Join Gaddis and McLaurin's Spring Open House on April 6, 2024, from 7 am to 2 pm! Enjoy buy one get one free on garden plants, indulge in delicious food and beverages, snag fantastic deals, and groove to live music. Don't miss out on this celebration of spring!

Back in the ancient days of Fred Flintstone and no cell phones, when he was a young dad and a wet-behind-the-ears pastor, Andy had a habit. No, not a habit like we refer to today. But he unconsciously used a certain phrase – constantly. “I’m sick and tired of…” was the opening statement to just about anything that bothered him. In or out of the pulpit. Abuse of children, eating English peas, lazy politicians, endlessly freezing weather - you name it. He had a negative opinion and those around him were going to hear it. The day came when he was finally forced to realize how often that pet phrase escaped his lips. One evening as we were driving home from a work engagement, we became absorbed in some world-changing discussion. Our two young sons were playing and arguing in the back of the van, totally ignoring the quiet conversation in the front seats. Or so we thought. Per the usual, in the middle of our discussion Andy finally said, “Well, I for one am sick…” But before he could finish the phrase, our seven-year-old son smoothly and loudly slid in, “and tired!” Busted!! Do we parents realize that the little kids playing in the back of the van have ears that rival twenty-year-old elephants? They somehow have the ability to carry on a yelling match with their brother while at the same time listening to every word coming out of Dad’s mouth – eight feet away. Combine that ability with a child’s built-in belief system that tells them “Mom and Dad are right…period,” and you have a system in place for passing on good and bad tendencies - for generations to come. Awesome and fearful to realize we parents hold such power. Most of us are not continuously reminding ourself that the tiny geniuses sitting in the back seat are learning from us…24/7. But the old statement, “Children learn what they live with” is true. Those young brains are like dry sponges, they absorb everything. And time doesn’t necessarily erase all they experience. Angry words impact your family, as much as happy ones. And that three-foot-tall listening sponge you have in your home will soon become an adult, with all the bad and good of childhood imbedded within. That means all that carping and yelling of his childhood will get passed on to every new little sponge in his own family. With the grandparents of that new generation sadly shaking their heads and wondering, “Why are little Johnny and Janie so sarcastic and hurtful much of the time?” And that generational ball keeps rolling downhill. The Apostle Paul wrote that we “should not allow worthless rotten speech to come out our mouth, but rather that which builds up and shows kindness to the hearer.” Eph. 4:29 You may think no one is learning to mimic the good and the bad in you. But there is always someone. You simply may not realize it. ….Yet.

By Kara Kimbrough Dilemma: a tight budget doesn’t allow room for a flight to an expensive vacation spot. But here’s a thought: there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the beauty, warm sun and cool breezes of spring for the price of a tank of gas. One of the best ways to have fun on a budget is to get outside, roll out a blanket or quilt and enjoy al fresco dining, bird-watching or just plain relaxing. Before jumping ship to another state, take your movable feast to one of Mississippi’s scenic picnic areas and experience our state’s natural beauty while soaking in the sunshine. There are too many to list in one column; here are just a few of Mississippi’s top picnic spots. 1. Visitors from around the world flock here to see it, so it’s only fitting that every Mississippian visit the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum. Located in Tupelo, the small shack where Elvis was born is the first stop, but after touring the museum, chapel and church, a picnic in the 15-acre park filled with a young Elvis statue, fountain and shady areas is in order. It’s the perfect place to relax under the trees, enjoy a meal and revel in the memories of one of Mississippi’s most famous natives. 2. Another famous Mississippian provided a place for fellow residents to study history and picnic on his property. William Faulkner’s home place in Oxford, Rowan Oaks, is a favorite stop for literary buffs, but adjacent Bailey’s Woods offers picturesque picnic spots in a tranquil setting. 3. Speaking of picturesque, nothing fits the bill like a view of the majestic Mississippi River. Thankfully, both Natchez and Vicksburg offer scenic picnic areas overlooking the mighty river. Natchez’ spot is called Bluff Park; Riverfront Park is located in Vicksburg. 4. Jackson’s Metro Area is filled with parks and picnic areas featuring playgrounds, walking trails splash pads and shaded areas. One of my favorites is Madison’s Strawberry Patch Park. Featuring a lake and lots of trees, it’s a small, but quaint spot to roll out a blanket and enjoy a spring day. 5. Daphne Park in Laurel, mentioned on the HGTV show “Hometown,” has been a favorite picnic spot of locals and visitors for decades. Located near the downtown area, it’s massive oaks, old locomotive and quiet picnic spots have entertained outdoor diners since the previous century. 6. Kamper Park and Zoo in Hattiesburg offers a spacious 40-acre park in which to picnic and an adjacent zoo for after-lunch entertainment. It’s a relatively small zoo, but a nice one that's easily navigable when time is short. 7. Last, the Gulf Coast area boasts over 100 parks and picnic areas spread from Jackson County to Harrison, then over the Bay Bridge to Hancock County. My favorite spot is Jones Park in Gulfport, located at the intersection of U.S. Highways 49 and 90. Take your pick of grassy areas shaded by palm trees, dine under the spacious Barksdale Pavilion or stroll out over the sand to the water’s edge, all while enjoying the cool breeze wafting from the gulf. Coming in a close second is the small but picturesque grounds of the historic Depot in Bay St. Louis.  The shaded grassy area surrounding the depot, served the centerpiece for the movie "This Property is Condemned" starring Robert Redford and Natalie Wood. Tables and benches around the duck pond offer the perfect spot for scenic pondside picnics. Whether it’s lunch where Elvis once walked, an afternoon snack under majestic oaks or dinner at the water's edge, nothing is more memorable than time spent outdoors surrounded by Mississippi's natural beauty. Since Vicksburg boasts several perfect picnic spots, I thumbed through the Vintage Vicksburg cookbook to find an appropriate outdoor dining recipe. Served on toothpicks with a side of sauce, Yankee Meatballs would be a perfect addition to any picnic. The irony that a recipe with the work "Yankee" in it made it into a renowned Civil War city’s cookbook doesn’t escape me...but I’m glad it did. Dot Kiely’s Yankee Meatballs 3 pounds hot sausage 1-pound mild sausage 4 eggs, beaten 1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs Mix all ingredients. Shape into small balls. Brown meatballs in skillet; drain well. Serve with sauce. Yankee Sauce 3 cups ketchup ¼ cup brown sugar ½ cup wine vinegar ¼ cup strongly brewed coffee ½ cup soy sauce Combine all sauce ingredients in a skillet and simmer 15 minutes. Add meatballs. Bake in oven for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. Recipe from Vintage Vicksburg Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

With the arrival of spring, warmer temperatures offer ideal conditions to revitalize your home landscaping or plant your first personal herb garden. Before grabbing that shovel, however, Atmos Energy reminds everyone – homeowners and professional excavators alike – to keep communities safe by contacting 811 prior to starting any excavation project. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in disruptions to critical services, serious injuries, and costly repairs to underground utility lines. Every year in April, National Safe Digging Month is an opportunity to spread safety awareness to homeowners, contractors, and any professional excavator. 811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number, and it is a free and easy service required by law. By making a request online or over the phone by calling 811 a few days before digging, you are helping communities maintain essential utility services, promoting safety, and reducing the likelihood of accidentally digging into buried utility lines. In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves declared April as “Safe Digging Month,” with a proclamation that reads, in part, "excavators and homeowners can save time and money keeping our nation safe and connected by making a simple call to 811 in advance of any digging project.” The Governor’s Office has issued a similar proclamation for Safe Digging Month each of the past several years. “Whether you are a landscape architect or a ‘do-it-yourselfer,’ if your backyard beautification project requires heavy equipment or power tools, make sure all underground utility lines have been located and marked,” said  Todd Fuller, Manager of Damage Prevention for Atmos Energy in Mississippi.  “National Safe Digging Month reminds us that calling 81l before any digging project is the safest way to avoid damaging your underground utility lines, which could lead to an inconvenient outage.” Everyone who contacts 811 a few days before digging is connected to a local notification center that will take the caller's information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags, or both. Homeowners are further encouraged to take a few precautionary measures when planning any digging project this spring: Plan ahead. If work is scheduled for an upcoming weekend, make a free 811 request on Monday or Tuesday – providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked. Confirm that all lines have been marked. Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines are not marked. Please visit 811beforeyoudig.com for complete information. As part of National Safe Digging Month, Atmos Energy asks everyone to become a safety ambassador by taking the Atmos Energy Call 811 Pledge at atmosenergy.com/call811pledge. In addition, the Atmos Energy Damage Prevention Ambassador Program empowers employees year-round to help eliminate pipeline damage by making stops at excavation sites to educate the public and promote safe digging practices. In 29 percent of all stops, Damage Prevention Ambassadors found that excavators did not have a valid 811 ticket, the ticket had expired, or their excavation plan included the use of mechanized equipment within the utility tolerance zone without first exposing the utilities. If pipeline danger exists, the Ambassador is empowered to stop the work, and the excavator is asked to cease digging and call 811 so utilities can mark their lines as required under state law. With an increasing number of public infrastructure projects and expanding economic development, pipeline damage resulting from excavation remains the most common cause of outside natural gas leaks. Atmos Energy has been and will continue to be a champion for damage prevention, and this is yet one more way that Atmos Energy puts its safety vision into practice.

By Mika Hartman It has been in the news a lot about promoting abortion for disabled babies, even in the State of the Union Address. A lady in Texas crossed the border to secure her abortion of her disabled daughter, a daughter she would have kept had no diagnosis been present. Disabled lives matter. We removed God from schools and allowed The Word of God to be abandoned; many have forgotten or were never taught the Bible: Psalm 139:13-14 “For You formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; My soul knows it well.” Do you read anywhere in this passage that this only applies to only  “typical” or “healthy” babies? Nope. This applies to ALL. EXTRA Wonderfully Made! All children are unique and special, and everyone is important to God because  Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own image. Male and female, He created them. As one mom was searching to murder her unborn child, completely oblivious that her daughter is a gift from God, I am reading about two moms, one I know personally, begging God to give them more time with their beautiful babies. That every second longer they get is precious time. The two babies were both born with disabilities and are both deeply loved. Love will always want more time. Never will you know the time of your last breath, it is only known by God…. Unless you choose to end a life. So if you don’t know, shouldn’t you trust God wholeheartedly and be thankful for His gift of life? If a child is born and only survives minutes or hours, that small time is a gift. If a child surpasses time predicted, that is God, too. It is not our choice… at least it shouldn’t be. Bring God's full truth back, we need Him. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ’Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from Him. Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. In 2021, I was asked to speak at a Students For Life rally in Jackson. This was before the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. The victorious overturning started here in Jackson. Evil will continue to work hard to place in minds that my journey isn’t one that some would want to be on. If you trust God, you’d know He can turn your weakness into power. Hudson is a power all on his own, but he’s also a power to everyone he meets. He fights hard for his victories, he falls and he gets back up, he struggles and smiles simultaneously. He also brings joy to joyful and grumpy people he meets. He starts conversations with strangers. He makes people want to be better. I say he is EXTRA wonderfully made. My speech from November 2021: Hi! Thank you for being here. I am a mom of an amazing boy, Hudson Hartman. Who happens to have an extra chromosome. Maybe you have an extra something, too. An extra dose of sass? An extra ability for patience? Extra long legs? An extra toe, maybe? : ) Whatever it is, if it was able to be diagnosed in utero, I would still want you here. Because what you are is what makes you, you. My Hudson’s “extra” was found at 12 weeks and 5 days. I went in for what I know now was one of the scariest days of my life. Hudson’s ultrasound at 12 weeks and 5 days showed us findings of what is called “soft markers”. We didn’t know yet, boy or girl, but we could see that cutest button nose and that our baby had a thick neck like daddy’s. But, very concerning, I could see the heart blood flow. I knew it should be blue and red, but our baby had purple on the screen. Through these “soft markers” the room went dark, laughter stopped (when you're 41 and pregnant, joking/laughing is a must) but the room was cold. Panic, in and out of the room, new faces coming in, and now the news… we see concerns and you have “options”. I was invited to end Hudson’s life via abortion. A baby with a heartbeat. That can feel pain.  Wow. Well, that was shut down quickly. Umm, we have a baby! Please help us get our baby here safely. That’s all we want to know.  We knew (because my husband is medical) that information about our baby was important and we wanted to learn all we could. So we did the amniocentesis. Only to prepare us. Hardest longest three days ever. My husband was scanning in all of our ultrasound photos, just in case we wouldn’t get many more. The call came: Our BOY has Trisomy 21! The celebration of life went all weekend. We could get him here and love him and kiss him daily.  Our prayers were answered, but we weren’t out of the woods yet. But hearing Trisomy 21 was music to our ears,  a gift and we celebrated. Out of all the trisomy situations, we could begin preparing for Trisomy 21 and a baby that could function outside the womb and lead a beautiful life! But let’s rewind, I was immediately told, with no official proof of diagnosis that I had options. I am getting news that I have never processed before and instead of hearing I have support, I was given an option to end my baby’s life. WHAT?! Abortion would have ripped Hudson limb from limb, and apart from me, his mother, his only safe place. What’s happening at the Supreme Court this year, is monumental, for its potential to finally allow states to protect babies like Hudson from discrimination and violence. Right now, because of Roe v Wade and its companion cases, it is 1000% legal to kill a person based on their disability because they are in utero. It’s also 100% legal to kill babies based on their race, whether they are white or black, their gender, whether they are a boy or girl, and convenience. This has to end. We have to protect them all. Abortion declares who get to live and who doesn’t. Genocide of Hudson’s buddies occurs every single day. 68% of babies with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome get aborted in the US. Down syndrome or Trisomy 21 has this amazing fact: Only 20% of eggs with a 21st chromosome survives the first cell division. Of that 20%, only 20% survive to fertilization. Of that 20%, only 20% actually survive the first cell division following fertilization. These children are miracles and have fought to live every step of the way. We should fight for their chance at the life we all get to live. My son is a hero. A fighter. A miracle. He’s had open heart surgery at 3.5 months old and beat transient leukemia at 4 weeks of life with no medication. He walks, climbs, loves to swing, Hudson has the most powerful kisses and a smile that will change the world. He loves life and faces challenges like a boss! He’s my hero and my life is better because he was born. God makes no mistakes and Hudson, too, was created in His image. For the momma’s out there that may receive a diagnosis like I did: my life is beautiful, fun, rewarding, and exactly what I dreamed of. Hudson is a gift. My gift to learn from and my gift to share. Let’s start saving his unborn best friends… there is strength in numbers. Choose life. We love this life EXTRA big! Mississippi is doing all it can to protect children like Hudson. In Mississippi, because of advocacy from me and other concerned citizen, we have the Human Life Equality Act that protects babies like Hudson, but should it really come down to zip code? Life is the biggest National Treasure we have… not gold, or oil, but human life. Open-mindedness and education will change this conversation. I will close with this: My son, you don’t want to hear this, but he is discriminated against. No different than a baby conceived in rape. The baby is a gift, not the problem. Change your hearts. Prosecute the rapist, not give the child the death sentence. Love the extra your baby has, don’t be fooled by the sadness of the news, the journey is EXTRA amazing. Hudson is a person and he determines his abilities, I am there to be his biggest fan. Love conquers all, not some, or most, but ALL. Thank you.

By Bob Garver What has happened to the “Ghostbusters” movie franchise? For over a quarter century Hollywood resisted the temptation to spoil the one-two punch of the 1984 comedy classic and its decent-enough 1989 sequel. Then there came the 2016 reboot, which was controversial for its female cast, and the controversy is all anyone remembers. The 2021 legacy sequel didn’t always nail its humor, but there were some charming new characters and a nice kick of nostalgia at the end. But now with “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” this once-mighty property has officially become, well, a ghost of its former self. After the bold decision to set the last movie in Oklahoma, this movie finds the Spengler family living in New York City busting ghosts in an urban metropolis. Mom Callie (Carrie Coon) oversees overzealous daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and saner son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and Phoebe’s teacher Gary (Paul Rudd) is along as an unofficial husband/father figure (“step-teacher” he calls it). They’re living in the Ghostbusters’ old firehouse (an NYC landmark, to be sure) with the financial backing of Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) and spend their days going on supernatural adventures with occasional help from classic characters Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd), Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts), and Peter Venkman (Bill Murray). Also back are Oklahoma friends Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and Podcast (Logan Kim) as assistants for Winston and Ray, respectively. Oh, and their exploits constantly get under the skin of Mayor Walter Peck (William Atherton). I know on paper this sounds like a good setup. You’ve got the likeable old characters mixing with the likeable old characters and one unlikeable old character to be their foil. But all likeability and even unlikability has been stripped away. Phoebe and Trevor have become unpleasant and rude, Gary brings nothing new to the “unsure step-parent” architype, Lucky and Podcast were never memorable in the first place, the shine is off the returning Ghostbusters (the movie lets Venkman make a grand re-entrance late in the movie, seemingly forgetting that he was used in an earlier scene), and personal grudge or not, it’s clear from minute one that Peck is right to think that the operation is a danger to the city. One night while sulking, Phoebe plays chess with humanoid ghost Melody (Emily Alyn Lind), who is stuck on Earth until she can cross over via unfinished business. This part of the movie is relatively tolerable, though I will say that Callie and Gary letting a teenager hang out alone at the Washington Square Park chess tables after dark is worse parenting than anything that occurs while ghostbusting. Meanwhile, Ray buys an orb with ghostly energy off the money-hungry, but unambitious Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani). Shared recklessness leads to the unleashing of an ice demon, and Ghostbusters young and old have to band together to save the city from a danger that is 100% their fault. I couldn’t latch onto anything enjoyable about “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” The jokes aren’t funny, the action sequences and special effects are all cheap CGI, and the heart-tugging moments are badly missing the sensitivity they had in the last movie. But I did hear laughing and cheering in my theater. It came from very young children. Maybe this movie is onto something there. Maybe the next “Ghostbusters” movie should shoot for a PG rating (and not the “80’s PG” of the original, which frankly is less family-friendly than this movie) so it can better play to kids. None of the “PG-13 humor” here is really doing the movie any favors. Of course, I don’t think any of this movie’s humor is doing it any favors, but cleaning it up so it can reach a wider audience wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Grade: D “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is rated PG-13 for supernatural action/violence, language and suggestive references. Its running time is 115 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

Dear Members of the Press, As legal counsel for Keith Jackson, I would like to address the recent criminal charge brought against my client. This charge is serious, and we understand the public’s interest in this matter. However, everyone must bear in mind that our legal system operates on the fundamental principle that every accused individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Keith Jackson maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously defend against this allegation. Respecting the legal process, we have and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities. Keith Jackson has the right to due process, including a fair trial, access to evidence, and the opportunity to present a defense. We trust that the justice system will uphold these rights. It is essential to separate legal proceedings from political discourse. While Keith Jackson is a public figure, we urge everyone to refrain from making premature judgments based on political affiliations or personal opinions. Please allow the legal process to unfold without undue influence. We are committed to transparency throughout this proceeding. We will pursue all legal avenues, challenge evidence, and vigorously advocate for Keith Jackson’s rights. We will provide updates as appropriate, respecting the boundaries set by legal ethics and confidentiality rules. Our goal is to ensure that the truth prevails. We recognize the importance of maintaining public trust. Our actions will reflect the highest ethical standards, and we encourage the public to rely on verified information rather than speculation.  In conclusion, we appreciate the media’s role in informing the public, but we ask for patience and restraint. Let justice take its course, and we remain confident that the truth will prevail. Sincerely, Christopher A. Collins Attorney at Law 601.774.9777 caclaw@hotmail.com

We were created by our God to be different from each other. We all have different personalities, likes, loves, dislikes and downright detests. Unfortunately, too much of the time the detests are each other. Why? Because we see our outlook on life as the only plausible way to view life. “And the rest of you morons are totally wrong about so many things.” That makes you and me really difficult to be around much of the time. Think about it. How many people in life have you ever completely agreed with – in every conceivable way on absolutely every topic. I already know the answer. Zilch. Nada. Zero. I am certain that you have read that there are no two snowflakes completely alike. Yes, it’s true, even though all snowflakes are white, cold, and small, they are never identical. And just like the snowflakes, we all differ, even though we do have resemblances. We resemble each other in that we are all human, skin-covered and have body parts. But apart from those basics, we each go our own way. But one more similarity? We want our own way. And that’s where the problems begin. If you put two people in the same room that is heated to sixty-nine degrees, quite often you’ll hear one begin to grumble. A June rainstorm causes a farmer to rejoice, while a bride having her outdoor wedding that day will be frantic. A rise in home sale prices brings a smile to a homeowner who has a For Sale sign in the front yard. Potential buyers, not so much. You get the idea. Most of the time, it’s not that we have decided we want to be disruptive, just for the fun of it. Rarely does someone declare their gleeful intention to serve as the grump of a committee. Similarly, you don’t often see someone who deliberately works at wearing exactly the wrong thing. And not very often does someone deliberately hold a completely opposing opinion on the new HOA ruling, just to be aggravating. Most of the time, it’s just that we have strong reasons for what we believe, causing us to have differing views that drive our needs and wants. Therefore, what you NEED could be what your neighbor absolutely FEARS. What is the answer? Beats me. I don’t believe there’s a pat answer for it. But here are a few suggestions that could enable us to live somewhat peaceably next to each other. 1) Communicate: But that involves listening as well as talking. So you might begin practicing that art. 2) Accept and tolerate small differences: But that takes communication and patience, so refer back to 1) 3) Agree agreeably to disagree on the big stuff: But again, that takes patience and communication, so refer back to 1) 4) Choose not to take offense. When you do disagree and decide to get hurt and angry, you suffer for that decision. Feel free to disagree with me - agreeably.

WHO:           The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). WHAT:         Temporary ramp closures. WHEN:         From 10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 to 6 a.m. on Thursday, March 28. WHERE:       The I-20 eastbound to I-55 southbound ramp, as well as Exits 43A and 43B (University Blvd. and Terry Rd.) in Hinds County. WHY:            Asphalt paving. HOW:           Motorists are advised to slow down and stay alert for roadside signage and crews during hours of operation. Stay updated and get live travel information at MDOTtraffic.com, download the MDOT Traffic mobile app, and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter.

By Kara Kimbrough Christians celebrate Easter for one reason: to commemorate the resurrection of Christ three days following his death. As long as we remember this important fact and celebrate its true meaning, there's nothing wrong with enjoying a festive Easter brunch, lunch or dinner filled with favorite dishes. Likewise, I don't see a problem with adding a fun touch to the day by making a festive rabbit cake or other traditional treat. After all, holidays are important for another reason; creating lifelong memories. Special holiday meals, especially Easter lunch on this holiest of days, are times that we never get back. Adding to my own special holiday memories are stories from readers who share their favorite holiday traditions. One reader recalled waking up on Eastern morning to the aroma of her mother’s ham baking in the oven before church. Decades later, another longs for a slice of her grandmother’s lemon meringue pie served on fine chine and eaten with silver forks. Her “treasures,” were only brought out for special meals. And a friend has been making "bunny cake" with his daughter ever since she was a baby. This year's creation will be Bunny Cake #33. However, Easter food choices go back centuries further than our own family tables. The practice of eating lamb on Easter has its roots in early Passover observances before the birth of Christ. Baked ham became an Easter staple for economic reasons. In the olden days, ham was one of the first fresh meats available after a long winter. I'm not sure why cheesecake was added to many Easter menus; I'm just glad it did. Websites and magazines right now are full of cute and crafty Easter dinner ideas. I succumbed to the temptation to make a bunny bread bowl as the centerpiece for a dip and vegetable tray. It comes together in minutes; unlike the upright bunny cake I made years ago that slowly got fatter as its heavy head sunk into the lower layers. I will only say it was made with good intentions, the small children seemed to enjoy it and the photos are still funny to this day. Beyond Christ's resurrection, isn't that what Easter celebrations are all about? Spending time with family and friends and making memories that'll last a lifetime. Happy Easter! Bunny Bread Bowl and Dip 1 round sourdough bread or King's Hawaiian round read (I used King's Hawaiian bread since my supermarket didn't have sourdough) 1 long French baguette (or trim down regular French bread loaves to resemble ears) Matchstick carrots for bunny's mouth and whiskers (can also use fresh asparagus spears for whiskers) Sliced vegetables for bunny's features and for dipping (olives, pickles, etc.) Easy Tzatziki Dip (You can substitute another favorite dip, but this one is light and springlike) 2 cups plain Greek yogurt 1 cup peeled, shredded or diced cucumber 2 tablespoons lemon juice (more to taste) 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill Salt and pepper to taste Strain yogurt to remove excess moisture. Peel and sliced cucumber. In a food processor or blender, pulse together yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add more of any seasoning you desire. To assemble bunny: Hollow out bread, leaving sturdy border; reserve leftover bread pieces. Slice ends of narrow baguette and place on top for "ears." using rounded ends for tops. (Hollow out ears and fill with dip, if desired). Form bunny's eyes, nose, whiskers and mouth with vegetables like olives, pickles carrots, etc. Fill bowl with dip and serve with torn bread pieces, chopped vegetables and crackers. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkrpco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver I’m not going to sugarcoat it: this was not a good week for new releases. The battle for the top spot at the domestic box office was a fierce one, with “Kung Fu Panda 4” in its second weekend narrowly edging out “Dune: Part Two” in its third. But after those two holdovers, the box office fell off a cliff, with newcomer “Arthur the King” taking a weak third place with barely a quarter of either’s take. Granted, the relatively small-scale production is not one that has ambitions of conquering the box office. It’s okay with being a nice little crowd-pleaser, which would be fine if it were actually more pleasing. Mark Wahlberg stars as Michael Light, the captain of a team of “adventure racers,” four-person teams that participate in multi-day races of over 500 miles across various treacherous terrains. He blew a big race three years ago, and he’s been stuck in a rut ever since. He stakes his family’s savings on one more shot at glory. His teammates are veteran navigator Chik (Ali Suliman), pretty-boy social media influencer Leo (Simu Liu), and rock-climbing prodigy Olivia (Nathalie Emmanuel). I’m not sure if it’s intentional or not, but Olivia gives one of the most awkward line deliveries I’ve ever heard. It’s very serious subject matter, and I felt bad laughing at it, but the timing is just crazy. A similar mistake was made by bad-movie classic “The Room,” but honestly, it’s even more egregious here. The race is grueling and frustrating and includes a truly harrowing zipline sequence. As predictable as it was that the characters were going to get out of it, I couldn’t help but put myself in their place and wonder if I might die of fright even before the risky rescue. The movie gets this scene right, even if it’s more heart-pounding than heart-warming. About halfway through the race, Michael notices that a stray dog has been following the team. He admires its perseverance, and since they can’t really stop it from following them at its own discretion, they adopt him as an unofficial fifth member. The dog treats Michael’s much-maligned meatballs like a meal fit for a king, so Michael calls him Arthur. The dog is good at sniffing out danger, and the whole team owes him a life debt after about two minutes. But he’s also very sickly, and probably has only days – maybe hours – to live. The rest of the movie is the dog-centric adventure we’ve been promised. Arthur brings a unique set of strengths and weaknesses to the team. They’re soon in first place, but hinderances from both man and beast mean that they may not hang onto it for long. Even after the race is over, there’s still a lengthy portion of the film devoted to the dog’s health. I wasn’t sure which way the movie was going to go until it put so much effort into misleading me that I knew it had to go the other way. “Arthur the King” is your typical inspirational dog movie mixed with your typical inspirational sports movie, although the sport in question happens to be several sports at once. It’s hard to get truly mad at a movie like this, but I can’t say it delivered a lot of bang for my buck, and that clunky bit of dialogue, just… woof. I definitely recommend the two movies at the top of the box office over this one. Grade: C- “Arthur the King” is rated PG-13 for some strong language. Its running time is 90 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

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