Kona Ice will be on site at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School for Meet the Teacher Day! Join us on Monday, August 5th, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. This exciting event aims to bring together students, parents, and teachers in a fun and interactive setting. Kona Ice, known for their delicious shaved ice treats, will be providing their refreshing and tasty offerings to all attendees. It's a perfect opportunity to beat the summer heat and enjoy a cool treat while getting to know your child's teachers and classmates.

By Kara Kimbrough I have no shame about sharing this: I often peruse social media sites when looking for recipes that: A. I haven’t yet tried and B. Don’t bore me with the same ‘ol ingredients. Last week, while scrolling through that platform that originated in another country and that some politicians have tried to ban, I somehow weeded through the thousands of cooking videos on the site and found two that intrigued me. Yes, I realize the owners of “that site” probably know everything about me at this point, but I figure they do already since I use an iPhone, so why worry…right? As a friend asked me a while back when I told her I didn’t utilize the site, “How could you NOT when it’s worth it for the recipes alone?” After a quick perusal, I quickly realized she was right. Admittedly, I have a relatively short attention span, so it’s fun to watch short 2-3 minutes videos of entire recipes being created. A complete version of the recipe is usually provided as a bonus. In case you’re still skeptical about using “that site,” I’ll periodically share a few recipes here and there that I feel are just too good not to pass on. This week, I’m sharing a recipe I call “Chicken That Doesn’t Bore Me” simply because the combination of flavors in the marinade and dipping sauce combine to make a delightfully-different chicken taste that takes chicken – which can often be pretty boring – to a new level. And last, I’ve never really cared for baked spaghetti. I just didn’t get it. Why cover up perfectly good pasta and sauce with all that cheese and bake it when it is SO much better served au natural on a plate out in the open? I like a glistening pile of pasta covered with hot, steamy, rich sauce right where I can see it. I’ll never give up my favorite way to enjoy spaghetti, but against my better judgement (hence, the name), I did try and can recommend this baked spaghetti as the perfect quick meal on a busy night when placing a dish in the oven is simpler than standing over a stove stirring sauce. Chicken That Doesn’t Bore Me 4-5 pieces of skin-on chicken breasts and legs (or your favorite parts) Marinade: 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons tomato paste 4 minced garlic cloves Zest and juice of 1 large lemon ½ teaspoon each: salt and pepper 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 1 tablespoon oregano or thyme 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper Pat chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and place in a bowl. To make marinade, whisk all ingredients together well in a bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken and mix really well, covering all sides. Cover the chicken and place in refrigerator 2 to 6 hours or ideally, overnight. Preheat oven to 410 degrees. Remove chicken from refrigerator and let all pieces come up to room temperature before putting in the oven. Place chicken on a metal pan with a wire rack and place it in the oven and bake at 410 degrees for 35-40 minutes, turning once during baking process. While chicken is baking, make a tangy dipping sauce: Dipping sauce 3 tablespoons of thick Greek yogurt 2 green onions (green and white part) Pinch of cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil Juice of half a lemon Pinch of salt and pepper Place in a food processor or blender and mix well, then taste and adjust to preference. Remove the chicken from the oven, let rest and enjoy with a side of dipping sauce. Baked Spaghetti Against My Better Judgement 1 jar spaghetti sauce 1 jar Alfredo sauce 1 pound of spaghetti, boiled according to package directions 1 pound ground chuck 1/2 onion, diced 4-5 cloves of garlic, chopped fine 1 tablespoon garlic salt 1 tablespoon onion powder 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning Ground black Pepper to taste 2 cups mozzarella cheese Parmesan cheese as desired Boil pasta according to package directions while making sauce. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown one pound of ground chuck in skillet with onion and garlic. Once meat is cooked through, drain the excess grease and add seasoning. Add pasta sauce to skillet; stir until combined. Drain noodles and pour into a separate bowl, then stir in Alfredo sauce, mixing well. Grease a 9x13 baking pan and add Alfredo-coated noodles, covering the bottom of the dish. Pour the red sauce/ground meat mixture on top of the noodles and spread out evenly with a spatula. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Nearly 4,600 pharmacies nationwide are hosting Walmart Wellness Day on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to help families prioritize their health this back-to-school season. Customers can receive free glucose, cholesterol, BMI and blood pressure screenings as well as affordable immunizations like flu, HPV, tetanus, hepatitis and more. Select stores will also feature vision screenings making it even easier for customers to access the resources they need. "As a back-to-school destination, Walmart's Wellness Day provides a unique opportunity for families to streamline health needs and school supply shopping," said Kevin Host, Walmart's Senior Vice President of Pharmacy. "It's one of our favorite times of the year and we are thrilled we can provide affordable health options for communities across the country on Wellness Day to help start the school year off strong." Wellness Day also offers families a chance to chat with pharmacists and learn more about ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Customers can even learn about our Health & Wellness offerings and solutions. Wellness Day events will feature the following health resources, administered by qualified pharmacy and Vision Center teams: Free health screenings, including glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI and vision screenings (select locations) Affordable immunizations, including COVID-19, flu, HPV, pneumonia, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chicken pox/shingles), whooping cough (TDAP), Hep A & B and more Wellness resources + opportunity to talk with pharmacists Walmart pharmacies have hosted Walmart Wellness Days since 2014 and have contributed more than 5 million free health screenings for customers. More than 4,000 Walmart stores are in medical professional shortage areas, which means Walmart is often the first stop for health care in these communities. To find a free event in your neighborhood, visit Walmart.com/wellnesshub.

By: Bob Garver It’s usually at the end of the review that I talk about a film’s MPAA rating, but I’ll twist it up for “Twisters.” Or rather, for its 1996 predecessor “Twister” and its all-time terribly-worded rating justification. The film was rated PG-13 for “intense depiction of very bad weather.” Yes, the depiction was intense, and yes, the weather was very, very bad, but those twisters were so violent and destructive that “weather” seems like the wrong word to describe them. They may as well have used the term “extreme windiness.” The twisters are similarly violent and destructive in “Twisters,” which is much more sensibly rated PG-13 for “intense action and peril, some language and injury images.” The new film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate and Glen Powell as Tyler, two storm chasers with different reasons for traveling Oklahoma looking for tornadoes. She’s trying to set up a 3-D mapping system that will help scientists understand how tornadoes form and thus save lives. She used to think she could rig up a chemical reaction that could actually stop a fully-formed tornado, but a field test in the film’s opening moments turns deadly, so she has to settle for the mapping system endorsed by her old friend Javi (Anthony Ramos). Tyler wants to shoot fireworks into a tornado to make a cool visual that gets him subscribers on Youtube and increase his celebrity so he can sell tacky merchandise. Kate is glad to have the moral high ground, or so she thinks. As the film progresses, Tyler shows he has more layers than Kate initially thought. He’s a learned meteorologist and a big-hearted humanitarian. It also turns out that Kate may have jumped on the wrong bandwagon. She and Javi are noble, but their team’s sponsor isn’t. Kate and Tyler find that they like chasing the storms together, helping recovery efforts together, and just plain spending time together. Cute squabbling turns to cute flirting. Please tell me it’s not much of a spoiler to find out that there’s romantic chemistry between the smoldering cowboy and the beautiful scientist. Then there are the twister sequences themselves. I used to be terrified of tornadoes, but the fear mostly dropped off when I hit my teens. This movie may rekindle some of that fear, especially after the opening sequence. The rest of the sequences are fine. I was never unconvinced that there was danger afoot. One thing I knew going in was that twisters, while they can form quickly, don’t lend themselves to jump scares, so I was wondering what the film would have to do to push my buttons that way. There are two effective jump scares that made me scream for half a second and then laugh for several full ones. You can probably guess the kind of experience that “Twisters” provides. It’s a PG-13 disaster movie. The action scenes, while fraught with mortal danger, aren’t going to feature anyone getting ripped limb from limb. The comedic and romantic scenes are perfectly predictable as well, with Edger-Jones and Powell having the pleasing chemistry I knew they’d have. Of the characters that survive among Kate, Tyler, Javi, and Tyler’s colorful team, I wouldn’t mind seeing these characters in more movies. I’m sure the filmmakers can come up with more creative storm scenarios. For now, this was exactly the movie I expected it to be, but I had a reasonably good time watching very bad weather. Grade: B- “Twisters” is rated PG-13 for intense action and peril, some language and injury images. Its running time is 117 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

As we return to school, it's essential to remember that our actions can significantly impact our classmates' experiences. If you see a student struggling to make friends, being picked on, new, shy, or not part of the "in crowd," or eating lunch alone, take a moment to be a leader and a warrior. Be a Leader! Be a Warrior! A simple smile or a friendly "hi" can go a long way. Ask them if you can sit with them at lunch or invite them to join your group. Including them in conversations and activities can make a world of difference. You never know what someone might be facing inside or outside of school. Your kindness could be the light they need. Let's work together to create a supportive and inclusive school environment where everyone feels valued and welcomed.

Of course you’ve been there many times before. A dead-dark night when you have no electricity for some reason, so you light a candle. And immediately that thing shines like a diamond that has a heavy spotlight six inches from it. No mistaking where it is. If you are carrying it, everyone around knows it’s you, and they know when you’re coming their way. Because burning candles don’t hide well in the dark. Just like that candle, the decision to ‘do what’s right, no matter the consequences’ can’t hide either. When you decide your honesty is worth everything, it’s as glaring as holding a burning candle in the dark.  And believe me, your employer and those around you will be able to spot that glowing candle in your hand. You will be different than before. But if the day comes when you make the decision to give in to temptation, there will be a slight change about you then, also. Those around you will sense that the lit candle that you hold is just a little dimmer and cooler. In the days and weeks following that decision, you may be a little surprised to find that the loss of your integrity hides easily in the dark. And it will grow. Much like dust in the corner of a dark room that accumulates without the homeowner realizing it. Tucked away out of the limelight, dust can grow without causing the owner much stress. After all, we humans are good at ignoring things that we choose to leave in the dark. At least for a while. Until a light exposes them and eventually, we have to deal with it all. But how does that decision to give in to temptation happen? Darkness. The thought of “I could actually get away with cheating at this,” probably doesn’t hit us as hard when we are extremely happy in our relationship, or our job, or when we have plenty of money. That’s not when we get slapped in the face with the choice to cheat or not to cheat. And for that very reason, temptation always seems to come to us in our darker times. Because those murky, uncertain days in our life make it harder to determinedly stick to our decision to do what is right – no matter what. Remember, there is a bad side effect of giving in to temptation. When you are faced with the choices of cheating or acting with integrity and you cave, the next time it will be just a little easier to let yourself slide sideways in the darkness. To persuade yourself, “It’s okay this time, you deserve this.” And unfortunately, it then gets easier and easier with each temptation that comes. You have to decide for yourself, “In the end, do I want ‘this’ more than I want to like me later?”

Great news for the Bolton Edwards Rangers! Thanks to the National School Lunch Program, ALL BEEM scholars will receive a healthy lunch and breakfast FREE during the 2024-25 school year! No additional action or lunch application is needed.

By: Kara Kimbrough Overheard in the supermarket: “ I don’t cook anything with more than five ingredients!”  I waited for the inevitable reply of, “I  won’t spend more than a few minutes cooking ANYTHING!” … words I’ve also heard while shopping for groceries. I didn’t hear it this time, but I’ve talked to enough people to know that short, easy recipes are the only way most (not all) cooks will cook dinner if they’re not already placing a plastic bag of frozen “something” in the microwave. Remarkably, there are thousands of recipes that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes (give or take 10 minutes or so for browning/cooking meat), resulting in a satisfying dinner in no time.  Here are three of my favorites, including the first one that I tried this week. A friend, knowing my love of crispy egg rolls, sent me a healthier, reduced carb and easier version of the fried ones. Easy Egg Rolls in a Bowl 1 pound of ground sausage, turkey chicken or beef (I prefer beef, but use your favorite) 7 cups of coleslaw mix (or make your own using grated fresh cabbage and carrots) 4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 1 teaspoon of garlic powder ½ cup of green onions, minced, for topping Sweet and sour sauce for topping (optional)    In a large non-stick skillet, cook meat of choice over medium-high heat until well done. Drain grease; to same skillet, add coleslaw, garlic powder and soy sauce; stir well to mix together. Top with green onions and more soy sauce or with sweet and sour sauce. Easiest Spanish Rice and Chicken Dish 2 tablespoons butter 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes, drained, or 4 cups diced fresh tomatoes 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 cup dry long-grain rice (yellow rice is preferred, but can use white) 2 cups chicken broth 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, cubed (I prefer thin, cooked tenderloins) 1 tablespoon chopped olives    In a non-stick skillet, melt butter, then add tomatoes, onion, pepper, salt and garlic powder.  Cook for about 5 minutes. Add rice and broth.  Cover and cook on low heat until rice is done and broth absorbed. After rice is done, stir in cooked chicken and olives and heat through. Favorite Shrimp-Tomato Pasta Dish 1-pound dry fettuccine pasta 1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic or 3 garlic cloves ½ sweet onion, cut into wedges 4 tablespoons olive oil 4 medium tomatoes, chopped or 1 14.5-ounce can of chopped tomatoes 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup spinach leaves 1-pound cooked shrimp - peeled and deveined (can substitute two cups of cooked, shredded chicken) 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded   Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain. If shrimp is uncooked, boil for 2-3 minutes or until shrimp is bright pink and opaque white throughout.     Meanwhile, combine garlic, onion, and oregano in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion mixture; cook and stir until fragrant and almost golden. Mix in tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes while pasta is cooking, stirring occasionally. Mix in spinach until wilted.      Just before pasta is done, stir in shrimp to skillet ingredients and cook until heated through. Toss together shrimp mixture and pasta in a large serving bowl. Mix in mozzarella cheese. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com .

What: In the Joy of Others: Walk-Run Who: BAPS Charities, Jackson MS When: Saturday August 3, 2024, 3pm onward Where: Liberty Park, Madison MS Details: On August 3,2024, BAPS Charities, Jackson MS, in collaboration with American Cancer Society and Community Foundation for Mississippi, will host its annual "In the Joy of Others: Walk-Run" to support BAPS Charities, American Cancer Society and Community Foundation for Mississippi. This event demonstrates the powerful role residents play in fostering healthy communities, supporting local entities such as fire, police, community organizations, etc. Walkers and runners of all ages will unite to back BAPS Charities, American Cancer Society and Community Foundation for Mississippi in their mission to express a spirit of selfless service, improve the lives of people with cancer and to achieve enduring change in our communities through inclusive philanthropic leadership. An estimated 350 local participants are expected, including State Representative Grace Butler-Washington, State Representative Clay Mansell, Jackson City Councilman Brian Grizzell and other community leaders. The Walk-Run is a reflection of BAPS Charities' commitment to health and wellness, as well as community empowerment. Beyond the annual event, BAPS Charities continually promotes health and well-being through Health Fairs, Health Awareness Lectures, and Children's Health and Safety Days. It also spearheads various social responsibility and humanitarian initiatives, including Blood Donation Drives, Food Drives, and Earth Day activities. Everyone is encouraged to join the event, with registration available at https://www.bapscharities.org/usa/jackson/walkrun2024jacksonms/ . For a glimpse into the experience, view an example of a previous Walk-Runhttps://youtu.be/e-4s5QWHKpw?feature=shared More details about BAPS Charities can be found at www.bapscharities.org

In an effort to help busy parents gearing up for the new school year, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) will host a one-stop shop for required school entry/registration forms. This special two-week event will allow parents to get a copy of their child’s Form 121 (shot record) if the child is up to date on immunization requirements, as well as their birth certificate, at the same time and same place. Monday, July 29 – Friday, August 9 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. MSDH Office of Vital Records 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland (Off Highland Colony Parkway) Parents must provide the school with a Certificate of Immunization Compliance (Form 121) from their immunization provider prior to school entry. The child’s birth certificate is also required for school registration. During this One-Stop Shop event, the child’s Form 121 will be available for free if the child is up to date on immunization requirements. Certified copies can also be printed through www.MyIRMobile.com. Birth certificates will be available the same day for $17; each additional certified copy is $6. Mississippi state law requires children to be immunized against childhood diseases to enter public or private school, Head Start or daycare. There are also required immunizations for 7th grade entry. For more information on immunization requirements or exemptions for school entry, visit www.msdh.ms.gov/immunizations. Get up to date news and updates at: www.msdh.ms.gov.  and on social media: facebook.com/HealthyMS, twitter.com/msdh and Instagram.com/healthy.ms

By: Bob Garver The gruesome horror movie “Longlegs” pulled something of an upset at this past weekend’s domestic box office. It wasn’t enough to upset “Despicable Me 4” for the #1 spot, but it did do the best among new releases. Great reviews were seemingly enough to pull the family-unfriendly indie darling into the #2 spot and make it the only movie to pull in half of what “Despicable Me 4” made. And to all the critics whose diligent word of mouth turned this scrappy upstart into a surprise hit, I have to say: you must have seen a different “Longlegs” than I did, because the movie I saw was a joke. Maika Monroe stars as FBI agent Lee Harker. She’s super-intuitive to the point where neither she nor the Bureau can figure out if she’s psychic or just highly intelligent. Whatever the reason, she’s competent enough for veteran agent Carter (Blair Underwood) to put her on a high-profile case. They’re looking for a person of interest called Longlegs, connected to a series of family murders. The murders themselves are apparently committed by members of the respective families, but a cryptic, Satanic note attributed to Longlegs is always found at the scene. The mystery is, what’s Longlegs’ deal? Nicolas Cage plays Longlegs, who I’d describe as a cross between “Silence of the Lambs” villain Buffalo Bill and Michael Jackson. But not actually-convincingly-creepy “Thriller” Michael Jackson, but screechy, ultra-white, only-unintentionally-creepy Michael Jackson. But at least Buffalo Bill was able to behave somewhat normally in a few scenes so he could plausibly fool victims and authorities. Longlegs doesn’t have a single moment where he’s not a total wackaloon. I’m convinced the only reason this movie is set in the 90’s is because at any subsequent time, he’d be filmed on a phone and arrested - not for the murders, but for being a public nuisance. Some will say that he has to be taken seriously as a villain because of the gravity of the crimes in his vicinity, but even he knows he can’t be taken seriously and needs to find a way around it. It’s clear that Longlegs is either mentally ill or demon-possessed. The same can be said for Lee’s hoarder mother Ruth (Alicia Witt), as well as minor characters with direct connections to the case like scene-stealing survivor Carrie Anne (Kiernan Shipka). But I can’t for the life of me figure out why every actor in this movie has to play their part like a total weirdo. A crime lab specialist is quick to posit wild theories about a mysterious container. A mental hospital ward is so trusting that he doesn’t check ID’s on visitors. Even Lee is filled with quirks, like wanting nothing to do with Carter’s daughter Ruby (Ava Kelders, herself playing her part with distracting stiffness). The lack of social grace wasn’t funny when Dakota Johnson did it in “Madame Web” and it isn’t funny here. “Longlegs” would have worked better if more characters were played straight, so the odd ones would stand out more. Not that the odd ones don’t stand out, but they have to overcompensate, hamming up their performances to ridiculous levels. Director Osgood Perkins clearly told every cast member, “we like weird, people!” apparently forgetting that it was both subtle and broad strokes that made his father Anthony such a memorable horror villain in “Psycho.” Imagine if Norman Bates popped out in a dress in all his scenes instead of just one and you’ll understand my problem with “Longlegs.” The movie is effectively scary in some early scenes where we don’t quite know the enemy, but it loses that effectiveness when the enemy, along with too many other characters, proves to be phony and silly. Grade: C- “Longlegs” is rated R for bloody violence, disturbing images and some language. Its running time is 101 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Hinds County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Glenn McCullough, former Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), as its new Economic Development Advisor. This strategic collaboration underscores HCEDA’s commitment to driving economic growth and fostering robust partnerships within the state. Glenn McCullough brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in economic development. As the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority from 2015 to 2020, McCullough spearheaded numerous initiatives that led to record private capital investment and substantial job growth across Mississippi. McCullough played a key role in securing significant investments, including projects by Continental Tire, Relativity Space, and two Amazon fulfillment centers, which greatly enhanced Mississippi’s appeal as a top business location. Additionally, under the guidance of Governor Bryant and Director McCullough, Mississippi received unprecedented recognition with two silver and two gold shovels from Area Development Magazine. “We are thrilled to have Glenn McCullough as our Economic Development Advisor,” said Jason Owens, Chair of the HCEDA Board. “His extensive experience and visionary leadership will be invaluable as we work with state partners to attract new businesses, support existing ones, and enhance the economic prosperity of Hinds County.” McCullough’s career is marked by significant achievements, including his tenure as Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority, where he played a critical role in launching the megasite program that attracted major manufacturers to the region. His involvement with the Appalachian Regional Commission further highlights his expertise in fostering economic development and infrastructure improvement across multiple states. “I am honored to join HCEDA and contribute to the economic vitality of Hinds County,” said McCullough. “I look forward to collaborating with local and state leaders to create opportunities that benefit our communities and drive sustainable growth.” This appointment reaffirms HCEDA’s commitment to being open for business and working diligently with state and local partners to ensure a thriving economic environment. The authority is dedicated to leveraging McCullough’s expertise to advance its mission and attract new investments to the region.