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SEED OF SUPPORT
“Our current location on University Drive has gotten the job done in the last several years, but if you didn’t know we were here, you wouldn’t know to come see us,” Thomas Avallone, owner of Maccentric, said. “At Shoppes at Bellemead, we’re going to be in a better location where people can drive by and know about us.

SOUL CAPITAL
Shreveport, besides being the center of the Ark-La-Tex, is also the center of a musical genre local historians. Most residents, including many of those who lived through it, aren’t aware that history was made here, they say. Now, there is a move under way to have Shreveport recognized as the Southern Soul Capital.

the cynic
Letters to the editor may be sent to: The Forum News Attn: Editorial Dept. 1158 Texas Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101 Or email: editor@theforumnews.com.

DOWNTOWN IN 1988
The history books tell of gun ghts in the streets, mayors killed in duels, a yellow fever epidemic that killed 25 percent of the population and millionaires a-plenty building ne, tall buildings.

CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Since becoming Public Service Commissioner in January 2003, I have held more than 150 town meetings. The Louisiana PSC District 5 seat I hold encompasses 24 parishes and nearly 1 million people. I try to visit each parish at least once a year. It is a challenge.

DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES
Up to now, the strategy eld has provided many valuable tools, frameworks and knowledge. The emphasis for the current tools and frameworks is around “positioning.” I have discussed many aspects of positioning during the last 22 months. Positioning seeks to have a rm develop a great strategy and business model and then “defend” that position.

GIFT OF HISTORY
The History Doctor column has appeared in The Forum for several years and I have been (and still am) honored to be part of this great publication. This is a good time to re ect on the column as part of this major anniversary issue.

I LOVE ‘FORUM’
Time ies when you’re having fun – so they say. That old saying has proven true for me in the nearly 15 years – that’s 672 columns – I have been a political columnist for The Forum. When I joined the publication in 1999, I quickly learned The Forum was not just a random group of people writing about their areas of expertise, it was a family.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
A few years ago former Forum editor Staci Parks asked me to select a couple of my 2011 columns to be submitted by Forum for consideration in by the Louisiana Press Association for annual awards recognition. I believe I’m a fair writer – but not so much an award winner.

HONEST CONVERSATION
In 1731, and long before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin wrote a column in his Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper that said “…if all Printers were determin’d not to print any thing till they were sure it would offend no body, there would be very little printed.

Shuttle to service Shreveport and Dallas – Fort Worth
iShuttle, a company that launched in 2010 in Shreveport-Bossier City, will charge passengers $100 each way, or $85 each way if both legs of the trip are booked in advance. Shuttle service will pick up customers at the requested location and depart Shreveport-Bossier City no later than 6 a.

Dear Readers,
Much of our photographic history must be pulled from the actual printed pages in our archives. In many instance, the print of the photo is no longer available and, sadly, more recent digital files evaporated during an electric storm around 2007. One thing you will note is that our early history will be presented in black and white.

Behind the Scenes: From the publisher, in his own words
It was 1988 and we were at the depths of the oil bust. My friend and business partner, the late Dennis Harckom, and I planned the publication from my back patio and a prime seat at The Village Grille. We were neighbors and had worked together at UpState Newsweekly.

OVARIAN CANCER
Ovarian cancer is estimated by the American Cancer Society to claim more than 14,000 lives in 2013. Though there has been little to no improvement in mortality rates, treatment for ovarian cancer remains most effective when the cancer is caught in its early stages, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

STAYING HEALTHY
(BPT) – By now you’ve probably heard the message loud and clear: Staying well through preventive steps is cheaper, healthier and easier for everyone than waiting until a health condition becomes an issue.

CHOLESTEROL
Cholesterol is a word heard tossed around often in health discussions but not fully understood by many people.

MID-HIGH MISERIES
It`s that time again; a new school year is here. While excitement and anticipation are in the air, anxiety may be lurking around, too. Adapting and transitioning from elementary school to middle school bring great stress on some preteens.

HEALTHY GEEZER
Breast cancer can also strike men. Most men who get breast cancer are white and in their sixties. However, the disease is uncommon in men. It represents only 1 percent of all breast cancers. Because of its rarity, many men aren’t aware it exists. And that’s a problem.

Created for Comfort
When you look at the home of MiLea Casten and husband Joshua Caulk, they seem well-settled into the Broadmoor mid-century home that they only recently purchased. The fresh, clean, newly refurbished home was a blank, but very nice palette from which to build their comfortable nest.

Dragon Boats on the Red River
Participants for the 5th annual Red River Dragon Boat Festival practice on the Red River. The festival is hosted by the Rotary Club of Shreveport. Through the festival, the Rotary Club funds projects in the areas of education, social services and community development.

The Grapevine
With the enormous success of the 1976 vintage, merlot became an overnight star in the California wine industry.

Cruising the Gulf Coast
Sometimes you nd the best fresh food when you least expect it. Piling into the car for a road trip, in just six hours my best friend and I had sea air whipping through our hair, a lovely view of a storm coming in across the Gulf and our rst fresh catch of the day.

TALK of the TOWN
WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT, BAND OR BAR/NIGHTCLUB LISTED IN “TALK OF THE TOWN”? EMAIL INFORMATION THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT DATE TO EDITOR@THEFORUMNEWS.COM..

New kid on the block
Jared Watson, the artistic director for Stage Center, seems to be taking the situation in stride. He said his group had been planning to produce “Virginia Woolf” since last October. He reported they were somewhat surprised that another troupe added it to its season.

Premier Race
Whether you’re a racing enthusiast or rst-time spectator, come post time expect the Super Derby to deliver a day of racing as it showcases America’s top 3-year-old thoroughbred talent. The well-anticipated Sept.

Playoff System
While college football has of cially kicked off its season, high school football and the National Football League will soon have footballs ying across elds everywhere.

Fest 2.0
Leigh Chambers of the Bossier Arts Council agrees. “Last year, companies and nonpro ts participated,” she said. “But this year they’re more collaborative. We’re strengthening community partnerships as well as relationships between Shreveport and Bossier.

‘Warhol of the West’
A bit of serendipity brought master printmaker Richard Duardo to Shreveport. After a happenstance on an airplane with William Joyce, Moonbot Studios co-founder, Duardo found himself interested in visiting Shreveport.

On the Scene
To be included in OTS, email your high-res photos to editor@theforumnews.com.

On the Scene
To be included in OTS, email your high-res photos to editor@theforumnews.com.