Kahler • Payne Antiques

Kahler • Payne
Offering Antiques in Hillcrest for 21 Years


There's a great little house at 700 Van Buren. It was once a grocery store, then a series of hair salons. It's where Sylvia Payne had her hair done for senior prom. It's also the location of Kahler • Payne, the antique shop owned by Ms. Payne and her sister, Sandra Kahler.

Sylvia was living in Baton Rogue when she decided she could go home again, because she had the promise of a little antique shop waiting for her. Now she's operated her antique business for 21 years in Hillcrest - three blocks from the house she grew up in on Polk Street.

It's a great shop chock full of furniture, crystal, china, silver and lots of lamps, including one made from an old bird cage. It offers "everyday antiques and flair."

"We consider our antiques for everyday use. They are not museum pieces. Most of our stuff is American made and ready to use, refinished, clean ... you sit on it and use it," Sylvia said.

The "flair" offerings include switch plates, soaps, jewelry, tote bags and The Pickle Sisters gourmet foods.

"They are things that add a little flair to your life and useful gift items. With our gifts, we try to be responsible and make sure they are good for the environment, and if foreign made, make sure they are fair trade or cottage industry. We try to be socially responsible with our gifts."

Sylvia got interested in antiques when she was living in Louisiana.

"When I was living in Baton Rogue, I had a small antique shop. I had a neighbor who wanted to start an antique business. I kind of did it as a hobby and found out I absolutely loved it. It's the thrill of the hunt. We didn't have a lot of customers, but we had an awful lot of fun."

But Sylvia wanted to return home to Hillcrest. When she and her sister found they could buy an antique shop there, that settled it.

"Having an antique shop to come home to made it easier. That was something to look forward to. There was a little shop on Polk called Potential Treasures, so Sandy and I bought that business (in 1989). It was a tiny shop, and we were only open on weekends. It was obvious the place was too small. No one knew where we were. We knew where it was. We grew up on Polk Street.

"We started looking for a place in Hillcrest on the main drag. We settled for this location, and it turned out way better. We were on Polk for only a year. This (building at 700 Van Buren) was originally built as McCormick's Grocery Store. In the early '60s, it became a beauty shop. It was a beauty shop when we bought it, and - 'small world' - I had my hair done here for the senior prom. I grew up on Polk Street, and now I'm three blocks up with a business."

The shop buys furniture locally and takes pieces on consignment.

"A lot of it is word of mouth. Most of our things come right out of owners' homes. It's all local. We don't do buying trips."

People with items to sell or consign often e-mail Sylvia photos, "a nice bit of progress" she said makes buying easier.

"When we first started in business, Sandra had two toddlers, and we couldn't travel."

But she prefers buying locally. "It keeps the costs down; there are no shipping expenses."

The most expensive piece in the shop is a pine cabinet custom made in Connecticut. The price is $2,300. There are only three items in the shop that cost more than $1,000. Most of the furniture is in the $200 to $600 range.

Items in the flair line run from $1 (mini soaps) to $45 (Swarovski crystal earrings).

What's the most interesting item in the shop? "A 1950s retro coffee table that raises to dining height. It's really clever."

The most fun? "Refillable glass tap water bottles from Canada."

Sylvia's niece, Laura Kahler, is in charge of the flair line, which was created to entice 20-somethings into the shop.

Sylvia describes Kahler • Payne as a family business (in addition to her sister and niece, her nephew, Jason Kahler, makes the deliveries) and she works to make it a fun, casual place to shop.

"We have a pretty casual attitude."

She invites you to come by and look around or just chat and meet her shop dog, Willa, a Cardigan Welsh corgi. You may call her at 663-0608 or visit kahlerpayne.com.

(This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and ran in the June 2010 edition of Shoppe Talk.)

Sylvia Payne Profile

Sylvia Payne
Tell us about your family. I have two sisters, Sandra, and Susan Maddox, who owns the Rosemont, a bed and breakfast downtown in the historic Governor's Mansion district. Mother and Daddy are both gone. My mother had alzheimer's, and I took care of her for 11 years. We all live in town, except for one niece who lives in Austin. We spend a lot of time together. My best friend is my niece, Laura. Sandra is a nurse and teaches nursing at Baptist School of Nursing. She does a lot of the buying.

What do you like to read? I like to read what I call "cozy mysteries," like Agatha Christie. I want a body in the pantry and then you just solve the crime.

What is your favorite Little Rock restaurant? Cheers.

Your favorite food? Unfortunately, hamburgers.

What's your favorite movie? Out of Africa. Laura and I can do dialogue from that movie.

Do have favorite actors? Russell Crowe.

What do you do in your spare time? I like to read and I like to work in my garden and putz around in my house.

What do you watch on the tube? Old movies and forensic detective shows like Bones and NCIS and old recorded shows of Moonlight with Mick St. John.

Do you support any charities? Yes. Arkansas Hospice.

If you could have a dream dinner party and invite any three people, who would you choose? My mother and Daddy. That would be enough for me.

Is there anything you'd like to see Little Rock do differently? Yes. I would like them to value their old neighborhoods more - like Hillcrest and Capitol View - and spend money there instead of on expansion out west. Alleys need to be cleaned up and used and our sidewalks maintained. That gets people out walking. When people are out walking, it cuts down on crime.

Scallions' Anniversary

Happy Birthday Scallions - 23 Years in The Heights!





(From left) Rachael Crosby, Otis Smith, Kelly Shelton,
LeeAnn Arculis, Stephanie Roberts, and Lindsey Smith


Walking down the steps into Scallions' leafy courtyard in the spring is like visiting a good friend. It's a warm, welcoming atmosphere. You know your favorite dishes will always be on the menu. You leave, reluctantly, but with a smile.

Rachael Crosby's and Nikki Avants' Scallions celebrates 23 years in the Heights this month.

Scallions is more than just a great spot for lunch. It is, well, it is where a man came in recently and told Ms. Crosby that his daughter had just had oral surgery and required Scallions' cheese soup.

"We served cheese soup to these kids when they were little," Rachael said. "After surgery, she had to have our cheese soup. He got a quart of cheese soup. That's all she wanted.

"And that happens a lot."

It's a restaurant where little girls eat chicken salad with their moms, and then order that same chicken salad for their wedding showers, baby showers, and wedding anniversaries.

And, it's all about family. Twenty-three years ago, the whole family pitched in to help when their aunt, Bobbye Cazort opened Scallions. Nikki worked there when she was in college and then bought the restaurant when Mrs. Cazort retired. Later, Rachael partnered with Nikki, and now two of Rachael's children, Bailey Anne, 16, and Lindsey, 25, are working at Scallions.

"I have two employees who have been here 23 years, Otis Smith and Kelly Shelton, the whole time," Rachael said. LeeAnn Arculis has been here a total of 14 years and Stephanie Roberts, six years. It's just kind of a family restaurant, family atmosphere. It's a good gig.

"One of the reasons we've had this loyal following is because of the people who work here. Like some people know LeeAnn and when they come in, they only want to sit at her tables."

On the menu, you'll find quiches, salads, soups and sandwiches with shout-outs to the neighborhood, like "The Country Club" or the "Heights Veggie."

The recipes were all created by Nikki and Rachael or their mom or aunt or grandmother. There are lots of homemade desserts, fresh fruit cups, and, of course, don't forget the poppy seed muffins.

"We have offerings hearty enough for men, like our big grilled chicken club," Rachael said. "We cater. We cater to major downtown businesses - corporate catering, business lunches, and a lot of drug reps take our food to doctors' offices."

Scallions also caters events, or you can buy take-out in bulk. The restaurant and the courtyard are also available for parties.

"We get to utilize it a lot for showers, rehersal dinners, brides' maids events."

Rachael and Nikki tried to open Scallions for dinner, but it didn't work out.

"God has really blessed us. Even with the tough economic year - dinner didn't make it, but we did," Rachael said.

Actually, she prefers being open only for lunch.

"Everybody has kids and husbands and obligations.The extra work stresses people. My philosophy is enough is enough. Time is worth more than money. You want to work to enjoy life, not be your life."

And Nikki has decided to do something she has been longing for to help fulfill her life - study nursing.

"She's always had this passion for nursing. She's had that passion reignited and is going to school. She's my little sister and we love each other and support each other. And I'm so happy for her that she is doing this," Rachael said.

Scallions is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday (with Saturdays sometimes lingering through 3 when the mood is right). For information about catering services, box lunches, special events or bulk takeouts, call Rachael at 666-6468.

(This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and appeared in the May 2010 edition of Shoppe Talk.)

Rachael Crosby Profile

Rachael Crosby

(For this profile, Rachael was interviewed by telephone as she did her morning prep work at Scallions.)

Tell us about your family. I'm single, and I have five children; I gave birth to two and got three by the grace of God. My Grannie Mae is 89. She worked here. She worked her whole life, and would work here too when needed. She has Alzheimer's. We deal with that. I love her, and she is so funny. I have one granddaughter named Bryah, and I have a grandchild on the way. We are excited about that. My kids are ages 16 to 28.

Where were you born? Batesville.

What's your favorite city? Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It's not a city, just a wonderful community.

Do you have a favorite movie? The original 1936 version of The Women.

Yeah, that's great. It's one of my favorites too. Do you have favorite actors? I just love Meg Ryan.

What do you do in your spare time? I read. I have a great church, the Church at Rock Creek. We have a terrific youth group. I cook for 150 to 200 kids on Sunday night, good home-cooked meals for kids in 6th to 12 grades. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be with my daughter and her friends and cook and do what I love.
I love to cruise. I have been on seven cruises and a mission trip to Honduras in '97. Mexican people and Central American people ... have more joy. There is more happiness in people who live simply. They have less, but they have more.

What do you like to read? Jodi Picoult, Francine Rivers and Barbara Delinsky are my favorite authors.

Is there anything you'd like to learn how to do? Yes, I would love to learn how to kayak.

If you could have a dream dinner party with any three people, who would you choose? My Daddy, Mike Crosby. Daddy is the best cook there ever was, and I miss his cooking, so he'd have to cook it. He passed away in 2000. I come from a long line of cooks, but my dad was just the best. Growing up, meals were all about the family and sharing it together.

What would you do if you won a large lottery? Support missions and travel more. I have friends starting a mission in Africa. And I'd make my family comfortable.

Do you have any pets? I have this amazing Yorkie named Ike I got from the Humane Society. He's a 7-year-old Yorkie. He's looking at me right now as I work. He has a car seat. He's real mischievous if I leave him home. He would rather come to work and sit at the door and watch us come and go.

Do you support any charities? Scallions is really proud to have supported Silent Sunday for the Arkansas School for the Deaf. We started in 1989. There were 12 restaurants participating then, and last year, there were over 40.

Pulaski Heights Christian Church - You Are Welcome Here

On Christmas Day, the Rev. Holly Patton and two members of her church were out searching below bridges, near train tracks and walking around the city of Little Rock looking for people to give them backpacks filled with food, flashlights, long underwear and other items homeless people need.

"We gave them backpacks and hugs and told them we loved them," Ms. Patton said.

That's just the way Rev. Holly and her congregation roll. Holly is the pastor of Pulaski Heights Christian Church in Hillcrest. With the church's historic commitment to civil rights and her commitment to reach out to all in need, it's a perfect fit.

"It has a wonderful history of being a socially-oriented church. In 1957, the pastor walked with the Little Rock Nine. In 1972, the church defended busing to achieve racial balance. In 1980, it called its first female pastor."

Pulaski Heights Christian is a small congregation of 45 active members, but, just like its pastor, has a big heart and big plans.

"We are in the middle of revitalizing it and making it more of a community church. We're putting real spirit in it and doing more outreach. We want to reach those who are hurting and lost and those who are kind of ostracized by the church, who are lonely and don't necessarily like church."

Church members have done outreach with the homeless and with the gay and lesbian community.

"We have been active in speaking out for justice regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, or political party. Our goal is to be a missional church - actively involved in speaking up and out for those who have been marginalized or hurt by the church or for those who have no voice."

Rev. Holly believes she's called to an active ministry, something she termed "radical love and hospitality for all."

Services are both traditional and with "praise music," which she said is singing to God rather than about God.

"We have a wonderfully diverse congregation right now, traditional and non-traditional couples, single mothers and fathers. My dream and goal would be for (the number of congregants) to double - so we can do more work."

She said Pulaski Heights Christian would never be a large church; it's for folks who want a more intimate environment, less of an anonymous one.

Rev. Holly is a relatively newly minted flock leader. She attended seminary at Memphis Theological Seminary for four years beginning in 2002.

Before that she was a drug rep for a pharmaceutical firm.

"I was at a dark place in my life. I was unhappy, overwhelmed trying to raise two boys alone. I was in an unhealthy relationship. I literally had my head bashed in. I realized I was on the wrong road, one leading to destruction and devastation."

Soon after the episode of physical abuse, Holly was in the office of one of her clients who invited her to church.

"I had a kind of 'road to Damascus' experience. I experienced God's grace, and it literally took me on a whole 'nother path."

At seminary, Holly discovered she was "called by God to the ministry. Everyone thought I was crazy, quitting a drug rep job and going into debt. I think God calls us to do crazy things."

And is she in a better place today? "I am in a place I never imagined, never dreamed. I still don't know what's going to happen every day. But I am in a peaceful, joyful, grateful place in my life. It's a wonderful path."

Rev. Holly is "trying to do church in a different way." You don't have to put on a facade. You don't have to be perfect to come to church. "I'd like people who are struggling to know there is a safe place to come, with their questions and with their struggles."

The Pulaski Heights Christian Church is involved in the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Little Rock, which houses, feeds, and nurtures homeless families while they work to get back on their feet.

"We participate regulary with Quapaw Methodist church cooking breakfast for the homeless, and our newest ministry is providing backpacks for the homeless.

"We also are making a deliberate effort to reach people with young children. Brian Kinder, a children’s entertainer, came to the church for a free concert which we plan to do again outside, as soon as the weather permits. We are planning on having a Earth Day party outside at the church in April. We have plans to begin the Bible and the New York Times study group, movie night, and other things so we can offer the community of Hillcrest something interesting."

(This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and appeared in the April 2010 edition of Shoppe Talk.)

Rev. Holly Patton Profile

Getting to know the Rev. Holly Patton


Tell us about your family. I have two sons, Patton Cain, who is almost 22, and Raney Cain, who is 25. Both of my sons are incredible young men - bright, handsome, and willful like their mother, and I love them deeply and am extremely proud of both of them. Patton is working and going to school. He's studying journalism at UALR. Raney works at Windstream and studies computers and engineering at UALR. He is the father of Addisyn, my precious read-headed granddaughter. She is an absolute angel in all our lives. I have been divorced now for 20 plus years, but I'm close to marrying.

Where were you born? I was born in Little Rock and grew up in Atlanta.

What's your favorite Little Rock restaurant? Brave New Restaurant.

What's your favorite food? A Turkey sandwich from Boulevard Bread.

What's the strangest thing in your refrigerator? A tube of Chanel pink lipstick. I hate for it to melt in my purse.

If you could have a dream dinner party and invite any three people, who would you choose? I'd like to meet Steve Martin, Mary Magdalene, and President Obama.

What would be on your recommended reading list? Kathryn Stockett's The Help. South of Broad by Pat Conroy and any book of poetry by Mary Oliver.

Is there anything you'd like to learn how to do? I'd like to learn how to fly.

What do you do in your spare time? I rollerblade, run, ride my bike, and hike.

Is there anything you would like to change about yourself? A lot. Yes, I am too impatient and way too much of a multi-tasker.

What's your favorite movie? Marley & Me.

Do you have any pets? I have a dog who is nine. His name is Goose. He's an English springer spaniel. And a cat about seven named Catty - very original.

Is there anything you'd like to see Little Rock do differently? No, I think Little Rock is on a great path right now. I am very excited to be living in Little Rock now.

The nation? I'd like for us to be less involved in war - to spend our money on other things.

(This profile was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and ran in the April 2010 edition of Shoppe Talk.)

Wags and Whiskers Pet Care

Wags and WhiskersMichelle Wilkerson with some of her furry babies: K-9, Tapers, Bella (the puppy with the sock) and Jessica (the small brown brindle). You may contact her at 416-7380. You may read more about Michelle by going to wagsandwhiskerslittlerock.com.


Going on vacation? Got a new puppy who needs some love while you're at work? Just call Michelle Wilkerson at Wags and Whiskers, and she will provide quality care for your "furry babies" in their own home environment.

Mrs. Wilkerson started her business 14 months ago, and it has been a great success in no small part due to her genuine love for animals and their happy response to her care.

"I have a greyhound, the owner swears he gets mad when she gets home. I say at least you know he's happy when you're gone," Michelle said with a laugh.

When Michelle gets inquires from potential clients, she sets up an appointment to come and meet them and their pets.

After a bit of paperwork to get emergency contact numbers and their vet's name and number, Michelle will work with dogs to determine how they respond to other animals and to kids on a walk. Then the clients will choose the number of times a day they want her to come by.

"Dog people usually want me to come three times a day. It's a 30 to 40 minute visit (each time). Some families want their cats visited once a day. Others, twice a day. One older cat I sit gets morning tuna and night tuna.

"I walk the dogs if needed. Walk them, feed them, pet them - whatever they are used to. Some like to play ball in the back yard. I have several, we play ball and then we go walk. I want to keep them happy as they can be when their family is gone."

Decidedly, it is hard work. Often Michelle is up at 4 a.m. and doesn't return home until 10 p.m.

"Dogs have to go out early," she said. "If I have four different households doing three visits a day, that's all the dogs I can handle, but I am in the middle of hiring my first employee to help me at night when I get too busy.

"There will be times when I have two days off and other days when I'm working pretty hard, but I knew it would be that way."

She said the business is going really good. "And I know it's going to build and build."

Shameless Shoppe Talk Plug

Michelle said she had received a great response from her ad in Shoppe Talk, even generating many more calls from Chenal clients than her ad in a Chenal magazine.

"I really did get the best response from Shoppe Talk. Seriously, I get calls every week. What a lot of people do, they hold on to the ad, hang it on the refrigerator until they are ready to go, and then they call."

Michelle is licensed and bonded. And she is a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

"I am responsible and security concious. I do take what I do very seriously. I treat every dog like I would treat mine, and mine are treated very well.

"I actually enjoy what I do, as crazy as that may be."

Many cats and dogs prefer to be in their own home environment rather than being boarded, and Michelle's service is less expensive than boarding.

"I'm not against boarding at all. Some animals do good, but a lot of them don't. I'm there for the ones that can't be boarded."

At home the animals get some perks that boarding can't provide - like getting to sleep with the sitter.

"They definitely like to sleep with me. It doesn't take very long. I've been sitting two little French bulldogs - the first one slept on my head, and the other one at my feet. It definitely made me feel at home."

Why? Because Michelle has lots and lots of dogs of her own. She didn't plan it that way. but when she and her husband bought 15 acres in the country about 16 years ago, they found out first hand some ugly truths about animal abuse.

Animal Abuse

"They dump them," she said.

"I always had animals growing up. I thought (all animals) were spayed and neutered and slept in the bed with you.

"355 have been dumped in front of our house - dogs, cats, litters of puppies or kittens. One had shot the mom in the head and left the puppies. It's terrible."

"I find homes for as many as I can. Others have to go to the Humane Society. It's hard, but when they are starving to death ..."

For a number of years, Michelle worked with rescue groups, but had to stop. "It was so hard on me. It's so sad.

"You think it (animal abuse) comes with a certain mentality or education level, but you'd really be surprised by the people who don't take care of them. It's mostly people in Little Rock (who dump animals). You hear things. Several people have said things like, yeah, I dropped my dog off in Roland."

Michelle said she believes one of the reasons so many animals have been dropped off at her country home is because she has the reputation as "the dog lady" who will help find them homes. "Word gets out."

One dog was dropped off in the rural area with his mouth duct taped, so he would starve to death.

"Of course, no one would take him. I have all the delinquents at my house. That was 7 years ago. He has a gray muzzle. He still has gray there where the duct tape was.

"I have 15 dogs. All my friends' kids want to come out and play with them.

"I always think, 'oh my gosh, I'm such a nutball to have so many.' But I know a lady in Chenal with seven cats and three dogs. I talked with an attorney in the Heights the other day who has 10 animals."

These are her people.

"I've always been involved with animals. There's no escaping it. It's in my blood."


Michelle Wilkerson

Tell us about your family. I have been married for 19 years. My husband's name is Jeff. I have an 18-year-old son, Tanner. And 15 furry children.

Where were you born? North Little Rock.

Is there anything you would like to learn how to do? Interior design.

What do you do in your spare time? I teach fitness classes at the Athletic Club and the Racquet Club and I help out Invisible Fence, training dogs on their system. Which I guess is all really work, she said with a laugh.

What's your favorite food? An Acai sunrise smoothie from Whole Foods.

Do you like to cook? No! My family actually told me not to cook. "Don't worry about it any more, mom." And it didn't hurt my feelings at all.

What's your favorite restaurant? Whole Foods. Seriously, I'm there every day.

What do you like to watch on the tube? The FBI Files, Cold Case.

What's your favorite movie? Dirty Dancing. This is pretty embarrassing.

Do you support any charities? I do. The ASPCA, and on my own, I get one dog in our community spayed every month.

(This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and ran in the March 2010 edition of Shoppe Talk.)

Ray's Massage Therapy

Steve Ray's clients love him. It's not just his upbeat attitude and the happiness he spreads, it's the healing results they get from his gifted hands.

Mr. Ray, owner of Ray's Massage Therapy in the Heights, is a master massage therapist who integrates different massage techniques to provide the best therapy possible for his clients.

Steve is expert in relaxation massage, deep tissue, active isolated stretching, sports massage, the Rossiter System, foot massage, trigger point therapy, and vital flex, a form of reflexology.

Pastor Charles Cunningham drives from Pine Bluff to Steve's office.

"I don't care if it was a hundred miles away, I would still come. Actually, I have gone to 20 to 25 therapists, and Steve has been superior to them all. He has techniques I know he learned in school, but there is a gift there too. I had diabetes. I went to the doctor, and now I have no neuropathy, I think because of this massage therapy. It has reversed my diabetes. I take no medication now."

Pastor Cunningham said the therapy he receives is just "beyond words." "You just have to go and experience it to reap the benefits. I would say on a scale of 1 to 10, Steve is about 100. And then, he's so caring, and he just connects with you. He's upbeat and cheerful all the time. I said to him, 'You're my massage therapist, but you're going to be my therapist, period.'"

Kim Freeman of Little Rock couldn't agree more. " I think Steve is a really great person, and massage therapy is one of his gifts. His personality and demeanor ... he makes me feel very comfortable and makes me feel good about going there and getting the service he provides. He's very friendly, just a good-spirited person."

Steve said his wife, Nella, and his daughter, Lawanna, encouraged him to go to Touching America and become trained as a massage therapist. At the time, nine years ago, he was working in a local factory that made computer parts, but lost his job.

"When I got laid off, my wife and my daughter suggested I go to school, because I had a gift in my hands and I needed to enhance it."

His training began there, and he has taken a number of continuing education classes to become a master massage therapist. He doesn't specialize in any one type of therapy, but integrates the different techniques he's learned to best address clients' particular problems. For example, he might combine sports massage with trigger point therapy, in which he goes into the muscle to get contractive knots out. In addition to all of the types of massage he uses, he also sometimes employs hot stones and essential oils. He even provides massage for relief of temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, an inflammation of a joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull.

"I took a course at CARTI (in 2003 at Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute) that taught how to work with cancer patients. And I work with fibromyalgia patients."

Steve said he loves his job "with a passion."

"I feel that when I do clients, I can just feel the energy that comes from me. It helps my clients."

He said massage is good for circulation and flexibility, and, of course, reducing stress.

"The benefit that I get, I am just a happy person. I am so enthused to do it. I get joy when I see a client relieved of pain. I mostly get what they get. I get a real workout. It's just like I've been to the gymnasium."

Steve moved his office to the Heights last year and is located at 5018 Club Road, Suite 108. He charges $55 for relaxation massage, $65 for therapeutic massage, and $75 for deep tissue. He also goes to homes and offices; that rate is $100 an hour. You may contact him at 296-9988 or steveray9575@sbcglobal.net. I bet you know someone who'd prefer a massage to a box of chocolates this Valentine's Day.

Getting to know Steve Ray

Tell us about your family. My wife passed away in '06. I am raising my grandchildren. I am surrounded by three beautiful grandchildren: Gabrielle, 12, Isaiah, 11, and Kalob, 9. They keep me young. We do lots of things for the holidays. We like to get on the internet and find different things to cook. We all get together and enjoy ourselves. They are just as happy as I am. I have always been that way, but it looks like as I grow older, it just increases. I laugh a lot and enjoy life.

Where were you born? Grady, Arkansas.

Where do you live? Maumelle.

What's your favorite food? Southern food. Beans and cornbread. Broccoli and cheese ... .

Is there anything you would like to learn how to do? Have more of a passion for cooking, because my wife could really cook, and I wish I could get there.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I read, I exercise, and I watch movies.

What do you like to watch? Tyler Perry movies. Little House on the Prairie and I Love Lucy.

Do you have any favorite actors? Tyler Perry and Michael Landon.

Do you support any charities? (Steve said he donates massage services to a number of organizations, including hospitals, universities, churches and groups that provide help to domestic violence victims.) I take massage services to them or they will come to me.

If you could have a dream dinner party and invite any three people, who would you ask? My wife, mother, and father, all deceased.


(This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and appeared in the February edition of Shoppe Talk.)

Wild Birds

Wild Birds Unlimited, the nature shop in the Heights, is a pleasant place to shop, or just to stop by and chat with the friendly staff. They can answer all your questions about making a quality habitat for the birds in your yard and show you products to beautify your habitat as well.

“We want to bring people and nature closer together,” owner Jim Allen said. “Helping people enjoy their backyards is part of what we want to do.”

First, start with the basics: Seeds and feeders.

“There’s bird seed, and then, there’s bird seed. The seed we sell is a higher quality. It’s fresh. It’s clean,” Mr. Allen said.

From the time the seed leaves the factory until it’s on the shelf in Wild Bird is only a matter of weeks, he said.

“None of our seed has filler seed in it. In a 20-pound bag, it’s all edible. It’s something the birds will eat and love.”

The shop offers quality blends and single seeds, such as black oil sunflower, and large bags of peanuts.

You can find all manner of bird feeders at the shop, numerous tube feeders and about 10 different squirrel-proof feeders.

The shop only carries feeders that “stand the test of time,” Jim said. “We feel confident sending them out the door.”

Wild Bird has lots and lots hummingbird feeders, from inexpensive, but functional ones starting around $7 to beautiful glass feeders at $40 to $50. Some are made of recycled decorative glass, and some incorporate copper details.

“Everybody loves hummingbirds. They are easy to attract.” There are lots of hummers in Little Rock in June and July, but Jim said you can enjoy them here as early as April and as late as October.

The shop carries pretty glass butterfly feeders, too, and even offers a squirrel feeder.

“We carry a big variety of different bird houses, functional and decorative. We have basic wooden bird houses, martin houses, and blue bird houses. Putting up houses allows you to watch and be involved with the cycle of life.”

The shop has bat houses too. “Bats are very good for the environment; they keep insects down. If you have them, you can try to keep them by giving them a place to roost.”

There is just a ton of nature-related stuff to beautify your yard and make your outdoor experience more pleasant, from the sound of running water from a fountain to wind chimes.

“We carry a decent variety of bird baths and fountains. We have concrete bird baths, clay-fired bird baths. It’s good to have water for the birds to bathe and drink, especially in hot weather.

“We love wind chimes. We carry three major brands of chimes, all quality wind chimes: Woodstock; Music of the Spheres, which are made in Texas; and Corinthian Bells made in Virginia.”

Other items to spruce up your outdoor environment include wind spinners, garden flags, and stepping stones. The shop also has nature-themed mugs and glasses, bird books, binoculars, and some really cool “Advice From” t-shirts. Advice from a bass includes “prize clean water, be a good catch, and find a new angle.” Advice from an eagle includes “fly high, let your spirit soar, and bald is beautiful.”

One very important thing you’ll find at Wild Bird that you won’t at a big box store is knowledge. John Sommer, Travis Certain, Jimmilee Kinzler, Pat Reel, Robbie Hudson and Jackson Edwards know the answers to your questions.

“They are good people, enjoyable to work with, and they know what they are talking about, because they do it. They feed the birds.

“I think people enjoy coming to our store. We kid with them. We want people to enjoy coming in and looking around. Most of the people who come in our store are enjoyable people, or they wouldn’t be doing what they’re doing.

"We sell quality products, and we stand behind them. We’ll help people enjoy them, and we’ll do all we can to take care of them. And we learn from our customers.

“It’s a good business. It’s a business you feel good about having.”

(This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and ran in the July 2009 issue of Shoppe Talk.)

Mona Mathis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Mona Mathis passed away in June of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Her husband of 45 years, William Mathis, is grieving, but he'd like to do more.

Mr. Mathis is contacting lots of folks, from Oprah Winfrey to his little neighborhood Shoppe Talk, trying to get the word out about the disease and to interest as many people as he can in supporting research for better ways to diagnose it.

"Mona turned 65 March 24 this year. She was a wonderful person, very outgoing. She always had a smile for everybody," Bill said. "I've lived in Hillcrest since 1971. I pick up Shoppe Talk in the Buice Drug Store. My voice is not very big, but if we could get other people interested, maybe we could get early detection. If we could save just one person, she'd like that.

"Dr. Sneed, an oncologist, when she was in St. Vincent Hospital, he looked at the chart, and he said, I feel Mrs. Mathis has probably had this for 10 or 15 years.

"Mona had 10 different physicals, two back surgeries, and two knee replacements. All the time, it was lying there dormant. Every year, Mona went and had a physical and a mammogram. She had a colonoscopy, part of the process after you get 50 years old.

"I'm not mad at nobody, but why can't we get some early detection for this deadly disease?"

Dr. Thomas Sneed, a medical oncologist who saw Mona at rounds at the hospital, said the stumbling block for early detection is that non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not one disease, but many.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer that arises in the lymph system and includes many types of lymphomas with different characteristics.

"It is 30 or 40 different diseases," Dr. Sneed said in a telephone interview. "There are about 36 kinds of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Some are slow-growing. Some are aggressive. Since there are approximately 36 kinds of lymphoma, it's not the sort of thing you screen for.

"It is absolutely treatable, one of the most treatable cancers."

Bill said that Dr. Sneed explained that the type of cancer Mona had could be put into remission, but could not be cured. "Dr. Sneed is a fine person. He would come up to Mona's room, sit on the side of the bed and talk with her at length and explain everything in detail. He was very courteous, very kind."

Dr. Sneed said Mona had follicular lymphoma, an "indolent," slow-growing lymphoma. This is one of the kinds of lymphomas that are generally not curable. On the other hand, aggressive large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are "quite curable" with radiation or chemotherapy, with long-term survival depending on age, the stage of the disease, and how far it has spread.

"Indolent is usually discovered accidentally, with (an) abnormality in the blood count, or the platelets are low."

Dr. Sneed said he didn't know how long Mona had follicular lymphoma. "Typically, people live for many years with it. This was apparently the case with Mrs. Mathis."

Mona was diagnosed September 2005 by Dr. Joseph Beck, a board-certified oncologist who has practiced in Little Rock for 20 years.

"He told us it was a low-grade, slow-growing, non-Hodgkin's form of lymphoma," Bill said. Her course of treatment began with a milder form of chemotherapy that she underwent until January. "Then they scanned her. He said this stuff has gone crazy ... and they had to use a hard, aggressive chemo. It was really hard on her. She got worse."

Dr. Beck said follicular lymphoma has "gotten more common over the years. We're not sure why. It is more common in people who are older.

"It's hard to diagnose," he said.

Lymphomas are easier to detect when they are the type that cause swelling of the lymph nodes in the underarms or the neck, he said. "Deep in the body like hers was, then it's harder to find."

Right now, the only way to diagnose the cancer is by biopsy - a painful, invasive procedure physicians would not recommend unless symptoms or tests suggest a necessity.

Dr. Beck said symptoms of non-Hodgkins lymphoma may include unexplained fever, weight loss or night sweats.

"Night sweats is not just the back of the neck being damp. You soak bedclothes and have to get up and change clothes. If you'd been through menopause 10 years ago and everything is fine and all of the sudden you're having these night sweats, that would be something to check out."

In addition, "any kind of swelling out of the ordinary should be investigated. Pay attention to your body, and pay attention to things that are different."

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are options for aggressive lymphomas. "If it is very slow-growing, if a person is elderly, we might just observe a person. It's possible to have and live years and years and years."

Bill said Mona never really noticed any symptoms of disease.

"She didn't have a whole lot of energy. But she had been anemic all of her life. She went to get some shots of B12. She tried to change her diet and eat some food with more nutrition, to give her a boost. She'd lost some weight, but she'd gotten so depressed. She was scared.

"She never complained about it really, and she didn't know anything was wrong."

Information from medical sites on the Web urges individuals to see a physician if they have unexplained fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, constant fatigue, or itchy or red patches on the skin. These are the symptoms of many ailments, but check with your physician to be sure. Do not wait to feel pain, because early non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may not cause pain.

In addition, the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has nearly doubled over the last 55 years, they said. Dr. Beck said it is uncertain if this is a true increase, or the result of better reporting.

It is the fifth or sixth most common type of cancer, depending on your source of information.

A number of websites said risk factors associated with the disease are age, sex (more common in men), a weakened immune system, viruses (Epstein-Barr, for example), and exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides, solvents and fertilizers. Some studies point to specific ingredients in herbicides and pesticides, such as organochlorine, organophosphate, and phenoxyacid compounds. Often there is simply no explanation for its occurrence.

If your doctor suspects non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, he may order blood tests or internal scans, such as x-rays, CT scans, PET scans, MRIs, lymphangiograms, or a gallium metal scan.

Although no special tests are available today that can find non-Hodgkin's lymphoma early, Bill hopes that will change when more people become interested in the disease.

"Mona was a lovely person. She fought this with everything she had, but it was just too big. I just want to make people aware."

(This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and ran in the September 2006 edition of Shoppe Talk.)

Mathis Spearheads State's First Lymphoma Research Foundation Chapter

Shoppe Talk readers may recall a story that ran last September about Mona Mathis, who passed away in June of 2006 of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was the beloved wife of 45 years of Bill Mathis, who wanted to do something to honor her, to help other Arkansans diagnosed with these types of cancers, and to fund research to improve early detection.

After months of what Janet Breen called "putting his grief into action," Mr. Mathis succeeded in the establishment of the first chapter in Arkansas of the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Mrs. Breen was one of the folks who attended the first meeting that led to the chapter's founding.

Other founding members are her husband, John Breen, Earlene McDonald, Emma Ward, Mary Ann and Milton Foerste, Julie Kerr, Sandy Grayson, and, of course, Bill. Also in attendance were: Harold Dean, a clinical social worker for the Arkansas Cancer Research Center; Suzanne Bliss of New York City, president of the Lymphoma Research Foundation; Sally Fleming of Atlanta, director of chapter services for the foundation; and Bobbi Nesbitt, publisher of Shoppe Talk. The meeting room and refreshments were provided by ACRC.

"Bill, a real thank you," Ms. Bliss said. "It really does take one person in a community to get something organized."

"I'd like to say a big thank you to Bill too," Ms. McDonald said. "I am a lymphoma survivor. When I was first diagnosed, I didn't know where to turn. It's an experience you don't want to go through alone. To everyone here, I'm glad to be here."

Mr. Foerste said he had been diagnosed in 2004, had completed his treatments and is in remission. Milton said searching the Internet for information had been depressing. One of the services the foundation offers is a support system, where people can be paired with a "buddy" in their area.

Ms. Ward said she and her husband see Bill every day. (Bill said they'd "kind of adopted" him.) "We knew and loved Mona. Mona was a lovely person. We want to be here to support him as well," Emma said.



At the founding meeting: Suzanne Bliss, Bill Mathis, Julie Kerr, Sandy Grayson, Sally Fleming, Janet Breen, John Breen, Earlene McDonald, Mary Ann Foerste, Milton Foreste, Harold Dean, and (not pictured) Emma Ward. Photo By Bobbi Nesbitt



Suzanne explained that the foundation is relatively new, having been established in 2001 by the merger of the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation and the Lymphoma Research Foundation of America. LRFA was founded in Los Angeles in 1991 by Ellen Glesby Cohen, who died of lymphoma in 2000. CFL was founded in New York City in 1994 by Jerry Freundlich, a 14-year survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and his wife, Barbara.

Suzanne said the foundation has funded 34.7 million in research so far. Out of every dollar raised, 85 cents goes into research and education, she said. The foundation has the highest rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management. It has a 45-member volunteer scientific advisory board that meets twice a year.

Ms. Fleming said the foundation has more than 20 active chapters that distribute literature to local doctors' offices and raise money for research and education.

Part of that money funds an 800 number for patient services that people can call as often as they choose.

The Arkansas group has had two more meetings since that initial one at ACRC. Bill was elected president of the chapter, and Ms. Kerr was elected recording secretary.

Bill is very pleased with the progress in establishing the chapter.

"I feel good about it," he said. "I'm just surprised someone hadn't done this before. I'm certain a lot of people in the state of Arkansas have died of lymphoma."

Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer and the third most common cancer of childhood. Mona died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of which there are about 36 different types, each a different disease, which makes research challenging. Some of the cancers are slow growing, some agressive; some are curable, some are not; some are easily detected, others, not.

The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has nearly doubled over the last 55 years. It is the fifth or sixth most common type of cancer, depending on your source of information.

Risk factors that have been associated with it include age, sex (more common in men), a weakened immune system, viruses (Epstein-Barr, for example), and exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides, solvents, and fertilizers. Some studies point to specific ingredients in herbicides and pesticides, such as organochlorine, organophosphate, and phenoxyacid compounds. Often there is simply no explaination for its occurrence.

Bill had been shocked when one of Mona's physicians told himn she may have had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for 10 to 15 years. That is one of the reasons he wants to help raise money for research.

"I'm going to raise some money to get research to find an earlier way to detect this."

And for education. "When Mona got so bad, there was no one to talk with about this. There were no brochures." The Arkansas Chapter of the foundation will remedy that, he said.


Bill said that in trying to form the chapter, he'd encountered people all along the way who encouraged him. "Everybody has wanted to help and do what they can do."

Do what you can do. If you would like to attend monthly chapter meetings, which are held at Second Presbyterian Church in Pleasant Valley, call Bill at 501-580-8932.

(This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and ran in the June 2007 edition of Shoppe Talk. On February 29, 2008, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe proclaimed March 24, Mona's birthday, to be Eradicate Lymphoma Day In Arkansas.)