®
FEBRUARY 2015
LET THERE BE LIGHTING POWER & PASSION
THE REASON FOR RED
Naturally Good
COLOR OF THE YEAR:
MARSALA
CAN’T BE
CAGED
LIFE OF A TROUBADOUR
Helping her with homework can be challenging. Saving for college should be simple.
– our comprehensive Online Financial Management service.
Bring all of your financial information together in one place regardless of institution
Plan for the future with innovative budgeting tools
Manage your financial information with automatic categorization of transactions
View insightful reports for a 360o look at your complete financial picture
Experience NOW! www.texasbankandtrust.com
We all know that practice makes perfect! So, I train as much as I can! This means mom and me visit Trinity Mother Frances UrgentCARE a LOT!
Mom always says, “Frankie, you manage to make every weekend action-packed with your antics!” Boy is she right! I’m training super hard to be the MOST SUPER, SUPERHERO of all time! Or did she say making me feel better is no trouble at all? Either way! For SUPER quick, quality medical care, visit Trinity Mother Frances UrgentCARE.
There, at the SUPERHERO headquarters, they have SUPERskilled doctors who can treat nearly any routine illness or injury! And with on-site x-ray, lab services, extended and weekend hours, Mom says we can avoid the trouble of a trip to the emergency room!
Tell ‘em Frankie sent ya!
Canton • Lake Palestine • Lindale • Tyler
tmfurgentcare.org
15-0115
PUBLISHER'S
LETTER Through trial and error and with the support of her family, Moon Rivers Naturals was born, a family business named after the couples son, Rivers.
I think I will just go ahead and cut to the chase with this one. Don’t think I can beat around the bush …I am picky about soap. Yes, I said it! I like it to smell good, I mean, who doesn’t, right? And most importantly, I like the ingredients to be all natural. However, I will keep my man-card, thank you very much. Because, if you want to take mine you will also have to take Stephen McNeely’s. Not only does Stephen use natural soaps, smells good, and still maintains his masculinity, his wife, Stefanie hand makes them all as well. What started out as a hobby and a way to have all natural bath products at home has slowly turned into a family business. Stephanie McNeely has always been of the mindset that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it. She wanted to know exactly what all those confounded ingredients on the product labels were. She was determined to learn everything she could about the art of making soap. She began right in her own kitchen, using only the products she desired. Through trial and error and with the support of her family, Moon Rivers Naturals was born, a family business named after the couples son, Rivers. If you, a friend or any member of your family is looking for an authentic, all-natural clean unlike any other, go see the folks at Texture or Moss, in Tyler. They are stocked with the entire Moon Rivers Naturals line-up and I
No. 2
BSC BS CENE ENE
highly recommend trying them out. Speaking of naturals, a few months back, I was lucky enough to meet a gentleman who performed at one of our cover unveil parties. To say this guy is talented would be an understatement. Armed with only a guitar and his harmonica, I watched as Ramoth Gilead slowly turned the ear of everyone within listening distance. Pulling from his faith and life experiences, Gilead has found a voice that is all his own. With a subtle, smokey sound, Gilead played personal renditions of his favorite classic, folk-rock and R&B songs. However, this guy doesn’t simply interpret the songs of others, he writes his own as well. I heard a Ramoth original the other day and was blown away. He sings with a maturity beyond his years. If you have the opportunity to see him perform live, you are in for an incredible night of music. In fact, talent like his is worth the effort to go out of your way to hear. Ramoth Gilead has truly lived his life as a troubadour.
SHAWN MICHAEL HANEY SHANEY@H3-Media.com
B SSC CEEN N EEM M A G.COM
903-592-8585
EDITOR'S
LETTER If I am not mistaken, last month right about this time, we were talking about new year resolutions and making commitments to lay off those sweets for the entire year. Ahhh, the month of love is upon us! I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world having found my Valentine 14 years ago. That is 14 years of beautiful flowers, sappy cards and truckloads of chocolates. Now that I think about it, whomever decided that Valentine's Day should be in February, (and that it isn't even a real holiday unless you eat so much chocolate you make yourself sick) must be a cruel individual. If I am not mistaken, last month right about this time, we were talking about new year resolutions and making commitments to lay off those sweets for the entire year. Well guess what, St. Valentine is here to put your will power to the test. We all need a boost of motivation from time to time and I know just the lady to do it. Her name is Sarah Watson. She is the 28 year old mother of two that not only has the skills, knowledge and will power to keep you on your toes, she also has the reputation to back it up. Sarah is the owner of CAGE fitness in Longview, where she started out as a personal trainer ten years ago. Through her experience of various styles of training, she has developed a very specific program that has a proven track record of success. One goal of the program ... to keep you motivated.
issue for you. The show airs on CMT, February 15th at 7 p.m. CST. Tune in and see why Sarah Watson may just be the motivation you need to put the chocolate aside and stick to those commitments you made last month! You can not think about Valentine's Day without thinking about hearts. Trust me, it is not a coincidence that February is American Heart Month. Forty-three million women each year are affected by heart disease and according to Dr. Stephanie Grogan Payne, that is unacceptable. That is why she, along with an amazing group of ladies in Longview, has stepped up to be part of this year's Go Red campaign. The mission of the Go Red campaign is simple, to support the efforts in the fight against heart disease. The American Heart Association of East Texas goes Red all month long to help bring awareness to this dreadful disease. Read more about these ladies in red to find out why they are so passionate about the heart.
Kelly Laine Haney KHANEY@H3-Media.com
Watson has trained for and competed in numerous competitions throughout her career and has held her own. A close friend of hers heard about a competitive reality television show on CMT and encouraged Watson to apply. She did, but it was too late. The casting had already been filled. So how exactly did Watson end up on "Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge"? I won't spoil it for you, but it is an interesting story and we have it right here in this
No. 4
BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
RESOLUTIONS THAT WORK
NEW DRAPES FOR YOUR NEW YEAR
Y�ur D�eams • O�r F�b�ics
DRAPERIES T E X T U R E a fabric & design studio
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 Account Executive - Sonya York Production Manager - Ashley Westbrook Graphics/Videographer - Lindsey Todd Morgan Distribution - Devin Hunter Editorial Assistant - Poonam Patel
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Grace-Marie Brunken, Michael Thadd Carter, Bowen Hardy, Devin Hunter, Ron Jaffe/CMT, Dr. Scott Lieberman, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Noel Martin, Meals On Wheels Ministries, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Pages, Poonam Patel, Krystal Phillips, Bryan Stewart, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Aimee Wenske
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS William Knous, Krystal Phillips, Dr. Aubrey Sharpe, Britt E. Stafford, Veronica Terres
Vital Act CPR & First Aid Training offers education to groups and individuals on how to handle medical emergency situations quickly, calmly, and knowledgeably. We want to arm everyone – healthcare professionals, babysitters, caretakers, parents, neighbors & friends – with the confidence to take action and save a life.
STYLE FILE Models: Jenna Gray, Ace Estrella Photography: Krystal Phillips Hair & Makeup: Kelly Laine Haney
COVER On The Cover: Stefanie McNeely Cover Photo: Noel Martin
PUBLISHER H3 MEDIA, L.L.C. ©
903-944-7599 Emily@Vital-act.com
No. 6
BSC ENE
www.vital-act.com 1800 Shiloh Rd, suite 203
H3 Media, LLC 2015. 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 SC EN EM A G.COM
FEBRUARY 2015
CONTENTS 2
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
4
EDITOR'S LETTER
10
STREET SCENE
12
COVER STORY
22
LADIES IN RED
38
CAN’T BE CAGED
46
LONE STAR LIBATIONS
50 DINING GUIDE 54 MAN ABOUT TOWN 62 SOUTHERN COMFORT
12
70 ALL IN THE FAMILY 76 LET THERE BE LIGHTING 82 OUTTAKES 90
LIFE OF A TROUBADOUR
38 12
THIS MONTH, BSCENE VISITS WITH MOON RIVERS NATURALS, A HANDMADE, SOAP, OIL AND ELIXIR MAKER USING ALL-NATURAL INGREDIENTS FOR AN UNCOMMON EXPERIENCE.
38
MEET SARAH WATSON, A TOUGH-AS-NAILS FITNESS TRAINER OUT TO PROVE SHE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE IN "STEVE AUSTIN'S BROKEN SKULL CHALLENGE."
54
THE "M AN" INVITES FR IENDS TO A NEW DINING DESTINATION WITH ONE - OF - A- K IND SANDW ICHES SO R IDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS THEY MUST B E TASTED TO B E B ELIEVED.
EVENTS 20 THE CASCADES
ROCKIN' IN 2015
30
TABA INAUGURATION LONGVIEW CHAMBER BANQUET
34
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
44
2015 STARS OVER LONGVIEW
60
23RD ANNUAL WINTER GALA
68 ROSE CITY PARROT HEAD CLUB CHEERS FOR THE CAUSE
62
MIRACLES BEGIN WITH YOU
88
SKAD BANQUET
90
76
54 62
74
IN THIS MONTH OF LOVE, BSCENE OFFERS UP SMOOTH FASHION FIT FOR COUPLES LOOKING TO MAKE THE MOST OF ROMANCE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY.
76
LET THERE BE MOOD LIGHTING! OUR DESIGN EXPERTS HELP YOU CHANGE THE LOOK OF ANY ROOM TO ACHIEVE THAT PERFECT AMBIANCE.
90
RAMOTH GILEAD IS A REAL-LIFE TROUBADOUR, HITCHHIKING HIS WAY THROUGH THE MUSIC WORLD ARMED ONLY WITH HIS GUITAR AND HIS FAITH.
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.
Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce directors and volunteers personally deliver the new 2015 Nacogdoches Guide & Chamber Directory, and the Nacogdoches City & County Street Map, to as many Chamber members on Jan. 21.
Deborah Dobbs, Joan LeSauvage, Ellen Peirce and Sarah Bryan accept a check for the SPCA of East Texas for $101,174.46. Proceeds from the 2014 Fur Ball, held on New Year's Eve, help the SPCA's mission of building a facility to house homeless dogs and cats, adopting out rescue animals and offering low cost spay/neuter programs.
The Tyler Area Builders Association held an Inauguration Ceremony for its new 2015 executive committee officers at Hollytree Country Club, in Tyler, on Jan. 13.
Mel Rose Nursing Center became a member of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and were welcomed with a ribbon cutting at its location, in Tyler, on Jan. 20.
Brookshire Grocery Company (BGC) presented a check to the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas for $70,000 from funds raised from BGC benefit golf tournament funds at its main office, in Tyler, on Jan. 14.
Trinity Mother Frances and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce proudly cut the ribbon on its new Family Care and Women's Services Clinic, at Tyler Family Circle of Care, on Dec. 6.
No. 10 BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
Leadership Nacogdoches started its County Government and Legal Systems session at Nacogdoches County Courthouse on Jan. 15.
Inspirations Outpatient Counseling was welcomed by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting at its location, in Tyler, on Dec. 9.
The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce was on hand to welcome Picker's Market into its folds, with a ribbon cutting, at their location in Tyler, on Jan. 16.
Nancy Clark (MOWM Volunteer and donor), Gayle Helms (Pets Fur People Executive Director), Debbie Zea (Meals on Wheels Ministry Community Liaison) and Corrie Herrmann (Banfield Practice Manager) help collect plush dog toys donated to Meals Fur Pets by Petsmart at its location, in Tyler, on Dec. 21.
Learning Enhancement, a tutoring and cognitive training center was welcomed into the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting at its new location at the Market at The Crossing, in Tyler, on Jan. 13.
Bassett Furniture, along with the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, celebrated its grand re-opening with a ribbon cutting at its location, in Tyler, on Jan. 21.
Meals on Wheels Ministry delivered boxes of fo od to homebound seniors and disabled individuals as part of the 33rd Spirit of Christmas Food Drive, organized by Brookshire Grocery Co. and the Rose City Kiwanis Club on Dec. 22.
Audibel Hearing Aid Center became a member of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and were welcomed with a ribbon cutting at its new location on Old Jacksonville Hwy., in Tyler, on Jan. 9.
BS CENEMAG. COM
Premier Nationwide Lending split the crimson ribbon becoming a member of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce at their location in Tyler on Dec. 12
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 11
I
t’s a family business, really. Tha ’s the spirit of things. They all chip in a little bit where and when they can, though Stefanie McNeely does almost all of the heavy lifting out on their family homestead north of Tyler. I’m sure Rivers, the toddler son of Stephen and Stefanie – and a contributing namesake of the homestead and the business – pitches in too. He seems like a pretty active little fella. Not to mention, the McNeely’s are expecting baby number two, who will add to the active bunch. It’s probably safe to say that all of the young men (and women, of course), who use Moon Rivers Naturals products, are active in some form or fashion. Theywork with their hands, they serve people, they bring health and happiness to their community and they have the preponderance of exceedingly well-groomed beards (not the women, of course). And that’s how the McNeely’s like it – how they see things moving along, naturally.
No. 12 BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
Naturally Good Article By: William Knous Photos By:Noel Martin
Set on a handful of acres that make up the family farm in Hawkins, the McNeely’s make Moon Rivers Naturals. They use natural essential oils and moisturizers to make soap, bath soak and candles, and, of course, beard-improvement products from scratch. You can buy them on their website (moonriversnaturals.com) and at a few stores in the area (Moss and Texture). And you should buy them! First of all, they are of an exceptionally high quality. That is always the building block of a successful business; I’m told. However, it is also true that you are really going to like the McNeely’s. They care about the products they make by hand and sell to their community because they care about their community. It’s the most natural thing in the business world for them. Stephen is tall and lanky and has a beard of biblical proportions. He works building things and helping his family’s accounting business. He constructed the piecemeal wood walls in the coffee shop where we spent a freezing afternoon. Stefanie has wide eyes above a prodigious smile, and she knew approximately 97.5% of the people that worked in and patronized the coffee shop. The ’ve been together since meeting at a basketball tournament in Kentucky when they were 15. The ’re young and they’re parents, but certainly don’t come across as “young parents.” Stefanie moved to Texas from her home state of Florida when she was 18 and the couple was married the following year. They were both in college, living in a small place and Stefanie was bored. “I wanted a hobby, so I started making soap,” she said. “I researched a ton, because it can be kind of scary. This was 2007 and there wasn’t much information out there. I made one of our first big batches in our little, 500-square foot apartment. It seized up with my blender in it – just froze into a block of stone with an immersion blender sticking out of the top. The e was a lot of trial and error.” The e was hardly any information online about it or anywhere else, so Stefanie would find books and learn a bit more every time. She read about the history of soap, how ashes from cooking fi es mixed with animal fats in the creeks and rivers to get villagers clothes clean by accident. She learned chemistry and scents, mixing art and science. She also learned what could be new: how to move past stirring a pot for 10 hours by trimming time and energy without sacrificing quality or craftsmanship. She got better with time. What used to be an all-day process, now only takes about three hours. A batch of 48 bars takes a few hours to make, a few days to cure and a few seconds to cut.
BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 13
Stefanie has been making soap for eight years now, though she took a break when pregnant with her son. It was only in the past year that she took it back up and built Moon Rivers Naturals. “I am a stay-at-home mom, and I wanted a bit of a business,” she explained. “I kept telling her to get back to making soap,” Stephen recalled. “She loves it.” In March, Stefanie decided to give it a shot – set up a booth at a local restaurant with her soaps, bath salts, lip balms … and she almost sold every last piece of it. “It was a total boost to think, ‘maybe I can do this,’” Stepfanie noted. Then, they started trying in earnest to develop Moon Rivers … “It is a long process and I can be an impatient person sometimes,” Stefanie laughed. “I wanted the brand to be perfect. I wanted the products to be perfect. And that’s just not possible. Vision develops over time.” The McNeely’s went through the standard steps of any startup business: learning to accurately and consistently prioritize their time while utilizing energy and money properly. They also made it through quite a few of those steps in a short amount of time. They tried a storefront for a brief period but abandoned the idea. “I was focused on paying bills and working on a building when I needed to be working on the products themselves and what Moon Rivers Naturals was,” Stefanie recalled. “And, I wanted to be at home, with my kid, which was my main priority.” The McNeely’s moved the business back to the homestead, into a converted spare bedroom, where it’s still headquartered today. “Years ago, in the beginning, I made soap for friends and family,” Stefanie said. “I tried to sell it a little bit to friends and family. We even went to First Monday Trade Days at Canton once.” “It was a miserable failure,” Stephen interjected. “Oh yeah,” Stefanie agreed. “Miserable. We sold to my in-laws, probably because they felt bad for me. That was a real downer. We had just gotten married and I’d invested money we didn’t have into making soap. Then it just floppe ”
“I wanted a hobby, so I started making soap,” she said. “I researched a ton, because it can be kind of scary. This was 2007 and there wasn’t much information out there. I made one of our first big batches in our little, 500-square foot apartment." But just because it didn’t move in Canton, doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. Tha ’s one thing that has remained unchanged about Moon Rivers Naturals: the product itself has always been first-rate. The proof is there to see: they still make a lot of the same types of soaps Stefanie made in the initial batches. What’s changed over the past eight years is how Moon Rivers Naturals gets from the McNeely’s house to yours. “The world was just diffe ent then,” Stefanie recalled. “The internet was completely diffe ent. Social media was something else entirely. Facebook was just recently becoming something for the public, not just for college students. The e was no Instagram, which is a huge part of how we connect with people now. The product was good, but I didn’t know what to do. We didn’t know where to go.” Now they do and they credit social media. As the online space evolves, our worlds get larger and smaller in remarkable ways. A sports fan can fill up their social media feeds with team-specific information; they can read news only related to their team’s viewpoint. People can choose their culture, no matter how small or large that culture may be. And more people are finding
Moon Rivers Naturals each day. Using social media, the McNeely’s have done a lot in less than a year. “I’m really proud of where we are now and I’m a little embarrassed of where we were at the beginning,” Stefanie said, with a chuckle. “But everyone has to start somewhere. I look on our shelves at our inventory; before I would think ‘I know the product is good, but [from how it looks, the brand] I would not buy that.’ Now, as a consumer on my own, I would. Tha ’s what I’ve been wanting for a long time.” As the brand evolved, the website went up and the overall feel of Moon Rivers Naturals developed, with a community supporting them. In-laws will always buy the products, but local businesses like Moss and Texture contributed to the burgeoning success. Friends offe ed encouragement and the occasional purchase. The market is growing here – and everywhere. It's a niche they have to find said the McNeely’s. Take the Farmers’ Market, for instance. “People are there to buy whole, organic food for their families. They aren’t there for me, for soap or candles,” Stefanie said. But, in a sense, they are. Think of someone going to a clothing store specializing in Western wear. Perhaps they walk in the door trying to find a new pair of boots and new pearl snap shirt – they want the style, the fit, the concept and the vision. With Moon River Naturals, the customer is someone looking for quality, U.S.-made materials. They want natural, organic products. Moon Rivers Naturals is there for people who care about where they shop, what they feed their kids and what they put in their bodies. If that someone is shopping for locally grown tomatoes at the farmers’ market, there’s a good chance they would be interested in a soap that is made naturally, by hand, and in their community. “The e’s a benefit to making things from natural materials, from being simple and straightforward with it,” Stephen said. “Especially when you can look at the label of soap in the store and can’t even read all the ingredients on the label.”
As Moon Rivers Naturals flourishes, the brand takes root and traditionally defined success is sure to follow. That makes the McNeely’s happy, because it’s an extension of people enjoying what they do, not because they hope to outsource production to a factory somewhere to get a few more pennies out of each bar of soap they sell.
BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 17
For all of these one-of-a-kind products visit moonriversnaturals.com
“Essential oils, natural, organic products were part of Moon Rivers Naturals from day one,” Stefanie continued. “So many soaps and other body products have petroleum-based products, which we don’t believe is great for your body. I’ve always cared about that sort of thing – taking nutrition classes, doing research, reading as much as possible before starting a new soap or soak and trying to keep things clean and whole. Our skin is our biggest organ and we should take care of it. And you should start somewhere. We did. We used to live in downtown Tyler, but we love it where we are. We had fun, but there’s just a peace you get from being out in your own space. And that’s part of our vision, part of what we try to put into our company. We want to share that feeling and essence through our products. It’s just raw.” As Moon Rivers Naturals flourishes, the brand takes root and traditionally defined success is sure to follow. That makes the McNeely’s happy, because it’s an extension of people enjoying what they do, not because they hope to outsource production to a factory somewhere to get a few more pennies out of each bar of soap they sell. They have no interest in a corner offic suite overlooking a skyline. Stefanie learned how to make soap from a family friend, years ago. She loved it then; she loves it now. She loves making things and that’s what Moon Rivers Naturals is about. And, that’s what it will continue to be about as more stores pick up the products across the country, and as more products are added to their ever-expanded inventory. “Why stop,” Stefanie asked, rhetorically. “I want the business to evolve, sure, but more importantly I love the process. Stephen grew a beard, so I started making beard oil. And we love baths, the kid loves baths, so we’re working on new coconut-milk soaps for that. When you’re a maker, you see something, you hear something, you enjoy something, you know something and you think, ‘Why not make it? I can. It’s creative, artistic and it’s something truly good’ … For me, it’s about fulfillment. I want to work. I love being a mom and it’s my first priority, but I also need to do something else. In that sense, do I want to be successful? Heck yes! It’s taken us months to develop the things we like a lot. It’s hard enough to find your own identity… But to express it to other people and have them buy into it is very difficult Now is the time.”
THE CASCADES CLUB ROCKIN’ IN 2015, DECEMBER 31
The Cascades Country Club hosted Rockin’ In 2015, a New Year’s Eve celebration at the Cascades, in Tyler, on December 31. The night began with heavy hors d’ oeuvres and DJ music, progressing into the rockin’ sounds of Otis and The Metro Band. The evening featured CHELSEA DODSON, AMY JOHNSON, party favors and door prizes concluding with a CRYSTLE MORRIS midnight breakfast buffet and champagne toast.
SUGIA ANDERSON, DAN BROOKS, MARVA WALLACE
THE CASCADES, TYLER
LAJUANDA LACY, WILLIE BROOKS, CLAUDIA JOHNSON CHAVIS, PATRICK CHAVIS
SUZAN & ED KOPAL
CHANCE ASQUITH, SAMANTHA SMELLEY
MERRILEE BRALEY, SUZY MILLER, JANE IRWIN, PAM MURPHY, SHARI NELSON
RAQUEL & GARY SKIDMORE
LEIF LAPERRIERE, STACEY CALLAHAN
No. 20 BSC ENE
DONNA THEDFORD, CHRISTINE BAKER
BEN MAKI, BRITTANY HUGHES
B SC EN EM A G.COM
BWELL
22
LADIES IN RED RED IS THE COLOR OF POWER AND PASSION. SEE HOW THESE LADIES FORM A CIRCLE THAT EMBODIES BOTH TO HELP FIGHT IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST HEART DISEASE.
VIKKI JONES, FEBRUARY'S STAR OVER LONGVIEW BS CENEMAG. COM
34
CAN'T BE CAGED
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
38 No. 21
LADIESin
RED Article By: Krystal Phillips Photos By: Poonam Patel
S
S
he is your neighbor. She is your co-worker. She is your friend. She is your caregiver. She is your inspiration. She is your sister. She is your wife. She is your mother. Everyone has a woman who has transformed their life, inspired and cared for them. Women are the essence of strength, beauty and joy. Affecting forty-three million women each year, chances are, one of the women in your life has been a victim of heart disease.
BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 23
I
INSIDE THE CIRCLE
Trina Griffith-2015 Circle of Red Chair “The most special moment for me happened at last year’s Go Red for Women luncheon when Lauren Lenhert, a ten-year-old little girl, spoke in front of the hundreds of women about her baby brother, Elliott, who was born with a heart defect. She spoke of how this impacted her life as well as the life of her family.” Heart disease has become the number one cause of death for women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. Cardiovascular disease kills nearly one woman per minute; however, only one in every fi e women believes that heart disease is their greatest health threat. Reading these numbers is quite shocking and a special group of ladies, within East Texas, is determined to make a change. “These are unacceptable numbers to me,” Dr. Stephanie Grogan Payne, of the Circle of Red, states. “My hope is that Go Red for Women will continue to inspire change in all women.” Go Red for Women is a campaign with the mission to support the effo ts of fighting heart disease within the East Texas community. The Circle of Red is the special group of women who find value in the message of Go Red. The group of ladies devote their time and resources to impact the community by providing a personal commitment to help find a cure for the number one killer of women. This is a national organization that is growing, each year, in all of the cities over the United States. The group of women believe and support the message to help more women live stronger, longer lives. “Together we can and are making a diffe ence one sign, one smile and one better lifestyle choice a day.” Payne speaks of the Circle of Red Women.
No. 24 BSC ENE
As the 2015 Go Red Chair, Payne has committed her effo ts in memory of her mother, Henrietta Grogan, who passed away from cardiovascular disease in 2012. “She is no longer with us physically, but her spirit inspires me to spread awareness. The awareness, which I am inspired to convey, is that every mother and daughter’s heart is important,” Payne says. Over the years, Go Red has developed an abundance of events in order to bring awareness to the community of East Texas. The Go Red for Women Kickoff Rally took place on November 21st. The Rally set the year’s events in motion with sponsors, volunteers and the East Texas community, all together in effo t to heighten awareness. Go Red’s next event, Paint the Town Red, took place January 26th – 30th. Paint the Town Red is a community initiative to educate and create awareness on the high rate of heart disease among women, and to support the fight against this deadly disease. At Paint the Town Red, retail businesses were encouraged to show their support by “going red” in any number of creative ways! B SC EN EM A G.COM
Over the years, Go Red has developed an abundance of events in order to bring awareness to the community of East Texas. The Go Red for Women Kickoff Rally took place on November 21st. The Rally set the year’s events in motion with sponsors, volunteers and the East Texas community, all together in effort to heighten awareness.
Paint the Town Red is also accompanied by several upcoming events, including Wear Red Day on February 6th, Girls Go Red on February 7th and Go Red Sunday on February 8th. An entire weekend of showing support! The events are followed by the Go Red for Women luncheon that will take place on February 20th. The luncheon will focus on the American Heart Association’s local effo ts to increase awareness, raise funds for education and research programs, while inspiring women to take charge of their heart health. It will be a fabulous sea of red featuring keynote speaker Linda Larsen. All proceeds from the Go Red for Women events and sponsorships go directly to Women’s Heart Research within the American Heart Association. “Themessage is clear to everyone, keep and maintain a healthy, happy heart throughout your life. Know BS CENEMAG. COM
Jennifer Ogilvie
Bridget Stone
Dr. Jennifer Rogers Fadal
Dr. Rajani Ruth Caesar
your numbers, listen to your body and make choices that protect your heart,” Payne claims. She urges the community to be informed about their bodies and take action to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
regarding heart health,” Griffit claims, giving her time and donations to the American Heart Association in order to help in the fight against heart disease.
Trina Griffith the 2015 Chair for Circle of Red, has also been impacted by heart disease. A native to the East Texas area, Trina has lived in East Texas her entire life, and in Longview since 1983. Griffi ’s cousin, Luanne Riggs, passed away suddenly on October 25, 2014. Riggs was only fifty-eight- earsold and lived a very active life. “It was shocking when we learned of her passing,” Griffit said. Riggs’ cause of death was found to be Cardiomyopathy, a disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick and makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. “For this reason, I am committed to do whatever I can to raise awareness and understanding in women
Both Griffit and Payne use their personal heartache that they have experienced from heart disease as encouragement to help other women in the community become healthy and informed. “The support of the East Texas community inspires me! With the right information, education and care, we can treat, prevent and even wipe out heart disease in women. The greatest wealth is health,” Payne encourages! “It is so nice that women from the community can join to create a beautiful and touching event that helps us all.” Griffith ecalls of the one of many F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 25
Dr. Jeannette Liu
Dr. Annie Davis
Melinda Randall
Dr. Stephanie Grogan Payne
heartwarming moments from her work with the American Heart Association, “The most special moment for me happened at last year’s Go Red for Women luncheon when Lauren Lenhert, a tenyear-old little girl, spoke in front of the hundreds of women about her baby brother, Elliott, who was born with a heart defect. She spoke of how this impacted her life as well as the life of her family.” The women within Circle of Red have experienced their share of heartbreak due to heart disease, but their spirits remain uplifted. They want to share the positivity that comes from within this tragedy. You do not have to be a victim of heart disease. The great news is that 80% of heart disease and strokes can be prevented with the proper education and treatment. The women learn more every year about this deadly disease and more lives are being saved. Death in women has decreased by more than 30%
No. 26 BSC ENE
2015 GO Red Chair
over the past ten years and three hundred fewer women are dying each day thanks to Go Red. It is making a RED diffe ence! The Circle of Red is made up of women that come from all diffe ent areas of expertise, backgrounds, and walks of life. The Circle of Red members includes Dr. Stephanie Grogan Payne, Dr. Annie Davis, Dr. Jennifer Rogers Fadal, Jennifer Ogilvie, Rhonda Bullard, Mary Murdoch, Bridget Stone, Dr. Jeannette M. Liu, Dr. Rajani Ruth Caesar, Melinda Randall and Trina Griffith However, they all have their passion for this cause in common. They have come together in support of the American Heart Association and are working to bring awareness to East Texas. Women, who have joined Go Red, have shown to make healthier, life-changing choices. More than one-third have lost weight, nearly fifty percent have increased their amount of exercise, six out of the
ten women have improved their diets, more than forty percent have their cholesterol levels checked and one-third have talked with their doctors about the possibility of developing heart-health problems. Payne is encouraged every day by this news, “This information is the inspiration I need to keep me supporting the effo ts of the Go Red for women in my community. It makes my heart smile,” she says. The goals for Go Red for Women in the future are simply to spread the message that making better lifestyle choices can save lives locally and nationwide. The commitment, to save lives by joining the American Heart Association's Circle of Red, shows that together we will save lives by spreading this message. This message will keep more hearts beating!
B SC EN EM A G.COM
A New Day in
Access to Care
T
his is the place patients come to manage every aspect of their health 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Here, one click replaces dozens of phone calls. Whether at home or on the road, you can securely access your health records, view test results, request prescription refills, ask questions and get the answers you are seeking. Here, you can access your children’s health record, schedule an appointment with your Trinity Clinic provider, and NOW you can view and pay your medical bills online. All it takes is the familiar click of a mouse or swipe of a fingertip. Welcome to a new day in managing your health. Welcome to MyChart at Trinity Mother Frances.
14-2180
tmfmychart.org
LISA R. LOWRY, M.D. BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST
IT IS OUR GREATEST PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU
Lisa R. Lowry, M.D. Board Certified and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. With over 20 years experience in Medical, Surgical and Cosmetic Dermatology.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME RENEE’ OWENS AND KATIE LEWIS TO OUR MEDICAL SPA TEAM.
Reneé Owens Licensed Aesthetician MakeUp Artist
Katie Lewis Licensed Aesthetician MakeUp Artist
NOW OFFERING A FULL ARRAY OF SERVICES. Reneé and Katie are skilled in providing chemical peels, microdermabrasions, Fraxel Laser services, Laser Hair Removal and consultations for skin care. With exclusive products such as Zo Medical by Dr. Obagi, Neocutis, Eclipse Micro-Pen for acne scarring and aging, photodynamic therapy, SkinCeuticals, iS Clinical, Visao and Jane Iredale MakeUp Products, they can create the perfect skin care regimen for any skin type.
dermatologyofeasttexas.com
1777 Troup Highway Tyler, TX
903.531.2850
Tracee Patterson heart care success story
HEARTFELT. “LONGVIEW REGIONAL’S HEART TEAM WAS SIMPLY PHENOMENAL.”
When Tracee Patterson began to feel pressure in her chest, she asked a friend to take her to Longview Regional. There, she learned she was having a heart attack and needed triple bypass surgery. “Dr. Jayakar is a phenomenal surgeon,” Tracee says. “He and the staff took great care of me.” After the surgery, Tracee was back to work in just three weeks. And while she is working to remain healthy, she knows where she’ll go if she ever needs medical attention again. “I promise I’ll never go to another hospital,” she says. To learn more, visit LongviewRegional.com.
Member of the Medical Staff at Longview Regional Medical Center
TABA INAUGURATION OF OFFICERS, JANUARY 13
HOLLYTREE COUNTRY CLUB, TYLER
JOE RUNNELS, RYAN HALL
GINNIE BALDRIDGE, AMANDA & TREY HUNT
KERRY HAMBLETT, ED THOMPSON
ROSEMARY & STEVE COOPER, SHEILA DIXON
BEN ROBERTSON, ALAN AMOS
STEVE TAYLOR, JOHN OWEN
RICK CASEY, SAM OLIPHANT
LIBBY SIMMONS, MAX ANDERSON
2015 LONGVIEW CHAMBER ANNUAL BANQUET, JANUARY 13
GENE JORDAN, TAMMY GAGE, CASEY HUNTSINGER
MAUDE COBB, LONGVIEW
SARAH HUMPHREY, KATRINA HOOKS
KELLY HALL, MARTHA GLASGOW DECEDRIC WILLIAMS, ELAINE REYNOLDS, MISSY SAUNDERS
RAINA HOWERTON, SHEENA LEMON
CAROLYN & MIKE NORTHCUTT
COURTNEY & CODY GILL
No. 30 BSC ENE
TENAE & DAVID SHELTON
B SC EN EM A G.COM
MyHeart FIRST
1
appointment could save your life. Detect cardiovascular issues before they become life-threatening with MyHeart First, a comprehensive diagnostic heart-screening program from ETMC and Sigal Heart Center that’s convenient and affordable.
7 tests conveniently bundled together.
In one appointment, MyHeart First offers seven tests proven to most accurately detect heart disease and defects. Early detection of cardiovascular disease can help prevent future heart attacks and strokes. • Cholesterol Panel • Ankle Brachial Index • Metabolic Disease • EKG • CT Coronary Calcium Scoring • Carotid Artery Ultrasound • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screens
Great Valentine‘s Day gift idea!
If you’re concerned about the health of your heart – or your valentine’s heart – MyHeart First is for you. Conveniently offered at ETMC in Tyler, it’s a one-time screening appointment with a one-time cost of $149 that could save your life.
To learn more, call 903-531-8000 and press 8 or visit etmc.org/myheartfirst
One with East Texas. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in East Texas communities.
etmc.org
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
Pain. Fixed. Fast.
www.tsjhurgentcare.com 903-939-0920
COVERED BY INSURANCE AFFORDABLE EVEN WITHOUT INSURANCE
ARTHRITIS & OSTEOPOROSIS CLINIC OF EAST TEXAS 1212 Clinic Dr. Tyler Office 903.596.8858 Fax 903.596.057 EXPANDED FACILITY & SERVICES v WE FILE INSURANCE
No. 32 BSC ENE
The best step to better health.
8101 South Broadway, Tyler, TX 75703 B SC EN EM A G.COM
STATE-OF-THE-ART CANCER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION CENTER
A GENTLE SOUTHWESTERN BREEZE
MORE TREES AND AZALEAS THAN ANYONE WOULD CARE TO COUNT
24/7 EMERGENCY ROOM WITH SHORT WAITING TIME ALMOST 600 ACRES OF WIDE-OPEN SPACES
OVER 30 MEDICAL SPECIALTIES PLENTY OF THERAPEUTIC SUNSHINE
At the intersection of medicine and nature, you’ll find 30 medical specialties, the area’s brightest scientific minds and innovative medical technology. And of course, 600 acres of healing, East Texas woods. As the only university medical center in the region, there’s nothing typical about us. Find the right doctor for you and make an appointment today: 903.877.7000.
Healing just feels better here. UTHEALTH.ORG
“From the many organizations who donate countless hours to make Longview a better place to live, to the kind neighbor who shows up on your doorstep to help as soon as they hear you might could use some help–Longview is a shining example of good people and good values.”
V
ikki Jones is a role model, a leader and a woman of devotion. She is dedicated and passionate in everything with which she is involved. She shines her light wherever she is. Vikki has been a champion of the Miracle League of East Texas from the first time she learned of the organization. She currently serves as a Board Member and is a major part of bringing the first Miracle League Baseball
field to East Texas, a field which will serve the 15,000+ area children with special needs and their families. Her idea to promote a mud run as a benefit to the Miracle League developed into the “Run It Like It’s Hot Mud Run” that grossed more than $90,000 in proceeds. She has the ability to get others excited and committed to a cause. She is a Volunteer Staff for The Movie Institute in India. Their mission is to train
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS, JANUARY 22
young people to lead more successful lives through empowerment, positive character growth, and successful career development by providing mentoring and training through the medium of film and video. She ranks this time spent in India as one of her most treasured personal accomplishments. A big lesson she took away from this mission was that “Everything you do, no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem, has the power to impact someone else’s life beyond what we will ever fully comprehend or fully see.” Vikki is the Director of Marketing and Human Resources and is currently a member of the East Texas Human Resources Association. She is a former member of Women in Film, Texas Motion Picture Alliance, and Dallas Producers Association. She is married to her husband Frank, and has two children, Jennifer and Eric. She loves everything about the Longview community. “From the many organizations who donate countless hours to make Longview a better place to live, to the kind neighbor who shows up on your doorstep to help as soon as they hear you might could use some help–Longview is a shining example of good people and good values.” The sincerity of Vikki’s commitment truly shines bright over Longview and we are proud to name her a Star Over Longview.
TYLER MUSEUM OF ART, TYLER
NETA COLTEAUX, BJ HORNBOSTEL
TOM FULLER, MARK WAGSTAFF
ROLF REICHARDT, OLIVIA GRIFFITH
CALEB BELL, BETTY SUMMERS
BILL CLYDE, KEN BARRON
JEFF MILLS, DON BRISTOW
CANDYCE HENWOOD, ALEXIS LARRINAGA
STEPHANIE HARRIS, JASON BENNETT
No. 34 BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
Dr. Scott Ellis
Dr. Justin Jones
BULLARD ROAD
Love Your Smile!
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry 5615 Old Bullard Road, Tyler • Phone 903.561.3756
Tyler, Tx
Coming Event s Feb. 12-13 • All Day Darwin Day Celebration CESSE and UT Tyler
EXPERT CORNER JOHN SIMS, MD TRINITY CLINIC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: A CLOSER LOOK Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder, with as many as 6 million Americans with this diagnosis. In AF, the heart’s two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly – out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. This erratic activity generates an irregular pulse, which is easily detected by a routine physical examination or an ECG. Causes of atrial fibrillation are not fully understood, but many contributing factors may include hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism and excessive alcohol consumption. The risk of developing AF increases with age. Common presenting symptoms may include palpitations, dizziness, exercise intolerance, fatigue and chest pain. Unfortunately, some patients do not recognize the signs or symptoms of AF and instead present with stroke symptoms such as slurred speech or change in vision. AF increases the risk of stroke by five-fold due to poor blood flow and clot formation in the left atrium. Blood thinners are often prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke. Management of AF depends on several factors, but generally includes restoring and maintaining normal sinus rhythm. Certain medications called anti-arrhythmic drugs help maintain sinus rhythm, but are not designed to restore normal rhythm. Several procedures, such as a cardioversion or catheter ablation, can restore and maintain sinus rhythm. A cardiologist or an electrophysiologist can best determine which treatment options are right for you. Dr. Sims is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
903.606.7525 TMFHEART.ORG
No. 36 BSC ENE
Feb. 14 • 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Love Under the Stars: A St. Valentine’s Day Experience CESSE Theater March 14 • All Day Kids’ Day CESSE, Children ages 12 and under admitted free with adult March 21 • 7 p.m. Star Party (weather permitting) CESSE Solar/Lunar Plaza March 26 • 7 p.m. Public Science Lecture Series “Pluto: New Horizons” Brian Kremer, CESSE Theater April 4 • 5-6 a.m. Lunar Eclipse April 16 • 7 p.m. Public Science Lecture Series “Mathematics of Poker” Chris Chappa, CESSE Theater April 18 • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tyler Mini Maker Fair DSP April 18 • 7 p.m. Star Party (weather permitting) CESSE Solar/Lunar Plaza The Center for Earth & Space Science Education at TJC (CESSE) TJC main campus • 1411 E Lake St. • Tyler For more info on CESSE visit tjc.edu/cesse or call 903-510-2312 The Discovery Science Place (DSP) 308 N. Broadway Ave • Downtown Tyler For more information on DSP visit discoveryscienceplace.org or call 903-533-8011.
WINTER
GRAY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE FUN 903.939.1300
4614 DC Drive, Suite 1A, Tyler www.fixturethistyler.com B SC EN EM A G.COM
The
cur
ve of m a s ile ...
th e sh
ap e of
jo
y
.
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
CAN’T
BE CAGED
Article By: Britt E.Staffo d Photos By: Ron Jaffe / CM
I
t’s not everyday you get the opportunity to be on television, let alone be on television for something you are passionate about. Most people can only dream of such an opportunity. For Sarah Watson, however, no obstacle is too hard to overcome. The 28-year-old owner of CAGE fitness in Longview, Texas, has worked hard and demonstrates that hard work does pay off. A well trained obstacle course athlete, Watson has been given the chance to show off her skills on Country Music Television’s “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge.”
“You have to be fully mentally prepared rather than just physically prepared. It was definitely one of my most memorable fitness experiences thus far,” Watson recalled.
A competitive reality television show, “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge,” brings together eight athletes, all male or all female, depending on the episode, to compete for a possible $10,000. It is hosted by the namesake of the program, former professional wrestler Steve Austin. Th ough a series of physical challenges, the eight contestants are pitted against each other in head-to-head competitions. In the first round, four competitors are eliminated, then in the second round, two competitors are eliminated. In the third round, the two finalists compete until one competitor comes out on top for the chance to face the Skullbuster. If the finalist completes the halfmile-long obstacle course within the record time set by the previous winner, he or she wins $10,000. Upon hearing about the CMT show from a close friend, Watson was urged to apply. Following a response saying they had already completed casting for the first season, she let the idea slip into the back of her mind. So it was much to her surprise when she received another email from the casting director, asking her to apply again. Following a primary interview, a 13 page questionnaire and a Skype interview, Watson found herself on a plane for what she thought was her final inte view. “When I got there, they said casting was done. I was in,” Watson said. She explained how the contestants were kept in their hotel rooms without contact to the outside world. “We weren’t allowed to have contact with anybody. We were literally locked in our hotel rooms. No cell phones, no nothing. They want to make sure that everything is completely legitimate. They don’t want you to be able to size up your competition or have any preconceived notions of what you’re doing at all.”
Be sure to tune in to “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge” on Feb. 15th at 7 p.m. CST on CMT.
BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 41
Going into the competition, Watson felt completely confident in her abilities. However, walking in on that first day, she had to psyche herself back up at the sight of her competition. While she considers herself to be a strong female, she was facing women just as strong as she is. She soon realized these were all women like her: fellow gym owners, trainers, crossfitters and mothers. Despite the fact they were intended to compete against each other, Watson felt a sense of camaraderie with these other women. It was refreshing for her to see fellow women who were just as strong and empowered as she was. “You have to be fully mentally prepared rather than just physically prepared. It was definitely one of my most memorable fitness experiences thus far,” Watson recalled. Watson has been unknowingly preparing for events like this most of her life. Being physically strong is definitely an aspect most people aspire to achieve, but it is not everyone’s calling in life to make fitness and exercise a career. Having grown up participating in athletics since grade school, Watson had the mentality of living a healthy lifestyle instilled in her early on in life. At the age of 18, Watson started working as a personal trainer to put herself through college, where she was studying art. “I kind of realized, a couple of years into college, that fitness was more of a passion than a hobby, and art was more of a hobby than a passion,” Watson said when explaining how she started her career. When she was 20 years old, Watson became pregnant with her first daughter and gained 55 pounds. While that weight came off easily, her second pregnancy came with severe motion sickness, making it difficul for Watson to work out regularly. In that time, she gained 84 pounds, which took substantially longer to work off. Using her specialized training techniques, she worked off the weight and continued to maintain the fit and healthy lifestyle she had always known.
“Of course, I can’t tell you the outcome of [“Broken Skull Challenge”], but definitely tune in to every show you can. You get to see everyday people, not professional athletes, who are showing their tribute strength.”
so people can meet their personal goals. Not wanting it be like a boot camp crammed with 100 to 150 people, there are never more than 12 to a class. This allows people to work out with like-minded individuals who just want the extra motivation of people being there.
Watson has been a personal trainer for 10 years, and her expertise has blossomed into ownership of her own gym. A few years into her personal training, she discovered a program called Art of Strength, a strongman based, olympic style of lifting. Using what she learned from Art of Strength and other styles of training, she started her own program after moving to her current gym three years ago. Fenced inside the Courthouse Athletic Club, the CAGE earned it’s fitting name due to i ’s cage-like ambiance. Watson started out with around 35 clients a week. She was overwhelmed, and swamped constantly with clients coming from one to fi e times a week. She also noticed clients starting to lose motivation due to a lack of variety in their work outs. When an opportunity to take over the gym presented itself, Watson went through the process to gain sole proprietorship, and started branding herself as CAGE fitness. With that, her hours at the gym were reduced and her time with her family increased. She was able to train fi e or six people at once in an hour, rather than training one person, showing an increase in what her clients were capable of accomplishing. Now owner of CAGE fitness, she could fully implement her style of training. Training at CAGE fitness implements the use of kettlebells, rope ventilations, climbing ropes, pull ups, push ups, squats, box jumps and a variety of diffe ent lifting styles. Watson wanted CAGE to be more small group, personal training BS CENEMAG. COM
“It just increased results,” Watson proudly noted. “So we decided to push with that small group training, and identifying where people needed the motivation to push harder in that specific area and kind of using that group to motivate the individual person.” With the support of her husband, Mitchell and her two daughters, Ayden and Brooklyn, Watson has much planned for this next year. Watson is preparing to open a new, 3,000 square foot facility, including an obstacle course in June. She plans on running in up to 30 obstacle course races this year, in preparation for her second World’s Toughest Mudder later this year. Watson came in 385th out of 1300 in the 2014 World’s Toughest Mudder. She hopes to earn a lot of podiums and wants to focus a lot on her athletic career. “Of course, I can’t tell you the outcome [of “Broken Skull Challenge”], but definitely tune in to every show you can. You get to see everyday people, not professional athletes, who are showing their tribute strength.” Be sure to tune in to “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge” on Feb. 15th at 7 p.m. CST on CMT. According to Watson, it is supposed to be one of the most exciting episodes of the season. F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 43
2015 STARS OVER LONGVIEW AWARDS CEREMONY, DECEMBER 8
Longview Regional Medical Center and the Women’s Advisory Council honored 12 local women who “Rise to the Occasion” at Maude Cobb Convention Center, in Longview, on December 8. The women chosen are reviewed and selected by the hospital's Women’s Advisory Council for making a difference in LIBBY BRYSON, LEE WOODRUFF, the community. Guests and honorees enjoyed JIM KENDRICK lunch while listening to this years keynote speaker, Lee Woodruff, New York Times bestselling author of “In an Instant” and Contributing Correspondent for CBS This Morning.
BOBBIE MCGEE-BENSON, MICHAEL NOLAND
MAUDE COBB, LONGVIEW
TRACEY WELBORN, ALICE STANLEY
KIMBERLY FISH, LUCAS HAWK
KIM & DON DROEGE
CRYSTAL THOMPSON, TRINA GRIFFITH, SONYA YORK, NIKKI AYLOR
ELIZABETH BAUMGARDNER, KELSEY GOUGHNOUR
WENDY MCDONALD, BEVERLY RUTLAND
No. 44
BSC ENE
MESHELL HORTON, MICHAEL DABREU
JACKIE JONES, KEITH JARVIS
B SC EN EM A G.COM
COOK WELL
54
MAN ABOUT TOWN
THE "MAN" INVITES FRIENDS TO A NEW DINING DESTINATION WITH ONE-OF-A-KIND SANDWICHES SO RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS THEY MUST BE TASTED TO BE BELIEVED.
LONE STAR LIBATIONS BS CENEMAG. COM
46
DINING GUIDE F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
50 No. 45
So, grab a copy of Tipsy Texan today and try your hand at these crafty cocktails ... there’s plenty more where these came from.
About the author David Alan is a professional bartender and restaurant specialist who has spent more than 15 years in the industry. In 2007, David launched Tipsy Texan, becoming an early and outspoken voice for Texas’ emerging craft cocktail and spirits scene. Since then he has worked on a number of bar openings, including the James Beard Award-nominated Esquire Tavern in San Antonio. David is a charter officer of the Central Texas chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild, a regular contributor to Edible Austin, and the founder of Tipsy Tech, a mixology course for enthusiasts and professionals. He has judged, organized, competed in, and won numerous cocktail competitions. David is a third-generation Texan and a graduate of the University of Texas. He lives in his hometown of Austin with his partner, Joe, Agnes the cat, and his dog/mascot, Jigger. He has served coffee and cocktails at venues as diverse as the Governor’s Mansion and University of Texas tailgate parties, in barns and ballrooms, from Big D to Big Bend. -Bio courtesy of Tipsy Texan, Andrews McMeel Publishing
No. 46
BSC ENE
Cover anvd Interior Design By: Randall Lockridge/Terrace Partners
This month we feature three cocktails created by Texas Native David Alan, author of Tipsy Texan, a guide to spirits and cocktails from the Lone Star State. One of these tasty tumblers will be available at this year’s Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala on June 13. This year’s specialty drink is sponsored by Crystal Springs.
Photo By: Jessica Pages
Photography By: Aimee Wenske and Michael Thadd Carter
LONE STAR LIBATIONS
TASTING ROOM
B SC EN EM A G.COM
PALOMA The Paloma is the second-most-famous tequila cocktail after the Margarita, but it is number one as consumed in Mexico. You can make it with grapefruit juice and club soda, but it is more traditionally made with a grapefruit soda such as Squirt. 2 ounces 100% agave tequila 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice Pinch of kosher salt 3 ounces grapefruit soda Lime wedge, for garnish
Courtesy Photo
Build all the ingredients, except the lime wedge, over ice in a Collins glass and stir gently to combine. Garnish with the lime wedge.
BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 47
TEXAS SIPPER This spring refresher utilizes Tito’s Vodka as a platform for the flavor of Texas’ red grapefruits, sweetened with a little St-Germain, which also has a prominent grapefruit note. It’s easy to make this drink in a pitcher when entertaining friends, This cocktail comes from Austin cocktail enthusiast Lisa Nuccio 1 1/2 ounces Tito’s Handmade Vodka 1/2 ounce St-Germain elderflower liqueur 1 1/2 ounces freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice 1 ounce carbonated water (or grapefruit soda, such as Squirt, if you have it)
HILL COUNTRY COLLINS
Courtesy Photo
Combine the vodka, St-Germain and grapefruit juice in a mixing glass and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a rocks glass and top with the carbonated water. Garnish with the mint sprig.
Although the primary exports of the Texas Hill Country are wine, peaches, and barbecue, there are a few other up-and-coming attractions, and the lavender industry is one of them, The town of Blanco is one of several that host an annual Lavender Festival. It is as pleasing to the eyes as to the olfactory senses to see the fields and hillsides of our Hill Country towns cultivated with lavender. Not just for sachets anymore, lavender is an herb that functions well in cocktails and grows enduringly in your yard, regardless of the oppressive heat. 1 small or 1/2 large ripe peach, cut into chunks 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup 2 sprigs fresh lavender 1 1/2 ounces Texas gin 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle the peach, simple syrup, and one of the lavender sprigs. You may need to adjust the amount of syrup depending on the sweetness of your peach. Add the gin and lemon juice. Shake vigorously with ice to chill, and strain onto fresh ice in a Collins glass. Top with the carbonated water and garnish with the remaining lavender sprig.
No. 48
BSC ENE
Courtesy Photo
1 to 2 ounces carbonated water
B SC EN EM A G.COM
LAGO DEL PINO TEXAS FOOD TEXAS FUN Lago is for lovers this Valentine’s Day evening. Make your reservation today and treat your Valentine to our chef’s special menu along with a live instrumental piano and cello duet. Visit lagodelpino.com for more information.
Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Night Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Feb. 6 Trey Dillon • Feb. 7 Lauren Alexander Feb. 13 Jaden Farnsworth • Feb. 14 Piano & Cello Duet Feb. 20 Dustin Becker • Feb. 21 The Tuxedo Cats Feb. 27 Lucas Kelm • Feb. 28 Trey Dillon
Lunch • Dinner • Sunday Brunch lagodelpino.com 14706 CR 1134 Tyler, TX 75709 • 903.561.LAGo
LOLA’S HANDCRAFTED SANDWICHES Scratch-made Soups, Salads and Sandwiches Lola’s offers premium quality sandwiches, soups and salads made from scratch daily with a focus on fresh and locally sourced ingredients.
Love. Laugh. Lola’s. Open Mon.- Fri. 11a.m. - 7p.m. Sat. 11a.m. - 5p.m.
CATERING AVAILABLE FIND US ON FACEBOOK! 16700 Old Jacksonville Hwy suite# 600 • Flint, TX 75762 • 903.707.2432
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. For this Valentines’, enjoy our chocolate covered strawberries for your sweetie. Don’t forget to order one of our fabulous King Cakes for Mardi Gras! Thank you, East Texas, for 30 amazing years! Café Hours: Mon. - Sat. 11a.m. – 2p.m. Bakery Hours: 7a.m. – 6p.m. Mon. - Fri., 8a.m.– 4p.m. Sat., Closed Sun.
chezbazan.com 5930 Old Bullard Rd Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.561.9644
BRUNO’S PIZZA & PASTA ITALIAN RESTAURANT 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! Don’t forget to bring your favorite wine or ice cold beer to Bruno’s on Vine St. Now serving beer and wine at our Old Jacksonville location!
ORDER ONE FOR YOUR SWEETHEART THIS VALENTINE’S DAY! 1400 S. Vine Tyler, TX 75701 • 903.595.1676 15770 Old Jacksonville Hwy Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.939.0002
THE BURGER GRIND BURGER RESTAURANT In the world of “The Burger”, freshness is king! Come visit Tyler’s newest taste-craze, sensation and discover for yourself what all the buzz is about!
GRINDING OUT THE BEST DAILY!
MON. - THURS. 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. FRI. - SAT. 10:30 a.m. -10 p.m. SUN.-10:30 a.m.. - 3 p.m.
15902 CR 165 Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.630.7069
DAKOTAS STEAKS • SEAFOOD • CHOPS New owners, Linda Rudd and Steve Hellmuth, invite you to the sophistication of the Dakotas experience. Dakotas serves the only USDA Prime Beef in East Texas and is ranked one of America’s #1 steakhouses. Dakotas is your spot for business luncheons, an intimate dinner, signature martinis or a private event. We offer only the best off-premise catering. 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. - 11:00 p.m. Ladies Night: Every Wed. 1/2 price Cocktails
“Like” Us On Facebook dakotasprimesteakandchophouse.com 5377 S. Broadway Avenue Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.581.6700
PORToFINO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Portofino’s offers an authentic Italian experience with dishes, sauces and dough prepared from scratch daily. From pizza, pasta and salads, to one-of-a-kind desserts, Portofino’s specializes in a casual, family-friendly dining experience that is sure to satisfy! And, remember, your favorite wine and beer is always on tap.
WE CATER! PRIVATE ROOM AVAILABLE! Tue. - Thu.:10:30a.m. - 10:00p.m. Fri. - Sat.:10:30a.m. - 11:00p.m. Sun.:10:30a.m. - 10:00p.m.
portofinositalianrestaurant.com 3320 Troup Highway, Suite 170 Tyler, TX 75701 • 903.533.1000
REPUBLIC ICEHOUSE THE BEST LITTLE ICEHOUSE IN TEXAS Republic Icehouse is Tyler’s newest restaurant and bar located across from UT Tyler. Join the Republic for the perfect place to enjoy great food with a friendly and knowledgeable wait staff. Watch games on our 18 large screen HD TV’s and the largest HD big screen in east Texas. Live music every Friday and Saturday night. Republic features 12 beers on tap with a wide selection of Texas crafts and Texas distilled liquors. $6.99 daily lunch menu and $8.99 daily chef’s special M-F 11am - 3pm Happy Hour M-F 4:30pm - 6:30pm Late night happy hour - Sunday-Thursday 9:30pm-close Kitchen open until close nightly Hours: Sun.-Fri. 11a.m.-12a.m. Sat. 11a.m.-1a.m.
republicicehouse.com 3807 University Blvd. Tyler, 75701 • 903.504.5860
Juls Restaurant, Lounge & Cafe EAT. DRINK. EVERYDAY.
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Outdoor patio, spacious dining room, cafe, and private rooms Quality mixed drinks - Wine - Craft beer - Sushi
Join us this Valentine’s day JULS903.com 7212 Old Jacksonville Hwy Tyler, Texas • 903.581.5857
CORK. FOOD & DRINK EURO-ASIAN FOOD Enjoy modern Euro-Asian cuisine, from our famous New Zealand Lamb Chops and Local Grass-fed Beef, to the market-fresh Sushi & Seafood. Cork Food & Drink is a unique casual dining restaurant with an extensive wine list, live music, hand-crafted cocktails & fabulous dining! We are located in the Times Square Shopping Center! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. Serving Dinner Tues. - Fri. 4p.m. - Midnight Serving Brunch Sat. & Sun. mornings! Sat. & Sun.10a.m. - Midnight We also cater.
corktyler.com 5201 S. Broadway Ave. Ste 162 • 903.363.9197
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 Live band every Sat. from 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! yamatotexas.com 2210 WSW Loop 323 • Tyler, TX 75701 • 903.534.1888
BREAKERS A SEAFOOD JOINT It's the hit of the season! Breakers all you can eat snow crab special. Come in every Monday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and get all you can eat with corn and potatoes. This special is for a limited time only so don’t miss out!!
MON. – WED. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. THURS. – SAT. 11 a.m. – 12 a.m., SUN 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
breakerstyler.com 5106 Old Bullard Road • Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.534.0161
MAN ABOUT
TOWN WITH DR. AUBREY D. SHARPE PHOTOS BY: BRYAN STEWART
I
t was the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s birthday and the night was freezing cold. Though the airwaves were full with memories of Elvis and Ray Perryman had just given his annual prognostications of the state of our economy, to a sellout crowd for the Tyler Area Chamber, the “Man” and seven Hispanic Business Alliance (HBA) Board members still had room for one more event. And what a time we had! We made the short trek south on Old Jacksonville Highway to the Gresham Village Shopping Center and landed at the newly opened Lola’s Handcrafted Sandwiches. Owners, father and son, Chris and Andrew Czop pulled out all the stops for us. These fun lovin’ creative guys laid out an array of everything they served from salads to homemade chips and sandwiches to desserts. Let me tell ya, you’ve not really eaten till you undergo a baptism of handcrafted sandwiches with all the trimmings at Lola’s. This place takes full fl or and taste galore to a new level. The restaurant is compact, the menu is simple, easy to read and the ingredients are fresh (they support the Farm 2 Table-buy local-Texas initiative). They handcraft from scratch their breads, chips, salad dressings, soups and desserts. Thesandwiches boast a regional fla e. TheCuban for Miami, for New Orleans the N.O. Po’ Boy, the Chicago Beef Italian, the Reuben for New York or the Mediterranean Turkey. It’s almost nostalgic in that their approach is from the long past era of small-town shops and homemade craftsmanship. Even the theme “Lola” is a takeoff of 1940’s-50’s painted advertising on tin placards. The feel of the place is that of a corner drug store or sandwich shop of days gone by. “The Man” has not seen anything like Lola’s with owner’s like Chris and Andrew in East Texas. Save the drive and buy local. You save gas and have a delightful experience. Feel free to bring your own beverage. It is BYOB.
ON THE MENU
These fun lovin’ creative guys laid out an array of everything they served from salads to homemade chips, and sandwiches to desserts. Let me tell ya, you’ve not really eaten till you undergo a baptism of handcrafted sandwiches with all the trimmings at Lola’s. Lola’s is open Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also cater your next event with their custom planned menu–your place or theirs. The same fine fresh handcrafted menu or other choices are all yours for the taking. Coming soon: Breakfast. Watch for it. Now, our party bundled up to the neck from the cold, started popping wine corks to get our blood a-fl win’. Theyare a fun group of pioneers in the growth of the fi e year old Hispanic Business Alliance. The HBA partnership with the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce began while “the Man” was an office on the Chamber’s Board. It has established itself as a primary point of contact for Hispanic business affairs, counseling more than 200 individuals a year, offering business start-up orientations, assisting business owners with management operational matters and a micro-loan program. The goal of the HBA is to facilitate Hispanic business development in Tyler/Smith County through collaboration among business related programs. They have done a magnificent job and the capstone of each year is their annual awards banquet which recognizes successful businesses and entrepreneurs. So, “the Man” was in “high cotton” all evening. The food, the party and the people were a perfect combination. We stayed after closing time and Chris and Andrew joined in on the toasting and tale telling. It was a splendid night. Of course, not wanting to wear out our welcome, one by one we braved the cold and departed. As usual, “the Man” was the last to leave … go figu e! So, if you’re out and about, look for us, we’ll be about town.
Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraoridnary C and Made ies C ust t o Ord om er!
CelebrasteDay Valent innet’h Long! al l Mo
Melody
Tablescapes. Designs. Events 903.539.1370 melodystablescapes.com
903.539.8550
rflynnandcompany.com
RFLY.COMPANY@gmail.com
Planning
French Peas
a Party?
Whether it’s for gameday, a book club, or the holidays, we can help check everything off your shopping list in one place.
Right an d
Winona, Texas
Liquor p Beer p Wine
p
he
or You. ef
e Store on t Th
e Right Sto th r
Delightful fresh flowers for occasions and everyday
FrenchPeasFlowers.com 4601 Old Bullard Rd. Tyler, TX
No. 56
BSC ENE
903.939.3907
528 S. Main St., Winona, TX
CrystalSpringsLiquorBeerWine.com
903-877-3750
B SC EN EM A G.COM
Remember us this Valentine’s Day! smallcakestyler.com 5875 Old Bullard Road #300, Tyler, TX 903.561.8988
No. 58
BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
PAINT. DRINK. HAVE FUN. 322 ESE Loop 323, Suite 156 ● Tyler, TX
Special Advertising Section
THE MEDICAL ISSUE bscenemag.com coming
MAY 2015
RESERVE YOUR SPACE
TODAY! 903.509.4703
BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 59
23RD ANNUAL WINTER GALA, JANUARY 8
Willow Brook Country Club hosted the 23rd Annual Winter Gala, in Tyler, on January 8. The event is responsible for a large portion of funds raised to help finance operating expenses for the Tyler Rose Museum. Madeline Shirley Wynne was named as this years Texas JOHN OWEN, RENEE & GALEN FAULCONER Rose Queen. The Texas Rose Festival also announced “Royalty of the Under Water Realm.” would be this years Texas Rose festival theme.
KATHERINE BEALL, VIRGINIA BEALL, SUZANNE CURTIS, RUTH BUCKLEY
WILLOW BROOK COUNTRY CLUB, TYLER
TONYA BOOZER, SHIRLEY PETTY, LAURA ZORN
AMELIA ALFORD, FRAN ALFORD, DAVID ALFORD
GAY & KIRK BROOKSHIRE
MAC BOWERS, COURTNEY BOWERS, DONNA BOWERS, CALEB BOWERS
LIZ BALLARD, DEBBIE JACKSON
MICHAEL BOSWORTH, CAMBRIDGE BOSWORTH
No. 60
BSC ENE
MARK ROBERTS, PEGGY MORRISON
DEBRA BOCHOW, MELISSA JACKSON, ASHLEY MCCAIN B SC EN EM A G.COM
STYLE
LASER CUT PERFORATED JACKET, AMOUR VERT TANK, SKINNY PANTS AVAILABLE AT JEWEL.
62
SOUTHERN COMFORT
IN THIS MONTH OF LOVE, BSCENE OFFERS UP SMOOTH FASHION FIT FOR COUPLES LOOKING TO MAKE THE MOST OF ROMANCE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY.
STYLE IQ: ALL IN THE FAMILY BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
70 No. 61
Southern Comfort Photos By: Krystal Phillips
HER: Umgee Aztec and floral d ess Arrowhead beaded necklace Available at Steele’s HIM: Joe’s striped henley Joe’s light wash jeans Donald J. Pliner suede shoes Available at Harley’s
HER: Yoana Barachi dress Be-Je Designs french wire earrings Be-Je Designs CZ disk chain necklace Andrea Barnett tassel with pearl chain Andalossi crocodile bag Available at Mary V’s HIM: Culturata floral button u Joe’s pinstripe jeans CFM crocodile leather belt Available at Harley’s
Ryu slip dress with sweater overlay Available at The urple Elephant Kendra Scott Kelly necklace Kendra Scott Jana bracelet Available at Cole and Co.
HER: Love and Liberty lace top Mother ankle jeans Pearl and bronze pendant necklace Exclusively at Bridgette’s HIM: Frank and Eileen button up Carrot and Gibbs striped bow tie C of H jeans 1685 marino leather belt Thomas ean felt boots Available at Harley’s
Baby • Maternity • Children
Get fashionable and fabulous PERSNICKETY SPRING 2015
in this slip-on leather mule with a leopard print calf-hair wedge. $160. 4815 OLD BULLARD RD. TYLER
903.561.3136
4815 Old Bullard Rd.
Tyler
903.534.5888
BEING A
HARLEY’S MAN
KEEPS YOU
Tailor made alterations with the Red Hanger difference! • Pant hems & waist • Shirts, dresses, jackets & suits • Jeans with original hem • Bridal & formal gowns • Military uniforms • Traditional & french bustles
Free Pickup & Delivery
ANYWHERE ANYTIME
We can fix it!
www.BigRedHanger.com • 903.939.9900 BS CENEMAG. COM
COMFORTABLE
4815 OLD BULLARD ROAD 903.534.9799 HARLEYSFORMEN.COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 67
ROSE CITY PARROT HEAD CLUB EVENT, JANUARY 15
BREAKER’S SEAFOOD, TYLER
DONALD BULGERIN, CHAD ANDING
SHARON WILLEY, CHRIS LOEDER
LIZ GORSKI, SAM OLIPHANT, DARLA AMBURGY
KATHY & GARY HETTENBACH
JEN COOK, PAIGE PARKER
BETTY PAUL, GARRY STEINBACH
JENNIFER ADAMS, ZUCKER GILL
MONICA FERNANDES, JONNI SANDERS
CHEERS FOR THE CAUSE, JANUARY 22
KELLEY & JERRY WOOLVERTON
SWEET GOURMET, TYLER
KAYE & KEVIN FERRIER, KAREN NORTON
PAM GABRIEL, PRISCILLA HAZELIP, CHRISTINE GARDNER, JOHN ABLER
No. 68
LISA CHATTERTON, MELINDA MORRIS
DEBBIE BRYANT & MIKE SCHOVANEC
LAURA KRANTZ, DEBRA SMITH
JANE CARROLL, VENONA CLYDE, HOLLIE BAKER
BSC ENE
JENNIFER GASTON, DAVID ALAN, SUZIE RIPPY
B SC EN EM A G.COM
What a perfect pair for Valentine’s Day ... A lush arrangement of fine flowers and the st delicious chocolate chip cookies!
903.526.0664
903.561.7733
Call to place your order today! PUT SOME FUN IN YOUR CLOSET! COMING TO TYLER APRIL 2015
WHERE FASHION IS OUR BUSINESS SINCE 1964
Swann's Plaza 903.595.5111
The
Purple Elephant Boutique Mon.- Sat. 10-6
A Fashion Experience
2501D Judson Rd. Longview, TX BS CENEMAG. COM
903.234.8303
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 69
ALL IN THE FAMILY
1) 2)
3)
Pantone© has informed the world that Marsala is the color of 2015. Whether you are a lady or a gentleman you can decorate yourself with this passionate color all year long!
4)
5)
6)
7) 8)
1) Chan Luu Necklace in Red Mix Semi Precious Stones available at Jewel 2) Andalossi handbag available at Mary V’s 3) Multi-beaded necklace exclusively at Bridgette’s 4) John Cooper tie available at Harley’s 5) KurtMen bracelet with fringe available at Steele’s 6) Lenny and Eva sentiment beaded bracelet available at The Purple Elephant 7) BAADE II single-sided cufflinks available at Harley’s 8) Angelique de Paris colored bangle bracelet available at Cole and Co.
No. 70
BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
A NEW ERA IN TYLER FASHION
NOW OPEN BERGFELD CENTER
903.533.1177
jeweloftyler.com
facebook.com/jeweloftyler
“At All Saints, we emphasize bringing out the best in each student-athlete; not just on the playing field but more importantly, in their development as our future leaders. Go Trojans!� - Eddie Francis, Director of Athletics
Discover Your Athlete
3K - 12th Grade All Faiths Welcome 903.579.6000 www.all-saints.org
903.842.3411 - 115 S. Georgia Troup, Tx 75789
MIRACLES BEGIN WITH YOU, JANUARY 22
WILLOW BROOK COUNTRY CLUB, TYLER
A Wine and Cheese Celebration benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was held at Willow Brook Country Club, in Tyler, on January 22. The event, Miracles Begin with You, honored Trinity Mother Frances Hospital’s CEO, Lindsey Bradley along with John Gaston KELLIE TINER, ROBIN ROWAN, and Terry Giles. Guests enjoyed a slide SHIRLEY ROGERS show presentation honoring these influential gentlemen and delectable dishes provided by Willow Brook County Club.
KATIE BUTTS, DR. STEVE KEUER, JULIE BROWN
ANITA & SCOTT FOSSEY, JANA & TODD HANCOCK
THOMAS & PAM SMITH
TERESA & JOHN MCGREEVY
MARY DALE & DR. PAT THOMAS, VICKI & LINDSEY BRADLEY
CINDY MYRICK, DONALD RITCHIE
DACIA & CHRIS EDMONSON
No. 74 BSC ENE
TERRY GILES, JOHN GASTON
GINA & DOUG BAKER
B SC EN EM A G.COM
AT HOME
76
LET THERE BE LIGHTING LET THERE BE MOOD LIGHTING! OUR DESIGN EXPERTS HELP YOU CHANGE THE LOOK OF ANY ROOM TO ACHIEVE THAT PERFECT AMBIANCE.
OUTTAKES BS CENEMAG. COM
82
RAMOTH GILEAD: LIFE OF A TROUBADOUR F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
90 No. 75
LET THERE BE LIGHTING Article By: Veronica Terres
Lighting doesn’t always have to be functional, it can also change the mood of a room and enhance the space.
No. 76 BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
With a large selection of products in her showroom, combined with frequent visits to market, the choices and options for a client’s lighting needs are unlimited.
W
hen Jión Dietz decided to open Fixture This thirteen years ago, it was an idea fueled by her own experience with lighting. Working on a remodeling project with her parents, they found themselves driving to Dallas to look for lighting after realizing a lone lighting and big box store was not offering enough selection. A light bulb went off in her head and she decided to open her own lighting showroom to bring more variety, selection and service to East Texas. Since, Jión’s bright idea, Fixture This, has been lighting the way for area builders and customers looking for lighting for their new construction or remodeling projects. The showroom has lighting for residential as well as commercial needs, but residential is their speciality. Like a fashion stylist adding jewelry to accent a client’s wardrobe, Dietz helps her customers accent their home with beautiful, yet functional, lighting. From chandeliers and sconces to ceiling fans and exterior lighting, the lighting specialist offers a variety of products to fit all styles and BS CENEMAG. COM
designs. Gone are the days of limited choices of antique or polished brass, chrome or white finishes. Today, if a client can imagine it, Jión can probably help them find it. With a large selection of products in her showroom, combined with frequent visits to market, the choices and options for a client’s lighting needs are unlimited. Lighting doesn’t always have to be functional, it can also change the mood of a room and enhance the space. For example, the kitchen. A room in the house that needs to be practical, a place to prepare and cook meals for the whole family. Lighting for kitchens has always been task oriented, bright, like large fluo escents, to wash the room with light but not very attractive. Now, with kitchens evolving into rooms where families gather for more than just cooking and eating a meal, lighting has also evolved. Clients, now, not only want function Jión explains, but also want to incorporate personality into the overall design of the space. To accomplish that, a number of lighting products can be utilized to make the kitchen a favorite room of the house, and make cooking fun! F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 77
A HAPPY PLACE Thehappiest place in the home is the kitchen. We enjoy cooking dinner and maybe a glass of wine while talking about our day. The kids do homework at the bar. Friends gather around the island during parties. Holiday dinners are prepared with family. The kitchen is a welcoming space for all. The lighting should be happy too, not harsh. Always address function first and then add something fun! Install recess cans in the ceiling for general room lighting and linear lighting under your cabinets for task lighting on your counter tops. Don’t ignore cabinets with open shelving or cabinets with glass doors, add lighting that will accent these areas, perfect for displaying your favorite items. Once functional lighting has been accomplished, add lighting that will make your kitchen welcoming; incorporate a splash of color with art glass pendants over a bar or an iron trestle style fixtu e over your large island. This bold and bright pendant by Jeremiah is available in two colors. The hammered turquoise glass is trendy for more modern kitchens but the antique bell shape appeals to more traditional tastes.
Cheer isn’t just for the washer anymore! Believe it or not, the laundry can be a happy place too, so don’t let the loads way you down. Jión explained that homeowners are brightening up this space by adding color to their whites. White cabinets and white walls? Colorful chandeliers will bring a smile to your face every time you walk in the laundry room. Customers love this Clarion mini chandelier. With four light bulbs and seven color options, it is a perfect combination of function and whim. While the crystal confection is popular in red, it is also available in pink, black, white, blue, chrome and turquoise.
DINING DELIGHT A dining space doesn’t have to be stuffy and well … formal. Dine in delight and serve your guests something they can feast their eyes on by adding a show stopping chandelier. This wrought iron, bell-shaped, transitional chandelier by Savoy House encases an elegant, traditional mini crystal chandelier. The combination is sure to spark conversation. Spotlight paintings with small recess cans with an adjustable gimbal trim or flank your buffet with stunning sconces and you will have lighting to set the table for any occasion.
No. 78 BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
LOVE LIVING Jión also explained that making a living or family room warm, inviting and functional is an easy task by layering your lighting. Thismeans adding a variety of lighting options in your space like a ceiling fan for comfort, recess lighting for overall room lighting and lamps for soft lighting. Enhance family portraits or bookshelves with accent lighting; highlight the fi eplace with sconces and always use a dimmer! Choose finishes that will complement your room, whether a nickel, bronze or vintage gold, and use glass or fabric shades to diffuse the light bul . Dress up your fi eplace mantle with this Margarite sconce in Aged Iron or Aged Gold. The curves and quatrefoil detail add feminine sophistication, while the height and wide back plate makes sure this sconce won’t fade away. While the layered lighting warms up the living space, you can keep it comfortable with a ceiling fan. This Levon fan, with its 63” span and four color options adds both comfort and cool with its handsome design.
ZEN ZONE We’ve all been there. You walk into your home after a long, stressful day of work and can’t wait to soak in the bath and let the stress of the day float away. A home’s master bathroom is now also a place for pleasure. Jión says customers want their bathroom to have a spa-like feeling, a place where they can escape and feel instantly relaxed. Crisp lines and soft finishes on lighting fixtu es help achieve this mood; and lighting placement adds a practical side for make up and shaving. Mounting this Metropolitan chic crystal sconce to the mirror on either side of your sink reflects more light, while the design lends a modern, simplistic appeal and the fabric shade softens the light. Add subtle spark and drama to your Zen Zone with this crystal drop chandelier, center it in the room for a dazzling focal point or over your tub to gaze at while soaking. The suspended crystals evoke a sense of falling water and the mirrored ceiling plate reflect the natural light of the oom. BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 79
ROMANTIC RENDEZVOUS Make setting the mood every night as simple as flipping a switch or dimming the light. Lighting can play a major role in the bedroom; replace bedside lamps with hanging pendants or sconces on each side of the bed for both soft mood lighting, but also functional reading light. Out with the old and in with the new. Replace your dated, noisy ceiling fan with a delicate, romantic chandelier above the bed and install a wall fan to help circulate the air when things get steamy. Thenatural mercury glass design of this pendant light by Regina Andrew emits a warm glow and the angular shape gives it a modern flai . The light through the silver mercury is like stars in the sky, what could be more romantic?
Gold and silver leafing is a treasured trend in lighting right now. These antique finishes applied to geometric designs is the perfect marriage of old and new that will last the ages. TheBurlington pendant in gold will add a gentle, yet strong, statement to any bedroom.
For the contemporary romantics, this Crystorama Hampton chandelier in Chrome with crystal drops hanging from a sheer silver drum shade will be the crowned jewel of your King and Queen’s suite. With so many lighting options available in East Texas, mood lighting no longer has to be confined to a lava lamp. Whether you are building a new home or remodeling an old one, all it takes to transform your space is a bit of homework to find out what tickles your fancy and the feeling you want to capture in your space. With the help of a lighting consultant, you will soon have your own bright idea!
No. 80 BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G.COM
Like us on Facebook
903.894.5008 51655 Hwy 69 South Bullard, Texas
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 & 2014!
Electricity usage in a home can cost hundreds of dollars a month in utility bills. In some cases, this can amount to an entire house payment. Most of this cost, up to 56%*, comes from your heating and cooling. The iComfort Wi-Fi速 thermostat gives you a simple way to reduce your home energy costs, even when you're at work or on vacation. Call us for the interesting details. *Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy
903.736.3754 Voted #1 REAL ESTATE AGENT 2013/2014 by BS CENEMAG. COM
Follow Me on Facebook at: Longview Luxury Listings by Trina Griffth
Follow us on Facebook - The Original Evans Air www.EvansAir.net 903-561-9410 A10599E
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 81
Fireworks on New Year’s eve.
The nebula in Orion is seen as a satellite is seen streaking across the sky.
OUTTAKES with Dr. Scott M Lieberman, MD, FACC
TV’s "Dancing with the Stars" professional dancers Cheryl Burke dances with Tony Dovolani at Ballroom with a Twist at the UT Cowan Center.
Comet Lovejoy is seen in the Constellation Taurus on Jan. 20, 2015.
TV’s "Dancing with the Stars" professional dancers Anna Trebunskaya flips over Dmitry Chaplin at Ballroom with a Twist at the UT Cowan Center.
CADILLAC makes the car, WAGNER makes the difference
www.wagnercadillac.com BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 83
B S C E N E M A G . C O M
®
THE Magazine of East Texas! Special Advertising Section
MARCH 2015 REAL ESTATE PROS, RESERVE YOUR SPACE BEST PLACES TO LIVE AND ALL THINGS HOME
coming
TODAY! 903.509.4703
bscenemag.com
MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE NO initiation fees thru 3/31/2015 weddings, banquets, business meetings, golf outings (4 players -200) welcomed Contact Jay Miller, 903.825.1123 Email: Jay@eaglesbluffcc.com
Eaglesbluffcc.com
BIGGER. BETTER. BRIGHTER. YOU’RE DRIVING HOME OUR REPUTATION... AND HAVE BEEN FOR OVER 60 YEARS
SHOP ONLINE A HAGENSLIGHTING.COM
OLD JACKSONVILLE HWY NEXT TO BRUNOʼS 15860 FM 2493 Tyler, TX 75703 HagensLighting.com • 903-509-8773 5005 OLD JACKSONVILLE HWY 903.581.0020 WWW.DAVIS-GREEN.COM
Strickland named
Tyler Junior
College director of bands
Come, Let Us Make Your Home Vintage Hip! Vintage Hip is a New, 6,000 sq ft mini-mall with 30 + dealers!
By Elise Mullinix
“My family and I are extremely excited to be joining the TJC Apache family ...
J
eremy Strickland, currently assistant director of bands at Texas Christian University, has been selected as director of bands for Tyler Junior College. Strickland will begin his duties at TJC on June 1. He will lead the TJC band program, which consists of: Apache Band (marching band), three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, jazz combo, two percussion ensembles and indoor drumline. He has served as assistant director of bands at TCU for the past seven years. Prior to TCU, he served as both assistant and head band director at Springtown High School. Strickland said, “My family and I are extremely excited to be joining the TJC Apache family. The TJC band program has a rich history, and we look forward to continuing to entertain crowds and offer the best performance opportunities available to our students. “I was blown away by the size of the campus and the friendliness I experienced when I visited TJC during my interview process,” he said. “It seemed like everyone we passed said ‘good morning’ on their way to class. That doesn’t happen everywhere.” “TJC’s Apache Band is one of the hallmarks of excellence for our institution, and we celebrate the addition of Jeremy Strickland, who will bring a vast amount of experience combined with proven visionary leadership,” said Dr. Juan E. Mejia, TJC acting provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. “We are excited to see what Jeremy has in store for our students and communities when he joins us this summer.” Strickland will replace longtime director Tom Mensch, who recently accepted a position as director of instrumental music at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler.
“We will always be grateful to Tom Mensch for his years of stellar leadership.,” Mejia said. “Tom was wonderful with our students and an expert in his field, and now we all look forward to the Jeremy Strickland era.” Strickland added, “With the rising cost of getting a college education, we will be working toward TJC becoming the go-to place for student-musicians looking to begin the process of their performing and teaching careers. I can’t wait to get started.” Strickland has been on staff with bands that have appeared in six bowl games including the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl, as well as marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade. He is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and the College Band Directors National Association. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at TCU, he serves as the college band liaison for the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from The University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of the internationally acclaimed UT Wind Ensemble and Longhorn Band, known as “The Showband of the Southwest.” He earned his master’s degree in music from TCU. His wife Ashley is a pharmacist, and they have three children: Kaden, age 8, and Hailey and Abigail, both age 4. For more information on the TJC band program, go to www.tjc.edu/band.
Find us on Facebook
5100 Hwy 31 W. Tyler, TX 903.747.7722
SAVE THE DATE
F LY M E Community Healthcore Presents
TO THE
MOON
DINNER WITH A CHAMPION 2015 With Astronaut Byron Lichtenberg
SATURDAY, MARCH 21 THE SUMMIT CLUB 6:30pm RSVP by MARCH 15 903.237.2362
SKAD BANQUET, JANUARY 22
THE ARBOR, TYLER
Local youth non-profit, SKAD (Steal, Kill and Destroy) held their first Banquet at The Arbor, in Tyler, on January 22. SKAD hopes to educate the community on the trials teens face on a daily basis and on the programs and outreaches they have to promote hope in the LACY & BRANDON DAVIS midst of their darkness.
AMY CULPEPPER, STELLA MALONE, KELLY CULPEPPER
ADAM GREER, RACHEL ROBISON, MATT TIBBETTS
MATTHEW HOGAN, WESTON DUPREE, JOSH TRAMMEL
JOSHUA ADAIR, ALYSSA NISPEROS
MORGAN KOZIOL, RACHEL WILLIAMS, PEYTON BRACK, CHELSEA DINGLER
HANNAH GILL, ARTURO YEPEZ
JULIANNE & DANIEL GING
No. 88 BSC ENE
HANNAH & MATT BLOCKER
EMILY & AUSTIN SMITH
B SC EN EM A G.COM
Chris Davis, E-Banking Manager, Texas Bank and Trust
Making Managing Your Finances Fun!
A
new year is upon us, and with it comes a time to reflect. Did we meet the goals we set for ourselves last year? Perhaps the dusty gym membership card and the looming credit card bills are a sign that we need to pay closer attention to our goals this year; but how? Last Christmas saw a rise in the sale of wearable devices that can help us track our exercise, sleeping, and lifestyle patterns in an effo t to give us a full picture of our physical lives. Likewise, Texas Bank and Trust now offers our customers an online financial management program called myOFM that can show us a complete picture of our financial lifestyle and provide us the tools to inspire a change in how we plan for future expenses and pay off old debts. Launched in January, myOFM is accessed through the TBTmyWay online banking portal at texasbankandtrust.com. The program allows users to create and manage budgets, aggregate accounts from other financial institutions, categorize spending, create alerts, manage debts, set goals, view transactions, track spending over time, and view their total net worth. For many of us, the tasks of paying down debts and saving for retirement can feel daunting, but myOFM removes much of the stress by integrating tools such as the debt management calculator. Once users link their debt accounts, such as credit cards,
BS CENEMAG. COM
student loans, and mortgage accounts, the debt management tab will present a color-coded graph that will predict how long it will take for the balances to be paid in full based on current payment history. Users may also plan ahead for future expenses by using the budget bubbles tab, which uses fun, colored bubbles to depict the amount and balances of monthly budget targets. Additionally, the goal projector tab helps users visualize their progress as they save for large expenses, such as car replacements, college tuition, a house down payment, or retirement. Ultimately, the most rewarding feature of myOFM is the ability for users to monitor the overall well-being of their personal finances. As debt balances reduce and savings accounts grow, the Net Worth tab displays a running total of all linked assets, providing a benchmark of financial success and motivation to accomplish the next goal. This year, let’s make our finances a top priority! With myOFM, we can feel more empowered and be more engaged in managing our finances than ever before. Together, we will actually see where our money is being spent and the impact that this spending has on the budgets we create, and not only that, but we can manage all of our accounts through one convenient login and set goals for 2015 and the years to come.
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 89
No. 90 BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G. G.COM COM
GILEAD LIFE OF A TROUBADOUR
Article By: William Knous, Photos By: Lindsey Todd Morgan
T
here are a lot of people who wish they could play music as their everyday job. The e are the young and the young at heart, the weathered and the fresh-faced. The e are those with decades of experience and the newly christened that know nothing more than that they love the sound pouring out of their car speakers and the instruments in their hands or their voices. But for most of them, there is a significant speed bump on the road to melodic employment: at the end of the glamour and after the lights go off, music can still be a job. And just like any job, you've got to go to work. Many musicians take diffe ent roads to make their passion their profession. The e are teachers in schools commanding the ranks who march under the Friday night lights of the high school stadium. Fewer offer private instruction to individual performers on their way up the ladder. But even fewer still have the backbone to throw everything in the car and go where their music takes them. Ramoth Gilead has decided he will play his music for someone every day he can, and to earn his way through this world doing it. Almost every culture has its variant on the traveling, career musician. The e are the troubadours that appeared as early as the 12th century, roaming the courts and countryside of what would be France. The e were the entertainers of the classic fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, bewitching princes and passersby. America has its own rendition of the standard, as well. The young man with a guitar on his back and his thumb stuck out, walking along the highway and occasionally stopping to play for a crowd or his dinner. Ramoth Gilead has done both. And perhaps he doesn’t hitchhike everywhere, but sometimes cars loaded down with musical gear do break down on a road trip.
Yes, that’s his real name – it’s a reference to the biblical city of refuge, west of the river Jordan. (His stage name is Ramoth Gilead, The Really Bad.) Gilead was born in Dallas and raised in East Texas, and though his sister is a blues/ jazz singer in New York, he did not inherit his musical ability. He worked hard for it. “We didn’t get it from my parents,” said Gilead. “We went to school, developed an interest and developed skills.” His family moved to Ben Wheeler from Dallas when Gilead was in first grade, and he attended Van Public schools. He transferred to John Tyler high school in 10th grade and then attended Tyler Junior College, Stephen F. Austin and Texas College before graduating with a degree in Music Education in 2001. “My main instrument was the tuba, and I was focusing on being a band director for Middle or High school,” Gilead remembered. “But about a year or so after I graduated, something in my spirit told me I was supposed to do something else – or at least put those aspirations on hold.” Gilead believed he was supposed to be playing his music. “I wrote on the keyboard/piano,” he said. “I don’t really play keyboard, or I play very little. I created a beat, pressed play and … I guess my first song was actually a rap. I picked up a few other instruments in high school and college.” In 2004 he learned the guitar. He’d been writing songs for fi e or six years, and had picked it up as a way to more easily bring his music to life. And in December of 2004, he played his first sh w, in Tyler. “It was just a few songs, so maybe it wasn’t a show… more of a performance,” Gilead said. “It was at a church. The Walker Family, a gospel quartet and some friends of mine, invited me to come along and open up for them. They allowed me to do a couple of my songs and that is where I started. The following month I packed up my Jeep and headed off ac oss the country.”
BS CENEMAG. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 91
I just felt God speaking to me to go out and take the gospel outside the church. One thin ilt on hen first started as not to foc s on doin ch rch sic or raise and orshi . t as st sic that ca e o t nat rally fro e. It was a huge step for any artist, much less someone who had played their very first show just a few weeks before. But Gilead wasn’t scared. To begin with, he’d been playing in bands since he was in junior high school, traveling around the state marching in step with others. He wasn’t with a band this time – but he wasn’t alone. “It might sound a little weird, but it was the message of my music,” Gilead explained. “I knew there was something special about my music – not to be boastful. But if people haven’t heard my music it’s really about my faith in God, in Christ. I just felt God speaking to me to go out and take the gospel outside the church. One thing [I built on] when I first started was not to focus on doing ‘church music’ or ‘praise and worship.’ It was just music that came out naturally from me.” So, Gilead took to the road. His first stop was Thibodaux, Louisiana. He had some friends who’d always welcomed him and he planned to stay only a month – before his Jeep broke down. “That turned into 6 months,” said Gilead. “But when I was able to get it fi ed, I just took off across the country. I started in the Midwest, then went up to the Northeast, then came back down and made my way through the South. I didn’t have any real plans.”
No. 92 BSC ENE
Gilead stopped at open mics along the way. He played in the streets, busking for tips. He had saved up a bit of money before he left to help him on his travels, but when that ran out he’d sell home recordings of some of his original music – just to keep moving, to keep playing. After a year, he found himself back in Thibodaux,spending Christmas with those same friends. “I came home shortly after that,” he said. “I think that was the first time since the very first show I did that I was playing around East Texas. In 2006, no one had heard of me, but I’d been doing nothing but playing for a year before that. It was basically musician’s boot camp.” And here is where Gilead has been since then, writing and playing music. Well, he’s been based here, but he certainly wasn’t immobile. “Remember that old Jeep I took around the country? ” asked Gilead. “Well, I was headed to Houston in it one week and it burned up on me. I mean, it really burned up on me. Thefi e department had to come out there to put it out. I spent most of the days playing for tips to get some money to get a U-Haul to bring my Jeep back to town.” Robbed of any means of personal transportation, most people might consider stopping playing music
– at least for awhile. Not Gilead. This man has songs people need to hear. “After that, until just recently in 2012, my transportation was the Greyhound bus,” Gilead said. “I was just doing music. I had no day job – I didn’t have time for anything else. I was on the move, so I couldn’t have a regular 9-to-5. One day I was in Dallas, the next day I’d be in Tucson, Arizona, and the next in Eugene, Oregon. I was living the life of a troubadour.” He carried on that way until later in 2013, when he met and married his wife. So now, he’s truly based in East Texas, playing shows in this area, as well as southern Arkansas and western Louisiana. But those years in his old Jeep and riding the bus were, undoubtedly, a formative time for Gilead. Sitting with his guitar, watching the country pass by through the oversized glass of the bus window. That time also played a key role in evolving Gilead’s songwriting. “A lot of my songwriting is inspired by my experiences on the Greyhound bus,” Gilead laughed. “I could do a whole album of just Greyhound songs … A lot of my music might sound like a typical love song, but I’m writing it from the point of view of a relationship between man and God. The ible, in many ways, B SC EN EM A G.COM
BS CENEMAG CENEMAG.. COM
F EB R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
No. 93
ed een ritin son s for fi e or si years and had picked it up as a way to more easily bring his music to life. By December of 2004, he layed his first sho in Tyler. talks about our relationship with him being like that. It can be a parent/child relationship or something else. All those relationships mirror what our relationship with God is like, or should be like … Some may be very preachy. Some may not. Some folks may miss the message, but at least they’ll get a good song. At least they’ll get a decently well-written song. Hopefully." “I just see myself as a follower of Christ that happens to do music. My music doesn’t come out like his or her music; it comes out like what comes out of me naturally. It might sound funky or jazzy or something else … but it doesn’t really sound like gospel. It’s laced with scripture. And I think that’s needed in the world we live in. You can get too much of one thing and people can get burned out with it. I want to offer an alternati e,”explained Gilead. Gilead’s alternative is one of two kinds of shows: dinner music, as he calls it, and sets of originals. The dinner music is what he describes as his “day job,” playing covers and background music at events. His other shows are set in listening rooms like Liberty Hall or Crossroads Café in Winnsboro – places where he and his audience can focus on the music. “Tha ’s my heart and passion,” Gilead said. “Playing my own music, offering it up and sharing with others.” Gilead is currently at work on two albums, one of which is a country/soul record, with Dre Phillips and AP Recording. “You probably don’t hear country like I do,” Gilead amended. The other is a hip-hop project with Orlando Williams and No Greater Love Productions. Both albums are due out late this year. “I guess I’m making up for lost time,” said Gilead. You can hear Ramoth Gilead, The Really Bad at reverbnation.com/ thereallybad. He plays regularly at Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q, Juls, Cork, Jakes, Hollytree Country Club and Cascades Country Club in Tyler, as well as Macklemore’s in Nacogdoches, Standpipe Coffee House in Lufkin, Lou Viney’s in Sulphur Springs, the Noble Savage in Shreveport, Mojos Coffee Café in Henderson, Bo’s Steakhouse in Lindale and at weddings and private events across East Texas.
No. 94 BSC ENE
B SC EN EM A G. G.COM COM
2015
e h t e v a S e t a D
Feb. 27March 1
* Home Improvement Ideas * Giveaways * Demos and Seminars
TylerAreaBuilders.com
ONLY ONE VACANT LOT LEFT IN THE ONLY GATED NEIGHBORHOOD IN HOLLYTREE .486 Acres $249,000
MLS# 10044153 MLS# 10048581
15496 Big Oak Bay Rd. Tyler • 4/4 79+ Secluded Acres Updated granite, 5 metal buildings $759,000
3817 Grand oaks circle, (The Crossing) $215,000
Each office is independently owned and operated
TYLERSHOMETEAM.COM
Lynn Haney ABR, SRES, SFR
Dedicated to your satisfaction, we go beyond the sale 6974 Canal St, Tyler 4/4/2/3, Heated saltwater pool & hot tub plus office/study tuscan & mediterranean design $768,000
WATERS EDGE @ OAK HOLLOW
MLS# 10048461
MLS# 10047760
11237 Hamrick Lake Rd 5/3/1/3 1200 SQ. FT. DECK Waterfront home-Gated Secluded 2.3 ACRES $525,000 2138 Evansburg Ln. 4/3/2 2992 sq.ft. updated Granite, New Paint & carpet $324,000
D L SO MLS# 10046190
CALL TODAY AND FIND OUT WHAT YOUR HOME IS WORTH!
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
go to www.facebook.com and search “tylers Home Team”
903.245.9289
valentine
where flowers are fair.
delivering fl flow owers, ow ers, plantings & ap apot othecaries othecaries
2210 Three Lakes Parkway Ste. 160 • Tyler, TX
•
903.787.8822 • welovemoss.com