®
DECEMBER 2014
HOLIDAY HOT LIST
&
BEST OF WINNERS
STRANGERS
IN DANGER
ROBIN EWING
ROLLIN’
IN DOUGH
JUMP-START YOUR FASHION
twelve ladies
HUNDREDS
OF BUCKETS
Nationally Distinguished Once Again. T
his is the only place in the region recognized as one of the 2014 Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals in the U.S. Here complications are fewer and people return home sooner than they expected. Here a distinguished team excels in delivering care designed to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. Welcome to a new day in healthcare. Welcome to Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics.
Learn more at 100tophospitals.com
14-1441
tmfhc.org
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
The circumstances leading me to this point in my life opened my eyes and heart to seek out what I was missing.
The year was 1994 and I was a mere 17 years old. I thought nothing of it when I told my parents that little white lie. Of course, they thought I was hanging out with four of my best friends but instead I went to see a girl. That white lie set the stage that would forever change my life.
SHAWN MICHAEL HANEY shaney@h3-media.com
You see, that very night my friends that I was suppose to be with ran a red light, that resulted in a car crash in which the life of my friend Brian ended. That moment was so impactful, it was in that moment that I realized there had to be more to this life than girls, fast cars and sports. The circumstances leading me to this point in my life opened my eyes and heart to seek out what I was missing. This desire led me to Frontier Ranch - A Young Life Camp. It was there I gave my life to Christ. Upon returning, that same year, I was offered an opportunity to intern at a Christian record label and events company that put on summer church camps all across the country. Within two years I was promoted to a full-time position directing and managing the summer camps in which more than 10,000 kids attended. It was my dream job. With a background in the music industry, more specifically Christian music, I could not believe that my wife had never heard of Paul Baloche. What? You are kidding ... you have no idea who I am talking about either? Well, you may
No. 2
BS CENE
not know him by name, but I guarantee you know his music. I would almost be willing to bet that even if you do not attend a praise and worship service very often, you still know his music. Growing up on the Jersey Shore, it is hard to believe that Baloche and his family live right here in East Texas, in the rapidly growing city of Lindale, where he is the worship leader at Christian Community Fellowship Church. Well, at least when he is not on tour leading worship across the country and internationally! He has won numerous Dove Awards over his career but proudly explained that of all his successes, there is one he is most proud of; it has very little yet everything to do with his music. That may sound a little confusing, but after you read the story of Paul Baloche you will understand what I mean by that. Just like myself, Baloche had one of those moments that forever changed the course of his life. It is an amazing story of life and success. And just in time for the holiday season, Baloche has just released his very first Christmas album, Christmas Worship. Sounds like the perfect stocking stuffer to me! I want to end this last issue of 2014 by wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Until next year ...
B S CE N E M A G.COM
A Reputation for Creating
Outstanding Smiles
Darrel R. Sherman D.D.S., M.S. LONGVIEW - 903.753.2151
■ Patrick R. Briscoe D.D.S., M.S. ■ David A. Wilkinson D.D.S., M.S.D.
MARSHALL - 903.938.0664 GILMER - 903.680.2260 TYLER - 903.597.6372
New Tyler Location Opening in 2015 6820 Oak Hills Blvd., Across from Fresh Diplomate, American Board Of Orthodontics
www.bracesbysbw.com
EDITOR'S LETTER
It was in our December creative meeting that an email we received kept coming back up. It was one of the most humble and genuine emails I had ever received. It started off as one of those days … one where you check your email and there are 200 waiting for a response, your voicemail is full and of course there is no coffee any where in sight. It was Monday, and the November issue was finally making its way to racks and readers all over East Texas. Time for us to sit back and take it easy right? Not a chance! It was time for us to finalize the December issue because it was already that time again. We receive numerous emails and phone calls from readers and organizations alike, pitching amazing article ideas. We would love nothing more than to write about every idea that comes our way, however, as you know, that is not possible. As a team, we meet and calibrate to come up with and plan every issue. We spend hours in creative meetings discussing every detail of what an issue will entail. There are some articles that we love but are not relevant to the timing of the issue and then there are others that are a “must-tell” that can be run any time.
KELLY LAINE HANEY khaney@h3-media.com
It was in our December creative meeting that an email we received kept coming back up. It was one of the most humble and genuine emails I had ever received. The lady that sent it reached out to us in an attempt to honor a group of ladies that had done more for her and her family than could have ever been expected or imagined. The letter went a little something like this: Hello! I know of a phenomenal group of ladies that I would love to see focused in your magazine if there is any possibility. They call themselves the David's Day committee but my family calls them David's Divas. My husband was diagnosed with ALS, Lou
No. 4
BS CENE
Gehrig's disease, about 4 1/2 years ago. Since that time they have completely rallied around my family by organizing several events, such as, a Whitehouse community benefit walk entitled David's Day, Dinners for David and Casseroles for Keri, Denim for David, a community wide ice bucket challenge and so many others. My family remains so very humbled and awed by this amazing group and their selfless acts of kindness. They truly exemplify the purpose of why we are all here; to love and to serve. And my family would love nothing more than to honor them with a public piece that exposes their drive to unite everyone with their generosity. They have given so much to so many and we would love to give back to them in some way. I've never submitted a request for a story so I wasn't sure what is all involved. Thank you for taking the time to look over this. Sincerely, Keri Baskin Naturally, I was blown away with her thoughtfulness and desire to do something to give credit where credit was due. It changed my entire day in fact. So right then and there, we knew that we wanted to help the Baskin family show how much they appreciate not only the fundraisers but more importantly the support they receive day in and day out from David’s Divas. There is no better time to tell the story of selfless acts of giving than Christmastime. I want to thank Keri for reaching out to us about these ladies, they are very well deserving of some props! Here at BSCENE we want to wish you and your family a Merry and Blessed Christmas!
B S CE N E M A G.COM
URBAN MINI DIAMOND, DIAMOND DIAL ON URBAN MINI BRACELET
T E X T U R E curtainsFABRICS
DRAPERIES
Y�ur D�eams • O�r F�b�ics DWARE DRAPERIES T E X T U R E
MS
T E X T U R E
FURNISHINGS
BeddingCUSTOM
a fabric & design studio
903.535.7900
texturetyler.com 728 s bois d’arc avenue GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
T E X T U R E
FABRICFINEfabrics pillows
T E X T U R E F A B R I C S
THE MAGAZINE OF EAST TEXAS 903.509.4703 • info@h3-media.com BSCENEMAG.COM
BSCENE STAFF
Publisher/CEO - Shawn Michael Haney Editor/CFO - Kelly Laine Haney Executive Assistant - Ashley Westbrook Senior Account Executive - Sonya York Account Executive - Dawn Moore Graphics/Videographer - Lindsey Todd Morgan Photographer - Bryan Stewart Editorial Assistant - Poonam Patel Distribution Manager - Devin Hunter
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas, Brookshire Grocery Company, Discovery Channel, Grace-Marie Brunken, Jeremy Cowart, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Bowen Hardy, Devin Hunter, Dr. Scott Lieberman, Victor McCowan, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, Poonam Patel, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS William Knous, Kim Lewis, Krystal Phillips, Dr. Aubrey Sharpe, Tami Spencer, Veronica Terres
STYLE FILE
Model: Olivia & Dr. Lee Griffith Photography: Noel Martin Hair & Make-up: Morgan Yowell
COVER
On The Cover: Paul Baloche Cover Photo: Jeremy Cowart
PUBLISHER H3 MEDIA, L.L.C. ©
H3 Media, L.L.C. 2014. All Rights Reserved.
BSCENE welcomes unsolicited submissions and photographs, but does not assume any responsibility for publication or return of materials. When any editorial or photography submission, whether in advertisements or editorial, is provided to BSCENE, by any means, whether electronically or otherwise, the person/business making the submission assumes all responsibility that the submission does not infringe on any third party’s rights and title, including all copyrights and/or releases. No fees are due to anyone, including photographer or models, unless previously agreed upon by all parties involved. The opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the representative writers and authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this magazine.
B
HolidayGift Cards GIVE the gift you know they’ll love! Holiday Cards available NOW at all lobby locations!
www.texasbankandtrust.com MEMBER FDIC Issued by MetaBank, a federal savings association, pursuant to a license from VisaÂŽ U.S.A., Inc
DECEMBER 2014
CONTENTS Publisher's Letter 02 Editor's Letter 04 Street Scene 10 Cover Story 12 Where Hope Is Alive 22 Tethered 38 On A Lark 46
50 Dining Guide 54 Man About Town 60 Style File 68 Best Of 2014 76 Hip, Hip Patterns 84 Outtakes 86 Holiday Hot List
22
46
54
BWELL
COOK WELL
COOK WELL
Follow the story of 12 special ladies as they help one family push their faith beyond the bucket.
No. 8
BS CENE
Veronica Terres shows us how Robin Ewing satisfies everyones sweet-tooth with these custom, Christmas confections.
The "Man" visits Cork. Food & Drink, in Tyler, for a wine dinner that demonstrates why "Farm 2 Table" is best.
B S CE N E M A G.COM
DECEMBER EVENTS 18 BOO BALL 28 TIE ONE ON FOR SAFETY 32 CWJC SPORTING CLAYS TYLER HEART WALK 44 LIVING ALTERNATIVES TARTANS & TAILS 52 COVER UNVEIL 56 A HIGHLAND FLING 58 OKTOBERFEST 66 A ROYAL RUNWAY A WEE BIT O' STYLE 72 LITTLE BLACK DRESS 82 KENDA SCOTT BRUNCH AFP NAT. PHILANTHROPY AWARDS 90 BOOTS & BLING TRINITY CLINIC ANNIVERSARY
12
60 STYLE
Be ready for this festive time of year with a sleek and subtle wardrobe to 'jump-start' your holiday happenings.
B SC ENEMAG. COM
76 AT HOME
With the holidays here, Kim Lewis, helps us find the perfect patterns to fill our homes with holiday cheer.
94 BERGFELD CENTER OPEN HOUSE MARY V’S BY SHELBY GRAND OPENING
86 HOLIDAY HOT LIST
Whether they have been naughty or nice, this list is sure to please all your little turtle doves.
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 9
STREET SCENE What is “STREET SCENE”: glimpses of glitter, photos of friends, a few lines of life and laughter. Like a school's yearbook, Street Scene chronicles life in East Texas. You'll find businesses and others commemorating anniversaries. Celebrations and charities gloss these pages, accompanied by faces you know. Music, theater and other cultural events also make the scene.
HeadMasters welcomed guests dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz at their new salon off Loop 323, in Tyler, on Oct. 31.
Cole and Co. hosted a Christopher Radko ornament signing event at its location at La Piazza, in Tyler, on Oct. 23. Artist Mario Tare was on hand to personally sign his beautiful pieces of art.
The Longview Chamber of Commerce sponsored a ribbon cutting for the new Precision Spine and Joint branch recently opened, in Longview, on Oct. 21.
Tyler Junior College was awarded the 2014 Community Partner of the Year by the District in partnership with the Tyler Area BusinessEducation Council, at Willow Brook Country Club, in Tyler, on Nov. 19.
Baskin Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts invited sweet-toothed patrons to the grand opening of its brand new location on Loop 323 and Kinsey Dr., in Tyler, with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 6.
Three Z Azian Cuisine proudly welcomed guests along side the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce for a grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony at its brand new location in the Time Square shopping center, in Tyler, on Nov. 7. Complimentary appetizers and spirits were served to all those in attendance.
No. 10 BS CENE
Texas National Bank invited guests to “rock around the clock” with a 50’s themed customer appreciation sock hop at its location, in Tyler, on Oct. 31.
Eastman Credit Union was welcomed into the folds of the Longview Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting at its location, in Longview, on Oct. 27. B S CE N E M A G.COM
Brookshire’s Grocery Company donated a check to the Tyler Soccer Association for $5,000 from funds raised through the 26th annual BGC Benefit Golf Tournament, at its Fifth St. location, in Tyler, on Oct. 24.
Jewel boutique held a soft opening at its temporary location in the Bergfeld Center, in Tyler, on Nov. 20. Guests were welcomed with hors d’oeuvres and wine.
The Longview Chamber of Commerce celebrated the Bootleggers Grill induction into the chamber with a ribbon cutting at the new location on McCann St., in Longview, on Oct. 22.
Telco Plus credit union was presented with a plaque symbolizing its induction into the Better Business Bureau at its location, in Tyler, on Oct. 16.
Louis Morgan welcomed VIETRI Artisan, Alessandro Taddei, creator of the “Old St. Nick” collection to its #4 location, in Longview, on Nov. 6. Taddei was on hand to meet and greet customers as well as personalize his creations for VIETRI purchases. Cole and Co. hosted a Brighton Trunk show at its location in the La Piazza Shopping Center, in Tyler, on Nov. 6. In appreciation of their loyal customers, Cole and Co. invited guests to complete a holiday wish list for a 20 percent discount on any regular priced item.
The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce proudly inducted the Fairfield Inn by Marriot into its ranks with a ribbon cutting and its location, in Tyler, on Nov. 5. Guests were welcomed with a plethora of hors d’oeuvres catered by Fresh by Brookshires. B SC ENEMAG. COM
Edwards Collision Center celebrated its grand opening at its location on Loop 323, in Tyler, with a car show, live music and a bounce house on Oct. 25.
The Purple Elephant Boutique was welcomed into the Longview Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting at its location, in Longview, on Oct. 24. D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 11
No. 12 BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
INSPIRATION, INFLUENCE AND INTERNATIONAL APPEAL How a voice from East Texas is impacting the world Article By: Tami Spencer PhotosBy: Jeremy Cowart
The month of December is one of the most magical and exciting of the year. It always feels like December rushes in to steal the show and lead us into the Christmas season from the moment Thanksgiving passes. December and Christmas are also accompanied by some of our most treasured traditions and practices; Christmas lights on every street, decorated trees shining through frosted windows and, of course, Christmas music playing in every store, car, and home across the country. This year, Christmas came early with the October release of the album Christmas Worship by Paul Baloche. If you have had any exposure to the world of Christian music, then you are most assuredly familiar with Baloche’s body of work. The three-time Dove Award winning songwriter is the genius behind such worship songs as “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” “Above All,” and “Your Name.” He has worked with internationally known Christian artists from Michael W. Smith to Matt Redman and Casting Crowns and many of his songs are sung in churches every Sunday by millions of people around the world. With a resumé like that, it’s no surprise that his Christmas Worship album has quickly taken a top spot in the Christmas music rotation. What may be surprising is that when he’s not on tour this Jersey-born, internationally renowned artist can be found leading worship at Christian Community Fellowship Church in Lindale, Texas, the place Baloche and his wife Rita have called home for several decades.
B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 13
It was a genuine encounter with God, I’m not saying like some spaceship kind of thing, but like millions of other people have had ...
No. 14 BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
So, how did a musician from New Jersey end up finding his way to East Texas? It’s a very good question with an even better answer. Both Baloche and his wife were born and raised in South Jersey, near Philadelphia. Baloche got his start in music playing the rock and roll circuit on the Jersey Shore, where everyone aspired to be the next Bruce Springsteen. Rita was a writer on the country music scene and was working with artists such as Reba McEntire and Johnny Lee when Baloche met her, playing guitar on one of her songwriting demos. While she definitely made an impression on the young Baloche, a bigger plan was already in motion that would change the course of both his life and Rita’s in the coming months. At the persuasion of some fellow struggling artists in the music field, Baloche had started a side-business with a multi-level marketing company hoping to strike it rich so he could fund his passion of pursuing music as a career. While attending a business conference in North Carolina, Baloche had what he describes as an “encounter with God.” “I had a genuine born-again experience...it just radically changed my life. I was kind of involved in the drug scene and just the whole lifestyle that goes along with playing clubs in Philly and the Jersey Shore. It was a genuine encounter with God, I’m not saying like some spaceship kind of thing, but like millions of other people have had ... I kind of grew up in a sincere Catholic home, but this was like, wow! It just turned my life around,” Baloche explained. Not long after his North Carolina trip, Baloche ran into Rita again and quickly found out she had a similar life-changing moment. “God became real to us. We each had a similar experience where God became real,” Baloche recalls. While neither of them realized it at the time, the stage had just been set for a dynamic power couple to emerge on the Christian music scene.
Finding that his desire and passion to know God more fully had taken top priority in his life, Baloche feared that he might have to give up music completely. He had never heard of the Christian music genre or Christian rock and wasn’t sure how his new-found faith could mesh with his current rock and roll ambitions until he stumbled upon a small, A.M. radio station that played Christian rock. Suddenly, Baloche had a realization that he could still be a musician, but with a focus on creating music that encouraged people in their faith and pointed them to God. Since Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore didn’t have much going on in the Christian music scene, Baloche headed to Southern California to attend a music school and begin pursuing his passion in a new way. While there, he became more familiar with the genre of Christian music (which he points out actually has its own extensive category on iTunes) and met a group of other Christian musicians. Following the lead of his new friends in the Christian music industry, Baloche moved to Alabama for a short time and then on to the Garden Valley/ Lindale area, along with Rita who was now his wife. “For some reason, and I think some of it has to do with being centrally located in the middle of the B SC ENEMAG. COM
country so when we toured, if you went west or east or north, it’s just a great place to tour out of as a musician ... and the other thing is land was pretty inexpensive. All things considered, the cost of living in Garden Valley and Lindale, Texas, was appealing enough that a lot of these musicians and bands in Christian rock were in this little community, “ explained Baloche. Baloche and Rita rented a small mobile home in Garden Valley and began to build a life and home in East Texas. Taking out a small loan from Lindale State Bank, Baloche made a 16-track recording out of the small office/recording studio he had set up in a local church. He continued to write and record music from his small studio, sometimes collaborating with his wife as well as other musicians in the area. In the meantime, Baloche was giving guitar lessons and mowing lawns; doing whatever it took to pay the bills. Slowly but surely, some of the songs they were putting out began to get noticed. “I was asked by this company, Integrity Music, if I would like to record a live worship album,” Baloche said. “Musically, I was just kind of taking the music I grew up with, the ‘classic rock’ if you will, and applying scripture or prayer to it.”
Baloche got his first big break recording a live worship album with Rita titled He is Faithful at the Dallas Convention Center. With the success of the album, Baloche was asked to sign with Integrity Music as a songwriter and received a cash advance that freed him up to focus on his writing full-time. He continued to write new music and before long had a second album ready to record, First Love, which he recorded live in Tyler, Texas, at the Caldwell Center. Baloche’s second album contained his first big Christian music hit titled “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” which was soon being recorded by high-profile Christian artists and played in churches across the country. With the success of his second album, Baloche began to tour internationally playing concerts in places like Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. The international requests for worship concerts as well as music resources and teaching materials, were constantly coming in, so Baloche created a website where anyone in the world could download his sheet music free of charge. At the same time, he began to record a VHS series on guitar instruction which became so widely popular that he and his wife couldn’t keep up with the orders. D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 15
T H A N K YO U
ET.indd
BOOKL
1
4 PM Jesus, may you receive the honor /13 2:0 /19’re that9You project is an offe due. This ring to you. Rita, my muse and insp on this journey iration of Spirit and song . Mom and Papa filling our family for Christmas times with loving mem David, Chérie, Sara ories. h, Cody, and our “almost-born” Grandson. Frank DeJong, Ben Gow ell, Michael Rossbac Carl Albrecht - my k, band of brothers . Gary Leach, Reid Shippen and all the musicians and singers who add their inspired gifts ed to this recording. To all my friends Integrity Music. at It was an honor to work with you all.
“I try to keep it simple, yet interesting–simple and inspiring,” he says of his songwriting.
A N OT E F R O M PA U L :
Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I hope mix of classic caro this ls and worship chor uses help you to celebrate the true meaning of this season. Let us give thanks for the bles sings we’ve expe rienced this past year and look forw ard with hope and with peace to the coming year.
Merry Christmas!
As his songs continued to grow in popularity, job offers from some of the country’s largest churches in major metropolitan areas began rolling in, but Baloche and his wife Rita just couldn’t imagine leaving the community of Lindale that they had come to love so much. Their three children were actively involved in sports and fine arts in the Lindale School District, they loved their neighbors and the friendly community that surrounded them, and Baloche just couldn’t see himself leaving the church that had embraced him from the moment he moved to the area. So to this day, 25 years and multiple successful albums and accolades later, Baloche and his wife still call the area home. While the reach of his songs was global, Baloche continued to keep most of his work and his life local. His album God of Wonders was recorded live at the Cowan Center and 10 of his studio albums were recorded at Rosewood Studios in downtown Tyler. His children were all involved in theatre and sports in Lindale ISD and attended Tyler Junior
No. 16 BS CENE
College before continuing their degrees across the country. “Lindale High School, our church, and our neighborhood were the biggest factors in [our staying here.] I remember saying there is no amount of money - you can’t buy this. Even if someone else offers me more money to move somewhere else, we’re going to lose this. We just knew it was very special. A special place to raise a family and a convenient place for me to not only be a local music minister and worship pastor, but also convenient for me to fly from Tyler to DFW and all over the world,” Baloche said. While Baloche’s name is known throughout Christian music circles everywhere, he remains humble and accredits much of his success as a worship leader and songwriter to other organizations and people who helped him along the way. He acknowledges several youth missions organizations with helping to spread the popularity of his songs internationally including Youth With a Mission (YWAM), Teen Mania Ministries, and Integrity
Music, just to name a few. His international appeal also led to the opportunity to record two French language albums and opened the door for ministry opportunities in Quebec, Canada, and all across France. Baloche has also received plenty of accolades and recognition here in the United States for his contributions to Christian music. He has been nominated for numerous Dove Awards and has won three including: Inspirational Song of the Year for “Above All” in 2002, Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year, co-written with Michael W. Smith and his wife, Debbie Smith, for “A New Hallelujah” in 2009, and Worship Song of the Year for “How Great is the Love” in 2011. He was also conferred an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., for his contributions to music education around the world. While it’s always nice to be recognized for your hard work, Baloche thinks of himself first and foremost B S CE N E M A G.COM
as a worship leader. His number one goal, whether leading worship or writing a song, is to help others express their heart in worship to God in song. “I want to write songs and lyrics that inspire people in their faith and to help them express their thoughts and emotions in worship to God. Songs have the ability to do that. A well-written song can sometimes carry us through difficult moments,” Baloche explained. One of the most meaningful things he has experienced throughout his career is hearing feedback from people on how a particular song helped get them through a challenging life situation or to express gratitude when things are going well. From an email that explains how the lyrics of a song encouraged someone through the death of a loved one to letters conveying how a particular song was finally able to properly articulate gratitude and thanks to God for all his blessings, the power of song to convey emotions and connect people to God is at the heart of Baloche’s love for music. His approach to songwriting focuses on simplicity and sincerity, as well as harboring a sense of community among Christians corporately singing worship to God. “I try to keep it simple, yet interesting–simple and inspiring,” he says of his songwriting. “You don’t want to teach the whole Bible in one song, you can’t do that. I try to take one aspect of God’s character perhaps, and really focus on that and try to bring it to light,” he explains of his songwriting technique. Now 25 years into his journey in worship music, it is hard for Baloche to pinpoint a particular success in his career as his greatest. While this past year brought about a highlight in his professional career when he had the opportunity to play at Royal Albert Hall in London accompanied by a full orchestra and 500-voice choir, at the end of the day, Baloche confesses that success for him really comes down to his marriage and his family. “In the context of talking about my career, I’m tempted to pick some professional highlight, but the success that means the most to me is I’m still married after 27 years (to the same woman) and we have three children that are functional, creative and independent and actually still like to be with us,”Baloche proudly exclaims!
Christmas was about good tidings of great joy, about announcing good news. The good news is still the good news and the birth of Christ is still relevant today ...
While it would be easy for Baloche to take advantage of the fame and notoriety his long and successful career has afforded, he is quick to divert all the glory of his life’s achievements back to God’s favor in his life. He also explains that having children and being plugged into his local church in East Texas has kept him from taking himself too seriously. “I’m just very aware that it’s been the favor of God on my life ... I believe that God opened doors and I see his favor upon my life. As I’ve tried to work hard writing songs or ministering in the local church or doing concerts abroad, I am very much aware that he is the one who created these opportunities and opened these doors. It is my responsibility to simply be faithful and walk through those doors, and to try to serve others through songs and teaching,” Baloche explains.
an encounter with God, he has also spent his life heralding the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ through songs. In a song that is still in progress, Baloche wrote the line “I’ve seen too much to turn back now,” an expression of the good work he has seen God doing both at home and throughout the world, as well as a challenge to continue on his mission of impacting lives through song, “I want to live a life a faith. I want to live the Christian life. Christmas was about good tidings of great joy, about announcing good news. The good news is still the good news and the birth of Christ is still relevant today ... we have the power and presence of the living savior. I see the reality of this in changed lives, from doing prison ministry in Texas to experiencing worship around the world,” Baloche expresses about how he wants to live his life.
Since that moment when Baloche’s life was “radically changed by God,” he has not only traveled the world and met people of all backgrounds who share his common experience of life-change through
With the release of the new Christmas album, Baloche is again enjoying international acclaim for his professional achievements, but he continues to point back to the people around him and his East
B SC ENEMAG. COM
Texas community for anchoring him in humility and keeping his focus on the message of his music. He explains that there are countless members of his local church who can only be described as “spiritual giants” whose names will never be known. “They have had such an influence on my life and songs ... They may not be famous and their names will remain unknown, but I have been inspired by them. It is their shoulders I am standing on. Any success or favor that I’ve had, I owe to those spiritual giants. They are an anchor to my soul.” D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 17
SEE & BSCENE
TYLER / 10.24.14
11th ANNUAL ARC BOO BALL GALA
CAROL & CARLTON RIZER
ELLEN MUSSELMAN, BECKY & WAYNE CLEM
The 11th annual Arc Boo Ball Gala was held at Hollytree Country Club, in Tyler, on October 24. Guests were asked to dress-up in their most “spook-tacular” costumes and were treated to dinner, live and silent auctions and the monster jams of DJ Shane Payne. Money raised from the event goes to serve the interest of Smith County citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
TERESA BUTCHER, SUSAN HAWKINS
MECHELE & JEFF MILLS
STEVE HELLMUTH, KELLI & CHRIS GREEN
JENNI DUDLEY, ANNE PAYNE
No. 18 BS CENE
MARY ZORN, PATRICK WILLIS
LAURA & KEN GEORGE
ERIKA GONZALEZ, KINETHA CLARK, JENNIFER DODD
TRUDY WILLIAMS, JOANNA THIELE, GINGER HABERLE B S CE N E M A G.COM
Beautiful, Baby soft skin
is possible at any age!
Christmasates CoolSculpting Wrinkle Reduction iG ft Certificle! Laser Hair Removal b a l i Ava Skin Pen II
Acne Scar Removal Laser Vein Therapy
connect with us
1618 Judson Road, Longview, TX 75601 903.757.5220 aestheticamedicalspa.com
BWell
22
WHERE HOPE IS ALIVE
FOLLOW THE STORY OF 12 SPECIAL LADIES AS THEY HELP ONE FAMILY PUSH THEIR FAITH BEYOND THE BUCKET.
TIE ONE ON FOR SAFETY 28 TETHERED 38 B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 21
WHERE HOPE IS ALIVE ARTICLE BY: KRYSTAL PHILLIPS PHOTOS COURTESY OF: DAVID'S DAY COMMITTEE
No. 22 BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
Through their example of kindness and community, Keri and the David’s Day Committee hope to light the same within the hearts of East Texas and ask one very important question, “People go through their own struggles and suffering every day. What if we followed these extraordinary ladies’ example and taught our children about loving others and the act of giving selflessly when others are in need?”
T
he Christmas season is here. Lights are strung, traditions are made and communities come together; but for one group of ladies the spirit of giving has been year round. These ladies have given their time to close friends, David and Keri Baskin, to raise awareness for a good cause. David and Keri met all the way back in 1988. From their first initial meeting, a toga party to be exact, there was a spark and the couple immediately started dating. They married in 1992. Looking for a place worthy to raise their future children, David and Keri picked Whitehouse, TX. As their lives grew, their family did as well. With the addition of son, Parker and daughter, McKenzie, the couple lived a vibrant and active life. David built a successful business and loved to spend his free time biking and playing golf. Keri was an elementary school teacher and was very active in the community. Together, they have been devoted parents to their two children. “God led us to so many wonderful friends in the school district and in the community itself. Little did we know that those relationships would grow deeper than we ever would have imagined after unexpected news hit our family,” Keri said. "His symptoms first appeared in July, 2009. These symptoms included; loss of muscle in his fingers and thumbs and also muscle twitching in his upper body. He had always been a strong athlete and had just started to get back into mountain bike riding. He was trying to lose weight by cutting back on calories and getting into shape. So when he began to lose muscle strength and experience muscle twitches, we thought perhaps it was the result of his body adjusting to the new changes. When the symptoms didn't disappear but, in fact, worsened, we began to research. Initially, we thought it might be carpal tunnel since his thumbs seemed to be worse. Both David's family physician and neurologist ruled that out. We were then told that it may be a temporary disorder or possibly just something he would have to learn to live with. When David returned to the neurologist, in March, for a follow-up visit, he was then told different news. Since his symptoms had not decreased but, in fact, gotten worse, the neurologist referred David to a specialist, in Houston, on May 4, 2010. Numerous tests were run to eliminate all other possibilities. Then we received the news that would forever change our lives. The diagnosis was ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig's disease," explained Keri.
B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 23
We met with so many doctors and experts those first two days that it was all a bit overwhelming and you were left with a surreal feeling as if it really wasn’t happening to you.
DAVID’S DAY
“At the time, we didn’t know a lot about ALS other than someone named Lou Gehrig had it and that it wasn’t something you wanted. We met with so many doctors and experts those first two days that it was all a bit overwhelming and you were left with a surreal feeling as if it really wasn’t happening to you. I kept thinking that if we could just get back to our home in Whitehouse, this was all going to go away and things would go back to normal. But it didn’t. We tried to focus on the present and not think about the future, especially when we would hear that the life expectancy was 3-5 years,” Keri remembered. Despite the progression of the disease, David has continued to live his life with purpose and passion. “He knows that even though much of his body is deteriorating, his heart still beats and that means that God still has a purpose and a plan for him,” Keri said of her husband’s inspirational spirit. It wasn’t until the fall of 2012 that Keri and her husband’s difficult battle against ALS sparked something within two of her friends, Jennifer Eckles and Anna Hudnall. Both Eckles and Hudnall’s kids were taught by Keri at the time of the diagnosis. What Keri felt and how she was dealing with the disease really hit Eckles and she felt that she needed to help. With love and compassion for Keri and her family, Eckles approached Hudnall, and together they started planning ways they could lend their time.
“I very candidly told them how difficult this journey was emotionally and physically,” Keri recalled. Keri was still teaching full time and therefore balancing being a full time teacher, mother and caregiver, along with the “normal” activities of day to day life, was hard. However, the most difficult task of all was watching the man she loves slowly, and with much cruelty, lose control of his body. Not long after, Keri received a call from Eckles explaining that she and Hudnall could not stop thinking about their discussion and felt a strong need to do something to help. “I thought of my own family and how scary this must have been for Keri and David. Their children, Parker and McKenzie, are such amazing children. How could you do it all,” Eckles asked. Together, they began to rally a group of women in support. Initially their thoughts were to put together a carnival in hopes of not only raising money for medical expenses, but also to help with the Baskin children and their expenses. Hudnall then came up with a walk idea and they really took off with it. Contacting everyone they knew that had a special connection to the Baskins, these two loving and courageous women put together a group of dedicated ladies. “These ladies had a choice; they could have either ignored our situation completely out of doubt and fear or they could have reached out in faith. We are so very humbled by the fact that they chose the latter,” Keri praised, in awe of the ladies’ compassion. “Some of them had never even met David before, but they all seemed so eager to help him fight his fight.” Shortly after conversations between Eckles and Keri and her family, a benefit walk in David’s honor entitled David’s Day - Where Hope is Alive was born and that group of incredible women formed a cont'd on pg. 26
NOW SEEING PATIENTS IN TYLER!
Rebecca A. Chilvers, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
Pregnancy Rates Among the Highest in the Nation • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Male and Female Infertility Treatments • Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Donor Egg • Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) • Artificial Insemination Endometriosis • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
214.618.2044 Rebecca A. Chilvers, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. 1040 South Fleishel Ave. Tyler, TX 75701
Baylor Medical Center at Frisco Professional Building II 5757 Warren Parkway, Suite 300 Frisco, TX 75034
fertilitytexas.com
cont'd from pg. 24 committee referring to themselves as the David’s Day Committee. The David’s Day Committee is made up of twelve extraordinary ladies: Jennifer Eckles, Ashley Whitman, Jayanna Williams, Lela Thompson, Karen Lively, Teresea Hughes, Anna Hudnall, Jana Hancock, Staci Goff, Lisa Forman, Georgette Culver and Chris Cleckler. These ladies spent countless hours planning, making phone calls, organizing and directing to ensure the success of the David’s Day benefit walk. “We wanted to involve the entire community,” Eckles said. “We met weekly as a committee and raised funds by telling their incredible story. We involved fellow educators and student groups. Everything was themed around the Baskin family’s name. The community’s response was overwhelming.” The event was held on Dec. 1, which became known as David’s Day. The outcome was beyond our expectations. Several hundred people were in attendance and over $40,000 was raised for the Baskin family to cover their expenses. “The amount of support the community displayed was like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Eckles recalled. The benefit walk was only the beginning of the David’s Day Committee’s rally around the Baskin family. Denim for David, Dinner for David, Casseroles for Keri and many more were to follow. In August of 2014,
the David’s Day Committee organized a community wide ice bucket challenge. The committee received 9,000 pounds of ice and 1,000 gallons of water, donated by the Whitehouse fire department and Twice the Ice. And everyone who attended had a bucket poured over them! “It was a great time to educate,” Eckles said. This challenge heightened the community’s awareness for ALS and donations were raised for the ALS association, as well as the Baskin family. The theme of hope is perfectly woven into each event that the David’s Day Committee organizes and to Keri’s family it is a constant reminder. “Hope reminds us to find the joy in any situation no matter how dark it may appear and by doing so we learn to endure,” Keri said. Although the Baskin family’s battle against ALS remains, they have found true support through the compassion of the ladies who give their time and effort so selflessly. When asked about the main goal of the David Day Committee, Keri responded, “These gracious ladies emphasize throughout each fundraiser that hope is alive and that we are not alone in this fight. Even more than the financial support, there is the overwhelming love that we felt and still feel from everyone that continues to help us persevere each day. This amazing group of ladies, along with everyone involved with David’s Day, have reminded our family of the reasons of why we are here … to love and to serve,”
“We’ve learned that by trusting in God no matter what your circumstances are, persevering and leaning on Him for strength, nothing is impossible.”
Keri claimed. “These women are the epitome of that mindset.” Through their example of kindness and community, Keri and the David’s Day Committee hope to light the same within the hearts of East Texas and ask one very important question, “People go through their own struggles and suffering every day. What if we followed these extraordinary ladies’ example and taught our children about loving others and the act of giving selflessly when others are in need?” “The Baskin family is so interwoven into the
No. 26 BS CENE
community,” Eckles revealed. “The amount of love and support I’ve witnessed is like nothing I’ve ever seen. I am still taken aback and feel blessed to be a part of it. With every step of this process, someone else has given of themselves. We are truly blessed by the Baskins!” As for how David is doing today? Keri mentioned that David is near to being completely paralyzed, but that he can still talk and move his right thumb. But the Baskin family has hope. “He says that the thoughts of not being able to play golf with Parker, hunt with Kenzie, drive them around, attend their
events, walk his daughter down the aisle when she gets married or just hug them both is almost unbearable to think about. So he treasures the memories of when he was able to do those things and enjoys his time with them now just hanging out and having some really good talks about what is important in this life, Keri revealed. “We’ve learned that by trusting in God no matter what your circumstances are, persevering and leaning on Him for strength, nothing is impossible.”
B S CE N E M A G.COM
HO-HO-NO. WHEN HOLIDAY ILLNESSES HIT, QUICKCARE HAS
CONVENIENT HOURS. Longview Regional Medical Center’s Quickcare is here for you and your family this holiday season. We offer extended hours throughout the week and on Saturdays. Our experienced medical team will see you with no appointment required. And if you need additional services, your medical records can be electronically sent to anyone in our network of physicians. Season’s greetings! Visit us at 2021 West Loop 281 or call 903-295-1396 for more information.
Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins welcome. Most insurance plans accepted.
SEE & BSCENE
TYLER / 11.19.14
MADD: TIE ONE ON FOR SAFETY RYAN LILLY, BRITTANI HAILEY
REECE DEWOODY, GEORGE ROBERTS, PAUL MCGAHA
MADD held its annual “Tie One On For Safety” luncheon at the UT Tyler Ornelas Activity Center, in Tyler, on November 19. The event is in its 28th year and encourages drivers to display a red ribbon on their vehicles as a reminder to always have a designated driver during the holiday season. This year’s honorees included Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, TDPS Trooper Jean Dark, Miss Texas Outstanding Teen Kassidy Brown, Cristin Grubbs, Katie Grubbs and Foundation founder Sandy Grubbs.
PATTI FOSTER, LESLIE WATSON, MELISSA GRANBERRY
KELLY MEDDERS, MARCUS SANDIFER, IRENE WEBSTER, KATHI WHITE
ALAN WHARTON, GREG PORTER, DAVID DOBBS
No. 28 BS CENE
KIARA ROSS, SHAN FLOWERS
JEAN DARK, SUZI STEIN
JONNA FITZGERALD, KASSIDY BROWN , KELLI MARTINEZ
JESUS VERA, MATT TREVINO, BRENDA HALL, STUART MEISENHEIMER
KERRI LONG, TISH POWELL, BEN JORDAN, LUIS APARICIO B S CE N E M A G.COM
Don’t Let the Holidays Break You. The all new Urgent Care Center from Texas Spine & Joint Hospital The best step to better health.
57
Loop 49
69
Farm to Market 756
8101 South Broadway Tyler TX 75703
E Grande Blvd S Broadway Ave
Mon—Fri 8AM - 8PM Sat 10AM - 6PM Closed Sunday
903-939-0920 | www.tsjhurgentcare.com
Dr. Scott Ellis
Dr. Justin Jones
BULLARD ROAD
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
Tyler, Tx
5615 Old Bullard Road, Tyler • Phone 903.561.3756
$1=8meals
DO YOU SUFFER FROM CHRONIC
KNEE PAIN?
EXPERIENCE A SPECIAL LUBRICATING KNEE INJECTION THAT WILL GET YOU BACK TO WHAT YOU LOVE DOING MOST!
William G. Brelsford, MD, FACP, FACR
Board Certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine
NO DOWN TIME COVERED BY INSURANCE
Please Give. EastTexasFoodBank.org 903.597.3663 B SC ENEMAG. COM
AFFORDABLE EVEN WITHOUT INSURANCE
ARTHRITIS & OSTEOPOROSIS CLINIC OF EAST TEXAS 1212 Clinic Dr. Tyler Office 903.596.8858 Fax 903.596.0575 EXPANDED FACILITY & SERVICES v WE FILE INSURANCE D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 29
Artistry Inspired by You
With the artistic vision, experience, skill and compassionate touch of Laura O’Halloran, MD and James Saar, MD, certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, the possibilities are endless.
To request a consultation, please call (903) 510-8888 or visit the website.
IS WHAT YOU’RE EATING RAISING YOUR CANCER RISK? Article By: Toni Moore
I
t seems like almost every week we hear about a different food that either causes cancer or can prevent it – sometimes even both! A miracle fruit that protects you from cancer or a list of potentially harmful processed or refined foods you should avoid – it can all be very confusing. You may be surprised to learn that it’s actually the amount of food you eat, more than the kind, that most affects your cancer risk, says Edward Sauter, M.D., Ph.D., a cancer surgeon and nationally known researcher at UT Health Northeast. Eating too much can make you overweight or obese. While the leading cause of preventable cancers is still tobacco use, the second major cause is obesity. “If we decrease the number of calories we consume and maintain a healthy weight, we dramatically reduce our risk for cancer – by 30 percent, according to some studies,” Dr. Sauter explains. That said, some food types have been linked to cancer. A recent study found that eating a high-protein diet during middle age (the years between 50 and 65) increased the risk of dying from cancer by more than four times, while more protein after age 65 was actually a health benefit. How you cook food also matters. When meat and other proteins are grilled to the point they become blackened or charred, they form heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are chemicals that can damage our DNA and lead to the development of cancer. Dr. Sauter recommends that while you can still enjoy grilled meats occasionally, you should limit them to once or twice a month. On a positive note, eating lots of crunchy or cruciferous vegetables – broccoli, kale, and cauliflower – has been shown to reduce your cancer risk, Dr. Sauter says. Currently, he’s conducting several clinical trials to learn if specific nutritional supplements can help prevent breast cancer. If you would like more information or are interested in participating in a clinical trial to prevent cancer, call 903-877-7753 today. 14-1586
cosmeticsurgerytyler.com No. 30 BS CENE
uthealth.org B S CE N E M A G.COM
e.
es
s.
Th
ew ond er
of
p ho
Th
e
c fa
f happ eo
in
At Southern Surgical Arts, the art is in the details. The care is from the heart. No one is more passionate about the art of oral and maxillofacial surgery – and more compassionate in caring for our fellow East Texan’s than we are. You are our neighbors, our friends... our family. Texas born-and-raised, Drs. Brian and Charles Stone, Dr. Barry Acker, and Dr. Dennis Spence are proud to bring three generations of passion and expertise in the art of oral surgery to the heart of their community. From dental implant surgery and wisdom tooth removal to corrective jaw surgery and facial trauma to Intravenous (IV) sedation or outpatient general anesthesia, every person
The expression of life™
who walks through our doors has their own unique set of needs and concerns. We get that. To us, you are not simply
2550 Elkton Trail | Tyler, TX 75703
patients – you are priceless originals who deserve to be
P 903.534.1414 | F 903.534.1415
given the utmost care and respect.
WISDOM TEETH
DENTAL IMPLANTS
www.ssatyler.com
CORRECTIVE/ORTHOGNATHIC JAW SURGERY
FACIAL TRAUMA & RECONSTRUCTION
BOTOX
TMJ DISORDERS
SEE & BSCENE
CLAUDE HENRY, CASEY BEDDINGFIELD, JERRY WOOLVERTON, DAVID KUYKENDALL
CWJC SPORTING CLAYS CHALLENGE ROSE CITY FLYING CLAYS RANGE / TYLER / 10.25.14
TODD JOHNSON, TREY SHEWMAKE, VERA MOORE, MADISON JOHNSON LEILANI ANDERSON
MIKE JENNINGS, WINFRED HODGES, BRIAN FEIDEN, ANGELA JENNINGS TAYLOR HODGES, MARK BROOKSHIRE
CHRIS WALKER, JORDAN PROCTOR, JUSTIN STONE
CARTER DELLENEY, KIRK BYNUM, BOB BREEDLOVE, RICHARD PHILLIPS
SEE & BSCENE
2014 TYLER HEART WALK ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL / TYLER / 10.25.14
AMANDA TURNER, EDDIE MATLOCK, MEAGAN MATLOCK, SONORAH DUTY
TAMMY COX, CARMEN NUNN
REAGAN BREWER, CHRIS BREWER, DIANA OCAMPO, KAITLYN THOMPSON BELEN PENALOZA
No. 32 BS CENE
GAY BROOKSHIRE, NANCIE PRITCHARD, CECELIA ELLIS
PEARL & STEVEN LOGAN
DULCE WARD, SHUNTIVIS HORN, ALICE BEAVER
BROOKE MORAN, JEANIE & JOHN BUFFINGTON
NORMA JIMENEZ, ELIZABETH POSADA, LESLEY MUSE, ALLISON WILLIAMS B S CE N E M A G.COM
This is a
great report card.
Only 12 to 15 percent of cardiovascular programs in the nation are awarded three stars – the highest possible rating – from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ (STS) annual report on coronary artery bypass surgery programs. ETMC is among these elite programs to receive three stars. We’re especially pleased because the STS program, unlike some other “quality rating” programs, requires no fee for allowing the public to know the findings of the study. But we’re even more pleased for our patients: The hearts behind the numbers; the individuals who deserve nothing less than three-star performance from their heart hospital. The report, submitted by the Duke University Clinical Research Institute to the STS for the period of Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013, reviews the coronary artery bypass surgery programs of more than 1,000 U.S. hospitals. It analyzes and compares statistics on operative mortality, absence of major morbidity (complications), the use of internal mammary artery grafts and the use of all evidence-based perioperative medications. ETMC’s composite score was rated in the top tier of hospitals.
[
To learn more about what the best heart care means and why it matters, please visit etmc.org/cardiac.
B SC ENEMAG. COM
One with East Texas. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in East Texas communities.
etmc.org
All of you s at All of uN BSCE E
TO:
:
FROM
T hanking you for a wonderful 2014! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
2015 Stars Over Longview tickets are now available!
Kim Droege
Kimberly Fish
Stephanie Foster
Tammy Gibbons
Meshell Horton
Jackie Jones
Vikki Jones
Jennifer Slade
Bobbie McGee-Benson
Becky Supercinski
Judy Buckner Thomas Dr. Julia Van Burkleo
Celebrating 15 Years
Thursday, January 8, 2015 Speaker: Lee Woodruff
Doors Open at 11:30 a.m. Ceremony and Luncheon begin at noon Maude Cobb Activity Center 100 Grand Blvd. • Longview Complimentary valet parking will be available.
Ticket Information
Individual Tickets $30.00 • $240 for Table of 8 To purchase, call Longview Regional Medical Center’s Marketing Department at 903-553-7406.
Speaker: Lee Woodruff
New York Times Best-Selling Co-Author of “In an Instant” & Contributing Reporter for “CBS This Morning”
For additional information on this event visit LongviewRegional.com.
It is our distinct pleasure to welcome Dr. Jason Blaser to our practice. Dr. Blaser is board certified in both Dermatology and Dermatopathology. We are thrilled to have a physician of Dr. Blaser’s credentials and experience join our team. He will continue the same exceptional dermatological care provided by Wallis Dermatology Associates. Dr. Blaser is now accepting new patients. Please call 903 593 9474 to schedule your appointment.
Charity Burkhardt, P.A.-C
Mark S.Wallis, MD
Now with three convenient locations
TYLER & LONGVIEW
Jason Blaser, MD
1038 S. Fleishel Avenue Tyler 903.593.9474 #6 Doctor Circle in Longview 703 E. Marshall Ave. Suite 3005 (GSMC Plaza) Longview
LEE WOODRUFF:
A
s co-author of the bestselling In an Instant, Lee Woodruff garnered critical acclaim for the compelling and humorous chronicle of her family’s journey to recovery following her husband Bob’s roadside bomb injury in Iraq. Appearing together on national television and radio since the February 2007 publication of their book, the couple has helped put a face on the serious issue of traumatic brain injury among returning Iraq war veterans, as well as the millions of Americans who live with this often invisible, but life-changing affliction.
No. 36 BS CENE
They have founded the Bob Woodruff Foundation to assist wounded service members and their families. To date, the foundation has raised more than $20 million to help veterans successfully reintegrate into their communities and receive critical long-term care. Woodruff is a contributing reporter for CBS This Morning. Her best-selling book Perfectly Imperfect – A Life in Progress, was followed by her first novel Those We Love Most, which became a New York Times best seller and won the Washington
Irving Book Award for fiction. A freelance writer, Woodruff has penned numerous personal articles about her family and parenting that have run in such high-profile magazines as Ladies Home Journal, Real Simple, Redbook and Parade. In addition to freelance writing, Woodruff ran her own public relations and marketing consulting business for 16 years. Before that, she was senior vice president of public relations firm Porter Novelli. At present, Woodruff lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband and four children.
B S CE N E M A G.COM
‘Tis the season of joy and wonder. And the lights shine brightly even for those not healthy enough to spend the holidays with loved ones in the warmth and comfort of their own homes. Because at UT Health Northeast, our doctors, nurses and staff do everything within our power to help patients feel the holiday spirit, administering lots of care and personal attention. Just one of the many reasons we refer to our 600-acre tree-lined campus as a positive, healing environment. For more information, call 903.877.7000.
Healing just feels better here. UTHEALTH.ORG
TETHERED Article By: William Knous Photos Courtesy: Discovery Channel
Dr. Blake Bextine takes on the challenges of reality TV and truly tests the ties that bind. Dr. Blake Bextine leans back in his slightly worn desk chair with the midday light tumbling in the window behind him and he speaks easily. To be fair, it looks like he does most everything easily. He’s got blonde hair that’s just starting to consider what it might be like to turn gray at the temples but at the moment is content to look like it spent the morning accompanying him surfing. And since he’s already a handsome guy, I should probably mention that he’s also a gifted biologist and researcher and entomologist (it’s OK, that means insects, I looked it up too) doing things like serving as an expert witness for important trials when he’s not running
a team of similarly gifted biologists and researchers at the University of Texas at Tyler. He’s got a wonderful wife and two beautiful young children. He’s got a bright smile and bright eyes and of course we took the stairs up to his office because of course he’s in incredible shape. Not “great” shape. Or even “excellent” shape. He’s in remarkable shape. The guy runs ultra-marathons through South Texas and talks about it without crying openly like you or I would. To top all of this off, he was about 5 minutes late for our interview – which I must admit offered me a slice of secret comfort because while I can’t run 50 miles in a row, I was on time. But no, that didn’t stick. He was a bit
busy changing a headlight in his wife’s SUV by hand with spare tools he found in his biology lab. Bextine speaks easily as compared to anyone. But for a man about to hop on a plane to Oregon for work and who spent the better part of three weeks tethered to a California shaman named Caesar, he seems to be altogether too relaxed. Oh yeah, that. The shaman. Bextine appeared – or will appear very soon – on the Discovery Channel reality show “Tethered.” I’ll let the folks at Discovery explain the concept of the show:
Cue dramatic score “In dire situations, man’s greatest survival tool is the strength, comradeship and skill of the people he is with – so long as he can stand them. Tethered sees two strangers from opposite backgrounds and philosophies embark on a journey across treacherous terrain on a mission to find rescue and freedom. Dropped at the meeting point with just the six-foot cable that binds them together, a basic map and a limited survival kit, the polar opposite pairing has 10 to 12 days to overcome their differences and collaborate in order to escape the wild. The tethered duos may have to learn the hard way that the best way to survive is to stick together. From fighting hypothermia and dehydration, to trekking through bear-infested woods, avoiding alligators in the Louisiana swamps and surviving thousands of endless insect bites, each duo is in for a wild ride. There is certainly no shortage of chills and thrills – one pair must swim across shark-infested waters in Panama, while another finds themselves hanging over a waterfall after making a hasty decision. The people appearing in Tethered have varying degrees of survival experience – from none to some! – but all are eager for a life-changing experience that will either forge lifelong friends or arch enemies in the process!”
B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 39
High in Alaska’s freezing Chugach Mountain Range, Bextine was tied to Caesar, a self-proclaimed medicine man and practicing shaman. Bextine is on an email group with colleagues spread across the United States. In one of the messages, a friend passed along a tidbit of info wherein the Discovery Channel was seeking participants for a new reality show. “We made jokes about it, and no one really thought anything more about it,” said Bextine. “Someone here in my research office finally pushed me to enquire: ‘an email is free and you never know.’” Bextine sent the email, thinking the production crew might need some help from an expert identifying things or offering technical assistance on location. What they were looking for happened to be someone who enjoyed the outdoors, was open to an adventure and who had a Ph.D. in a biological field, particularly entomology. In essence, Dr. Blake Bextine. “There’s not a tiny group of us, but … you know.” Bextine made a call that started a conversation. That led to an interview process, which lead to psychological and physical evaluations. Next thing he know, Bextine was on an airplane headed to Alaska. From the group email he received in April, it was just a few short months before he was bound for the great north in June. “The interview process was interesting because it was about me being able to handle the process physically, of course,” said Bextine, “but I think they were also trying to match people along personality lines and their demeanor. I tend to be mild-mannered. Then of course I’m sure they are doing background checks, making sure you aren’t a wanted felon of some kind.”
“Around day seven of the show we had had very little food to eat. The mind starts to wander: did I bite off more than I could chew?" Bextine is more into ultra-athletics than survival activities. Going out and running 50 miles in a row is harrowing, but in a very different way than being forced to forage for food in sub-zero temperatures. “[In ultra-athletics] you have everything you need, then you go out and run forever or ride your bike forever. This was different,” said Bextine. “It was going out with nothing and having to find all your provisions.” Bextine did as much learning as possible before he left – reading, watching videos. He has some friends that do quite a bit of survival work for fun, one of which actually teaches survival courses. Bextine contacted him and got as many short-course tips and tricks as was possible in the two weeks between the time he was chosen and the day he left. “I was out in my driveway lighting fires and figuring out how to dig a well to purify water if that was needed.” He didn’t know it was going to be Alaska until almost the day he got onto the airplane. Luckily, Bextine is a resourceful guy. “I found out I was going to be flying to Alaska and staying overnight in Anchorage. So, I contacted a local bookstore and bought three books on local, edible plants and had them dropped at my hotel.” When Bextine arrived at 10pm, the books were waiting for him. He spent several hours reading before leaving at 6am the next
No. 40 BS CENE
morning. The Internet is big and wide, but it was hard to find really specific, localized information. That turned out to be a fantastic decision.” When they were embedded, there was very little to eat, and plants made up the majority of their diet. Being shipped off to Alaska may sound like an extremely harsh punishment to most of us, but Bextine was actually relieved to find out he was heading to the Yukon. As was his family. “The show was shooting in different locations around the globe, and Alaska was definitely the safest of them, as far as insect-transmitted pathogens,” said Bextine. “The likelihood of getting malaria, dengue and a host of other things I’m aware of, given what I do, was much lower. And, I’ve also traveled quite a bit to third-world countries (for Feed The World agriculture missions… it just gets better and better), but I usually have good protection – and in this case I knew I wouldn’t have any of that. It was a relief to me, and I know to my wife. My kids probably just thought: ‘there goes Dad again, doing something crazy.’” Make no mistake, though, it was still an incredible struggle. For all his prowess and experience, Bextine is still a Texas boy – and Alaska is cold in the summer time. “The first night we were there, it was freezing, and I was just sitting on the ground, huddled up and
thinking of my house,” said Bextine, with a laugh. “’As humans we’ve moved into new areas past this!’” Bextine can’t say too much about the things they had to endure on the show, and it would spoil the surprises of watching it, anyway. He did intone that he relishes the chance to bring others along with him on this particular journey; that they have the chance to see and feel and experience what he and Caesar went through, that they could share in the strangeness of the experience. Sharing an experience is part of the journey for Bextine. Logic says running for 50 miles by yourself is one thing, but being tethered to another person as you traverse the wilderness is something else entirely, namely the opposite. And while these ultraathletic endeavors are solitary exercises, Bextine said misery loves company to the point of building a community. “You have to finish this race, and the last couple of miles are seriously difficult, and you’re doing it with this group of people trying to accomplish the same thing. You can’t not make friends. Tethered was not completely a departure… then again, from the very first moments I was within 6 feet of Caesar for 11 days, nonstop.” That’s a little more than “community.” The two did everything together, whether that B S CE N E M A G.COM
Dr. Blake Bextine
Logic says running for 50 miles by yourself is one thing, but being tethered to another person as you traverse the wilderness is something else entirely ... was collecting wood, gathering water or using the restroom. They worked well together, and they wanted to work well together. After sitting with Bextine as he describes stepping across slippery rocks while keeping an eye out for bears in a demeanor I would be grossly amplifying as “relaxed,” it’s unsurprising to hear he and Caesar remain friends and still talk. In ultra-athletics, your mind begins to play with you as you move along. Your self-doubt, fears and more come to the surface. “Around day seven of the show we had had very little food to eat. The mind starts to wander: did I bite off more than I could chew? I knew I was going to push through, and I knew it was going to be really hard, so I never had a doubt I’d finish. But it’s so different than anything I’d done before. In ultra-athletics, you operate at a high level for a long amount of time under optimal conditions. You plan your nutrition, the amount of energy you expend in each situation. In an Iron Man, you figure out how to swim and save your legs for the bike. At the end of the bike, you figure out how to save your legs for the transition to run. In that transition, you learn to move through the cramping process… How do you deal with all these things? It’s something that’s very stable and you’re in control of so many things. This was the opposite. This was operating at a very low level for a long, undetermined time in B SC ENEMAG. COM
super suboptimal conditions. The terrain determines things, not us.” “You know, you really are on your own out there,” said Bextine. “They don’t sneak you food or water or anything. They don’t speak to you or even point. The first day, I had a tiny bottle of water then had to hike for 6-8 hours through the mountains. When we got to where we were going we needed water, but we had to purify it, so we had to start a fire. And when it was started, we had to get it big enough to boil the water, and then wait for the water to cool down so we could drink it. That’s all for a sip of water after 8 hours of hiking – and you have to split it with someone. Then you have to go get more water. It was an opportunity to do something really difficult and really test yourself. Unlike the ultra-marathons and other athletic events, this was a new level. Added in were starvation, hypothermia and real threats. If you can make it through something like that and be on the other side, you can only become better. I don’t think you get that same internal success from doing a lot of other things. It’s a very specific experience that would be very hard to replicate.” It was a constant struggle for the simple things – the most basic human needs. He felt tested and sometimes miserable. He’d do it again, though.
As soon as the show ended, Bextine volunteered to producers to step in if a participant couldn’t take it or had to drop out. “Well, after my first meal after the show,” Bextine corrected, flashing those pearly white teeth. Being essentially trapped in the freezing, dangerous wilderness and strapped to a shaman is the kind of situation that can – and does – make people sort of lose their minds. I’m not sure how many of us would make it through the psychological evaluation; much less the survival test itself. But Bextine never forgot the cameras were on him, literally 24-hours a day. “It was important to me to remain respectful and to represent myself, my family and my community well,” he said. That measured approach most reality show participants tend to ignore but Bextine oozes has served him well throughout his academic, professional and family life. And it’s what kept him and his partner alive when mountaineering and avoiding hungry wildlife. “Sometimes you just look at situations and think, ‘there’s got to be a better way down this mountain, you don’t have to go off the cliff ... There’s got to be a longer route.’ And I’m always up for a longer route.”
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 41
Details handled . . Memories Made
903.539.8550
rflynnandcompany.com
RFLY.COMPANY@gmail.com
WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER BE? The answer is simple and WE are your simple solution
Momentum Urgent Care is a walk in clinic open 7 days a week. We understand that your time is valuable and so OUR focus is fast, convenient, and quality healthcare for your entire family. Don’t let your healthcare slow you down! 5011 Troup Hwy Ste. 200 Tyler, TX 75707
momentumurgentcare.com 903-617-6727
This holiday season, share the gift of iLASIK with your family, friends, and loved ones.
ALL LASER LASIK Custom Laser Vision Correction
Seeing is Believing
5300 North Street • Nacogdoches, Texas 75965
LehmannEyeCenter.com
800-753-3846 936-569-8278 /LehmannEyeCenter
SEE & BSCENE
LIVING ALTERNATIVES BANQUET GABC CROSSWALK CENTER / TYLER / 11.7.14
SUSAN EVERETT, WENDI & SCOTT SMITH
MICHAELA SHEA, CINDY SHEA
MARTY & JERRY PUTMAN
KIMBERLY REED, MARY ANN EXUM
STEFANIE & JEFF BICE
CHRISTINA & JOE WEEKS
ROYCE & BEA ROSENHAUCH, NADIA & IRWIN ROSENHAUCH
SEE & BSCENE
MISTLETOE & MAGIC: TARTANS & TAILS HOLLYTREE COUNTRY CLUB / TYLER / 11.8.14
LEIGH ANN BUGG, LAURA BOYD, JENNIFER GOATES-NEAL, DELAINE DANIELS, JACQUE GIBSON
AMBER & JASON REINHARDT, WADE REINHARDT, BEN REINHARDT
No. 44
BS CENE
WENDY & JUSTIN ARMSTRONG, ZANE ARMSTRONG
DEIRDRE LEUNG, OLIVIA LEUNG
LINDSEY HARRISON, LOCKLIN HARRISON, OWEN HARRISON
KRISTINA ALLEGRETTO, JIN HAN, DANIELLE CHAPMAN
ELIZABETH & SHERIF ISKANDER, SOFIA ISKANDER
KRISTIN & JASON THOMAS, GRACELYNN THOMAS, GRANGER THOMAS, GRAHAM THOMAS
CATHERINE BANKSTON, WYATT BANKSTON, HOLLY FREEMAN, WYATT FREEMAN B S CE N E M A G.COM
Cook Well
46
ON A LARK
VERONICA TERRES SHOWS US HOW ROBIN EWING SATISFIES EVERYONES SWEET-TOOTH WITH THESE CUSTOM, CHRISTMAS CONFECTIONS.
DINING GUIDE 50 MAN ABOUT TOWN 54 B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 45
ON
A
LARK
ARTICLE BY: VERONICA TERRES PHOTOS BY: BRYAN STEWART
After only four years in business, On a Lark Creations has gained quite a following. In fact, Ewing’s cookies have been pictured in the national publication, Traditional Home, within a feature spread of a Tyler home.
ROBIN EWING MAKES CUSTOM CHRISTMAS COOKIES THAT WOULD MAKE SANTA PROUD
A
t first, her husband laughed when Robin Ewing decided to start a baking business out of her home. But to her, it was no joking matter when she baked up a plan to start On a Lark Creations. Simple sticker shock was the impetus behind her venture after she discovered how expensive fancy birthday cakes were during the planning of daughter’s first birthday party. “I’m an art teacher,” Ewing explained. I turned to my husband and said, ‘I can make one of these.’ My husband, who is always so sweet and supportive, actually said to me, ‘I really don’t think you can do this.’ That made me furious and I replied, ‘Of course I can do this. So, I started doing it!’”
That was four years ago. On a Lark was born, named after her daughter Larkin and also because she and her husband joked about the idea. Little did they know that an idea that started out as more of a challenge and a joke would end up being a thriving business today—even though, along the way, there was a slight shift in the original business plan. Ewing explained that after six months of baking cakes, she realized the cake-baking process was just too time consuming and it would be a more efficient use of time and resources to change her product to baking sugar cookies instead—a palette onto which she now gets to work her passion and talent for art into edible masterpieces. Ewing has been a busy lady. Her regular, full time job means being a wife and a mother of three to Larkin, who is now four-and-a-half years old, and 18-month-old twins, Patrick and Mae. When her children are taking naps or after she tucks them in at night, that’s when her second job begins. That time allows her the creative outlet to continue honing her passion for art onto the vanilla-almond, sugar delights. With a Master’s in Art Education from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Ewing went on to teach at Rice Elementary, in Tyler, for eight years, until she found out she was pregnant with the twins. Prior to that, she lived and taught in Houston. But this Alabama girl wasn’t content being unable to employ her love of art.
ROBIN EWING
“I was really into being an art teacher. I really loved it,” Ewing said. “One of the things my husband has always loved about me is that I was so into my job. So, when I didn’t have a job, I didn’t like it. Looking back, I guess I identified myself as an art teacher. That was part of my identity in my head. When I found something to do again, he was really happy for me.” Robin’s husband isn’t the only person happy for her that she went into business. The artist/ entrepreneur has a steady stream of customers lined up to place their special orders, primarily through the On a Lark Creations Facebook page. Business has been booming simply through word of mouth over the last two years, which keeps her busy during her “free time” baking and decorating about 15-to-20 dozen orders every week. Her busiest season is from Halloween through Christmas, during which she fulfills even more orders than that. Customers should know, however, that when they place a special order—it really is a special order. The artist/baker doesn’t make one cookie more than indicated because she is then onto the next customer’s order. And, because Ewing has been so busy lately, the one-woman, confectionery maker has to turn orders down. She confesses that turning down orders is something that really pains her. “I hate turning people down. I can’t stand it because everybody has some special reason they are ordering for and I always feel so guilty, thus the reason I do a lot of my correspondence through email. If I talk to them directly, I always think, ‘Oh … I can do them,’” she expressed. And she does!
“I work very hard to make something my customers truly love,” she expressed. “That’s what makes me a little different. I try very hard to capture the feeling of their party, so I ask each customer a lot of questions upon placing the order just so that it will be perfect. Those who know me as “V” in the City are aware that the kitchen and I don’t work well together. There’s usually a major catastrophe when I simply try to preheat the oven. But, when I discovered On a Lark Creations, I just had to throw on an apron, get to business and find out who the woman was behind the tiny, confectionery treasures I’ve been seeing and eating at special events all over town. That tiny baker is Robin Ewing.
To help alleviate her guilt and make more customers happy, she will sometimes do a general batch of individually wrapped cookies for a specific season, featuring a specific design of her choosing. Then she’ll put out the notice on her Facebook page and they’re usually all spoken for before the day ends. After only four years in business, On a Lark Creations has gained quite a following. In fact, Ewing’s cookies have been pictured in the national publication, Traditional Home, within a feature spread of a Tyler home. Ewing also had an opportunity to work on a batch of cookies featuring a hand-painted profile of the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel. But, high-profile orders aren’t her everyday specialty. What keeps the orders coming in are the regular occasions people celebrate: birthdays, baby showers, engagements, weddings, holidays, graduations and the like—but what sets these simple, sugar cookies apart from the rest? They really are true works of art.
No. 48
BS CENE
Veronica Terres
B S CE N E M A G.COM
The beginning process, Ewing explained, doesn’t hold any sort of secret recipe, nor preparation mystery. It’s really just the basics. She prepares the sugar cookie dough. She then rolls it out and bakes it. Next, she’ll let them cool. Once cooled, she applies a glaze that sits for about three hours. The dried glaze then serves as the canvas for the final step of piping the royal icing into a creative piece of art, or hand paints a masterful design. Usually, each order contains about three or four designs for her customers to enjoy, but Robin can do just about any design to fit any party theme or special occasion. Perhaps what’s most special about her cookies and her business is that with each and every batch she fulfills, she never stops employing her passion and talent for art, or a genuine, heartfelt desire to provide customers with an edible work they will adore. “I work very hard to make something my customers truly love,” she expressed. “That’s what makes me a little different. I try very hard to capture the feeling of their party, so I ask each customer a lot of questions upon placing the order just so that it will be perfect. It is my desire, that with each order placed, I’ve exceeded my customer’s expectations and have really added something special to their important occasion.”
B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 49
BRUNO’S PIZZA AND PASTA ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Family Owned and Operated since 1976 Bruno’s Pizza And Pasta has been providing East Texans with delicious homemade Italian food, pizza, pasta and more for decades. We have catering and takeout available, and our banquet room seats around 55. We also offer appetizers, salads, specialty pizzas and sandwiches. Whether it’s a quiet evening with the family or sharing a slice after the game, Bruno’s has you covered! Be sure to call us and ask for our daily lunch special! And, don’t forget to bring your favorite wine or ice cold beer for the ultimate Bruno’s experience!
1400 S. Vine Tyler, TX 75701• 903.595.1676 15770 Old Jacksonville Hwy Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.939.0002
YAMATO
JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR
Specializing in traditional Japanese cuisine Steak-Seafood-Sushi Boats-Bento Boxes-Udon Soup Two Private rooms available Live DJ every Friday and drink specials from 9 p.m. until midnight Karaoke Every Saturday 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Happy Hour: MON. - THUR. 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Kids eat free on SUN. Find us on Facebook! 2210 WSW Loop 323 • Tyler, TX 75701 903.534.1888 • yamatotexas.com
DAKOTAS . .
STEAKS SEAFOOD CHOPS Dakotas is the ideal place for all of your holiday needs with off-premise catering, private rooms and gift cards for your loved ones. Indulge in one of our fabulous martinis and bring holiday cheer with the gift of fine dining at Dakotas. It seems like shopping just got a little easier this year! Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Dinner: Mon.-Thurs. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - Late Ladies Night: Every Wed. 1/2 price Cocktails “Like” Us On Facebook dakotasprimesteakandchophouse.com 5377 S. Broadway Avenue • 903.581.6700
CHEZ BAZAN FRENCH BAKERY & CAFÉ
This second generation, family-owned/operated bakery is much more than a great place to share a simply delicious pastry and gourmet coffee. Chez Bazan offers stellar catering services and truly innovative cake and pastry design to accompany their unparalleled bakery and café. During the holidays, let Chez Bazan satisfy your sweet tooth with signature pies, holiday cakes, pumpkin rolls, iced cookies, homemade breads – and don’t forget to order a gingerbread house! Your friends at Chez Bazan would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! Holiday hours: Closed Christmas Eve - Jan. 4 Remember to “like” us on Facebook! 5930 Old Bullard Rd • Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.561.9644 chezbazan.com/holiday Café Hours: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. MON. - SAT. Bakery Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. MON.- FRI., 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. SAT., Closed Sundays
JANIE’S CAKES
PREMIUM POUND CAKES FOR POUND CAKE LOVERS The ultimate upgrade on a holiday tradition! An exciting new creation of a classic Janie’s with a surprise of pecan pie. All natural, made-from-scratch using only the finest ingredients. It’s the gift you are proud to give and thrilled to receive! Call for availability. Find us on Facebook! Local & Nationwide Delivery MON – FRI 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
JaniesCakes.com 308 East Front Street • Tyler, TX 75702 • 903.592.6150
LAGO DEL PINO TEXAS FOOD TEXAS FUN
For all of your holiday celebrations, come for the Texas cuisine, spirits & live music…stay for a uniquely southern good time. Ring in the New Year Lago del Pino Style! December 31st • 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Party with The Elegant Few Enjoy Light Hors d’oeuvres Fireworks Show at Midnight $40 Per Person at the Door or $30 Presale Tickets at outhousetickets.com lagodelpino.com • 14706 CR 1134 Tyler, TX 75709 903-561-LAGO
SEE & BSCENE
TYLER / 10.30.14
COVER UNVEIL SONYA YORK, DANA KELLY
JULIA AYERS, LIGIA HARMON, KELLY LAINE HANEY
Juls hosted the cover unveil party for BSCENE Magazine’s November 2014 issue, at its location, in Tyler, on October 30. This month, BSCENE was inspired by the upcoming hunting season and featured girls, guns and “glamping.” Hunters Melissa Jackson and Anna Snodgrass made the cover. Guests enjoyed drink specials, Juls wonderful Asian cuisine and the acoustic stylings of musician Ramoth Gilead.
MELISSA JACKSON, ANNA SNODGRASS
DON BRISTOW, AL IPPOLITO
TONY ELLIS, BRIANNA ROBINSON
No. 52
BS CENE
LINDSAY TRAFF, TAMI SPENCER
VAUNDA WARNASCH, BENNIE PEVETO LATCH
ELLERY BURKETT, BRYAN BURKETT
DEVIN HUNTER, DAWN & KEVIN MOORE
DR. AUBREY SHARPE, LORI RUMBELOW, TOM DENMON, JAN & CHUCK CHAMNESS B S CE N E M A G.COM
Here’s to a season filled with family, friends and plenty of cheer. Wishing East Texas the happiest of holidays from our family to yours!
MAN ABOUT
TOWN WITH DR. AUBREY D. SHARPE PHOTOS BY: BRYAN STEWART
A STARRY, STARRY, NIGHT AT CORK
Sometimes the planets align just right for a “Starry Starry Night” and that’s exactly what happened at Cork. Food & Drink’s “Farm 2 Table Wine Dinner.” The stars were owner, Jon Florendo and Executive Chef, Christian Chavanne of Cork and Dawn Leatherwood, owner of Pelle Legna Vineyard and Winery. What a team! Dawn and Jon have collaborated on several charity events at Dawn and Harry’s Farm and Vineyard. Dawn has the connections and the venue and Jon provides the food. It’s a superb synergy. So, when Jon and Christian launched their Farm 2 Table Wine Dinner concept it was only a matter of time before Dawn’s Pelle Legna Wines would be paired with a full course dinner. Listen, the joining up of this terrific triumvirate was “a marriage made in heaven.” The thirty-four folks who attended will attest that the wine, the food, the presentation and the party was an over the top delight. So, what’s behind the Farm 2 Table concept? Well, it’s the organizing principles for all the culinary preparations at Cork. The meat, vegetables, breads, cheeses, honey, coffee and wines are produced in East Texas. Buy Local-Go Texas is the theme. Chef Chavanne creates a special menu from scratch to be paired with the specific wines that are showcased. And, the good news is that there are more to come and y’all may get in on the party. Listen up, the next Farm 2 Table Wine Dinner will be December 19th at Cork Food & Drink. You
No. 54
BS CENE
can call for reservations at 903.363.9197 or email wine@CorkTyler.com. In the meantime, the fine locally produced food and wines are available at Cork. Food & Drink for dinner Tuesday-Sunday and brunch Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m. Try ‘em, you’ll be back. Our party of thirty-four fun loving friends of Dawn Leatherwood and Cork came with eager appetites and party ready. They were not disappointed. The beautiful cello music was provided by Texas Cultural Trust’s Young Master Award winner Christian Kay and some of Cork’s super standard players. After the initial greetings of the guests, the drinks started a-flowin’. The specialty of the night was a Martini creation called the “Vivace Rose’ Cocktail,” which was a perfect blend of Pelle Legna's Vivace Rosé, Kiepersol’s Dirk Vodka made from grapes with a touch of lemon-lime served ice cold and straight up. One was not enough! The “Man” was lucky to sit at the table with Dawn, David and Debora Dobbs and Dawn’s longtime friend Johnanna Hoeffner. Right next to us was a table of four of Dawn’s girlfriends, so David and I had a ringside seat to one hoot-of-a girls night out that ran till closing time. Now, there really was a dinner, I promise. It was exceptional with every bite. Beginning with the appetizers through two courses and dessert,
Dawn described each wine and its story followed by Chef Chavanne detailing the menu, where they were produced and how the flavors complemented each other. The entire process was entertaining, educational and yum, yum, yummy! Pelle Legna is one of the three Texas Wineries whose wine is 100% estate grown, handcrafted on site and bottled. And it is right here in Tyler! We enjoyed their Allegro 2012, Bilancia 2010, and Vivace 2013. You may join their wonderful wine club or purchase their wine locally. Check ‘em out at PelleLegna.com. At last, the dinner came to an end but not before Chef Chavanne served his Chocolate & Coffee Pecan Pie with Keiporsol’s Jimmy’s Bourbon; CJ Farms Honey & Lavender paired with Pelle Legna’s Bilancia. WOW! It is the best pie the “Man” has ever wolfed down and I still wanted more. Now, after several hours of gastronomical ecstasy, folks started meandering out with smiling faces and happy tummies. But a group of us, including Dawn’s girls-night-out group, laid back to continue the party. Jon and his Cork Team continued their outstanding hospitality till nearly closing time when we began headin’ for the house. So, if you’re out and about, look for us, we’ll be about town. B S CE N E M A G.COM
ON THE MENU
Dawn described each wine and its story followed by Chef Chavanne detailing the menu, where they were produced and how the flavors complemented each other. The entire process was entertaining, educational and yum, yum, yummy!
SEE & BSCENE
TYLER / 11.12 .14
MISTLETOE & MAGIC PREVIEW PARTY
KAREN & JOSEPH ZASIK
NICOLE ROBBINS, DEBBIE DICKERSON, CHELSEA DICKERSON
The Junior League of Tyler kicked off its Annual, four day, holiday extravaganza known as Mistletoe & Magic with a preview party at Harvey Hall Convention Center, in Tyler, on November 12. This year’s theme was dubbed “A Highland Fling.” Harvey Hall was transformed with Scottish flair, complete with bagpipe players dressed in kilts. Traditional Celtic-style food was served alongside vendor booths on hand to display their holiday wares a full day before the general public. Guests enjoyed drinks, appetizers and the eclectic music style of Austin’s own, The Pictures.
NEILY & CAMERON DEAN
MALLORY DOUGHERTY, MELISSA FITZGERALD, MORGAN DAVIS
DAWN & KEVIN MOORE
No. 56
BS CENE
HOLLY & DON CARROLL
CRYSTAL HARDY, ROBERT GUY
TAYLOR WILKINS, RACHEL SIEBENLIST
KRISTIN CARTER, JILL & MIKE CARTER
JULIE MILLER, SUSAN STRAWN, GLENDA LINDEKUGEL, SHARON PHILLIPS, SHERRY GUINNZ B S CE N E M A G.COM
MEAGAN & WILL DORAN
MANDY & JEREMY CARUTHERS
CYLEEN FRIMAN, JANET KNODE, BARBARA RICHARDS
CARRI JO ROBERTSON, ALEX ROBERTSON
ZACKI GUTZKE, DR. AUBREY SHARPE, SHELBIE GLOVER B SC ENEMAG. COM
JEANNA HILL, JULIE WOOD, LYNN & MIKE HANEY
TONYA BOOZER, LIZ BALLARD
SONYA YORK, DANA KELLY
ANN & MARTIN VANDIVER
BLAYNE SANDERS, ASHLEY WESTBROOK
LINDA & DOUG WARREN D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 57
SEE & BSCENE
TYLER / 10.25.14
WATERSON CALHOUN, IAN SUDDUTH, ROBIN FARRELL
SHARON & BRENT SMITH
PARENTS ANONYMOUS OKTOBERFEST KE Bushman’s hosted Oktoberfest, in Bullard, on October 25. The deutschland themed event is the primary, annual fund-raiser for the Tyler chapter of Parents Anonymous. The event featured tasting of lagers and ales provided by local distributors as well as a bevy of delicious, traditional German food. Grammy-award winning band, Brave Combo was on hand to keep the guests dancing throughout the night.
BRIAN MCCABE, JARROD MCCABE
KAREN BRIDGES, LETICIA STONE
DAVID LISNER, CINDY BRADY, MELANIE & JOEL BAKER
JACOB GEORGE, MYRANDA DIDUCH
No. 58
BS CENE
LINDSEY HARRISON, LAURIE ANN FRANK, ALEX FARRELL
THERESA NINK, DANA & CHAD CARGILE
LISA & GARY GROSS
BLYTHE MCCAIN, CALLIE MCCAIN, ASHLEY MORRIS, CHALEY MCCAIN B S CE N E M A G.COM
Style
60
JUMP-START
PEACH LOVE VEST, MIRACLE CITY SWEATER, J W MAXX SKINNY JEAN ALL AVAILABLE AT GAUDY ME, CORKYS RIDING BOOTS AVAILABLE AT B.JAXX
BEST OF 2014 68 LITTLE BLACK DRESS 72 B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 59
H IM COPPLEY SPORT COAT CULTURATA SHIRT CITIZENS OF HUMANITY JEAN ALAN PAYNE SHOES ALL AVAILABLE AT HARLEY’S HER BELLA D BLOUSE AVAILABLE AT YOUNG AT HEART IRO JEAN TAYLOR & TESSIER CUFF AND NECKLACE ALL AVAILABLE AT JEWEL BOUTIQUE CORKYS HEELED BOOTS AVAILABLE AT B.JAXX
Jump Start Be ready for this festive time of year with THESE sleek and subtle wardrobeS
HIM LARRY MAHAN SHIRT ARIAT JEAN JUSTIN BRONCO BELT ALL AVAILABLE AT CAVENDER’S
HER JEALOUS TOMATO TOP DEAR JOHN SKINNY JEAN ALL AVAILABLE AT CAVENDER’S STEPHANIE KANTIS GODDESS CUFF AVAILABLE AT COLE AND CO.
HER AMANDA UPRICHARD METALLIC JACQUARD STRAPLESS PARTY DRESS STATEMENT NECKLACE AND BRACELET COUGAR PURSE ALL AVAILABLE AT BRIDGETTE’S
HIM TED BAKER SUIT SEAWARD & STEARN SHIRT DION TIE AND POCKET SLEEVE ALL AVAILABLE AT HARLEY’S
B R I D G E T T E’S
hop S n e M e s i W ! 's r e d n e v a C t a
FAUX. FUR. FABULOUS.
From our new collection for fall, $112. 4815 OLD BULLARD RD. TYLER
June 3rd
903.561.3136
5pm-9pm
TYLER • 2025 WSW Loop 323 • 903-561-2510 Mon. – Sat. 9 – 8, Sun. Noon – 6 B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 63
HIM STERLING PAJAMA SET AVAILABLE AT HARLEY'S
HER NIKIBIKI CAMI URBAN MANGOZ SWEATER ALL AVAILABLE AT STEELE’S J & K FLEECE LEGGING AVAILABLE AT YOUNG AT HEART KENDRA SCOTT ROSE GOLD NECKLACE AND EARRINGS ALL AVAILABLE AT COLE AND CO
BECOME A
HARLEY’S MAN
AND EXTEND YOUR
INFLUENCE ONLY AT
4815 OLD BULLARD ROAD
903.534.9799
HARLEYSFORMEN.COM
25%
Bring this ad to receive
off
any one regular price item! Valid in ALL Gaudy Locations, One Discount per Customer, One time use only, Not valid with any other promotion or offer, Offer ends January 1st, 2015 PROMOTIONCODE: BMAG14
Monogramming . Gifts . Baby Registry 903.581.3990 Located in GRESHAM VILLAGE 16700 FM 2493 Ste. 400, Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler
B SC ENEMAG. COM
Dressin Gaudy (Tyler) 4724 S. Broadway Ave. 903.534.0012 Dressin Gaudy (Texarkana) 236 Richmond Ranch Rd. 903.280.7330
Gaudy Me (Tyler) 4712 S. Broadway Ave. 903.509.0177 Gaudy Me (Longview) 305 W. Loop 281 Ste# 103 903.663.4000
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 65
SEE & BSCENE
MISTLETOE & MAGIC: A ROYAL RUNWAY SHOW FEATURING MARY V’S HARVEY HALL CONVENTION CENTER / TYLER / 11.13.14
HEATHER STONER, PAT SELF, BECKY MCCORD
STACY GULLY, BRIDGET FRY
PATRICIA SAXON, HARLEY VALADEZ SHANNON GLENNEY, MANDY ADAMS
WENDY ARMSTRONG, ASHLEY CROW
AMY CURTIS, CHARLOTTE JORDAN, CINDY AVEY, CHERYL MORRIS, KEELY BARBE DONNA HARPER, DONNA HUTCHESON, JOY HAGG, VALERIE BONDS
MISTLETOE & MAGIC: A WEE BIT O’ STYLE FEATURING HAUTE TOTZ HARVEY HALL CONVENTION CENTER / TYLER / 11.13.14
No. 66
BS CENE
ALEX WALTRIP, KIM HOLCOMB, CATHY SECREST
SEE & BSCENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
WHISKEY WEDGE YETI COOLER
COOL TO THE LAST SIP!
CORKCICLE
7 2 6 6 O l d J a c k s o n v i l l e H w y. Ty l e r, T X 7 5 7 0 3 903.526.2226 • shopspinout.com L o c a t e d i n t h e S w a n n ’s P l a z a
CHILLSNER
“Boutique Style Apparel at Great Prices” For Missy, Junior and Plus Sizes
BIG CITY FASHION WITH SMALL TOWN SERVICE NOW LOCATED IN SWANN PLAZA ON OLD JACKSONVILLE
“We’ve got outfits for any YOUR HOLIDAY FASHION STARTS AT B.JAXX occassion!”
TYLER 4023 S. Broadway 903.561.2250 B SC ENEMAG. COM
LONGVIEW 3507 McCann Rd 903.295.5290
7264 Old Jacksonville Hwy Tyler, TX 75703
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4
No. 67
WINNERS
2014
BEST OF readers’ choice
BEST Antique Shop Ye Old City Mall BEST Financial Advisor Jose Feliciano BEST Private School Grace Community School BEST Home Health Care At Home Healthcare
BEST Local Musician Dustin Becker
BEST Sushi Yamato
BEST Brunch Lago Del Pino
BEST Steak Dakotas
BEST Bank Texas Bank & Trust
BEST Fine Dining Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant
BEST Massage Stone School of Massage
BEST Motorcycle Shop Lonestar Harley Davidson
BEST Nail Salon Nails by Lee
BEST Chiropractor East Texas Doctor’s of Chiropractic
BEST Happy Hour BJ's Brewhouse
BEST Restaurant – Ambience Cork. Food & Drink
BEST Photographer Casey Jay Benson BEST Date Spot Juls BEST Seafood Clear Springs BEST Caterer Villa Montez
BEST Event of the Year Mistletoe & Magic BEST Cocktail Juls BEST Pool Builder Backyard Connection BEST Local News Source KLTV BEST Pet Groomer/Boarding Services Bark Avenue BEST Golf Course Willow Brook Country Club BEST Wedding Cakes Chez Bazan BEST Cutting Edge Fashions Spinout BEST Tuxedo Shop Harley’s Suit Club BEST Commercial Real Estate Firm Drake
BEST Auto Dealership Wagner Cadillac BEST Attorney Roberts & Roberts BEST Bakery Janie’s Cakes BEST Tanning Salon Tru-Tan BEST Business Lunch Potpourri House
BEST Retirement Community The Hamptons at Greenridge
BEST Bed & Breakfast Kiepersol Estates
BEST Place for Men's Fashion Harley’s
BEST Florist French Peas
BEST Weather Forecast Mark Scirto, KLTV
BEST OBGYN Stephanie Carl
BEST Sandwich Jersey Mike’s
BEST Dance Studio Dance N’ Drill
BEST Dessert Jakes
BEST Hotel Hilton Garden Inn
BEST Summer Camp Pine Cove Best Waitstaff Villa Montez BEST Eyecare Heaton Eye Center BEST Park Rose Rudman BEST Home Improvement Store Lowe’s
BEST Kids Restaurant Chuck E. Cheese’s BEST Kid's Birthday Venue Jumpin’ Jacks Party Shack BEST Pharmacy Kinsey Pharmacy BEST Tacos Don Juan’s BEST Mom & Pop Restaurant Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q BEST Dentist Bullard Road Dental BEST Place to See & BSCENE Cattle Barons’ Gala BEST Kid's Entertainment Discovery Science Place BEST Plastic Surgeons Dr. Laura O’Halloran BEST Barbecue Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q
BEST Heating/AC Repair The Original Evan’s Air BEST Place for Accessible Fashion Gaudy Me BEST Computer Repair PC Warehouse BEST Realtor Trina Griffith BEST Furniture Selection Swann’s Furniture & Design BEST Auto Repair Christian Brothers Automotive BEST Vegetarian Menu Fresh By Brookshire’s BEST Public School Jack Elementary School BEST Patio Juls BEST Nightlife Lago Del Pino
BEST Mexican Food Mercado’s BEST Coffee Starbucks BEST Insurance Agency Allstate - Jill McIntyre BEST Wedding Venue Castle on the Lake
BEST Pizza Bruno’s
BEST Breakfast The Diner
BEST Burger Jucy’s
BEST Veterinarian Starnes Animal Clinic
BEST Hair Salon Dolce Vita
BEST Kid's Clothing Haute Totz
BEST Local Band Young Ones
BEST Orthodontist Stephens & Stephens
BEST CPA Henry & Peters
BEST Venue for Live Music Rick’s
Best Spa Identity Day Spa
BEST Gym XTC
Best Wine List Cork. Food & Drink
BEST Plumbing Services American Plumbing Co. BEST Home Builder Joe Carlyle BEST Optical Shop Ragsdale & Martin
WINNERS
2014
BEST OF readers’ choice
SEE & BSCENE TYLER / 11.8.14
LITTLE BLACK DRESS ANN & MIKE BUTLER
MIGNON & BILL ADAMS
The Tyler Museum of Fine Arts (TMA) fall fundraiser “Little Black Dress” was held, in Tyler, on November 8. This year featured a Beatlemania theme and encouraged guests to dress in 60’s style attire. Ricks on the Square catered the event with cocktails and fine cuisine, a silent and live auction was held and Beatles tribute band “The Fab 5” performed live. Proceeds from the nights event go to benefit the many exhibitions and programs of TMA.
JANE & D.M. EDWARDS
MARTHA & RANDY KEY
JEN & RABBI NEAL KATZ
ASHLEY WESTBROOK, DAWN MOORE
No. 72
BS CENE
VERNA HALL, SHELBA JOHNSON
AMY & MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
CAROL & JACK GIBSON
HELEN & DR. NOAH ISRAEL, JANET & BYRON KIRKPATRICK B S CE N E M A G.COM
A NEW ERA IN TYLER FASHION
Merry Christmas! 903.842.3411 - 115 S. Georgia Troup, Tx 75789
NOW OPEN BERGFELD CENTER TYLER
THE CASCADES CLUB ROCKIN' IN
NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY! FEATURING: OTIS & THE METRO BAND - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Tickets: $40 in advance -- $50 at the door Doors Open 8:30pm • Cocktail Attire EVENT INCLUDES: • Heavy Hors D 'Oeuvres 8:30pm -10:30pm • DJ Music 8:30pm-9:30pm • Band starts at 9:30pm -12:30am • Midnight Breakfast Buffet & Champagne Toast • Entertainment • Door Prizes • Party Favors! CONTACT US: 903.525.0000 • RECEPTIONIST@CASCADESOFTEXAS.COM B S CE N E M A G.COM No. 74 BS CENE 4511 Briarwood Road • Tyler, Texas 75709
At Home
76
HIP, HIP PATTERNS
WITH THE HOLIDAYS HERE, KIM LEWIS, HELPS US FIND THE PERFECT PATTERNS TO FILL OUR HOMES WITH HOLIDAY CHEER.
OUTTAKES 84 HOLIDAY HOT LIST 86 B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 75
HIP, HIP H
ow many of you dread the stress that comes along with the holidays? Buying gifts, cooking meals, preparing our homes for guests and decorating for the festivities ‌ the list goes on and on. While I’m not much help with the turkey, dressing and pie recipes, perhaps I can offer some advice to make decorating your home easier and fun!
No. 76
BS CENE
PATTERNS
Honestly, I still get giddy thinking about decorating the Christmas tree. My family made it a tradition to collect an ornament from every adventure, so opening up those boxes is truly like walking down memory lane. Ornaments collected from experiences have always had so much more meaning to me than store bought. During this season of gift giving, let me remind you that creativity is a gift. No matter
Article & Photos By: Kim Lewis
our age, we all have the opportunity to create. No matter the size, our homes are meant for showing love, being with family and friends and welcoming in strangers. So, use this time of year to be creative in your home. Have fun and use your imagination! Don’t be stifled by tradition when it comes to decorating your home for the holidays.
B S CE N E M A G.COM
Pick a theme, pick a color and roll with it!
To help get our creative wheels turning, I painted a watercolor pie chart, to prove you don’t have to be limited to red and green around your home this holiday. Yes, I balanced on a ladder in my backyard to get this photo. Honestly, I’m sitting here laughing at myself. No, I don’t make the worlds best cobbler, pumpkin pie, coconut pie, pecan pie (insert your favorite southern style pie here) … but I can paint a mean pie chart to encourage y’all to think like an artist! PRETTY IN PINK Let’s start with the least expected. Blush pink, pale pink, coral, magenta … this color palette is soft, inviting and reminds me of the morning sun glistening over fallen snow. I’m picturing an old Thomas Kincaid painting that hung in our dining room growing up. For this look try: Mixing different tones of soft pink ornaments on your white Christmas tree Mercury glass vases Cherry blossoms and white birch sticks Serve colorful macaroons for dessert! (Wishing I was in Paris … check out Laduree for inspiration!)
B SC ENEMAG. COM
RUDOLPH, THE RED … Red is expected at the holiday season but makes it more hip with graphic patterns. Or mix in burlap and twine for a more rustic, English countryside feel. For this look try: Plaid, stripes, or polka dots (you cannot go wrong with any of these ) Reindeer plate from West Elm (Turns out Rudolph doesn’t just wear red on her nose) Vintage red and cream striped stockings Twine and French ticking ribbon (Ikea) Polka dot straws (to add a bit of whimsy) Holly berries
EVER GREEN Again, the color we all expect to see during this time of year, but I still love it! Inspiration for this palette is drawn straight from the beauty we see around us. Nature and towering trunks of evergreen trees rooted in this Texas soil. There is something about this color tone that makes me want to hunker down in a cabin, wrapped in a flannel blanket with hot cocoa, fireside. For this look try: Knit, flannel, more plaid patterns Boxwood wreaths and plants Amber glass vases & candles Driftwood sticks Wooden bowls & spoons for serving ware Rosemary or tree trimmings make beautiful and inexpensive table décor
WINTER BLUES For a cool, romantic holiday look, own the winter blues! While we may not have many snow-covered days around here, we’ve likely all seen that cool tone of blue that hovers over a fallen snow as the moon rises over a winter night. This palette takes me back to the French countryside. For this look try: Vintage blue glassware White enamel servingware Blue & white French country dinnerware French ticking and linen textiles Or go with a rich, blue and purple peacock feather theme this holiday for a bit more glam!
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 77
WHITE AS SNOW Speaking of that fallen snow, this holiday try a black & white theme for your décor. With all the colorful packages, ugly Christmas sweaters and food on the table, perhaps this is the perfect year to take it back to the basics. The stark contrast of black and white is honestly refreshing and so representative of meaning behind this time of the year: a new start. For this look try: Faux taxidermy (these look cool all year round) Milk glass replica ornaments White enamel serving ware Birch tree straws and sticks Snowflake and polar bear ornaments (yes, please) Black textiles mixed in on the table Chalkboard paint table cloths for kids to draw on while adults are still visiting Black & white vintage family photos make perfect conversation pieces for your table décor
METALLIC Isn’t this season a time for reflection? For a sophisticated, more glamorous holiday gathering, mix it up with metallic! With all the gift giving, everyone can all appreciate things that feel shiny and new this time of year. For this look try: Copper, mercury glass, silver, brass…throw it all in Brass candlesticks, napkin ring holders Gold charger plates Gold rimmed serving ware
So many ideas, so little time … right?! Time to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. These moments will pass, and you’ll wish for them back someday.
When I was a little girl, a sweet soul named Ms. Rosie picked me up from Andy Woods Elementary every day. At that time, she was in her late 60s. A few years ago I saw her in Tyler, and she was in her 90s and still going strong. I honestly thought she had found the fountain of youth. While visiting, I asked her, “Ms. Rosie …what is your secret to staying so young?” She responded, “Kimbo, I don’t worry about the things I cannot control.” Ugh … Not the response I hoped for ... Couldn’t it be that she just eats a carrot a day or something? I mean … “Don’t worry?” Give me a break … What woman doesn’t worry? Especially around the holidays!
“Ms. Rosie … what is your secret to staying so young?” She responded, “Kimbo, I don’t worry about the things I cannot control.” Ugh … Not the response I hoped for ... Couldn’t it be that she just eats a carrot a day or something? I mean … “Don’t worry?” Give me a break … What woman doesn’t worry? Especially around the holidays …
The very last gift my mom gave my dad, before she passed on December 28, 1991, was a Christmas ornament. For 23 years now, this is the last ornament my dad and I put on the tree … together. That was her wish. No matter where in the world I am, he waits to hang her ornament until I get home for the holidays. So, hypocrite or not, I’m going to pass along Ms. Rosie’s words of wisdom to you. Let’s not worry about things we cannot control.
Decorating your home for the holidays should be fun … not a cause for worry. Our time together is precious. Things don’t have to be perfect. In fact, they won’t be. Use your gift of creativity to serve others. Make it less about you and more about others this season. After all, the best décor for your home is the company you welcome in and the joy shared.
FEEDING
HOPE Article & Photo By: East Texas Food Bank
Living in the land of plenty it is hard to imagine that thousands of East Texas families have an empty plate. It’s a startling fact that, 1 in 4 kids and 1 in 5 adults is food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Many mothers, like Veronica, have to make tough choices. “There have been times in the past when my children have gone hungry, and that is the hardest thing,” said Veronica, an East Texas Food Bank client from Henderson. Veronica has five children and her husband works in construction. During the winter months, however, construction jobs slow due to the cold and rainy weather. “It makes it difficult to pay our rent, bills and feed all the kids,” Veronica said. According to the Hunger in America 2014 study recently released by Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, 75 percent of households in the East Texas Food Bank’s 26 county service area reported making the difficult choice between paying for food or paying for utilities. “I’m so thankful to be able to come to this pantry. I only come when I really need to.” Veronica says every time she visits the food pantry, she finds the volunteers are so kind and welcoming. In fact, she even volunteers to bring others
No. 80
BS CENE
who are in need of assistance as a way of giving back to those that help her. “When my friend says ‘money is so tight and I have nothing to feed the children’, I bring her to the pantry,” she said. “It’s the best way I can say thank you.”
“I’m so thankful to be able to come to this pantry. I only come when I really need to.”
Veronica says she learned the value of giving back at a young age. “When I was growing up my father worked with fruit, and he was always making up bags of fruit to give away to people who needed it,” she said. “One time I gave away food from our refrigerator to a neighbor who didn’t have any. My mother told me ‘you are just like you dad, always giving away food.”
but a set monthly payment doesn’t fit into your budget? Choose a Variable Rate Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC).* A HELOC allows you to withdraw funds, up to a predetermined limit, whenever you need the money. You can use the funds to pay tuition expenses, medical bills, home improvements or almost anything else! You also have the option to pay only the interest during the draw period, or you can choose to pay off as much of the line of credit as desired each month. East Texas Professional Credit Union offers flexible financing programs to fit every need. Contact our Mortgage Lending Specialists today at 903.323.0232 or 800.256.5009. *Certain restrictions apply.
Veronica is thankful to God who never abandons us and to those who give her and her family food at the pantry. For more information about the East Texas Food Bank and how you can help families like Veronica’s, please visit EastTexasFoodBank.org or call 903.597.3663 to make a donation, host a food drive or volunteer.
903.323.0232 903.323.0232 800.256.5009 www.etpcu.org Federally insured by NCUA B S CE N E M A G.COM
Creating LUXURY Living Experiences!
REAL ESTATE BROKER ASSOCIATE at Summers Real Estate Group
Thanks to the Readers of BSCENE for voting me Best Longview Realtor of 2013!
903.736.3754 Voted #1 REAL ESTATE AGENT 2013/2014 by
Follow Me on Facebook at: Longview Luxury Listings by Trina Griffth
Come Get Merry!
602 S. Broadway, Tyler, TX 903.526.9975 thegipsongirl.com
Be original this season! B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 81
SEE & BSCENE
BRUNCH WITH GUEST SPEAKER KENDRA SCOTT: A TEXAS CROWN JEWEL HARVEY HALL CONVENTION CENTER / TYLER / 11.14.14
LACIE MASSINGILL, MEREDITH ROBERTS, KENDRA SCOTT, JENNIFER GOATES-NEAL, AMANDA HABERMEHL
ALLISON HELMS, KELLY HUNT
MICHELLE MCKENZIE, FRANCES JACKSON
CARISSA FISHER, TARA ESCHBERGER
JUDY CARTER, HILLARY CARTER
ANNA SULLIVAN, BROOKE CHANCELLOR, ANNA LISA RAMIREZ
SARAH CULPEPPER, PAIGE MARTIN, DEBBIE DICKERSON, CHELSEA DICKERSON, NICOLE ROBBINS
SEE & BSCENE
AFP PRESENTS NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY AWARDS WILLOW BROOK COUNTRY CLUB / TYLER / 11.14.14
COURTNEY MAYFIELD, TIM CONNOR, JENNIFER CARSON
ROBERT HILL, STEVE MCCARTY
No. 82
BS CENE
KEVIN EAST, MIKE METKE
CAROLINE HARKLAU, STEPHANIE THOMPSON
ZOE LAWHORN, NORA REYES
REV. DAVID LUCKENBACH, DONNA METKE, PATRICIA HAMPE BARBARA SHTOFMAN
MARTY WIGGINS, KATIE POWELL
NANCY LAMAR, LINDA & CHARLES THOMAS
B S CE N E M A G.COM
CADILLAC makes the car, WAGNER makes the difference
www.wagnercadillac.com 4100 S. Broadway Tyler • 903.561.1212
COME BY AND CHECK OUT THE ALL NEW STORE FRONT
COMING SOON!
2015 Mule PRO-FXT™
2015 Teryx®
2015 Mule™ 4010 Trans4x4®
1914 S. Jackson St. HWY 69 South Jacksonville, TX
903.586.5969 ™
B SC ENEMAG. COM
KAWASAKI CARES: WARNING: ATVS CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOUR SAFETY: ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION, AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. NEVER CARRY A PASSENGER. NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. NEVER RIDE ON PUBLIC ROADS OR PAVEMENT. AVOID EXCESSIVE SPEEDS AND STUNT DRIVING. BE EXTRA CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. KAWASAKI ATVS WITH ENGINES OVER 90CC ARE RECOMMENDED FOR USE ONLY BY PERSONS 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. READ OWNER’S MANUAL AND ALL ON- PRODUCT WARNINGS. KAWASAKI ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT ALL ATV RIDERS TAKE A TRAINING COURSE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE YOUR DEALER, CALL THE ATV SAFETY INSTITUTE AT 1- 800- 887- 2887, OR GO TO WWW.ATVSAFETY.ORG. ©2014 KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 83
Jimmie Johnson toasts with fans after winning the NASCAR AAA 500 race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Sunrise at the Spence Fountain at the UT Tyler Cowan Center.
OUTTAKES
with Dr. Scott M Lieberman, MD, FACC
A WWII C-47 aircraft participates in the Challenge Air event at the Tyler Historic Aviation Museum.
An aerial view of downtown Tyler, Texas.
Trevor Bayne’s car flames after hitting the wall while driving the No. 6 Ford Mustang at Texas Motor Speedway’s Nationwide NASCAR race.
No. 84
BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
HOLIDAY SAVINGS TIPS Sherry Gibbon Vice President, Community Relations Manager
The holiday season is fast approaching and the pressure of financial worries often hampers holiday cheer. Shopping for that perfect gift, cooking big meals, and making travel plans add stress to an already hectic time. If this sounds familiar to you, then it’s time to learn a few ways to alleviate the burden on your wallet and spend more time relaxing during this special time. Try these simple tips to keep your spending under control: SET A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT: Setting a budget for your gift list and entertainment expenses is the first step in handling your holiday costs. Make a list of each recipient‘s name along with the amount of money you are willing to spend. Make another list for decorations, food, travel, and other necessities for the holidays. Once you have this is in writing you will find it much easier to keep your holiday spending under control. HOMEMADE GIFTS: Handmade gifts or personalized coupons can be a special treat in this age of store-bought presents. Use your creativity and talents to make that special gift that will be appreciated. You can put together a gift basket, create a photo album, knit a scarf, or bake some cookies. Another great gift idea is to create your own coupons for homecooked meals, house cleaning, yard work, babysitting, or dog walking. Your personalized effort will be worth more to your loved ones than any dollar amount you could spend.
Make your list and “check it” twice!
SHOP EARLY: It’s never too early to start, so make your list and start watching for sales and picking up nonspecific gifts at bargain prices. When you spread out your spending you may avoid using credit cards to make purchases. Now is the time to buy non-perishable food that you may need for your holiday cooking and baking. ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES: There are many ways to get into the holiday spirit without over spending. Try some of these ideas to keep your family entertained with little or no costs involved; attend the local tree lighting ceremony or Christmas parade; watch a holiday classic such as, “It’s a Wonderful Life;” have the kids or grandkids put on a holiday play and invite the neighbors for a potluck dinner; celebrate with game night and pull out your best board games. AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES: If you are not going to see friends or family on the day itself you can take advantage of post-holiday sales on everything from clothes, electronics and more. This is also a great opportunity to purchase items for next year’s festivities such as wrapping paper, ribbon, decorations, Christmas cards, etc. There are so many ways to save money this holiday, get creative and think outside the box. Hopefully these tips will help ease some of the stress of the season and make your holidays more relaxing. Spend time with one another, sit around the dinner table sharing stories of holidays past, and enjoy every minute of this wonderful time of year.
Located in the Shops At Bullard
5825 Old Bullard Rd Suite 500 Tyler, TX Mon.-Fri: 10AM- 5:30PM & Sat. 10AM- 4PM
903.595.3900 B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 85
HOLIDAY HOT LIST
1
2 1. CAVENDER’S Turquoise Fringe McFadin bag by Stacy & Laure McFadin, the inspiration for this purse lies in the history of the two sisters who combined their Texas Heritage with their love of fashion to create a family enterprise. These beautifully crafted cross body handbags are available at Cavender’s. $159
4
3
2. B.JAXX Looking to add the finishing touch to your holiday outfit? These boots will give you all the comfort you need while attending those holiday get togethers. Top them off with our lace detail boot socks to create a unique look. Corkys Riding Boots: $69.50 Peek a Boot socks: $29.50 3. YOUNG AT HEART This Lovely, 20 inch, pearl and crystal necklace features graceful cuts with a shine that will last a lifetime. Let this luxurious prize mesmerize a loved one this holiday season. $20
4. GAUDY ME / DRESSIN GAUDY The Match Made in Heaven Necklace is a Gaudy must have this holiday season! Our sevenstrand beaded necklace comes in several colors and looks great with any outfit, available at all Gaudy Locations; Gaudy Me Tyler, Dressin Gaudy Tyler, Gaudy Me Longview, Dressin Gaudy Texarkana and Canton 1st Monday. $11
6
5
5. JANIE’S CAKES “The Italian Jane” A Vanilla Pound Cake filled with Italian Cream. $36
6. LARRY LOTT INTERIORS The nickel Corazon D’Melon Heartblessing by Jan Barboglio will warm the heart of anyone who is lucky enough to receive such a precious gift. The nickel finished heart topped with an iron flower is the perfect way to remind someone how much they mean to you. The Corazon D’Melon Heartblessing will sit perfectly on any desk or dresser. $120
No. 86
BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
1
HOLIDAY HOT LIST 2
1. COLE AND CO. Sure to make any woman happy this holiday season! From the LAGOS Caviar Collection, sterling silver, 18K yellow gold and diamonds. Exclusively at Cole and Co. Call for pricing
2. THE GIPSON GIRL For the girl who has everything give her a one of a kind Gipson Girl doorknob pillow. For the most original gift. $34.95
3. CHEZ BAZAN Try one of our candy cane coffee cakes. Filled with raspberry and topped with candied fruit and pecans. Call ahead to order. $16
3
4
5
6
4. SILLY BUGZ Custom pendant necklaces. Fingerprints on one side and initials stamped on the other. Perfect gift for all ages. Available in gold for $100 and silver for $70.
5. MARY V’S What a fun gift to make your friends and family feel special this year by giving them a personalized item! Pricing starting at $30
6. HARLEY’S Writing Pad- This Limited Edition is a classic. The life you work to create takes focus, creativity, persistence and constant communication $198 Shaving Kit-Since the years of the second World War, Bosca has produced this handsome men’s shave kit, appropriately named Utilikit. $225
B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 87
HOLIDAY HOT LIST
1
2 1. BRIDGETTE’S Adorn your fall favorites with Bridgette’s boho chic horn detailed jewelry. Starting at $68
4
3
2. COLE AND CO. Indulge in the year’s hottest jewelry want on every lady’s lists. 18K and diamond cross necklaces all made in the USA. The CASSIS collection is available exclusively at Cole and Co. Call for pricing
3. SPINOUT Never lose your keys again. The accessory she can’t live without! The oversized leather bangle keyring was chosen as one of “Oprah’s Favorites” for 2014. $55
4. BULLARD ROAD DENTAL $500 OFF Invisalign with free whitening for the month of Dec (offer good until Jan 15th) “The gift that makes a lasting impression!”
6
5
5. STEELE’S New from Lane Boots, these embroidered design red lovesick stud is the perfect boot to pair with any outfit this holiday season. $289
6. TEXTURE All over embroidery in the newest IT colors makes this pillow from Texture a unique gift idea. $124
No. 88
BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
1
HOLIDAY HOT LIST 2
1. FIXTURE THIS Whimsical, yet Formal! The black and white stripes of this drum pendant are the perfect combination and ended with a frou frou finial with mouth blown glass accent. $475
2. HAUTE TOTZ Enjoy Down on the farm fun with this fully assembled, wooden barn. Two-story barn is stocked with seven farm animals, a wooden ladder & a folding corral. Chunky handles let you take your bit of country wherever you go! $58 3. JEWEL This 5 wrap around bracelet is great for all occasions. It is crafted by hand using leather as a base. Groupings of semi precious stones alternating with gold beads forming a dynamic appearance. $198
3
4
5
6
4. FLYNN & COMPANY A Flynn family candy delight that will melt in your mouth and have you reaching for just one more. Holiday Flynn Tins packed with Puddles are ready to be ordered for your holiday party needs. $50.95 30 Puddles, $35.00 20 Puddles $17.50 10 Puddles, $8.75 5 Puddles, $1.95 Individually wrapped 5. THE WRITING HORSE Juliska country estate party center piece bowl. Winter frolic Christmas celebration ruby. $398
6. ECCLECTIQUES Jimmy Crystal New York shades and readers. They are made with Swarovski elements. $32-$297
B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 89
SEE & BSCENE
TJC ALUMNI AWARDS DINNER “BOOTS & BLING” ROGERS STUDENTS CENTER / TYLER / 10.25.14
STEVE HARDY, BEN SUTTON, KATHLEEN HARDY JOANN & DICK JOHNS
JEFFREY OWENS, TOM JOHNSON
DOC DEASON, ELEANOR STRINGER
NATHAN HALL, KRISTEN CAGLE
DONNA & DR. MIKE METKE
KRISTEN & JOEY SEEBER
SEE & BSCENE
TRINITY CLINIC 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION HOLLYTREE COUNTRY CLUB / TYLER / 11.6.14
JOHN MCGREEVY, FAGG SANFORD
DARLA CHILDRESS, CINDY ANDERSON
No. 90
BS CENE
VICKI & LINDSEY BRADLEY
AMY & STEPHEN BUNDY
SARAH HARRISON, MANOUCHER KHOSROWSHAHI
ASHLEY & DR. BRANDON CRIM
CHARLOTTE SANFORD, JEFF BUFORD
JANICE & DICK STONE
DR. STEVE KEUER, DR. MARK ANDERSON, CAROL & DR. KEN CUSHMAN B S CE N E M A G.COM
FRUSTRATED WITH I.T.?
MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE NO initiation fees thru 1/31/2015
GIVE US A CALL 903.780.3160 proud I.T. provider for B S C E N
M A G . C O
weddings, banquets, business meetings, golf outings (8 players -200) welcomed Contact Jay Miller, 903.825.1123Â membership.catering@Eaglesbluff.com
Eaglesbluff.com
B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 91
No. 92
BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
Gifts Antiques Espresso Bar Bistro 208 West Duval,Troup, Texas 903.842.5001 ecclectiques@centurylink.net
Ecclectiques
This holiday season, give...
but give wisely. YOU’RE DRIVING HOME OUR REPUTATION... AND HAVE BEEN FOR OVER 60 YEARS 5005 OLD JACKSONVILLE HWY 903.581.0020 WWW.DAVIS-GREEN.COM B SC ENEMAG. COM
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 93
SEE & BSCENE
HOLLY EDWARDS, LIBBY SIMMONS, ROXANA DAN
MARGARET HILLIARD, SHELBA JOHNSON, PATRICIA FRANKS
BERGFELD CENTER HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE BERGFELD CENTER / TYLER / 11.20.14
LINDA ASHBY, BRENDA HAMPY, EDWINA BULMAN
MRS. CLAUS & SANTA
EMILY ELLIS, LINDSAY WAMPLER
JO ANNE MCMEANS, JOYCE GOOCH, WILL KNOUS, LARRY LOTT, WHITNEY GREEN, BARBARA GREEN HELENE MCQUEEN
MARY V’S BY SHELBY GRAND OPENING & 50TH ANNIVERSARY MARY V’S BY SHELBY / TYLER / 11.20.14
DIANE & ROBERT MAXEY, BOOTS, BETTY BLACK, DONN BYRNE
JUDY MEANS, PATRICIA GRELLING
No. 94
BS CENE
V’ANN BYRNE, SHELBY BURKETT
JODI CHANDLER, MANDY CARUTHERS
LEAANN RAMSEY FRITZ, GEORGE FRITZ , STEPHANIE PLATT
LYNETTE RUBY, BECKY MARTIN
SEE & BSCENE
MIKE MARTIN, BRYAN BURKETT
MADELINE GIBSON, PRESTON HILL NANCY HART, HAZEL GRUBBS, KRISTIN JONES, GAIL BROUSSARD B S CE N E M A G.COM
WINTER
GRAY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE FUN 903.939.1300
4614 DC Drive, Suite 1A, Tyler www.fixturethistyler.com B SC ENEMAG. COM
Tyler Junior College is an equal opportunity/afďŹ rmative action institution. Complete information is available at www.tjc.edu.
D E CE M B E R 2 0 1 4 No. 95
TEXAS NATIONAL BANK
Texas National Bank would like to thank you for a great first year inTyler!
WISHING YOU AND YOURS A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
“THE BANK WITH THE BLUE ROOF” BULLARD JACKSONVILLE LONGVIEW MARSHALL RUSK TYLER No. 96
BS CENE Routing Number: 113115617
txnationalbank.com • 903.944.7830 B S CE N E M A G.COM
Dedicated to your satisfaction,
we go beyond the sale
MLS# 10048653
6974 Canal St, Tyler 4/4/2/3, Heated saltwater pool & hot tub plus office/study tuscan & mediterranean design $768,000
MLS# 10048461
PENDING
WATERVIEW LAKE PALESTINE
21181 Bay View 2590 Sq Ft. 3/2/1/2 • .83 acres Charming Home In Bay View Estates Neighborhood boat launch! Lots of updates, New Kitchen $257,000
WATERS EDGE @ OAK HOLLOW 11237 Hamrick Lake Rd 5/3/1/3 1200 SQ. FT. DECK Waterfront home-Gated Secluded 2.3 ACRES $525,000
MLS# 10048581
15496 Big Oak Bay Rd. Tyler • 4/4 79+ Secluded Acres Updated granite, 5 metal buildings $759,000
HAPP Y HOLIDAYS! Tyler’s Home Team
MLS# 10047760 2138 Evansburg Ln. 4/3/2 2992 sq.ft. updated Granite, New Paint & carpet $320,000
MLS# 10046190
from:
GATED ASHMORE!
PENDING
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
go to www.facebook.com and search “tylers Home Team” Each office is independently owned and operated
TYLERSHOMETEAM.COM
Lynn Haney ABR, SRES, SFR
903.245.9289
No.2
REAL DEAL PROMISE
WE WON’T OFFER IT
TO YOUR FAMILY
IF WE WOULDN’T BUY IT FOR OURS. Everything from new and used vehicles to financing, service and maintenance. Everything we do, and the recommendations we make are exactly the same as if it was one of our personal vehicles. And that’s our promise to you.
REAL PEOPLE. REAL DEALS.
David Irwin Managing Partner
tylerford.com