• Robin Williams – The Face of Inner Pain

    It seems nearly impossible to fathom that someone as brilliant and funny as Robin Williams could be so tortured emotionally that he takes himself out of the human race. Yet, last week, one by one, each of us across the whole globe, fixed our attention on the sad news of this beloved actor’s suicide. Sometimes, a blip of news in the vast sea of information we are bombarded with daily, seems to slap us so hard in the face that we can almost hear the collective groan rippling through space and time. Then we all try our best to reckon with reality. And what a devastating reality Robin Williams’ death reveals - that someone who, by his very nature, brought

    Aug 26,
    - by Toni Becker

  • Neighbors: A Widow’s Tale

    "I had tried to impress very strongly upon my girls: Please don't leave your father's house to go directly to your husband's house. Take at least 6 months to learn to take care of yourself...That's because I never knew how to get on by myself; as a result, I'm ignorant of a lot of things that I shouldn't be now."   I spoke the other day with a friend who suffered a loss, in the autumn of 2003, like no other she had ever experienced. That was the season in which her walk here with her beloved husband came to a close, the season he passed away after a protracted and difficult illness. Almost five years on, I wondered whether

    Jan 30,
    - by Toni Thompson

  • Way of the Entrepreneur: Sliver—Silver and Steel Jewelry

    "It's not your mama's jewelry store---unless your mama's really cool." ---Bryan Morgan Have you checked out the chic, distinctive, sometimes-edgy jewelry designs featured at Sliver, Bryan Morgan's new shop on North Westwood Boulevard? With Valentine's Day just a few weeks away, now might be the ideal time to pop in and have a look at the many unique creations on display at Sliver, where veteran jeweler Morgan specializes in pieces fashioned in sterling silver and stainless steel. Offering baubles, bangles, and beads ranging from the strikingly elegant to the downright funky, Sliver is that rare jeweler's equipped to accessorize patrons for the office, a gallery opening, fine dining, or a knock-down-drag-out battle of the garage bands.

    Jan 25,
    - by Toni Thompson

  • Two Worlds, One Name, One Blood, Part V: Myrtle’s Place—“As Seen On Oprah”!

    Late last year, Oprah Winfrey sent line producer David Rivera on a final trip to Poplar Bluff to film Marion West and Vy Higginsen---"The DNA Cousins"---as part of her special Dr. Martin Luther King Day television tribute. At that time, Rivera and a video crew filmed Marion West at home; at a big bash for three of his New York cousins, including Higginsen; and at that age-old, bustling nerve center of Poplar Bluff life, Myrtle's Place---the diner of legend, the barbeque haven known by all for miles. Rivera had been looking to shoot inside a "typical small-town diner", a popular spot with a bit of flavor and history; Mack West told him that Myrtle's was the place to go. This worked out

    Jan 23,
    - by Toni Thompson

  • AT&T Maintenance Tonight

    As part of a scheduled upgrade to our main connection to the Internet, AT&T will be performing maintenance tonight between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM. They do not anticipate any downtime during this work, but we wanted to inform you of it just in case.

    Jan 22,
    - by semoadmin

  • Two Worlds, One Name, One Blood, Part IV: Spotlight on Vy Higginsen

    Marion West's primary link to the New York branch of West descendants is his cousin Vy Higginsen, a multi-talented arts advocate and businesswoman who burst onto the scene in 1983 with her Off-Broadway hit musical Mama, I Want to Sing! With husband Ken Wydro, director/producer Higginsen co-wrote the acclaimed gospel extravaganza, based on the life and aspirations of her eldest sister, '60s recording artist Doris Troy---who portrayed her own mother in the play. Mama's route to success is the stuff of American legend: no "household names" attached to the production; relatively modest funding and promotion; Harlem location, a considerable distance uptown from "Theater Row" itself. But stellar vocal performances and positive word of mouth powered Mama through over 2,200 shows;

    Jan 18,
    - by Toni Thompson
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