Serendipity is an annual exhibit and auction featuring artwork created by participants in art classes at Mississippi State Hospital. It is an opportunity for patients and residents to see their art framed and on display, and earn some money when their art is sold during the auction. Serendipity is always held the first Thursday in September, which falls on September 5 this year. Bidding will open online August 1 at www.myminiauction.com/serendipity. This year, the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) is hosting a Serendipity Sneak Peek. The Serendipity exhibit opened on Thursday, June 6th, with a special reception for the artists. Artists arrived at the museum and were greeted with an impressive display of their artwork. Each piece was hung and identified by a museum label that included the artist’s name, name of the piece, materials of the work, and a quote from the artist. Wyatt Waters, renowned watercolor artist, made a surprise visit and viewed the entire collection of artwork. After the viewing, the artists gathered in the Community Room of the MMA for refreshments and were presented with a certificate of recognition mounted in a special Serendipity Sneak Peek folder with a photo of their artwork and personal quote printed inside. The certificates were presented by Lydia Jasper, Assistant Curator of the Permanent Collection and 35th Serendipity Guest Curator, Ceci Whitehurst, MSH Art Services Supervisor, and Ricky Shelby, MSH Art Instructor. Afterwards, Waters worked his way around the room discussing various art topics with the MSH artists. Serendipity Sneak Peek is an ongoing event being held in conjunction with the “What Became of Dr. Smith” exhibit by Noah Saterstrom. The Serendipity Sneak Peek exhibit will be open until August 12. The “Dr. Smith” exhibit will be open until September 22. Through the Access for All: Free First Saturdays initiative, the MMA is offering free admission to all exhibits on the first Saturday of every month until the end of 2026. This initiative is made possible through the Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program, a transformative three-year funding initiative that aims to increase access to museums across America and foster engagement with local audiences. For more information about Serendipity Art Show and Silent Auction, contact MSH Public Relations at 601-351-8018. MSH, a program of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, was founded in 1855 and helps the individuals it serves achieve mental wellness by encouraging hope, promoting safety, and supporting recovery. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission.

Gabriella (Gabby) Nuzzo, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Jackson Alliance, was  recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect. Consultant Connect is an international site location consultant coordination firm that serves more than 230 national and international economic development clients. Gabby was recognized as a top economic developer for her leadership and the work she’s doing to promote business retention and growth in the greater Jackson region. Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants, announces its 2024 list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers. The economic development professionals selected for this list were nominated by their colleagues in both the economic development and site location consulting industries for excellent practices, innovation, and success in building the communities they serve. Beginning June 3rd, we'll be shining a spotlight on each of the Top 50 Economic Developers across our selected social media platforms, LinkedIn and Twitter. These individuals will have the chance to provide their industry expertise, leadership insights, and career advice to their peers. At Consultant Connect, we're dedicated to elevating the economic development sector by honoring outstanding professionals like these. On November 21th we'll be presenting the awards to these deserving recipients at our ECONOMIX event in Salt Lake City, UT. “At Consultant Connect, we see economic development as more than just changing communities—it's about creating jobs that touch lives. It's an honor for us to spotlight North America's top economic developers and the impact they make on the communities they serve." The complete list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2024 includes: Andrea Enders- REDI Cincinnati Ann Blair- Miller Roanoke Regional Partnership Antoine Long- City of DeSoto, TX Ashlee Chilton- Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, CEcD Ashley Busada-Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) Becky Harrington- Delaware Prosperity Partnership Benjamin Moore- Community Champion Bert Roach, B.A., MEDP- Woodlands County to be complete by January 2026 and is expected to begin operating in the months to follow. Bethany Hartley- South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership William Murphy, IOM, CEcD, EDFP- Ardmore Development Authority Brian Vasa- Nebraska Public Power District Callie Cook- Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Cathleen Flournoy- Missouri Partnership Clark Duncan- Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Daniel Clark- New York City Economic Development Corporation David Putnam, CEcD, CWD- Alamance Chamber Donna Gillespie- Kingston Economic Development Corporation Dylan Horne- Metro Atlanta Chamber Eric Icard- The Right Place Erin Farr- Economic Development Corporation of Utah Erin Silk, CEcD- Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County Gabriella Nuzzo- Greater Jackson Alliance Haley Tomlinson- Duke Energy Corporation Heather C. Smith, EDFP, CPM- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Jennifer Lantz- Wilson Economic Development Council Jose Romano- Economic Development Professional Julie Carrier- Investissement Québec Karthik Avadhanula- JobsOhio Katie Grigar- Tulsa Regional Chamber Keith Lund- Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation Kim Wilmes- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Kimberly Young- KC Animal Health Corridor Kimberly Rossetti- BE NKY Growth Partnership Kyle Wagner- City of Henderson Louis David- New Orleans Business Alliance Marc Valenzuela- Salt River Project Marvin Price- Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Mary Lesa Pegg- Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) Matthew McCollister- One Columbus Michael Talley McKinney- Economic Development Corporation Monique Claiborne- Greater Portland Inc Moriah Williams- Wichita Falls Chamber Peter Milano- Massachusetts Office of Business Development Ray Farley- Alliance Pickens. South Carolina. USA Russell Richardson- Baton Rouge Area Chamber Ryan Smith † -City of Las Vegas Stevie Phillips- Cooperative Energy Tamika Jenkins, CEcD- Hinds County Economic Development Authority Victoria Ross-Frost, CEcD- Indiana Municipal Power Agency William (Skip) Scaggs- North Mississippi Industrial Development Association

By Bob Garver I’m not going to go into a lot of depth about the story in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” Miami detectives Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back to have another cop adventure. They do some investigating, clash with superiors, run afoul of bad guys, the bad guys endanger their loved ones, and then there’s a big showdown with the bad guys at the end. There’s no suspense in predicting that the movie will stick to that formula. The real suspense comes from wondering what the action scenes will entail, what jokes will be cracked, and, this being a “Bad Boys” movie, how ridiculous it will all be. With that in mind, I have some thoughts… -Will Smith is back! The A-lister’s career has gone through some major ups and downs the past few years, with the pinnacle of each coming at the same Oscars ceremony. He was unofficially suspended from the limelight for a while, but this movie marks his comeback. And I’m glad to have him back, with his blockbuster presence as strong as ever, if not with a sharper edge. Fans are eager to find out if and how the film will address Smith’s real-life bad boy behavior. I’ll give you this tease: someone gets slapped in this movie. -Martin Lawrence is back too. I don’t have much to say for his star power, but I will praise his performance. Marcus suffers a heart attack early in the movie and spends much of his screentime spouting apparent nonsense about his experience in a coma. In the time since I saw this movie, I have encountered no fewer than two individuals on the New York City subway with similar tendencies. They made me appreciate Lawrence’s cadences in this movie. I don’t know if it’s research or just keen observation, but he’s really got it down. -The evil plan of bad guy McGrath (Eric Dane) involves framing Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), Marcus and Mike’s longtime superior who was killed in the last movie. The plan makes zero sense, since it draws attention and scrutiny to crimes that probably would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Howard himself has a sizeable presence in the movie, with everything from memorial photos and news footage to pre-recorded messages and appearances during near-death experiences. We know the characters miss him, but how can we miss him if he won’t go away? -Howard warns Mike and Marcus that there’s been a decades-long cartel mole in Miami. Realistically, how many characters could this be? Fellow team members played by Vanessa Hudgens and Alexander Ludwig are too young. Howard’s daughter (Rhea Seehorn) is a U.S. Marshall that probably doesn’t even live in Miami. I suppose it could be new captain Secada (Paola Nuñez), but I can’t help but notice that she’s engaged to a smarmy politician (Ioan Gruffudd). Does the movie realize which of these two is the obvious suspect and who would count as subversive? -To get information on the mole, Mike and Marcus have to interview Mike’s imprisoned son Armando (Jacob Scipio) from the last movie. Eventually the three have to work together to combat the bad guys. I was skeptical about bringing Armando back, thinking that the character might not be interesting enough to span multiple movies. But I had nothing to worry about, Scipio makes a good action hero, better than he did a villain. -But Armando’s return has nothing on Reggie (Dennis McDonald), Marcus’s notoriously-bullied, seemingly-unmotivated son-in-law. Turns out Mike isn’t the only one with a family member with action chops. As I was leaving this movie, nobody was talking about Will Smith, everybody was talking about Reggie. And I’ll say that Reggie is just what the movie needs to bump it up to a recommendation. I was on the fence about where I stood on the whole “it’s dumb, but it’s supposed to be dumb” attitude that these movies embrace. But with Reggie, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” has enough heart to cover the missing brain. Grade: B- “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is rated R for strong violence, language throughout and some sexual references. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Father’s Day has rolled around again. Hmmm…do I write about the importance of Dad in every kid’s life? Giving every daddy-loved adult who reads this the warm fuzzies as they relive and remember how Dad was present and accounted for, as they grew up? But pour boiling oil in the gaping wound of every reader out there whose dad was in the wind during their growing-up years? Do I run the high risk of bringing back to the surface all the pain and resentment of many who were ignored, or outright physically abused? While I am attempting to bring joy and the warmth of great memories to those who were fortunate enough to have a loving, attentive dad at home and involved in their life? Because folks, my quandary is extremely real today. Way too many baby makers – I refuse to call them dads or fathers – have made their pitch, made their deposit, and made their escape. Despicable, damning behavior on the part of those particular males who invariably like to boast, “*&#@ yeah, I’m a man!” I beg to differ with every fiber in my body. No real MAN walks away from his responsibility after his ‘deposit’ has created a life. He accepts that he, and only he, has been party to that baby being brought to this earth. Therefore he - and only he - should step up, man up, and shoulder that responsibility. It is his duty to provide love, financial stability, and emotional security for that child. To be a real daddy. No excuses should be accepted. If you are scared of commitment or simply don’t know how to love, then you better start learning. I am sick of “Remember, he never could hold a job, so somebody else will have to take over,” or “It’s not his fault, he never had a role model to show him how to be a daddy,” or the tired and worn out “Ya just don’t understand, I have a drug problem, no way can I take on bein’ a daddy!” Guys, unless you are a true mental imbecile, who created a life and yet has no mental capacity to think and to love, then you are responsible for that baby. You need to be there for your child. Do you find yourself being offended while reading this article? Then I submit to you that you are part of the problem. If you can actually defend a functioning male who has deliberately walked away from his child and refused to be the daddy that child needs in life, then you are an enabler. An enabler is someone who physically, mentally, or emotionally aids someone else to shirk their responsibilities in life. Whether you are a well-meaning social worker, a relative, or a neighbor who condones this ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ type of behavior, I believe you are wrong. And your actions are helping to cause long-term emotional damage to a defenseless child.

By: Rachel Vanderford The University of Mississippi Medical Center is enhancing its educational infrastructure by establishing a multidisciplinary teaching campus in Ridgeland's Colony Park. This expansion marks a significant step forward in UMMC's commitment to fostering excellence in medical education, research and health care delivery. The development of the Colony Park educational campus will help equip the next generation of health care professionals with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to meet the evolving needs of our communities. As the health care landscape continues to progress, it's imperative that medical education keeps stride with the changes. This new campus will increase academic opportunities for UMMC students and trainees in facilities with health care settings that more closely match those of the providers in which many will eventually be employed outside the academic medical center structure. "Because surgery centers are the model, and we have not had one, a lot of our trainees leave UMMC and have never seen that," said Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs. "They don't know the difference in operations because right now, we do all our ambulatory surgeries in the day surgery center at the hospital. From an educational standpoint for both our students and our residents, they need a learning environment that mirrors where they will be practicing." The plan for the approximately 131,000 square-foot educational campus, located on the west side of I-55 North, north of Renaissance at Colony Park, consists of a medical office building, multispecialty ambulatory surgical center, imaging center and multimedia classrooms. When complete, the building will feature two wings with a central lobby entrance. A one-story ambulatory surgery center will be on the right when entering, and a three-story medical office building will be on the left. "This new campus with the outpatient surgery center represents a great opportunity to strengthen both our educational and clinical missions at UMMC," said Dr. Christopher Anderson, James D. Hardy professor and chair of the Department of Surgery and chief of the Division of Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery. "For patients requiring outpatient surgery, this campus will improve their experience significantly while simultaneously improving the educational exposure of our surgery and anesthesia residents and our medical students." The surgical center will have six operating rooms and two procedure rooms as well as diagnostic imaging capabilities including MRI, PET, CT, X-ray and ultrasound. It will feature state-of-the-art facilities for support services, including a full-service lab, pre-operation testing and post-op clinics, occupational therapy and physical therapy, pharmacy and sterile processing. Cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, dermatology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) and plastic surgery are among the specialties that will be represented in the office building. "Ambulatory surgery centers are ubiquitous in the community and in health systems," said Jones. "They are designed so that a patient has easy access to ambulatory procedures. It's a smaller setting that is easier to navigate and the cost structure is lower. What's unique about this one is that it's a multispecialty center. You can come and get eye surgery one day and hand surgery the next." With the evolution of health care offerings and finances, insurance companies are now encouraging patients to undergo these types of procedures in an ambulatory surgery center rather than in hospitals. "They expect health systems to have this type of an environment when it comes to these relatively minor surgeries," said Jones. "It's a lower cost structure than a hospital and payers don't want to pay a hospital rate for an ambulatory surgery. From a health care perspective, being able to offer that to our patients is better." Construction on the new campus is slated to be complete by January 2026 and is expected to begin operating in the months to follow.

By Kara Kimbrough First, the bad news: It’s hot. Even worse, the official start of summer is still days away. But things are not all gloom and doom. There are numerous recipes containing words like “frozen,” “frosted,” “cool,” “chilled” and perhaps the best one this time of year: “no bake.” In case you haven’t guessed, I’m not a hot weather person. In fact, I live for our all-too-short months of cool, sometimes cold, weather. I’m more than happy to bake, grill, slow cook, broil and fry food during the fleeting months of fall and winter. However, once the temperature reaches 80 degrees, I’ll do anything to keep from turning on the oven. Since we’ve crossed over into the dark side, aka, summer (despite what the calendar says), I’ve vowed to primarily focus on recipes containing the adjectives listed above. One of my favorites, frozen strawberry pie, is made using a simple recipe I’ve shared here before. I’ve been making this cool dessert ever since I picked up a recipe sheet from Burris Farm Market, the sprawling fruit and vegetable stand in Loxley, Ala. It’s simple to make and as the name would suggest, it's the perfect cool, no-bake dessert. Another favorite chilled treat dates back quite a bit further. Frosted cranberry salad, a longtime family favorite found in The Mississippi Cookbook published in 1972, has been a staple on our Thanksgiving dinner table for decades. It's charming story gets trotted out every year during the holidays. Inevitably, my grandmother would forget to remove the Pyrex dish filled with “pink salad” as we fondly called it due to its dusty rose hue, from the freezer before lunch to thaw. As a result, a rock-hard slice would land with a thud on a dessert plate. Because pink salad is a medley of  flavors, including raspberry, pineapple and cream cheese, among other ingredients, and is not solely cranberry-centric, this versatile chilled salad can be enjoyed all year long, not just when turkey is on the menu. If you’d like the recipe for either of these chilly dishes, email me and I’ll send them to you. In the meantime, here are the recipes for two new summer treats that require no cooking and will help you (and me) make it through what’s sure to be a long, hot summer. Frozen Cherry Ice Cream Pie 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream 20 ounce can cherry pie filling 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Hot fudge topping, whipped cream, cherries for garnish 2 graham cracker or shortbread crust pie crusts Beat the whipping cream in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat until stiff peaks form. Set aside. Add cherry pie filling to a medium bowl. Crush slightly with a potato masher. Add sweetened condensed milk and stir. Pour into whipped cream and gently fold to combine. Divide mixture between two pie crusts. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving. 3-Ingredient No-Freezer-Needed Homemade Ice Cream 2 cups heavy whipping cream 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract In a large bowl, use a mixer to whip the cream until stiff peaks occur. The cream will be done when you pull the beaters out and the cream is slightly firm. Be careful not to over whip. In another large bowl, whisk the vanilla into the sweetened condensed milk. Gently fold in the whipped cream with a spatula, slowly incorporating the two mixtures together. To create a fruit-based or other flavor ice cream, mix chopped fruit or ingredient of choice (chocolate syrup, crushed candy bar, etc.) directly into the cream mixture. Transfer the mixture to an insulated container and freeze for 4-6 hours. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Governor Tate Reeves’ request for Individual Assistance for counties affected by the April 8-11 severe weather and tornadoes was approved by the White House. During that time the state experienced 13 tornadoes, severe storms, flooding, and straight-line winds. Two deaths were attributed to those storms. There are six counties approved for Individual Assistance. Individual Assistance was approved for Hancock, Hinds, Humphreys, Madison, Neshoba, and Scott counties. Individual assistance is available to residents in those six counties and can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of this disaster. Residents in the approved counties who sustained losses during the April 8-11 severe weather can now apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The disaster Number is: DR-4790.

Mississippi improved its education ranking to 30th in the nation – the state’s highest ranking ever – according to the 2024 Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book released today. KIDS COUNT® Data Book ranked Mississippi 32nd in 2023 and 39th in 2022. The state was ranked 48th in education in 2014 and has experienced continued improvement. The 2024 KIDS COUNT® Data Book is a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that analyzes how children and families are faring. Each year, the Data Book presents national and state data from 16 indicators in four domains — economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors — and ranks the states according to how children are doing. Mississippi ranks 49th in overall child well-being and has shown progress in half of the 16 indicators. The 2024 report also examines the national unprecedented declines in student math and reading proficiency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on education. KIDS COUNT® ranks education by measuring pre-K enrollment, 4th grade reading skills, 8th grade math proficiency and the high school graduation rate. “Mississippi’s momentum in education is the result of strong policies and dedicated, effective educators,” said Dr. Raymond Morgigno, interim state superintendent of education. “The progress of our students has made the state a national leader in improving academic outcomes. While the pandemic disrupted student learning, state and federal funds helped our schools provide additional academic support to help our students exceed pre-pandemic achievement levels.” The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi has released the 2024 Mississippi KIDS COUNT Factbook to determine opportunities for improving outcomes for all Mississippi children. “Despite the state’s overall ranking of 49, we are encouraged that Mississippi ranks 30th in education. This is Mississippi’s highest ranking in the education domain in decades. While there is room for improvement in specific indicators, most notably among eighth graders who are not proficient in math, we are pleased to note that the consistent increased investment in Pre-K is better preparing students for kindergarten. One notable improvement is the percentage of Mississippi’s high school students not graduating on time. In 2021-22 this was 12%, compared to 15% in the previous reporting period,” notes Linda Southward, executive director of the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi. The 2024 KIDS COUNT® Data Book is available at www.aecf.org. Additional information is available at www.aecf.org/databook. Journalists interested in creating maps, graphs, and rankings in stories about the Data Book can use the KIDS COUNT Data Center at datacenter.aecf.org. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

At one time or another, most drivers have been stuck in traffic behind a pickup truck carrying a load that isn’t tied down or secured in any way. Being in this situation doesn’t feel safe, and it isn’t. Improperly secured, or unsecured, objects in the back or on top of a vehicle can cause accidents, injuries and even death. Safety is the top priority of the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), which is why MDOT recognizes June 6 as “Secure Your Load Day.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), each year, about 730 people are killed and 17,000 more are injured because of objects on the road. The great majority of these accidents involve unsecured loads on passenger vehicles. In addition to safety hazards, debris from unsecured loads contributes to roadside litter which costs Mississippi more than $3 million per year to remove. “Just as you protect yourself by buckling your seatbelt, protect others on the road by ensuring that everything in the back of your truck is sufficiently tied or weighted down,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “By simply taking a little extra time to secure your load, you can keep others safe, reduce roadside litter and avoid legal consequences.” Motorists responsible for debris from unsecured loads could face fines up to $500 and up to six months in prison. MDOT offers the following tips to safeguard your load: Tie down the load with rope, netting or straps. Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer. Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp. Don’t overload the vehicle. Always double check the load to make sure it is secure. Use safety chains when hauling trailers. “Secure Your Load Day” is part of a nationwide effort of the Governors Highway Safety Association to raise awareness about the dangers of debris falling from vehicles. It was spearheaded by Robin Abel whose daughter was blinded by a piece of particle board that flew from the back of a moving trailer on Interstate 405 in Seattle, Wash. To learn more about travel safety, visit GoMDOT.com/DriveSmartMS, download the MDOT Traffic mobile app and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter.

By Bob Garver “Garfield and Friends,” based on comic strips by Jim Davis, was one of my favorite cartoons growing up. With all due respect to the show’s talented writers and other voice actors, the best thing about the show was Lorenzo Music’s performance as the title tabby. Music’s voice, which somehow always sounded like a yawn, was the perfect fit for a character that spent every waking moment wishing he wasn’t awake. Yes, Garfield would engage in frenzied eating, especially of lasagna, but that was mostly handled with whooshing noises from the sound effects team. Otherwise, Garfield, with Music’s voice, was the personification (cat-ification?) of laziness. I take this moment to applaud Music as Garfield because I have nothing but negative things to say about Chris Pratt as the character in “The Garfield Movie.” The guy just doesn’t have it in him to sound that lazy. It’s not like he doesn’t have experience playing lazy. He was always something of slacker as Star-Lord and his “Parks and Recreation” character spent most of the first season milking an injury. But here, he always sounds like he’s up for an adventure. The movie around him isn’t much of a winner anyway, but it’s already off on the wrong paw when Garfield doesn’t sound like Garfield. The story opens with a glimpse into Garfield’s days as a kitten, when he was left in an alley by his father Vic (Samuel L. Jackson) and found his way to Jon (Nicholas Hoult), his doormat of an owner. The household soon adds loyal dog Odie (Harvey Guillen, limited to dog noises) and the pets live in sedentary luxury. Of course, something has to happen to keep Garfield from enjoying complacency, and one night he finds himself cat-napped, as opposed to indulging in a cat nap. He and Odie are brought to a hideout where they meet the long-absent Vic. But Vic isn’t their captor, he’s very much on a short leash himself. The operation is actually headed by feline crime boss Jinx (Hannah Waddingham) and her hench-cats Roland (Brett Goldstein) and Nolan (Bowen Yang). She has a vendetta against Vic for abandoning her during a milk heist at a farm (sadly not Jim Davis’s “U.S. Acres,” though I would have loved that crossover) years earlier. But Vic can repay his debt if he, Garfield, and Odie can pull off the same heist now, with the farm having stronger security. The three reluctantly take on the assignment, even though Garfield and Odie are pampered housepets and Garfield and Vic’s relationship is sorely strained. The rest of the movie is an adventure-comedy that could be filled by characters from any franchise with a spoiled lead lacking in skills and street smarts. The only thing that makes it recognizable as “Garfield” is that Odie, to the movie’s credit, is as awesome as ever with his ingenuity and unwavering friendship. A few physical gags work, and there are some scene-stealing moments from the villains and a bull voiced by Ving Rhames (I took twisted delight in the very idea of the Arby’s pitchman voicing future roast beef). But every time there’s a string of solid gags or decent action, the miscast Pratt will open his mouth and I’ll be reminded that this movie has a major flaw at a fundamental level. “The Garfield Movie” is mostly middling, brought down by how much Pratt pales in comparison to Lorenzo Music. At least it has the decency to be wholly animated, as opposed to the Bill Murray movies where the environment was live-action and Garfield was a CGI abomination. The new movie is never “that” painful, but it doesn’t strike me as anyone’s best work either. I guess what I’m saying is that this movie, while it could have been worse, is lazy – and not in a way that’s on-brand for Garfield. Grade: C- “The Garfield Movie” is rated PG for action/peril and mild thematic elements. Its running time is 101 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

When people think about fire damage, they often picture flames and burned materials. In reality, smoke can cause just as much, if not more, damage than the fire itself. Smoke travels quickly, spreading through rooms, vents, and even areas untouched by flames. It leaves behind residue, odors, and contaminants that can affect both your home and your health. What smoke is made of Smoke is a complex mixture of gases and tiny particles produced when materials burn. These particles can include: Carbon Tar Ash Chemical residues from synthetic materials Different types of fires produce different types of smoke. For example, a fire involving plastics or electronics can release more toxic compounds than one involving natural materials like wood. Effects on walls and ceilings Smoke damage on walls often appears as dark stains or discoloration. However, the impact goes deeper than surface appearance. Soot particles can embed themselves into paint and drywall. Over time, this can cause: Permanent staining Odor retention Deterioration of materials In some cases, repainting alone is not enough. Walls may need to be thoroughly cleaned and sealed before new paint is applied. Heat from the fire can also cause paint to blister or peel, even in areas not directly exposed to flames. Damage to furniture and personal items Furniture is particularly vulnerable to smoke damage because many materials are porous. Upholstery, wood, and even metal surfaces can absorb smoke particles. Common issues include: Lingering odors in fabric Discoloration of wood finishes Corrosion of metal components Contamination of electronics For example, a fabric sofa may look intact but still carry a strong smoke odor that returns even after basic cleaning. Professional restoration techniques, such as ozone treatment or specialized cleaning solutions, are often needed to fully remove these effects. Impact on air quality One of the most serious concerns after a fire is indoor air quality. Smoke particles can remain suspended in the air or settle into HVAC systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to smoke can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and may worsen existing respiratory conditions:https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/smoke.html Even after the fire is out, these particles can continue to circulate if not properly removed. HVAC system contamination Smoke often travels through air ducts, spreading contaminants throughout the home. This can lead to: Persistent odors Reduced air quality Recontamination of cleaned areas Cleaning the HVAC system is an important part of smoke damage restoration. This may involve duct cleaning, filter replacement, and system inspection. Hidden smoke damage Not all smoke damage is visible. In many cases, it can affect areas that appear untouched. Examples include: Inside cabinets and closets Behind walls Within insulation Inside electrical outlets These hidden areas can continue to release odors and particles if not addressed. Why smoke odor is so difficult to remove Smoke odor is caused by microscopic particles that cling to surfaces. These particles can penetrate deep into materials, making them difficult to eliminate. Simply airing out a home or using household cleaners is usually not enough. Odor removal often requires specialized equipment that neutralizes particles at a chemical level. Real-world example In a Central Mississippi home, a small electrical fire in the attic may produce minimal visible damage. However, smoke can travel through the ventilation system and settle in living areas. Homeowners may notice a persistent odor in bedrooms and living spaces, even though the fire was contained to one area. Without proper cleaning and air treatment, the smell can linger for months. Health considerations Smoke exposure can affect people differently depending on their sensitivity and overall health. Short-term effects may include: Eye irritation Coughing Headaches Long-term exposure, especially in poorly ventilated environments, can contribute to more serious respiratory issues. Children, older adults, and individuals with asthma are particularly vulnerable. Professional smoke damage restoration Addressing smoke damage requires more than surface cleaning. A comprehensive approach includes: Removing soot from all affected surfaces Cleaning and deodorizing belongings Purifying the air Inspecting hidden areas for contamination Professionals use tools like air scrubbers and thermal fogging to ensure that smoke particles are fully removed. Working with experienced teams such as Paul Davis of Central Mississippi helps ensure that both visible and hidden damage is properly handled. Preventing long-term issues If smoke damage is not addressed thoroughly, it can lead to ongoing problems such as: Persistent odors Material degradation Poor indoor air quality Taking action early helps prevent these issues and restores a safe living environment.

You may have been racing to get out of your marriage. Couldn’t hardly wait until your signature was still wet on that divorce decree. Maybe. Maybe not. Instead, maybe you were one of those spouses who fought desperately to hold on to your marriage, but lost it anyway. But now, like it or not, a divorce is in your rear-view mirror. And as you drove away from that part of your life, celebrating or sobbing, you very likely discovered something. That no matter how long and how far you drive, it’s still there. In that mirror every time you dare to raise your eyes and look. There’s a reason for that. Memories. Feelings. Reverberations of moments suddenly surfacing in your mind. Divorce doesn’t cause these to simply evaporate into thin air, to never surface in your current life again. Quite to the contrary, they’re a part of you. Just as much as your lungs, your brain, and your liver. If your memories contain happiness, then you probably experience pain. From knowing you lost the source of those memories. But if your memories that suddenly surface are angry, hurtful ones – well, you also will experience pain. From reluctantly reliving that part of your life. Whatever way that it entered your life, you know this. Divorce. Carries. Pain. And if there are children from your lost marriage, the heartache is so much deeper. One of you becomes the day-to-day hands-on parent for the child, the one who carries the heavier responsibility when childhood illnesses hit, who has to balance work/single parenting, dole out discipline, and be the constant understanding loving presence when your child is going through tough times. What about the other parent? The one who is only closely intertwined in the child’s life via scheduled visits, phone calls, texts, and letters. The parent who may feel like they lost out in a lot of ways, no matter the huge effort and hard work they may put into being an out-of-the-home Dad or Mom. And there is another genuinely difficult part of co-parenting. Where two people, who’ve decided it’s impossible get along in marriage, have to slog through their differences, work together on scheduling, smile tightly when they’d rather indulge in angry yelling, and hopefully refrain from cutting their ex-spouse down in front of Junior. Difficult act to pull off, having to play nice-nice with the very person you often wished in the grave. Then there is often remarriage in the picture. To someone who may bring their own children and heartaches from their former marriage. Also, what if a new baby comes from your new marriage? Now you are dealing with ‘yours, mine, and ours.’ And remember, that stressful twist of ‘yours, mine, and ours has two perspectives – yours and your new spouse. So much pain. If your rear-view mirror is still clear right now, work on your existing marriage and pray hard. Before this can happen to you.