Women's Inc.

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WOMEN’S INC.By Women, For Women, About Women of Central Arkansas

HOMES

A C O N W A Y - A R E A G U I D E T O C E N T R A L A R K A N S A S H O M E S

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TrueLoveTrueLove

Lee Anne and Steve Hess lead by example

Lee Anne and Steve Hess lead by example

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Women’s Inc. is excited this month to showcase Homes magazine in this issue. This is one super-sized issue that includes our February is-

sue of Women’s Inc. and Homes all in one. We hope you enjoy this bonus issue and get to see the best of both magazines.

“Matters of the Heart,” this month’s theme, could not be portrayed by a better couple than Steve and Lee Anne Hess. This Conway couple is dedicated to mentoring other couples and helping to strengthen marriages in their church and community.

The Hess’ were spending the month of January in Hawaii, so this was a first for Women’s Inc.: arrang-ing a photo shoot and interview in Hawaii. How fun! This couple practices what they preach. Spending time as a couple and making your marriage a priority is very important in maintaining a healthy, happy marriage, according to Steve and Lee Anne. Read more about Steve and Lee Anne on page 7. Thanks, you two, for sharing your story with us.

Another feature this month is our “10 date night ideas.” We have some great ideas for fun nights right here. Whether you want to have a night in or a night out, we have it all covered. From a nice dinner to a walk in the park, our community really has so much to offer. So get your sweetie and check off all these fun date nights this month!

In downtown this month, Cakes by Catie is our featured business. Catie Morrow is cooking up all things sweet: cupcakes, birthday cakes, wedding cakes, cake pops and cakes for all occasions. Check out this story on page 21.

Chef Jill McCollum, CC, dazzles us with a perfect date night dinner for two. Her delicious meal includes: Lobster Pasta, Caesar Salad and Chocolate Silk Pie. Yummy!

Finally, our Homes magazine section includes three beautiful Faulkner County homes.

First, Wes and Keitha Holland’s home in Con-way’s Sherman Oaks subdivision has been completely renovated. We have highlighted their beautiful kitchen in this issue. This spacious kitchen boasts warm colors and beautiful granite countertops. Sec-ond, the Coker’s home was mostly destroyed in the Vilonia tornado, but they were able to completely restore their home. Check out this home on page 43. Our third feature is the bedroom of Tinsely Martin, the two-year-old daughter of Trey and Brandie Mar-tin. Her room is filled with whimsical flowers and bright colors sure to please any little girl.

Don’t forget to nominate someone for this year’s New You Makeover contest. We will be taking nominations for the next few weeks and reveal our winner in the May Mother’s Day issue of Women’s Inc. Send your nomination and photo to [email protected], check us out on facebook or drop off nominations at the Log Cabin, 1058 Front Street, Conway, AR, 72032.

Until Next Month,

WOMEN’S INC.EditorLori Quinn

Associate EditorKatherine Thomason

Creative DirectorStewart Cole

Contributing WritersRachel Parker DickersonAngie HowardDr. Patricia KnottAndrea LennonJill McCollumSusan O’KeefeJennifer Stanley

Contributing Copy EditorGinny Wiedower

Chief PhotographerBrandy Strain

Contributing Food & Event PhotographersSara BlackLaura DerdenLindsey Faith Watson

Retail Advertising Sales ManagerRhonda Overbey

Advertising CoordinatorsJackie BlackLeah Brown

Advertising SalesDawn RiversTara SandersJesica TalbertBetsey Willbanks

Advertising ArtistsJay PrinceKellie McAnulty

Editorial Advisory BoardHaley Crafton FowlerBeverly FreileyMary HarlanBecky HarrisJan HickyPatricia HoskinsNancy JacksonHelen LockhartVelda LuedersMisty MorseCarol PattyLori RossMary Margaret SatterfieldTraci Kennedy SmithKatherine ThomasonStefanie Holt VannJessica Zimmerman

Women’s Inc. is published by the Log Cabin Democrat.

Questions or Comments?Call (501) 327-6621, e-mail: [email protected] or write to P.O. Box 969, Conway, AR, 72033

www.womensinc.net

A big issue

contents

features columns

events

6 Leading by exampleFor Conway couple Steve and Lee Anne Hess, mar-

riage, family and faith are what life is all about. They

bring those fundamentals together by serving as coun-

selors through New Life Church’s NLCares ministry.

12 Make it a dateFor Valentine’s Day or any time, solutions for treating

your sweetie are numerous in Faulkner County.

17 In the news

20 DowntownCakes by Catie.

24 ShoppingLove is in the air.

26 FoodDinner for two.

30-35 2012 Tax Guide

37 HOMES 38 Holland Kitchen

42 Coker Home

46 Martin Nursery

52 Shopping: Kitchen & Decor

58 CommunityDowntown Conway is heating up.

10 SpiritualityGod always has our best interest at heartby Andrea Lennon

11 GreenMatters of the heartby Angie Howard

16 HealthWorking with physicians key in healthy livingby Dr. Patricia Knott

18 NutritionThe unwanted visitorby Dr. Christine Hurley

19 BeautyYou are what you eat!by Angela Jackson

36 Pet HealthDental disease and your petby Dr. Sharon Stone

50 DesignMake a statement with dramatic designby Helen Lockhart

57 Book ReviewTimeless love storiesreview by Susan O’Keefe

54 Downtown Partnership Annual Meeting

56 Haven Christmas Coffee

20

6 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2012 WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 7


By Jennifer StanleySubmitted photos & Beach Portraits Maui

“The success of a marriage comes not in finding the right person, but in the ability of both partners to adjust to the real person they inevitably realize they married.” – John Fisher

For Conway couple Steve and Lee Anne Hess, marriage, family and faith are what life is all about. They bring those fundamentals together by serving as counselors through New Life Church’s NLCares ministry.

The couple are parents to grown children Lee Wood, an officer and SWAT team member with the Conway Police Department who is married to Wendy; Suzanne Smiley, a cosmetologist at Bravo Color Salon who is married to Jeremy; and Brad Hess, manager of Vegas Indoor Skydiving, who is married to Noara, a performer in Cirque du Soleil’s “O.” They are also proud grandparents to Bella, 5; Adalyn, 2; Lucien, 8; Greyson, 8; Maci, 9; and Abi, 10, and even have a “fleet” of bikes, battery-powered vehicles and scooters in their driveway.

Lee Anne’s and Steve’s paths to each other were quite varied. Lee Anne grew up in Carlisle, Arkan-sas, and Steve in Van Nuys, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. Lee Anne moved to Conway in 1983, where she resided until 1995. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Education and taught school in Carlisle until she moved to Conway. She retired from her marketing company, B&K List Services, in 2001. Steve earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Busi-ness Administration from California State University

in 1974 and began his career as a CPA with Arthur Andersen. He retired in 2000 after working in corpo-rate finance with several Silicon Valley start ups.

Both of their lives were irrevocably changed once Lee Anne moved to California in 1995. “We met while both living in San Jose, California, and were introduced by mutual golfing friends, Nancy and Steve,” said Lee Anne. “Our first date was a blind date at an Italian restaurant in San Jose — Il Fornaio. We had spoken on the phone but had never seen each other. Our first sighting was on the stairwell in the restaurant; he was going up, and I was coming down. I didn’t know for sure it was him, but I thought if it was, that I liked his looks. We formally met as we both checked in for our reservation,” she said. The two liked each other immediately. “We loved that we were both golf enthusiasts, and we scheduled a golf game together at Steve’s home course, Almaden, for the upcoming Sunday morning. I made an exception and played on Sunday morning because I like to be in church. Soon he began attending church with me regularly. I led a couples golf scramble at my home course once a week, and he became my partner.”

Of their meeting, Steve said, “I prayed to God for a woman just like Lee Lee. I got down on my knee and proposed to her the old fashioned way. We were deep-ly in love and were married Aug. 15, 2001.” Added Lee Anne, “While I had a list of prerequisites for my mate — a Christian, a good golfer, non-smoker, good looks, affectionate — Steve had only one request: that I would never ask him to move to Arkansas. I didn’t, but we are here,” laughed Lee Anne.

Moving was actually Steve’s idea. “He came to me and said, I think we should move to Arkansas.” The couple both count family as a vitally important part

of their lives. “We love being with our family, and we commuted between Conway and San Jose for a couple of years. We even purchased a smaller home on the course at Centennial to serve as our home-away-from-home. But when the grandbabies started to appear on the scene, we decided to sell our house in San Jose,” said Lee Anne. Additionally, Lee Anne’s paternal grandmother, Nana, needed assistance in her last years, as did her parents. “My grandmother was like a mother to me. She lived with us for a couple of years and lived to age 100,” she said. Their house sold in March of 2004 in one day, and they moved to Conway permanently.

Though both were retired when they settled in Conway, Steve and Lee Anne never slowed down. Lee Anne is active in and is past president of the Women’s Golf Association at Centennial Valley Country Club and was club champion this year, as well as last year. She also enjoys playing bridge “with a fun group of ladies.” Steve is a consultant to a lo-cal start-up company, myCardioID.com, which is a web-based service where an individual can track their health statistics against personal goals. The service also provides ideas on improving personal health, valuable coupons for the purchase of health and well-ness products and discounts for insurance and other services. They also support UCA and CASA.

Nearest to their hearts is their involvement with serving at New Life Church. Steve is trustee, and Lee Anne serves as ministry leader of NLCares, a ministry that provides one-on-one care for individuals who are going through emotionally challenging times. Through that ministry, they lead couples in mar-riage mentoring. “New Life Church has grown very rapidly. In the last few years, it was named the fastest

Leading by exampleStrong in faith, Lee Anne and Steve Hess pass down fundamentals


growing church in America. When we first began to attend, I was privileged to receive daily prayer requests from members via email. I combined them into one email and sent them to those who signed up to receive them in order to pray. While doing that, I saw so many hurts; hoping to help with some of those hurts, Steve and I discussed this with our lead pastor, Rick Bezet, and his wife, Michelle, over lunch. Rick gave us permission to start NLCares for individuals, so we laypersons could help the pastoral staff handle the increasing need for counseling,” Lee Ann further explained.

“We are not professional counselors. The trained NLCares team has been providing one-to-one, con-fidential Christian care for almost five years, and we have helped more than 300 people,” explained Lee Anne. “Our Ministry motto is: ‘I am not God. I am Christ caring for people through people. God is the cure giver. I am the care giver. Pray, then listen and obey.’” Approximately 125 people have trained and become NLCares ministers. Currently, about 35 are active between New Life campuses in Conway and Little Rock, and the ministry was recently imple-mented at their Cabot location.

“There are two sides to this ministry — those who serve and those who need assistance. Once we know someone needs help, we try to meet with them within a day or two, then we pair them with a minis-ter of the same gender who meets with them typically about an hour a week to listen, care, encourage and pray with them, if they choose,” said Lee Anne. The ministers will meet as many times as they are needed, and there is no charge for their service. “It is a gift of our time, which we believe is the greatest gift one can give,” she expounded.

“As we all know, the divorce rate in America is over 50 percent. Steve and I have both been through divorces and felt strongly that we wanted to do some-thing to help turn the tide. Other church leaders with the same passion for marriages include Pastor Trip Leach and wife Courtney, Shannon and April Goff, Pastor Jerred Bridges and wife Hanna, Tristan and Keisa Tiarks and Derek and Amanda Moser. Together we all serve as a Marriage Enrichment Team,” said Lee Anne. The ministry’s goal is to match couples with the mentors that will be the best fit for their specific needs. Mentor training primarily deals with counseling fundamentals such as active listening and building rapport. “Of course, the vast majority of the mentors’ training is from ‘on the job experience,’ – their own marriages,” she said. “Mentor couples tend to be people who are mature, who have a strong Christian faith and who have a real heart for giving hope and direction to couples who are struggling. This is a high-commitment ministry on the part of our mentors, and we are so blessed to have a group that is hard working and dedicated.”

Though couples typically meet with their mentors once a week, that schedule is flexible. “The initial meetings are more about becoming acquainted with one another and providing the couples an opportu-nity to speak openly about issues that are going on in their lives that have caused them to regress from the love of their earlier relationship. In many cases, the mentorees feel this is the first time that someone really listened to them and could actually relate to what they are going through,” explained Lee Anne. She counts listening among the chief responsibilities of a mentor.

Over time, as the two couples become familiar and gain trust, the mentors begin to provide feedback to assist the couple in beginning their journey to heal-ing. “As we all know, being happily married requires work. Mentors often ask the mentoree couples to take advantage of the wonderful resources that are available. For example, if the hurting couple is having communication problems, the mentors may suggest a homework assignment such as reading the book ‘Love and Respect’ by Emerson Eggerichs. If the couple needs to refresh their relationship, the mentors may suggest doing the ‘Love Dare,’ from the movie Fireproof. One tool I think all couples should utilize, no matter the state of your marriage, is the ‘Prepare Enrich’ survey. A couple can take the survey online and get great feedback as to where strengths can be leveraged and what weaknesses can be worked on,” said Lee Anne.

While NLCares marriage mentors provide advice and counseling they feel can be effective in leading the couple in the right direction, they are trained to know when to refer couples to a professional

counselor. “There are some marriages that have had traumatic episodes that can only be addressed by a professional,” said Lee Anne.

When asked how counseling can help couples, Lee Anne lists four main points as follow:

• “It helps them realize they are not alone in hav-ing problems. By meeting with their mentors, they can see that someone else has been through problems, worked for solutions, and repaired their relationship.

• Couples learn about resources and tools that are available to help restore the relationship and to find their love for each other again.

• They learn the importance of having God involved in their relationship and the love that comes from knowing that their mentor couple is praying for them.

• This ministry is free to the mentoree couple. While professional counseling is quite helpful, many couples do not have the resources to pay for it.

Incidentally, it should be noted that the giv-ing that comes from mentoring other couples has a boomerang affect. It tends to make the mentor couple

Lee Anne and Steve love spending time with their six grandchildren.


stronger in their own relationship. Steve and I think that every couple should have a mentor couple. We wish we would have had such a blessing when we were younger.”

As for the NLCares program’s outcomes, the men-tors feel it’s a success simply getting the troubled couple to realize they can get help, and that they show up to the first meeting. “Some of the couples we meet have what you might call common issues. Working on marital fundamentals such as communi-cation, finances or raising kids have resulted in men-tor relationships that have ended with success after only three or four months. Some couples have been through traumatic problems such as infidelity. Obvi-ously, these situations are going to take time and may often include the need for professional counseling. We have seen cases where one spouse has moved out, the kids are shuttled back and forth, and where there appears to be little hope. However, over time we have also seen these same couples get back together and work on their marriage. I guess these more difficult situations will take much time to heal before we can call them a success. Put another way, the couple didn’t get in trouble overnight, and it won’t get fixed overnight,” said Lee Anne.

“As part of the marriage mentor ministry, the mentor couples all meet once a month at our house to fellowship and lift each other up spiritually. We help each other with whatever may be going on in our own lives and marriages. We also do a formal peer review process so we can share ideas on how to best handle marital issues with our mentoree couples and to share success stories. Of course, this is done in complete confidentiality without any names mentioned or details that might compromise trust,” said Lee Anne.

NLCares participants consistently provide positive feedback for the program. Some comments the Hess’ have permission to share include: “I am stronger, healthier in mind, body and spirit because I allowed an NLCares Minister to walk beside me during so many months of struggles. The greatest gift an NL-Cares Minister gives is their willingness to LISTEN.”

Another commented, “Your ministry has helped me so much. I really appreciate all you have done. I think everyone should have an NLCares minister!”

As for the future plans of the ministry, Lee Ann said, “So far, God has been good at matching up the number of couples in need of help with the number of mentor couples we have in the ministry. However, we know there are many hurting couples in our church who do not yet know about this ministry, so our con-cern is that we have enough trained mentor couples to handle what we think the demand will be, over time. In that regard, we are constantly seeking out couples who would make good marriage mentors.”

When asked for good, general relationship advice, she said, “First, make sure you are in touch with God. The Bible is very clear on what it means to be a good wife and a good husband. Seek God’s wisdom and help through praying together as a couple and being in the Word together on a regular basis. Like anything else, a good marriage comes from dedication and hard work. Seek out resources at your church, marriage seminars, and the Christian book store that will help you be the best spouse and parent you can be. Where young kids are involved, put aside selfish needs and make sure you take care of your kids’ mom and dad. Children are truly a blessing and deserve your best.”

“A healthy relationship was once explained to me to be like the shape of the letter H, where two people can stand alone but are joined. An unhealthy relation-ship looks like the shape of the letter A, where two people lean on one another and can’t make it on their own; they have an unhealthy connection. Make sure your relationship is shaped like an H. Also, make sure you spend time together alone, as a couple. Have a date night together as often as possible. Go away alone for a weekend or week. Recharge,” advised Lee Anne. “We can not change another. We can only change ourselves. Give your spouse at least one genu-ine compliment and at least one hug every day, and as E.E. Cummins said, “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”

Not only does this couple have a passion for golf, but also a passion for helping other couples through the ups and downs of marriage. They are dedicated to mentoring couples and helping them strengthen their relation-ships.

By Andrea Lennon

The pages of the Bible bring forth a resounding call to love God with everything in us. This call challenges

the way we think, the way we act and even the way we feel. As you and I think about the call to love God with complete abandon to the point where we invite Him to change our thoughts, actions and feelings, we must turn our attention to the One who is calling us to change. Long before we invite God to change anything about us, we must know and believe that God has our very best interest at heart.

To be honest with you, this has been one of the biggest struggles in my Christian walk. I have struggled to know and believe that God is with me and that God is for me. This is true because deep down in my soul I have spent much of my life questioning God’s plan for me.

As many of you know, I am ad-opted.While I grew up in a wonderful Christian home, I struggled daily with feelings of abandonment, rejection and loneliness. As a result of these feelings, I found myself keeping God at arm’s length because I knew that if I per-ceived that God let me down I simply would not have the strength to go on. So, in order to “protect” myself, I kept a safe distance from God by not allowing Him into the most important areas of my life.

As you might guess, this plan did not work. All it took was one simple prayer for the walls of my life to come crashing down around me. I prayed, “Lord make me real;” and that is exactly what He did. This occurred through a difficult season of life.

During this season of life, God al-lowed everything in my life to turn up-side down. The things that once seemed normal to me were no longer normal; and the things that once seemed certain to me were no longer certain. This season rocked me to the very core of my being and forced me to ask tough questions.

“Lord, do I trust You?” “Lord, do I believe that You have a

plan for my life?” “Lord, do I have the faith to believe

that nothing is impossible for You?” “Lord, am I willing to live my life in

complete abandon to You?” I will be honest with you and share

that at the height of my difficult season I barely functioned. For the first time, I saw wrong motives, feelings and per-

spectives that were charting the course of my life.

It was not until I came to the point of complete and total surrender to the Lord that I sensed that He was releas-ing me from this difficult season. The releasing process was slow and steady; but I was released. I want to tell you that I was a changed person. For the first time I felt alive, free and experienc-ing joy and satisfaction down deep in my soul. I was real before God, myself and others. I had a fresh perspective on life, and I was able to see the details of my life from God’s perspective.

Ultimately, what I learned from my difficult season is that when I keep God at arm’s length I am not protected. No. I am vulnerable to Satan’s attack and vulnerable to living my life based on wrong feelings and emotions. I also learned that if I am going to heed the call to love God with everything in me, then I must give Him complete access to every part of my life. Nothing can be off limits to God. Further, the tough questions that I asked led to strong as-surances that I rebuilt my life upon.

“Lord, I do trust You!” “Lord, I know that You have a plan

for my life.” “Lord, I believe that nothing is

impossible for You!” “Lord, I will live my life for You!” Today I wonder if you are in the

middle of a difficult season of life. If so, open your heart to the Lord. Pour out your thoughts to your creator, your God, and your friend. It is amazing that right now He sees you, He knows you and more than anything He loves you.

Dear friend, God is with you, and He is for you! In fact, God went to great lengths in order to show you His love. The Bible says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ro-mans 5:8, New International Version)

Right now embrace the love of Christ by giving Him access to every area of your life. As you do, you will find the way to survive the most dif-ficult seasons of life.


God always has our best interest at heart

Andrea Lennon lives in Conway, Arkansas, with her

husband, Jay, and sons, Jake and Andrew. Andrea ministers

to the women of Arkansas through a speaking and writ-ing ministry called True Vine

Ministry. To learn more about this ministry,

access Andrea’s website at www.andrealennon.net.

S P I R I T U A L I T Y

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 11

By Angie Howard

Anytime we visit Walmart with all three children in tow, my husband and I have learned to go with a precise tactical battle plan in mind and bee-line it only to the specified aisle(s) of necessity. Any diversion from the plan and we’ve asked for whatever trouble ensues.

We made one such trip this past week on a mission to purchase Valentine’s party supplies needed to host a “Sweetheart Party” for our kiddos and their friends. It was quite the adventure to parade a trio of hungry children past thousands of colorful, shiny and luring bags of candy and chocolates right before dinner when they were according to themselves “seriously starving, Mom!” (note to self made after that monumental miscalculation).

Somehow, we made it out battered but alive with three varieties of Valentine’s cards to pass out, all kinds of lovey-dovey party supplies and enough sugary-sweet conversation hearts to open a dialogue between Adobe Flash and your iPad.

Now as I sit and type this article, my dining room table situated just behind me is piled high with the spoils of front-line combat in the Valentine’s aisle, the kids are happy and I have work to do this upcoming week decorating, baking and helping little hands write their names on the “From:” line of their Valentine’s cards. Sounds like I’m all set to enjoy the sweetest holiday of the calendar year, right?

Well, close to right — just one minor detail is missing. In all the hubbub of keeping my three cherubs from opening bags of candy just as fast as they were tossed into the buggy, we left without my one single Valentine’s Day guilty pleasure — a box of assorted chocolates.

Normally, I don’t keep chocolates around the house, but for some reason around Valentine’s Day they are all but irresistible. Whitman’s Samplers, Godiva, See’s Chocolates; you name it, and automatically I start daydreaming of the anticipation you feel right before biting into a chocolate to discover what yummy filling awaits your taste buds. Don’t ask me how I let myself forget the boxed chocolates even amidst the chaos of three uncooperative kids in a super center, but somehow it happened.

Now to focus my attention toward damage control without having to venture back to Wally World.

Where else better to turn when you have a dilemma but to seek help from the Internet? And wouldn’t you know, I just happened to stumble across some environmentally-friendly selections to satisfy even the most discerning taste buds of fellow seasonal chocoholics.

Following are a few of my favorite chocolate picks for your eco-friendly sweet-hearts (or for yourselves!) this Valentine’s Day:

• From www.ecoexpress.com — an organic dark chocolate sampler packaged in a beautiful handmade beaded fair trade basket. Available in two sizes with prices ranging from $26-$50.

• From Coco-Zen, http://stores.homestead.com/CocoZen/-strse-84/Green-Gift-Set-cln--Chocolate/Detail.bok — a Green Gift Set: “Chocolate to Eat” package that includes fair trade chocolate truffles (regular or vegan) packaged in a keepsake four-tier Indian Tiffin and paired with a book entitled, “Celebrate Green!” all for $67.95

• And finally, a clearing house website for organic chocolate gift ideas, World Wide Chocolate, http://worldwidechocolate.com/organic_chocolate.html — which lists companies such as: Divine Organic Chocolates, Terra Nostra (Latin for Our Earth) Organic Chocolates, Green & Blacks Organic Chocolates and many other gourmet organic chocolatiers. Prices and gift options vary.

I guess it wasn’t all bad that the Whitman’s Sampler was accidentally omitted from our family shopping cart last week. I learned quite a bit poking around the Web for healthier organic chocolate options. And we all know that the following observation is truth; anytime one can justify chocolate as “healthy” you’ve done yourself a great service.

Angie Howard is a wife and mother of three. She is recycling coordinator for the city of Conway and the Faulkner County

Solid Waste District. Angie can be reached at [email protected].

Matters of the heartG R E E N


Make it a date.

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 13

By Rachel Parker DickersonPhotos by Brandy Strain

For Valentine’s Day or any time, solutions for treating your sweetie are numerous in Faulkner County.

If it’s a dinner date you desire, Conway has plenty of restaurants with excellent food and atmosphere for a romantic evening, including Mike’s Place, Michelangelo’s, Oak Street Bistro, Fuji or Outback Steakhouse.

Kim Williams, executive director of the Conway Downtown Partnership, said, “There are great places for dates in Conway. You can start with happy hour at Michelangelo’s, then go to dinner at Oak Street Bistro or U.S. Pizza. You can end up now at the duel-ing pianos for entertainment. It’s just great. It’s such a great complement to our restaurants – after dinner now you have something to do, you don’t have to just go home.”

On the other hand, for a quiet night at home, pop some popcorn and enjoy a “just out on DVD” pay-per-view from Conway Corporation. Many of Conway Corp’s on demand movie selections come out 28 days prior to their release on DVD.

However, if you crave fine arts entertainment, Conway has much to offer year-round.

Top-notch shows within driving distance can be found at Reynolds Hall Public Appearances at the University of Central Arkansas. Go to www.uca.edu/publicappearances to purchase tickets. Upcoming performances include an exhibition of traditional Jap-anese Taiko drumming called “The Art of the Drum” on Feb. 27 as well as Broadway shows “Doubt” on March 1 and “Stomp” on March 27.

The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre presents its festival of plays each summer in June. Audiences have several opportunities to enjoy a Shakespearean

Make it a date.


10 DATE NIghT IDEAS

1. Dinner out at Mike’s Place, Michelangelo’s, Outback Steakhouse, Oak Street Bistro, or Fuji.

2. A night in with popcorn and Conway Corpo-ration’s “just out on DVD” pay-per-view.

3. Catch a show at Reynolds Hall Public Ap-pearances.

4. Arkansas Shakespeare Theater festival of plays.

5. A Conway Symphony Orchestra concert.

6. A night of painting at Branch Out Paint Bar and Boutique.

7. Listen to some music at Kings of Conway, Ford Theater, or JJ’s.

8. Movie night out at Conway’s Cinemark Theater.

9. Bowling at Conway Family Bowl

10. Enjoy a walk or the outdoors at one of our local parks.

comedy and a tragedy, each driven by the director’s creative vision. Also, the festival presents children’s classics and well-loved plays by other authors.

Throughout the year, the Conway Symphony Orchestra delights audiences with its concert series of classical music, including a free concert in Simon Park in downtown. Anyone looking to please the music lover in their life need look no farther.

Or -- why not have a totally new experience with the love of your life?

Branch Out Paint Bar and Boutique offers date night events where couples, led by an instructor, can paint their own artwork with no prior painting experience.

Couples who recently attended a date night said they found the experience romantic and very sponta-neous and one that had the ability to reawaken passion in a relationship.

The newest thing to do in Conway is listen to the dueling pianos play at Kings Conway.

Owner Dustin Botsford said, “It’s the most fun place in town and by far the best entertainment. We have three players nightly, and each of them can play pianos, guitar, bass and drums.”

Kings is on Front Street, and next door in the same

building is the Ford Theater, which will host various bands and artists in addition to serving as an event center.

Then again, perhaps when you get an evening with that special someone, you prefer the comfortable and familiar.

Always popular for date night is a trip to the movie theater, and Conway’s Cinemark Theater is just the place. Open for just over a year, the 12-screen theater offers comfortable stadium seating, all-digital projection and 3D. It is located in the Conway Towne Centre on Skyline Drive, near several restaurants and places to shop.

For couples who love to play or compete, Conway Family Bowl might be the perfect place for a date. It is open until midnight or later every day of the week except Sunday, when it closes at 8 p.m. Prices are reasonable and there is a snack bar.

On a sunny day in a beautiful state, you might as well go outdoors and call it a date. Take a picnic lunch to Laurel Park or ride bikes on the Tucker Creek trail. Woolly Hollow State Park has hiking trails, and Cadron Settlement Park is simply beautiful. Take your sweetheart on a date that doesn’t cost a dime and cre-ate a memory that lasts a lifetime.



By Dr. Patricia Knott

The human heart weighs between 200 and 425 grams and its size is commonly described as being slightly larger than your fist. The

heart beats an average of 100,000 times per day and pumps about 7.5 liters of blood in 24 hours. It is responsible for getting blood to the other organs, tissues and cells throughout the body which provide the much needed oxygen and nutrients these parts need to perform their functions. Composed of four chambers, four types of valves and an intricate electrical system that makes it all work through contractions, the heart is a complex muscular organ and the diagnosis of any malfunction can be complex as well.

Approximately five years ago while in her 30s, Traci Turner began to experience symptoms of palpitations which she initially attributed to stress. But when her symptoms worsened, she saw her primary care physician. He had Traci wear a holter monitor (a machine worn by a patient 24-48 hours that continu-ously records the heart’s rhythm) and found some abnormalities in her heart beat.

This working mother of two who was used to being active had begun experiencing short-ness of breath and sharp shooting chest pains in addition to palpitations. Her symptoms, which came to include headache and dizziness, were noted to worsen with exertion or with attempts to work out. She had previously enjoyed walk-ing and jogging but noticed that her endurance level had declined, so she had to rest sooner and more often. Bike riding became easier for her than jogging.

About this time, Traci was going through a painful divorce, so quite understandably her physician felt some of the palpitations and panic-like attacks were due to some anxiety from the emotional turmoil in her life. But during her visit after wearing a holter monitor, her doctor noted a rapid heart rate above 200 beats per minute. Though he treated her for some anxiety, he also treated her for her tachy-cardia (increased heart rate) with a medicine called Tenormin, which lowers the heart rate. He made a timely referral to a cardiologist (a doctor trained in treating diseases of the heart and blood vessels) who diagnosed Traci with atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), an abnormal rhythm of the heart caused by an abnormality in the atrioventricu-lar (AV) node which carries impulses from the top part of the heart to the bottom part of the heart. He also diagnosed her with atrial fibrilla-tion which is an abnormal rhythm originating in the top part of the heart.

The cardiologist referred Traci to an electro-physiologist, a cardiologist with special train-ing in electrophysiology (a test that records the electrical activity and the electrical pathways of your heart). This physician was able to de-

termine where the abnormality was occurring in her heart and then performed a procedure called a cardiac ablation. An ablation proce-dure involves use of a catheter with special electrodes, which is inserted through a vein in the groin and threaded to the heart. Ablation works by scarring the tissue in the heart that triggers an abnormal rhythm.

After undergoing two ablation procedures her arrhythmias were controlled, but Traci noted shortly after the second procedure that she was even more short of breath. Further testing revealed that she had developed a pul-monary embolus (blood clot to the lung). She required a six-month treatment with Couma-din, a blood thinner, and was under the care of a pulmonologist, a lung doctor.

Traci Turner’s physicians had warned her that if the ablation procedure had not worked, a pacemaker would have been the next con-sideration. Various medications, including beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, had been tried between procedures to decrease her heart rate, but these caused significant drops in her blood pressure that she was unable to tolerate.

Traci decided, in consultation with her physicians, to forego medications since the side effects interfered with her work and the energy needed to take care of two children. Her doctors feel she now has no life-threatening arrhythmias but they are continuing close monitoring of her condition.

Diagnosing cardiac problems can sometimes be complicated, as shown in Traci’s case, and can require more than one specialist working together to make the diagnosis and provide the appropriate treatment. But you, the patient, should never underestimate the importance of your role in the teamwork that will lead to optimum care of the problem. Traci sought timely medical care and kept her physicians abreast of her symptoms. She was compliant in follow-up of the plan of treatment and made final decisions about her options based on careful consideration of her physicians’ recom-mendations.

Though Traci continues with some endur-ance issues, she manages to keep pretty busy. She works full time as a physical therapy assistant at Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital and even plays on the hospital’s kick-ball and softball teams. She does attempt some walking, rides her bike and recently rejoined the gym. In addition to friends and family, Traci credits her faith with getting her through what was a difficult, and at times, frightening period in her life.

Working with physicians is key in healthy livingH E A LT H

Patricia Knott is a graduate of LSU Medical School in New Orleans and

is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She serves as the

Medical Director for Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.


I N T H E N E W S

Arkansas Shakespeare Theater Bard Ball

“The Taming of the Brew” — Argenta Commu-nity Theater will be transformed into a lantern-filled beer garden on Saturday March 10 at 7 p.m. Join in for a sampling of local beers, great local fare and Shakespearean surprises. Live music will be per-formed by Don’t Stop Please. Warwick Sabin will serve as Master of Ceremonies. All Proceeds benefit the Arkansas Shakespeare Theater. For More informa-tion visit www.Arkshakes.com

Jeans & Bling7 to 11 p.m., Friday, March 9, 2011Ford Theater Mark your calendar for the 2nd Annual Jeans &

Bling from 7-11 p.m. on Friday, March 9. The event will be held in the recently renovated

Ford Theater in historic Downtown Conway. Smokey Emerson and his band, Mayday by Midnight, will also be the entertainment for the evening. This year will include a raffle for some very nice items along with a silent and live auction

Sponsorships are still available and include tickets and guaranteed table seating. Anyone interested in

sponsoring the event can call the United Way office at (501) 327-5087.

Tickets for Jeans & Bling are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. For tickets, sponsorship opportuni-ties, or more information, call (501) 327-5087 or www.unitedwaycentralark.org.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from Jeans & Bling benefit UWCA’s Partner Agency’s Programs.

Activist Shakur-Davis to speak at UCA

Revolutionist and activist Afeni Shakur-Davis will give a lecture at the University of Central Arkansas on Feb. 13 at Reynolds Performance Hall.

Shakur-Davis, former Black Panther and mother of

hip hop artist and actor Tupac Shakur, is the founder of Amaru Entertainment/Records and the Tupac Am-aru Shakur Foundation. Her lecture, “Road to Peace & Empowerment,” begins at 7:30 p.m. The event is free to the public, but tickets are required.

Tickets for the general public will be available starting Feb. 1. Tickets can be picked up at the Reynolds Performance Hall Ticket Office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are limited to two per person.

The lecture is a part of UCA’s Black History Month program. The event is sponsored by the

Student Government Association, Honors College, Residential Colleges, the History Department, the Office of the Provost and Division of Student Services.

Shakur-Davis joined the Black Panther Party in 1968 to help reopen the public schools in New York. In 1969, she was arrested for conspiracy against the United States government. Shakur-Davis defended herself against 156 charges and was acquitted of all charges. Her biography, Evolution of a Revolutionary, was published in 2005. The biography looks at her childhood in North Carolina, her life as a Black Pan-ther, and her trial. The book was written by actress, singer and dancer Jasmine Guy. The biography was honored with a nomination by the NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction Category.

By Dr. Christine Hurley

It seems that cold and flu season come around regularly like an unpleasant holiday, or unwanted guest. I wanted to share with you a

different perspective — some might say alternative — to handling this unwanted visitor. I personally don’t like to call this approach alternative because it is my first choice for myself, family, friends, staff and patients, and I want to share why with you. Largely alternative treatments are mild in nature and conservative. There is very little chance that they will be strong enough to have an adverse reaction or side effect. It can also happen that because they are mild they don’t seem effective and a lot of people give up because they simply don’t see the desired results. But with the concerns associated with pre-scription medicines and over-the-counter treatments, starting with the alternatives is the safer, cheaper and a smarter choice.

Over the years I have developed a number of treatment protocols to create the greatest result. It has become my fo-cus because in the end what we all really want is to get better as fast as possible, or better still not to get sick in the first place. The regimen I am describing can accomplish both of those goals.

DR. HURLEY’S “SHOT”:Starting with first sign of cold or flu

symptoms:• Get adjusted! Only a doctor of

chiropractic can decide if you are sublux-ated and need an adjustment. That is our specialty. Often when we are sick we become subluxated whether from stress, posture or prior accident. A subluxation is literally a small misalignment of a bone in the spine.

How does this apply? Thousands of patients report that while

under chiropractic care they have com-pletely stopped having symptoms and illnesses such as flu or sinus infection that they suffered from frequently before treat-ment began. The premise is simple, that when a subluxation is present it interferes in the body’s ability to perform optimally. Even in the smallest amount, who wants any interference in performance? We use our bodies pretty hard, we push ourselves, this one concept can change your family’s health for the better forever.

• Vitamin C daily: I am a big support-er of Vitamin C because I have seen the miraculous effects that can be produced. Sometimes a mega dose of Vitamin C is appropriate even as much as 6,000-12-

,000mg. This might not be appropriate for everyone; some people experience upset stomach so you need to use your own judgment, or if you have a concern, consult with someone knowledgeable in this area.

• Eliminate all dairy products: milk, yogurt, cheese etc. Milk increases phlegm production, causing more congestion and difficulty getting it out of the sinus cavity. Less phlegm means less chance of sinus infection secondary to a cold/flu. Typically I suggest complete elimina-tion for three days. Then add it back very slowly only if all that mucous and phlegm is under control. This is very helpful for ear infections as well. Even children (1 year old and up) can do this, there are no negative effects from such a few days of milk elimination. You may notice an improvement in nasal conges-tion that could be considered positive enough to make long term reduction.

• For sore throat, gargling with salt water (warm water with about a teaspoon of salt in an 8 ounce glass) will usually do the trick. Gargle 2-3 times per day. Avoid sugary foods. They can feed bacteria in the back of the throat. Consider zinc or zinc lozenges, they have been shown to decrease the length of a cold and help with throat pain.

• Water is a great way to decongest. Drink twice as much water as you would normally. It thins the phlegm and makes coughing more productive.

Concept: It’s always better out than in. That means blow it out and cough it out. Take as little to suppress symptoms as you can.

If your personal physician is not knowledgeable regarding these natural methods of health care we are here to help. Our team is committed to improv-ing the health of our community. We are happy to assist in finding the right combination of natural and conservative methods to help you achieve your health goals.


Dr. Christine Hurley is the CEO of Hurley & Wellness

Center and is a wellness expert in nutrition, women’s

health and many other areas. She has published articles,

changed thousands lives with chiropractic care and raised

three children with these and more health principles.

The unwanted visitorN U T R I T I O N


By Angela Jackson

The old adage “you are what you eat” not only applies to our overall health and nutrition but also to how our skin looks and feels. As the largest organ of the body,

our skin can benefit from the same nutrition we get from foods that have a positive effect on our heart and other major organs. In fact, new research suggests that eating foods rich in protein and certain vitamins and minerals might provide valuable heart-healthy and anti-aging effects.

BROCCOLIBroccoli is an excellent source of Vitamin C (more

than double that of an orange), Vitamin A, Beta Carotene, iron, calcium, folic acid, zinc and potassi-um. This is a great vegetable that has many different health benefits. Broccoli contains a lot of Vitamin A, a vitamin that is great at improving the turnover of cells in the skin. This means that when you eat broc-coli, your skin gets renewed more quickly and the freshest (nicest looking) skin is on top.

A chemical found in these vegetables can boost a natural defense mechanism to protect arteries from disease. This chemical is called Sulforaphane. Sul-foraphane is an organosulfur compound that exhibits anticancer, antidiabetic and antimicrobial properties in experimental models. It is obtained from crucifer-ous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts or cabbage. The enzyme myrosinase transforms gluc-oraphanin, a glucosinolate, into sulforaphane upon damage to the plant (such as from chewing).

CHILI PEPPERSThe heat source in chili peppers is called cap-

saicin. Capsaicin is a natural antioxidant and helps protect against disease caused by toxins. It contains blood-thinning properties to prevent strokes, lower

cholesterol, protect DNA against carcinogens and may stimulate the release of endorphins.

Antioxidants in chilis can destroy cholesterol responsible for major diseases like atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. And they can defend against diseases such as cataract and arthritis. They also dilate airways of lungs, which reduces asthma and wheez-ing.

Fresh chili peppers, red or green, are also a rich source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent water soluble antioxidant. It is required for the collagen synthesis in the body. Collagen is the main structural protein in the body required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs and bones.

SPINACHSpinach contains lutein, which prevents cataracts

and blindness in the elderly. Spinach also contains vitamins A, C, E and K, folic acid and magnesium which help control cancer, reduce heart disease and stroke risk, block free radicals and may help prevent cancer. Spinach contains various nutrients and vita-mins that can support the acne healing process.

With healthy eating you may consider yourself — and look — 10 years younger than your age!

‘You are what you eat!’B E A U T Y

Angela Jackson, owner of studio SKIN has been a licensed aesthetician for 14 years. Angela is a member of Associated Skincare Professionals, an organization dedicated to the promotion of safe, quality skin care. Angela practiced in the Fayetteville

area for over 12 years under the direct supervision of a board certified plastic surgeon. Angela has been offering skincare in the downtown Conway area for the last 3 years. She offers expertise and certifications in corrective skincare, facials, chemical

peels, microdermabrasion, and make-up.


D O W N T O W NCakes by Catie • 1107 Oak St., Downtown Conway • 501-804-2283



Catie Morrow of Cakes by Catie in Downtown Conway celebrates her one-year anniversary of being in business on Valentine’s Day.

Before making the switch to full-time baker, Mor-row was working at City of Faith, a federal halfway house in Little Rock. Her job was to find employ-ment for ex-felons.

“It was an amazing job. I got to work with great people and make some really cool changes in people’s lives,” she said.

She began baking cakes for her family and friends after becoming interested in the proliferation of tele-vision shows about cake making.

“It started out with me watching Food Network and loving the cake shows. I asked my mom if I could do my brother’s birthday cake. That was my first fondant cake. I went to Hobby Lobby, bought a kit, and I had a lot of fun doing it.”

She began making cakes for all her friends’ events and started getting requests. Then, last December, Sommer Holden of SoHo Photography told her the space at Mountebanq Place was available.

“I was like, ‘You’re crazy,’” Morrow said of her first reaction. “I got to thinking about it and crunching numbers. I talked to my boss and she said, ‘You need to do it.’ I came here and checked it out. I fell in love with the space.”

She went to work and worked right up until she opened for business.

“I had support from everybody. It made the transi-

A leap of cakeCatie Morrow follows her dream with downtown bakery

WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 2322 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2012

tion easy knowing I had support from my coworkers at my old job and here. I knew they weren’t going to let me fail on the first day,” she said.

Holden was a friend and former coworker from another job, and she also knew Ashley Carson of Anything and Everything Design, who is Holden’s sister-in-law and close friend. Morrow said both of them were encouraging about her joining them as a tenant at Mountebanq Place.

Morrow continued, “I knew there would be brides in here, so I would get that exposure, so I knew I would benefit from being in the same place that brides were coming in anyway.”

Morrow has joined Carson and Holden and a few other vendors on Oak Street to form Oak Street

Weddings. Together they promote the awareness that brides can find everything they need for their wed-ding within three blocks on Oak Street.

“It made the transition easy knowing I had support from my coworkers at my old job and here. I knew they weren’t going to let me fail on the first day.”

Catie Morrow owner of Cakes by Catie in Downtown Conway.


However, Morrow noted, she makes more birthday cakes and baby shower cakes than wedding cakes.

“With weddings, you have to get a little more established. Birthdays come around more. It’s a big thing to get a wedding. The next thing you know, it’s a baby shower,” she said cheerfully.

The hardest part of her first year of business was learning how long it took to finish the work load she had taken on for any particular day, she said.

“There were a lot of late nights. A lot of nights I was up here till midnight. I didn’t realize how many hours would be put into it. Now I’m figuring out how much time I need to dedicate toward certain things.”

Morrow hopes to gain more walk-in customers who are interested in her fresh-baked cupcakes. She always has a selection in her display case, typically including vanilla, double chocolate, strawberry and red velvet with cream cheese icing. She also has made lemon with raspberry icing in warm weather and holiday spice in cold weather. She has created more custom flavors for people who order ahead.

“Every Wednesday we have half-off cupcakes,” she said. “I don’t have tons of walk-ins, but I’d love for that to change.”

Morrow’s husband, Chris, has been supportive throughout her first year in business, she said.

“He’s been a huge help. He was here doing dishes with me. He’d bring me dinner when I was here working until midnight. He has been gung ho about it for sure. Of course I pay him in cake.”

Catie Morrow owner of Cakes by Catie in Downtown Conway.


S H O P P I N G

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1. Pink jacket by Painted Pony, $150, paired with black tank by Undertease, $28, and metallic grey beaded necklace, $24; available at Mary’s Boutique. 2. Pink sweater by My Tribe, $114, paired with pink & white scarf, $24; available at Lefler’s. 3. Estate cocktail ring in 14kt yellow gold with rubies and 0.80 carat round brilliant cut diamond in the center, $2,000, available at Fletcher Smith’s. 4. Three carats natural ruby necklace with dia-monds in 14kt white gold, $1,500, available at Fletcher Smith’s. 5. Diamond bracelet, 2.26 carats total weight, in 14kt white gold, $4,200; available at Fletcher Smith’s. 6. Jewelry by Revelry: multi-color bracelet, $24, multi-color necklace, $42, and red earrings, $14; available at Mary’s Boutique.


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7. Red & white dress by Voll, $55, available at Mary’s Boutique. 8. Red lace dress by Everly, $49.00, available at Lefler’s. 9. Flaunt red and white make-up bag, $31.99, available at The Kitchen Store. 10. Sock Monkey, $7.99, available at The Kitchen Store. 11. Flaunt red solid purse, $85.99, available at The Kitchen Store. 12. Flaunt red and white small purse, $67.99, available at The Kitchen Store.


F O O D


DinnerTwofor

By Chef Jill McCollum, CCPhotos by Lindsey Faith Watson


2 large lobster tails3 tablespoons butter1 onion, chopped4 cloves garlic, chopped1 small can pureed tomatoes4 tablespoons olive oil1 teaspoon salt¼ cup sherry1 teaspoon ground black pepper1 cup heavy cream1 (8 ounce) package dried angle hair spaghettiFresh parsley, chopped

Remove lobster from shell and boil for about 6 to 8 minutes. Bring a pot of water to a boil and season with a little salt, add pasta and cook according to

package directions. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook and stir just to release the liquid, Do not let them brown. When lobster is done, cut in nice size pieces and place it in the skillet with butter, garlic and onion, add sherry and cook for about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes to the skillet and bring liquid to a boil. Add olive oil, salt and pepper. Slowly stir in cream, stirring constantly. The sauce will become a nice pink color. Drain pasta, add a little olive oil to your pasta to prevent them from sticking together. Pour sauce over pasta and garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

Caesar Salad

1 cup olive oil1 clove garlic, pressed2 tablespoons lemon juice3 tablespoons wine vinegar2 eggsSalt and ground pepperDash Worcestershire sauce

Blend all ingredients in food processor for 10-15 seconds. Wash and chop two heads of Romaine lettuce. Toss salad until greens are coated with dressing. Serve on chilled plates.

Lobster Pasta


Chocolate Silk Pie

½ cup butter1 cup powdered sugar2 tablespoons cocoa1 teaspoon vanilla2 eggs

Cream butter. Add sugar very gradually. Bland in cocoa and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beat-ing five minutes after each. Pour into cooked pie shell. Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Re-frigerate 2 hours before serving.



WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today opened the 2012 tax filing sea-son by announcing that taxpayers have until April 17 to file their tax returns.

The IRS also announced a number of im-provements to help make this tax season easy for taxpayers. This includes new navigation features and helpful information on IRS.gov and a new pilot to allow taxpayers to use inter-active video to get help with tax issues.

“At the IRS, we’re working hard to make the process of filing your taxes as quick and easy as possible,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Providing quality service is one of our top priorities. It not only reduces the burden on taxpayers, but also helps in fil-ing an accurate return right from the start.”

Taxpayers will have until Tuesday, April 17, to file their 2011 tax returns and pay any tax due because April 15 falls on a Sunday, and Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls this year on Monday, April 16. According to federal law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers will have two extra days to file this year. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Oct. 15 to file their 2012 tax returns.

The IRS expects to receive more than 144 million individual tax returns this year, with most of those being filed by the April 17 deadline.

The IRS will begin accepting e-file and Free File returns on Jan. 17, 2012. Additional details about e-file and Free File will be an-nounced later this month. IRS Free File pro-vides options for free brand-name tax software or online fillable forms plus free electronic filing. Everyone can use Free File to prepare a federal tax return. Taxpayers who make $57,000 or less can choose from approximately 20 commercial software providers. There’s no income limit for Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, which also includes free e-filing.

The IRS also reminds paid tax return preparers they must have and include a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on all returns they prepare. All PTINs must be renewed for 2011. Tax return preparers can obtain or renew PTINs online.

Assistance OptionsThe IRS continues to focus on taxpayer

service. The best way for taxpayers to get answers to their questions is by visiting the IRS website at IRS.gov. The IRS has updated the front page of the IRS website to make it easier for taxpayers to get key forms, informa-tion and file tax returns. The front page also has links to taxpayer-friendly videos on the IRS YouTube channel. More improvements are planned for IRS.gov in the months ahead.

Last year, the IRS unveiled IRS2Go, its first smartphone application that lets taxpay-ers check on the status of their tax refund and obtain helpful tax information. The IRS reminds Apple users that they can download the free IRS2Go application by visiting the Apple App Store and Android users can visit the Android Marketplace to download the free IRS2Go app.

Individuals making $50,000 or less can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for free tax preparation and, in many cases, free electronic filing. Individuals age 60 and older can take advantage of free tax counseling and basic income tax preparation through Tax Counseling for the Elderly. Information on these programs can be found at IRS.gov.

For tax law questions or account inquiries, taxpayers can also call our toll-free number (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time) or visit a taxpayer assistance center, the locations of which are listed on IRS.gov.

Virtual ServiceThe IRS has begun a new pilot program

where taxpayers can get assistance through two-way video conferencing. The IRS is conducting a limited roll out of this new video conferencing technology at 10 IRS offices and two other sites, and may expand to further sites in the future. A list of locations is avail-able on IRS.gov.

Check for a RefundOnce taxpayers file their federal return,

they can track the status of their refunds by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool, which taxpayers can get to using the IRS2Go phone app or from the front page of www.IRS.gov. By providing their Taxpayer Identification Numbers, filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of their anticipated refund taxpayers can generally get information about their refund 72 hours after the IRS acknowl-edges receipt of their e-filed returns, or three to four weeks after mailing a paper return.

WASHINGTON — Nearly 160 million workers will benefit from the extension of the reduced payroll tax rate that has been in effect for 2011. The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 temporarily extends the two percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, continuing the reduction of their Social Security tax withholding rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent of wages paid through Feb. 29, 2012. This reduced Social Security withholding will have no effect on employees’ future Social Security benefits.

Employers should implement the new payroll tax rate as soon as possible in 2012 but not later than Jan. 31, 2012. For any Social Security tax over-withheld during January, employers should make an offsetting adjust-ment in workers’ pay as soon as possible but not later than March 31, 2012.

Employers and payroll companies will handle the withholding changes, so workers should not need to take any additional action.

Under the terms negotiated by Congress, the law also includes a new “recapture” provi-sion, which applies only to those employees who receive more than $18,350 in wages during the two-month period (the Social Security wage base for 2012 is $110,100, and $18,350 represents two months of the full-year amount). This provision imposes an additional income tax on these higher-income employees in an amount equal to 2 percent of the amount of wages they receive during the two-month period in excess of $18,350 (and not greater than $110,100).

This additional recapture tax is an add-on to income tax liability that the employee would otherwise pay for 2012 and is not sub-ject to reduction by credits or deductions. The recapture tax would be payable in 2013 when the employee files his or her income tax return for the 2012 tax year. With the possibility of a full-year extension of the payroll tax cut being discussed for 2012, the IRS will closely monitor the situation in case future legislation changes the recapture provision.

The IRS will issue additional guidance as needed to implement the provisions of this new two-month extension, including revised employment tax forms and instructions and information for employees who may be subject to the new “recapture” provision. For most employers, the quarterly employment tax return for the quarter ending March 31, 2012, is due April 30, 2012.

Payroll tax cut temporarily extended into 2012

IRS kicks off 2012 tax season with deadline extended to April 17


The Internal Revenue Service is providing special transitional relief to banks and other payment settle-ment entities required to begin reporting payment card and third-party network transactions to the IRS on new Form 1099-K.

By law, reporting is scheduled to begin in early 2012 for payment card and third-party network trans-actions that occurred in 2011. Details on the special transitional relief and reporting requirements are in these FAQs, and more information on this relief is in Notice 2011-88 and Notice 2011-89.

What is section 6050W of the Internal Rev-enue Code?

Section 6050W was added by section 3091 of the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 and requires information returns to be made by certain payors with respect to payments made in settlement of payment card (merchant card) transactions and third party pay-ment network transactions.

MERCHANT CARD TRANSACTIONS FAQsWhat are payment settlement entities?In merchant payment card transactions, a payment

settlement entity is a domestic or foreign entity that is a merchant acquiring entity.

What is a merchant acquiring entity?Often called an “acquiring” or “merchant” bank,

a merchant acquiring entity is the bank or other organization that has the contractual obligation to pay the participating merchant/payee in settlement of payment card transactions. Under Treasury regula-tions section 1.6050W-1, a merchant acquiring entity makes payment in settlement of a payment card trans-action if it submits the instruction to transfer funds to the account of the payee.

Who is responsible for reporting merchant

card payments? The entity that submits the instruction to transfer

funds to the participating payee is responsible for reporting the gross amount of reportable transactions.

A merchant acquiring entity might outsource the processing of the transactions to a processor, which may share the contractual obligation to pay the mer-chant. When both a merchant acquiring entity and a processor have contractual obligations with the mer-chant to pay, the entity that submits the instructions to transfer funds to the account of the participating merchant is responsible for preparing and submitting Forms 1099-K to the payee and the IRS.

Who reports merchant card payments when a payment settlement entity contracts with a third-party, such as an electronic payment facilitator, to settle reportable transactions?

Whenever a payment settlement entity contracts with a third party, such as an electronic payment facil-itator, to submit instructions to transfer funds to the account of the participating merchant in settlement of reportable payment transactions, reporting is required by the third party. The third-party need not have any agreement or arrangement with the participating merchant and the payment need not come from the third-party’s account in order to trigger reporting. Two examples of entities that could be an electronic payment facilitator are:

A processor who processes transactions for a merchant acquiring bank and submits instructions to transfer funds to payee’s account but does not have a contractual obligation to pay the merchant.

A sponsoring bank that submits the instructions to transfer funds to an ACH network on the processor’s or merchant acquiring bank’s behalf.

What is a Merchant Category Code (MCC)?A Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a four-digit

number used by the card payments industry to clas-sify payees. The IRS reporting requirement specifies the reporting of MCC’s according to bankcard in-dustry standard definitions. There are approximately 600 MCCs representing different types of businesses (e.g. 4411 – Cruise Lines, 5462 – Bakeries, 5532 – Automotive Tire Stores). If a reporting entity or its processor employs an industry classification system

other than or in addition to MCCs, the reporting en-tity should assign to each payee an MCC which most closely corresponds to the description of the payee’s business.

What should be reported if a merchant has receipts classified under more than one MCC?

For 2011, if a merchant has receipts classified under more than one MCC, the reporting entity may either:

File separate Forms 1099-K reporting the gross receipts attributable to each MCC, or

File a single Form 1099-K reporting total gross receipts and the MCC which corresponds to the larg-est portion of total gross receipts.

THIRD-PARTY NETWORK TRANSAC-

TIONS FAQsWhat is a third-party settlement organization? A third-party settlement organization is a central

organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (gener-ally, a merchant) in a third party payment network. Characteristics of a third party payment network include: (i) the existence of a central organization with whom providers of goods and services have established accounts, (ii) an agreement between the central orga-nization and providers to settle transactions between the providers of goods and services and purchasers, (iii) the establishment of standards and mechanisms for settling such transactions and (iv) the guarantee of payment in settlement of such transactions. The most common example of a third-party settlement organi-zation is an online auction-payment facilitator, which operates merely as an intermediary between buyer and seller by transferring funds between accounts in settlement of an auction/purchase. Third-party settle-ment organizations charge sellers a fee for facilitating the transaction. Under the reporting requirements, these entities must report the gross reportable transac-tions of the businesses to which they make payments provided the payee satisfies certain transaction volume and dollar thresholds.

Who is responsible for reporting third party

FAQs on new payment card reporting requirements


WASHINGTON — The Inter-nal Revenue Service today released new proposed guidelines designed to provide relief to more innocent spouses requesting equitable relief from income tax liability.

A Notice proposing a new revenue procedure, posted today on IRS.gov, revises the threshold requirements for requesting equitable relief and revises the factors used by the IRS in evaluat-ing these requests. The factors have been revised to ensure that requests for innocent spouse relief are granted under section 6015(f) when the facts and circumstances warrant and that, when

appropriate, requests are granted in the initial stage of the administrative pro-cess. The new guidelines are available immediately and will remain available until the finalized revenue procedure is published. The IRS will immediately begin using these new guidelines when evaluating equitable relief requests.

“The IRS is significantly changing the way we determine innocent spouse relief,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.

“These improvements should dra-matically enhance our process to make it fairer for victimized taxpayers facing difficult situations.”

network transactions?The third-party settlement organization or an elec-

tronic payment facilitator is responsible for reporting the gross amounts of reportable transactions paid to participating payees in their network.

Does an automated-clearing house qualify as a third-party settlement organization?

No. An automated-clearing house merely processes electronic payments between buyers and sellers through wire transfer, electronic checks and direct deposit. Further, there is no contractual relationship between the automated-clearing house and payees. Thus, an automated-clearing house does not qualify as a third-party settlement organization and payments on its network are not reportable.

Does a third party settlement organization have to report MCC Codes?

No. Third-party settlement organizations do not use MCC codes to classify payees. Box 2 on the Form 1099-K should not be completed by third-party settlement organizations.

GENERAL FAQsWhat is a payee?A payee (or “participating payee”) is any person

that accepts a payment card as payment, or in the case of a third party network transaction, any person that accepts payment made by a third party settlement organization on behalf of the purchaser or customer.

Why is this reporting necessary? The reporting is required by law. Third-party

information reporting has been shown to increase voluntary tax compliance, improve collections and as-sessments within IRS, and thereby reduce the tax gap.

How are reportable transactions to be re-

ported?The entity responsible for reporting merchant card

and third-party transactions will report gross transac-tion amounts on the new Form 1099-K, Merchant Card and Third-Party Payments.

What information must be reported? The gross amount of reportable transactions of

a payee for the calendar year and its corresponding months are required to be reported. The reporting of both annual and monthly amounts is necessary in order to reconcile differences between information returns and tax returns of fiscal year filers.

When are Forms 1099-K due? Information reporting for payment card and third

party network transactions are due to the IRS by Feb. 28 (March 31, if filed electronically), of the year fol-lowing the transactions. The first Forms1099-K will be due for calendar year 2011, and must be submitted to the IRS by Feb. 28, 2012 (March 31, 2012 if filed electronically). Since March 31 falls on a Saturday, the due date for filing electronically is April 2, 2012).

Can Forms 1099-K be filed electronically?Yes, there will be protocol for the electronic sub-

mission of Form 1099K. In fact, if a payment settle-ment entity must submit more than 250 individual information returns in any calendar year, all must be submitted electronically. Information about electronic filing of Form 1099-K can be found at www.irs.gov.

More innocent spouses qualify for relief under new IRS guidelines


LITTLE ROCK — Victims of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding on May 24, 2011 in parts of Arkansas may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.

The President has declared the following counties a federal disaster area: Franklin and Johnson counties. Individuals who reside or have a business in these counties may qualify for tax relief.

The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, cer-tain deadlines falling on or after May 24 and on or before July 25 have been postponed to July 25. This includes the estimated tax payment for the second quarter of 2011 normally due June 15.

In addition, the IRS is waiving the failure-to-deposit penalties for employment and excise tax deposits due on or after May 24 and on or before June 8, 2011, as long as the deposits were made by June 8, 2011.

If an affected taxpayer receives a penalty notice from the IRS, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate any interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply. Penalties or interest will be abated only for taxpayers who have an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date, includ-ing an extended filing or payment due date, that falls within the postponement period.

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies automatic filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 1-866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.

Covered Disaster AreaThe counties listed above constitute a covered di-

saster area for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(d)(2) and are entitled to the relief detailed below.

Affected TaxpayersTaxpayers considered to be affected taxpayers eli-

gible for the postponement of time to file returns, pay taxes and perform other time-sensitive acts are those taxpayers listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(d)(1), and include individuals who live, and businesses whose principal place of business is located, in the covered disaster area. Taxpayers not in the covered disaster area, but whose records necessary to meet a deadline listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c) are in the covered disaster area, are also entitled to relief. In addition, all relief workers affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization assisting in the relief activities in the covered disaster area and any individual visiting the covered disaster area who was killed or injured as a result of the disaster are entitled to relief.

Grant of ReliefUnder section 7508A, the IRS gives affected

taxpayers until July 25 to file most tax returns (including individual, corporate, and estate and trust income tax returns; partnership returns, S corporation returns, and trust returns; estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; and employment and certain excise tax returns), or to make tax payments, including estimated tax payments, that have either an original or extended due date occurring on or after May 24 and on or before July 25.

The IRS also gives affected taxpayers until June 30 to perform other time-sensitive actions described in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c)(1) and Rev. Proc. 2007-56, 2007-34 I.R.B. 388 (August 20, 2007), that are due to be performed on or after May 24 and on or before July 25.

This relief also includes the filing of Form 5500 series returns, in the manner described in section 8 of Rev. Proc. 2007-56. The relief described in section 17 of Rev. Proc. 2007-56, pertaining to like-kind exchanges of property, also applies to certain taxpay-ers who are not otherwise affected taxpayers and may include acts required to be performed before or after the period above.

The postponement of time to file and pay does not apply to information returns in the W-2, 1098, 1099 series, or to Forms 1042-S or 8027. Penalties for failure to timely file information returns can be

Tax relief for victims of May 24 severe storms


Filing deadline extended to March 30 for some organizations

WASHINGTON — Tax-exempt organizations with January and February filing due dates will have until March 30, 2012, to file their annual returns, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.

The IRS is granting this extension of time to file because the part of the e-file system that processes electronically filed returns of tax-exempt organiza-tions will be off-line during January and February. The agency stressed that the rest of the e-file system will continue to operate normally and urged all indi-viduals and businesses to choose the accuracy, speed and convenience of electronic filing.

In general, the extension applies to tax-exempt organizations whose normal filing deadline is either Jan. 17 or Feb. 15, 2012. Ordinarily, these deadlines would apply to organizations with a fiscal year that ended on Aug. 31 or Sept. 30, 2011, respectively. The extension also applies to organizations that al-ready obtained an initial three-month filing extension and now have an extended filing deadline that falls on Jan. 17 or Feb. 15, 2012. The majority of tax-exempt organizations will be unaffected by this extension because they operate on a calendar-year basis and have a May 15 filing deadline.

The extension applies to affected organizations fil-ing Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, or 1120-POL. Form 990-N filers will not be affected. No form needs to be

filed to get the March 30 extension.In order to avoid receiving a late filing penalty no-

tice, a reasonable cause statement should be attached to the tax return. If organizations receive late-filing penalty notices, they should contact the IRS so that these penalties can be abated. The IRS encouraged these organizations to consider either e-filing early — before the end of December — or waiting until March to file electronically.

Further details are in Notice 2012-4, posted today on IRS.gov.

waived under existing procedures for reasonable cause. Likewise, the postponement does not apply to employment and excise tax deposits. The IRS, however, will abate penalties for failure to make timely employment and excise tax deposits due on or after May 24 and on or before June 8 provided the taxpayer made these deposits by June 8.

Other ReliefThe IRS will waive the usual fees and expedite

requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers. Taxpayers should put the assigned Disaster Designation in red ink at the top

of Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, as appropriate, and submit it to the IRS.

Affected taxpayers who are contacted by the IRS on a collection or examination matter should explain how the disaster impacts them so that the IRS can provide appropriate consideration to their case.

Taxpayers may download forms and publications from the official IRS Web site, irs.gov, or order them by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). The IRS toll-free number for general tax questions is 1-800-829-1040.

Casualty Losses

Affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either this year or last year. Claiming the loss on an original or amended re-turn for last year will get the taxpayer an earlier refund, but waiting to claim the loss on this year’s return could result in a greater tax saving, depending on other income factors.

Individuals may deduct personal property losses that are not covered by in-surance or other reimbursements. For details, see Form 4684 and its instruc-tions.

Affected taxpayers claiming the disaster loss on last year’s return should put the Disaster Designation “Arkansas/Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flood-ing” at the top of the form so that the IRS can expedite the processing of the refund.


By Dr. Sharon Stone

Most pet owners consider their animals a part of the family, and with good reason. Our pets are constant companions, playmates,

and entertainers, so it’s important to keep them healthy and safe. Nutrition, exercise, grooming, and regular veterinary care are important aspects of pet care. Yet many pet owners overlook a criti-cal component of their pet’s health: their mouths.

Dental disease occurs in approximately 85% of adult cats and dogs, making it the most com-mon disease seen by veterinarians. As in human mouths, tartar buildup occurs naturally over a pet’s lifetime, and can cause infection in the gums from bacteria. One milligram of plaque contains over one trillion bacteria, which can be absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to vital organs. Oral infections caused by periodon-tal disease can potentially harm other organs—kidney and liver problems in older pets often result from bad teeth.

Along with bad breath, signs of dental disease include red and/or swollen gums, yellow or brownish buildup on the teeth, facial swelling, and difficulty eating. A common sign of oral infection is pyorrhea, or pus oozing from the gumline. While the early stages of periodontal disease can be reversed with professional treat-ment and home care, advanced stages may be irreversible. Periodontal disease is painful to your pet, and can eventually affect eating and behavior.

Just as in humans, regular dental cleanings are essential to your pet’s overall health. Once tartar has mineralized on the teeth, it must be removed with a professional dental prophylaxis. This procedure involves hand scaling and polish-ing the teeth under sedation. Your veterinar-ian will also probe your pet’s gums for hidden pockets and root exposure. Dental radiographs

may be taken to check suspect teeth for broken or diseased roots. Extractions may be necessary if the teeth are damaged or diseased.

A professional dental cleaning will treat and slow the progression of your pet’s dental disease and lessen the severity of bad breath. However, within 24-36 hours after a dental prophylaxis, your pet’s teeth are already accumulating bac-teria that will again cause discolored teeth, bad breath, and periodontal disease. Home dental care is essential to maximize the benefits of a dental prophylaxis and extend the time between cleanings.

Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to your pet’s teeth and gums. Daily tooth brush-ing is the best, simplest, and cheapest way to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. Brushing is easier than you think, especially if you start at an early age. You may also use daily oral hygiene rinses, dental diets, water additives, and oral hygiene chews to promote oral health. Remember, the more home care you offer to prevent dental disease, the less care your veterinarian will need to provide to treat problems in the future.

If you suspect your pet has dental disease, call your veterinarian to schedule an oral assessment. A veterinarian or technician can rate your pet’s level of calculus buildup and determine what stage of periodontal disease is present, if any. They will make recommendations for your pet’s oral health, and discuss options for treatment and home care. Caring for your pet’s oral health will ensure that your pet lives a longer, healthier life with you and your family.

More than bad breath: dental disease and your petP E T H E A LT H

Dr. Sharon Stone, of St. Francis Veterinary Clinic in Conway, is a wife and mother of three boys. She volunteers her time

to various organizations and non-profits in our community. For more information

about St. Francis Veterinary visit their website at www.stfrancisveterinary.com


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Beautiful granite countertops finish off the custom cabinetry in the Holland’s kitchen.


By Jennifer StanleyPhotos by Brandy Strain

Wes and Keitha Holland purchased their traditional home in Conway’s Sherman Oaks subdivision a little more than two years ago. While they loved the structure and ambiance of the home immediately, they updated certain ele-ments to make it more comfortable for their fam-ily, which includes two children, Meg and Max.

“We loved the kitchen immediately; in fact, it was one of the main selling points of the house. The previous owners did some updating; they put granite on the island, and there was a new light fixture above the island as well,” Keitha said.

The Hollands began their kitchen transfor-mation by matching the granite on the island and placing granite on the countertops. “From there, we added the backsplash, replaced all the light fixtures and replaced white appliances with stainless steel,” she said. In fact, the only original elements of the kitchen that remain are the wood flooring and the cabinets. “We had the cabinets repainted and glazed and added new hardware.” They also repainted the kitchen walls from yel-low to dark brown, in keeping with the colors of the granite and backsplash, which is a natural stone.

“Gary Hogan helped put the colors of the granite and backsplash together. There were also two smaller light fixtures over the bar, which we replaced with one large fixture,” explained Keitha. The addition of bamboo shades in the eat-in kitchen area continued the feel of the dé-cor, for which Keitha’s goal was a slightly rustic feel. She accomplished that without the home feeling overly “lodge-y.”

Though the most extensive updating took place in the kitchen, they also made cosmetic up-dates to the reminder of the home. “We changed the fixtures and added all new paint throughout the home. We updated the office and redid the patio and fireplace. It is such a great house, it just needed a facelift,” said Keitha. Their desire to remodel the kitchen also came from their love of the space. “We are in the kitchen so much. It is an entertaining space; when people come over, they naturally gravitate to the island. Also, our family spends so much time in the room; we have really enjoyed the change.”

H O L L A N D K I T C H E N

The centerof attentionLOVE OF SPACE AN INSPIRATION

TO KITCHEN UPGRADE

Beautiful granite countertops finish off the custom cabinetry in the Holland’s kitchen.


During the remodel, the existing kitchen cabinets were repainted, glazed and new hardware was added.

This kitchen was designed with an open concept, allowing the living room, dining room, kitchen and breakfast rooms to flow for effortless entertaining.


“We are in the kitchen so much. It is an entertaining space; when people come over, they naturally gravitate to the island. Also, our family spends so much time in the room; we have really enjoyed the change.”

This kitchen was designed with an open concept, allowing the living room, dining room, kitchen and breakfast rooms to flow for effortless entertaining.




After recovering from the devastation of the 2011 tornado, Vilonia resident and interior designer Lisa Coker has reclaimed the home that barely survived the disaster.

A tornado hit the Vilonia area hard on April 25, 2011. Coker said she is thankful no one in her family was hurt in the tornado. It is difficult to think about her material losses in light of the fact that lives were lost in the storm, she said.

Much of what was left of the house had to be replaced. The roof was gone, the walls and floors were soaked, and most of the windows were broken. Some of the contents were ruined, while other things were salvageable.

“The tornado gave us an opportunity to up-date,” she said.

Coker chose dark hardwood floors through-out the home. The kitchen and living room are painted in a soft buttery yellow. She got a new solid surface countertop in the kitchen and a new crushed glass tile backsplash. Also in the kitchen she added blown-glass pendant lights and new bar stools.

She said of her style, “I like a real clean look, but I’m real sentimental. I have a lot of family pieces. When you like to collect and you’re senti-mental, it’s hard to keep a spare, clean look. I love antiques, and I also love modern, contemporary lines, such as those bar stools and the square backs on these (dining room) chairs.”

The eclectic look of the home is noticeable

C O K E R H O M E

Startingover

Lisa Coker revives Vilonia home battered by tornado


from top to bottom. A salvaged 1940s-era light fixture is a counterpoint to contemporary ceiling fans. In the front bedroom, a free form sculpture sits next to an antique metal day bed and a new Bernhardt ottoman.

In the living room, a 1970s egg chair and a new sofa sit across from an antique table. Original artwork of various styles hangs in the living and dining area. An antique English hall tree is adorned with a pair of well-worn spurs and a handmade piece of artwork created from copper wire.

One of Coker’s favorite new things is her new din-

ing table. Before the tornado, she did not have a table large enough to seat a large group. Her new table, made by Tommy Farrell Custom Furniture in Little Rock, seats eight. The center is made of one solid piece of bubinga wood, and it has a leaf on each end that folds up and stores underneath.

“Bubinga wood is from either Africa or South America. It has a reddish hue that deepens over time as it oxidizes.

“It is a highly figured species of wood which cre-ates an intriguing pattern,” Coker said.

The table top rests on two salvaged stainless steel

drum bases — further evidence of Coker’s eclectic style.

Coker works for Stephens Inc. as a property and facilities manager. She is one of a group of in-house designers for the firm.

“When I was a kid, I used to draw plans, and my little brother and I would build a tree house,” she said. In adulthood, when she built her first home, she remembered her love of building tree houses and real-ized designing would be a good career fit for her.

She has been designing for Stephens for almost 16 years.

“I like a real clean look, but I’m real sentimental. I have a lot of family pieces. When you like to collect and you’re sentimental, it’s hard to keep a spare, clean look. I love antiques, and I also love modern, contemporary lines, such as those bar stools and the square backs on these (dining room) chairs.”

Beautiful blown-glass pendant lights are a focal point over the kitchen island.

This custom made table is made from one solid piece of bubinga wood and seats eight. This is one of the homeowners favorite new pieces in the home.


A 1970’s red egg chair adds a vintage feel to this eclectic living room, along with an antique coffee table and original artwork.

This guest bedroom continues the eclectic feel with an antique metal day bed and a new Bernhardt ottoman.


Tinsley Martin’s room is a room full of color, texture and pattern. This room is sure to grow with Tinsley as she gets older.


By Jennifer StanleyPhotos by Brandy Strain

On the second floor of the Northwest Conway home of Trey, Brandie, J.T. and Tinsley Martin exists a little girl’s haven. Filled with bright colors — and plenty of ideas for growth — Tinsley Martin’s room is an inspiration in planning for a room to grow along with your child.

The first step in designing her impending daughter’s room was not the most difficult for Brandie – it all began with a fabric. “My goal for the room was something fun, bright and spunky. I envisioned a spunky little girl, so when I was think-ing about what I wanted for her room, that was my direction. I knew what I did not want but had more trouble with what I did want. I started by looking at fabrics for inspiration, so I went to Cynthia East (in Little Rock), where I immediately gravitated to the one we used,” said Brandie. That predomi-nately lime green, bright pink and turquoise fabric became the basis for the entire green-painted room.

They had all the bedding made through Cynthia East and continually added fun embellishments. The bumper pad is the focal point and includes hot pink ties and Tinsley’s name embroidered at the back. The dust ruffle is turquoise, and her sheets are pink. The sleigh crib will convert as Tinsley grows, and the bedding will translate along with the bed. “I didn’t want to redo her room when she got out of the crib; she can use it for years,” said Brandie.

Once she decided on the bedding, the remainder of the room fell into place easily. “I took the bedding to Amanda Williams, formerly of Tuck and Cover. I just told her I wanted a fun room, and they had a wooden tree in the store like the one we have on the wall now. I am not really a theme person, so I wanted an eclectic mix. The tree is particle board they cut

M A R T I N N U R S E R Y

Whimsicalroom

Brandie Martin designs a space her daughter can grow in

Tinsley Martin’s room is a room full of color, texture and pattern. This room is sure to grow with Tinsley as she gets older.


Pops of bright color like this turquoise chest and personal touches like the monogrammed lamp shape combine to give this room a unique personal feel.


out and anchored in, and Amanda also did the fabric flowers that are hung on the tree,” she said. She also purchased two decorative lamps there, a bird-themed one beside the crib and another on the dresser that is personalized with Tinsley’s initials and pom-pom fringe off the shade.

The room also includes an alcove area with built-in storage that dubs as bench seating. Amanda also cre-ated the cover for the bench, the window treatment and the pillows from the same fabric as the bedding; the pillows are made with scrap fabric. “I envisioned the alcove area as being a place where she can really play; it is almost like a little clubhouse. I really want-ed to set this area apart, which is how we came up with the idea of the faux curtains,” said Brandie. The curtains hang on the wall to the alcove’s entry area and are pink with a white pattern. “All the curtain fabric we liked was so expensive, and we really didn’t want to spend a ton on curtains, so Amanda made them out of less expensive fabric, and she freehand painted a cascading design in colors to complement the colors in the crib bedding,” she said.

Tinsley’s turquoise, distressed dresser was ordered through Tuck and Cover as well, meeting Brandie’s criteria of “fun, bright and vibrant.” Hanging over her dresser is a snapshot Brandie had enlarged on Shutterfly and placed in a distressed frame. “It was so easy and cheap,” she said, though the effect appears anything but. The room also includes personal items such as a piggy bank made by Tinsley’s great-grand-mother and monogrammed letters made by a special family friend. “This is a room she can literally have for years.”

Brandie Martin selected custom window treatments and accessories to help provide the finishing touches to her daughter’s room.

The sleigh crib will convert to a toddler bed as Tinsley grows.


Make a statement with dramatic designBy Helen Lockhart

As we welcome in the new year people everywhere are making resolutions — to lose weight, to exercise more, to get orga-nized, etc. How about a resolution that is

easy to accomplish and is something that will have an impact on your life for years to come?

Resolve to have a more dramatic design in your home. This is a resolution that fits any shape, size, age, personality type and motivation level. Now, this doesn’t mean painting your walls hot pink and putting animal print carpet in every room, though you all know by now that I would love that in the right space! The focus of this resolution is to be intentional in your design and to make a statement where you can.

Using texture, pattern and color, you can add that little bit of drama that is currently missing from your home. For example, if you currently have only one set of pillows on your sofa, consider adding a second set in a contrasting color or texture. This will give your sofa the attention it deserves as one of the biggest pieces in the room.

Getting dramatic by going dark on your walls is a great way to create a cozy environment — a darker shade of gray can make just as much of a dramatic impact as chocolate or red. A quick way to cre-ate drama is with contrast, so any dark paint will also facilitate great contrast if your furnishings are lighter in color. And don’t worry if your room is on the smaller side — the myth that dark walls make a room look smaller isn’t always true. A dark color with fewer, larger pieces is both dramatic and grows your room instantly. For instance, a tall bed with a large upholstered headboard is the instant focus where a short bed makes the small room the focus and deters the sense of drama.

Wallpaper can be the definition of drama! The mere utterance of the word sends shivers to some, but rest assured, the wallpaper of today is much easier to work with than that of years ago. With a multitude of prod-ucts available to correctly prepare the walls and make

applying the paper and taking it down a much sim-pler task, wallpaper is coming back with a bang. Keep in mind a little of it goes a long way, so papering an accent wall, the back of shelves or even something like the sliding closet doors will give a dramatic pop — whether a tone-on-tone pattern or a flocked damask print — without a huge time investment. The mere texture change or pattern will instantly give your room more depth and interest.

Decorating with white can make as much of a dramatic statement as accenting with a color and is becoming very popular. White creates a clean, open environment that works with nearly any style. Paint-

ing a wall white creates a great backdrop to display art or contrast against dark reclaimed wood. White linen slipcovers create a comfortable feeling that is inviting and an understated drama.

Vintage finds have character which can be instant drama. Sometimes when looking for vintage pieces you may fall in love with a piece but it may not fit into your space in its current color. Enter spray paint! Spray paint can completely change the look of an item for under $5. Love a vintage lamp at Jennifer’s Antiques but not crazy about the brass finish? Try painting it a Kelly green to create a bit of drama out of a recycled piece. Find a table you can’t live without,

D E S I G N

but not a fan of the wood laminate finish? Try painting it black to create a great backdrop for your accessories.

Regardless of the direction you go with this resolution, just remember that it should be a reflection of you and

have fun! Have a design dilemma and need

some advice? Email your questions to: [email protected]. Your question may be featured in next month’s Homes issue.


Helen Lockhart is the owner of Red Chaise Designs, a full service interior design firm. Red Chaise Designs is located in Conway, where she lives with her husband, Paul, and

two children. You can reach her at: [email protected].


S H O P P I N G

Vintage turquoise colander, $15, available at Funky Junk.

Aluminum vintage pitcher and cups, $25/set, available at Funky Junk.

Lattice pie mold, $7.99; available at The Kitchen Store


Framed art, $15; refurbished turquoise candlesticks, $8/set;

available at Funky Junk.

Assorted spatulas and spoons, $2.99-$9.99; available at

The Kitchen Store

Sweet Bytes crust and sandwich cutter, $3.99; available at The Kitchen Store


DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL MEETING

Amy Whitehead, Kelly Lyon

Derrek Thomason, Ben Tiner

Janette, George, George Jr., Brandi Covington

Shawn Rea, J.B. Mobley, John Adams, Jon Ross Henderson Kevin Wish, Wes Dyson

Dr. Michael Wood, Senator Jason Rapert, Mayor Tab Townsell, Judge Rhonda Wood

Jeff Pitchford, Shelley Mehl, Dr. Robert Parrent

Dot Welch, Lori Quinn Kim Williams, Rhonda Overbey



HAVEN CHRISTMAS COFFEE

Tammy Free, Allison Reed

Linda Roser, Bev Tallent

HAVEN Coffee hostesses

Carolyn Mullins, Kristen Woodard, Armilda McCormack

Michelle Rector, Vivian Smith

Jenny Morse, Netta Schultheis, Patti Stobaugh

Kim Williams, Katherine Thomason

Robin Cunningham, Joannie Shearer

Molly Chappel, Sherri Hoover, Meleah Arnold

Eva Bentley, Dorothy Bentley

Barbara Satterfield, Mary Margaret Satterfield


By Susan O’Keefe

As the shortest month of the year, February beseeches readers to start today on this month’s book! With

Saint Valentine’s Day a highlight for many, it seems only natural to recommend a few love stories that have captured readers’ hearts. Pick one for yourself or give one as a gift to a special someone on the 14th. Better yet, do both. Then swap books once finished. Whatever you do, just read. In no particular order, and with a little help from my friends, below are a few favorite love stories, complete with synopsis and comments.

What woman doesn’t long to be loved the way he loves her in “The Notebook”? Allie is lost in her own mind, as dementia has robbed their golden years. But Noah, refusing to lose her completely, continues to oil the squeaky wheels by reading from a journal, a personal journal which tells the story of their lives. From different sides of the track, the unlikely pair shares a pre-World War II summer full of youthful romance. Time passes.

War commences. Eventually, only memories remain of the dreamy rela-tionship. Each keeps quiet about the part of their heart sealed for the other until Allie is engaged to another man and just weeks from her wedding day. Noah spots her picture in the local North Carolina coastal newspaper.

The story within the story finds Allie listening intently as Noah reads. All of a sudden, with crisp clarity, Al-lie blurts out “I remember! I remem-ber!” Share in those specific memories as superlative storyteller Nicholas Sparks presents his timeless treasure.

From east coast to west coast, Francine Rivers’ “Redeeming Love,”

is set in California’s gold country in the mid 1800s. Readers comment how the story evoked tears, shed for Angel, a woman forced into prostitution as a child. Fueling the raging fire of bitter-ness is the only way Angel can produce enough energy to survive.

In the pit of darkness, her knight in shining armor is luminous, but she can hardly allow herself to be loved, much less to return love. Slowly, miraculously, Angel’s heart softens. And just when happiness seems within the couple’s grasp, Angel balks. She is unworthy. She is unlovable. Based on the Biblical story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a powerful account of God’s unconditional and all-consuming love.

In her debut novel, “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” American author Audrey Niffenegger, tells the tale of a fabulously creative love story. Henry has a genetic disorder which causes him to travel irregularly through time. His doting wife, Clare, is an artist, and struggles to cope with her husband’s unpredictable absences and dangerous adventures. Classified as both science fiction and romance, Henry drops his

clothes and possessions in one time period, only to reappear elsewhere on the timeline of history. Often times, he finds himself in the meadow behind Clare’s childhood home, falling in love with his present day sweetheart. While some critics dubbed it farfetched, others called it masterful. Once read-ers accept the fact of Henry traveling along the time continuum, it is only natural that he has knowledge of Clare’s present or past, still unknown to her.

If one partner knew the future of his/her marriage was bleak, would he/she still accept the matrimonial role, for the sake of the good fruit the rela-tionship would produce?

Hadley Richardson never dreamed of divorce. She also never dreamed of being married to American author Ernest Hemingway, characterized as a self-centered, name-dropping, write-aholic, who treated Hadley terribly.

In the tragic love story, “The Paris Wife,” it seems that Hadley, a very fine and decent person, was the starter wife for a man whose roving eye landed on Hadley’s dear friend. Author Paula McLain creatively weaves historical ac-

counts into the pages of the Heming-way’s daily lives. Readers are allowed to rub shoulders with famous literary types.

Hadley is overshadowed. She cannot compete.

Although the six year marriage of the Hemingways dissolves, their relationship lasts a lifetime.

A child connected them as did the confidential understanding that a helpmate provides, even for only a half-dozen years, even as only the Paris wife.

In this month where Cupid and candy are abundant, consider offering and partaking in the gift of reading. Share a book as a gift.

Make a recommendation to a friend. Offer love penned as a treasured story.

B O O K R E V I E W

Valentine’s gift idea: Timeless love stories

Susan O’Keefe is a wife to Jack, mother to four children,

and eager to face the crazy, awesome, fun things God de-livers daily. Although she and her family are in the process

of moving, they are on the road first for summer fun.

Follow Susan’s blog at okeefetravel.blogspot.com

58 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2012

By Rachel Parker DickersonPhoto by Stewart Cole

Downtown Conway will be pulsing with activity in the coming months with plenty of special events, annual favorites and celebra-tions.

Kim Williams, executive director of the Conway Downtown Partnership, said, “We have a very strong merchant and restaurant core. We have people wanting to start new retail, and I’m very excited about those.

“Downtown is so vibrant that it is drawing younger entrepreneurial types. With Ameri-can Management and Conway Corp down-town, First Orion, all the insurance people and bankers, it works. I think people that used to go out to office parks and things, I think that’s outdated. I think people want to be in a vibrant area.”

With the remodeled federal building close to opening, she said, downtown is poised to grow more than ever.

New to downtown events this year will be a network hour at Kings Dueling Pianos, where patrons can order from the bar and listen to live music. Williams said Kings and the Ford

Theater next door will take part in events such as the St. Patrick’s Day Putt Putt Pub Crawl held last year.

“Last year that was pretty successful, and we’re going to change it to a Saturday this year hoping to get more involvement, adding the dueling pianos and Ford Theater hoping to get more adult involvement,” she said.

Shopping is always a reason to come to downtown, and while Third Thursdays will be discontinued, other fun events involving merchants will go on.

“Moonlight Madness continues to grow more and more each year because of all the great shops we have downtown,” Williams said. “People are so excited about the great sales they have.”

Spring and Christmas open houses will be held as well, with the spring event coming up the first Sunday in April, she noted.

Also, she is planning an adult Easter egg hunt for the week before Easter one evening downtown. Some of the plastic eggs will have numbers inside indicating a prize from a downtown merchant.

Williams said most downtown restaurants will have Mardi Gras themes on Fat Tuesday.

“We are also looking forward to getting construction finished on Main Street so we can get all those bulb outs filled with beautiful plants, and we welcome donations.”

As the weather warms into late spring, downtown will begin to see the welcome familiar faces at the Conway Farmers Market.

“The Farmers Market is going strong; we just hope they have a good growing season this year. The last two years they’ve kind of been hampered by weather,” Williams said.

Also the Concert in the Park series will be held again in Simon Park, featuring the Conway Community Band.

Williams said, “We’re looking forward to this year. Last year we averaged 200 to 250 per performance. We’re planning to host the symphony downtown for one performance.”

Starting in March, an Art Walk will be ev-ery second Friday of the month in downtown, The Village at Hendrix and other places, she said.

Other events that happen annually in downtown include ArtsFest the first weekend in October, Toad Suck Daze the first weekend in May and Silver Moon Cinema on dates to be announced in the summer.

C O M M U N I T Y

Downtown Conway is heating upSmokey Emerson performs at JJ’s in downtown Conway. More and more businesses are getting involved as Downtown Conway continues to grow.

58 WOMEN’S INC. / FEBRUARY 2012

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