Life Without Limits

Craig Reinhardt: Life Without Limits 

     Craig Reinhardt is a busy guy who knows how to live his life without limits.
     Mr. Reinhardt is owner of the computer company CustomNeeds, LLC, works as information technology director for United Cerebral Palsy, is an avid collector of Razorback and St. Louis Cardinals memorabilia, likes to play the stock market and has volunteered at Riverfest for seven years.
     Oh, and he has cerebral palsy.  It certainly hasn't kept Craig from having a full, fun-filled life and making the lives of people who know him fuller.
     His main job is at UCP of Arkansas where he has worked for eight years keeping the computers of all 13 of the organization's offices around the state in tiptop shape.
     "I fix their computers.  I develop software for the whole state.  They keep me busy," Craig said.
      "CustomNeeds is a side hobby, because I like it so much."
      Craig went to Little Rock schools all of his life and was graduated from Hall High School in 1994.  Then he attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock earning a double major in finance and computer information systems.  He was graduated from UALR in 1999.
      "I want people to know they can do this.  Don't let anyone hold them back because they have a disability."
      Craig worked for a Little Rock technology company for five years before joining the staff of UCP.
       He has a real knack and affection for computers.
       "The are just so unique.  They like me, and I like them.  A computer to me is like a new car.  It needs a tuneup every so often.  Most people think that just because a computer is going slow that they need a new one or need an update.  I can reformat computers and make them like new."
        Reformat?
        "It's taking the computer and wiping it clean and reloading the Windows back on.  I back up everything and reformat, and they have an old computer like brand new.  This is my favorite thing to do.  When you do that, it's better than when you first bought it, because all this junk is loaded in that you never use.  When I get a brand new computer, I wipe it clean."
       It hasn't been a picnic to get to where Craig has gotten in his life.  He went through 22 years of speech therapy and many, many hours of physical therapy.
       But, he is a very determined, glass-half-full kind of guy, and his efforts have been recognized nationally.   In 2010, Craig was given the "Life Without Limits Award" from the nationwide UCP, which gives the award to recognize an individual with disabilities who has "demonstrated leadership and achievement of such a high caliber as to be a significant role model to people with and without disabilities."
       His award stated:  "Craig embodies what UCP represents - he has overcome significant physical and speech limitations to be come a critical contributor to the work at UCP of Arkansas in his role as Technology Administrator.  The things that Craig has done to help UCP of Arkansas meet its mission of advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship for people with disabilities are way too numerous to list in their entirety, but his ability to be a role model to others is immeasurable."
       Tricia Vangilder, chief financial officer of UCP of Arkansas, said Craig handles all kinds of computer problems for the organization.  "He also developed software that has made our medical billing so much easier to keep up with.  He goes to our northwest region and our northeast region, so he's all over the place.  He is a very hard worker.
        "I can't say enough about Craig.  He is like a family member.  He pulls pranks on us all of the time.  If it is April Fools Day or Halloween, be very aware," Mrs. Vangilder said.
        "He will give the shirt off his back for you.  He has the biggest heart.  He is special to us and special to a lot of people.  We don't think of him as someone who has a disability.,  He is just Craig, and we love him."
        Jane Arthurs of Little Rock said Craig had purchased computers for her, installed them and answered all her many questions.
        "He's just a Number 1 computer man.  When I have a problem with my computer, I call Craig," Mrs. Arthurs said.
        It is not only that he is very knowledgeable, his warm personality and cheerfulness help too, she said.
        "Craig has a great sense of humor, and I think his being able to laugh as so many of the problems helps you through the problems when you are dealing with people like me who are not very computer literate.  He has a great laugh, and his sense of humor, I think, adds to his being so pleasant and his ability to work so well with people."
         Craig created his computer company, CustomNeeds, in 2002 as a hobby.  It helps individuals and small businesses with common computer problems, reformats, and Windows upgrades.  If your computer has constant popups or alerts, if you think it has viruses or spyware, or even if you think it's "dead," call CustomNeeds at 291-4673 or email Craig at tech@customneeds.com.  He also offers a service to convert VHS tapes to DVDs.
         Barbara Casey of Ward, office manager for Chiropractic Wellness Center in Little Rock, said Craig does computer work for that business.
         "Every time I have a big problem, I'm like, 'CRAIG, come here!'  He is a wonderful person.  I really like him.
         "He has probably taken most of the ones we have and just wiped them out and reprogrammed them."
        Melanie Gibson of Little Rock, broker and property manager for Collins International in Little Rock, said she first knew Craig when he began working on her home computer.
       "Now he does some of my work in the building.  I'll call him with a problem, and he will guide me through every step off the top of his head," Ms. Gibson said.
       "Craig is very capable, a true professional.  I am truly appreciative of Craig's skills,  because I sure don't have them, and I need him terribly."
         Craig has been driving since 1994.  He went to Hot Springs Rehabilitation to learn how to drive and had his automobile outfitted with hand controls.
         He enjoys driving to schools and organizations to share his success story.,
         "I just like for people to realize that they do not have to let a challenge get in the way of anything. I see people make fun.  We are just like you are.  There's no need for people to discriminate against someone who cannot walk as well or talk as well.

         "I see worse disabilities (than mine). Some people can't walk, some people are paralyzed.  So, I feel lucky.  I always thank my parents for letting me have the independence they allowed me to have all through my youth."

           I'd like to end Craig's story with one of his recent favorite quotes.  It comes from  Elena Delle Donne, who has won a number of awards for her basketball prowess, including USA Today National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Gatorade National Player of the Year, and EA Sports Player of the Year.  

           "As I grew up, I became aware that there are people with special needs out there, and I have a real connection to them. It's upsetting when people are afraid of these kids. Instead of being afraid, you should just go up to them and talk to them.  Because you can learn so much from them,"   Ms. Donne said.                                                           

       This story was written by Bobbi Nesbitt and first appeared in the July issue of Shoppe Talk.   

  

Getting to Know Craig Reinhardt

Craig Reinhardt

      Tell us about your family.  My mom is Patricia Reinhardt.  I have a sister, Nicole Held.  I have a niece and nephew, Michaela and Michael, her kids.

      Where were you born?  Little Rock.

      Where do you live?  Foxcroft.

       Do you have any pets?  I have two dogs, Schnauzers.  Misti is eight and Shutze is six.

      What do you like to read?  Computer magazines and investment magazines. I like the stock market. I play the stock market.

       Do you have any hobbies?  I am a big Razorback fan.  In my office, I've got a corner of Razorback things I've collected and a corner of St. Louis Cardinals.  I've been collecting for a long time.  They kid me that they're going to have to knock out a wall to make me a bigger office if I keep collecting.  My dad, [the late Nelson Reinhardt], was from St. Louis.  He died in 2009, but we went to a Cardinals' game when the new stadium opened about 2006.

      What's your favorite food?  Pizza.

      What's your favorite restaurant?  U.S. Pizza.

      Do you have a favorite movie?  The Blind Side. 

      What's your favorite city?  St. Louis.

       If you could have a dream dinner party and invite any three people, who would you choose? Bill Gates, Albert Pujols, and Warren Buffett.

       Is there anything you'd like to see the City of Little Rock do differently?  Lower the taxes.

       Is there anything you'd like people in other countries to know about Americans?  That we are just like them.  We don't have to be enemies. 

Kavanaugh Eye Care in the Heights

Dr. Brian Guice's Kavanaugh Eye Care


How do you have healthy eyes, clear sight, and look fantastic in the latest designer eyewear from around the world? Visit Kavanaugh Eye Care in the Heights.



It is the third anniversary for this upscale total eye and vision care business, which Dr. Brian Guice and his wife, Kerry, opened March 16, 2009.

Dr. Guice is an optometric physician, which means he is licensed and trained to diagnose and treat ocular diseases, as well as to fit and dispense glasses and contact lenses. OPs treat all sorts of eye ailments, from diabetic retinopathy to glaucoma to eye infections.

Brian was graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis after four years of study there. He attended the Memphis school after having graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a bachelor's in biology.

Being nearsighted may have had something to do with his opting for optometry.

"Not coincidentally, I am pretty nearsighted. As a kid, the eye doctor was my favorite doctor.

When I left, I could see the leaves on the trees clearly, and I didn't get a shot. That had a lot to play in it."

Kavanaugh Eye Care has a bright, sophisticated showroom featuring some of the best designers in the business and several exclusive lines. In addition, there are some lower-priced frames - "something for everybody."

The shop offers the colorful and trendy French label, Anne et Valentin, as well as the French collection, Face à Face, which is sometimes called "eye jewelry."
It carries the daring designs of the German Ogi Eyewear and of ProDesign, a Danish firm. You'll find top-selling brands, such as Kate Spade, and sports eye wear from Italy's Rudy Project. Ray-Bans, Giorgio Armani, Grant Italia, Gucci, Jimmy Choo - and the list goes on.

Not only are the frames smart and swank, recent research has improved the quality of lenses.

"No-line bifocals have essentially replaced line bifocals," Dr. Guice said. "New research has improved the reading portion. They are much more improved.

"We only offer digital, free-form technology, which customizes the lens around a patient's specific prescription."

His patients have been very pleased with free-form manufacturing, which produces a highly accurate finished lens.

Brian uses lenses from innovative manufacturers, such as HOYA, a company that specializes in high-end industrial optics and glass lenses.

"They make very high quality lenses. They are thinner and lighter and there are anti-reflective lenses that decrease glare and have UV protection."

And they don't scratch like older anti-glare coatings. "They will replace them an unlimited number of times due to scratches. ... They offer that, knowing they won't have to."

Kavanaugh Eye Care utilizes the most advanced technologies in contact lens fitting and manufacture. It offers bifocal and multi-focal lenses.

"We also do a lot of custom disposable contact lenses." This is beneficial for folks who have astigmatism.

Brian said business is good, despite having opened during an unstable economic time.

"We are doing very well. It takes generally three to five years ... from what we call a 'cold start,' getting out of school with not a single patient. We opened in 2009, probably about the worst time to open a new business. But we are right on track."

He loves the Heights location, and many of his patients who have, in the past, had to travel for annual eye exams, are pleased to have his services in the neighborhood.

Stephano's Fine Art Gallery, one of the neighboring businesses, has art on display at Kavanaugh Eye Care.

"Stephano was kind enough to lend us some of his art work. It is for sale. It creates a vibe that we like."

Kavanaugh Eye Care won "Best in Eyewear" in the Soiree Platinum Service Awards for 2010, 2011, and 2012. In the new category, "Best Optometrist," Dr. Guice won that as well.

Stop in the shop at 5600 Kavanaugh Blvd., in the Heights Theatre Building, and check out the beautiful frames. For additional information or for an appointment, call 614-9900.

By Bobbi Nesbitt
This story first appeared in the April 2012 issue of Shoppe Talk.

Jonda White's Spology

Spaology

Many of Jonda White's clients have followed her from location to location for more than a decade, because she's just that good.

Mrs. White's Spaology, 3000 Kavanaugh Blvd., in Hillcrest, offers manicures, pedicures, waxing, eyelash extensions, and a full-service salon.

Barbara Pryor, former First Lady of Arkansas and wife of former U.S. Senator David Pryor, said that Jonda gives the best pedicures she's ever had.

"They are just wonderful. I go to Jonda every three or four weeks. It's just the biggest treat."

Mrs. Pryor said she has been going to Jonda for at least 10 years.

"She is not only a great nailologist, ... she is such a good person. I love her. I think of her as a good friend."

Barbara said she'd been with Jonda through some trials over the years, including breast cancer.

"She is a breast cancer survivor. All through everything, she just kept working. She is a hard worker. I admire her so. She is one of the most deserving people I know. She deserves every success, every happiness."

Another former First Lady of Arkansas, Gay White, wife of the late Governor Frank White, has been a client of Jonda's for about 13 years.

"I have been to some of the finest resorts around the world and have paid top dollar, and Jonda gives the best pedicures and manicures I've ever had."

Mrs. White said her visits to Jonda are always "a treat."

"She is just a lovely young woman. She has a sweet, gentle spirit, and I just enjoy being there. Some days I feel like talking, and some days I don't. She's sensitive to that. Some people will just talk your ear off. Jonda senses when you want to be quiet. She has a very calming spirit about her."

When Jonda was a little girl, her older sister, Audrey Cutts, a nail tech, would do her nails for her.

"And, I always said I wanted to grow up to be a nail tech."

Jonda said her sister has progressed to doing elaborate nail art, such as the skyline of New York City.

And Jonda does nail art too. "Nail art goes from putting feathers on the nails to foil strips and air brushing," she said.

It includes freehand painting involving different designs with color acrylics.

"My whole family could draw. I've always wanted to just pick up a brush and paint."

Jonda started her business 16 years ago in Little Rock. This is her fourth salon. And she loves what she does.

"I love giving back and helping people and making people feel good. Doing nails is therapy for me. I relax like I am working in the garden. And, then, I am the client's therapist also," she said with a laugh.

Dr. Roslyn L. Knutson, professor emerita in the Department of English at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, enjoys the ambiance of Jonda's Hillcrest shop and her artistic talents.

"I have been going to Jonda for about a dozen years now, and I would not go to anyone else. She is not just a nail tech; she is an artist. She works carefully and deliberately, getting the lines right. (I have a French manicure.) I've followed her to about four locations, and the place she has now is unquestionably the nicest. And she has upgraded to match the environment: added two pedicure chairs, acquired a good selection of shellac and gelish, and upgraded her nail dryer to one that takes just 30 seconds," Dr. Knutson said.

Roslyn said she likes the fact that Jonda is easy to talk with, but doesn't pry, and is flexible about appointment changes.

"Let me add one thing: Jonda is not a complainer. Things are right in her world, not wrong. And what is wrong, she confronts with equanimity. ... She is just a really neat lady."

This description of a full pedicure doesn't do Jonda justice, but it goes something like this. You're seated in a chair that gives you a back massage while your feet soak in warm water. Your toenails are trimmed, cuticles groomed, calluses removed. Then, you get a sugar scrub and a massage and polish. It's a routine you may have experienced at other salons, and it's a technically correct description. But, so is saying that the food is warm when it's served at McDonald's and it's warm when it's served at Brave New Restaurant. Worlds way apart.

"Her manicures and pedicures are the most relaxing thing imaginable, Suzann Barr of Little Rock, said. "She is very thorough, very methodical, very gentle. Her manicures and pedicures last longer than anyone else I know of. Her work is quality work, and it really lasts."

Mrs. Barr has been a client of Jonda's for 15 or 16 years.

"I have a great respect for Jonda. She works hard and wants to constantly upgrade her services. Her shop is immaculately clean. She cares about quality. She keeps up with the newest equipment and the latest products. It makes you feel like your are getting the best that's on the market."

Spaology offers pedicures for $40, shellac pedicures for $50, and an express pedicure for $25. A regular manicure is $25, and an express manicure is $18. You may opt for a paraffin dip, which is $10 more for feet and $5 more for hands.

Salon services include cuts, wash and set, color, hair extensions, foils and highlights.

Hair cuts are $20 for children under age 13, $25 for men and $40 for women. The cost of a trim for bangs or a beard is $10.

A shampoo and style is $25, a style with rollers and hair drying is $30, and a formal updo is $35.

Highlighting with a cap is $85, The cost of a foil weave and color is $55 for a face frame, $75 for a partial and $95 for a total highlighting. Semi-permanent color and permanent color are both $55 each.

Eyelash extensions are $25, and fill-ins are $18.

Jonda also offers bridal packages.

Lastly, let's hear something about Jonda from a woman who likes to keep her nails short, no art.

Naomi Hall, owner of TouchPoint Centre and president of the Arkansas State Board of Massage, has to keep her nails short, but needs to have her hands looking nice.

"I have been to other places, and they laughed at me with my short nails, asking why I wanted a manicure. Jonda never laughed at me," Ms. Hall said.

"I have a contract with a hospital and want to look professional in a hospital environment. I just think clean, well-manicured hands make a statement. I wouldn't go to anyone else."

And, then there are some social situations where Naomi would like to have a bit of nail length. She said Jonda "almost stealthily" helped her grow them out.

"It didn't interfere with working on my clients. She is just really kind of a master at working with me for what I need. And her pedicures and manicures last. Not even using the new shellacs, her manicures stay on me, and I am hard on my hands, in and out of water all day and digging in the (peace) labyrinth at TouchPoint."

Naomi said it had been absolutely wonderful to watch Jonda grow in the arena of business.

"She has had to deal with health set-backs and financial set-backs, yet she has been real focused on what her next step is going to be. It makes me want to give her my business. She's a young woman entrepreneur, and I am incredibly proud of her and have a deep respect for her. She's been through a lot and still comes out shining."

Jonda has gone from offering manicures and pedicures to also providing full-service salon services.

In the next two years, she hopes to open a full day spa that would also offer massages and facials.

"That's my dream. I love Hillcrest, but Hillcrest is too small to expand. But, I would always keep this one. I love the Hillcrest area, and I love where I am located. It's like a family. There is no competition. The salons all refer clients to me. All of the salons do great work. It's like one big happy family."

Jonda White Profile

Jonda White

Tell us about your family. I am married with three kids. My husband, Kevin White, is an electrician. My son, Eric Hill, is 17 and goes to Central. My daughter, Jordan Works, is 11 and goes to Carver. My step-son, Kavon White, is 19 and in the service.

Do you have any pets? I have a dog named Mpingo.

How did you come up with that name? Mpingo is a tree in Africa. When you cut it open, it's black. She's all black, an Akita. She will be two years old in July.

What's your favorite Little Rock restaurant? The Taj Mahal.

What do you like to read? Inspirational. I love the book, The Power of Now.

Is there anything you'd like to learn how to do? Yes, work on the computer and learn how to do all the new gadgets.

Do you support any charities? Yes. I am always giving back. I give to the Deaf and Blind school, the Symphony, and I do manis and pedis for the basketball team, for the Trojans. I also help a young lady trying out for AKA, a sorority; I helped her with her fees.

Do you have a favorite movie? The Lion King.

What would you do if you won a large lottery? I would pay all my bills off, buy a comfortable home to live in, and definitely give back. I would help the homeless, give to cancer research and try to help the system with foster kids, especially kids who have more than one sibling, so they can stay together. And I would try to help Haiti.

What do you watch on the tube? I love all the CSIs. My favorite is Criminal Minds. And now, I like the show, The Voice.

Is there anything you'd like to see Little Rock do differently? Help kids with values and morals and have activities for them. At the Dunbar school, they have a garden where they teach the kids how to plant things. Go back to hard work and the innocent days. And have more parks.

Dr. Blake Weber

Blake Weber
Dr. Blake H. Weber loves being a dentist, relieving pain both physical and psychological, and enjoying being part of his patients' lives, many of whom he has treated from their childhoods.

"I am very blessed to be able to enjoy what I do," Dr. Weber said. "I love what I do mostly because of the human contact. I see people from three to 93. A lot of patients I've been seeing since I started practice. These personal contacts are the great part about it.

"I've treated the children and watched the kids grow up. Seen them graduate from college and get married. It's been nice. It's really neat to be part of that and be connected to families."

Blake, who specializes in preventative and family dentistry, as well as cosmetic and implant restoration, has been in practice for 23 years.

His parents may have set him on the road to his profession with a joke. While other kids replied "policeman," "fireman" or "cowboy" to the question of what they wanted to be when they grew up, Blake's answer was a bit different.

"When I was a little kid, my parents thought it was a good laugh to teach me how to say 'orthodontist.' When anyone would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, I'd say 'orthodontist.' I can't remember actually wanting to do anything else (except dentistry)."

John Novelle of Maumelle, owner of two drug and alcohol treatment centers for adolescents, said one thing he likes about Dr. Weber is the warm, welcoming atmosphere of his office.

"It's just kind of a family thing. I walk in, grab a cup of coffee, share pictures," Mr. Novelle said.

"Blake has been my dentist since 1989, something like that. He did my daughter Lauren's teeth when she was two years old. She's 23 now, and my granddaughter, Kristin, her daughter, who is five years old, goes there. She doesn't have a great need for work. We just put her in the chair and make her comfortable with it.

"I would trust no other. I would not go to another dentist."

The base of Blake's practice is family dentistry, but he does a good number of cosmetic procedures, too. This side of his practice is heartwarming, with his biggest reward often being "a big hug around the neck."

Not all patients are that emotive. Blake remembered a teenage boy who had brown and white splotchy teeth replaced with porcelain veneers. Clearly, the teen was pleased when he looked at the result in the mirror, but he said very little.

"I ran into his mother ... who said, 'I can't tell you how much you did for "Billy." Literally, his personality has changed. He interacts with people. And he laughs.' When someone tells me, "it literally changed my personality,' those are really the coolest moments of what I do."

Then there are those folks who are terrified of going to the dentist. Blake said he understands their fears and works to make visits less stressful.

"We handle it two or three different ways. We encourage parents to bring their children in with them, as early as two or three years old, when they get their teeth cleaned. So kids see it's no big deal. The ones that already are (afraid) ... we sit down and visit with them and let them know that their fears are not uncommon, that a lot of people feel like that. Also that dentistry has changed a lot. And that we are going to let them know exactly what we are going to do. And, that they are in complete control. All they have to do is raise their hand, and we'll stop immediately.

"And then, there's nitrous oxide."

The fact that dentistry has changed a lot with advances in technology helps patients in both physical and psychological ways. The digital x-rays Dr. Weber uses greatly reduce exposure to radiation. He gets an image almost immediately and pops it up on a video machine, so that not only he, but his assistants and the patient can see. Also, he utilizes oral cameras that can snap photographs the patients can see. Light-activated bleaching allows for tooth whitening in a couple of hours. And, far better materials than mercury amalgams are available.

In addition to his practice, Blake works with a group of dentists who volunteer their skills for the Harmony Health Clinic on East Roosevelt Road. The non-profit clinic opened in December 2008 offering free medical care, and its free dental clinic opened in March 2009. It serves local residents ages 13 to 64 whose income does not exceed 200% of the Federal poverty level.

Since opening, it has provided $369,731 in free medical services and $517,943 in free dental services. In addition, it has given out $739,238 in free medications and performed $643,021 worth of free lab tests.

"The people there are so incredibly thankful," Blake said. "I am touched by my patients in my office every day. But the patients at the clinic are so thankful, many of whom are homeless and very disadvantaged, and I am touched by that as much as anything."

Story by Bobbi Nesbitt, February 2012 Shoppe Talk.

Getting to Know Dr. Blake Weber

Blake Weber

Tell us about your family. I have two teenage boys, both seniors at Central. Paul is 18, and Hunter is 17. I have a daughter, Jessica, who is 12 in 7th grade and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her mom. I am incredibly blessed with all three of my kids. They are smart and handsome and beautiful, really good kids.

Do you have any pets? I have Spot, a two-year-old rescue dog, and Buddy, who is an 11-week-old goldendoodle.

Goldendoodle? It's a standard poodle and a golden retriever (mix).

What do you like to read? I read a lot of different magazines, and I like spy thrillers. I like John La Carre and James Lee Burke. I like the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Robert Ludlum. Tom Clancy.

What's your favorite Little Rock restaurant? Brave New Restaurant is always exceptionally good. Trios is great, and Arthur's is great.

Where were you born? I was born and raised in Little Rock and went to public schools here and graduated from Parkview High School in 1979. I went all the way through Little Rock public schools.

Do you support any charities? I support Harmony Health Clinic and Camp Pfeifer and we do a lot of things through the office. We support different charitable auctions, offering tooth bleaching. We support eight to 10 organizations that way. I am active at the church (Pulaski Heights Christian Church) and on the board.

Is there anything you'd like to learn how to do? I did that about six to eight years ago. I took up flying. I was in my early 40s ... had to retest my brain and learn all that material.

What do you do in your spare time? I love to fly. And most of what I do revolves around relationships, kinships, and kids.

What do you watch on the tube? I'm getting addicted to The Iron Chef and Chopped. It's kind of laughable, because I don't cook that much. To be perfectly honest, I've tried to cut back on my TV watching.

What's your favorite city? Taos, New Mexico, or Pagosa Springs, Colorado. I really love it out west. If we go out of the country, I like literally 'end-of-the-road' places where no one speaks English.

Is there anything you'd like to see Little Rock do differently? I wish that somehow they'd find the way and the ability to complete the bike path. I love to bike ride.

Do you have a favorite movie? I've seen two incredible movies in the past week, Mission Impossible and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.


What would you do if you won a large lottery? The first thing, family things ... all my family members and extended family members, pay off their houses. And give a big chunk to the church and create a charitable organization. So, I've got a plan - if anybody wins and wants to share the booty.

Little Rock Events February 2012

Donate to FuRR by buying Avon

Avon fans can help Feline Rescue and Rehome by buying Avon products.

FuRR friend Penny Shore is running an email party to benefit FuRR from
now until February 8.

Anything purchased from her website will benefit the organization.

Visit http://pshore.avonrepresentative.com.

Click on "shop my eparty," select your items, and, at checkout, enter
FURRAISER in the code box.

If you order $30 or more, shipping is free and will be delivered to your
door in time for Valentine's Day.

For more information, call 661-0956 or visit saveacat@teamfurr.org.




Chili with a Kick
The 4th Annual Big Red Ball Charitable Foundation's Chili with a Kick will
be held 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. February 25 at Dickey-Stephens Park.

It will benefit Youth Home. Admission is $5.

The event will include games, a kickball tournament, a chili cook-off,
a jalapeno eating contest, live music, arts and crafts, and fare from
Hot Dog Mike.

Bands include Whale Fire, Booyah! Dad, The Year of The Tiger,
Grayson Shelton & War Chief, Suburban Legend, DNR,
Echo Canyon and Falcon Scott.

For information about participating as a chili cook, a player,
or to reserve booth space, contact Larry Betz at lrka@yahoo.com.


Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group will perform
7:30 p.m. February 14
and 15 and 1 p.m. and
7:30 p.m. February 16 at
Robinson Center Music Hall.

The group's popular
shows combine comedy,
music and technology
for fantastic performance
pieces. Loud, funny and
visually arresting fun for all ages.

Tickets are $24 - $51. 501-244-8800 or ticketmaster.com.








Shen Yun
Enjoy Shen Yun 7 - 9:30 p.m. February 27 & 28 at Robinson
Center Music Hall and discover the glory of classical
China's rich culture.

Shen Yun Performing Arts seeks to revive this majestic tradition
through beautifully choreographed dance, drama and music.

Tickets are $50 - $120. Charge by phone at 800-745-300, or visit ticketmaster.com.


Chamber Singers Event at Governor's Mansion

The Arkansas Chamber Singers will hold "A Valentine Soiree" 6:30 p.m.
February 9 at the Governor's Mansion.

Celebrate Valentine's Day with romantic music in a grand setting
featuring local singer Beau Humble.

Tickets are $65 per person. 377-1121.



Flower & Garden Show
The Arkansas Flower and Garden Show will be held
February 24 - 26 at the Statehouse Convention Center.

Landscape architect and author Chris Olsen will present
Five Seasons of Gardening at 11:45 a.m. February 25
and will be signing copies of his book all weekend.

Show times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

$8, $6 for seniors, and free for
children ages 12 or younger.

Parking is free at Dickey-Stephens Park.
A round-trip shuttle ride is $1 and
free for kids.

Chris Olsen







Arkansas Custom Knife Show

The 2012 Arkansas Custom Knife Show will be held February 18 and 19 at Robinson Center.

Admission is $5.

The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

arkansasknifemakers.com.






ASO's February Lineup
"Valentine's in New York" will be presented by the Arkansas Symphony
Orchestra February 11 and 12 at Robinson Center Music Hall.
Hear beloved hits from the stage with featured soloists.

ASO will present "Ode To Joy" February 25 and 26 at the music hall.
It includes Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Schoenberg's A Survivor
from Warsaw. Philip Mann will conduct.

ASO River Rhapsodies will present "Ode to Beethoven" 7 p.m. at the
Clinton Presidential Center.

arkansassymphony.org or 666-1761.


Love Poems Inspired Carmina Burana

The Little Rock Wind Symphony will present Carmina Burana
3 p.m. February 26 at Second Presbyterian Church,
600 Pleasant Valley Drive.

Jamie Lipton will be featured on the euphonium, and
Michael Chance will conduct.

Admission is $10 and $8 for seniors.
Free admission for students. For more information, call
666-0777 or visit lrwindsymphony.org.

Hay Ride at Pinnacle

Enjoy a hay ride followed by a cozy campfire
February 11 at Pinnacle Valley Road, a quarter
mile east of Highway 300. The ride is sponsored
by Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

$10 adults, $5 children ages 6 to 12. 868-5806.

The Floating Lotus
A dozen years ago, Cassandra Smith fell in love with yoga, and now folks in Little Rock are falling in love with her yoga studio, The Floating Lotus.

"I just love Cassandra," Pam Rusch of Little Rock said. "I started going when she opened her studio about two years ago, so I've been with her from almost the beginning. I always look forward to going. It's so warm and welcoming. I always feel really good after I leave. I've just become addicted to The Floating Lotus and Cassandra."

Ms. Rusch said she'd always been active and was a runner until an injury brought her to yoga.

"I just turned 54, and I feel stronger and healthier than I have ever felt in my life, and I've always exercised. Yoga is my real passion now," Pam said.

When Ms. Smith graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway in 1998, she was athletic too, but she was looking for a different type of exercise that was more calming and "not so harsh."

Cassandra bought a book about yoga and began practicing at home.

"After six months, I felt like I really needed guidance. I started taking classes with Katherine Rogers at Barefoot Yoga."

Then she began workshops and worked with other instructors.

"I started really falling in love with it."

Ms. Rogers told Cassandra that she should teach, and she took the advice and became certified in 2000. Then, she studied with a number of yoga instructors who were coming to Arkansas to teach in the early part of the decade, and later became "big names" in the yoga community. Later, she took individual instruction with Shiva Rea in California.

"There comes a point when you need to study with one person. Shiva has a background in dance, and I love dance. I met her in 2001, and knew she was the person I wanted to study with."

Cassandra began working at different gyms and day spas in 2008 and opened The Floating Lotus in 2009. Recently, she relocated the studio to a bright, colorful new space at 900 North University.

"Business has been good, very good, especially with the new digs, The space is very inviting, very welcoming."

Alana Tyson of Little Rock enjoys her classes at the new location. "Now she has this new, huge space. It's really gorgeous."

Ms. Tyson likes Cassandra's teaching style too.

"I think her style is kind of structured. She's got an intention in mind, and she works to help you get there. She teaches very gently, and she explains what is happening. You get a lot of information while you learn the poses. She tells you 'why.' I like knowing why. I think she invests in your foundational learning," Alana said.

She had attended other yoga classes that were sort of "free floating," where she was instructed to do one pose and then another, but with no real sense of progress. "Working with Cassandra, it's like we are moving toward the intended goal."

Cassandra said the practice of yoga has many benefits, including stress reduction, improved strength and flexibility, and the gaining of self knowledge. She said the Sanskrit word "yoga" literally means "yoke," from a root word meaning to unite or join.

"The practice helps settle the mind and enables you to get in touch with your body. You connect with your body in a way that is just not possible running on a treadmill and watching TV at the same time. Yoga turns the satellite dish inward. It allows you to come into your own body and experience what is there."

The physical movement of the poses helps to put you in a better mental place for meditation, she said.

"If someone comes to yoga to get more flexible, to lose some weight - whatever brings them, it's great. To just sit and meditate, that's so hard. The mind is like a brand new puppy. Tell it to sit, stay - you have to train the mind. If you go through the poses, you can come into a place where you can sit and meditate. You will be clearheaded, calm and relaxed. The poses prepare you for meditation."

The first class at The Floating Lotus is free.

"The first class is always free, and the reason I do that, in my journey, and I have been teaching for 11 years, I hear these negatives associated with it. Often times I find it's a Type A personality who went to a Iyengar class, which is a long, slow class with a focus on body alignment. But for them, that's not going to speak to them. I wanted it to be a free experience. Maybe it's for them, maybe it's not. The free class is a welcoming for the community to just be able to experience it for the first time. They are not out anything."

Cassandra teaches vinyasa flow yoga, which has much more movement than lyengar. She and other instructors at The Floating Lotus also offer restorative, therapeutic, and "hot" yoga. During hot yoga, the temperature in the studio is turned up to help muscles open up and stretch better.
The other yoga instructors there are: Mary Anne Wildman, who has been with Cassandra for two years and also offers physical therapy at the studio; Emma Gray, who has been there for a year; and Kali Empl, who started teaching there in July.

Cassandra said you need no special equipment to practice yoga. Just bring yourself.

Unlimited classes are $65 a month. There is no contract, and you may begin at any time during the month. A four-day class pass for use during one month is $40. A six-day class pass for use during a two-month period is $60. An 11-day pass for use during four months is $100. It's $13 to just drop in for a class.

Yoga classes are not the only adventures at The Floating Lotus. It's also an organic day spa offering facials, physical therapy, massage, waxing and eyelash extensions. It carries Eminence Organics, an organic skin care line that has been available since 1958.

Cassandra, who received her esthetician license in 2005, really enjoys doing facials. "I like to put people in a relaxed state. When I do a facial, people usually fall asleep."

Facials offered there include deep cleaning organic, biodynamic organic, Eminence paprika, Eminence yam and pumpkin enzyme peel, "fire and ice" with natural fruit acids, gentleman's facial, back facial, and ultrasound facial.

Microdermabrasion is available, as well as LED therapy, which is a non-invasive light treatment that reduces the signs of aging and promotes collagen production.

You can also avail yourself of wraps, Shirodhara warm oil therapy, and ultrasound skin treatments.

Massage services include Swedish, pre- and post-natal, sports, aromatherapy, deep tissue, hot stone, and reflexology. Pre- and post-natal massage is done by Kenley Throgmartin, a labor and delivery nurse at a Little Rock hospital.

For detailed information about spa services and prices, visit floatinglotusyogastudio.com.
Don't you need a bit of relaxation and healing in your life? A little bliss? Call Cassandra at 664-0172 or 940-9642 or e-mail yogafairy2003@yahoo.com.

Getting to Know Cassandra Smith

Cassandra Smith

What's your favorite Little Rock restaurant? I really like Sushi Cafe.

What's your favorite movie? Billy Elliot. It's an English film about a young boy who lost his mother. His coal miner father sends him to a boxing gym, where he stumbles onto a ballet class. He wants to learn ballet. It's about loving someone for what is their true nature. There's this moment at an audition when they ask him what he feels when he dances. He says, 'Like a bird, like I'm free, like electricity.' That's what yoga feels like.

Do you have favorite actors? Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

Is there anything you'd like to learn how to do? Oh, yeah. Lots of things. I would like to learn to write ... to tell a story more poetically.

Where were you born? Beebe, Arkansas.

How long have you lived in Little Rock? Since 1998.

Where did you go to school? Beebe and then UCA.

Where do you live? West Little Rock.

Tell us about your family. My mother lives in Beebe with my stepdad, and my father lives in Hot Springs with his wife. (Both couples) have great relationships with the other. I'm very blessed with that.

What's your favorite city? Venice Beach, California. I love that area. I go and do my teacher training out there. The beach is right there. It's like my own little slice of heaven.

Do you have any pets? I have two dogs. Jager is a 12-year-old Weimaraner, and Frank is two years old. He's a mixed breed.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Walk my dog and cook. I walk Frank. Jager is too old to walk.

Do you have a favorite writer? Tom Robbins and David Sedaris.

What do you like to watch on the tube? I love anything on HBO. Their shows are just phenomenal. And I'm really into Terra Nova.

What would you do if you won a large lottery? Give it all away. Secure the future for any future child, and, then, build my mom a house. I'd invest in seeing my mom happy, and, then, laying it out for different causes.

What are your favorite charities? CARE for Animals and Our House.

Do you have a favorite book? The Autobiography of a Yogi, by Yogananda. It is really one of the most profound books I've ever read from the aspect of spirituality.

If you could have a dream dinner party and invite any three people, who would you choose? Yogananda. I would love to be in his presence. the Dalai Lama and the Buddha. I would have a dinner party surrounded by great spiritual thinkers.