut rice. Other offerings include seafood platters and pasta dishes, sandwiches and po’boys, fried chicken and steak and the best-selling Shaggy’s cheeseburger. After learning how the cheeseburger is made – the best strips of meat from a prime steakhouse are ground to produce the popular burger – I’m a little upset I’ve never tasted it. It’s an oversight I’ll soon correct. I perused the appetizers and realized several of my favorites from the Biloxi location have made their way north. A sample includes smoked fish dip ($10.99), fried green tomatoes topped with remoulade sauce ($7.99), seafood fries ($14.99) smothered in lobster cheese sauce and topped with blackened shrimp and my favorite, peel-n-eat royal reds ($20.99) served with homemade cocktail sauce. Choosing my entree proved difficult. Basically, I wanted to order it all. After briefly considering my go-to, a crispy fried shrimp po’boy, I perused the “World Tour” menu filled with delicacies from neighboring states and countries. Two that caught my eye were the Nashville hot chicken sandwich ($13.99) and New England style shrimp roll ($20.99). To say they were the best sandwiches I’d ever tasted would not be an overstatement. Not usually a fan of spicy food, I sampled the chicken sandwich with a bit of trepidation. I was pleasantly surprised to find the meat had been seasoned with a light hand, offering only a small “bite” perfectly balanced by the coleslaw topping and brioche bun. The flavors intermingled beautifully to form a near-perfect dish. However, the star of my “experience” was the shrimp roll. Encased inside a soft, buttery bun were generous pieces of tender shrimp pieces lightly coated with mayonnaise and lemon. The finished product is very reminiscent of a New England lobster roll and in fact, if I’d closed my eyes, I could’ve almost sworn I was sampling one. The limited time menu filled with other interesting dishes is just one of the things I love about Shaggy’s. The menu is always changing to add new and creative dishes to the lineup. Most of the entrees and sandwiches come with a side, but if they don't, or if you want more food, choose from among a variety of salads, sautéed vegetables, cole slaw and other side dishes. Children are welcome at Shaggy’s and can choose from among smaller portions of fried shrimp or fish, chicken tenders and burgers. If You Go: Shaggy’s on the Rez Where: 1733 Spillway Rd., Brandon, MS 39047 Hours: 11 a.m. –9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; until 10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday Phone: 601-724-2990 Dress: Casual Lakeshore Park Where: 1112 North Shore Parkway, Brandon, MS 39047 Hours: Sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week. Admission: $5 per car on Saturday and Sunday; free Monday-Friday Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Wesson's Board of Alderman have closed down several streets in an area north of Beach Street between the railroad tracks and Highway 51. The closures encompass portions of 12th through 17th streets on what is known as the Horton property. The Alderman approved the closures in line with Mississippi Codes 21196 and 21377 on abandoning streets. In other actions at their May meeting, the Aldermen: Tabled consideration of installing a gate at the municipal cemetery entrance on eighth street; Appointed Mayor Alton Shaw and Alderman Billy Ellison voting delegates for the annual Mississippi Municipal League conference at Biloxi; Approved the annual audit of the town's finances; Donated to Georgetown a trailer that the town's public works department has used for hauling; Established the regular eight-hour pay for town employees who work on holidays; Authorized new and replacement speed limit and town boundary signs; Approved repairs to the HVAC system at the Old School Community Center; Authorized installation of new batteries to restore operation of two weather sirens on Highway 51; Approved a new Data Systems Town Court computer program at a cost of $150 per month.

By Bob Garver Thor (Chris Hemsworth) hasn’t been seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” where he decapitated Thanos, got really fat, and ultimately left to go have space adventures with the Guardians of the Galaxy. I remembered the first two parts just fine, but I had to be reminded of the third prior to “Thor: Love and Thunder.” It seems like the movie had to be reminded of that as well, like it only remembered at the last minute that it needed to include the Guardians. Chris Pratt and company pop up early in this movie, but they and Thor soon part ways. If you saw this movie’s advertising and thought you were in for a 50/50 Thor/Guardians split, you are in for a letdown. Fortunately, the old-hat Guardians are replaced with something arguably even better: the return to the MCU of Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Thor’s former lover from the Asgardian god’s first two standalone films in 2011 and 2013. Jane’s mind is as sharp as ever, but her body is failing her. She travels to the city of New Asgard, now a tourist trap run by a bored Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), to see if she can be magically be cured by the remnants of Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, which was destroyed in “Thor: Ragnarok” back in 2017. Due to a protection spell put on the hammer by Thor while he and Jane were dating, the hammer repairs itself with Jane as its new owner. Jane teams up with Thor, Valkyrie, and Korg (Taika Waititi, also the film’s director) to battle villain du jour Gorr (Christian Bale), a heartbroken former worshipper with a god-killing Necrosword and a grudge against all gods following the death of his daughter. Our heroes travel to Omnipotence City to ask Zeus (Russell Crowe, doing a Borat voice for some reason) for an army to battle the God Killer, but at met with mockery and refusal. It turns out Gorr has a point about gods caring more about indulging in hedonism than the needs of their worshippers. But he’s kidnapped a pack of New Asgardian children to use as Thor-bait, so he needs to be stopped. The writing of Gorr is probably the worst thing about the movie. Bale is acting his heart out, and the character is truly sympathetic at times, but he’s just such an afterthought for all but about three scenes. And in between those scenes he’s a sarcastic jerk, which isn’t consistent with his overall tone or motivations. The movie really dropped the ball with this character. But then there’s the best thing about the film, which is Hemsworth’s effortless chemistry with everybody, especially Portman. The ups and downs of their relationship are much more exciting than any action sequence, which are pretty much what’s to be expected from the MCU at this point. It’s thanks to them that life and death seem consequential in the MCU again, which is refreshing after a few movies where I’ve become convinced that characters can always be brought back through Infinity Stones or Multiverse shenanigans. Second to Portman is Hemsworth’s chemistry with new weapon Stormbreaker. Not since Joan Rivers has an old battle axe had this much personality. I’ll give “Thor: Love and Thunder” a mild recommendation, thanks mostly to the efforts of Hemsworth and Portman, and Bale in the few scenes where his character’s pathos really comes through. The humor can be hit-or-miss (this movie thinks there is nothing funnier than screaming goats) and the action is memorable only for being set to the music of Guns N’ Roses. This movie isn’t essential MCU viewing, but it’s okay for something on the second or third tier. Grade: B- “Thor: Love and Thunder” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, some suggestive material and partial nudity. Its running time is 118 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Museum of Art in The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Performing and Visual Arts has announced a call for entries for its 2022 Ceramics National. Artists from across the country are invited to submit entries of original works created within the past five years. Ceramic sculptures, vessel forms (both functional and sculptural), and installation works are eligible. Mixed media works are eligible only if ceramic/clay is the primary medium. The deadline for submission is August 7, 2022. This biennial exhibition began in 2016 and has since become one of the top ceramic arts exhibitions featuring a broad spectrum of contemporary ceramic works. It features a gallery exhibition, an awards ceremony, and a juror’s lecture and studio demonstration. It is presented in part by the generous support of Partners for the Arts. “This national juried biennial exhibition has gained wide attention over the years and features some of the best artists in contemporary ceramics,” said Mark Rigsby, museum director and associate professor of Art and Design. “We are especially excited to have Mexican-American artist George Rodriguez, as our juror and visiting artist for this year’s exhibition. We are hoping for another great show to maintain our momentum,” added Rigsby. This year’s juror, George Rodriquez, is a visual artist and ceramic sculptor who creates large-scale figurative works in clay. Born and raised in the border city of El Paso, Texas, Rodriguez draws inspiration from his Mexican-American upbringing. Visualized with ornament, humor and reverence for tradition, his art builds bridges between cultures as well as presents connections to the past. He earned his BFA in ceramics from the University of Texas, El Paso, and then went on to receive an MFA from the University of Washington. A recipient of the Bonderman Travel Fellowship, he traveled to 26 different countries throughout most of 2010. This travel continues to have a profound impact on Rodriguez and his work. Rodriguez was recently honored to serve as a demonstrating artist and presenter at the 2022 National Council on the Education of Ceramic Arts Conference (NCECA) in Sacramento, Calif. He is represented by Foster/White Gallery in Seattle, Wash., and is currently an adjunct professor and artist in residence at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture in Philadelphia. This exhibition is open to all U.S. residents,18 years of age or older. Entries must have been completed within the last 5 years. All entries must be original works and available for the duration of the exhibit from Oct. 10 – Nov. 4, 2022. Accepted works cannot be substituted. For more information regarding eligibility and specifications visit the USM Museum of Art’s website.