By Kara Kimbrough “Nibbling on sponge cake, watching the sun bake,” has to be one of the most hummable summertime lyrics. Penned by Mississippi native Jimmy Buffet, the line from the song "Margaritaville" is the perfect hot weather ballad except for one tiny detail. Something more substantial than sponge cake is necessary to get the party started at upcoming outdoor gatherings. Memorial Day officially kicked off movable feast season. It’s when families and neighbors get together, bring food and catch up on each other’s lives. It doesn’t matter if it’s a family reunion, beach vacation, neighborhood block party or backyard cookout, food is the tie that binds family and friends together for the rest of the year. Casual gatherings bring out the best of classic American food. In this category are appetizers like homemade dips and antipasto platters; cold salads and grilled meat ranging from burgers to dogs to sausages and ribs. All that's needed to top off a hot weather meal are simple desserts like cookies, cobblers and brownies. In the midst of summer fun, remember hot weather can spell danger for some summer favorites. Travelling long distances without keeping food chilled or letting dishes languish in the heat can prove disastrous. Potential problems can arise with potato salad and other mayonnaise-based dishes; dips filled with sour cream; custard-based pies and seafood. Two hours is usually the cut-off point for these items. If it’s out of the refrigerator or cooler longer than that, bad things can happen. On a brighter note, many dishes can be assembled quickly and enjoyed until the party's over. Choose well-cooked, marinated beef and poultry; cold pasta and vegetable salads with vinaigrette and oil dressings; fresh fruit skewers minus sugar or syrup; salsa instead of creamy dip and crisp homemade cookies instead of cakes with butter-cream or cream cheese frostings. As for me, I’ll take a cue from another of Buffett’s hit songs as I plan my own summer gatherings. I'll add lots of "lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes" to my Cheeseburger in Paradise Pasta Salad and other light, cool dishes. Cheeseburger in Paradise Pasta Salad 1 pound of your favorite pasta 1 small onion 1 pound ground chuck 1 tablespoon olive oil 1cup chopped cherry tomatoes 1/4 cup chopped red onion 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup chopped pickles 1 cup shredded lettuce Salt and pepper to taste Dressing: 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1-1/2 tablespoons ketchup Boil pasta and drain. Chop onion and garlic, pour olive oil into a pan over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic with salt and pepper until soft. Add ground beef to pan and cook through. Drain any excess oil from the ground beef and set aside in another bowl. Chop the tomatoes, onion, pickles, and lettuce. Combine the ketchup and mayo until smooth in a small bowl. Once the pasta and ground beef have cooled, add 1 1/2 cups of the ground beef mixture to the pasta. Then add the tomatoes, onion, pickles, lettuce and cheddar cheese. Combine everything. Stir in desired amount of the burger sauce dressing. Fruity Cooler 1 quart boiling water 4 tea bags 1-1/2 quarts cold water ½ cup orange juice ½ cup lemon juice Sugar substitute to taste Pour boiling water over tea bags in heat-resistant pitcher; allow tea to steep five minutes. Add cold water and juices; chill thoroughly. Sweeten to taste with sugar substitute. Marinated Chicken Sandwiches 1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice 4-1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1-1/2 tablespoons black pepper 1-1/2 tablespoons honey ¾ teaspoon minced garlic 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts Combine lemon juice, vinegar, pepper, honey and garlic. Pierce chicken breasts and place in a shallow pan. Pour marinade over chicken, turning once to coat both sides. Refrigerate at least one hour. Marinated chicken can be grilled, baked or broiled. When done, place in French or hoagie rolls and top with mustard spread. Summertime Mustard Spread ½ cup prepared mustard 1 teaspoon parsley 1 teaspoon horseradish 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Use as a spread for hot dogs, hamburgers or sandwiches. Campfire Stuffed Dogs 8 hot dogs 2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper 2 tablespoons finely chopped white onion 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 8 hot dog buns Partially split hot dogs. Mix pepper, onion and cheese together. Fill each hot dot with mixture. Grill over charcoal, split side up, until cooked thoroughly. Top with Summer Mustard Spread and place in hot dog buns. Summer Coleslaw Dressing: 1 cup vegetable oil 2 tablespoons sugar 1/3 cup cider vinegar 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard 1 tablespoon celery seeds 1 tablespoon prepared white horseradish 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper Slaw: 2 heads green cabbage, about 3 pounds each 1 head red cabbage, about 3 pounds 1 red onion, sliced thin 6 carrots, peeled and shredded 3 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut into thin strips 3 large green bell peppers, seeded and cut into thin strips 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill 1/4 cup chopped parsley Prepare dressing by combining all ingredients in a blender and blending well, about 30 seconds. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour or up to four days. Prepare slaw by cutting cabbage into quarters. Remove cores and shred quarters as fine as possible across the width. Toss with onions, carrots, peppers, dill and parsley in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 24 hours. Add dressing to slaw mix 5 minutes before serving. Toss well. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The batter is warming up on deck – meaning he is the next one to come to the plate to face the pitcher. The man on the pitching mound is known for sinking the dreams of wannabees - the homerun hitters who have to be willing to settle for simply getting on base and waiting to brought home by the next hitter. Bat in hand, the wannabe strides toward home plate with an arrogant purposeful step. The commentator’s voice excitedly rises in volume. The batter swings mightily as the baseball crosses home plate. But he has misread the pitch and only catches a glancing blow as the ball dives sharply at the last second. The ball careens weakly toward the player at third base, who charges toward it, scoops it up and fires the ball to the first baseman. The batter barely beats the throw by a fraction of a second – giving him a single on the stats sheet, again. He is successfully standing on first base, that’s true. But first base is not exactly what that batter had in mind when he approached home plate a few seconds ago. He had fully intended to carry out what he had been imagining for the last week – smashing that ball out of the park and trotting around the bases to the thunderous applause of his many adoring fans in the stands. Meanwhile, his batting coach is kicking dirt in the dugout and disgustedly shaking his head …again. “How many times do I have to tell him to quit swingin’ for the fence, tryin’ to make a home run ever time? Just concentrate on solidly connectin’ with the ball! The rest will come, if he will jes’ work on the basics of swingin’ correctly! How many times do I have to say that to that idiot?” Sounds way too familiar. Most of us have done the same. Either as the fame-seeking batter, or the disgusted coach who is fed up with antics of the one we are trying to help. The batter who doesn’t understand the need to put in the work to master the basics can frustrate a coach to no end. The coach can easily spot the batter’s potential – but knows his student will probably never become the player of note that he really could be. Because that batter has his eyes on the wrong target. The far fence instead of the center of the approaching ball. Coach = Our Creator using our life, trying to teach us the basics of success. Student player = Me, you, and every other breathing human on the planet, who insists on taking shortcuts to homeruns that we dream about endlessly. One of these days, hopefully we will learn to concentrate on doing the small daily things the way they need to be done. And let the homeruns happen as a consequence of taking care of those small things well.

By Kara Kimbrough Memorial Day is finally within sight and as promised, I’m sharing desserts that’ll reduce cooking time to mere minutes. But first, we have to talk about Blue Bell Ice Cream’s new flavor, which hit coolers last week. I understand the sentiment behind combining the products of two Texas-made products – Blue Bell and Dr. Pepper - to create “Dr. Pepper Float Ice Cream.” However, I’m not ready to replace my favorite flavors – pecan pralines ‘n cream, strawberry and homemade vanilla, black walnut, banana pudding, bride’s cake, buttered pecan, natural vanilla bean and for the few months of the year that it’s offered, blackberry cobbler. Of course, if they had chosen a beverage flavor first made in Mississippi – Barq’s Root Beer, I might be a little more apt to try it. But for now, I’m sticking with my favorites. But back to Memorial Day desserts. As I mentioned last week, we’ve already sailed through the supposedly-balmy weather of spring to summer’s high temps. Which means not many of us will feel obliged to turn on the oven and bake a dessert that’s not only time-consuming, but will heat up the already-humid kitchen. With that in mind, I compiled a list of my favorite easy, no-bake desserts that, topped or filled with strawberries and blueberries, will create the perfect patriotic treat. After all, Memorial Day is much more than a long weekends, cookouts and the start of summer vacation season. It’s a day set aside to honor those who died serving our country while engaged in active military service. All the food and festivities pale in comparison to the ultimate sacrifice made by so many brave men and women over the years. A heartfelt "Thank you!" to those who gave their lives that we can enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today. Happy Memorial Day! Easiest Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Ever 2 pounds strawberries, hulled and sliced 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 can sweetened condensed milk Place strawberries in skillet over medium heat, add sugar and lemon juice and cook, stirring often, until mixture combines and creates a jam-like texture; about 20 minutes. Remove strawberries from heat and using a hand-held mixer, beat whipping cream until it thickens (don’t overbeat). Add sweetened condensed milk and beat until combined. Pour strawberry mixture into cream, then pour everything into a freezer-safe container. Cover and freeze at least six hours before serving. Red, White & Blue Cheesecake 2-8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened 1 cup heavy cream 2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped 2 cups fresh blueberries In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat cream cheese until smooth. Pour in heavy cream, vanilla and sugar. Beat on high until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Fold in the strawberries and blueberries. Pour into a serving dish, smooth top with spatula (add more berries to top if desired) and refrigerate until ready to serve. Memorial Day Patriotic Salad 2-3 cups strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced (amount depends on how thick you prefer the salad) 3 cups blueberries, washed 8-ounce cream cheese 8 ounce sour cream 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to combine cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice to combine and soften cream cheese. Add peels and mix to combine. Pour into serving bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Right before serving, fold in strawberries and blueberries. Note: adding fruit earlier in the process will cause fruit to become too soft. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com..

By Douglas Carswell Mississippi, it is often said, has an incarceration problem. Our state locks up too many people for too long, we are told. Over the past two decades, Mississippi’s prison population has in fact fallen. In January 2014 the prison population of our state was 21,008.  By January 2022, that figure had declined by almost a fifth to 16,931. Those who argue Mississippi should incarcerate fewer people have been getting exactly what they asked for. Now let’s take a look at what has happened to violent crime in our state over that time. From 2016 to 2022, violent crime in our state increased by 741 percent, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.  We went from 538 violent crimes a year to 4,529.  That is 3,991 more violent crimes and more victims. Anti-prison advocates like to argue that locking people up in large numbers does not work.  Crime, they point out, was high even when Mississippi locked people up in greater numbers than almost anywhere else in America.  The trouble is that Mississippi after these anti-incarceration reforms is a vastly more violent place than Mississippi was without them. In 2013, the year before Mississippi enacted legislation designed to reduce the rate of incarceration, 28 people out of every 100,000 Jackson residents were murdered.  By 2021, that number had nearly quadrupled to 101 homicide victims per 100,000 residents in our capital city. Of course, just because there has been a surge in violent crime at the same time that the prison population has been reduced, it does not automatically follow that the former has been caused by the latter. The reality is, however, that across America the average state prisoner released has around five previous convictions.  That means that we have a pretty good idea of who is committing the lion’s share of the extra crime; those that have already been convicted and released. "But it is so expensive to lock up so many people!" the reformists insist. It is expensive to maintain prisons, just as it is expensive to maintain our country’s borders.  But there are some things that the government needs to do even if costly. As Shad White, our State Auditor has shown, leniency is expensive, too.  According to estimates by the State Auditor, each homicide in Mississippi costs taxpayers between $900,000 and $1.2 million.  On top of that, of course, come all kinds of other costs paid for by the victims of the violent crime. "But what about the human cost of incarcerating people?" the anti-prison advocates are quick to ask.  "Locking people up harms families, and the children of inmates suffer." Anyone who assumes that releasing violent criminals back into the bosom of their families will automatically be good news for those families might not have met many violent criminals. Eight years ago, back when every policy-maker in Jackson seemed intent on drifting along with the anti-incarceration vibe, we were told that there were better ways to reduce crime than by filling the prisons. Unfortunately, we have yet to find them.  When you factor in selection bias, there is remarkably little evidence that most rehabilitation programs have the efficacy that those who run them want them to have. Anti-prison advocates are currently campaigning to have Mississippi’s Parole Board release more parole-eligible prisoners from custody. It is true that our Parole Board currently approves a lower percentage of parole applications now than it has done for years.  But that is because there has been a massive surge in the number of people automatically entitled to apply for early release to the Parole Board. Why the increase in parole applications?  Because of legislation that the anti-prison advocacy groups helped pass which automatically entitles violent offenders to appeal to the Parole Board in the first place. The Parole Board has recently been criticized for getting some parole decisions wrong.  I can’t help wondering if the Board might have done a better job if they had not been flooded by new cases at the insistence of anti-prison activists. The tragedy of this misguided anti-prison agenda is not only that it is driving a surge in crime.  It has detracted from Mississippi implementing the type of prison reform that conservatives ought to support. More needs to be done to make our prisons more humane.  The prison system ought to do a far better job of differentiating between violent criminals and the non-violent.  With so many young men graduating from the prison system each year, surely we could do a better job of ensuring they emerge with a better set of life skills? These reforms are only going to be attainable if we have a prison system that achieves its primary purpose; locking up bad people in order to prevent them from doing bad things to good people. There is now overwhelming evidence that we should abandon Mississippi’s flirtation with an anti-incarceration agenda – and it is not just a question of crime. If Mississippi wants to see the kind of economic growth that other states have experienced, we need to reduce our crime rates. Douglas Carswell is the CEO & President of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

By Bob Garver As the tenth (non-spinoff) installment of the “Fast” franchise, “Fast X” has a certain duty to its fans. It needs to up its game from every chapter that came before it. It needs to contain a development so huge, the series will never be the same. It needs to be worthy of having a letter as cool as “X” in its title. Instead what we get is an okay-at-best movie at a point when “okay” is unacceptable. Vin Diesel is back as street racer-turned-thief-turned-action hero Dominic Toretto. His friends Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), Han (Sung Kang), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) are going off to Rome for a mission, but he’s going to try letting Roman lead this one while he stays behind with his wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), sister Mia (Jordana Brewster), and son “Little B” (Leo Abelo Perry). Even his Abuelita (Rita Moreno) comes by to see everyone off for what should be a relatively safe mission. Things don’t stay safe for long. Cipher (Charlize Theron), the lead villain of the eighth and ninth movies, staggers into the Toretto house to warn Dom of a new threat to his friends and family. Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), the son of fifth movie villain Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), wants to make Dom and his whole family suffer for Dom’s role in his father’s death. And he’s willing to kill a whole lot of people in the process. Cue Dominic and Letty showing up in Rome to try to stop Reyes from using the team to blow up the Vatican. Oh, and the unnamed secret agency that has employed Dom in the past is disavowing him and treating him as an enemy by new director Aimes (Alan Ritchson), though agents Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) and new character Tess (Brie Larson) are willing to help where they can. The splintered storylines that follow include Dom traveling to Brazil to confront Reyes with the help of local street racer Isabel (Daniela Melchior), the team under Roman being broke fugitives in Rome with only the unfriendly Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) as an ally, Little B evading kidnappers with the help of his uncle Jakob (John Cena), and Letty and Cipher incarcerated together in an Antarctic prison, with a shocking cameo at the helm of their getaway submarine. Or at least the cameo would be shocking if the series hadn’t already done the same thing twice before. I fully expect a future installment to be similarly “shocking” based on an event from this movie. So what does the tenth “Fast” movie do to commemorate the franchise’s entry into double digits? Introducing Momoa as the new villain certainly helps. Cipher, dangerous though she was, just wasn’t cutting it with her smart distance-keeping and smug knowledge that the male heroes of this franchise are too chivalrous to hit her. Gleeful nutjob Momoa does just enough of the former to keep an advantage, but he’s not one for the latter. I’m looking forward to a big physical showdown between he and Dom in a future installment. Which leads me to my big problem with “Fast X”: it does too much to build up the next chapter without having much of an identity of its own. The action scenes may tick all the physics-defying boxes we expect from these movies, but all the while I knew they were just building to a big cliffhanger, not an exciting climax. Add to that the movie never really pushing any boundaries action-wise (Roman and Tej went to outer space in the last movie, Jakob and Little B flying a glider here doesn’t measure up), and an overcrowded collection of characters and subplots and you’ve got one disappointing summer blockbuster. If my interest is engine fuel, then this series has been leaking for the last three movies, and it’s just about out of gas. Grade: C- “Fast X” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and suggestive material. Its running time is 141 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

For anyone, reading and understanding the title of this column is pretty impossible. The reason is plain – I just closed my eyes and pressed random keys, so it makes absolutely no sense to anyone. Why? Because I wanted to make a clear illustration of my point: If a person doesn’t use words that are clear and easily understood by the reader, then why bother? Why am I talking about this? Here is my reason. If I write and no one understands my sentences and therefore my thoughts, then I have accomplished nothing. In fact, less than nothing. I have wasted my column space, my time and yours, and insulted you. I did some online researching today before I started typing, and here are the facts. Today’s average adult in our country reads on an eighth-grade level. Eighth grade. So given this truth, why in the world would I want to use language that exceeds those levels? To impress? To educate? To irritate? To confuse? That would be stupid on my part. If I am wanting my reader to understand what I am trying to say, then I need to be smart enough to use language we both understand. And yes, I am addressing teachers, ministers, spouses, parents, teens, kids, bosses, and anyone else who needs to communicate with people on this planet. People, there is no way to understand, teach, agree, obey or argue with you, if you are not communicating plainly. How many jobs have been lost by this problem? How many divorces are on the books? How many teens have been lost to their families? How many companies have gone down the drain? All because the people involved have not communicated well with each other. Ministers can preach about a relationship with the Creator until they are blue in the face, but if they are not using language that the listener understands, they have accomplished little. Parents can lecture their kids about their bad conduct, their low school grades, and the inevitable consequences until the proverbial cows come home – but if their words don’t convey love, concern, and real discipline, then nothing is accomplished. Except contributing to rebellion on the teen’s part, probably. Endless books can be written by authors who have a stream of PHDs behind their name, but if their lofty and worthy ideas are not understandable by the reader – then why write? Oh yes, I do know that there are books that have to be written for the waaayyyy-above average reader. Physicians need to educate other doctors on new methods and techniques, ministers need to teach theology to Bible students, college professors have to challenge their students. But that is not the average Joe or Joleen. The Joes and Joleens of us simply need to make certain we are understood when we are speaking, writing, or conveying with our body language. Otherwise, we are simply blowing hot air, and wasting each other’s time. And risking the harm that comes with miscommunicating.

By Kara Kimbrough King Charles just can't win. As the cameras rolled last Saturday on Coronation Day, he threw a tantrum while seated in his gold carriage on Coronation Day. Professional lipreaders say he testily shouted, "This is boring!" as he cooled his heels in the gold pumpkin. Turns out, Prince William and his wife were late in arriving with their children. As a result, the royal couple was forced to enter Westminster Abbey ahead of his much more photogenic son and daughter-in-law. The Wales' grand entrance with cute kids in tow upstaged the stodgy future King and his wife (sorry, I just can't call her queen). But this wasn't the only blunder of the weeklong build-up to the heralded Coronation Day. The King - or at least, the palace chef, released a special recipe ahead of the big day called "Coronation Quiche." To say it was downright horrid would be an understatement. The British aren't known for their fine cuisine, but this was ridiculous, even for them. According to chefs around the world who tried, unsuccessfully, to make a dish worthy of serving, the end result was a soggy, tasteless mess. Turns out, the palace's version produced a soft, not firm crust, runny sauce and tasteless, inedible toppings. To save the day, another English chef modified the recipe and reintroduced it, receiving much better reviews. All the negative publicity about the world's worst quiche brought to mind a statement I'd heard decades ago: "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche." I thought former Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Buck Ross had uttered the famous words. A little research proved it was the title of a book written years ago about the stereotypes often assigned to men. The incorrigible Ross' famous statement, "Down here, men don't cook!" was actually uttered in the early 1980's to Geraldine Ferraro, then-running mate to Presidential candidate Walter Mondale. While bragging about Mississippi's prolific blueberry crops, he asked her if she could bake a blueberry muffin. She shot back, "I sure can- can you?" Ross then famously uttered the lines that immediately hit the national airwaves - and not exactly in a favorable way. Capitalizing on the furor over Ross' statement, Mississippians Carol Taff and Linda Ross Aldy put it on the cover of a cookbook containing recipes from well-known Mississippi men like Trent Lott, Thad Cochran and others. Published reports say recipes included barbecued chicken, hush puppies and wild game. However, I was surprised to learn about one omission -a recipe for blueberry muffins. Back to quiche - it's not a dish of which I'm fond. I just don't understand the point. If there's a crust situation going on, I want to taste tangy apples, sugar and cinnamon...maybe lemon filling and meringue...or even better, sugary custard topped with crispy cooked pecans. Not baked eggs, bacon pieces or vegetable slices, the filling of most quiches. Call me a purist, but I've never been a fan of those baked breakfast dishes in which eggs, bacon or sausage and some type of bread are combined, then baked into a thick, dense dish. Just give me fried (very well done) eggs, crispy bacon and crisp, buttered toast topped with homemade jelly. And yes, I want each item to occupy separate, distinct areas on the plate. The same goes for a dish called spaghetti pie. I love pie...I adore spaghetti...but don't combine the two. Give me a bowl of pasta topped with tomato sauce, meat sauce or meatballs. Or a combination of all three. I just don't care to compress it into a pie plate and slice it like a pie. Why...just why? All this talk about quiche, pies, coronations, and impatient British kings caused me to unearth a cookbook a friend brought me from England. I'd planned to include a recipe, but after scrolling the list of steak and kidney pie, bubble and squeak, Eton mess and rice pudding, I decided to pass. Instead, I'm sharing an incredibly simple, but utterly delicious recipe for a dish that's part pie, part cake, a little like cobbler and unlike Coronation Quiche, 100% American - and amazing! Fruit Pie/Cake/Cobbler 1 bag Pepperidge Farm Chessmen Cookies 1 can blueberry pie filling 1 can lemon pie filling 1 box Lemon Supreme cake mix 1-1/2 sticks butter Arrange a single layer of cookies, sides touching, on the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking dish. Spread blueberry filling on top with a spatula, followed by a layer of lemon filling. Spread dry cake mix on top - do not mix everything together. Top with thin slices of butter, then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Cut into squares. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

New Stage Theatre will present the musical Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash May 30 - June 11. Curtain times and dates for performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket prices are $40.00 with discounts available for students, senior citizens, military, and groups. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, charged by phone by calling the theatre at (601) 948-3533, or ordered online at www.newstagetheatre.com. This production is sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, BankPlus, and The Dorsey J. Barefield Charitable Trust. Security will be provided. Recommended for ages 10 and up. From the iconic songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and home and family. More than two dozen classic hits—including “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and the title tune—paint a musical portrait of The Man in Black that promises to be a foot-stompin’, crowd-pleasin’ salute to a unique musical legend! "This is, without question, the best ensemble I have ever had the good fortune to assemble for this show," says Director Chris 'Red' Blisset who has directed Ring of Fire eight times at various other theatres throughout the country. "I can hardly believe how lucky we are to have this mix of world-class professionals from Mississippi and New York. Some days I want to stop rehearsal and get their autographs they're so good. Seriously, come see this show; if you don't like it, I'll pay you back myself - I'm the red-headed guy," jokes Blisset. “Ring of Fire is a fantastic crowd pleasing show and is perfect as the closer for our 57th season," says Artistic Director Francine Thomas Reynolds. "I am thrilled that Chris “Red” Blisset is returning to New Stage not only as a performer but, this time, as the Director/Music Director for the show. He has assembled a very exciting and skilled group of performers. With everyone playing multiple instruments, audiences will be amazed and delighted with the musical talent of every one on the stage.” The cast includes: Rheanna Atendido* (New York), Chris 'Red' Blisset*(New York), Ben Clark*(New York), Trevor Lindley Craft (New York), Andrew Dillon (Jackson), Jennifer Smith (Clinton), Claire-Frances Sullivan (New York), Jayla Lomax (Jackson), Ryan Bergman (Gulfport). *Rheanna Atendido, Chris 'Red' Blisset, and Ben Clark appear through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association. PAY WHAT YOU CAN NIGHT: Patrons can come to the box office beginning at 6:30 on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. If tickets are available they can be purchased at any value with cash, check, or credit card ($5 minimum is required if using a credit card). This offer is only valid for the May 31 performance. YOUTH NIGHTS: Youth 18 and under can reserve $15 tickets for the performance on Friday, June 2, 2023. This discount is only available by calling the box office and mentioning “youth night” for the discount. STUDENT RUSH DISCOUNT: One hour prior to curtain for any performance, students with a current academic ID may purchase an available seat for $10. Limit one ticket per ID. Where: 1100 Carlisle Street, Jackson MS 39202 Dates: Open: May 30, 2023; Close: June 11, 2023 Performance Times: Tuesday thru Saturday: 7:30 pm; Sundays: 2:00 pm Tickets: $40; $35 seniors/students/military Box Office: Telephone: 601-948-3533 Online: www.newstagetheatre.com Email: tickets@newstagetheatre.com Hours: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Hours During Show: Tuesday thru Friday: 10 am - 7:00 pm Saturday: 4 pm - 7:00 pm; Sunday: 1 pm - 2 pm Tickets Online: Tickets may be purchased 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.newstagetheatre.com (a per-ticket service fee of $3 applies to all online purchases) Production Information: Director Chris 'Red' Blisset Associate Music Director Trevor Lindley Craft Costume Designer Caleb Blackwell Lighting Designer Annalise Caudle Scenic Designer Cody Stockstill Sound Designer/Engineer Alberto Meza Properties Designer Jenna Kahley Production Stage Manager Peppy Biddy* Assistant Stage Manager Mattea Pierce Production Manager Clara Seitz Lead Electrician Matthew McMurtry Carpenter Dave Ellis Production Associate Antonio Juarez Production Assistant Darby Frost Assistant Costumer Nina Frost Scenic Painter Michael Montgomery

By Bob Garver In between “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (Star-)lording over the competition and “Fast X” running over anything in its path comes “Book Club: The Next Chapter.” This film’s marketing department looked at a lineup of second-tier holidays and noticed that nothing was opening the weekend of Mother’s Day, so this got slotted in. It’s as good a release strategy as any – it’s not like there was some better weekend to release this dreck - but I fear the only bonding children will be doing with their mothers while watching this movie is commiserating over how stupid it is. I did not watch the entirety of “Book Club” from 2018, but I did catch some highlights to prepare for this film. The premise was that a group of four female friends all read “Fifty Shades of Grey” and were inspired to take some initiative in their lives. Widow Diane (Diane Keaton) decided that it was okay to pursue a relationship with Mitchell (Andy Garcia). Married Carol (Mary Steenbergen) rekindled her romance with husband Bruce (Craig T. Nelson). Divorcee Sharon (Candace Bergen) decided to give online dating an open-ended try. And maneater Vivian (Jane Fonda) decided that old flame Arthur (Don Johnson) was Mr. Right. In the time between movies, Diane has moved in with Mitchell, Carol lost her restaurant to the pandemic (and nearly lost Bruce to a heart attack), Sharon retired from her federal judgeship, and most importantly, Vivian accepted a marriage proposal from Arthur. The ladies go to Italy for an elaborate bachelorette party. They go shopping, crack PG-13-friendly sex jokes, and practically deplete the country of its wine supply. I don’t think money or expense is mentioned once. In fact, the entire movie seems like little more than an excuse for the cast and crew to enjoy Italy themselves, a theory confirmed by the vacation-y photos that play over the credits. Inconvenience finally rears its head when the group’s bags get stolen. The ashes of Diane’s husband were in that bag, as she had planned to spread them on the trip. Other storylines include Sharon having a fling with a philosophy professor (Hugh Quarshie, admittedly the movie’s best surprise – the main can sing!) and running afoul of a local police officer (Vincent Riotta), Carol meeting up with an old boyfriend (Giancarlo Giannini), and Vivian questioning if she wants to go through with the marriage. I know the movie is ostensibly about the bachelorette party, but let’s just say this isn’t the kind of movie that doesn’t end with a gorgeous destination wedding. The movie is essentially a cross between “Sex and the City” and “Mamma Mia!” (readers expecting me to compare it to another movie, I’m getting there, I assure you) with all the wealth/travel porn and gentle sexual humor. Some of the jokes are truly painful. A typical scene: A waiter tells Carol, “The chef would like to show you his cucina.” “His ‘what?’” Anybody with common sense can tell that he means “kitchen” based on context, but not the characters in this movie. That’s why it doesn’t work nearly as well as “80 for Brady.” I take back what I said earlier about there not being a better weekend for “Book Club: The Next Chapter.” A better weekend would be one far, far, removed from that similar film – at least six months away instead of three. It’s not so much that there’s only room for one movie about four senior women (one of whom is played by Jane Fonda), it’s that the other movie was so funny and heartfelt that it draws even more attention to the laziness of this one. I hope you all had a happy Mother’s Day and did something more fulfilling than seeing this lousy movie. Grade: C- “Book Club: The Next Chapter” is rated PG-13 for some strong language and suggestive material. Its running time is 107 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Alumni Jubilee Singers, under the direction of Dr. Bobby Cooper, will present a concert on June 11, 3:00 PM at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bolton. The concert will be featured in conjunction with the Eucharist celebrated by The Rev. David Elliott III. In 1972, Dr. Cooper arrived on the Utica Campus of Hinds Community College to join the music faculty as choral director. One of his first goals was to revive the musical style of the Jubilee Singers who achieved national fame in the 1900s for the Utica Normal and Industrial Institute. In order to help raise money for the fledgling Institute, the singers took long and arduous trips to northern cities to give concerts to raise money. During their travels, they cut numerous recordings for the Victor record label. Dr. Cooper discovered the exciting history of the Jubilee Singers and made it his goal to revive the original arrangements that were kept in safe storage. By the late 1970s, Dr. Cooper and the revived Jubilee Singers had achieved state-wide and national acclaim, much like the original Jubilee Singers. In 2018, after an amazing 45-year tenure at the Utica Branch, Dr. Cooper achieved the reputation as the longest-serving faculty member at Hinds Community College. He loved his students and he loved making music. Under his baton the world was overflowing with the Sound of Music. The public is invited to attend the concert and reception to follow.

The Salvation Army Jackson Metro Area is excited to announce “A Night with the Mississippi Braves” fundraiser on Saturday, June 10th at Trustmark Park. This exciting event will feature a baseball game between the Mississippi Braves and the Biloxi Shuckers, with gates opening at 5:00pm and game starting at 6:05pm. Attendees can stick around after the game for a firework display. Additionally, The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary will have “Cooking with Grace” cookbooks and themed “buy-it-now” baskets available for purchase, and the Mississippi Braves will have an auction, with all proceeds going to The Salvation Army Jackson Metro Area. This event is organized by The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary and promises to be a night of entertainment and fundraising. “This event is a great opportunity to have fun and show your support for The Salvation Army’s important work in the community,” said Arlette Thompson, President of The Salvation Army Jackson Women’s Auxiliary. “We’re grateful to the Mississippi Braves for their partnership in helping us raise funds to support our programs and services.” Ticket vouchers will be available to purchase for $10 for field level and can be purchased at give.salvationarmyalm.org/event/night-with-the-braves/e487611. Who: The Salvation Army Jackson When: Saturday, June 10, 2023 5:00pm – Gates Open 6:05pm – Game Starts Where: Trustmark Park 1 Braves Blvd, Pearl, MS 39208

CASA Mississippi is proud to announce the opening of CASA of Hinds County, its new Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program which will serve children in the Hinds County foster care system. CASA of Hinds County is the newest member of the National Court-Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children, a nationwide network of 940 programs that recruit, train, and support volunteers who advocate for the best interest of children who have been abused or neglected. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to provide a voice for children who are in the foster care system or whose families are at risk of court involvement. They work to ensure children receive the necessary services and support to help them thrive and find a safe, permanent home. “We are thrilled to bring CASA to Hinds County, which currently has approximately 185 children in the foster care system,” said Laura Gee, Executive Director of CASA of Hinds County. “Our goal is to provide a voice for every child in foster care who needs one. With the support of dedicated volunteers from our community, we can help these children navigate the complex child welfare system and ensure that they receive the services and support they need to thrive.” CASA of Hinds County will recruit and train volunteers from the local community to serve as advocates for these vulnerable children. The program will work in collaboration with local child welfare agencies, attorneys, and judges to ensure that the children's needs are met, and their voices are heard. Individuals interested in volunteering can learn more at www.casaofhindscounty.org