Brick & Elm | January/February 2023

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

PHOTO BY ELLIE BOYETT

PHOTO BY SHAIE WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY KAIT BRADFORD BELLMON

AMARILLO’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHERS

Michele McAffrey mm@brickandelm.com

PUBLISHERS

Michele McAffrey mm@brickandelm.com

Jason Boyett jb@brickandelm.com

Jason Boyett jb@brickandelm.com

DESIGNER

Kayla Morris km@brickandelm.com

DESIGNER Kayla Morris km@brickandelm.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kait Bradford Bellmon

Ellie Boyett

Angelina Marie Scott Thomas Shannon Richardson Mason Dudley Gray Gillman

Venice Mincey Shannon Richardson Shaie Williams

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Chip Chandler Andy Chase Cundiff

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Chip Chandler Andy Chase Cundiff Wes Reeves

Julie Grimes Ruthie Landelius Ryan McSwain Patrick Miller

Wes Reeves Karen Welch Jim Womack

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hen I look back over the past few months, it feels like ages since I last wrote an editor’s note, and then at other times the weeks have flown by. In the middle of January, it seemed my days of typing up my last-minute thoughts prior to printing a magazine were over. And then … a miracle.

WWe finished this issue just days before Christmas, with holiday preparations piled on top of our usual last-minute production details. It was stressful. The pressure to meet our press deadline can be immense anyway. Pair it with the requisite hustle and bustle of Christmas, and, well, it’s easy to forget to appreciate the simple joy of friends and family. (Especially, when you’re an overachiever like me.)

My longtime writing partner Jason Boyett became my new business partner and Brick & Elm was born. This “hyper-local” magazine was created in meetings at our respective homes, and it’s the compilation of everything we’ve ever hoped a Panhandle-focused publication could be. The community outpouring for our new project has been overwhelming in the best way. My friends and local businesses have sent streams of encouraging messages of support. Now I truly know what it means to say my cup overflows

This is the first of many fantastic Amarillo-centric issues created by a true dream team—Jason and the incomparable Kayla Morris. I’m thrilled beyond measure to share Brick & Elm with you. Thanks for reading.

Luckily, our talented group of contributors reminded me to slow down. I smiled as each column came in and a common theme developed: You’re not alone. Breathe. Be thankful. Be mindful. Take care of yourself. I cherished every word. Our goal for this first issue of 2023 was to inspire. I can feel the empathy of each columnist, see the vein of hope throughout our features, see the joy and beauty in the faces of each person. Some stories have a religious element. Others don’t. But all of them carry inspiration. We wanted to share the intentional, good work that’s being done in our city by the intentional, good people who are the backbone of the Panhandle. Meanwhile, we have wonderful plans for this year, and trust you’ll continue to follow along with us as we strive to foster more connections in our community.

Brick & Elm Magazine is published bimonthly by Edgebow Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

BRICK & ELM (ISSN 2770-2529), is published bi-monthly by Edgebow Media LLC, 1610 S. Washington St., Amarillo, TX 79102. Periodicals Postage paid at Amarillo, TX, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Edgebow Media LLC, PO Box 2104, Amarillo, TX 79105.

ll the best parts of my career began in the Amarillo College Journalism Department. There, in the mid1990s, I learned to write fast. I learned to edit. I learned desktop publishing, design and photography. But what I learned most of all is that I really liked magazines. I ended up the editor of AC’s award-winning campus magazine, AC Current, and fell in love with the process of creating a publication, start to finish.

IAhad never visited Prayer Town until this issue. Sure, I’d seen the sign on my way to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado, and I knew the rolling grasslands hid a convent of some sort, but I’d definitely never been there. Touring that property and meeting the sisters on a sunny December day was so much fun—and as encouraging as it was fascinating. I’m inspired by their simple lives, their radical commitment and transparent joy. Then, for another feature, I met Jolena Watson for the first time and was moved by her own obedience and faith.

Here I am again, more than a quarter-century later. For years, Michele and I have worked together telling stories about our city. A few months ago we decided the time was right to launch a new, sophisticated, independent magazine about Amarillo. It feels appropriate that our first issue covers topics like trail-building, business reopenings, creative problem-solving and breathing new life into historic structures. We feel like all of those are metaphors for Brick & Elm, and maybe for print magazines in general.

So here’s to fresh starts and a new way to shine a spotlight on the city we love. Thanks for reading. We’re honored that you’re here with us, at the beginning.

This isn’t an intentional “faith issue,” but religion serves as a backdrop for so much of life in this area. Regardless of your faith tradition—or even if you don’t practice one— you’ll find something to inspire you in these pages. Maybe it’s the devotion of the sisters, or the entrepreneurial spirit of the Soled Out guys, or the enduring legacy of AJ Swope. Meanwhile, I’m just as inspired by two new partnerships you’ll see in this magazine: a collaboration with the Better Business Bureau and a new Where in the 806 section that connects Brick & Elm with Panhandle PBS, supported by our friends at Pak-A-Sak. We love combining forces to highlight the things we love about this area, and January is a great time to try something new. Happy New Year!

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1501 S. Coulter St. | Amarillo, TX 79106

KAYLA MORRIS

Kayla has been designing professionally for local businesses and nonprofits for more than 10 years. Kayla was raised in the Panhandle and graduated with a design degree from West Texas A&M University. When not designing she loves spending time outdoors with family and friends.

SHANNON RICHARDSON

Shannon has been a commercial/ advertising photographer for almost 35 years. His work can be seen at shannonrichardson.com.

RYAN MCSWAIN

Ryan is the author of the horror thriller Monsters All the Way Down and the superhero meta fantasy Four Color Bleed He’s written for the best industries in Texas. With his wife and two children, he’s happy to call Amarillo home. You can find him at ryanmcswain.com.

SHAIE WILLIAMS

Shaie is a portrait photographer with a passion for storytelling. He shoots for a number of local media outlets, and enjoys wedding, commercial and nonprofit event photography. See his work at williamspics.smugmug.com.

VENICE MINCEY

Venice is a natural light photographer, specializing in senior, family and child photography. Her passion is photographing high school seniors, especially those who might not have the opportunity to have professional photos taken. Venice has been taking photos for more than 20 years. See her work at veniceminceyphotography.com.

KAREN WELCH

Karen is the senior content producer for Panhandle PBS. She joined the station after spending 28 years in print journalism—26 of them at the Amarillo Globe-News. She is the winner of a Regional Emmy Award and more than a dozen individual or team reporting awards. Karen is a local, born and raised in Amarillo, and earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from West Texas A&M University.

JULIE GRIMES

Julie is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food writer and editor. She was Senior Food Editor at Southern Living and Cooking Light magazines, and her work has appeared in Garden & Gun, Women’s Health, and Fine Cooking, among others. Grimes is a Texas Tech graduate and recently relocated back to Texas, settling in Amarillo where she’s looking for her next food adventure. See her work at theblacksheepkitchen.com.

KELLI BULLARD

Kelli held various positions in her early career, from radio DJ to medical receptionist to communications director. In recent years, she worked in the nonprofit sector, directing programs, operations, and marketing. Nowadays, you can find her and husband Steve hitting the road as often as possible to travel, hike, camp, and explore new places.

KAIT BRADFORD BELLMON

Kait is the owner of Three Feather Photo Co, a local lifestyle and wedding brand that specializes in destination elopements. She and her husband are raising their son in Canyon, exploring the Panhandle and going skiing every chance they can. See her work at threefeatherpho.co and @threefeatherphotoco.

ELLIE BOYETT

An Amarillo native and 2021 graduate from West Texas A&M University, Ellie is also a communications professional, occasional model and awardwinning photographer. She loves her hometown of Amarillo but also loves to travel, and has recently spent time in France, Switzerland and the UK.

WES REEVES

Wes was raised in Wellington and has lived in Amarillo since the early 90s. He serves as chairman of the Potter County Historical Commission and as a member of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission board of directors. Through his writing, poetry, storytelling and community involvement he seeks to engage people of all ages in appreciating the diversity and richness of the Texas Panhandle experience, past and present.

CELEBRATING INSPIRATION

Austin Hose is celebrating 55 years in Amarillo. Daniel Cramer, CEO of Austin Hose , is optimistic for 2023 because of their new 100,000-square-foot hydraulic hose manufacturing facility being built right here in Amarillo. The $10 million facility will be on 20.7 acres at South Georgia Street and

East Farmers Avenue. It is made possible in part by a partnership with the AEDC and will be completed in approximately two years. Mr. Cramer is proud that Amarillo will continue to be the “hub of his company” and that he’s “an Amarillo native and loves living and working in The Panhandle because of its great people.”

For more than 30 years, the Amarillo EDC has helped businesses prosper by finding the land, facilities and support they need to succeed. With our resources, we can provide you

The dawning of a new year traditionally marks the halfway point of the Amarillo arts calendar, and the first two months of 2023 are packed full of options, from theatrical favorites to symphonic masterworks. And the rest of the entertainment scene looks just as busy, with major concerts from big-time stars, notable movie releases and tons more fun. Here are some highlights of the next two months, and make sure to subscribe to the Brickly and Flavorillo newsletters for weekly and biweekly picks.

January

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: Civic Amarillo and the Broadway Spotlight Series opens its season with a fresh take on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rocking version of the gospels on Jan. 3 and 4 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium. Other arts highlights include a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 by Chamber Music Amarillo on Jan. 7 at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive; Chinese dance company Shen Yun at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; a screening of the rarely performed opera Fedora on Jan. 14 as part of The Met: Live in HD series at Cinemark Hollywood 16; the uproarious murder comedy Clue from Jan. 19 to 29 on the Amarillo Little Theatre Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle; Amarillo Symphony’s performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto and Franz Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 and 21 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.; Lone Star Ballet’s educational dance concert Rainforest on Jan. 26 and 27 in the Globe-News Center; West Texas A&M University’s Faculty Grand Recital at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall; and WT Opera’s A Night at the Opera gala on Jan. 28 in the Alumni Banquet Hall.

CLINT BLACK AND LISA HARTMAN BLACK: The married country stars bring their Mostly Hits & the Mrs. tour to town on Jan. 28 for a show with daughter Lily Pearl Black in the GlobeNews Center for the Performing Arts. Other concert highlights for the month include country acts Don Stalling & The Divided on Jan. 13, Palmer Anthony on Jan. 14 and Tanner Lane on Jan. 21, all at the Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.

TRI-STATE OPEN CHILI CHAMPIONSHIP: The annual fundraiser for Make-A-Wish returns, with cook teams vying for your tastebuds at noon, Jan. 14, in the Rex Baxter Building on the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds. Hopefully, your appetite will rebound a few days later for The Big Cheese, a mac-and-cheese cook-off for The Hope & Healing Place at 6 p.m. Jan. 19, also in the Rex Baxter Building. Other events to watch out for include Amarillo Wranglers home games on Jan. 6 and 7 and Jan. 13 and 14 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum.

M3GAN: An AI doll develops an extraordinarily strong bond with its creator’s young niece in this hotly anticipated new horror

film opening Jan. 6. Also scheduled to hit theaters are actionthriller Plane and Tom Hanks-starring drama A Man Called Otto on Jan. 13; thriller Missing on Jan. 20; and sci-fi comedy Distant on Jan. 27. Watch for expansions of Oscar hopefuls throughout the month, too, as well as special theatrical engagements of Japanese action film Shin Ultraman on Jan. 11 and 12 and Pinkfong Sing-Along Movie 2: Wonderstar Concert, featuring the musical … geniuses behind Baby Shark, on Jan. 28 and 29.

February

LYLE LOVETT & HIS ACOUSTIC TOUR: One of the best singersongwriters in the state returns to the Globe-News Center for an intimate concert Feb. 1. Other concert highlights include Tejano stars Los Tigres del Norte on Feb. 11 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; country singers Jacob Stelly on Feb. 10 and Hunter Lamberth on Feb. 11, both at the Golden Light Cantina; and Texas country-rocker Joey Green on Feb. 18 at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road.

AMARILLO SYMPHONY: The orchestra goes celestial with its Star Wars and Beyond: An Evening of John Williams at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 and 25 in the GlobeNews Center. Other arts performances and events to watch for include contemporary musical drama If/Then from Feb. 2 to 12 in the ALT Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle; an art exhibition by Marcus Melton from Feb. 2 to 24 in WT’s Dord Fitz Formal Gallery; Amarillo Opera’s Sounds for the Soul featuring Grammy-winning baritone Reginald Smith Jr. on Feb. 5 at First Baptist Church, 1208 S. Tyler St.; WT Theatre’s performances of Stephen Sondheim’s morbid classic Sweeney Todd from Feb. 10 to 12 and Feb. 16 to 18 in the Branding Iron Theatre; Chamber Music Amarillo’s Handel: Great Keyboard Suites on Feb. 11 in the Amarillo College Concert Hall Theatre; the WT Symphonic Band on

Visit brickandelm.com for Chip’s expanded event coverage and movie reviews. Better yet, subscribe to our email newsletters for breaking entertainment news every week!

CHIP CHANDLER

Chip is the city’s arts and entertainment expert, having covered area events since 1998. Stay up to date on local happenings with Chip’s Can’t Miss picks in every issue.

Feb. 12 in Northen Recital Hall; the Harrington String Quartet on Feb. 17 in the AC Concert Hall Theatre; the WT Chorale on

on Feb. 15 at the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds, and Amarillo Wranglers home games on Feb. 10 and 11, Feb. 17 and 18 and

A DOWNTOWN AFFAIR

The PARC held its annual fall fundraiser on the rooftop of the parking garage at Sixth and Buchanan on Oct. 22. The event included live music from The Band Monarch, a full catered meal, local artist demonstrations, and a live auction. (Provided Photos)

The Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee hosted a chili cook-off fundraiser on Nov. 9 for its 10th Avenue Project. Held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, the event featured 11 cooking teams with three best chili winners. (Provided Photos)

Burrowing Owl RECOMMENDS

The Rabbit Hutch: A Novel 2022 National Book Award for Fiction

An online obituary writer. A young mother with a dark secret. A woman waging a solo campaign against rodents— neighbors, separated only by the thin walls of a low-cost housing complex in the once bustling industrial center of Vacca Vale, Indiana.

Welcome to the Rabbit Hutch.

Ethereally beautiful and formidably intelligent, Blandine shares her apartment with three teenage boys she neither likes nor understands, all, like her, now aged out of the state foster care system that has repeatedly failed them, all searching for meaning in their lives.

The Rabbit Hutch is a savagely beautiful and bitingly funny snapshot of contemporary America, a gorgeous and provocative tale of loneliness and longing, entrapment and, ultimately, freedom.

PCS FESTIVAL OF TREES

Panhandle Community Services held its eighth annual Festival of Trees fundraiser on Nov. 18 at the Derrick Event Center. The event featured a live auction of donated predecorated trees. (Provided Photos)

The annual Electric Light Parade transformed downtown Amarillo on Dec. 2. Hosted by Center City of Amarillo, this year’s parade included dozens of lighted floats on Polk Street, preceded by the lighting of the city Christmas tree at the Amarillo Civic Center. (Provided Photos)

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PPHM CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

AMARILLO HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

On Dec. 3, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum hosted its annual Christmas Open House. The museum was filled with free holiday activities for the community. The Open House also collected canned food for the High Plains Food Bank. (Provided Photos)

Amarillo performing arts entities joined forces to raise money for Amarillo Angels, Colorful Closets Amarillo, and High Plains Food Bank with a Holiday Spectacular on Dec. 6. Emceed by Jackie Kingston, the event included performances from Amarillo Art in Motion, Amarillo Performing Arts Center, the Caprockettes, Don Diamond Dancers, Flying Fitness, Impact Expressions School of the Arts, Nova Gore, Amarillo Sandie Steppers, Unique Steppers and the WT Spirit Squad. (Provided Photos)

ANOTHER CHANCE HOUSE’S HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

The second annual Home for Christmas fundraiser was held Dec. 10 at Another Chance House. Sponsored by Sims + Architects, the evening included local food trucks, Christmas carols, photos with Santa, and holiday activities. (Provided Photos)

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NORTHSIDE TOY DRIVE BLACK TIE AFFAIR

The annual Black Tie Affair, hosted by Northside Toy Drive, was held at the Civic Center Complex Heritage Room on Dec. 16. The formal event included dinner, live music by the Brassaholics and DJ Cleve, dancing, casino games and a toy drive. (Provided photos, courtesy of Lauren Corea)

WILD WEST WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER

RESCUE AND RECOVERY

Frozen mice are very expensive,” says Stephanie Brady, founder of Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. They’re nearly $1 per mouse, and represent one of the primary food sources for the raptors being nursed back to health by this nonprofit, which is located at 2901 N. Soncy Road, not far from Wildcat Bluff Nature Center.

In recent weeks, Brady and her team of volunteers have cared for two Ferruginous hawks. One arrived underweight due to a parasite. Wild West has been nursing the raptor back to health.

But she doesn’t just care for mouse-eating birds of prey, which in the past have included golden eagles, juvenile bald eagles, and a variety of owls. The nonprofit also rehabs injured or sick porcupines, skunks, opossums, raccoons, foxes, squirrels, turtles, bats, turkey vultures … it’s a long list.

A former vet tech, Brady once worked for a Metroplex-area veterinarian who sidelined as a wildlife rehabber. The work captivated her and she applied for an official Texas Parks & Wildlife animal rehabilitation permit, which allowed her to care for a wild animal on her own property (subject to state inspection).

Life brought her to Amarillo in 2015, and Brady discovered she was the only permitted rehabber in a region the size of West Virginia. Animal Control and Texas Parks & Wildlife began bringing her injured or abandoned animals: 200 that first year, then more than 750. As the numbers grew into the thousands, Brady knew it was time for formal action. Today, several volunteer rehabbers work under her permit at the Wild West headquarters on an acreage leased from Wildcat Bluff.

It’s now the only state and federally permitted rehab facility

across all 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle, and together, Brady and her team rehab more than 3,000 animals a year. (Due to the intricacies of permitting, they also rehab raccoons from the Lubbock area, a total of 80 in 2022.)

Infant animals may reside at Wild West for up to six months. Injured animals may be on premises for six weeks before safe release into the wild. That requires a lot of frozen mice, exam gloves, towels, medications, disinfectant, cages and other supplies. “We apply for grants but don’t get any federal or state money at all,” Brady says. She is currently raising funds for a facility to house educational animals—like Stinkers, a rehabilitated, de-scented and now domesticated skunk—separate from rehab animals.

Call 806-680-2483 for 24-hour emergency service (injured wild animals) or visit wildwestwildlife.com to learn more.

West Texas A&M announced the hiring of Josh Lynn as the 29th head coach in Buffalo Football history. Lynn, widely regarded as one of the nation’s up-and-coming head coaches, comes to Canyon following six seasons at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

WTAMU received a $2.1 million planned gift from President Emeritus Russell C. Long and wife Natrelle Hedrick Long to establish a new companion animal science program.

Hamlet-Heights Heritage named its Black Man and Woman of the Year in December.

RJ Soleyjacks, principal of Hamlet Elementary School, and Idella Jackson, constable for Precinct 4, were honored with the first-ever award.

Education Credit Union announced the promotion of Marcus Smith as President and Chief Executive Officer. Smith has been with ECU since 2014, most recently as the interim CEO since July.

Xcel Energy employees and contractors in Texas and New Mexico, with support from the Xcel Energy Foundation, raised more than $665,000 through this year’s United Way campaign, surpassing last year’s total by 13 percent.

Brown & Fortunato announced that attorneys Kianna Sitarski and Joe Shamp have been admitted to the State Bar of Texas. Sitarski joined Brown & Fortunato as a member of the Health Care Group. Shamp joined Brown & Fortunato as a member of the firm’s Corporate Group.

Heal the City Free Clinic announced the addition of Dr. Trey Bowen, the first on-staff physician in the organization’s history. Dr. Bowen received his undergrad at Texas A&M University, attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern, and is currently completing his internal medicine residency at the YaleNew Haven Hospital Primary Care Program in Connecticut. He will begin his career at Heal the City in the summer of 2023.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School has announced the selection of Jessica Morris as Head of School. While she will officially begin her tenure on July 1, 2023, Morris will begin her transition over the spring trimester. Morris came to Amarillo from St. George Episcopal School in San Antonio, where she was the Director of Communication and Community Engagement since 2015, and served as the Assistant to Head of School from 2013-2015.

Brown & Fortunato announced that Blinn Combs and Jordan Vogel have joined the firm. Combs and Vogel joined Brown & Fortunato as members of the firm’s Health Care Group.

Northwest Texas Healthcare System, Freestanding Emergency Department at Town Square, has received the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Bronze Level accreditation for Geriatric Care.

Northwest Physicians Group welcomed Dr. Sean Daniel Anderson to the practice in November. He specializes in Family Medicine.

Northwest Texas Healthcare System Therapy Center celebrated its one-year anniversary on Nov. 10. The Therapy Center opened for expansion of space to accommodate growth. Today, it offers physical, occupational and speech and language rehabilitation.

Education Credit Union funded scholarships for 30 WT students in November. The students took part in WT’s Money Management Bootcamp, a six-week series of seminars sponsored by the Education Credit Union Buff $mart program. ECU became a naming sponsor of WT’s Buff $mart Program in September 2020.

Northwest Texas Healthcare System nurses were selected by the Texas Nurses Association–Panhandle Great 25 this fall. Jill Haynes, RN, Children’s Hospital, Pediatrics; Suzanne Anderson, RN, Heart Hospital, Cardiology; Andrea DeLoach, RN, MSN, CEN, CPHQ, Director of Freestanding Emergency

Evans Langat was promoted to Senior Accountant with the Amarillo Area Foundation

Departments; and Teresa McClain, RN, BSN, CPHRM, LNC-Csp, Director Risk Management, were honored.

Mesalands College was awarded $5,000 from the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Emergency Aid Program to help benefit students who are in financial emergencies. The College maintains an emergency aid fund for students to ensure their success.

Katie Sherman of Physicians Surgical Hospitals was recently honored with The First DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses at PSH. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

FirstBank Southwest was chosen as a recipient of the 2022 American Banker “Best Banks to Work For” Award. The American Banker program is a survey competition to determine which banks are the nation’s best employers. FBSW has received the award for three years in a row.

Amarillo College was presented with the prestigious Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board during that august body’s Higher Education Leadership Conference in December in Austin. The College was recognized for its innovative Development Education/Corequisite Program.

AC Student Media won 14 awards at the Texas Community College Journalism Association (TCCJA) convention at the University of North Texas. The contest recognized work published by AC students during Fall 2021 and Spring 2022. Among the prizes were Overall Excellence in Magazine and first-place recognition for Audio News and Video News.

Amarillo College announced that its Communications and Marketing Department won five national collegiate marketing awards at the 10th Annual Education Digital Marketing Awards, with three at the topmost Gold level: Total Digital Marketing Program; Social Media Content Campaign; and Athletic Promotion.

AC student Casey Niccoli, a mass media major at Amarillo College, captured first place in the Creative Video category at the fall conference of the College Media Association on Oct. 29 in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Asanga Ranasinghe was named AC’s first Distinguished Research Scientist this past November.

1910 PR, West Texas A&M University’s student-run public relations firm, marked the fifth anniversary of its public launch in November. The firm worked completely remotely this past semester under the direction of seniors Tomi Moralez, Meredith Simpson and Elle Waters.

Renee Padilla, a junior animal science major at WTAMU, was honored as the University’s Intern of the Year. Padilla worked from May through August as an intern at the Cargill Protein facility in Friona.

Eight BSA Health System nurses were honored at the Panhandle Great 25 Nurses celebration. Alice Conner, RN, Pediatrics Department; Julia Burkhard, BSN, RN, Critical Care Unit; Hazel Plexico, RN-BC, Clinical Education; Rhonda Billington, RN, Cardiac Cath Lab and Medical Intensive Care Unit; Ashley Paetzold, RN, Orthopedics and Neurology Department; Jamie Milton, BSN, RNC-NIC, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Teresa Moore, RN, Critical Care Unit; and Jacinda Perez, RN, Nursing Services received the award.

Dr. Carolyn Baum, assistant professor of communication at WTAMU, was named University Educator of the Year by the Texas Speech Communication Association.

City of Amarillo (COA) Assistant City Manager Andrew Freeman recently received the Credentialed Manager designation from International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Freeman is one of more than 1,300 local government management professionals currently credentialed through ICMA.

Dr. Becky Eschmann, a faculty member with the Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach partnership between Texas A&M University’s School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and West Texas A&M University’s Paul Engler College of Agriculture & Natural Sciences, recently earned the prestigious American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine Diplomate certification.

Interstate Bank announced the retirement of Market President Mike Blasingame Blasingame served the bank for 20 years, and has held the positions of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President President, Commercial Lender, Chief Lending Officer, and most recently, Market President as well as a member of the bank’s Board of Directors. Mike is a Perryton native.

The family-owned Western Group announced the formation of Odyssey Design and Manufacturing, Inc., adding a sixth entity, based in Brady, to this growing roster of companies. The Brady location is headed by President Mark Griffin. Beginning in 1963 with the Amarillo, Texas-based Western Sales and Testing, Inc., Western Group now includes six companies serving the compressed gas industry.

Cross Pointe Auto won BBB’s International Torch Awards for Ethics competition in the small business category. The BBB International Torch Awards recognizes companies in North America that are dedicated to upholding ethical business practices throughout their company and promoting trust in the marketplace (see page 28).

Forbes.com recently named Amarillo as one of the top ten best places to live in the Lone Star State.

ELEVATING AMARILLO

As a young leader, serving on a Board of Directors for an organization is almost a rite of passage. It’s an avenue for learning, servant leadership, and can contribute to career growth. However, board service can be overwhelming for a novice. Local government committees and commissions can be intimidating (and confusing). How should you review financial documents or legal disclosures? How do you know what you’re responsible for? Elevate Amarillo dug into the basics of board service during its recent Foundations of Service & Stewardship event with local leaders and this is what participants learned:

THE BENEFIT IS MUTUAL

Not only does board service allow a young leader to gain knowledge and experience in many different areas, it also allows board members who have served for years in their organizations to experience new, fresh ideas and perspectives. The diversity of thought and viewpoint is invaluable to their current and future strategies. Including the next generation of leaders opens opportunities for growth.

LEADING FROM THE BACKSEAT

As a board member, it’s critical to fully understand your role in the organization. A useful metaphor shared placed us in the backseat of a taxi cab. As a board, you give the destination. You don’t dictate the best route or the speed. You’re not in control. The staff of the organization is in charge of driving the vehicle. You’re in the backseat, making sure you get where you’re going.

PASSION FUELS SUCCESS

Volunteer at an organization before serving on the board. Being passionate about an organization and its mission allows a young leader to serve in its best interest. Take time to know your why and let your core values guide who you say yes to. Not every ask needs your yes. Leave that open for someone else whose why matches that role. Being selective in your involvement prevents you from overcommitting and getting burned out.

Elevate Amarillo develops the city’s next generation of leaders. Elevate Amarillo hosts ongoing events and programs that offer leadership development, professional development, mentorship, and philanthropy and community outreach. Elevate is for people ages 20 to 40 in the Amarillo area looking to elevate themselves and the community. Save the date for our next professional development workshop on February 16, 2023! Visit elevateamarillo.org for more information.

The City of Canyon announced the hiring of Lucas Raley as Director of Planning and Development. Originally from Abilene, Raley received his bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Studies and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University.

Amarillo ISD’s dramatic video series Stories earned a regional Emmy award at the 20th Annual Lone Star Emmy Awards in November in Dallas. Stories received the Emmy in the Branded Content Program category. This is the third Lone Star Emmy win for AISD.

Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) announced the appointment of Cynthia Graham as the new TBLS Board Chair. Graham will lead the TBLS Board, which is responsible for overseeing the administration of the Board Certification program.

TTUHSC presented the Presidential Distinguished Alumni Award to Valerie E. Kiper, DNP, MSN, R.N., NEA-BC. Kiper is the regional dean of the TTUHSC School of Nursing in Amarillo.

Amy L. Stark, M.D., received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the TTUHSC School of Medicine. Stark is a Texas Tech Physicians psychiatrist and the clerkship director for the TTUHSC psychiatry rotation in Amarillo. She is an addiction psychiatry specialist.

The Purina Nutrition Center opened at Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine, located in the west wing of the school’s Amarillo Campus.

Clint Roof joined the faculty at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo as an assistant professor of general veterinary practice.

and ribbon-cuttings in this section, email a press release or

mm@brickandelm.com.

DILLARD'S IN POWER PT & PERFORMANCE

MARINER WEALTH ADVISORS

RIVER ROAD ISD

STEAMBOAT STATION

THE UPBEAT REPORTER

UNDERWOOD

VERNA POPP INSURANCE WEST TEXAS MEDICARE GROUP

As part of

commitment to

stories of the local businesses, Brick & Elm has partnered

friends at the Better Business Bureau to highlight issues of ethics, leadership and community involvement. Watch for informative articles in each issue of Brick & Elm.

year

MORE THAN A COMPLAINT BOX

BY JANNA KIEHL

The Better Business Bureau isn’t just a complaint center. In fact, it does much more than settle disputes. Through the support of BBB Accredited Businesses, BBBs work toward a trustworthy marketplace by maintaining standards for truthful advertising, investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses, and providing information to consumers before they purchase products and services. BBB receives far more pre-purchase inquiries than complaints against businesses.

BBBs drive consumers to trustworthy businesses daily by providing business information in the form of business profiles. These profiles include business details, ratings, customer reviews and complaint activity, if these are part of the company’s profile. In 2021, BBB Amarillo provided more than 146,000 pre-purchase requests for business profiles regarding specific businesses. In contrast, only 330 complaints were closed in 2021 on local businesses. When consumers have a question about a local business, BBB Amarillo has answers.

For more than 20 years, BBB has highlighted businesses that go above and beyond to support business ethics in their

community. The annual Torch Awards for Ethics recognizes companies for their outstanding commitment to exceptional standards in relationship to their consumers, employees and communities. The Torch Awards for Ethics help to illuminate the importance of corporate conscience and responsibility to upholding a fair and honest marketplace. This program encourages self-examination and documentation of businesses striving to fulfill BBB’s principles and practices.

The Torch Awards are designed to promote not only the importance of ethical business practices, but the efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure that our country’s marketplace remains fair and honorable. Companies apply for the award, which examines a company’s history, recognizing that success often comes after hardship—and even as a result of failure. More than a popularity contest, this award recognizes a company’s everyday practices, responses to customers and employees, and the community’s role in its success.

our

telling the

this

with our

CHARACTER

The character of its leaders sets the tone for a business. Leaders are asked how they behave intentionally and how they communicate with their leadership team, employees, customers and stakeholders.

CULTURE

A culture of trust through clarity and purpose empowers employees and opens up opportunities for growth.

CUSTOMERS

Companies provide examples of practices they use to build better customer relationships. For many businesses, doing what is right and good for customers is foundational.

COMMUNITY

Many companies have programs in place to invest in their surrounding community, from participating in industry organizations to allowing employees to volunteer during company time.

The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics doesn’t look for the perfect company. In fact, BBB knows that an opportunity to right a wrong can mend a relationship, teach valuable lessons and move a company forward. And while there may be many gray areas in business, BBB believes ethics cannot be one of them. Trust is an agreed-upon connection. Trustworthiness is a valued reputation, earned one customer at a time and valued by owners, managers and employees who work daily toward their mission.

• Setting standards for marketplace trust. BBB

Accredited Businesses uphold high standards that speak to marketplace behavior, employee culture and community involvement.

• Encouraging and supporting best practices by engaging with and educating consumers

and businesses.

• Celebrating marketplace role models.

• Calling out and addressing substandard marketplace behavior.

• Creating a community of trustworthy businesses and charities.

ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years Better Business Bureaus across the country and Canada have been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. BBB Amarillo was founded in 1939 and serves the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle.

BBB’s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. We do this by:

JANNA KIEHL

Janna is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Better Business Bureau of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle.

HERE COMES THE SUN

We made it past Winter Solstice. That dreaded time of pagan superstition, the shortest day of the year, the day with the longest period of darkness. That day when the northern hemisphere shifts as far as it gets from the warmth of the sun, and Old Man Winter does his worst. Some ancient people believed that if anything bad could happen, then it would happen during the Winter Solstice. Evil spirits hung around, waiting for any excuse to spread disease, hunger, ruination, and other unpleasant things onto mankind. It was an unlucky time.

Lucky for me, I don’t believe in luck. But I do believe there is such a thing as post-holiday depression, because it’s well-researched and I’ve had minor skirmishes with it myself. The statistics say it affects around one in four of us.

We don’t have a good way to distinguish between mid-winter and post-holiday blues—the two are bound together by the time of the season. Whether we Christian believers place the day we celebrate Christ’s birth in a therapeutic spot during the calendar year for lifting our spirits, or whether Jesus was even actually born in the month of December—it’s hotly debated—wintertime post-holiday depression is a seasonal danger to many.

While we await the return of longer days, here are a few techniques I use to combat seasonal depression or post-holiday letdown. As is my usual style, it’s in no particular order:

1. Make a list of everything you can think of that you are thankful for. Include all the people in your life. This means family and friends, but also those who serve you—postal employees, restaurant servers, people who give you their smile when you see them. These are important people. You might even tell them that they are on your gratitude list when you see them. Hearing that kind of encouragement can make someone’s day, and maybe even help them out of their own post-holiday blahs.

2. Try to escape your comfort zone for a bit. Get out of the house. Sometimes “comfort zones” are the cause of depression. Too comfortable equals too easy, and too easy equals autopilot for your brain. When your mind is going over the post-holiday comparative letdown, it’s best to break that pattern. Distraction is good, but it must be a positive distraction. Even a trip to the store or a walk outside can work wonders.

3. Get together with a loved one or friend. Personal conversation— whether about a job, family, or small talk—is a good mood soother. Spend time talking about that person’s holiday and how they spent

it. Immerse yourself in listening to them. Do not use a phone, email or text. Points off for that!

4. Go on a diet. Winter blues are often compounded by the sense of failure that typically accompanies weight gain. Nothing will make you focus on life (or at least a different set of woes!) faster than counting calories, carbs, fat grams, etc. Besides, you know it will make you feel like you are taking a step in the right direction for the new year. Contact some friends about their favorite diet and compare notes. It will give you a lot to talk about, share the burden, and maybe even a laugh or two.

5. Listen to some music! Turn on Spotify, Pandora, XM, cable, radio, or whatever you use to listen to your favorite music. Music stimulates your mind and both hemispheres of the brain. It’s good for you! Here’s a suggestion: Try listening to music or a genre you’ve never heard before. It will take you on an adventure. If you don’t listen to classical, try some Beethoven. If you don’t typically like rock, listen to some Zeppelin. If you don’t like country, try some George Strait. Find some world music, jazz, ska, whatever it is. Put your mind on it. Actually listen to it. You’ll feel better! (Yes, I know certain kinds of people just don’t enjoy music. I won’t try to talk you into it, so disregard this one.)

6. If you can afford it, take a little vacation. I know this is not a possibility for many of us, especially after holiday expenditures. But if you have some miles saved, get out of town for a day or two. Use common sense and go somewhere the sun is shining. We always like the idea of somewhere we have never visited.

Finally, and seriously—there is a very real condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder. (SAD). No joke. If you can’t shake it, get help. There are local hotlines for depression and anxiety, if you need them. Sunny days are on the way!

ANDY CHASE CUNDIFF

Andy is an artist, singersongwriter, music producer and musician. In every issue, his column explores the parts of his life that don’t always make it into his songs, accompanied by his own illustration.

WITH PATRICK MILLER

fter an election cycle which inundated us with more reasons to loathe the political process, we fortunately find ourselves getting back to regular order: striving to resolve the most pertinent issues affecting our state. At least we hope that is what our legislators will be doing during the 88th Legislature, which begins Jan. 10, 2023.

Despite early consternation regarding the state budget projection, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s budget forecast seems to align with the Legislative Budget Board’s indication that an additional $27 billion will be available for legislators to appropriate to the 20242025 biennium’s budget. This budget surplus has legislators filing bills poised to affect complex issues. One of these is the relationship between public school funding and property taxes. According to the Texas Tribune:

“Texas homeowners have some of the highest property tax bills in the nation, a byproduct of the state’s reliance on property taxes to pay for public schools and the state’s lack of an income tax. To lower property taxes on Texans, lawmakers would need to fund schools at a higher rate so that those districts could reduce the local tax burden on residents.”

In a state with 254 counties, a one-size-fits-all approach seems as unreasonable as it is unlikely. Therefore, we seem quite fortunate to have slightly maintained local representation in the Texas Capitol. Only time will tell whether anyone can fill the void left by former State Senator Kel Seliger, whose influence on issues ranging from public and higher education as well as rural water rights and finance were unparalleled.

During the 2022 Republican Primary, Midland businessman Kevin Sparks received enough votes to represent the Republican Party in the 2022 general election. After running unopposed in the general election, Sparks will now represent our district for the next four years. The timing could not be more beneficial to our area, given Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s recent suggestion that the Texas Panhandle would be prioritized for a new state mental health hospital. This means our returning incumbent state representatives, Four Price, John Smithee, and Ken King, will presumably have vast influence in this critical debate. It will be interesting to see to which committees our respective legislators are assigned.

When it comes to public education—for our sake and for the future of Texas—we desperately need someone with local ties to have a major role in setting the state agenda. Legislators should allow local school boards to determine the curriculum adopted for utilization in our public school classrooms. Furthermore, public school funding

needs to be significantly addressed. Our current funding formula, which is based on average daily attendance, seems to be an outdated and unfair approach due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic on school attendance. Some legislators have filed bills to base public school funding on enrollment; however, our legislators still have to determine who will be accountable to fund the lion’s share of public education. Will it continue to be our overly taxed homeowners? Or will the state invest more on behalf of our Texas students?

According to the organization Raise Your Hand Texas, Texas ranks in the bottom 10 states in terms of per-student funding. Combining low school funding with high stakes testing doesn’t make much sense to me, unless the objective is to remain in violation of the Texas Constitution, which requires “a suitable provision” for public schools. Here’s the specific wording of Article 7, Section 1: “A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.”

Either we want to train tomorrow’s leaders and build a workforce that is the rival of the world, or we don’t. It is as simple as that. More than anything, we just need to allow our teachers to teach. People do not enter the education profession because of money. Despite having advanced degrees, we accept less money for the opportunity to help children reach their God-given potential to become lifelong learners who make a difference in our community. I hope someone of influence will read this column or pay attention to the voices of all our Texas educators who simply want to serve by doing what we are trained to do: teach.

Decisions regarding public education and property taxes are undoubtedly complex. However, once our 2022 Texas election results were certified, the responsibility of making those difficult decisions transferred from us to our legislators. The responsibility to hold our elected officials accountable through lobbying, advocating, bill tracking, and voting will forever remain with We the People.

PATRICK MILLER

A passionate local educator, Past President and current executive officer of Amarillo Branch

NAACP, Patrick writes in every issue about education, faith and forward momentum.

REDUCING STRESS THROUGH GROUNDING

Our bodies can never be anywhere other than where we are in the present moment.

When our minds drift back to the past or accidentally leap into the future, we lose touch with what is happening around us.

Most people have become experts at making up stories about what might happen tomorrow, what another person is thinking about them, and so much more. And the stories we tell ourselves have an enormous impact on our lives—not only in positive ways, but also in very unwelcome ones.

A study by the National Science Foundation found that 80 percent of the thoughts a person has each day are negative. As stress builds in your life, so do negative thoughts. This inner self-talk can cause us to react in ways that are harmful to ourselves.

GROUNDING TECHNIQUES

If you are getting caught up in strong emotions like anxiety or anger, find yourself having stressful repetitive thoughts, or are experiencing strong, painful memories or flashbacks, you can thwart this process by using a technique called “grounding.”

Grounding is based on the idea that when you find yourself feeling overwhelmed about something you can’t control, you “ground” yourself into the present by observing your surroundings. Grounding reduces negative thoughts and feelings by shifting your focus from what’s going on in your mind back to your body.

Below are some grounding exercises you can use—you might find one or more that works for you. Only use the ones you feel comfortable with.

Deep Breathing: One of the easiest ways to ground yourself is to focus on your breathing. Taking 10 deep breaths can be a great way to slow down and regroup when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Five Senses: Check each of your five senses and recognize everything you feel.

ü Sight: What do you see?

ü Sound: What do you hear?

ü Touch: What do you feel?

ü Smell: What do you smell?

ü Taste: What do you taste?

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE

Being in nature is an excellent way to ground yourself in the present moment. Hiking or camping is great, of course—especially with Palo Duro Canyon nearby. But there are other ways to be in nature, too, even if it’s just being attentive to the trees, squirrels and birds around

your home. Another technique is to go for a short walk around your office or neighborhood.

PETS

Spending time with a pet can be one of the best ways to shift your attention away from whatever is troubling you. In general, pets have a comforting and relaxing effect, and can give a sense of connection and meaning to life. Also, therapy animals are proven to improve the lives of those with anxiety disorders, mood disorders and posttraumatic stress.

AROMATHERAPY

Smell can be a great way to focus on pleasant feelings and reduce stress. One recent study indicated that aromatherapy can help reduce stress among nurses. The researchers found that participants felt significantly less stressed, anxious, fatigued and overwhelmed after wearing aromatherapy patches. Choose smells that you enjoy and calm you down, especially if you already have a positive association with them.

SOUNDS

Closing your eyes and recognizing all you hear can be a great way to ground yourself in the present. All you need to do is close your eyes and listen. Prepare for a whole world of sounds you typically don’t notice.

Music is also a great grounding tool. Research into music and stress shows that listening to music can lower heart rates and cortisol levels, reducing stress-related symptoms.

Grounding can be a powerful tool to help you cope with distress. It can reduce anxiety and anger and help lessen the effects of painful flashbacks. If you’re having trouble using grounding techniques, a therapist may be able to assist.

If your distress is affecting your life daily, it is also important to reach out and get help from a mental health professional so you can address the root cause of your distress.

JIM WOMACK

Jim is the chief executive officer of Family Support Services of Amarillo, a local nonprofit that has been helping area residents since 1908. Jim has served as CEO of FSS since 2013, and has worked in various director positions in the nonprofit and criminal justice fields. Jim has undergraduate and graduate degrees from West Texas A&M University.

BOLD THINGS COMING IN 2023

A HEALTHIER PANTRY

BY JULIE GRIMES

If you, like so many Americans, resolved to eat healthier this year, I have a suggestion for you: Start with a good old-fashioned pantry makeover.

Begin by pulling everything out of the pantry. Despite my best efforts at organization, I always find things lurking in back corners that I didn’t even know I had. (Goodbye, unnecessary trips to the grocery!)

Next, sort through every item and ask: How long has this been in here? You’re not likely to use anything that has been in your pantry longer than a year, so start a donation pile with all of the unexpired, unopened items. (You may need to trash the opened oldies.)

Next question: Is this healthy? A healthy approach to eating starts with cooking. It’s better to prepare your own meal using fresh, healthy ingredients because you’ll know exactly what’s in the food. You also know what’s not in the food—like preservatives and the other additives found in most processed foods. Before you decide on the keepers, read the nutrition facts, paying special attention to the amount of trans and saturated fats, cholesterol, sodium, etc. If you’re unsure how much cholesterol or sat fat is too much, take a peek at the ingredients list, as they’re listed in descending order.

For what it’s worth, if you don’t recognize a good percentage of the ingredients as actual food, then consider putting it in the discard pile.

While everything’s out of the pantry, stop by a local shop to grab a few reusable containers Boutiques like Two Loons Warehouse, Little Brown House, Et Cetera and The Secret Place are great options for the latest in kitchen accessories. Once those supplies are in place, categorize everything, grouping like items together. If you want to go full Home Edit, use color-coded containers for each category.

If you’re height-challenged like me, use risers or shelf-inserts to help me store items at staggered heights.

Use jars and canisters to store flour, rice and other whole grains, dry beans, popcorn, etc. to avoid messy spills, and so you’ll notice when a supply needs to be replenished.

You can also make hand-written or printed labels to identify everything. Then find a spot for everything, organized by category.

You’ll likely also need an oil and vinegar section. If your pantry is close to your stove or oven, be sure to store any oil away from a heat source, so it doesn't go rancid or lose its flavor from heat exposure. Tucker Norrell, owner of SALT Spices and Specialties in Wolflin Village, suggests disposing of oils or vinegars older than about a year.

While you’re at it, your spice cabinet can likely use a little sprucing, too, using a similar process. Start by tossing the old stuff. Norrell says most spices probably have a shelf life of about a year. He says a good test of freshness is to “just smell or taste them.” Once you’re stocked up on fresh herbs and spices, store them in your drawer or cupboard in alphabetical

order

With your spices sorted and your pantry organized, you’re ready to start cooking and eating more healthfully and deliciously this year.

We come and go. We are contemplative and active. We go out and come back in. [Prayer Town] is our special place to find refuge in the desert.

—Sister Elizabeth Ann Dockery

LEFT TO RIGHT: MOTHER LUCY, SISTER ELIZABETH ANN, AND SISTER JUANA TERESA

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

SOUL Sisters

Barely 40 miles northwest of Amarillo, past the Canadian River and Boys Ranch on Highway 385, a quiet retreat sits tucked into the grasslands and river breaks. Around 30 women live and work here, pursuing lives of contemplation and prayer. It’s a place of contrasts.

The setting is deliberately isolated from the outside world, but its residents exude joy and hospitality. The late December wind tears through the skeletal cottonwoods, but the environment is as warm and welcoming as any in the Panhandle. The simple buildings reflect vows of poverty, but they sit on 600-plus acres of prime Texas ranchland. The sisters follow an ancient religious tradition but worship with modern instruments and vibrant singing.

Also, there are a lot of chickens.

This is Prayer Town. Located across 385 from Boys Ranch, this religious property is home to the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, a Franciscan Charismatic religious community founded in 1972. Technically, it’s a convent: a local community of women who have made monastic vows.

But if you have preconceived ideas of a convent, or sisters, or even Catholicism, set those aside. Prayer Town challenges expectations.

THE SISTERS

The women living on this property come, literally, from all over the world. Sisters hail from Vietnam, South Korea, Tanzania and Mexico. Others were drawn to Prayer Town from across the United States. They occasionally host guests and retreats, but mostly follow the ebband-flow rhythms of contemplation and action, interrupting their daily prayer with ministry across the Panhandle—and especially in Amarillo.

“There’s no ‘normal’ here,” says Mother Lucy Lukasiewicz, a native of Nebraska and the community’s Superior General. She joined the community in the mid-1980s. “We rise at 5:30 a.m. and come together to pray the Psalms at 6 a.m. We’re always weaving our day in and out with prayer.” This ongoing ritual is known as “The Liturgy of the Hours” or the “Divine Office” in the Catholic tradition, and these customary prayers and Scripture readings mark the hours of the day. Over the course of a week, Mother Lucy and her companions pray all 150 psalms.

After starting their day with the scriptures, the sisters engage in a personal prayer time, followed by breakfast. They dine together around several folding tables in a shared dining room and living area.

After the meal, the nuns separate into work stations. “The women who are novices and postulates have classes,” Mother Lucy says of the

_6

The Residents of Prayer Town

BY JASON BOYETT

women who are still preparing to be admitted into the community (postulates) or are in a training period prior to taking their full vows (novices). Full-fledged sisters go to work. Some take care of the retreat house on the property. Others work in administration, like accounting or creating an email newsletter. Several work on practical tasks, like property maintenance, laundry, and cooking.

Two sisters are hermits, living in relative isolation within singleroom hermitage houses. Each structure has a steep roof in the shape of an equilateral triangle. The three sides represent the members of the Christian Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Another five sisters reside communally in a home in the city, near Tascosa High School, spending their days in local ministry. “We’re not doing 9-to-5 jobs in the hospital or in education,” explains Sister Elizabeth Ann Dockery, who lives in the Amarillo house and works in mission advancement. “We’re not providing clothing or shelter or medical care. There are orders that do that, but our entire ministry is sitting and listening, helping people know there’s hope, that God loves them. We have a ministry of availability. People will stop by for prayer ministry, to drop off donations, to try to find God in a situation. They don’t have to drive all the way out to Prayer Town.”

THE SPIRIT

Back amid Prayer Town’s quiet, natural setting, the community gathers again for another hour of prayer at noon. The work day ends at 4:30. As the winter light casts long shadows across the property, the women convene for an evening prayer service (“vespers”). Along with liturgy, the service includes guitars, keyboards and exuberant singing, occasionally with hands raised.

“When you fall in love, you want to sing,” says Sister Elizabeth Ann. The sisters are in love with God, so they often sing the Divine Office. “There’s always music. We add lots of praise and worship to that as well. It’s such a beautiful part of what we do.”

Many of the songs are traditional hymns. Others are more modern worship songs. Occasionally, with musical accompaniment, the sisters speak or sing in tongues—which is more often seen in Pentecostal or charismatic Protestant traditions.

“Saint Paul talks about the body of Christ and how it has different members,” says Sister Juana Teresa Chung, who describes herself as “the Korean sister with the Spanish name.” She was born in Seoul, South Korea, and lived in Paraguay and Canada before coming to Prayer Town in 1992. “Religious communities have different ministries and missions. One of the things that attracted me so much [to Prayer Town] was the intense prayer life but also that our community is

dedicated to the proclamation of the Word of God. Our community is Spirit-filled.”

“We’re charismatic,” Sister Elizabeth Ann adds.

“Thirty years ago, when I was searching for a women’s charismatic community, this was the only one,” says Sister Juana Teresa.

This explains why half of the sisters at Prayer Town came to the Texas Panhandle from other countries. Prayer Town is unique.

THE HISTORY

“Mother John Marie, our foundress, was a convert from a staunch Methodist family,” says Mother Lucy. “She had a love for the Scriptures but fell in love with the Catholic church and was very influenced by Saint Benedict.”

Venerated by the Catholic Church, the sixth century monk and theologian Benedict of Nursia is known for his Rule of Saint Benedict, a highly influential written set of precepts for monastic living. In the 1960s, Mother John Marie Stewart was pursuing a doctorate in medieval literature at Columbia University when she went through a crisis of faith, which the Catholic tradition might describe as a “dark night of the soul.” She emerged on the other side following a number of profound religious experiences. These drew her to the traditions and sacraments of Catholicism, but with a twist: Mother John Marie also became immersed in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement.

This worldwide movement began in the ’60s, and combines a Pentecostal influence—emotional worship, speaking in tongues and other “gifts” of the Holy Spirit—with the sacraments and liturgy of the Catholic faith.

By 1972, Mother John Marie had attracted a group of young women around her, and they established a religious community in Arkansas, taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and calling themselves the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Eventually, the group was welcomed into the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, and started lives of study and prayer. Five years later, a network of personal connections resulted in a priceless gift.

The Amarillo Catholic Diocese oversaw 664 acres of former LIT ranchland near Channing, Texas. The acreage had been donated by Oliver Bivins, grandson of Amarillo pioneer Lee Bivins, once the world’s largest single ranch owner. At the suggestion of Bill and Jackie Brashears, Bishop Lawrence DeFalco offered that land to Mother John Marie and her community.

That was 1977. Mother John Marie and the sisters arrived in the Panhandle and went to work. By hand, they built several residences, a chapel, the four hermitage homes and other structures.

Today, Benedict isn’t the only saint with influence in Prayer Town. According to Mother John Marie, the Lord had told her from the beginning that “the light at the end of the tunnel will be your coming under the Franciscan banner.” In the early ’80s, her community was established as Third Order Regular Franciscans. Following the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi—a 13th century Catholic friar who renounced his possessions to live a deeper life of faith— they embraced corporate poverty, depending on God to meet their needs.

GOD’S ECONOMY

“We live by faith and the Lord provides,” Sister Elizabeth Ann says. That’s not just a saying at Prayer Town. The sisters are quick to tell stories about God’s miraculous provision. One sister had been praying for carrots when the doorbell rang at the Amarillo house. It was a man with a semi-truck filled with carrots. He wanted to donate them to the sisters.

“God answered our prayers in abundance that day,” adds Mother Lucy.

“We like to tell that story because that’s how God is. He’s no stingy god,” says Sister Juana Teresa.

DEFINITIONS: NUN OR SISTER?

While most people, Catholics included, might use the words nun or sister interchangeably, there’s a difference. Both fall into the category of “women religious,” live in community and have made personal vows to God. However, a nun will typically spend most of her life praying and working within her convent. A sister, like those of Prayer Town, will be more active in the outside world. If you encounter one in public, she’s most likely a sister.

ONE OF FOUR TRIANGLE-SHAPED HERMITAGES AT PRAYER TOWN.

Mother John Marie and her sisters taught themselves basic construction in order to build their two-story residence in the early ’80s. The brick exterior had proven a challenge, however, so they asked God to provide bricklayers.

That’s when a family from Wichita Falls in an RV, returning from a hunting trip in Colorado, took a wrong turn on Route 385. They ended up at Prayer Town asking for directions. The sisters welcomed them, gave them a tour and happened to point out their bricklaying struggles.

“We’re bricklayers,” the family said. “And we don’t have work.”

The tradesmen helped finish the house. “They took a wrong turn, but in God’s economy it wasn’t the wrong turn, it was the right turn,” says Sister Juana Teresa.

For special occasions—like an annual midnight mass on Christmas Eve—the sisters gather in a spacious chapel, donated to the community long ago by Boys Ranch. (Boys Ranch founder Cal Farley is said to have actually passed away inside the building, and the surreptitious carvings of a few boys’ names and initials mar the woodwork.)

In fact, almost everything the sisters have, from their couches to their kitchen equipment, has been donated. They have few possessions, but nevertheless space has grown tight, especially in the small chapel where the sisters gather for prayer. “We are running out of space. It’s a very good problem, but we want to grow,” says Sister Juana Teresa.

It’s not just a matter of comfort. Mother John Marie and her peers built most of Prayer Town before minimum accessibility standards were in place. As a result, most of the buildings’ doorways, hallways and restrooms are too narrow for wheelchairs. “When we built those, we never thought we’d get old, right?” Sister Juana Teresa says with a laugh. The average age of the sisters is 50 years old. One sister has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

So the women of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are raising money for improvements to their facilities at Prayer Town, centered around a new wing. It will include a larger chapel and an aging-in-place residence, which allows elderly sisters to remain at Prayer Town during the final decades of their lives. It’s a $3 million construction project, and the sisters have already raised $1.7 million. They call it Project Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”

SIMPLE GIFTS

After pointing out the land dedicated for the planned addition, Mother Lucy and Sister Elizabeth Ann guide a few visitors to a rustic workshop. It’s a mess, cluttered with wood scraps, rusty tools, bandsaws and even the 1967 Willis H. Wagner classic, Modern Woodworking

This was one of the first structures Mother John Marie and her compatriots built.

“St. Francis and his brothers always had a little chapel where people could go and pray,” says Sister Elizabeth Ann. “This is where the sisters would come. It was them learning how to build. All this acreage and they put this building up first. It’s poor, simple and everything was donated.”

She feels it serves as a symbol for her community: a plain building surrounded by miles of open, arid land. A light in the darkness. An oasis in the desert. A place of love and hospitality in a stark landscape.

Behind her, two fellow sisters laugh together at a private joke. The winter wind picks up, billowing their habits. Chickens squawk a few yards away between pecks at the dirt. The sky above them is an impossible December blue.

Sister Elizabeth Ann smiles. “People always ask us, ‘How can you be so joyful?’ But when you go back to this kind of simplicity, how can you not?”

SISTER MARY THOMAS

THE SISTERS’ RUSTIC FIRST CHAPEL NOW SERVES AS A WORKSHOP

THE SISTERS GATHER FOR A 4:30 VESPERS SERVICE.

Listen to Sister Elizabeth Ann‘s interview on the Hey Amarillo podcast.

A Sister ’ s Habit

Nuns and sisters alike, including the sisters of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, are easily identified by their distinct manner of dress. Overall, their simple clothing is known as a religious “habit.” The sisters make their own habits. Each element represents tenets of their faith.

TUNIC: This plain, loose, wide-sleeved dress worn by Sister Juana Teresa is always black, symbolizing poverty and penance. It is cinched by the belt.

CRUCIFIX: A constant reminder of Christ’s loving sacrifice, worn around the neck and over the scapular.

BELT: Franciscans typically wear belts with three knots representing the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The sisters of Prayer Town wear, “three braids of three braids” or a threefold cord. They weave these as a meditation at a certain stage in taking their vows.

SCAPULAR: Suspended from the shoulders, this apron-like, dark cloth is worn over the tunic. It represents being “yoked” to Christ, a reference to Matthew 11:29.

CROSS: Hand-made by the sisters themselves, this wooden cross is a literal way for them to live out Matthew 16:24, in which Jesus tells his disciples to “take up their cross” and follow Him. The sisters keep these with them at all times, tucked into their belts.

RING: Each sister wears a simple ring on the wedding finger of her left hand, symbolizing her “marriage” to Jesus and the Church. Their rings are engraved with the words, “Jesus is Lord.”

VEIL: Sisters with gray veils and a blue band have taken their full, lifetime vows. The blue is unique to the Prayer Town community.

BEYOND THE SALON

BY JASON BOYETT

“Isee myself as a simple person,” Jolena Watson says. She’s a longtime Amarillo hairdresser and the proprietor of Synergy Salon, which she operates out of a multi-acre property in northwest Amarillo. The studio-style salon itself faces north, with stunning views of the river breaks northwest of the city.

The studio location helps her keep an eye on her rescue horses, Little Bit and Buddy, as well as a steady progression of wildlife.

Watson’s self-image might be simple, but her story isn’t. She grew up in Amarillo but didn’t graduate from high school. She became

a single mom at the age of 17. Always a hard worker, Watson was determined to support herself. She learned to cut hair and has remained self-employed since.

She views her career as a ministry.

“I’ve been doing this for four decades. My main purpose in doing hair is to take care of people’s hearts, and then I try real hard to please them in the hair area.” Watson laughs, then takes a thoughtful turn. “There are just a lot of people looking for someone to hear them and give them good counsel. That’s my primary job from the Lord—to listen to people where they’re at and help them try to find God’s will and pathway.”

PHOTOS BY KAIT BRADFORD BELLMON

Deep religious devotion is far from rare in Amarillo, and many residents want their faith to fuel their work. From banking to building construction, countless local believers view their jobs as spiritual vocations. It allows them to apply their personal gifts to a purpose beyond making money.

But Watson takes this mindset just a little further. First, there are the horses.

LITTLE BIT AND BUDDY

Five years ago, Watson dreamed about, in her words, “a little buckskin horse.” She’d never had horses—she didn’t grow up with them at all and didn’t know how to ride—but the dream was incredibly detailed. She couldn’t shake it.

“It was like the horse said, ‘Remember me. I’m yours.’”

It didn’t just feel significant. It felt like a message.

A faithful Christian, Watson has always been open to hearing from God, and she took that dream seriously. She began to suspect horses were in her future, so she and her husband, Tony, began looking for a new home with enough space to raise horses.

That brought them to the property northwest of town. Meanwhile, a friend of Tony’s had recently begun caring for two horses. One was named Little Bit. The other was Buddy. When Watson saw Little Bit, she knew it was the horse from her dream. The Watsons bought the two horses—there was no reason not to include Little Bit’s best friend in the purchase—and took them home.

“I found myself at the age of 56, learning how to take care of horses,” she says. “I am confident God wanted me to have them for His purposes.”

Those purposes took shape as Watson saw how children and adults alike reacted to her gentle companions. In response, she developed a free program she calls The Horse Encounter, and since launching it, she’s invited more than 500 people—mostly children’s groups—to spend time with Little Bit and Buddy in the horse barn and arena on her property. These might be Sunday school classes, San Jacinto Christian School field trips, or other small groups. “You get to learn a horse fact, a human fact and a God fact. You groom and saddle and get to take a ride. It’s one of the sweetest ways for people to start to see God’s will and heart for them, just using these horses,” she explains.

During the fall hunting season, the occasional presence of bird hunters behind her home complicates these encounters, so Watson

has self-published a book called Little Bit & Buddy Choose Joy. “Now we use it as a backup tool to help people have the full experience,” she says. “It’s a fun little book. It’s got Scripture, prayer and stories about the horses.”

But there’s more to Watson’s ministry than hair or horses.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

Some missionaries take a long-term approach to their work. They’ll move to a new country, train in its customs and culture, and immerse themselves in a community in order to meet needs and bring about change. Others, like church groups, go on frequent short-term trips. They’ll travel overseas to help build homes, teach English or otherwise find ways to serve.

Watson’s approach to mission work includes part of both scenarios. “A lot of people do long-term or short-term, but for me it’s an everyday mission,” she says from her salon, only days after returning from a two-week trip to Africa. “I view the word ‘missionary’ as wherever you are, you wake up and ask the Lord, ‘What is the mission of the day?’”

That mindset has taken Watson on at least 100 trips to other countries for mission work, from Central America to Africa to Asia. It started in the 1990s with mission trips organized by Paramount Terrace Christian Church (now Hillside Christian Church). But by 2009, Watson had decided to launch and fund her own nonprofit organization, Believe in His Name.

She now ministers and travels the world under that banner.

The organization has a mailing list of around 200 donors who fund Watson’s mission activity. The work itself is broad. Watson and her organization have launched a women’s literacy program among the Maasai people in Kenya. She has funded a rescue home for children in Ethiopia, where nine former street children now live in safety and security. She’s conducted medical missions in Muslim countries in West Africa, quietly started a school in a war-torn region of East Africa, and sought to reach people groups in the Sahara.

Watson even found her way into an Asian country notoriously closed to American visitors—for any reason, but especially for religious reasons—and she’s been there more than once. (That story involves goats, the Gospel, and a complicated set of geopolitics, which makes it best that Brick & Elm not divulge many details.)

JOLENA WITH BUDDY (L) AND LITTLE BIT (R)

The work seems random, but Watson says almost all the opportunities—just like her relationship with Little Bit and Buddy— begin, literally, with a dream. “Each dream that has been given to me is for a new country we are about to begin ministry in. Sometimes it’s literal. Sometimes it’s symbolic,” she says. Watson wakes up, writes down the details, gets to work, and then months later finds herself among, for instance, members of an isolated ethnic group in northern Africa.

Sometimes Watson works solo. Occasionally, one of her many donors will accompany her. She also might also lead a large team, while dozens of Amarillo friends and clients pray for her. She travels outside the United States at least three times a year, often for two weeks or longer.

“Our motto or vision is to find the lost, disciple the found, and train up ambassadors,” she says. “That’s everything we do.” Watson says she walks away from each circumstance having learned more about God and His provision.

When she returns home, she gets back to cutting hair.

LOCAL GENEROSITY

Watson’s customers understand. “Really, the Lord has given me the most abundant, gracious clientele, “ she says. “They completely support what I’m doing, whether it’s through prayer, encouragement or donations. Before I leave, they’re willing to come in early. When I get back, they’re willing to come in late.”

Watson recognizes the eccentricity of what she does. She’s a highschool dropout who runs an almost-solo global missions organization

from a hair salon on a horse property on the outskirts of a city in the Texas Panhandle.

That’s not even the full story: Watson also hosts wilderness retreats at a property near Lake Meredith, for the purpose of training, in her words, “young, missionary-minded people.” COVID put a pause on those operations but they are slowly ramping back up.

Regardless, she says Amarillo is the right place to do what she does. Yes, global travel would be a lot easier if she lived in an international hub like Dallas or Houston. But there’s something intangible about this community that keeps Watson both in business and in mission work. “Amarillo is a city of light. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. This is home,” she says.

At least 95 percent of her funds come from individual donors living in Amarillo. Not from grants, businesses, or major organizations, though Trinity Fellowship Church does make a monthly contribution to her nonprofit. “The people of the Panhandle are extraordinarily generous and encouraging,” Watson says.

“I just have a thankful, grateful heart for what the Lord has done for me,” she says, looking out her window at the property, the horses, the wintry Panhandle landscape. She brings up the Old Testament story in which God gives a vision to a young Isaiah, asking who will deliver His message.

Isaiah, the future prophet, replied, “Here I am. Send me.”

In her own way, Watson keeps echoing that statement. “I’ve made a vow in my heart to always tell the Lord ‘yes,’” she says. “I’m pretty sure that’s all I need to be qualified.”

LUCKY ME

BY KELLI BULLARD

The upbeat sign caught my eye as we pulled our travel trailer into the reserved spot. Good Luck RV Park, just a few miles south of the heart of downtown Dallas, would be our home for the next six weeks as I began radiation treatments that afternoon.

Three months earlier, life had taken an unexpected turn when my doctor broke the news that I had a brain tumor—a large meningioma that would need to be surgically removed. The good news was that 85 to 90 percent of meningiomas are benign; only 10 to 15 percent are atypical or malignant. After surgery, the pathology report showed mine to be atypical; thus the need for radiation treatments. Lucky me.

I made it through the first treatment, decided it wasn’t so bad after all, and we settled into a fairly comfortable routine. During our morning commute, my husband, Steve, would calmly navigate the insanity known as Dallas freeway traffic, while I had my share of panic attacks in the passenger seat. In the afternoon, we would return to the RV Park to grill burgers or steaks in the sweltering July heat. As sundown approached and the temperature cooled to something below 95, we would walk our dachshund, Rowdy, and visit with some of the other residents.

That’s how we met Shannon, an insurance adjuster who lived in an Airstream she affectionately named Mildred, along with her cat, Hazel, and dog, Mabel. “I’ve got all the old ladies covered,” she said with a grin. When I started losing my hair due to the radiation treatments, it was Shannon who encouraged me to embrace the ball cap look and not worry about it. “Hair is highly overrated,” she reminded me.

Then there was Matteo. A 40-something Zen enthusiast with a California tan, he let out a few choice words while attempting to back his motorhome into the spot across from ours. When he heard why we were there, Matteo’s

STEVE COOKS DINNER AT THE GOOD LUCK RV PARK IN DALLAS.

KELLI'S REHAB JOURNEY WAS A DIFFICULT ONE.

KELLI AND FRIENDS MARSHA ESKEW (L), AND BECKY DAVIS (R)

eyes lit up. “Wait right here,” he said as he ran back to his motorhome and returned with a slightly dog-eared paperback. Written by a brain scientist, the book recounted her personal journey to recover from a stroke.

“It’s serendipity that we met and I could give you this book,” Matteo said, twirling his unlit Tiparillo and shading his eyes from the glaring sun. “I believe the universe is always trying to give us gifts; we just have to pay attention.”

My radiation treatments were going along fine, until the morning I woke up with fever and chills. I had two negative COVID tests and concluded that I must have caught another virus of some kind. We decided to return home to Amarillo and wait it out. A week later, I could barely walk and had lost the use of my left arm. Steve rushed me to the emergency room, where tests revealed some bad news: I had a brain infection. Thirteen hours later a medical transport plane flew me back to Dallas for emergency surgery.

I awoke to learn that the surgery had been successful, but there was a complication. I couldn’t move my left arm or leg. The nurses who came in hourly to do a neurological assessment encouraged me to concentrate and try to wiggle my fingers and toes. No matter how hard I tried, the results were the same: not even a twitch. The connection was lost.

As the days went on, I asked about the chances of regaining the use of my left side. The answers varied, depending on which doctor, intern, nurse, or therapist was in the room. But in general, the consensus was that it could go either way. There just wasn’t any reliable way of predicting the outcome; only time would tell.

In the early morning hours of post-op day five, a remarkable breakthrough occurred. I found that I could move my left thumb and forefinger! Just a fraction of an inch, but it was enough to give me hope. “We have made connection with the mother ship!” I announced, tears streaming down my cheeks.

My next stop was an inpatient rehab hospital to begin a rigorous schedule of physical therapy. The techs wheeled me in on a gurney, as I still couldn’t get out of bed or move on my own. Texts rolled in from family and friends, wishing me well and saying they believed I would walk out of there. As much as I appreciated the optimism, I was honestly scared I wouldn’t. And that I would disappoint them. And let

everyone down. Some days the pressure felt overwhelming.

The therapy sessions were exhausting, but I could tell I was making progress. A few shuffling steps on a walker progressed to using an arm crutch, and finally I was able to walk unassisted. And I’m happy to report that 14 days later, I did walk out of that hospital. “Look at you, girl!” said one of my favorite nurses as I passed by her station. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.

My journey of recovery is ongoing. I continue to have regular MRIs to monitor for tumor regrowth, which is not uncommon with meningiomas. And I recently had reconstruction surgery to insert a plate in my skull where the bone had been removed.

A serious health challenge is lifealtering, and I realize that in many cases there isn’t a positive outcome. So why did I get better when others don’t? The honest answer is, I just don’t know. I have friends who have believed and prayed for a miracle and still lost their loved ones, and I know it’s devastating. We’ve all heard our share of platitudes that don’t really help, so I’ll just skip them. But I do have some insights that I hope will be helpful.

People are incredible. To everyone who prayed for me, called or texted, offered an encouraging word, brought us food, helped with expenses (you know who you are), I am eternally grateful. My husband, Steve, was with me every step of this journey, along with my family and friends. I can’t imagine going through something like this without you!

Medical workers are the true heroes. To the nurses who didn’t complain when I rang the call button for the umpteenth time because I had to go to the bathroom (again!), you deserve a medal. Or a raise. Probably both.

Prayers and positive thoughts are welcome. Just keep in mind that not everyone shares the same ideology or religious theology, so it’s best to keep it simple rather than come across preachy or heavyhanded. Consider reframing “I’m praying for you” to “Know that I’m here for you, no matter what.”

Ongoing support is important. After the initial diagnosis, there are often months of treatment and care. As time goes on, it’s easy to feel forgotten. A simple “You’re on my heart today” message can make a big difference.

Good things are all around us. Whatever you choose to call it serendipity, good luck, a blessing, or an answered prayer—it’s true that good things come along in unexpected ways. And I feel like I’ve received more than my share. Lucky me.

PHOTO BY ELLIE BOYETT

STEVE AND KELLI BULLARD

SOLED OUT SUCCESS STORY

BY RYAN MCSWAIN

The door to Soled Out Shoes opens ahead of business hours and there’s already a positive energy in the air. Owners Fabian Salas and JonJon Lucero pack away sound equipment, fresh out of the box, having just finished recording the first episode of a new podcast. Shining new and like-new shoes line one wall in organized rows: Jordan Retros, Dunks, Boosts, Slides, Revenge X Storms, and more. Clothing racks feature designer shirts. Exotic snacks are for sale, too—including Oreo flavors from Japan—plus a blinking prize machine where customers can win new kicks. This local business feels welcoming and professional—and it was opened in 2021 by two teenagers.

BIG SHOES, BIG MONEY

Sneakers have been a major industry since the 1970s hip-hop scene turned shoes into fashion accessories. Then came the explosive rise of Michael Jordan and Nike’s release of the Air Jordan in 1985. That’s when high-end sneakers became wardrobe staples. Collecting sneakers grew into its own subculture. Sneakerheads chase shoes new and old. According to Allied Market Research, sneaker sales topped $130 billion in 2021. Nike, by far the market leader, continues to offer vintage styles in classic colorways along with new designer styles. But Nike isn’t the only player in the game. Established companies like Adidas have their own must-have shoes, and smaller companies also cater to collectors, building

FABIAN SALAS AND JONJON LUCERO

hype with sold-out limited editions. Fans scramble to snag sneaker company collaborations with famous designers like Louis Vuitton or celebrities like Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny. The demand creates an opportunity—especially for a couple of young people willing to work hard and take a chance.

HIGH SCHOOL HUSTLE

JonJon Lucero is 18 years old and a recent high school graduate. Fabian Salas is 20. These Amarillo natives started their sneaker hustle while attending Caprock High School. “We used to resell off the streets back before this,” Salas says. Independently, both developed shoe-related Snapchat followings, posting photos of sought-after sneakers with the asking price. Almost every pair sold immediately.

Lucero says he’d finish the school day and start selling shoes, sometimes three to four pairs a day. Volume was high, and both had begun buying with the intent to sell. But Lucero had to be careful. “I didn’t want to buy any bricks.” In industry parlance, “bricks” are shoes that don’t sell and just take up space. “Because that’s me putting out money that I can’t really afford to lose.”

Was there a friendly rivalry between them in those days? “A little bit,” they both concede, laughing.

The two respected and competed with each other. Then they both ended up attending Sneaker Con, a convention in Dallas. A friendship started and they began hosting pop-up sales together.

Salas’s mother, Jacinta, took notice. At the rate he was making money, she worried he might be up to no good. “Every time I left my house, she checked the inside of my boxes and asked, ‘What’s in here now?’ I said, ‘Shoes. You check them!’”

Finally, his mother told him, “If you’re making this much money selling shoes, then you need to open a store.”

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Fabian Salas’ family already owned a building on Grand Street, with half of it occupied by Carrie’s Cakes and Cupcakes Too. The sneaker duo took over the other half. “This was actually a storage room,” Salas says. “We had to do a whole bunch of renovating.” They put in the work, from texturing the walls to installing flooring.

They shared the transformation on TikTok. They also filmed the day they signed the paperwork to make Soled Out an official business. It’s the first time either of them mentions any real challenges: their age. Lucero was just 17 at the time. “In order for me to be on anything, I had to be 18,” he says. “Fabian signed up as sole proprietor. It was a partnership in our head.” What made them trust each other that much? “Wasn’t much to lose,” Salas laughs.

The day Lucero turned 18, they made the partnership official.

The storefront opened in June 2021. Videos show sneakerheads lining up nearly an hour before the doors opened. Customers built towers of shoes at the register, cashing out at $820, $1,600, $1,730. Salas and Lucero moved more than a hundred pairs of shoes that day.

They still work hard to keep hot shoes in stock, focusing on quantity and networking at major sneaker conventions. Watch videos of the Soled Out Boys at sneaker conventions and a couple of things stand out. First, even the sneakerheads seem impressed by their business acumen at such a young age. And second, these young men know how to haggle. “That is something that you have to learn,” says Lucero. “My employees know how to do it now. But we had to teach them.”

“I really think you have to be broke,” says Salas, “because you got to really think about it. Back then, say I didn’t have $200, and this dude is selling shoes for $230. I’m like, ‘Man, I need to make a little bit, will you take $170?’ Even when you finally have the cash, you gotta keep that mentality.”

SNEAKERS AS COLLECTIBLES

Sneakers represent the perfect mix of fashion, sports, practicality, and nostalgia, so of course people collect them. Like so much else, the market exploded during the pandemic, according to Lucero. “My grandpa told me, ‘You should really think about getting a job, because it’s a pandemic. Nobody’s going to want shoes. People are going to save their money.’”

But people stuck at home found comfort in hobbies. From baseball cards to vintage cars, prices skyrocketed for anything collectible. April 2020 also saw the release of the critically-acclaimed sports documentary The Last Dance, focusing on Michael Jordan’s last season with the Chicago Bulls. Literally overnight, it drove shoe prices up. Jordan Retros started selling for $400 or $500 a pair.

“Chicagos were going for two bands plus,” says Salas. “Chicago” refers to the Air Jordan 1 in the iconic Chicago Bulls red and black, featured prominently in The Last Dance. Sneaker designs often come in multiple color schemes called colorways. Popular colorways earn nicknames. “Two bands plus” means the shoes were selling for more than $2,000 a pair.

FOR $5, SHOPPERS ATTEMPT TO WIN A $200-PLUS PAIR OF SHOES IN THIS UNIQUE VENDING MACHINE.

MODERN MARKETING

The owners of Soled Out consider themselves business owners but are working to become influencers. “Whenever we first started, we only recorded YouTube whenever we went to events,” Lucero says. But they saw their contemporaries leading camera crews and managing big productions. “I started thinking, these people are not only recording at events, these people are recording on a daily basis. The reason we didn’t do that was because we didn’t have a reliable cameraman. We didn’t have a reliable editor. And so I said, why don’t we just do it ourselves?”

Do customers enjoy being part of the content? “They love it,” says Salas.

“It’s a vibe when you come in here,” adds Lucero. “They want to shout themselves out. I feel like some people come in just to get tagged [on social media]. Sometimes younger kids come in that see us online. To us, we’re not famous, we’re regular people, [but] it’s cool whenever they’re asking to take pictures and stuff like that.”

They’ve created a podcast, Sold Out Unlaced, to serve as their latest platform. “The first episode is about life before the store,” Lucero says. “We talk about everything that led up to getting the store. It’s going to be about business, roadblocks that we hit and finding the way around.”

GET YOUR KICKS, GET SOME CASH

What’s the best way for customers to find the shoes they want at Soled Out? “Come into the store in person. A lot of shoes fit different. We’d like for them to try them on and actually get a feel for them. If they don’t like one, we’ll help them find the right fit.”

For people looking to sell shoes, Soled Out is always on the lookout for new inventory. Gone are the days where they would take any sneakers they could find. Now, they’re looking for popular shoes in new and like-new condition. “We’re mostly looking for Dunks, Yeezy Slides, Foam Runners, Jordan Retros,” says Salas.

ADVICE FOR THOSE MOVING UP

What advice do the Soled Out Boys have for other would-be young entrepreneurs? “I think if you want to start,” says Salas, “you need to start early. Because you shouldn’t be afraid to fail.”

Lucero agrees. “No matter what you do—as long as you’re passionate about it, whether it’s the craziest thing in the world—as long as you’re 100-percent passionate about it and you believe that you can do it, nothing anybody will say should stop you.”

Visit Soled Out’s primary location at 2128 S. Grand St., Amarillo, TX, 79103. You can find some of their most popular shoes and branded merchandise online at soledoutamarillo.com. Follow their adventures on YouTube as @thesoledoutboys and their podcast @soledoutunlaced, and find them on TikTok as @soledoutamarillo

NEVER TOO SOON TO GIVE BACK

Despite less than two years of business, Salas and Lucero are already re-investing in their community. They sponsor a Caprock High School program encouraging student attendance. After each six-week period, the school gives coupons to students who meet the following requirements: no more than two excused absences, no more than three tardies, and absolutely no unexcused absences. Eligible students receive a free spin on the Key Master machine (see previous page) for a chance to win prizes—a $5 value with the potential of landing them a $200-plus pair of shoes. They are also entered in a drawing to win a $300 gift certificate, enough to purchase at least one pair of designer shoes.

For Thanksgiving, the Soled Out Boys purchased and delivered meals. (Yes, they documented it on TikTok, and it included all the makings for a satisfying turkey dinner.) “This year we just wanted to help out families,” says Lucero.

MAKING GOOD

BY WES REEVES

AJ Swope had a boundless, infectious energy. In whatever role he was playing—television news anchor, chief spokesman for the region’s wind energy industry or gifted musician—he inspired others to find the best in themselves and put it to good work.

Ten years have now passed since his life was cut short by a suicidal wrong-way driver on U.S. 287 north of Amarillo. And while the emotional and psychological blow was devastating to his family and friends, the energy that surrounded AJ Swope during his short life is still in play as those who loved him best build upon his legacy.

Within a year of AJ Swope’s passing, his wife, Wendi, came together with several of AJ’s friends in both the music and business

communities to discuss a meaningful way to preserve her husband’s memory while benefiting the community—a living monument perpetuating his love of music and the culture and history of the region.

“When you suffer a catastrophic loss in life, you find yourself with a choice to make,” Wendi says. “Let the hurt and darkness settle into your heart and permanently suffocate your soul, or claw your way out of that tragic pit of despair by finding purpose. Our purpose was continuing AJ’s mission of connecting our community through the power of music.”

The efforts gained steam through the formation of Friends of AJ Swope and a plan to build an outdoor performance venue downtown, ringed by an outdoor Texas Panhandle Hall of Fame. By 2018, the

Ten years after his tragic death, AJ Swope’s family and friends build on his legacy of community spirit

group had commissioned an architectural rendering that also included a special wall along the Hall of Fame for the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial, an unbuilt project previously envisioned by another group of citizens.

City leadership encouraged the effort, offering to provide land near the Hodgetown baseball stadium if fundraising efforts were successful. After a promising start in 2019, the efforts ran into the brick wall of the pandemic in the spring of 2020 and stalled.

“When COVID struck, it was not only a hit to our progress, it was also a hit to our confidence,” Wendi says. “As priorities across the globe changed, our project faced mounting difficulties and was ultimately put on hold. Although we couldn’t have known it at the time, those frustrating challenges would later turn into amazing opportunities that would allow us to enhance the project beyond what we had ever imagined.”

A gradual return to normalcy in 2021 was the first step toward getting the project off high-center. But by that time, a city bond issue to expand the Amarillo Civic Center had been rejected by voters. The uncertainty around the city’s future facility plans along Buchanan Street led Friends of AJ Swope to consider other locations for the plaza project. Concurrently, the Crouch Foundation—which was formed to operate Arts in the Sunset/Amarillo Art Institute after founder Ann Crouch’s 2017 passing—had finalized plans to reimagine their Sunset Center space along Plains Boulevard. The radical makeover of the old shopping mall included plans for an outdoor performance venue. Friends of AJ Swope immediately saw in this plan a way to accomplish the initial goal of building a performance space to memorialize AJ Swope and help the Crouch Foundation fulfill its desire to expand its reach into the performing arts.

“The opportunity to partner with Friends of AJ Swope was a serendipitous one,” says Rachel Flores, executive director of the Amarillo Art Institute. “The decision had already been made to build an outdoor performance space at Arts in the Sunset, but we knew it would be important to start connecting further within the music world. Naming the space after AJ—someone who brought people together through music and cared so much for this community— brings a special weight and value to the space. It also opened the doors to meeting local musicians, and making the connections we had been looking for.”

The Crouch Foundation and Friends of AJ Swope signed a partnership agreement in the summer of 2022 as work got underway on the renovations at Sunset. The Crouch Foundation greatly reduced the mall’s footprint by demolishing a line of empty shops that flanked the east side of the north mall. Playa Design Group’s plans for the rest of the northern extension called for stripping it down to its steel skeleton to create an open-air event space where the AJ Swope Performance Plaza is now being developed.

The performance space at Arts in the Sunset will be accessed from a covered concourse that was formerly the northern extension of the mall, and can be used in a variety of ways. Dressing rooms and a green room are planned backstage, providing amenities for multiple types of performances. A built-in bar will further enhance the space as a special events venue. Friends of AJ Swope is working with Arts in the Sunset to open the new space with a music festival in spring of 2023.

With the performance venue project nearing completion in a different setting than originally proposed, Friends of AJ Swope decided to develop the Hall of Fame and First Responders Memorial as separate projects in different locations. The group gave top priority to the First Responders Memorial, and last year secured a lease on a city-owned pocket park on South Polk Street at 11th Avenue next to the historic Bivins Home as the desired location. Turner LandArchitecture and Sims + Architects submitted a redesign of the existing greenspace that will transform it into a contemplative setting for the memorial. The prominent feature will be a water cascade behind terraced walls listing the names of more than 90 Texas Panhandle law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who have died in the line of duty—dating as far back as 1882. Fundraising efforts are underway with plans to complete the memorial by 2024.

Friends of AJ Swope had already established partnerships with several area first responder groups before the pandemic and secured the blessing of those involved before announcing the revised plan last summer. One of the earliest supporters is Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas, who has been close to AJ Swope’s family for many years.

“I have always said that the Panhandle is nothing like what you see anywhere else in the country,” Thomas says. “Our citizens love and respect us as first responders, and now we will have a place for families to go with their children to sit and explain to them what this

A 3D ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING OF THE AJ SWOPE PERFORMANCE PLAZA AT ARTS IN THE SUNSET.

place is about. What a blessing this will be for the families but also the citizens to come and see and respect all those who have given their lives.”

The connection between AJ Swope and the First Responders Memorial is deeply meaningful to Thomas, who was on duty the day Swope died. He had been called to the scene of the wreck, unaware of who was involved. He insisted that he notify the family himself once it was known that Swope was the victim, and recalls that day as the hardest day in his law enforcement career.

“Wendi and I go back at least 20 years,” Thomas says. “When she married AJ, he was the love of her life. What a great person and fabulous musician. Let me tell you, it was the absolute toughest call

I ever responded to in my 35 years.”

The First Responders Memorial will need an estimated $1.2 million to finish. Donations are being accepted through the Friends of AJ Swope fund at the Amarillo Area Foundation, either through the Foundation’s website, amarilloareafoundation.org or through friendsofajswope.org. The Friends of AJ Swope website also features architectural renderings and flythrough videos of both the First Responders Memorial and AJ Swope Performance Plaza. The group has since applied for its own nonprofit status to enable it to improve and maintain both projects, and eventually develop the Texas Panhandle Hall of Fame, which exists virtually on the group’s website.

“WHEN YOU SUFFER A CATASTROPHIC LOSS IN LIFE, YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH A CHOICE TO MAKE. LET THE HURT AND DARKNESS SETTLE INTO YOUR HEART AND PERMANENTLY SUFFOCATE YOUR SOUL, OR CLAW YOUR WAY OUT OF THAT TRAGIC PIT OF DESPAIR BY FINDING PURPOSE. OUR PURPOSE WAS CONTINUING AJ’S MISSION OF CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC.”

Wendi Swope

AJ SWOPE AND THE LAST TRAIN HOME (L-R) AJ SWOPE, BEN CARGO, STEVEN RONK, AND JORDON MCCLAIN

MASTERING A MINDFUL KITCHEN

Now that we’ve emerged on the other side of the holiday hustle and bustle, can we all just take a breather? Are you truly ready to begin that 21-day exercise challenge or some other new habit for a “new you?” Not this gal. I am still in hibernation mode! Instead, I fill my January with rest, reflection, dreaming, and planning. I infuse mindfulness into my day-to-day life. And, because I love to cook more than anything, that mindfulness begins in my kitchen.

The kitchen should be the gathering place where we experience laughter, cooking and eating with others. It is a room where we can connect with our minds while our creativity is set free. As a child, I experienced it as a magical space where my mother willingly spent a lot of her time.

I remember my mom having everything she needed in order to cook: ingredients measured, equipment ready to go, and music playing on the radio. To me, it was the ideal of an artistic mind at work. That appealed to me in the most powerful way. I’d watch her sway her hips to music in the background as she formed each tortilla. She carefully placed each portion onto the counter, layering one on top of the other with a bit of flour sprinkled in between. They looked like precisely-placed fluffy clouds of goodness I was surely ready to devour. What I didn’t know until later in life was that she was practicing mindful cooking. She connected with the ingredients, honored their presence, and enjoyed her time in the kitchen. She LOVED to cook.

THE FUNDAMENTALS

I would almost bet that YOU love to cook, too. I see you! If you’re anything like me, you love it so much that you care for and organize your kitchen space on the reg. Everything has its place, and when you’re finished using it, you put it back where it belongs, right? You also have tubers, tomatoes, and onions nestled inside pretty decorative bowls just so you can whisper sweet nothings to them as you enter the room. If so, you’re right where you need to be, shug. But just in case you need a refresher, here is a simple breakdown on the fundamentals of setting up a mindful kitchen:

1. Plan Ahead

Before you rush into the kitchen, make sure the kitchen is ready for you. Your mindset is important for setting clear intentions about what you want to accomplish. What sort of mood do you want to be in when you set a cooking session in motion? How do you want your completed dish to look? Do you have all of the tools you need?

2. Declutter

There are times when I have a stack of books, a set of headphones, my purse, and random ingredients on the kitchen counter. A cluttered kitchen won’t be an inspiring space to create. Clear the clutter! Store whatever you don’t use often. Take inventory of your drawers and cabinets. Get rid of broken or unused utensils or appliances. Wipe down shelves and refresh shelf paper or liner. Organize your countertops. Sharpen your knives. This process takes time, so go slow and enjoy the ride.

3. Simplify

You don’t have to cook a four-course meal every single night. Make it easier on yourself by planning out your weekly meals, which helps you determine which nights merit a beautiful, simple meal. Maintain ingredients, such as dark leafy greens, veggies, canned or pre-cooked beans, artichoke hearts, grains, homemade dressing, and fresh fruit. You can toss a gorgeous salad together for dinner in a flash. Start small and add elements as you learn more about building dishes from scratch. In no time, you’ll graduate to roasting root vegetables and adding herbs and spices, nuts and seeds to your salads.

One game we love to play is Chopped. My husband rules the roost on this one. We clear out the fridge of ingredients that need to be eaten before they expire, and come up with a dish using those items. It’s so much fun seeing what he creates each time. My game plan usually involves a large pot of soup I like to call Everything but the Kitchen Sink.

A JOURNEY FOR SWOONING

Anything that brings us joy or makes us swoon is something to anticipate with pleasure. For me, the ritual of shopping, cooking and eating is my sweet spot. It’s essential

Shopping: With my grocery list and coffee in tow, I shop to refresh and stock up on spices, fresh produce, and other basics needed for the week. Make it your Saturday outing. Visit local farmers’ markets, growers and independent shops. You’d be surprised just how inexpensive shopping for seasonal food can be when you have a plan.

Cooking: Once you’ve unpacked your groceries, step back, stretch and breathe. Grab a drink, put on some music, and leisurely put your items away. It’s absolutely fine if you want to smell and feel the vegetables as you place them in the crisper. It’s perfectly OK if you quietly tell them what surprises you have in store for their transformation. Get excited to cook. You’ll be delighted by the conversations you will have with your ingredients as you shape them into a more fantastical existence. The more you practice mindful cooking, the more you will grow in confidence. Your keen sense of knowing how much seasoning a dish needs or when to stir your food will become second nature.

Eating: This is easily my favorite part, as it is a major component of swooning over a good meal. Sit down and enjoy your labor of love! To ease any fatigue you might feel after a day of shopping and cooking, stop and stretch again. Close your eyes and breathe as

elevate your plate

WITH RUTHIE LANDELIUS

you get ready to begin your epicurean journey. Set your table with a cherished tablecloth, light a candle, or adorn your table with fresh flowers. Give your environment that extra touch to stay in the spirit of happiness you had while cooking. Allow the meal to help you silence the noise in your mind for just a few seconds as you taste the food. Savor each bite.

Bravo, my friend. You did it. You now know how to set up a mindful kitchen. View it as a room for creativity, laughter and togetherness. By infusing mindfulness into our time in the kitchen, we can create a space free from stress and full of joy. So, set aside some time to be present in your kitchen today, and get into the habit of creating a mindful kitchen all year round!

RUTHIE LANDELIUS

Ruthie owns Black Fig Food catering and is proprietor of the online cooking platform Elevated Plant Plate. Learn more at elevatedplantplate.com and blackfigfood.com.

POWER UP >>

Good Bones

It’s soup season, and a hearty broth provides an incredibly versatile base for home cooks who want to make their own soups from scratch. Bone broth is an increasingly popular ingredient in soups and sauces, and offers nutritional benefits over traditional stock.

Livia Woodburn of Pan-Handlers Café—and the chef behind the Amarillo National Bank Dining Room—produces some of the best soups in the city. We asked her why she prefers bone broth as a soup base.

“Chicken bone broth contains more protein, collagen, electrolytes, vitamins and minerals than regular chicken broth,” she says. “Chicken broth may be okay for cooking, but bone broth is much more concentrated and delicious.”

She says making bone broth at home is easier than most people think, and shared her own recipe for it, along with two amazing soups that make use of it.

Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth

2 ½-pound roasted chicken carcass

6 medium carrots, roughly chopped

6 stalks celery, roughly chopped

1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped

4 cloves garlic, smashed

6 sprigs fresh rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dried

6 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon whole black peppercorn

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

12 cups cold water

To a 6-quart (5.5 liter) Instant Pot, add chicken bones, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, apple cider vinegar, and water; stir to combine. Set Instant Pot to high sauté and bring to a boil. Cook until any impurities foam to the surface, then carefully skim off the top with a large spoon. Place the lid on the pot and turn the venting valve to sealing. Set manual cooking time for 60 minutes.

Release pressure with a towel or oven mitt by switching the vent to venting, making sure to avoid hot steam from the release switch.

Wait for pressure to release and the Instant Pot to unlock before removing the lid. Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Makes 6 cups Notes:

This recipe also works well in a slow cooker: Add all ingredients to a Crockpot. Cover with filtered water and cook on low for at least 12 hours (16 to 18 is best).

You can use chicken, beef, turkey or pork bones. They can be raw or cooked.

For a richer, darker broth, roast the bones in the oven first (450 degrees for 30 to 60 minutes).

Save leftover herbs and vegetable scraps from cooking in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. When the bag is full, use them to make homemade broth.

Zuppa Toscana

Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat; refrigerate while preparing other ingredients. In the same pan, sauté bacon, onions and garlic over lowmedium heat for approximately 15 minutes, or until onions are soft. Add chicken broth and heat until boiling. Add sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about 20 minutes. Add heavy cream and cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in sausage and kale; heat through and serve. Makes 6 to 8 servings

Quick & Easy (Cheater) Posole

1 yellow onion

2 tablespoons cooking oil

2 tablespoons flour (or 1 tablespoon cornstarch for gluten-free)

2 tablespoons mild chili powder

3 ounces tomato paste

½ teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

¾ teaspoon salt

5 cups chicken broth (or bone broth), divided

1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles

1 (15-ounce) can hominy, drained

1 ½ cups shredded pork, chicken or beef (pre-cooked)

Juice of 1 fresh lime

½ bunch fresh cilantro

Finely dice onion, then add it to a large soup pot along with cooking oil. Sauté onion in oil over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender and translucent. Add flour (or cornstarch) and chili powder; continue to sauté for two minutes more. The mixture will be fairly dry, so stir continuously to prevent burning. Add 2 cups broth, tomato paste, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt to pot. Whisk ingredients together until tomato paste is dissolved. Allow the mixture to come to a simmer, at which point it will thicken. Finally, add remaining broth, shredded meat, green chiles, and hominy. Stir to combine and then heat through (about 10 minutes). Add lime juice and cilantro and serve.

Makes 6 servings

BIO

Our magazine is about storytelling. We want to introduce readers to the interesting people who live in this area, and the special "Bio" section in this issue is one of our favorite ways to do it. It's simple: Just a photo of a local and a few questions about who they are, what they do, and why they're here in Amarillo. We're grateful for these leaders and local businesses. Enjoy!

Griffin Wink Advertising

What do you do best? Describe your primary area of expertise and experience. My career in traditional advertising started more than 20 years ago. I learned early on that an agency is only as strong as the team that surrounds it, so I take great pride in my ability to identify and onboard strong, talented and dynamic groups of professionals who consistently unite under common goals. I believe in my team and keeping the focus on them is a top priority.

How did you gain this experience? I’ve gained this experience by prioritizing active listening, adaptation, and flexibility. In today’s world, things seemingly change in an instant and, as a leader, it is my job to listen to my team, adapt when needed, and continue to be flexible as new technologies and capabilities within our industry come along. It is very much a balancing act, but each of those elements has served our agency well.

Do you have specific credentials or training? How do you stay informed? I stay informed through attending webinars, conferences and peer groups, but most importantly surrounding myself with talented, certified professionals that keep me informed in their specific areas of expertise.

What first attracted you to your career? The creativity. Not just the creativity you see in the advertisement itself, but the creativity that goes into the overall strategy and behind-the-scenes of a campaign. I am grateful this career path yields the ability to use creativity in so many ways, to connect with people.

Why have you chosen to live and work in this area? Simply put, the people. Having a spouse that grew up in the Amarillo area, I was introduced to and quickly fell in love with the culture here. I have a deep appreciation for the level of work ethic and overall community support that Amarillo showcases. Those values, coupled with the growth of the economy, further solidified that Amarillo was the place to plant roots: for myself, my family, and GriffinWink Advertising.

What’s something people may be surprised to learn about you? I lived in Oregon during the early years of my life. The Goonies and Short Circuit were filmed in my hometown, and Kindergarten Cop was filmed at my old elementary school.

FirstBank Southwest

What do you do best? I would hope that my day job reflects my professional best. I’m the CEO and President of FirstBank Southwest. My personal best is being a husband, father, and now grandfather; or at least that’s what I’m most proud of.

How did you gain this experience? Forty-plus years of civilian and military leadership and management experience, combined with 20-plus years of commercial banking management experience in regional and super regional banks.

Do you have specific credentials or training? B.S. in Business/Management, University of Maryland; MBA, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss); Graduate School of Banking, LSU; National Commercial Lending School, SMU; CEO Executive Management Certification, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Mississippi School of Banking, Ole Miss.

What first attracted you to your career? Banking is actually my third career. I was career military. Afterwards, I was in sales and management for an industrial supply company. I was recruited into banking by a local bank president. My first position was as a branch president for a large regional bank. Though new to the industry, I instantly fell in love with it! Since then, I haven’t looked back.

Why have you chosen to live and work in this area? I moved to Amarillo in 2017 after being recruited for my current position at FBSW. My wife, Denise, and I had an instant emotional connection with Amarillo and the Panhandle. Also, FirstBank Southwest is simply an incredible organization, manned and led by the most outstanding group of people I’ve ever been around. What the Ellis family has built over the last 115 years is almost an anomaly in the current state of commodity banking. Rock solid at its core, with a staff that has the longest average tenure of any bank of which I’m aware. The bank wanted to shift into a growth mode, and they made the decision to look outside the bank for someone to lead them that had seen a number of different things in his/her career. That fortunately turned out to be me. I’m the second non-Ellis family member to lead the bank in its entire history.

What’s something people may be surprised to learn about you? Probably the thing that most surprises people is my military background. I served on active duty in both the US Air Force and, afterwards, in the US Army during the height of the Cold War.

ANDY MARSHALL

+ Advisors

What does your team do best? At LPT, we thrive by helping clients in a variety of industries, including construction, energy, law, health care, and agriculture, dealing with complex tax, business and accounting issues and perhaps most importantly, rapid and continual changes in all of these areas. While reporting and compliance are important elements of our work, we’re passionate about coaching and planning with clients.

Describe your team’s primary area of expertise and experience. How did you gain this experience? The three partners, Sam Lovelady, Terry Pruiett and Johnny Terra, are CPAs and cumulatively have more than 70 years of experience in public accounting. As the name “public” accounting implies, we deal with a wide variety of clients. Our days are filled with interesting people, challenging situations and diverse businesses. Accounting is what we do; the people are why we do it.

Do you have specific credentials or training? How do you stay informed? As CPAs, we’re required to earn 40 hours of continuing education annually. Frankly, maintaining excellence requires much more than what is required. There are myriad sources for training and information, but sometimes the best option is walking down the hall to your colleague’s office.

What first attracted each of you to your career? While the “correct” answer would be to say “to help people,” the truth is we recognized we were nerdy enough to have an aptitude for the accounting field. The enjoyment of helping people and making a difference for our clients came later.

Why have you chosen to live and build a firm in this area? The Panhandle is home. The three of us share a love of the people and the place— Terry grew up here, Sam had to wise up and leave Lubbock at age 5, Johnny was lured here from Brazil by a basketball scholarship—we’re all here to stay.

What’s something people may be surprised to learn about LPT? We are a diverse group at LPT. While all of us share a commitment to our clients and are skilled in tax and accounting work, our staff includes individuals from Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico, Vietnam, and Ukraine. We’ve had the pleasure of celebrating several of our team members completing the naturalization process and becoming American citizens.

Starlight Canyon

What do you do best? Describe your primary area of expertise and experience. Starlight Canyon Bed & Breakfast offers unique lodging, and hosts the most beautiful weddings in the Texas Panhandle. After 10 years, Liz and Nate Green continue to develop their own brand of Texas hospitality. Their focus is romance, and they call Starlight Canyon “The Heart of Texas Romance.” They have four cabins with a private hot tub and cozy decor. Guests have the option to add moonlight massages, candlelight dinners, romance packages and much more. For their inclusive weddings, they guide each couple through every step in the celebration, from planning the big day to breakfast delivered to the honeymoon suite the next morning.

How did you gain this experience? The Green’s experience in hospitality started more than 20 years ago, while Nate was working in restaurants and Liz was entering the Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management Program at Texas Tech University. Collectively, Nate and Liz have more than 40 years of experience in the industry.

Do you have specific credentials or training? How do you stay informed? Liz completed the program at Texas Tech, and moved to Keystone Ski Resort to begin her career. There, she found her love for the business and the love of her life, Nate. Nate’s training was less formal, working at various establishments in the vacation mecca of Summit County, Colorado. Crediting his passion for food and the food supply, Nate enrolled in the Agricultural Business & Economics program at WTAMU, finishing in 2016, just three years after buying Starlight Canyon.

A big part of hospitality is helping folks feel comfortable. Liz and Nate find the simple art of small talk does this better than anything. Small talk is built around information, and they stay informed on current events, local stories, national and world-wide news. They rely on national and local news outlets, headline skimming, and hometown periodicals like Brick & Elm

What first attracted you to your career? Liz and Nate’s common passion for hospitality was discovered in each other. Liz invested in the academic pathway to hospitality expertise, while Nate’s path was focused on “putting food on the table” for the guests he served.

Why have you chosen to live and work in this area? Liz grew up here and went to Canyon High. While the couple was living in Colorado, Liz’s parents told them about Starlight Canyon and that it was for sale. On a fateful visit to Canyon, Liz and Nate saw the property and instantly fell in love. They began planning their move to Amarillo that same day!

What’s something people may be surprised to learn about you? Nate and Liz have opened the lawn at Starlight Canyon to host concerts in the warmer weather featuring local and regional talents. Along with a passion for performing arts, Nate and Liz have developed an interest in visual arts that has materialized in a new segment of their business called Starlight Canyon Design Studio. With the design studio, Nate creates stunning barn quilts.

LIZ

RE/MAX MOUNTAIN REALTY 3655 Mountain View Blvd. Angel Fire, N.M. 87710

BYRON “DOC” PEARSON

Associate Broker Office: 575.377.1919 Cell: 806.683.1355 docpearsonrealty@gmail.com

BUENOS DIAS T

here’s a lot to love about a place that specializes in breakfast, and definitely a lot to love about a locally owned, small-town diner. All those ingredients are part of the secret sauce at Buenos Dias in Canyon, an adorable counter-service cafe on 23rd Street, right in the middle of town. This home-cooking gem may be lurking under the radar—especially among the Amarillo breakfast crowd—but the secret’s out in Canyon.

“People in this town want eggs and bacon,” says Xavier Villalobos, who owns Buenos Dias with his wife, Brenda Lopez. They also want chicken and waffles, huevos rancheros, breakfast quesadillas and the small joy of drinking fresh coffee out of a random mug. (Choose your own from a fun, colorful wall of mismatched mugs.)

The café was born in 2018, a collaboration between the couple and Villalobos’ mother, Teresa, who was a veteran of the restaurant at Canyon Country Club. After Teresa’s unexpected passing a year later, Xavier and Brenda dug their heels in and determined to honor her dream and figure it out.

Canyon regulars have embraced them and Buenos Dias has proven popular among WT students and faculty. Meanwhile, a steady stream of Amarillo patrons make the drive for breakfast and brunch every Wednesday through Sunday. Buenos Dias opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 7:30 on weekends, serving up joy, coffee and—trust us on this— the best breakfast burritos smothered in gravy. 1202 23rd St., Canyon 806.452.7277 facebook.com/buenosdiaskitchen

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

80/20 MEAL PREP

Healthy meals to go. Build your own meal using already prepped foods, or choose from a flexible menu of options based on diet needs, whether vegan, trying to manage diabetes, or wanting enough protein to add muscle. Gourmet meals and meal-prep using high-quality, whole food ingredients. 2511 S. Georgia St., 282.5434 eightytwentymeals.com $

ASIAN BISTRO

Here’s what we know: A Hey Amarillo guest of Laotian descent identified this spot on the Boulevard, across from Sonic, as her absolute favorite place for Asian food in Amarillo. It serves Lao, Thai and Vietnamese dishes and its pho is among the best in town. 1006 Amarillo Blvd. East, 418.6143 $

THE BAGEL PLACE

great, of course—the 24-inch size is one of the biggest available in town—but they also serve burgers, gyros, calzones, subs, ribs, chicken and more. Full dining room and a full bar with live music. 3801 Olsen Blvd., Suite 9, 352.5050, ilovebigjimspizza.com $

BUTTERLOVE BISCUITS

Yes, the entire restaurant concept is built around biscuits and isn’t that all you really need to know? Biscuits are the ultimate comfort food and these are heavenly, with savory and sweet options and brunch cocktails in a fun environment—owned by the sweethearts behind Ruffled Cup. 3440 S. Bell, Suite 130, 418.8966, butterlove.com $$

CASK & CORK

This tiny, iconic burger joint has a big reputation for its green chile burgers, its ribeye steaks, and—if you can handle it— the mouth-blazing Burger from Hell. A true Amarillo dive. 2417 S. Grand St., 373.4640, coyotebluffcafe.com $

DELVIN’S RESTAURANT & CATERING

After opening in 2015, this North Heights restaurant quickly gained a diverse, dedicated clientele from across the city thanks to its generous portions and madefrom-scratch flavors. (The buttermilk pie is worth a trip by itself.) 1300 N. Hughes St., 803.9111, delvinsrestaurant.com $

DOUG’S HICKORY PIT BAR-B-QUE

This beloved breakfast and lunch spot introduced bagels to the Panhandle years ago, and locals have been grateful ever since. Grab a fresh bagel to go and choose from a variety of cream cheese flavors. Or try the oversized homemade sweets. (Look, everything here is delicious.) 3301 Bell St., 353.5985, bagelplace.net $

The rooftop patio in southwest Amarillo offers unparalleled views of Panhandle sunsets. It’s also a great spot for live music and cocktails. And while we love the shareable apps, we’re most impressed by the attentive service here. Every employee seems eager to please. 5461 McKenna Square, Suite 101, 410.1113, caskncorkamarillo.com $$

In Amarillo, nostalgia is spelled D-O-U-G-S. Generations of locals visit this teensy little shack, which developers have just built around at 34th and Georgia. Your friends ate here in high school, regardless of your age. You won’t go wrong with a chopped beef sandwich and a bowl of beans. 3313 S. Georgia St., 352.8471 $

THE DRUNKEN OYSTER

BEEF BURGER BARREL

Hands-down this is the most unique restaurant design in Amarillo, and this classic walk-up joint has held down the same spot since 1952. You can’t miss it. Because, y’all, it’s a giant white barrel. Not in the mood for beef and/or burgers? Try a fish, ham or grilled cheese sandwich. 3102 Plains Blvd., 374.0101 $

BENJAMIN’S DONUTS & BAKERY

Local folks are serious about donuts, and there is definitely a “Benjamin’s donuts or no donuts at all” camp. Benjamin’s is familyowned and -operated, and you won’t find a bad option on the menu—from donuts to the pastries, kolaches, breakfast sandwiches and burritos. 7003 Bell St., 353.1100/ 1800 Western St., 803.1133 $

BIG JIM’S PIZZA CO.

Formerly La Bella Pizza on Olsen, a locally owned pizza place with a dedicated clientele and a delightfully diverse menu. The pizza is

CHARLEE’S CHICKEN

The menu at this new restaurant is built around slow-cooked rotisserie chicken and juicy, hand-breaded fried chicken, plus a few seafood surprises like Sesame Seed Crusted Tuna. The desserts are amazing and the deep wine selection is way too good for a downtown chicken joint. 614 S. Polk St., 376.4700, charleeschicken.com $$

CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN Look, Cheddar’s is a comfort-food chain with origins in the Dallas area. That makes this I-40 mainstay only sort of local, but it is always, always busy for a reason. Families love the affordable menu. Seniors love the discounts. Human beings with working tastebuds appreciate the honey-butter croissants. 3901 I-40 West, 358.2111, cheddars.com $$

COYOTE BLUFF CAFE

It’s located in a little shack. It’s been featured on national TV shows. It’s one of those places locals love to take visitors.

The opulent, moody atmosphere of the Drunken Oyster feels like you’ve stepped out of the Panhandle and into the heart of the bayou. The Louisiana-style cuisine never disappoints, from the fresh oysters to the jambalaya and crawfish étouffée. It’s also a great spot for live music. 7606 SW 45th Ave., Suite 100, 418.6668, drunkenoysteramarillo.com $$

THE

EATERY ON ROUTE 66

Located at the Georgia Street entrance to iconic Sixth Street, this small cafe is just as delicious as it is quirky. We can’t get enough of the 50/50, an enormous beef-and-baconblended meatloaf sandwich. For a lighter option, order the Strawberry Fields Forever salad or a quiche. 2601 SW Sixth Ave., 236.2718, eateryonroute66.com $

This is not a comprehensive list of local restaurants. From issue to issue, we will try to include a wide variety of dining options based on the space available. If you notice an error, please email mm@brickandelm.com.

$ $$ $$$ JAN/FEB 2023 68

EL CARBONERO RESTAURANTE Y PUPUSERIA

Amarillo isn’t exclusively a destination for Tex-Mex food. This joint on the Boulevard offers authentic Salvadoran cuisine, including pupusas, plantains, salvadoran sausage, and pan con pollo. If you’re into flavorful grilled meats—or Salvadoran beer like Regia Extra— this is the place. 1702 Amarillo Blvd. East, 373.1973, elcarbonerorestaurantamarillo.com $

EL CHARRO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

The prominent I-40 location probably negates the title “hidden gem,” but we suspect a large percentage of Amarillo’s Mexican-food aficionados haven’t visited El Charro. That’s a mistake. The fresh-made salsa is wonderful and the food flavorful and authentic. Travelers and locals alike rave about the friendly service. 4207 I-40 East, 373.4555 $

EL PALETON

Is it an ice cream parlor? A Mexican snack shop? We’re not sure how to fully categorize this northeast Amarillo business, other than to tell you to go check it out. The menu items are beautiful, handmade and colorful, from strawberries and cream to mangonadas, elote and an enormous selection of agua frescas They cater, too! 818 Martin Road, 418.6155, elpaletontx.com $

FAVS

FAVs stands for “Fruits and Vegetables,” and that’s precisely the healthy focus of this small family-owned shop. Beyond the smoothies and fruit bowls, FAVs serves salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups and fresh pressed juice. A true hidden gem in the Plemons-Eakle neighborhood. 706 SW 16th Ave., 803.9171 $

FURRBIE’S

The owners at Furrbie’s are quirky and fun, the burgers are delicious, and the desserts are definitely worth the extra calories. But the best thing about this downtown lunch stop is the fact that they’ve figured out how to replicate Char-Kel’s cheese fritters from the 1980s and ’90s. YES. 210 SW Sixth Ave., 220.0841 $

GLORIA’S OYSTER BAR

One of the original Mexican seafood places in Amarillo, Gloria’s is known for its soups, oysters and traditional Mexican dishes like chile rellenos. In a city filled with quality Mexican food, Gloria’s stands out as unique. And the capirotada (Mexcian bread pudding) is incredible. 1300 S. Grand St., 373.2722 $

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Lifestar is proud to serve the Texas Panhandle, and we’re expanding to better meet the needs of our neighbors.

GOLDEN WAFFLE COMPANY

One of the proprietors of this women-owned business also owns the Golden Light, so its local heritage is already strong. This strip-mall spot features sweet and savory waffles with toppings. Its weekend brunch is extremely popular, along with its creative mimosas and micheladas. 6017 Hillside Road, Suite 250, 367.8141, goldenwafflecompany.com $

GRANDMA’S COCINA

Just like Abuela’s house, the full menu is available all day long at this little spot on 45th. New owners took over in early 2021, but the quality continues. Locals swear by the breakfast burritos as well as the freshcut fries and burgers and Tex-Mex favorites like asada and chili verde plates. 3609 SW 45th Ave., 398.9999 $

HAPPY BURRITO

A good burrito always makes people happy, and this small dine-in and takeout restaurant on the Boulevard does it right. Almost everything on the menu is less than $5, and loyal customers tend to order online and pick it up. Interestingly, we hear a lot about the burgers here. 908 Amarillo Blvd. East, Suite B, 379.8226 $

HOFFBRAU STEAK & GRILL HOUSE

Locally owned for three decades, Hoffbrau is exactly the kind of steak place you’d expect to find in a city like ours—no-fuss and delicious. The I-40 location is both family-friendly and traveler-friendly, with Texas steaks, comfort food, outdoor dining and a separate bar area. 7203 I-40 West, 358.6595, hoffbrausteakandgrill.com $$

HOUSE OF DONUTS

Amarillo loves its donuts, and this little indie stop on North Grand has a faithful following, served fresh by an always-friendly team. Moms and dads will love the colorful gourmet options kids go crazy for, as well as more grown-up treats like kolaches, breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos. 1615 N. Grand St., 803.0845 $

HUMMERS SPORTS CAFE

Hummers is an Amarillo landmark dating back to the early 1980s, before sports bars were all the rage. This institution and its environs on Paramount have evolved since then, but the burgers are still fresh and delicious, the beer is still ice-cold and the good times are still really good. Our tip? Order the steak bites. 2600 Paramount Blvd., Suite B2, 353.0723, hummerssportscafe.com $$

INDIAN OVEN

Tikka bite at this long-standing Indian restaurant, where everything— from the homemade naan to each item in the lunch buffet—is worth a try. The samosas are crispy and the chicken vindaloo tangy. A number of meals are offered as vegan options. 2406 Paramount Blvd., 335.3600, indian-oven.com $$

JOE TACO

This Amarillo stand-by has a solid reputation for fast service and great Tex-Mex, with two Amarillo locations and one in Canyon. The bar and outdoor patio at the Wallace location, near the hospitals, are always hopping with live music on weekends. 7312 Wallace Blvd., 331.8226/600 S. Buchanan St., 350.8226, joetaco.net $$

K-N ROOT BEER DRIVE-IN

This legendary, traditional drive-in opened in 1968. And while it recently lost its iconic covered parking in a windstorm, the wonderful burgers, shakes and floats are still around. And the root beer is served in a frosty cold mug! As the sign used to say, it’s “truly a bargain at today’s prices.” 3900 Olsen Blvd., 355.4391, knrootbeer.com $

LA FIESTA GRANDE

The Bara family is iconic in Amarillo because of their long-lasting, family-owned restaurants featuring generational recipes. The familyfriendly menu is true Tex-Mex, with lots of fun Happy Hour specials in the bar area. We’ve loved this place since we were kids.

2200 Ross St., 374.3689/7415 SW 45th Ave., 352.1330, fiestagrande.com $$

LA PASADITA

You don’t really expect to find this little, walk-up restaurant in the middle of a residential area, but just get in line and go for it (the line moves quick). The menu is limited but the Chihuahuastyle food is fresh, traditional, and fast. Takeout only. Try a breakfast burrito, menudo, barbacoa or chile rellenos. 2730 NE 16th Ave., 381.2309 $

LUPITA’S

The original Lupita’s tortilleria is home to the best tortillas, burritos and tamales in town— that means something in Amarillo—and this family restaurant has now expanded to multiple locations. Some are takeout only. All are good. So good. For holiday tamales, order early! 4013 SE 10th Ave., 372.3537 3221 S. Western St., 350.7638 2403 Hardin Drive, 350.7637 1706 Amarillo Blvd. East, 350.7614 1901 SE 11th St., 350.7398 3309 Bell St., 350.7297 $

MITCH’S TEXAS STYLE BBQ

You may have seen Mitch’s big black BBQ trailer at local events, but the brick-andmortar Mitch’s—located inside Toot ‘n Totum complexes—serves up food way better than anyone expects of “barbecue from a convenience store.” The portions are huge. We love the Meme’s fried pies. Traveling? You can also find Mitch’s in Plainview and Clayton, New Mexico. 8507 I-40 East, 220.0978, mitchstxbbq.com $$

MY THAI

One of the original Thai food restaurants in a city famous for them. My Thai has been family-owned since 1986 and is absolutely a

local favorite. In fact, My Thai is probably the standard for comparing the quality of the rest of the city’s Thai restaurants. Lunch specials daily. 2029 Coulter St., 355.9541, mythaiamarillo.com $

NAPOLI’S FINE ITALIAN RESTAURANT

This downtown favorite offers live music, a full bar and a spacious private patio with views of one of the 2021 Hoodoo murals. Expect to become addicted to the housebaked bread knots, and to find something you love on the traditional Italian menu. The calzones are huge and worth sharing. 700 S. Taylor St., 220.2588, napolisofamarillo.com $$

OHMS CAFE & BAR

The Fuller family has operated this eatery for more than 30 years, and it consistently offers Amarillo’s best fine dining. We love the bar area and outdoor patio, as well as its buffet-style lunch and weekly chef specials from Chef Josh Fuller. Pro tip: The Bar Burger is the best burger in town. 619 S. Tyler St., 373.3233, ohmscafe.com $$-$$$

OLIVE BRANCH CAFE

Open for lunch on Sixth, this relatively new, cozy cafe inside Moonwater Designs doesn’t just offer healthy, light lunch options including flavorful quiches and caprese salads. (The caprese grilled cheese? YES.) It’s also a wonderful option for holiday pies, cakes and sides like green bean casserole. The desserts are worth the extra calories. 3313 SW Sixth Ave., 678.8647 $

PANCHO VILLA RESTAURANT

Amarillo’s other restaurant with “Villa” in the name, this small place in River Road has exactly as much legacy and character as the faux-wood paneling suggests. Locals rave about the chips and salsa, along with the authentic barbacoa, enchiladas, menudo and low prices. 4601 River Road, 381.0105 $

THE PLAZA RESTAURANT & BAR

If you remember its original strip-mall location with the indoor, lighted fountain, then you’re already a loyal customer of this longtime Tex-Mex favorite. The menu is still affordable, with excellent fajitas, enchiladas

and sopapillas—with a full bar. 2101 S. Soncy Road., 358.4897, theplazaarestaurant.com $

RED RIVER STEAKHOUSE

It’s not hard to find a decent steak in the Panhandle, so when a local steakhouse earns a reputation for its hand-cut steaks, you pay attention. The Amarillo version of the owner’s original Red River Steakhouse in McLean, this old-fashioned establishment may be one of the area’s best-kept secrets. 4332 SW 45th Ave., 367.9732, redriversteakhouse.net $$

ROLL-EM-UP TAQUITOS

Newly opened on 45th across from United, this SoCal chain advertises itself as “the only taquito-focused franchise in the world.” If that doesn’t draw you in, the variety will. Choose among a half-dozen taquito ingredients (shredded beef, marinated chicken, avocado, etc.), then pair the crispy rolls with fresh toppings, dipping sauces, and sides. 5900 SW 45th Ave., rollemup.com $

SHELBY’S DINER

Never had a reason to go out to Tradewinds Airport? Now you do. This fun, home-cooking menu comes with runway views of privateplane takeoffs and landings. Locals love the breakfast options—served from 6:30 a.m. until 11—as well as the burgers on the lunch menu. Open for dinner on Thursdays and Fridays. 4105 Tradewind St, 699.1008 $

TYLER’S BARBEQUE

Amarillo has no shortage of authentic Texas barbecue, but Tyler’s always seems to be residents’ first choice. Maybe it’s because he’s got a reputation all over the Lone Star State. Or maybe it’s secretly because of the Frito pie and green chile stew. Plan ahead: Most menu items sell out. 3301 Olsen Blvd., 331.2271, tylersbarbeque.com $$

X– STEAKHOUSE

The name is a play on cattle brands—say “X-Bar”—and this Town Square steakhouse definitely knows beef. It’s locally owned, has a full bar, and the prices are extremely reasonable for such a swanky atmosphere. We hear great things about the weekend brunch, too. 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1311, 322.4227, xbarsteakhouse.com $$-$$$

DR. HILLARY HENDRICK

DR. JEFF FOSTER

DR. STEPHEN TIDWELL

DR. ISAAC SIEW DR. ANWAR WILSON

DR. ROBERT PINSON DR. JERI ROSE

DR. JEROD LUNSFORD DR. LYUDMYLA LYSENKO

DR. CODY WELCH DR. KEVIN RICKWARTZ

HEALTH

Amarillo serves as the health care hub for the entire Texas Panhandle, along with the Oklahoma Panhandle, northeast New Mexico, and even parts of Kansas. The Northwest and BSA hospital systems are nationally acclaimed, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is known for its cutting-edge research and programming. Beyond these institutions, local health care providers are dedicated to improving lives. In this special section, we introduce you to current and future leaders in the health care scene.

Rush Eye Associates

If you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, LASIK laser eye correction surgery may be the perfect option for you. The LASIK procedure is not only quick and easy, but the results are almost immediate.

At Rush Eye Associates, we provide our patients the precision of laser vision correction procedures within a matter of minutes, thanks to the experience and expertise of leading LASIK specialists Dr. Sloan Rush and Dr. J. Avery Rush.

Both Dr. Sloan and Dr. Avery are Board Certified Fellows with the American Board of Ophthalmology and members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the prestigious Refractive Surgery Alliance Society.

Our surgeons are considered among the most experienced refractive specialists in the country and utilize the most advanced laser vision correction technology available. Today, with our world-class Contoura Vision and WaveLight LASIK procedures, we’re delivering a higher quality of vision than ever before. In some cases, better than 20/20!

Rush Eye Associates also provides a variety of vision correction options beyond LASIK to meet the vision needs of each individual patient. With few exceptions, there is a vision correction procedure available for almost everyone over age 18, regardless of the prescription strength or degree of astigmatism.

In addition, some of the greatest new innovations in the past few years are related to the advancement of lens implant technology. Lens-based procedures help correct both distance and near vision for patients over age 50, who may require more and more dependency on bifocals and reading glasses.

Don’t live with the burdens and limitations of prescription eyewear or contacts any longer. Rush Eye Associates has great options for your individual needs. Our vision correction procedures will do more than simply improve the way you see—they’ll also improve the way you live in a matter of minutes.

DR. SLOAN RUSH AND DR. J. AVERY RUSH

David Potter, MD,FAAOS

What is your area of specialty? Dr. Potter’s practice focuses on upper and lower extremity fractures, pelvis/acetabulum fractures, nonunions, deformity, and soft tissue injuries.

Describe your work history and credentials. Dr. Potter earned his undergraduate degree in movement sciences from Texas Christian University in 2004, and his medical degree from Saba University School of Medicine in 2010. He completed his orthopedic residency at the Mayo Clinic in 2016. He did his orthopedic trauma fellowship at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. He is currently an active member of AO Trauma North America, OTA, AAOS, and Mid-America Orthopedic Association.

Robert Reddix Jr., MD

What is your area of specialty? Upper and lower extremity fractures, pelvis/acetabulum fractures, nonunions, deformity, and soft tissue injuries.

Describe your work history and credentials. Dr. Reddix is a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. He attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine Houston and completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. He also completed an Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to being well-published, authoring multiple articles featured in prominent surgical journals, Dr. Reddix has presented at numerous conferences nationwide and is a proud member of several medical associations, including the Texas Medical Association and American Orthopaedic Association.

Mudassar A. Khan, DO

What is your area of specialty? Upper and lower extremity fractures, pelvis/acetabulum fractures, nonunions, deformity, and soft tissue injuries.

Describe your work history and credentials. A Houston native, Dr. Khan received his medical degree from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Vallejo, California. He completed his internship and residency at Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital in Phenix City, Alabama, and an orthopedic trauma fellowship at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Khan is a native speaker of the English and Urdu languages and is a novice speaker/listener of the Hindi and Spanish languages.

The level of care provided by these physicians to treat patients with severe orthopedic injuries has kept patients in Amarillo for care. Before, patients had to be transferred to other parts of the state for care. Now, other parts of the state are transferring patients to Amarillo.

Ja’Mareah Tudman West Texas A&M University

Senior in Health Science | Anticipated graduation December 2023

What is your area of specialty? Why did you choose it? I am currently studying to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in health science at West Texas A&M University. I’ve always been an indecisive person, so when it came to deciding what I wanted to study, I struggled. I come from a family where medical history has always been a challenging subject. I’ve seen illness ruin the lives of many of them. After asking myself some tough questions, I decided that even though I didn’t know specifically what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted it to be in health care.

Describe your work history and credentials. In the summer of 2022, I was fortunate to intern in the Occupational Health Services Department at CNS Pantex. This is where I identified my passion to move forward in the health care field. I currently work at Heal the City Free Clinic as the Medication Assistance Program (MAP) Coordinator.

What do you love about your career? The cost of medication has been well publicized. We’re talking hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars. My position as the MAP Coordinator relieves the stress from some of the patients that are not able to afford their medicine. While I’ve only been in my position for a short time, the impact that Heal the City has on its patients is unlike anything I’ve

ever seen. The dedication both the staff and the patients have to improving the patient’s health is truly amazing. If you ask me what I love about my career, the answer is simple: I love that I have a hand in helping change people’s lives through medication.

What's one piece of health advice do you give most often? Health science has a broad range of health care possibilities, which is why I chose it as a degree. Since studying health science, I would say the advice I give the most often is to maintain a healthy diet, stay active, and listen to your body.

Texas Tech Physicians Pediatrics

What sets your practice apart from others with a similar specialty? Our team of pediatric providers combines expert-driven care with the convenience of hometown service in the heart of Amarillo. From newborn to adolescent care, our providers offer age-appropriate primary and specialty services to meet physical and mental needs and help kids grow happy and healthy.

What might surprise your patients about your practice? Because our doctors are also leading educators and researchers at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo, we have some of the most specialized pediatric doctors in the region. From pediatric oncology and neurology to cardiology and nephrology, children have access to expert-driven care without having to leave home.

How should patients and families choose a pediatric provider? Choosing a provider for a child can be daunting. It’s a good idea to meet with a couple of providers before you settle on your choice. Ask about the provider’s training and experience. Do they have a specialty or area of interest? Are they board-certified? Ask about the provider’s opinion on immunizations and use of medication. Will they prescribe medication over the phone? Will your child see the same provider for all visits? What happens if your child gets sick during the night or on weekends? As you talk with the provider and the office staff, you’ll get a sense of whether they have the same philosophy as you. You can also talk with other parents to find out their recommendations.

New Location Opening January 2023

ANDERS LEVERTON, M.D. Pediatrics + Special Needs

KINSLEY STEPKA, D.O. Pediatrics

MAIN CLINIC 1400 S. COULTER ST. | AMARILLLO 806.414.9800

GENERAL PEDIATRICS

Rachel Anderson, M.D. Todd Bell, M.D. Walter Bridges, M.D. Mandy Griffin, M.D. Shannon Herrick, M.D. Rolf Habersang, M.D. Skyler McLaurin-Jiang, M.D. Jennifer Crowell, NP Kathleen Lee, NP Brittany Tate, PA Gregory Mann, PA

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY

Maria Contreras, M.D. Alison Lunsford, M.D. Sue Rankin, NP

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ ONCOLOGY

Smita Bhaskaran, M.D.

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

Srilatha Alapati, M.D. Rakesh Donthula, M.D.

PEDIATRIC INTENSIVISTS

Spencer Pruit, M.D. Stacy Steans, M.D.

NEONATOLOGY

Olubukunola Adesanya, M.D. Jenda Arawiran, M.D.

Muhammad Subhani, M.D. Sumesh Parat, M.D Terry Emerson, NNP Esther Perkins, NNP Kim Reynolds, NNP Tiffany Ribordy, NNP Amanda Young, NNP

CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

Meghan Marnell, Ph.D.

PEDIATRIC SURGERY

Jason Nirgiotis, M.D.

PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY

Tetyana Vasylyeva, M.D.

PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY

Diana Lebron, M.D.

PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL & BEHAVIORAL

Angela Huang, M.D.

PEDIATRIC SPORTS MEDICINE

Johnnie Faircloth, M.D.

BY KAREN WELCH

t more than 25 million square miles of land area, the Texas Panhandle region looms larger than the state of West Virginia. And, oh, what adventures it contains.

Where in the 806, a new series by Panhandle PBS and Brick & Elm, will take you on a journey, one day trip at a time. For Panhandle PBS, Where in the 806 will be an ongoing digital series of videos showing the experiences you can have when roving an area full of historical and cultural artifacts, natural vistas and quirky attractions.

Every issue of Brick & Elm will feature highlights from the PBS series as part of a Where in the 806 guide for planning your own excursions, complete with places to dine, shop or lodge for a night, where possible.

Small museums and historical landmarks dot the area, chronicling life over hundreds of years. You’ll learn about chiefs and conquistadors, astronauts and artists, and booms and busts. We’ll take you where you can use an old-time printing press, ride a real stretch of Old Route 66, and hear about an extraordinary storm that inspired a famous folk song.

The Texas Panhandle is a place noted for movement, by trail and rail, highways and skyways. Some sites will transport you to another time—where bison hunters and Comanches clashed at Adobe Walls, or where Native Americans and settlers viewed the Staked Plains before roads and power lines crisscrossed the landscape.

Historians commemorate local forts, military bases, and prisoner-of-war camps. Residents have preserved buildings of historical or architectural significance. So fasten your seatbelts for a ride very much about both the journey and the destination with Where in the 806

According

Built in 1915 and lengthened through 1924, the Canadian River Bridge in Hemphill County spans 3,255 feet, making it the longest metal truss bridge in Texas at the time. It was restored and reopened in 2000 as the Canadian River Wagon Bridge, a scenic hiking and biking trail over the Canadian River Valley and wetlands habitat.

Open seasonally, the Devil’s Rope & Route 66 Museum at McLean pays tribute to the history and significance of barbed wire, as well as the advent of Route 66.

PRESENTED BY

Industrial arts teacher Harry Wheeler built Tex Randall in 1959 to advertise Wheeler’s Western Store on U.S. Highway 60. After six years of fundraising efforts, the 47-foot landmark was restored in 2016.

PHOTOS BY KAREN WELCH

to most authorities Adrian, Texas, is the official midpoint of Route 66. It’s there that you’ll find the Midpoint Cafe & Gift Shop. The cafe is quite famous for its pies.

AMY THOENNES

ive years ago, Amarillo artist Amy Thoennes was experimenting with her art supplies and lit alcoholbased ink on fire. The stunning visual results lit another kind of fire within her. She has since created hundreds of pieces by applying fire to ink on glass, and today is represented by Cerulean Gallery here in Amarillo and in Dallas.

“I discovered the ink is flammable,” she says. “The way the fire interacts with the ink creates interesting effects that captivate me.” Though her vibrant, abstract art definitely takes on recognizable shapes—from flowers to wings—she loves the flow and unpredictability.

“It’s almost magic when something spectacular appears,” she says.

According to her artist page at Cerulean Gallery’s website, Thoennes hopes “to stir body, soul and spirit and demonstrate that beautiful things emerge from the fires of life.”

See her work at theceruleangallery.com and on Instagram at @amythoennesart

Presented by

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION (THC.TEXAS.GOV)

ary Ann Dyer Goodnight had a mother’s heart, though she had no children of her own.

When she and her husband, pioneer rancher Charles Goodnight, established their home on the newly formed JA Ranch in 1877, she found a land in need of a mother’s touch. She answered the call by caring for the young cowboys, patching their worn clothing and crowding out their loneliness as only a mother could. She ministered to the few impoverished Native Americans who lingered after the Indian wars. And as a witness to one of humanity’s most senseless crimes against nature, she took quick action to preserve an icon of the Plains for the wonderment of generations to come.

A decade earlier, millions of bison—more commonly known as buffalo—still roamed the grasslands that had evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to sustain these hardy animals. But a few short years of hunting on an industrial scale had virtually annihilated a species once believed to be innumerable.

By the time Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight settled in the Texas Panhandle, almost all the native people had been forced to reservations in Oklahoma. Taking their place was a mix of Anglo, Hispanic and Black cowboys. But by all accounts Mary Ann (known to her friends as Molly) bore the isolation as the region’s lone female inhabitant gracefully. The vastness must’ve seemed overwhelming, and the slaughter of the buffalo, so often relegated to footnotes in sugar-coated narratives of pioneer history, was likely an inescapable and disturbing distraction with decomposing carcasses found in all directions.

It’s left to our imaginations to reconstruct Mrs. Goodnight’s thoughts when she first heard the sorrowful bawl of bison calves wandering in the darkness in search of their slain mothers. Perhaps her loneliness played a role in her response, or maybe she simply acted on instinct. What we do know is she urged her husband to do something about it. Within a year of their arrival on the JA, Charles Goodnight brought his wife two orphaned bison calves, which she fed with bottles of milk until they were old enough to fend for themselves. Thus began the famous Goodnight buffalo herd.

Colorado-based sculptor Veryl Goodnight, a relative of Charles Goodnight, clearly identifies Mary Ann Goodnight as the instigator of this conservation effort. She memorialized Mary Ann’s devotion in a bronze sculpture titled Back From The Brink that depicts her bottle feeding the two original calves. A copy of this sculpture can be seen at the Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch State Historic Site at Goodnight.

Other sources corroborate Mary Ann Goodnight’s role in saving the buffalo, including the National Park Service. Once the Goodnight herd became sustainable, three purebred bulls were moved to Yellowstone to supplement a small herd struggling in a shallow gene pool. Today, the Yellowstone bison population is nearing 5,500 animals.

The Goodnights took their buffalo with them after Charles Goodnight left the JA Ranch partnership in 1887 and formed the Goodnight Ranch. In the ensuing years, husband and wife carefully managed the growing herd. Though preserving the species was the ultimate goal, Charles Goodnight continued to be intrigued by the notion that buffalo might have a commercial benefit. He bred some of them with polled Angus cattle to create an oddlooking beast known as a cattalo, but the drawbacks—the mixed progeny were infertile—prevented cattalo from becoming a viable commercial breed at the time.

Both Charles and Mary Ann passed away in the 1920s, and new ranch owners had little interest in maintaining a buffalo herd. According to a 1931 plan, they intended to give some of the animals to zoos and then stage an elaborate buffalo hunt to eliminate the rest. Worse, the press reported that “eastern sportsmen” would be doing the killing.

After a public outcry, fomented in part by Panhandle women affiliated with the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Texas Legislature took action to protect the animals from slaughter, asking locals to find a permanent home for the Goodnight herd. Nothing came of it at first—remnants of the herd continued to pasture on the Goodnight Ranch—but eventually the neighboring JA Ranch took responsibility for the buffalo. In 1996, JA owners Montie Ritchie and Ninia Bivins donated the herd to Texas Parks & Wildlife, which resettled the buffalo at Caprock Canyons State Park the next year as part of the Texas State Bison Herd.

Upon examining the Goodnight buffalo, state officials discovered the animals were genetically distinct from any other bison in North America, a testament to Mary Ann Goodnight’s mothering 145 years ago—efforts which not only rescued the species from oblivion, but ensured the longterm survivability of all American bison through genetic diversity.

MARY BRALLEY

The best advice I ever heard is … My father didn’t tell me this piece of advice, but he showed me with his actions: Give freely to others. Whether it’s a kind word, a smile or an item. You never know how a little positivity can make someone’s day.

My three most recommended books are The Bible; In the Presence of My Enemies, by Gracia Burnham; Real Moments, by Barbara DeAngelis, Ph.D.

To me, success means … doing something that makes you happy and that makes others around you have a better day.

People who know me might be surprised that I … used to be in Sweet Adelines (Palo Duro Metro Chorus).

My biggest pet peeve is … negativity. Life is short! It’s easy to find a little bit of good in everything or everyone.

Everyone in Amarillo needs to experience … serving on a board or committee, or taking a community class that gives you insight into the inner workings of our city.

If I could change any one local thing it would be … boundaries. Wouldn’t it be great if our neighborhoods just blended into each other instead of being distinctly separated?

This city is amazing at … GIVING! Being involved in several nonprofits, I am so thankful for the generosity of our residents. My favorite place in Amarillo is … home (it’s where the heart is).

A local organization I love right now … Los Barrios de Amarillo. Los Barrios strives to help middle and high school students in the Texas Panhandle obtain a college degree or certification after graduation. What I love best is the relationships I make with each student through mentorship. Excitement and pride overwhelms me when they graduate. They are well on their way to making our communities stronger.

PHOTO BY VENICE MINCEY

PRESIDENT, LOS BARRIOS DE AMARILLO