MERCANTILE MISSISSIPPI will be held Friday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th, at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson. This two day Southern Shopping Event allows guest to shop Mississippi businesses and beyond in one convenient location. Boutiques, stores, artisans and more will be onsite showcasing their wares and talents. There will be music by local artists and other great stage presentations. Returning to our Stage this year will be Mississippi Magazine’s very own Patty Roper who will demonstrate a fun project while guests enjoy a formal tea catered by Fresh Cut. Tea with Patty Roper is on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Tea Tickets are $10 each and are limited. Mercantile Mississippi is grateful for the support of our sponsors, merchants and shoppers. We look forward to another successful year in 2022. Tickets to the show are available for advance purchase online at MercantileMS.com and will be available at the door for $10. For more information, please visit: MercantileMS.com.

Over the course of a year, the impact of the Merit Health network of hospitals and Merit Health Medical Group adds up as the skilled and compassionate hands of physicians, nurses and other team members deliver safe, quality care around the clock every day. Beyond clinical care, Merit Health is a major employer and regularly invests resources to expand and enhance the services available locally. The overall community benefit each year is significant and totaled more than $258.6 million in 2021. Last year, the hospitals and clinics delivered care with more than 492,000 patient visits as the pandemic heightened the need for medical care. The pandemic has heightened the need for medical care and Merit Health safely delivered a full complement of services while supporting COVID inpatients since March 2020. “We provided quality care for patients with COVID and also for other members of our community who had a broad range of medical needs,” said Barry Moss, Vice President of Operations, Merit Health, Region 4. “Our communities are truly fortunate to have this resilient and committed team of clinicians and caregivers here in Central Mississippi who make a difference for so many patients each day. We helped people get well and live healthier, and that was evident in so many ways - patients went home in better shape with less pain following surgery or a smile of relief when their screening mammogram or colonoscopy was clear.” Employees and medical staff brought their skills and compassion to support more than 15,000 inpatient admissions and performed more than 23,000 surgeries. The network also delivered joy to local families as more than 3,000 babies were born. Merit Health continues to grow and evolve as they put resources toward increased services, facilities and technologies that are important to their patients. These include the enhancement of behavioral health services through the addition of adult intensive outpatient therapy at Merit Health Rankin and the opening of an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program at Merit Health Central. They expanded the continuum of care for patients with Merit Health Madison’s new swing-bed service which allows patients to transition from acute care to a skilled nursing facility care without leaving the hospital. Advanced treatment for early-stage breast cancer patients through single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy is offered at Merit Health Woman’s Hospital and new robotic surgical systems with 3D capability were obtained at Merit Health River Oaks, which support faster recovery and precise planning, measurement and alignment for the best possible outcomes. Since 2021, more than 3,000 hearts beat stronger following cardiac catheterization at the network’s chest pain accredited hospitals. Merit Health Heart is supported by 13 cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons within Merit Health Medical Group, who work with specialists in imaging and nutrition to prevent and treat heart disease through advanced care and services to our patients. Mississippi’s only designated burn center, located at Merit Health Central, treated more than 72,000 patients in the outpatient clinic. Providers performed 2,700 burn and hand surgeries and admitted 1,000 for inpatient treatment. Merit Health’s five Emergency departments helped patients receive quality care quickly. In 2021, Merit Health hospitals accepted 2,500 transfers of patients from across the region in need of a higher level of care and treated more than 87,000 ER patients. As Merit Health works to continuously meet patients’ needs, it also gives back to the broader Central Mississippi region. The health system provided over $230.1 million in charity and uncompensated care for the community’s most vulnerable. And the $22.4 million paid in property, sales and GRT taxes helps support civic resources and services. The hospitals’ payroll of more than $178.9 million ripples across the local economy as employees buy goods and services. Moss continued, “We are part of this community and we are committed to doing all we can to provide excellent healthcare services and to making Central Mississippi a healthier, better community for all. To help the community live healthier, Merit Health launched a free e-newsletter last year with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox. Sign up at https://bit.ly/36fimcA.

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) recognized Mississippi in its latest report on pre-K quality as one of only five states whose state-funded pre-K program meets all 10 quality standards for early childhood education. The latest ranking is published in the NIEER report, The State of Preschool 2021. The annual survey provides an in-depth look at state-funded education for 3- and 4- year-olds nationally and in each state with a focus on enrollment, spending and 10 policies that support quality education. NIEER evaluated Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative (ELC) programs, which are partnerships among school districts, Head Start agencies, childcare centers and non-profit organizations. The program has grown from 11 collaboratives serving 1,700 children in 2014 to 30 collaboratives that will serve 6,000 children in 2022-23. Because of the quality of the Early Learning Collaboratives, Mississippi has consistently been one of only several states meeting all NIEER standards. The Mississippi Legislature passed the Early Learning Collaborative Act in 2013, which provided $3 million to establish a limited number of collaboratives in underserved areas throughout the state. Funding increased in subsequent years based on the program’s immediate success reaching $8 million by 2020-21 and doubled to $16 million in 2021-22. The Mississippi State Board of Education has made increasing access to high-quality early childhood education one of its top priorities. The Mississippi Department of Education has partnered with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to build the state’s early childhood education infrastructure through coaching and professional development and by providing guidance and support to school districts. State funds now support these efforts. “The quality of Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative program has made our state a national leader for early childhood education,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education for Mississippi. “Research consistently shows that high-quality early childhood education has a long-term impact on student achievement. Children who participate in high-quality pre-K programs achieve higher levels of school readiness, reading proficiency by third grade and higher graduation rates.” The proportion of Mississippi 4-year-olds enrolled in Early Learning Collaboratives rose from 3% in 2016-17 to 7% in 2020-21. When combined with Head Start (27%) and special education pre-K programs (3%), approximately 37% of Mississippi 4-year-olds attended public early childhood education programs in 2020-21. COVID-19 disruptions caused 337 fewer children to enroll in collaboratives in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20. “The pandemic has made it even clearer that such preschool programs are essential for young children and their families,” said W. Steven Barnett, Ph.D., NIEER’s founder and senior co-director. “Mississippi is moving in the right direction, doubling the state investment in preschool to enable more children to attend the program in the coming years.” Mississippi’s national ranking for pre-K improved since last year from 39th to 38th for access and 42nd to 39th in state spending per child. Read the State of Preschool Report 2020 at NIEER.org.

By Kara Kimbrough We’re entering the month I call the “happiest month of the year.” May is just plain "happy," filled with joyous occasions like Mother’s Day, high school and college graduations and spring wedding celebrations. On top of personal events are fun tours, pilgrimages and festivals showcasing the best and most beautiful of our state’s offerings. Recommended websites to check out most of the festivities around the state are: visitmississippi.org, gulfcoast.org and natchezpilgrimage.com. When it comes to food for our happiest month, a wealth of happy-sounding dishes increase the endorphins of every attendee at a spring celebration. Just a few examples that inspire happiness and are perfect for spring entertaining including biscuits filled with sliced ham or served solo with a side of butter or jam, muffins of any flavor, ranging from berry-filled to cinnamon to my personal favorite, Peabody Hotel vanilla, berry cobblers, cheeseball (one of at least 100 varieties), flavorful dips, cheese straws and pralines. And that’s not even including the piece de resistance of any happy foods list. I’m referring to cakes that simultaneously sound and taste happy. A few to add to any spring dessert table are Hawaiian sunset, Tres leches, hummingbird and my favorite, strawberry shortcake courtesy of pound cake topped with strawberries and ice cream. When it comes to spring entertaining, it’s important to remember that special events are all about sharing time and food with the people you love. Make up your mind not to stress out over whether your house is big enough or clean enough to host guests or if the food you plan to serve is fancy enough. Melba Darras, who served with her late husband, Tommie, for decades as hostess and chef, respectively, of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, told me once that guests often expressed how honored they were to be invited to the grand residence. While they complimented Tommie's food, it wasn’t the highlight of their visit. Instead, they were touched by the warm Southern hospitality and being invited to the governor's home. Even if your home isn’t quite as impressive as the Governor’s Mansion, don’t let that stop you for sharing it with others this spring. Your friends and family won’t be judging your home or food, but instead, will feel special that you included them. That warm feeling is the memory that will linger long after the food has been eaten. Here are three recipes served by the Darras’ at the Governor’s Mansion and mentioned in their cookbook, A Taste of History. Melba's notes are in italics. MISSISSIPPI COOKIES We served Mississippi Cookies to everyone, including The Today Show’s Jane Pauley, who received a box full presented by Gov. Allain when the show was filming in Mississippi. 1/2 cup shortening (half butter) 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla and a dash of salt 1- 1/3 cups of flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon milk Combine shortening, butter, sugar, salt, vanilla and eggs. Add sifted dry ingredients. Chill. Roll as thin as possible. Use any cookie cutter you choose. (The customized cookie cutter is available at the Old Capitol Shop or gourmet and culinary shops in the state.) Bake on a sprayed cookie sheet for 7-10 minutes at 350¡. Makes 3-4 dozen. TOMMIE'S GREEK SALAD This salad was often made for meals at the Mansion. Nobody has ever been able to make it like Tommie. Mix salad greens using iceberg, endive and romaine. Add tomato wedges, thin cucumber slices, green pepper slices (no onions). Lightly pour on virgin olive oil and vinegar that has been aged with garlic, (using ratio of 2 to 1). Add salt and pepper. Heap on Kalamata olives, feta cheese, anchovies and pepperoncini. PEACH MELBA Gov. and Mrs. Winter entertained their good friend, Eudora Welty, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Tommie prepared this special dessert for her. Slice Mississippi orchard grown peaches and combine with sugar and 1/8 teaspoon almond extract. Place small thin slice of homemade pound cake in the bottom of a dessert goblet. Sprinkle lightly with Amaretto. Spoon peach mixture interspersed with this raspberry sauce before topping with whipped cream. RASPBERRY SAUCE 2 (10 oz) packages of frozen raspberries 1 teaspoon cornstarch 2 tablespoons lemon juice or Amaretto or whatever you prefer Thaw and press berries through sieve or puree in blender. Strain out the seeds. Put puree in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add cornstarch dissolved in lemon juice. Cook until slightly thickened. Cool and chill. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Overdose-related deaths are on the rise in Mississippi—and all too often, the cause can be found in household medicine cabinets. That’s why Mississippians are urged to safely dispose of unneeded medications by participating in the 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30. For a list of free, anonymous disposal locations in Mississippi, visit https://odfree.org/takeback. “Overdose deaths continue to hit tragic record highs, but we can take action to prevent drugs from being misused by safely disposing of unneeded medications,” said Jan Dawson, program director, Mississippi Public Health Institute. “We’re asking Mississippians to locate a disposal site in their community and drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications as soon as possible.” Overdoses are now the leading cause of death among U.S. adults 18-45. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 106,000 people died in the U.S. as the result of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending November 2021, with opioid-related deaths accounting for 75% of all overdose deaths. A report from the Mississippi Opioid and Heroin Data Collaborative showed that drug overdose deaths in Mississippi rose by 49% in one year (2019-2020). Most people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For more than a decade, Take Back Day has helped Americans protect their families and loved ones by easily ridding their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or no longer needed—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Working in close partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has collected nearly 7,262 tons of drugs nationwide, with 27.8 tons collected in Mississippi. On April 30, DEA and its law enforcement partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs at designated drop-off sites. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illicit drugs will not be accepted. DEA will accept vaping devices and cartridges, provided lithium batteries are removed. A variety of drug collection sites in Mississippi are open year-round for safe disposal of prescription medications. As a rule, unused medications should never be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet. Make Mississippi OD Free provides a list of 101 disposal sites and information about overdose data, prevention and treatment at https://odfree.org/takeback. Year-round receptacles are available at more than 13,000 pharmacies, hospitals, police departments and business. Additionally, with the passage of the DUMP Opioids Act in 2021, the public may now use drop boxes at Veterans Administration medical centers to dispose of controlled substance prescription medications. Check with your local VA health facility for more information. Executed by Mississippi Public Health Institute, Make Mississippi OD Free is a program administered by the Mississippi Department of Health and supported by a federal grant initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program’s purpose, called Overdose to Action (OD2A), is to collect comprehensive and timely data on nonfatal and fatal overdoses to inform OD prevention and response efforts nationwide. Data for the initiative is provided by the Mississippi Opioid and Heroin Data Collaborative, a multiagency partnership among the Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Mississippi Board of Pharmacy Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Bureau of Narcotics. Learn more at https://odfree.org.

The Jackson Metro Area Business E-Waste Collection Day is typically held twice a year and there is usually a lot of interest from the public. Small businesses and individuals from the Jackson Metro area (Hinds, Madison & Rankin County) are invited to participate. This is a great chance for people to get rid of their old/outdated/broken electronics. All materials collected will be recycled. What: Jackson Metro Area Business E-Waste Collection Day When: Friday, April 29, 2022 8:00am-2:00pm Where: Mississippi Farmer’s Market, 929 High Street, Jackson, MS 39202

The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) voted today to temporarily adjust the statewide accountability system so A-F grades for districts and schools and federally required school improvement designations can be determined for the 2021-22 school year. On March 17, 2022, the SBE invited public comment on its initial proposal to temporarily adjust the accountability system for 2021-22. After reviewing public feedback, the MDE revised the proposal and presented it on April 12, 2022, to the Commission on School Accreditation (CSA), which approved the revised proposal. Mississippi’s A-F accountability system and school improvement identification system consider several indicators, including how well students perform on state tests, students’ growth on tests from year to year and whether students are graduating within four years. Federal law requires all states to assess students annually in English Language Arts and mathematics in grades 3-8 and once during high school. Adjustments are needed for the 2021-22 school year because the cancellation of assessments in spring 2020 resulted in some students lacking scores to calculate growth. The SBE’s action today will adjust the accountability system for 2021-22 as follows: Growth will be measured on high school-level assessments from the most recent year students were previously tested. For example, current 10th graders who take Algebra I and English II assessments this year will have their scores compared to their 7th grade assessment in 2018-19 to measure progress. 2021-22 high school end-of-course assessment results will be included, regardless of the student’s grade level. Typically, scores for students in grades 7-9 who take high school level assessments are not included in the current accountability year and are “banked” for accountability until they reach 10th grade. Any banked scores from previous years that would have been included in the current year’s accountability calculation will be excluded. Scores for students in grades 7-9 who take high school-level assessments this year will also be banked, in accordance with existing accountability rules. The U.S. Department of Education (USED) granted waivers to states from federal accountability requirements for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years because the pandemic disrupted schooling and state assessments. The USED now requires all states to resume their accountability systems and identification of schools for support and improvement for the 2021-22 school year but is allowing states to request a one-year addendum plan to adjust for missing data. “Our goal for resuming accountability is to get the most complete and accurate measure of student learning during the pandemic,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “The temporary adjustments will enable educators, families, communities and policymakers to understand and evaluate how schools and districts have performed since the onset of COVID-19.” Mississippi resumed statewide testing in the 2020-21 school year, with a 97% participation rate. The high participation rate provided MDE with a valid measure of student performance in 2020-21 and a way to measure student growth for most students between 2020-21 and 2021-22. To address federally required school improvement classifications, the MDE’s addendum request will propose to change the frequency for identifying schools in need of improvement and the timelines and criteria for schools to exit school improvement status. The MDE worked closely with the state’s Accountability Task Force, Technical Advisory Committee and the Center for Assessment to review and analyze assessment data to ensure the addendum proposal is technically sound and presents an accurate picture of the academic performance of Mississippi students. The SBE invites public comment on today’s vote to establish the temporary rule to implement the accountability adjustment. For more information on the temporary rule and instructions for submitting comments, visit mdek12.org/PN/APA. The deadline to submit comments is May 17, 2022. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

After a 5o-year career in public education, State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright, Ed.D., will retire on June 30, 2022. The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) appointed Dr. Wright to be the state’s top pre-K-12 education official in 2013. Her tenure in Mississippi has been longer and marked by more student gains than any state superintendent of education since the Education Reform Act of 1982 established the SBE. Nationally, Dr. Wright is one of the longest-serving state education chiefs of the 21st century. Under Dr. Wright’s leadership, the state initiated successful education reforms that made Mississippi a national leader for improving student achievement. Mississippi’s Quality Counts grade for education improved from an F to a C-, its ranking climbed from 50th to 35th and the graduation rate rose from 75.5% to 88.4% – higher than the national average. Among students with disabilities, the graduation rate more than doubled from 23.2% to 59.9%. Mississippi 4th graders in 2013 were reading more than one full grade level behind the national average on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). By 2019, Mississippi 4th graders scored higher than the nation’s public school average in mathematics, tied the nation in reading and ranked No. 1 in the nation for making the largest score gains. The rapid progress of Mississippi students earned the state Quality Counts’ No. 2 ranking in the nation for improvement in 2019, 2020 and 2021. “Dr. Wright never wavered from her belief that Mississippi students were just as capable as students in any other state,” said Rosemary Aultman, SBE chair. “She eliminated the culture of low expectations and proved our students could achieve at the highest levels. States throughout the country now turn to Mississippi to learn about our successful strategies for raising student achievement. Dr. Wright’s leadership has improved educational opportunities and outcomes for a generation of Mississippi students.” A passionate advocate for early childhood education, Dr. Wright implemented Mississippi’s first publicly funded Early Learning Collaborative program, which earned the state recognition from the National Institute for Early Education Research as one of only six states in the nation that meet all 10 quality standards for early childhood education. The program has grown from 11 collaboratives serving 1,700 children in 2014 to 30 collaboratives that will serve 6,000 children in 2022-23. Dr. Wright spearheaded initiatives that have increased literacy skills in pre-K through the grade 3, pushed student achievement on the NAEP to improve at a faster rate than most other states, and nearly doubled the Advancement Placement participation and success rate. Pre-pandemic, Mississippi students achieved significant annual gains in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency. Though the pandemic disrupted learning throughout the country, Mississippi’s assessment scores did not fall as much as they did in other states. Dr. Wright’s most recent innovation includes the Mississippi Connects program, which provided every student in the state with a computer device to learn at school or at home. The program includes enhanced internet connectivity, high-quality digital content, professional development for teachers and administrators, digital learning coaches and the launch of telehealth/teletherapy in schools starting in the 2022-23 school year. She also implemented the Mississippi Teacher Residency, which provides scholarships and mentors to aspiring teachers, and the Performance-Based Licensure program, which helps Mississippi teachers with provisional licenses become fully licensed. The next teacher residency cohort will provide graduate degree scholarships for 200 aspiring elementary and special education teachers. Throughout her tenure as Mississippi's state education chief, Dr. Wright has been an active member and leader of numerous national and state boards and organizations that advance the field of education. Notably, the U.S. Secretary of Education appointed her in 2019 to the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for NAEP, the Nation’s Report Card. In 2022, Dr. Wright earned the Mississippi Top 50 Most Influential Leaders Award. “Leading education in Mississippi has been the honor and privilege of my life. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I have been given to work with dedicated educators and leaders across Mississippi, the entire Mississippi Department of Education team and committed State Board members and legislative leaders. Together we have worked to make a difference in the lives of children.” Dr. Wright said. “Most especially, I am incredibly proud of Mississippi students. There is no limit to what they can accomplish.” The SBE will announce plans for Dr. Wright’s transition and its search for a new state superintendent of education once the details have been finalized. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

By Kara Kimbrough Elvis has been on my mind this week. But not for the normal reasons, like hearing one of his songs or seeing footage online of a press conference or concert at which the Mississippi native displayed his enduring charisma and talent. No, I thought about his penchant for consuming a pound of fried bacon each day. I was reminded of this after reading bacon prices have risen nearly 19 percent, higher than almost any other supermarket item. Tupelo’s favorite son was wealthy, but I wonder if Elvis would have changed his diet as prices of his favorite food group soar. Here's how I gained the inside scoop on Elvis’ penchant for bacon. An interview several years ago with his long-time cook, Mary Jenkins, revealed lots of unknown tidbits. For starters, he started his day with fried (not baked) biscuits, four scrambled eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice and a pile of bacon. Any leftover bacon was used to make one of his favorite sandwiches, a thick BLT. Since his death in 1977, the strangeness of Presley’s palate has become legendary. Only Jenkins, someone he considered a dear friend, knew the truth. ''It's not true that Elvis liked burnt bacon sandwiches,” she said. “He just liked his bacon very crisp. And he didn’t eat at much as everyone said. But he did like his food fried and real rich.” While Presley stuck to simple fare, it hit me that so many delicious dishes contain bacon. I dearly love the thin (and thick cut) slices of pork. Besides Elvis’ BLT, some of my favorites made with bacon include: • Baked beans topped with plenty of bacon slices • Bacon-wrapped Little Smokies rolled in brown sugar and cooked to a crispy goodness • Wedge salad highlighted with thick chunks of bacon • Plain burgers transformed with crispy bacon I could go on, but you get the point. Almost everything is better with bacon. And, many favorite dishes are taken to another level with the addition of bacon grease. In fact, a dish I made for Easter dinner last Sunday, deluxe hash brown bake, contains a quarter-cup of the not-so-healthy ingredient. Bacon grease is essential to moistening the dish loaded with several meats, cheeses and potatoes. Plus, the taste is other-worldly; yes, it’s that good. So there you have it. I won’t be giving up bacon any time soon. Bacon freezes well, so I’m stocking up now and placing several packs in the freezer in anticipation of even higher prices. I saved one package from the freezer to make a New Orleans-inspired dish given to me by a Gulf Coast friend. Grillades (pronounced “gree-odds) and grits is filled with “everything good,” including a half cup of bacon grease. It looks like a complicated recipe but comes together quickly. However, it needs to simmer at least two hours before serving. Bacon grease may not be the healthiest ingredient, but as my Coast friend says, “You only live once; might as well enjoy great food while we’re here.” I agree. Gulf Coast Grillades and Grits Ingredients for grillades: 4 pounds beef top round steak, cut into 3-inch strips, ½ inch wide 1-1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s seasoning (more to taste) 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup bacon grease 1-1/2 cup onion, chopped 3 ribs celery chopped 1-1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 cups beef stock (I use low sodium) 14.5-ounce can chopped tomatoes 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped Salt (to taste) 1/2 cup green onions, chopped Ingredients for grits: 4 cups water 2 teaspoons salt 1 cup old-fashioned grits 4 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon ground mustard 1-1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 cup heavy cream Salt and pepper (to taste) To make grillades: Put the creole seasoning and flour in a large plastic bag. Add the strips of meat into the bag and shake, making sure to coat every piece with the flour mixture. In a large Dutch oven on low heat, add the bacon grease. Working in batches, brown the meat. Do not crowd the pan. Set the browned meat aside. Add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic to the Dutch oven. Sauté until tender, about four minutes. Next, add the beef stock, tomatoes, beef stock, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Bring everything to a boil and then turn it down to a simmer. Simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add the thyme and taste to adjust the seasonings. Simmer another 15 minutes, take it off the heat and then stir in the parsley. Garnish with a sprinkle of green onions. Salt and pepper to taste. To make cheese grits: Bring the water to a boil. Add the salt. Stir in the grits. Reduce heat to low and let the grits simmer for 20 minutes or until they are soft. Add the butter and ground mustard. Stir in the cheese. When it is fully incorporated, add the Worcestershire sauce and heavy cream. Taste and adjust the seasonings, adding more salt and black pepper if desired. To serve: add a serving of grits to each plate and top with grillades. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Canopy Children’s Solutions (Canopy), Mississippi’s largest nonprofit provider of behavioral health, educational and social service solutions, will be planting blue pinwheel gardens this April to promote Child Abuse Awareness Month. These pinwheels serve as a visual reminder that everyone in a community must work together to end child abuse. Canopy’s South Mississippi Child Advocacy Center (SMCAC) collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to streamline the process of identifying, investigating and prosecuting cases of child abuse. By working with law enforcement, Child Protection Services, mental and/or medical health professionals, and many other organizations, Canopy provides a wide range of services to help children and their families overcome extraordinary challenges and to thrive. “In order for children to have the trauma that they experienced resolved, they need people like Canopy’s South Mississippi Child Advocacy team to help them along the way,” says Sabreniee Wright, Director of Canopy’s SMCAC. “There is hope when children have access to therapeutic resources and can begin healing.” This April, Canopy encourages everyone to do their part in protecting our children. Mississippi's 24-hour child abuse hotline (1-800-222-8000) allows any person who suspects a child is being abused to file an anonymous report. If you see something, say something. The physical, mental and emotional well-being of abused children relies on adults who will advocate for their safety and healing. Wright continues, “Our team goes above and beyond every day to make sure children and their families are getting the justice they deserve. Helping children is a passion.” For more information on Canopy Children’s Solutions, visit their website at: mycanopy.org.

By Bob Garver I have probably seen more trailers for “Morbius” than any other movie in my entire life. I definitely remember seeing a few before the 2020 lockdown, but it isn’t just a matter of how far back they go. No, I’ve seen them pretty consistently since then, from theaters reopening in August 2020 to last week when I realized that I was seeing one for the last time – the end of an era. The movie kept getting pushed back, far enough to be out of reach but never so far that it warranted taking the trailer out of rotation. Clearly someone wanted to dump this movie on just the right unremarkable weekend where it would be free of decent competition. To be fair, the strategy paid off, as the movie opened to $39 million this past weekend, but that success came at the expense of letting people know that the movie had no confidence from the studio. Having finally seen “Morbius,” I can say with confidence that the lack of confidence was entirely justified. Jared Leto stars as Michael Morbius, a brilliant, eccentric doctor obsessed with curing his own rare blood disease. He’s so brilliant that he wins a Nobel Prize, but so eccentric that he tells off the committee in a scene that should have been a highlight of this movie, but bafflingly happens offscreen. He knows the solution involves splicing his human DNA with that of vampire bats, it will just require a moral flexibility and an expensive trip to Costa Rica. Michael only has the former, luckily rich childhood friend and fellow sufferer Milo (Matt Smith) is more than happy to help with the latter, provided Michael shares whatever cure he finds. Michael’s experiments on himself yield mixed results. On one hand, he’s cured. In fact, he’s better than cured, he develops superpowers like bat wings and bat radar (unlike that other bat-themed action hero with no superpowers, bat-like or otherwise). On the other, he becomes a homicidal vampire that needs to drink blood in ever-shrinking increments of time. He even nearly attacks his partner and girlfriend Martine (Adria Arjona). He’s perfectly fine with being locked away so he can’t hurt anyone, but Milo gets ahold of the treatment and becomes a vampire with far fewer hang-ups about killing people or torturing the audience with out-of-place dancing. The only thing that can stop vampire Milo is vampire Michael, but with two vampires on the loose, the world is in twice as much danger. Of course, nobody is really seeing “Morbius” just for Morbius. The real attraction here is finding out how he fits in with Spider-Man. The “Living Vampire” is in the rogues gallery of the box office juggernaut, residing in the same universe as Venom. The trailers have given away that that some of Doctor Strange’s universe-tampering has allowed Vulture (Michael Keaton, speaking of that other bat-themed action hero) to switch universes and propose a team-up with Morbius. And… that’s about it. Do not see this movie expecting to see more than the bare minimum of Vulture, anything more than references to Venom, or anything at all with Spider-Man. You will be very disappointed. Actually, you’ll probably be disappointed with “Morbius” no matter what you expect. The characters aren’t memorable, the action scenes are incomprehensible, and the movie’s color scheme is one of the most drab I’ve ever seen. I think someone wanted the movie to look like it had been drained of all life by a vampire. Mission accomplished, I guess, but isn’t there a way to get a macabre tone without making the movie so ugly and miserable? I mentioned earlier seeing a trailer for “Morbius” in August of 2020 when theaters started reopening. More than anything, this movie reminds me of “The New Mutants,” released around that time: lifeless, pathetic, and only tangentially related to the Marvel property we really want to see. Grade: D. “Morbius” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some frightening images and brief strong language. Its running time is 104 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

By Kara Kimbrough Before extolling the delights of Hancock County in the second installment of “Top reasons to visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast," I’d be remiss if I left out the charming cities of Long Beach and Pass Christian. They’re worth a stop on U.S. 90 as you make your way to the Bay Bridge to enter Bay St. Louis. I’m probably going to receive irate emails from the other cities about this next statement, but here goes: in my opinion, the two neighboring cities of Long Beach and “The Pass,” as locals calls it, offer some of the best beach views on the Gulf Coast. Sweeping vistas of sand, sky and water along this scenic stretch of highway are mesmerizing, especially when a vibrant blue sky transforms the gulf to a similar hue. Stopping in for a Coast-inspired meal on the patio of Long Beach’s Harbor View Café is the perfect way to enjoy the view. Or, drive a little further to The Pass and relax on Shaggy’s open-air deck with panoramic water views and the guarantee of a delicious meal. Ready for more sight-seeing and dining? Travel over the mammoth Bay Bridge and your blood pressure is sure to plummet as you view the shimmering bay on either side. The bridge was rebuilt post-Katrina at 85 feet above the bay at its highest point, so the view is absolutely stunning. If you’re feeling adventuresome, park your car at either end and journey across the bridge in the enclosed walking/cycling trail. Once on dry land, take a left onto scenic Beach Boulevard. On one side of the quaint street is the bay fronted with a new harbor. On the other are family-owned restaurants serving fresh seafood and other creative dishes. Here are just a few of my favorite restaurants and things to see and do in the Bay: 1. One of my favorite restaurants is Trapani’s. A local favorite for decades, everything on the menu is delicious, but my favorite menu item is the overflowing shrimp po’boy. 2. Next door is 200 North Beach. It’s a cozy, family-oriented space offering pasta dishes, steaks and seafood. 3. Holding court on the corner of The Pearl, a new boutique hotel at the corner of Main Street and Beach Boulevard is The Thorny Oyster. It’s a spacious, well-appointed restaurant offering fresh, local, coastal fare, creative seafood and classic dishes and desserts prepared with a modern twist. Grilled redfish at The Thorny Peach-blueberry crisp topped with Oyster in Bay St. Louis is a meal vanilla bean ice cream was the I won't soon forget. perfect end to a memorable meal at The Thorny Oyster. It’s rare that I dream about a dessert item, but that’s exactly what happened last summer after I dined here. I ended my meal with one of the best berry crisps I’ve ever tasted. Fresh peach and blueberry fruit filling was topped with a delicious crunchy, buttery rolled oats and toasted nuts topping that nearly outshone the filling. A scoop of homemade vanilla bean ice cream took it to new heights. I'm long overdue for a repeat of this sublime experience. 4. Don't leave town without a visit to charming Old Town. Located a few blocks from the bay, the tree-lined streets are filled with the historic Depot museum, locally-owned shops and restaurants and a scenic park with a duck pond. 5. No trip to The Bay would be complete without a stop by the Angel Tree. It’s located on the beach side near the new harbor. I've witnessed emotional responses from tourists from around the world to the oak tree carved into the likeness of angels, complete with hovering wings and piercing eyes. When Katrina’s eye passed over Bay St. Louis, three people and a small dog were riding out the storm in a nearby building. As the storm surge increased, they fled from the building and climbed an oak tree. The centuries-old oak served as the group's lifeline for four hours. Thanks to the tree’s sturdy branches, they were unharmed when the water subsided. The remains of the oak were moved to the beachfront and secured in concrete just a few hundred feet from where it saved the lives of three people and a dog. A chainsaw artist created beauty from ashes, expertly carving an angel and large birds keeping watch on the limbs. Stop by the Angel Tree for a photo, prayer or a glimpse of a life-saving tree. Like a visit to The Bay, it's an experience you’ll never forget. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.