®
SEPTEMBER 2013
REDEEMED A PERSONAL STORY OF RECOVERY
RIGHTON
TIME MEN’S FALL WATCHES
BREAKING
AWAY
HOW TOLOUIS KEEP THE FIRST OWEN HEART HOSPITAL THE NEW & PEACHES DAY OF SCHOOL FROM LASTING ALL YEAR
PREDATOR & PREY
MIXING IT UP WITH JASON PRESTON
STYLE FILE
STOP & STARE
GET YOUR HEAD START WITH THESE
5 POWER BREAKFASTS
THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN
B SC ENEMAG. COM
SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 1
As another month gets neatly folded into the calender year, we find ourselves upon that curious 30-day stretch we call September. This is generally a humble month. It's not accompanied by fireworks or a golden turkey placed center table; no youngsters hunting for Easter eggs, no ornaments hung with care. September has mostly been known as a simple, unassuming month. However, 12 years ago our nation changed forever on this quiet month and has never been the same. It has become a time of reflection and a moment to take stock of the past as well as look toward the future.
PUBLISHER
SHAWN MICHAEL HANEY shaney@h3-media.com
The sound of Cowboys football was the sound of a happy Sunday! Anytime we were tossing around the football growing up, someone was always Roger "The Dodger" or "Captain Crash,” Danny White or Ed “Too Tall” Jones. It didn't matter who you were, as long as you were a Cowboy.
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As the nation struggled with the events of September 11, 2001, there wasn't much to look forward to; the nation was mourning and our minds were far from simple pleasures. It even seemed we collectively waited for the moment we could begin to laugh again. And if the return of “Saturday Night Live” marked that point, then the return of football certainly meant we must continue to play. Playing can be a great way to heal. And if there's one football team that can lift my spirits it is poignantly enough, “America's Team.” The Dallas Cowboys have been a fixture in my home since I was a kid. And that hasn't changed much today. My beloved Cowboys have faced many struggles in the past decade, but they have never failed to be my team. I am certainly no fair-weather fan. The sound of Cowboys football was the sound of a happy Sunday! Anytime we were tossing around the football growing up, someone was always Roger "The Dodger" or "Captain Crash,” Danny White or Ed “Too Tall” Jones. It didn't matter who you were, as long as you were a Cowboy. The joy of five Super Bowl wins echoed throughout the plays we called and the fun we shared. The late, great Tom Landry coached the Cowboys for 29 amazing years – 20 of those winning seasons. He paved the way for future hall-of-famers like Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and all time NFL rushing leader, Emmitt Smith. It is definitely safe to say the Dallas Cowboys made a big impression on me growing up. And I don't think I can speak of the impression the Cowboys made on me without mentioning “America's Sweethearts,” the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. No red-blooded American boy can deny the thrill of seeing the DCC in action. These beautiful ladies not only represent their team, they represent the nation and they do it with style and grace. Growing up, it seemed almost every girl I knew (at one point or another) dreamt of being an “American Sweetheart.” That is
why it is so great to be able to share the story of a DCC rookie, Rachel Lunsford. She is a true southern belle, with all the beauty and charm you would expect. I was so intrigued to learn about her rise through the ranks of the world's elite cheerleading organization. The BSCENE crew headed to Valley Ranch for a one-on-one photo and video shoot with the newest member of the DCC. We also got the chance to learn a lot about DCC director Kelli Finglass and what it takes to wear the famous star clad uniform. The Dallas Cowboys are an organization that strives to be the best and the DCC are no exception. The professionalism and skill required to make the cut was witnessed first hand and we couldn't have been more impressed. And, while I am touching on professionalism, talent and, to a lesser extent, change, how can I not mention the leaving of our long time Editor William Knous? After over eight years with the BSCENE family, Will has decided to further spread his wings and head in a new direction, and we couldn't be prouder. Will has contributed so much to our magazine and has made it much of what it is today. Back when my wife Kelly and I decided to purchase the magazine, Will was intricate to making that transition. The level of commitment and dedication Will has provided through the years is unparalleled and his parting is very bittersweet. While we are excited to see what the future holds for him (and BSCENE), we are saddened to be absent of his presence and wish him all the very best. Thank you Will for everything you have brought to the table. Simply said, you will be missed. Yes, September is usually a quiet month, but I have learned it can throw you a curve ball. I think this month has taught us how to expect change and accept change. The river of life twists and turns; sometimes it flows fast, sometimes slow, but either way we must swim with it. As imagination gives way to passion, change gives way to innovation. Keep your eyes on the pages of BSCENE as we grow and continue bringing you the best East Texas has to offer.
B S CE N E M A G.COM
EDITOR WILLIAM KNOUS
wknous@bscenemag.com
What I will miss is this, right here: sitting in my office, listening to coworkers laugh and work and take photos and make calls. I'll miss sitting here at my desk, typing out a story, putting together something for you guys to read.
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I write to you today with a heavy heart – not because there is anything wrong or because something terrible has happened. No, nothing quite so dramatic. It is simply a time of change in my life, because this will be the last Editor's Letter you'll read from me in BSCENE Magazine. This, the September 2013 issue, marks the end of my time with the company. There are any number of clichés to be thrown about in a situation like this. I could say how much I've learned working here for eight years. I might talk about the immensely talented people I've had the chance to call coworkers and friends for the better part of a decade. I could say thank you to the people who worked for me and for whom I worked for their skill, understanding and dedication. In the moment, those statements seem a little ordinary, though. Are they true? Of course they are, without a doubt. But, in this moment, they seem to be too few words to tell the story of my time here. I started at BSCENE Magazine as an intern in 2005. I'd graduated from college the year before, and was working at my hometown newspaper. However, I went to school to learn to fill a key creative role at a magazine. So, when the chance arose to join a publication like BSCENE, I snatched it. My first day on the job happened to fall during the pressure cooker of press week while the staff made final preparations to send the magazine off to be printed. We've refined this process through the years, but even during the best of times and with plenty of experience, it can get pretty stressful (then again, that's where all the best inside jokes and bonding comes from). And on my first day, the receptionist had to immediately leave to handle her children who were sent home sick from school. So, guess who got a crash course in every part of the business, starting with the phone system? I got a migraine a little after lunch – the first one I'd had in literally 15 years – but I wasn't going to leave early on my first day. After work, I made it to some friends' house who lived close by, collapsed and slept on their sofa until the next morning. If the receptionist had not returned the next day, I don't think I'd be writing this letter. It was a hell of a way to start a new job. It's probably not accurate to say things got easier from that point on, but they definitely got more familiar. This is where the “learning” cliché comes into play. School
is one thing, and I got invaluable experience during my short time at the paper, but the wealth of knowledge I've gained from doing almost every job at the company day-in and day-out is a whole other animal. Not many people get the opportunities I did coming through here, to soak up anything I wanted to and could handle, to grow and fail and learn and develop and get stronger. Next would come the talented people I've worked with. I've seen salespeople that can look into a business and understand exactly which dots need to be connected between customers and clients, then draw a perfect marketing map between them – personally ensuring the success of businesses around East Texas we all know and love today. I've worked with designers who can take directions like, “You know, make it sort of cool and clean or whatever,” and turn that into a jaw-dropping series of pages, video or photographs. I've read articles by writers who seem to have been waiting their entire lives to craft the perfect story sitting in front of me. There are some amazing people in East Texas, and I've been lucky enough to work with a lot of them. From my BSCENE Production team, to a host of freelancers, to account executives, to CEOs and colleagues, the people of BSCENE Magazine – and by very short extension, the people of East Texas – have been a central and vital theme of my life for eight years. I won't miss working late nights, making phone calls until my neck is permanently cricked or a host of other, eventually inconsequential, things. What I will miss is this, right here: sitting in my office, listening to coworkers laugh and work and take photos and make calls. I'll miss sitting here at my desk, typing out a story, putting together something for you guys to read.
B S CE N E M A G.COM
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SEPTEMBER 2013
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B S CE N E M A G.COM
THE MAGAZINE OF EAST TEXAS 903.509.4703 • info@h3-media.com BSCENEMAG.COM
PRESIDENT / CEO Shawn Michael Haney VICE PRESIDENT Kelly Laine Haney ADVERTISING SALES Sara Brazzil, Sonya York EDITOR William Knous CREATIVE TEAM Caitlin Giddens - Staff Writer Holly Head - Social Editor, Staff Writer Noel Martin - Designer, Photographer Samuel McCurry - Production Assistant Lindsey Todd Morgan - Designer, Videographer
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Andrew Brininstool, Zoe Lawhorn, Kim Lewis Shane Payne, Dr. Aubrey D. Sharpe DISTRIBUTION Max Cogdill PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS David Allen, Paul Anderson – Longview Convention & Visitors Bureau, Better Business Bureau, Heather Gatlin – Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Susan Guice, Susan Guthrie & The City of Tyler, Michael Haney, Lindale Chamber of Commerce, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Longview Regional Hospital, Dr. Scott Lieberman, Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce, Aubry Roach, Bryan Stewart, Tyler Area Builders Association, White Photography STYLE FILE Models: Nicolette & Neal Billups Photography: Noel Martin Hair: Irene N. Jones/Beauty Bar Makeup: Morgan McGill/Beauty Bar Special Thanks: Mike Butler/Butler Architectural Group COVER On The Cover: Rachel Lunsford Photography By: Noel Martin
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PUBLISHER H3 MEDIA, L.L.C. ©
H3 Media, L.L.C. 2013. 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.
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SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 7
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COVER STORY
Rachel Lunsford has made her way from the piney woods of East Texas to the bright lights of Dallas.
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COVER STORY
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NEWS, VIEWS, FACES
THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN SWEETHEART
DTFF LAUNCH PARTY HIGH COTTON 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
No. 8
OPENING RECEPTION
TAKING THE REINS
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AFTER HOURS
BREAKING AWAY
THE POWER BREAKFAST CLUB
A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
BS CENE
DINING GUIDE
HEALTHY WOMAN CELEBRATION
MAN ABOUT TOWN
TASTING ROOM
LCOT CORPORATE SPELLING BEE BUSINESS ADVOCACY LUNCHEON
STYLE FILE
AUGUST COVER UNVEIL
A TIMELESS STATEMENT
MAD FOR PLAID
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STYLE FILE
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FITNESS IQ 67AT HOME
THE MUST LIST
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STYLE
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AT HOME
“GOODNIGHT ROSE CITY”
DISCOVERING DESIGN TRUTHS
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EAST TEXAS KICKOFF LUNCHEON
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AT HOME
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BOOK REVIEW
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AT HOME
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BACK PAGE
TABA APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
SUMMER LEFTOVERS
THE PREDATOR
THE GHOST OF RED HOOK
THE KEYS GRAND OPENING
OUTTAKES
HOT BLACK TIE BINGEAUX
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BACK PAGE SEPTEMBER 2013
96 No. 9
Clothes Mentor in Tyler hosted its first Girls’ Night on Aug. 6. While shopping, guests sipped wine and enjoyed finger foods, all provided by FRESH by Brookshire’s.
STREET SCENE
NEWS / VIEWS / FACES 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.
Marketing Management Inc., located in the People's Petroleum Building in Tyler, celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting on Aug. 1.
The Andrews Center held a ribbon cutting at it’s new medical lab in Tyler on Aug. 20.
TheBetter Business Bureau hosted its networking luncheon and plaque presentation at Culinary Crossroads Café in Tyler on July 25. While guests enjoyed a complimentary lunch, the plaque was unveiled to celebrate the accreditation of Culinary Crossroads
Southwest Drug & Alcohol held its ribbon cutting celebration at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce building on July 9.
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Citizens National Bank held a ribbon cutting to commemorate its new opening in Longview on July 25. There are also Citizens National Bank branches in Tyler, Henderson and Athens.
Tyler Plastic Surgery held an open house at its location in Tyler on Aug. 1, giving guests the chance to meet their new staff. Guests enjoyed drinks, snacks, discounts on cosmetic procedures and give-a-ways.
As part of the 60th Annual Parade of Homes, Tyler Area Builders Association presented checks to Camp Courageous by Rockin’ C Ranch and Azleway Boys’ Ranch on Aug. 5.
The Barber Shop Mancave in Tyler, which offers hair cuts, shaves, shoe shines, manicure, pedicures, massages and drinks, held its ribbon cutting on July 19.
Sabor a Pasión in Palestine hosted its first Grape Stomp as part of its harvest celebration, beginning the week of July 22. During this event, guests took a cue from “I Love Lucy” and competed by stomping their own grapes.
The Kilgore Chamber of Commerce welcomed Summit ESP with a ribbon cutting at its location in Kilgore on Aug. 20.
After finishing its remodel, Walmart on Troup Highway in Tyler commemorated its re-opening with a ribbon cutting on July 19.
Nothing Bundt Cakes held a ribbon cutting at its new location at South Broadway in Tyler on Aug.14. This is Nothing Bundt Cakes’ first location in Tyler, but the bakery has several locations across Texas. With a pair of giant scissors, Keen Solutions Group cut the crimson tape to celebrate its opening in Tyler on July 16. Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics hosted an open house on Aug. 13 to tour the new Pat Herd Women’s Center at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. The Pat Herd Women’s Center features 27-bed state-of-the-art women’s health units, designed to promote healing in a beautiful and calming environment.
Hundreds of children grabbed their stuffed toys for the Teddy Bear’s Train Ride at the Texas State Railroad on Aug. 2. All children 12 and under, who brought their teddy bears with them, rode for free.
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Sharpline Shipping International commemorated its grand opening on July 15. The new shipping center is located at the former downtown post office on West Erwin Street in Tyler.
SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 11
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No. 12 BS CENE
Dr. DeWet - QHI Wellness
B SC ENEMAG. COM
SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 13
THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN
Article By: Caitlin Giddens, Photos By: Noel Martin
Rachel Lunsford, one of this year's rookie Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, breezed into the lobby fitting the image of an “American Sweetheart.” Lunsford’s auburn hair was perfectly imperfect, curled but not stiff. Her smile, which hardly ever left her face, looked sincere and natural. She’s beautiful, but in an approachable way that makes her more likeable – and possibly more stunning. When the BSCENE crew met Lunsford at the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Training Studio in Valley Ranch, the grounds for CMT’s “Making The Team” reality show, she held her blue and white uniform beside her. “Any excuse to try this on again,” Lunsford said with a laugh.
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Hello Lunsford Before donning the iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) uniform, Lunsford was an East Texas darling. She graduated from Whitehouse High School, where she served as first lieutenant of the First Ladies Drill Team in 2008. Then, she attended Kilgore College to lead as “right middle officer” for the worldrenowned Rangerettes. “I’m just a small town girl,” Lunsford said with a shrug of her petite soldiers. With her humble attitude, soft voice and constant smile, Lunsford puts others at ease. For a moment, the BSCENE crew almost forgot we were spending the afternoon at The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Training Studio. After finishing two years at Kilgore College, Lunsford transferred to the University of North Texas, where she performed on the school’s dance team. North Texas Dancers Director Jennifer Cloutier, a former Cowboys Cheerleader, encouraged Lunsford to look into auditions. With Lunsford’s dance background, it only made sense that she would try out for “America’s Team,” as it's lovingly called. She had already performed with the Rangerettes, the first and
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most prestigious college drill team. As a Rangerette, Lunsford learned the importance of poise, etiquette and gratitude. And with the (Dallas Cowboys) Cheerleaders, Lunsford saw more than dancing opportunities. She recognized the character development that the Rangerettes also taught. “As performers, the Cheerleaders are amazing because they’re performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people,” Lunsford said. “But I also looked at the way the way the Cheerleaders portray themselves and the way they are involved with charities and soldiers overseas. It’s amazing how poised they are. That’s where their beauty comes from, for me. It’s not just about the dancing. Hopefully I can carry that on.”
The Injury In 2012, Lunsford auditioned for DCC and made it to training camp. Any fan of CMT’s hit show “Making The Team” can attest for how impressive it is to make it past the first three rounds of auditions. Judges look at more than dance technique; they account for performance skills, overall appearance,
facial projections and learning ability. At training camp, Lunsford experienced a dancer’s nightmare: a sudden knee injury. While warming up before practice, Lunsford threw her final kick in a progression. Then she felt her knee pop. Lunsford’s stomach dropped when she realized what an injury would jeopardize, but she told herself she had just popped her knee out of place. Later, the doctor confirmed she had torn her ACL and medial and lateral meniscus. “I went to the doctor and he told me I had completely blown out my knee,” Lunsford said, her voice softening as she retold the painful story. “I remember crying a lot when it happened. I wasn’t crying because of the pain. I was crying because I was so sad that I had hurt myself and possibly couldn’t go on.” Lunsford ended up leaving the team and the TV show to undergo
knee surgery. The doctor told her this was a common injury, but a very difficult recovery. Throughout the next eight months, Lunsford worked with Dallas Cowboys surgeon Dr. Cooper and physical therapist Alan Thompson. In addition to recovering her knee, she worked to heal her heart and overcome the disappointment of being forced to leave the team. “I injured myself while I was kicking, although in the Rangerettes we kicked all the time,” Lunsford said. She shook her head, her curled hair loosening as she spoke. “Kicking was something that was second nature to me. After that, I almost became scared of dancing – something that I love so much and something that I grew up doing. So I had to reteach myself to not be scared of something I love.” When Lunsford came home from surgery, she had received
“I also looked at the way the way the Cheerleaders portray themselves and the way they are involved with charities and soldiers overseas” B S CE N E M A G.COM
photo courtesy of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
flowers from the team. This served as a reminder of the sisterhood, the sincerity and kindness that first drew Lunsford to the organization. “I remember saying, ‘I just want to be a part of the sisterhood and support,’” Lunsford recalled. “Take away the fact that this organization is so popular and you’re dancing for the Dallas Cowboys, America’s team. Take that away and you have the shell of it, the support and sisterhood. You have the way that they push each other to be better women.”
Kelli McGonagill Finglass DCC Director Kelli McGonagill Finglass told Lunsford her year in recovery would pass quickly, then she would be back at auditions. Lunsford held on to Finglass’ encouragement, and this fueled her motivation when she felt like she couldn’t go on with recovery. “I was basically starting from scratch with my knee,” Lunsford said. “There were times that it hurt too bad or I couldn’t straighten my knee, but I had to remember this [making DCC] is a dream of mine. Now I think God is using me as an inspiration to others, showing that just because
Kelli Finglass, photo courtesy of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
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you have a physical limitation, that doesn’t hold you back from a dream.” Perhaps Finglass invested in Lunsford and encouraged her return to the team because the DCC director is a fellow East Texas native. She passed through the BSCENE photo shoot with Lunsford, nodding at the rookie’s professional demeanor. Finglass’ acknowledgment lasted only a moment, but spoke to the motherly role the director plays in each Cheerleader’s life. The director has a reputation for demanding perfection among the Cowboys Cheerleaders and has often been portrayed as harsh on “Making The Team.” But Finglass also has a heart for East Texas women, like Lunsford and other former Cheerleaders, who epitomize small town values. “Because Kelli is from Lindale, she has brought what she learned in East Texas here,” Lunsford explained. “It’s not the dancers that East Texas breeds. It’s teaching women how to be a lady and juggle different things at once ... How to keep a smile in your face no matter what is going on.” Finglass attended elementary school in Tyler, and then her family relocated to Hideaway Lake when she was in third grade. She went to Lindale High School, where she practiced dance twirl because drill team wasn’t available at the time. Although she wasn’t dancing at halftime, Finglass fell in love with the Friday night lights. “I had my eyes set on being a twirler and then going on to be a drum major. And that, probably, unconsciously prepared me for my job more than anything, which was precision-based football performance,” Finglass explained. Finglass served as drum major until graduating from high school, and then attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. She was a dance major at TCU, which meant constant auditions. One day, while sitting in her dorm room listening to the radio, Finglass heard about upcoming DCC tryouts – an audition that would change her life. “I certainly didn’t think I’d make it when I drove up and saw over a
thousand people in the parking lot at Texas Stadium!” Finglass recalled. “But I was lucky. I was noticed, remembered and selected. I honestly didn’t have the extensive dance technique that would be required of a professional dancer … But I did have good showmanship, good projection, good rhythm, good musicality and the ability to learn very quickly. And, I guess that’s exactly what I did.”
The First Step Finglass relocated to Dallas and transferred to UNT, which shortened her commute to DCC rehearsals. In addition to practicing with the team every day, Finglass enrolled in dance classes to work on her technique. Finglass’ stint as a Cheerleader lasted longer than most: five years.“That’s a pretty long career,” Finglass said. “Average is two to three years. Five years is a long time.” For Finglass’ fifth year on the squad she was asked to return and the grueling audition process was waived for her. That had never happened before and hasn’t happened since. After Finglass’s final year on the team, the Cheerleading Department for the Dallas Cowboys underwent some changes. Finglass stepped up to lead the organization she loved and became the assistant director in 1989 and director in 1991. Her degree in marketing, along with her proven devotion to dance, made her perfect for the job. “The department was costing the Cowboys money at the time. So I tried to start businesses [within the department] that were aligned with our image and our mission,” she explained. “I knew I had this squad of great dancers, and many of which were great dance teachers. So I started camps for children, what we now call ‘Camp DCC.’" This was Finglass’s first step in making DCC a brand and business. Finglass also worked to market the team as more than a group of performers. “I knew that the Cheerleaders were always in high demand for people to take pictures with, and give autographs, but we really didn’t have a ‘personal SEPTEMBER 2013
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appearance department.’” Finglass continued. “So, I started personal appearance bookings for autograph seekers, retail grand openings and … performances. I basically tried to put a business plan to things we already did well, which was perform and create excitement at events.” Finglass was also the brains behind the team’s appearance alongside the Spartan Cheerleaders on "Saturday Night Live." She made one call to SNL and the rest is history. Another dream, making a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Barbie®, required 10 years of writing letters to Mattel and conducting demographic studies. Now on Finglass’ wall hangs the framed acceptance letter from Barbie®, signifying another accomplishment for Finglass and the entire organization. While DCC has been around for 41 years and shifted into a business under Finglass’ leadership, the team has grown in popularity since CMT's “Making The Team” aired in 2006. As team director and executive producer of the TV show, Finglass oversees both operations. Finglass received other TV show offers, but her high expectations crossed over when selecting the best outlet to promote the organization. “We started getting a lot of requests for reality shows a few years ago, and I pretty much turned them all down … they wanted conflict. They wanted hot tub scenes. They wanted girl drama, and I just wasn’t interested because my primary focus was my team, you know, and not dismantling it,” Finglass explained. “But CMT approached us with a different treatment where they were interested in following the Cheerleaders. And I was always interested in something that showed people the audition process and how it showed people the squad and how impressive the ladies are as individuals and their backgrounds, [and] their backstories that come here.” Each Cheerleader is encouraged to remain true to herself and show her personality through a personal Twitter account. Lunsford explained that the team is not full of cookie cutter women – they are encouraged to develop their own identities. “Kelli has always told us to showcase who we are and never be ashamed of where we came from,” Lunsford said. “They’re not trying to change us, they’re helping us find who we are and where we fit in this organization. Our fans can follow us on Twitter. Finglass pushes power in projection, but also through our character and who we are as women.” “Making The Team” captures some “real” moments when women are cut from the team, sometimes right before the football season starts. Even though the entire audition process is recorded and aired, Finglass and Head Choreographer Judy Trammell refuse to lower their standards. They don’t put on a show when the CMT cameras are
rolling. “I just do what I do and let them [videographers] document it. … If Judy and I know this person is just not right for the team this year, it may seem [like we are being] short, but I try to get the [camera] shot over with,” Finglass said. Fortunately for Lunsford, she was right for the team. During her recovery, Lunsford had the constant support of Finglass and the DCC organization “We were heartbroken last year [when she had to leave the team],” DCC Special Events Coordinator Katelyn Nichols said at the training studio. “Rachel is a perfect fit for us.” When Lunsford heard Nichol’s words of encouragement, she smiled softly. “That makes me really happy,” she whispered. “That makes me want to be a strong ambassador for this organization.”
Bringing It Home After the BSCENE interview, Lunsford changed from her denim button-up blouse and pencil skirt into the iconic uniform. “There’s so much detail to this uniform,” Lunsford said fondly. “I can’t stop looking at it. The stones and fringe on it … it’s just so beautiful. It’s a tiny garment and doesn’t hide much, but it’s flattering and one of the most iconic uniforms in America.” Lunsford has always dreamed of wearing the blue and white uniform and she was close to losing that dream, but now it’s a reality. After her injury last year, Lunsford tried on the uniform, but couldn’t perform with the Cheerleaders. Now the uniform is her own, a symbol of Lunsford’s story of perseverance.“This year, I made a joke of it [trying on the uniform again] and said I could actually twirl around like a little girl and not crutch around in it,” Lunsford said with a laugh. “Putting on this uniform and having it fit to me is something I’ll never forget.” The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have become synonymous with perfection and high standards, and East Texas has become a breeding ground for these dancers and future performers. At the core of the organization and at the heart of East Texas lies a common bond: “I was taught in East Texas, not just with dancing but with everything, that performing is about making people happy,” Lunsford said. “It’s about lending a hand and always remembering how fortunate you are.” Fans can follow Lunsford through her personal Twitter account: @DCC_ Rachel. CMT will premiere “Making The Team” on September 6. Look for Lunsford and “The often imitated, never equaled, internationally acclaimed” Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders at the first regular season game on September 8 at the new AT&T Stadium.
Think you know everything about The Dallas Cowboys? Check out p. 93 and test your fan knowledge!
photo courtesy of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
B S CE N E M A G.COM photo courtesy of The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS
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PRODUCTS COURTESY OF FRESH BY BROOKSHIRE'S - PHOTO BY NOEL MARTIN
BREAKING AWAY 22 • THE POWER BREAKFAST CLUB 26 • A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS 30 • B SC ENEMAG. COM
SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 19
No. 20 BS CENE
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BREAKING
AWAY
Preparing Your Kids For The New School Year Article By: William Knous Illustrations By: Lindsey Todd Morgan
When you think back on the first day of school each year in your – ahem – "younger days," it generally evokes thoughts of new notebooks, freshly sharpened pencils and the one day each school year where you were basically guaranteed to have everything organized in its place. It was exciting to meet new friends and teachers and see your new locker. Hopefully you didn’t eat any glue – then again, stress can do crazy things to a kid. Regardless, as an adult thinking back to the first day of school probably holds more fond memories than foul ones. Nevertheless, if we’re all really honest with ourselves there were probably a few occasions where it was very difficult to be dropped off in a big, scary, new place. Think about the first day of kindergarten, if you can? Maybe the first time you rode the bus alone really shook you up? What about that transition into high school, having to eat lunch around those students that you used to look up to almost as grown-ups? With these new transitions, starting school can be a daunting task for many kids and teens. Counselors say it’s not uncommon for those feelings of anxiousness to stretch well beyond the early years of elementary school and into middle school, high school or even college. And it’s a huge mistake for parents to assume that once the first day is under their children’s belts that kids will have a smooth ride from then on. However, just because those feelings can appear, it doesn’t mean that kids will have to deal with that anxiety for years to come – or that parents will have to tackle the problem of agitated, crying kids for the rest of the school year. Marty Barbieri is Director of Guidance and Counseling for Tyler Independent School District. She has been in the educational system long enough to see almost every version of this problem make an appearance at one point or another, and advises parents to employ a series of basic concepts to remove as much stress from these situations as possible. And, luckily for us, these concepts apply to almost any age group. Think about it: the last time you started a new job or joined a new club, there was a sense of anxiousness that reared its head at an inopportune moment. So what Barbieri has to say is applicable to more than just our kindergarteners. Step one is as obvious as it is important – and way too often overlooked: Just talk it over with your child. As much as you might not want to have some conversations with
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your kids, this one should be relatively simple by comparison. Talking things out is how we should work through difficult situations as adults, and laying that groundwork now to develop productive habits later on will only help them to succeed. Barbieri urges parents to be calm, confident and encouraging when initiating a conversation about starting the school year: “Start that conversation positively, because these kiddos are really going to absorb how you feel about it as the parent. When you address this issue, talk about [it like this:], ‘I’m excited you’re going to have this opportunity. You’re going to meet new friends.’ … Let them know that you don’t know everything that is going to happen that day, but you would never put them in a place where you don’t trust the adults there. It’s important for the parent to say, ‘I trust you teacher and counselor and principal to take care of you. Or I wouldn’t have you go there.’” In that way, parents will be building the idea of the place in the mind of the student that it’s normal to not know everything that will happen, and that it isn’t some odd place they’re just going to be dropped off. Remember, it might have been awhile since you were that age. Talk to the people who are at the school every day: teachers and counselors. They have seen kids with
If you build up a certain amount of adrenaline and stress, your brain quite literally shuts down in higher level thinking. B SC ENEMAG. COM
a lot of different issues and anxieties and they’re able to help parents with things they may have forgotten about starting school. Either way, that initial talk with the child is going to be a huge help. Talk about the drop off and the pick up. Talk about the routine for the end of each day. Talk about the lunch room and the bus stop and the T-shirt or uniform the child is going to wear. It creates a routine, and routines make kids feel safe. And being nervous is okay too. “Kiddos need to know it’s okay to feel nervous,” reassured Barbieri. “Nervousness is an uncomfortable feeling, so sometimes we don’t [want our kids to] have any uncomfortable feelings. But, they are going to be nervous multiple times in their lifetime and they need to know that it’s a normal feeling. It’s okay to feel nervous. What do you do when you feel nervous? You find out some information, you prepare yourself as well as possible and you walk in confidently.” Routine is key for students of all ages. So whatever you can do to have a comforting set of behaviors in place, look into it. There are regimens you can put in place that work best for certain ages, and others that work for anyone (even adults, hinthint). There are the old standbys before the first day: start moving the time you go to bed and wake up back by 10-15 minutes each night and every morning, set out everything that must be worn in a “dress for school” spot, get up in time each morning to engage in some sort of activity (that is not television or video games). There are more inventive ideas like a “go to school” box, where you store only things that must go to school with your student the next day. Whatever it is, the most important aspect is to set up routines outside of school that allow children to go through an orderly, calm, predictable
set of behaviors that put them at ease. “Think about it like this,” explained Barbieri. “How settled do you feel going to work if you get up late, can’t find the shirt you wanted to wear, misplaced your paperwork for that important meeting and are still groggy when you pull into the parking lot?” When it comes to that moment of truth, when your kid walks away for the first day of class, it’s all about a clean and confident goodbye, especially with younger children. Maybe they won’t shed a tear or maybe they will hold onto your leg and cry like a newborn and it will pull on your heartstrings, deeply. Barbieri says all you can do is tell them you love them and that you know sometimes things are hard, but you have a lot of confidence in them, their teacher and the other adults at the school. “Smile, wave and walk away,” advised Barbieri. “And decide ahead of time that you aren’t going to cry until you get to the car. If you can go through childbirth, you can do that.” The newness of the first of school can wear off. However, the problems associated with going to a new place full of new people doing new things will be present for a long time. Even if there was no problem when school started – or if there was, and it’s persistent – you can still enact these strategies. “If you don’t get to it until after the first week of school, do it anyway,” Barbieri said. “We forget to talk to kids about ‘how I thought we were doing the best thing. But this hasn’t worked out well. Let’s back up and change. Let’s do something different to get a different result.’ That’s fabulous experience for a kid! As parents, we have to make adjustments. But we forget to think out loud so our kids see the process of how we got there.” SEPTEMBER 2013
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So many times, kids do need to have a problem to learn to think through it. And if we don’t approach these problems head on? If we don’t deal with the separation anxiety and avoidance and bad behavior ... then what? School counselors say that when we see levels of anxiety building in children, they start to have school problems; they can’t cope with academics itself. If you build up a certain amount of adrenaline and stress, your brain quite literally shuts down in higher level thinking. You go back to survivor mode. If this kind of stress continues, you start to see a breakdown of a lot of things, relationships, friendships, performance. “If a kiddo is building anxiety all the time, it’s difficult to trust when you feel that way,” Barbieri said. “It’s difficult to maintain solid friendships if you can’t trust. The kind of anxiety where someone can’t handle new things, can’t handle being nervous, is a bad thing. They can’t handle the nervousness itself. If this goes on for a long period of time (I’m not talking two weeks), you start seeing breakdowns of the child’s personal and academic life. It is a matter of common sense, what is down the road from that kind of feeling.” What’s more, not having a tangible way to approach these sorts of problems will, by extension, lead kids to focus too much on themselves. When kids focus too much on themselves and their own anxieties, that can lead to depression. “We’ve seen a huge rise in depression among kids, and part of that is this building of anxiety,” Barbieri reported. “We need parents that are willing to let their kids feel uncomfortable. Not desert them, but allow them to be uncomfortable and work through it. That builds confidence.” Not long ago, the educational system in this country operated from a mindset we should be building children’s self confidence simply by telling them how wonderful they are all the time. To be honest, children need to hear that from their parents every day. However, we build self confidence through competence. “When we were saying, ‘You’re so wonderful’ all the time, that didn’t give kids any foundation,” said Barbieri. “There’s a quote that says we only really think and use our brains when we are faced with a problem. So many times, kids do need to have a problem to learn to think through it. They need to know who to depend on and who not to, how to try something and how fail, how to readjust and try again. Those are the things we want to build; not this building anxiety and lack of confidence.” But, perhaps most important of all, if your child seems to be having continued anxiety or discusses some things about school that concern you – do not hesitate for a moment. Set an appointment with the teacher or counselor to talk about your concerns. No capable or concerned educator will turn down a sincere opportunity to improve the life and educational competency of a student for any reason. Remember that any day can feel like the first day of school, whether that’s walking into a kindergarten classroom or on the field for the first day of varsity football practice. Preparation is key and it can start at any time. Build kids’ confidence, and prepare them for the real possibility that things might not be easy – but inspire them with the confidence to believe they can handle it and improve. You can apply this advise to your own life too. If you believe it and practice it, it will work. “Then, you can celebrate ‘one day down,’ said Barbieri. “It’s one of those deals that it’s seldom the wrong time to do the right thing.”
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FITENSS IQ
1. On-The-Go
THE POWER BREAKFAST CLUB Five Ideas To Fuel Your Morning Article By: Caitlin Giddens Photos By: Noel Martin
“Fast” is in the name, so it’s definitely possible to get your breakfast on the run. Those who like to grab-and-go, and want to avoid the convenient donut shop, should opt for a cup of Greek yogurt with granola and mix in fresh fruit. If you’re really rushed, then drive through a fast food restaurant and pick up one of the healthier options: even McDonald’s has Fruit ‘N’ Yogurt Parfaits or Fruit and Maple Oatmeal
.
2. Pre-Workout
For morning work outs, you need both protein and carbs before hitting the gym. Go with a protein smoothie made of ½ cup of oatmeal, one frozen banana, a scoop of chocolate protein power, ½ cup of almond milk and a spoonful of peanut butter. This filling shake may fuel an extra lap or two at the gym!
3. Brain Power
This is the perfect breakfast to eat before a morning conference or to fuel young minds. Ebert said to avoid “foggy brain,” everyone should eat a full serving of carbs in the morning. Cook a cup of steel-cut oatmeal, and then add mixed berries and almonds. Try drizzling the oats with local honey to make it even sweeter. With this breakfast, the carbs will help you stay focused and the almonds will keep you full until lunchtime.
4. Weekend Treat
It’s the weekend, so go ahead and treat yourself! An indulgent breakfast doesn’t have to include greasy bacon or buttery waffles. To make breakfast cups, line each muffin tin with a slice of healthy turkey bacon (after spraying with cooking spray), crack an egg in each tin and then top with grated cheese. Cook at 350° degrees for 20 minutes or until the eggs are firm. Or, make a batch of healthy muffins with hidden veggies; replace chocolate chips with sliced zucchini or sliced carrots. That will make you and your whole family rise and shine!
Products courtesy of FRESH by Brookshire's
Sure, it’s “the most important part of the day,” but could skipping breakfast really damage your health? A recent Harvard study found that men who skip breakfast are far more likely to have a heart attack or heart disease. If that doesn’t make you want to wake up five minutes earlier to make breakfast, the “Psychology and Behavior” journal published that when people don’t eat breakfast, they are more likely to splurge on calories later in the day. Most people who work out know they shouldn't hit the gym on an empty stomach. But Cassie Ebert, exercise specialist at ETMC, says breakfast is important no matter your fitness level. While sleeping, the body goes into fasting mode which slows your metabolic rate. So everyone needs a healthy breakfast to jumpstart their metabolism in the morning.
Ebert recommends eating a serving of carbohydrates first thing. “People are weary of carbs, but they're good for fueling your mind and body in the morning,” Ebert explained. “I'm not talking about eating pancakes covered in syrup; think oatmeal or granola. Make sure to go with whole grains if you're looking at a bread or bagel. That will give you sustained fuel.” Often, breakfast is the last thing people think of when they wake up in the morning – there are showers to be had, meetings to plan and kids to drop off at school. There's no time to get creative with healthy, filling breakfasts. To make your mornings easier, we've lined up five power breakfasts for everyone.
5. Not Your “Thing”
If you don't like eating breakfast, you can make a smoothie without emptying your fridge. (Who has time to chop vegetables in the morning?) Make a simple shake with 1 ½ cups frozen berries, ½ cup of Greek yogurt and a sliced banana. Or, if you don't like the taste of breakfast foods, go with a ham and cheese sandwich made with a toasted English muffin, piece of ham, slice of tomato and provolone cheese. This sandwich will turn anyone into a breakfast person!
B SC ENEMAG. COM
SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 27
No. 28 BS CENE
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SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 29
ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY TO RECOVERY & PEACE Article By: Caitlin Giddens Photos By: Noel Martin
No. 30 BS CENE
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photo courtesy of SKAD
photo courtesy of SKAD
When Stella Malone was 2 years old, a car tire ran over her entire body. She walked two steps, collapsed, died and came back to life without a broken bone. She was called a “miracle child” until she was 14 years old. That’s also the age Malone became a drug addict. For seven years, Stella abused drugs and alcohol, suffering to the point where she attempted suicide several times. After stabbing her arm and landing in a mental hospital, Malone literally had nowhere else to go. As a last resort, she turned to God and opened the Bible. Miraculously, the first verse she read delivered the comfort she craved: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV) This verse inspired Malone to found Steal, Kill And Destroy (SKAD), a non-profit organization that helps teenagers overcome issues like drug abuse. Now SKAD travels with Warped Tour, a secular music and extreme sports festival, reaching out to troubled teenagers across the country. “I started this community to raise awareness for who Jesus is and how He set me free [from drugs, etc.] and how He could set others free, too,” Malone said. “I knew I needed
to do something to help kids that are going through the same things that I went through.” While growing up in Lindale, Malone experimented with marijuana before graduating to heavier narcotics. At home, her mother was an addict and her father was in and out of prison. “During this time, I never believed in God, and I didn’t have hope,” Malone said. “I didn’t have a [close] family who supported me. At 17, I started taking Ecstasy and cocaine.” Similar to many addicts, Malone began using drugs in high school because she felt alone and yearned for a sense of community. “People didn’t like me, and I felt like an outcast,” Malone said. “I found those kids [who used drugs] to be the most accepting.” She continued using drugs until graduating from Lindale High School. After a close friend overdosed on Oxycontin, she promised to give up drugs once she moved to college. Away from home, Malone felt alone again so she found solace in Ecstasy and Xanax. “I started getting back into to old things because photo courtesy of SKAD
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they were my escape,” Malone explained. “My new friends were selling it so I participated a few times.” To fund their drug addictions, Malone and her friends would go to clubs and tell people they were selling them Ecstasy, but give them Tylenol or birth control pills. Within months of moving away, Malone was not only back on drugs; she was endangering her life by cheating addicts. This continued until a drug dealer caught on to their scam and chased Malone and her friends. “We got a phone call from the drug dealer threatening our lives if we didn’t pay him,” Malone said. “We were on the run from this guy. Within 24 hours [after he called] we moved out of my apartment and we sold the car so he couldn’t track us down.” This experience should have been a wake-up call for Malone. Instead, she dropped out of school and delved deeper into a dark world of drugs. Her life became a series of highs that led to ultimate lows: near overdoses that should have killed her, according to Malone. Again, Malone, the “miracle child,” would survive a brush with death. “One time, in two days I took 20 something Ecstasy tablets and I just lost my mind,” she recalled. “That experience really scared me. My whole life, every time I did something extreme, I would think, ‘Why does God hate me?’ And then I’d say that God wasn’t real.” Hoping to finally get clean, Malone returned to Lindale. Malone’s mother, who was constantly in and out of rehab, told Stella to check into a rehab facility. Her brothers insisted she was not a true addict – she was just making “stupid decisions.” So Malone began a 12-step program hoping to take control of her life. “That was good for me for about two months, and then I started drinking heavily,” Malone said. She decided to enroll in the Art Institute in Dallas in July of 2006, where she says she received her “bachelor’s degree in alcoholism.” She drank alcohol three to four days a week, but thought she was clean because she was off drugs. When Malone wasn’t in art class, she would binge drink and cut herself to feel an escape until she eventually dropped out of school again and returned to Lindale. “I moved back home again, and my mom went back into
rehab. One day, I caught my mom relapsing and that sent me into a downward spiral," Malone said. Stella relapsed as well, and by the summer of 2008, Malone and her mother were both on drugs again. They argued constantly, but continued to live together in a mutually destructive environment. Malone “hated her mother’s ways” and resented her because she chose boyfriends over her own daughter. When her mother asked for a ride to see an abusive boyfriend, that was the last straw for Stella. “I told myself that I would either stop her from seeing this guy or I would stab myself in front of her,” Malone explained. “When I had that premeditated thought, it was a lot of pent up hurt from the years. I grabbed a knife and first put it to my neck, but then stuck it into my arm. I remember that whatever darkness had come over me, I snapped out of it. I looked at my arm and I could see my muscles and [skin] tissue.” She was rushed to the emergency room, where the doctor told her she was lucky to be alive. She scoffed at him, angry she had survived again. “I just barely missed a main artery,” Malone said. “There had been so many experiences where I almost died. I could not understand why I was still alive.” After leaving the hospital, she was checked into a mental facility. Malone felt hopeless before a chance meeting with someone who changed the way she saw religion. “I remember there was this lady in there and she would talk about Christ,” Malone recalled. “This woman [struggled with] depression, but she still felt that Christ was there for her. For some reason that stood out to me. Growing up, my mom tried to talk to me about Jesus, but it never stuck.” Malone was out of options, so she decided to give God a chance. “While I was in the mental hospital I had an encounter with the Lord and I felt like he touched my heart,” Malone said. She didn’t need drugs or alcohol to fill her emptiness, she had found abundance through God. Eager for a new beginning, Malone checked out of the mental hospital and attended church that week. She was determined to find new friends that held her accountable to her new lifestyle. “I had to change my environment and who I was surrounded by,” Malone said. Malone met Christians who accepted her the way she was, something she ached and searched for in the wrong friends in the past. Then an online posting inspired Malone to take a leap of faith. “This group called 'Love the Unloved' posted on MySpace that they needed a volunteer to go to Cornerstone Music Festival,” Malone said. “If anyone wanted to go, they’d pay for your trip. Being the music lover I am, and the fact that I felt called to Christianity, I volunteered.” At Cornerstone, a Christian music festival, Malone experienced a religious revival that led
her to found SKAD. “Over the years, I had lost 11 friends to alcoholism or drugs, so the whole time I worked for that non-profit organization at Cornerstone I thought about all the people I had lost,” Malone explained. “When I returned home I talked to my friend about how the Lord wants me to share my story. I’ve lost so many friends and the Lord has stirred something in my heart to say something to wake people up.” Malone started an online community outreach, then passed out SKAD flyers for a week until a stranger suggested they meet at a Starbucks in Tyler. At Starbucks, Malone gave flyers to some kids loitering outside. Some met her at the coffee shop, where Malone began a weekly judgementfree “community night” that invited kids to talk about any burdens they carried. “We talk about different things, whether it’s stress or anxiety or depression,” she explained. “All the leaders are Christian. I’d say 75 percent of the kids who come are not believers, but that’s okay because we want them to keep coming back.” Malone’s own story, combined with her welcoming personality, makes her the ideal leader of this understanding organization. Myranda Bynum, a current SKAD leader, was not a Christian when she stumbled into Starbucks and sat through a community night. “Hearing Stella’s story gave me hope that I can have hope in my life, too,” Bynum said. “The other leaders and I have to be transparent with our pasts, the struggles we’ve had and what we still struggle with so the kids can relate to us. My favorite part of SKAD is that this idea is so universal. We have parents who say they wish SKAD had been around when their kids were overcoming addiction.” After regular community nights were established and SKAD saw success at local music shows, Malone felt a call to help kids outside of Tyler. She wanted SKAD to become an official non-profit so more kids could hear her message and find God’s truths. “I really believed we could take it a step further and work toward it becoming a nationwide group,” Malone said. “I met with a CPA and filed the proper paperwork. We filed in 2009, and once you receive your non-profit status it goes back to when the organization was first founded, which was 2008.” Malone had more plans for SKAD: with her passion for Christian outreach and music, she hoped to incite a revival similar to the one she experienced at Cornerstone. SKAD held a fundraiser with a local band and raised enough money to receive non-profit status and send leaders to Cornerstone in Illinois. After sharing her story at Cornerstone, Malone continued to facilitate community nights. “Our community nights in Tyler are the heartbeat of our mission,” Malone said. “But since we didn’t have SKAD community nights all over the country, we wanted to give kids an opportunity to have an outlet, even
if it was just for one day, at music festivals.” After applying and being rejected once, SKAD was invited to attend Warped Tour two years ago. Concerts are probably the last place people expect to find God, which is exactly why Malone felt called to Warped Tour. While on tour, Malone sees former friends from high school who don’t recognize her. “My favorite thing is when I see people from my past and they say, ‘There must be a God if you’re doing something like this,’” Malone said. While traveling with Warped Tour, SKAD sets up booths and opens the conversation with anyone who approaches them. “We won’t shove Jesus on these kids,” Malone explained. “We have one-on-one mentoring. A lot of our kids have parents who are active in their lives and some of them have parents who are addicts like I did. My job is to encourage all these kids and tell them they are valuable and worthwhile.” In August, Malone returned from her second Warped Tour feeling energized by the people she met and the potential she saw in new SKAD leaders. “A long-term vision for us would be to have a youth center for the kids in Tyler, a place for kids to feel welcome and host concerts and game nights and our community nights,” Malone
"My whole life, every time I did something extreme, I would think, ‘Why does God hate me?’" No. 32 BS CENE
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said. “As for now, we’re going to be interviewing people [we met at Warped Tour] for leaders in different cities in the country. I’m willing to fly out to the city and facilitate their community nights to get them started. We definitely want our organization to grow.” From her first brush with death as a 2-year-old, Malone has always been a “miracle child.” She uses the gift of life, and her gift to help others, to serve as the pulse of SKAD. Malone remembers her first near-death experience, as well as the many times she survived suicide attempts, and will never forget how lucky she is to be alive. “I fell underneath the car and the tire ran over my entire body,” Malone recalled from her accident as a child. “I got up and walked a few steps and my head was split open like a baseball. I was care flighted to Trinity Mother Frances and they put 22 stitches in my head, but I walked away without a broken bone. I was part of the Children’s Miracle Network telethon for years. I still have a brutal scar in my head, but it’s a beautiful reminder to me now as an adult, that life is short.” Visit SKAD’s Facebook page to learn more about its mission: Facebook.com/StealKillAndDestroy. photo courtesy of SKAD
“The other leaders and I have to be transparent with our pasts ...”
Stella Malone, Josh Adair, Myranda Bynum B SC ENEMAG. COM
SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 33
SEE&BSCENE
OPENING RECEPTION / 8.13.13
The Pat Herd Women’s Center at Trinity Mother Frances in Tyler held an opening reception on Aug. 13. Guests gathered in the Wisenbaker Conference Center to recognize donors and the Heard family and celebrate the opening of the new facility. The Pat Heard Women’s Center provides a state-of-the-art facility for expecting mothers to recuperate in a comfortable environment. At the center, patients also have access to the only Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Tyler.
CHAD CROW, MORGAN RIPPY, DEL SHANKLE, SUZIE RIPPY
LEEANNA & ERIC BERRY
ANN NORRIS, JOANN SIMONS, VERNA HALL
DR. JENNIFER CALVERT, JOHN HARDY
BONNIE TINCHER, PATRICIA CLINE
AMANDA ROBERSON, DARRIN SZILAGYI
No. 34 BS CENE
FELICIA ADAMS, BETH LOWE, SUZANNE GAILEY
LINDSEY BRADLEY, KANDI & ROBERT OWENS
PATRICK WILLIS, MARTHA CRITCHFIELD, MARILYN ABEGG-GLASS, BARBARA SHTOFMAN
MICHAEL HERD, LAURA DRAY
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DAVID FLYNN, DC EAST TEXAS DOCTORS OF CHIROPRACTIC
SITTING ... THE NEW SMOKING With the landscape of American healthcare changing what seems like every day, medical professionals look to give the most beneficial and advantageous advice to patients to help them stay healthy and free of disease. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing due to more and more people acquiring diseases and living with them longer. One of the most astonishing yet profoundly practical pieces of advice now has rock solid evidence to support it. DON’T SIT TOO MUCH! Despite how easy and comfortable it is to settle down into a chair for most of the day, new research out of Australia shows that too much sitting is a detriment to your health. “Sitting is the new smoking” says Dr. Kanodia of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This statement comes after a study was released in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showing increases in the risks of diabetes (112 percent), cardiovascular events (147 percent), death from cardiovascular causes (90 percent) and death from all causes (49 percent) in people who spent the most time sitting. The study estimates that for every hour of TV people watch, their lifespan is cut by 22 minutes. Similarly, previous studies have estimated that one cigarette shortens a lifespan by 11 minutes. The human body was designed to move, but too many people get stuck in a rut. The key to staying healthy is moving. Whether it’s a little or a lot, it can help to save your life.
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SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 35
Taking
Reins the
Why The Texas Equestrian Gala Is Making Strides
Article By: Holly Head Photos Courtesy Of: Azleway
Come Oct. 12, East Texans will have the opportunity to enjoy a first-class riding show featuring horses and riders in action at the Texas Equestrian Gala benefiting Azleway, Inc. This marks the five-year anniversary for this refined event at Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler. This is a truly unique event executed in style and long associated with sophistication and elegance. The owners of Texas Rose Horse park (mother and daughter Kathy and Kim Brunson) donate the use of their scenic, premier facility; and Patrick Rodes of Southbound Show Management produces the first-class AA competition and allows Azleway guests to spectate the Grand Prix portion from ringside seats. Professional riders from a multi-state area are attracted to compete in the USHJA Hunter Jumper Classic – making for an eclectic and diverse crowd. Committee member, past event chair/founder Debbie Labicki created the event in 2008. The owners of Texas Rose Horse Park met with Labicki with the idea of using their scenic venue for an outdoor charity event. As an Azelway donor, Labicki quickly made the pitch to Azleway – not long after that she became the event’s first chair. Azleway, Inc. provides opportunity to Texas children at risk and in crisis. Their foster care program includes Azleway Boys’ Ranch Residential Treatment Center, located in Tyler. However it also extends to adoption services, a substance abuse program, three charter schools, children’s services and a transitional living program. Azleway has locations across the state that extend their reach far beyond children in East Texas.
“If I can make a difference in one child’s life then that is a blessing to me. It is a small thing that I can do to help,”
Azleway Development Associates Gail McGlothin and Katie Powell are also instrumental in coordinating the event. “While we are reimbursed for each child in our care by the State, they don’t give us nearly enough for what it takes to raise a healthy child,” Powell explained. “We can cover room and board with [state money] but we have to pay for therapy, schooling … we’re short about $7.50 per kid, per day. The Equestrian Gala has become one of our huge fill-ins to bridge that gap. This is our fifth anniversary which is so exciting!” Powell explained that since the event has limited seating due to the ringside tent size, it has a feel of a “boutique Cattle Baron's.” The outdoor event includes a fabulous seated dinner with two plated entreés per person catered by Villa Montez of Tyler. The beer and wine for the tables and bar are donated by Ben E. Keith, with a Texas wine tasting at the start of the night featuring local wineries such as Fairhaven and Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards. Other activities during the evening include live and silent auctions with decadent trips and celebrity-signed swag. This year’s auction even includes items autographed by country singer Kacey Musgraves. Several sweepstakes also take place during the night. This year’s cupcakes sweepstakes features “Cupcake Wars” winner The Luscious Crumb, and a wine glass sweepstakes with engraved wine glasses from Tyler’s own Cole & Co. All of the committee members and volunteers definitely have a heart for the organization including this year’s event chair, Millette Stroud. She began as a sponsor with BancorpSouth in 2009, and was so inspired she became involved directly with the Gala. “If I can make a difference in one child’s life then that is a blessing to me. It is a small thing that I can do to help,” she said. Stroud along with Joyce Crawford, this year’s co-chair, and 24 committee members are planning for this event to be even better than last year’s. The committee hopes to hit $100,000 in proceeds, which is an ambitious for an event of 300 attendees. Still, their most successful Gala to date raised $93,000 so this year’s goal is within reach. “It expands every year,” Powell said.
No. 36 BS CENE
“And the work gets harder, but we have such a marvelous committee that works so hard and does it so cheerfully that it’s always so great to watch.” For tickets and sponsorships, contact Gail McGlothin at 903.566.8444 or via e-mail at Gail.Mcglothin@azleway.org. For event details visit azleway.org.
B S CE N E M A G.COM
B SC ENEMAG. COM
SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 37
No. 38 BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
Gastric Bypass Gastric Bypass Lap-Band® ® Lap-Band and now
Sleeve Gastrectomy 903-593-0230 903-593-0230 • tylerbariatrics.com www.tylerbariatrics.com
Experience with with over more2000 than Experience 3,000 procedures since 2001 procedures Lap-Band is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.
B SC ENEMAG. COM
SEPTEMBER 2013
No. 39
No. 40
BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
CULINARY & DINING GUIDE
COOK WELL
LL E W K O CO SOME AWE
N AUTAULEMS
GOOSE ISLAND HARVEST ALE, PROVIDED BY R&K DISTRIBUTORS
pg 50
DINING GUIDE 42• MAN ABOUT TOWN 49• TASTING ROOM 50• B SC ENEMAG. COM
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No. 41
DINING GUIDE
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, as well as truly innovative cake and pastry design to accompany their unparalleled bakery and café. “Say It With Cake!” for birthdays, weddings or any other special occasion! Let Chez Bazan satisfy your sweet tooth with signature pies, cookies and homemade breads. Don’t forget to stop in for one of our wonderful, healthy lunch options! Remember to “like” us on Facebook!
5930 Old Bullard Rd • Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.561.9644 • chezbazan.com Café Hours: 11a.m. – 2p.m. M-S Bakery Hours: 7a.m. – 6p.m. M-F, 8a.m. – 4p.m. S, Closed Sundays
CHICK-FIL-A EAT MORE CHICKEN
We are excited to announce our Salads Menu will be changing. We have improved our salads and the new ones will be a Grilled Market Salad, Cobb Salad, Asian Salad. Stop in and try the Wonderful New items we have. The Cows will be Happy you did ! We support healthy appetites!
5716 South Broadway Tyler, TX • 903.534.4692 3830 Troup Hwy Tyler, TX • 903.561.2324
LAGO DEL PINO TEXAS FOOD, TEXAS FUN
Lunch or dinner, come for the Texas cuisine, spirits & live music… stay for a uniquely southern good time. Lago del Pino is the place to experience Tyler’s oasis in the country side for your next client lunch or just a relaxing lunch with friends. Our lunch menu prices start at just $4 and features everything from Prime Rib Stuffed Jalapeños and our signature Winter Pear & Rosemary Salad, to our delicious Seared Ahi Tuna Sandwich and our always awesome Smoke Jalapeño Meatloaf. Wed. & Thurs. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Fri. 11 a.m. – 12 a.m. Sat. 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. Sun. 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays lagodelpino.com 14706 CR 1134 Tyler, TX 75709• 903.561.LAGO
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MERCADO’S
AUTHENTIC TEX-MEX
Mercado’s has been serving up some of East Texas best Tex-Mex for over 30 years. Come on in and try one of our 25 new items featuring Taco Al Pastor and handmade Gorditas! With all this variety you are certain to find a dish that satisfies. Mercado’s is also equipped with a full bar, so ice cold beer or your favorite cocktail is always on hand. Oh! And, don’t forget about our fresh, made-by-hand tortillas or free chocolate and vanilla soft serve. Bring the family, bring your friends and join us for some great atmosphere and authentic Tex-Mex cuisine.
2214 W Southwest Loop 323 • Tyler, TX 903.534.1754 www.posados.com
RUSTY TACO
TACOS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY! Happy hour every day 4-10pm! Scrub day Thursday, every Thursday! We cater! Call and ask us about catering your next event. Two Tyler locations, and Longview location to better serve East Texas. Let’s keep East Texas Rusty! 1714 S. Beckham • Tyler, TX 903.596.8225 7922 S. Broadway • Tyler, TX 903.939.3000 3312 N. 4th St. • Longview, TX 903.663.2940
B S C E N E M A G . C O M
®
THE Magazine of East Texas! THE MAGAZINE OF EAST TEXAS!
YAMATO
JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR
BESTof
2012 READERS’ CHOICE FACEBOOK.COM/BSCENETX BSCENEMAG.COM
Specializing in traditional Japanese cuisine Steak-Seafood-Sushi Boats-Bento Boxes-Udon Soup Two Private rooms available Live DJ every Friday and drink specials from 9 p.m. until midnight Karaoke Every Saturday 9 p.m.-1a.m. Happy Hour: Monday-Thursday 4:30p.m.-6:30p.m. 9p.m.-close Kids eat free on Sunday
2210 WSW Loop 323 • Tyler 903.534.1888 • www.yamatotexas.com Find us on Facebook! B SC ENEMAG. COM
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PREMIUM QUALITY • COMMITTED SERVICE
Distributors, Inc.
CELEBRATING
50 YEARS
IN EAST TEXAS 1963 - 2013
R&K DISTRIBUTORS HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTING BEVERAGES TO EAST TEXANS SINCE 1963 Founded in 1963 by Rose and Kenneth Kirkpatrick, R&K Distributors has been a family owned operation for 50 years. With branch locations in Longview and Nacogdoches, R&K covers an area that spans 18 counties throughout the East Texas region. The company’s portfolio includes products from five different breweries, including the exclusive rights to the Anheuser Busch brands. For 50 years, R&K has committed itself to the highest standards of service to retailers, providing quality products to the consumer and supporting the communities in which is does business. Search for: R&K Distributors (LOOK FOR THE LOGO)
No. 44
ongview, BSL CENE
Texas
Nacogdoches , NTEexas B S CE M A G.COM
NOTHING BUNDT CAKES
THE BEST CAKE YOU WILL TASTE, SHARE & GIVE Decadent, delectable, delightful – Nothing Bundt Cake bakeries feature a wide assortment of cake flavors, including Chocolate Chocolate Chip, White White Chocolate, Red Velvet, White Chocolate Raspberry, Carrot, Lemon, Marble, Cinnamon Swirl and Pecan Praline. Nothing Bundt Cakes are available in numerous sizes to accommodate gatherings both large and small, from bite-sized Bundtinis, to single serving Bundtlets, to larger 8” and 10” cakes and even double-tiered cakes. In addition to cakes, our bakeries feature an assortment of artfully designed gifts and decorations with a playful, timeless quality to help make any occasion ever more special. Mon. Fri. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Sunday nothingbundtcakes.com • Located next to Starbucks and Jason’s Deli 4917 S Broadway • Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.504.5366
BREAKERS
A SEAFOOD JOINT
It’s the hit of the season! ONE appetizer, TWO entrees and a dessert – all for only $25. From golden fried calamari for starters to our key lime pie for dessert, along with a huge collection of outstanding entrées, the New Breakers’ 2 for $25 menu is great food at a great price.
5106 Old Bullard Road • Tyler, TX 75703 • 903.534.0161 www.breakerstyler.com • Hours of Operation: MON – WED 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. THURS – SAT 11 a.m. – 12 a.m., SUN 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
JULIAN’S ASIAN RESTAURANT FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD & COCKTAILS “So Fresh, So Lite, and Still SO GOOD” We have something for every style of foodie (Noun 1. Foodie – a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink) “Step Out of Tyler and Into Julian’s”
Don’t forget WE CATER!
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VOTE THE FOR
BEST OF
2013 NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT? WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE NEWS STATION? WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PHYSICIAN? SIMPLY VISIT BSCENEMAG.COM TO MAKE YOUR PICKS FOR...
THE BEST OF EAST TEXAS 2013
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SNACK-TO-SCHOOL For parents of school-age kids, back-to-school also means a flood of activities, parties and sporting events – and nearly all of them are fueled by food. Let FRESH help you think beyond cupcakes and juiceboxes, and mix it up when it comes to party snacks for the kids. Classroom birthday party: In pre-school and elementary, bringing treats for the class is practically mandatory, but who says it has to be cake? Try cheese pizza, cut into small squares, or big, individually wrapped dill pickles. (Kids love them, truly!) Or make individual bags of your own healthier trail mix: Graham bears, yogurt-covered raisins, pretzel sticks, gummy bears, goldfish and just a few M&Ms mix well together. (Try carob candies from the FRESH bulk bar if you’re anti-chocolate!) Soccer-game snacks: Reward sweaty players with frozen, chocolate-dipped bananas on a stick (they’ll defrost just enough for easy eating by game’s end). Pop yogurt tubes into the freezer; they’ll still be cold and slushy at halftime. Hand out individual bags of kettle corn, cheese popcorn and/or caramel corn. Middle-school mixer: Because kids’ tastes are getting more sophisticated, try individual containers of hummus and pita chips, or a salsa bar with five or six salsas for chips, or cheese and chicken quesadillas, cut into small wedges. For sweets, think individual and fun – chocolate-dipped potato chips; chunks of melon, pineapple or strawberries on a skewer; strawberries dipped in white chocolate. Football tailgate: Pre-game festivities call for hearty fare. Try a baked-potato bar – keep foil-wrapped potatoes warm in a Crockpot or insulated cooler, then go crazy with toppings. Bacon, green onions and sour cream, of course, but also set out grated cheeses (blue, pepper-jack, feta and Parmesan); chili; strips of fajita chicken; sautéed mushrooms, onions and bell peppers; ranch dressing; queso; guacamole; tortilla chips; and pimiento cheese.
B S CE N E M A G.COM
We don’t care where you came from ... We’re just glad you’re here. Thirsty Thursday | Ladies Night Live Entertainment Fri. & Sat. 7 days a Week 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. Saturday 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. 418 E. Erwin Tyler, Texas
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MAN ABOUT
TOWN with dr. aubrey d. sharpe photos by: William Knous
Last fall, FRESH by Brookshire's sponsored an event to help brides-to-be plan their weddings. All sorts of vendors displayed their services: clothiers, caterers, event venues, photographers, wedding planners and musicians – to name a few. “The Man” was invited to perform a “mock” wedding ceremony. What a delightful experience. Well, it was there that my friend Christine Gardner, Tyler Paper Food Editor, introduced “The Man” to Executive Chef Simon
Webster and his Sabor a Pasión Country House and Bistro. Now, Chef Simon is a man’s man. He is tall, handsome, gregarious and very talented. Chef walked me through a large photo album of his 25 acre country estate and vineyard outside of Palestine. As he described his background, food and penchant for special events and entertaining; I just knew I had to experience Sabor a Pasión. At the invitation of Chef Simon, we were invited to the First Annual Harvest Dinner
This unique venue is not only a culinary destination but provides a matchless opportunity for a romantic getaway in the tastefully appointed bed-and-breakfast suites... in July. About 40 of us had the time of our lives in the large ballroom enjoying an exquisite, fivecourse dinner prepared by Chef Simon himself. The party began about 7 p.m. with wine, antipasto and lots of good conversation. Our table included Will Knous, editor of BSCENE; his beautiful lady, Whitney Green; Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples; and Todd's lovely wife, Janet; plus Chef Christine Gardner and me. We had a hoot of a group! As the sun was setting, all 40 of us made our way outside to the vineyard, with champagne in hand, where “The Man” led the prayer for the first harvest and a toast to the vines. No pun intended, but the entire experience was a blessing! Meanwhile, back in the ballroom, our insulata of cucumber boat mixed green salad with roasted Texas peaches, goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette was waiting. The pastry pesce of stuffed pasta shells with cod and salmon mousseline, prawns and a tomato reduction was delectable and the perfect set up for the main course of loin of New Zealand lamb with grilled potato cake, roasted pine nuts and green onions, and roasted Mediterranean vegetables. It B SC ENEMAG. COM
was all perfectly “flavor from passion” (as the motto goes: “Sabor a Pasión,” Where Passion Meets Flavor on Every Plate). Throughout the evening as the food and wine kept a-comin', Alex Graser performed wonderful acoustic guitar music for our enjoyment. Chef Simon also unveiled the artwork for the bottle labels on his two new wines. Janet Staples, who is an accomplished artist, did a superb job of creating the designs. They are all works of art, indeed! This unique venue is not only a culinary destination but also provides a matchless opportunity for a romantic getaway in the tastefully appointed bed-and-breakfast suites; a one-of-a-kind wedding ceremony and accompanying dinners or luncheons in the ballroom, which seats 150-200 guests; or a small private ceremony in the vineyard. The country house is also ideal for one-to-three day business or training retreats. Chef Simon was born in England, raised in New Zealand and classically trained at the New Zealand Culinary Institute. He has owned and/or managed five-star restaurants all over the world. But listen, the fella does it all. He’s an artist, builder,
vineyard keeper and wine maker, as well. Everything you see or experience at Sabor a Pasión he created with his own hands. He is the full embodiment of the notion, “What you can conceive and believe you can achieve.” “The Man” is sold on everything about this unforgettable character. Listen, you must add this East Texas treasure to your list of things to do… and often. How do ya get there? Easy. It’s about 44 miles from Tyler, south on Hwy 155 toward Palestine. Check it out at saborapasion.com or call 903.729.9500. It’s a short beautiful ride and once you get off Hwy 155 the countryside is just awesome! This secluded and peaceful respite is worth the drive and the time. In fact, many of his regular customers drive from Dallas or Houston. “The Man” spent the night and enjoyed a personally prepared breakfast with the Chef after a morning of relaxed coffee and conversation with my good host. Happy and content, I meandered back to Tyler in time for lunch. You can do the same. “The Man” recommends it. So, if you’re out and about, look for us, we’ll be about town. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 13
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TASTING ROOM
BECK’S OKTOBERFEST
As the seasons change, so do our tastes. And the people at R&K Distributors, don’t want you to have to wait until Oktoberfest to enjoy the season’s smoothest, frosty brews. These lagers and ales have all the flavors you’re craving right now. Flavors like toasted malts, fruity hops and crisp apples will help you kick off this football season!
Celebrate the arrival of Autumn and Oktoberfest season with Beck’s Oktoberfest – an authentic German Oktoberfest import beer brewed especially for this time of year. Caramel in color with a rich, full head, this brew perfectly complements traditional German foods such as sausage and bratwurst, or other fall favorites such as stews and hearty chili. Prost to the fall season!
E T I R AVO
F
L L FA RS O V FLA
LONG N M TU LL AU
SIP A O T DS
SU
Beer provided by R & K Distributors
No. 50
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B S CE N E M A G.COM
GOOSE ISLAND HARVEST ALE
Brewed in honor of the Harvest season, this copper-colored ESB is made with Cascade hops and the richest malts. A fruity American hop aroma and a toasty English malt character make Goose Island Harvest Ale an extra special beer worthy of your devotion.
SHOCK TOP HONEY CRISP APPLE WHEAT
This is a unique, smallbatch hybrid of unfiltered Belgian wheat beer brewed with sweet cider to produce a brew that is crisp, refreshing and wonderfully flavorful.
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No. 52
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FOR HER & FOR HIM
K
STYLE
STYLE
ON TEHEP AN EYE E TIME pg 18K ROSE GOLD TRANSOCEAN CHRONOGRAPH SUSAN ROBINSON JEWELRY
62
STYLE FILE 54 • A TIMELESS STATEMENT 62 • MAD FOR PLAID 66 • THE MUST LIST 69 •
STYLE FILE
(him): Jack Victor sports coat, Robert Talbot shirt, Dion knit tie, Tino Cosma pocket square, W. Kleinberg crocodile belt, 3 Anella trousers, Michael Toschi “Luciano” suede shoes, Harley’s.
&
STOP
(her): G-Lish sequin dress, Bridgette’s Exclusive: bib necklace, silver bracelets, rhinestone bracelet, Bridgette’s; Pelle Moda “Hani” heels, Bridgette’s Shoe Collection.
Models: Nicolette & Neal Billups Photography: Noel Martin Hair: Irene N. Jones/Beauty Bar Makeup: Morgan McGill/Beauty Bar
STYLE FILE (her): Hot & Delicious dress, Cavender's; Pelle Moda “Alera” kitten heels, Bridgette’s Shoe Collection; multi-strand pearl necklace, pearl bracelet w/black bead, Katie’s; Kendra Scott: “Apollo” earrings, “Electra” bracelet, “Delaney” ring, Ellie’s Bee’s.
COURTNEY (left): Jade by Melody Tan blouse, Fidelity jeans, Morgan Abbigail; gold leaf fashion belt, 8th Street Boutique; Kendra Scott “Allison” earrings, Fornash signature enamel bracelet, Ellie Bee’s.
(him): Paul Betenly suit, Eaton shirt, Robert Talbot tie, Tino Cosma pocket square, Torino Elite alligator belt, Donald J. Pliner black stretch “Nappa” shoes, Harley’s.
(him): 7 For All Mankind pullover, J Brand jeans, Michael Toschi “Luciano” shoes, Harley's. (her): Double Zero blouse, Crystal Spur; Petrol zipper leggings, Cavender's; Pelle Moda “Hani” heels, Bridgette's Shoe Collection; Love Peace Hope cami, silver fashion hoops, blue bib fashion necklace, blue fashion bangles, silver cross bracelet, Katie's. No. 58 BS CENE
B S CE N E M A G.COM
At Suddenlink, we respect the individuality of all current and prospective members of our team and value the richness that diversity brings to our workforce; it improves our Company and the communities we serve. Our team is stronger and more effective because of both our differences and also our abilities to work together with a single focus – delivering outstanding customer service. Because we appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce we proudly partner in our recruitment efforts with a variety of national and local organizations including Women in Cable Telecommunications, UT Tyler, Tyler Junior College, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Texas Workforce Commission. If you have excellent leadership skills, a passion for customer service and technology-- we have career opportunities available now! Please visit work4suddenlink.com for more information on openings and our outstanding employee benefits
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No. 60
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Jeffrey Ward Now Offering Great Lengths Cold Fusion Extensions! • Virtually Impossible to Detect • Create & Transform – from summer bobs to long beach waves, from highlights to Swarovski crystals. • Worn by celebs like Miley Cyrus and Kourtney Kardashian, • 100% human hair • 100% guaranteed ethical • Great Lengths Certified Stylists undergo unmatched, industry-recognized best in category training
La Piazza Shopping Center Tyler 903.561.8724 B SC ENEMAG. COM
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No. 61
TAG HEUER
CITIZEN
FILSON
Stainless Steel Flyback Carrera
Eco-Drive Stiletto Black
Rugged Twill Watch
Susan Robinson Jewelry
Susan Robinson Jewelry
Rick Murphey The Jeweler
High Cotton
All watch prices available upon request
BREITLING 18k Rose Gold Transocean Chronograph
A TIMELESS STATEMENT
A finely-made timepiece is one of the truly elegant elements of a man’s style; accordingly, these watches were selected for their craftsmanship, refinement and beauty. They will become a legacy, passed down from father to son for many years to come.
MICHELE
ROLEX
SEIKO
DAVID YURMAN
Square Sport Sail
18k Yellow Gold Anniversary GMTII
Coutura Solar Alarm Chronograph
Stainless Steel Classic Automatic Watch
Cole & Co.
Susan Robinson Jewelry
Rick Murphey The Jeweler
Susan Robinson Jewelry
B S CE N E M A G.COM
B SC ENEMAG. COM
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No. 63
Photo Courtesy Of: MOWM
FORTY YEARS & FIFTEEN MILLION MEALS Over 40 years, Meals on Wheels Ministry has grown from serving its first 30 clients to a current roster of over 3,200 homebound elderly and disabled clients. In 1973, the Governor’s Smith County Committee on Aging conducted a study to determine how the community could best care for senior citizens. They enlisted the assistance of the Ministerial Alliance, and after some study and discussion, the group determined that inadequate nutrition was a major issue plaguing the senior population. They also believed that many of the elderly could continue living independently in their own homes instead of going into nursing homes if they had help with their meal preparation. The steering committee served as the first Board of Directors of the Corporation. Officers elected were: Reverend Richard Ziglar of First Christian Church, President; Welby C. Edwards, Vice President; Mrs. Lemuel Hutchins, Secretary; and Ralph Cates, Treasurer. Other Board Members included Rabbi Kalman Taxon, Mr. and Mrs. D. K. Huffman, Dr. Chester Vaughn, A. G. Hilliard, Mrs. John Sawyer, David Turman, George Pearson and Tom Pollard. That same year (1973), “Meals on Wheels Ministry, Inc.” (MOWM) was formed. Of the original 45 applicants 30 recipients were chosen, and Ms. Laura Sebastian, age 97, received the first meal delivered by Mrs. Hershel Sobol on October 15, 1973. Meals were purchased from Wyatt’s Cafeteria on Beckham in Tyler. Today, all meals are made fresh daily at the Tyler office located on Robertson Road. The meals are delivered to clients in Gregg, Henderson, Smith, Van Zandt, Upshur, and Wood counties by a network of both volunteer and staff drivers. The focus of our ministry has never changed from the mission of our founding members, to provide a simple but critical service that enables our elderly and disabled neighbors to remain living in dignity, independently in their own homes. A daily visit by a friendly volunteer also offers friendship and the assurance that should a dear client’s welfare be threatened, someone is there to see and respond. Join us on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at CrossWalk Conference Center at 11:30 a.m. as we celebrate 40 years and 15 million meals! Just call Maria at 903.525.0900 to reserve your ticket. You can also log on to www.mowmet. org to learn more about the 40th Anniversary Banquet and all we do here at Meals on Wheels Ministry.
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B S CE N E M A G.COM
INTRODUCING
Exclusively at
B SC ENEMAG. COM
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No. 65
STYLE IQ
Leighton umbrella, Harley’s $95.
MAD
Southern Marsh koozie, High Cotton $7. Southern Marsh sunglasses strap, High Cotton $30.
For
PLAID
Bridgette’s Exclusive cashmink scarf, Bridgette’s $36.
Fore!! Axel & Hudson fedora, Haute Totz $38.
Fashion hair clip, Katie’s $8.
Collared Greens tie, High Cotton $89.
Sloane Ranger cross-body bag, Ellie Bee’s $25.
Plaid, or Tartan, is one of fashion’s most historic prints. The unique pattern combines different color linear patterns that cross at right angles. Traditionally made of wool, plaid prints now appear on everything from clothing to accessories. Plaid is the ultimate preppy print. Red, black and navy plaids or prints in warm colors or heavier fabrics are perfect for any fall/winter look.
speciality clothing for babies & children
Fresh Maternity Fashions
BOUTIQUE
OPEN MONDAY THRU
SATURDAY
10A.M. THRU
8P.M. IN THE VILLAGE
2002 JUDSON ROAD, LONGVIEW TX, 75605 PH-903.234.0800 B SC ENEMAG. COM
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No. 68
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The
MUST LIST
Shane Payne’s monthly guide to East Texas life... September combines so many things that you must do. Personally, I must support my friends and this month I'm happy to share the results of their hard work with you. First up is Trent Spradlin, producer of the All Star Showcase. Next is Susan Thomae-Morphew LIBERTY HALL DOWTOWN TYLER FILM FEST and her excellent staff at the SEPT. 22 Cowan Center. Later in the month, my friend Ravi Hazari has created a cinematic musical event that I can't wait to enjoy! Finally, longtime friend Chris Abraham is once again featuring the best in short films from around East Texas with the Downtown Tyler Film Festival. I hope you'll take time to attend all these events and make sure to tell my friends how much you appreciate their hard work.
MUST JAM
EAST TEXAS ALL STAR SHOWCASE
Sept. 7, Liberty Hall
This collection of live musical performances and talented artists is always a crowd pleaser. You’ll hear music from The Bigsbys, Lucas Young and The Wilderness, Greyhounds and headliner Uncle Lucius. Kicking off the show is the winner of “Rock, Paper, Scissors” – Blacktop Mojo. Get your tickets now at OutHouseTickets.com.
MUST SEE CIRQUE ÉLOIZE CIRKOPOLIS
Sept. 12, UT Tyler Cowan Center
This amazing troupe of 12 acrobats and performance artists bring you to a crossroads between imagination and reality. Audiences will be amazed as the worlds of circus, dance and theater come together in the factory-city known as "Cirkopolis." Reserve your seats now at CowanCenter.org.
MUST LISTEN
CINEMA IN CONCERT
Sept. 22, Caldwell Auditorium, Tyler This unique event combines the sonic bombast of a live orchestra and the familiar cinematic themes of blockbuster films to create a memorable event the entire family will enjoy. Settle in your seats as the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Mariusz Smolij weaves together the beautiful scores from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Les Mis, Harry Potter and many more of your favorites. Tickets on sale now at TicketRiver.com.
MUST WATCH
DOWNTOWN TYLER FILM FESTIVAL
Sept. 25-28, Liberty Hall
Join the paparazzi as producers, directors, cinematographers and actors gather to share their creativity and talent for creating short films. During the week, take part in the screening of all the competing films. On Saturday, you’ll see “Best of the Fest” and the awards ceremony, followed by an after-party. Tickets can be purchased at LibertyTyler.com.
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Come meet Vietri Co-Founder and CEO Susan Gravely Wednesday, October 2nd 11 am - 3 pm
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 No. 71
GOODNIGHT
ROSE CITY
“
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Article By: Caitlin Giddens, Photos Courtesy Of: Junior League of Tyler
“We wanted a book that would provide an asset to the community, show Tyler’s natural beauty and why it is a great place to live and raise a family.”
G
oodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere. Since Margaret Wise Brown first published these words in 1947, children everywhere have fallen asleep after reading “Goodnight Moon,” and now the Junior League of Tyler Inc. will unveil its own adaptation entitled “Goodnight Rose City” on October 4. At the book debut lunch at the CrossWalk Conference Center at Green Acres Baptist Church, Former First Lady Laura Bush will serve as the honorary first reader. After Brown passed away, several adaptions to her original book have been published: “Good Night New York City,” “Goodnight NOLA,” “Goodnight Houston” and even “Goodnight iPad.” Junior League President Shannon Glenney
was in an airport when she saw “Goodnight San Francisco” and felt inspired. “On that plane ride, I kept thinking, 'We [Tyler] could do that.'” Glenney recalled. “So I ordered 'Goodnight Cow Town,' which is Fort Worth; and 'Goodnight NOLA,' which is New Orleans. I realized there are goodnight books all over the country.” In February, the Junior League began to write “Goodnight Rose City,” but this children's book would be different than other adaptations. This is the only “goodnight book” that gives all profits back to the community. “We wanted a book that would provide an asset to the community, show Tyler's natural beauty and why it is a great place to live and raise a family,” Glenney said. “We [Junior League] would never think of an initiative with a different purpose than what we've established as our mission. Our entire mission is to improve the community through trained volunteers.” Local artist Lindsay Boone drew all of the book's illustrations according to the Junior League's vision. The Junior League worked together to write “Goodnight Rose City” about the place they love and call home. Then Glenney took the book to her contacts throughout the community, asking for feedback to make “Goodnight Rose City” the best possible representation of Tyler. When choosing a first reader, the Junior League of Tyler hoped to find a celebrity passionate about literacy. Several members of the community suggested Laura Bush because the former librarian established the National
Former First Lady Laura Bush and First Reader of “Goodnight Rose City”
Book Festival and Texas Book Festival. As “Goodnight Rose City” is the only book of its kind that benefits the community, and Laura Bush is a Junior League member herself, the book committee thought she would be interested. “When you apply for something like booking Laura Bush, it's kind of a pipe dream,” Glenney said. “So when we got the 'yes,' we were excited and shocked.” Mayor Barbara Bass will name “Goodnight Rose City” the “official children's book of Tyler” after Laura Bush serves as the honorary first reader. Then, Tylerites can buy the book through the Junior League office, at Mistletoe and Magic and eventually at gift shops across the city.
HOUSE, REAL ESTATE & FINANCE
AT HOME
R E V O C S DI ESIGN D
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KIM LEWIS INTERIOR DESIGN IN JEWEL AND TY MURRAY'S HOME, PHOTO BY MATT FISHER
DISCOVERING DESIGN TRUTHS 74 • JASON PRESTON: THE PREDATOR 80 • BOOK REVIEW 84 • OUTTAKES 88 • THE FACTS ABOUT AMERICA'S TEAM 93 • BACK PAGE 96 • B SC ENEMAG. COM
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 No. 73
AT HOME
Discovering
Design Article By: Kim Lewis Photos By: Matt Fisher & Kim Lewis
Truths
It’s been seven years since I moved from Texas to Los Angeles. This life journey has taken me from my hometown, Tyler, to designing in 47 states across the country, some states more times than I can count. Honestly, I’ve lost track of where all I’ve been. Sounds crazy, right? I’ve been blessed to travel from the riverbanks of Washington state to the desert of Morocco. I’ve ridden on the back of a motorcycle with my husband around the coast of Mykonos, Greece, and stood amongst the settling clouds and cliff tops of Ireland on my own. In the last seven years, I’ve designed with the likes of Ty Pennington and Michael Moloney, and for the homes of Jewel and other celebrities. I’ve shopped at a flea market alongside Natalie Portman, and I’ve designed over 120 homes for prime time television. Besides homes, I’ve designed an international art center, bakeries, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, animal shelters, boxing rings, community centers and daycares. And the list goes on! Right now, during the day I’m working on a renovation for my client, actress Tiffani Amber Thiessen. And at night I’m designing bakeries for TLC’s “Bakery Boss.” I bring all this up because through these experiences (and quite frankly some crazy stories), I have found a few “truths in design.” These are true no matter where I am in the world, or for whom I’m working. We all want our homes (and businesses, for all you small business owners) to be rich in love and unique to our individuality. I've found that you don't need a celebrity-sized budget to make your home look luxurious. Here are some simple tricks to make your home look and feel rich. (When I say rich, I’m not talking about Rodeo Drive rich.) And some of these steps are absolutely free!
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home of Jewel & Ty Murray
1) Define A Theme. Give each space in your home a theme, a style. You don’t have to limit yourself if you like different styles. Consider each room a different canvas to paint. For Tiffani Amber Thiessen, we started the project by creating Pinterest boards, which is something anyone can do. As you “pin” pictures, you’ll start seeing patterns that you’re drawn to and represent you. This will help you make decisions as you move forward with designing your home, and it costs you nothing. B S CE N E M A G.COM
2) Find Something Old, Something New. Scatter a few collectibles around your house because everyone needs conversation pieces in their home. Let your purchases tell a story. When you go somewhere special, look for a piece of art or an accessory from that place. The more you collect things, the more your home tells your story. Don’t try to collect everything at once. That doesn’t work. Be authentic and true to your own style in your home purchases.
home of Jewel & Ty Murray
For furniture pieces, I like to borrow the wedding phrase “something old, something new.” Have a healthy mix of furniture pieces: some heirloom pieces passed down from family (if you’re lucky), some more trendy pieces, some expensive, and some not. Furniture should not be all purchased as a set, so mix it up! Consider a room full of people at a party. What if everyone at the party dressed in the same outfit and had the same thing to say? That would be so boring! It makes me think of the movie “Wall-E,” and we are not an assembly line generation! Your furniture should have personality, and each piece should let the next one shine.
3) Every Thing Should Have A Place. As you work your way around the house making updates, be sure to give every thing a place. This is important because clutter will always harbor stress. Organization is essential, no matter what line of work you are in, or where you live. For example, my busy clients were always misplacing their keys. So I bought a vintage replica style hotel key wall piece, put it next to the back door and now they have a proper “drop” spot for keys. This is a simple solution, and it did not take much effort, really. Try to pinpoint the problem areas in your home, and then find solutions to create less clutter. That way, you won't be overwhelmed by the entire space. It’s okay for parts of your home to look like a magazine picture. Honestly, you’ll be more proud of the space, which makes it more exciting to live in. When we shot the photos for “InStyle” magazine at Jewel and Ty Murray’s ranch, I had the place “dressed to the nines.” Months later, I returned to find that Jewel had actually kept the house “magazine ready” from that day forward. Her home looked lived in, but orderly and beautiful, which in turn created an orderly and beautiful environment for her family to live in, despite the chaos of their celebrity lives.
Kim with Jewel & Ty Murray
4) Keep It Simple. Fresh flowers picked from the garden make everyone happy. Change out the flowers in your home every one to two weeks. Make time to visit a local flower market, or even pick a single stem out of your yard to use in a bud vase. Choose one type of flower and do monochromatic arrangements around your home. Put candles around the house, but not just for show. Light them up! Sounds simple, right? When you get home from work, I challenge you to play your favorite music, light some candles and try NOT to turn on the TV. You may laugh, but I like to turn on 1920s swing music pretty much every day. It’s amazing how the stress just leaves my home. As we dive into the fall season, find some time to reflect on your home. This life I’ve lived so far has been nothing short of crazy. All I can hope is my experience will enlighten someone else to live well in their own dwelling. Stay tuned for trends from the stylish West Coast in my next article! B SC ENEMAG. COM
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YOU’RE DRIVING HOME OUR REPUTATION... AND HAVE BEEN FOR OVER 60 YEARS 5005 OLD JACKSONVILLE HWY 903.581.0020 WWW.DAVIS-GREEN.COM
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Article By: William Knous, Photos By: Noel Martin
J
ason Preston is a bad man. Well, to be more specific, he's a pretty nice guy with a very dangerous set of skills. And now, he's putting those skills to good use in cages across the country. Preston is a mixed martial artist, and one with the potential to be a household name. Mixed martial arts (MMA) have come a long way through the years. Original competitions were almost underground affairs where fighters specializing in different forms of wrestling, boxing or martial arts gathered to test their skills against one another in general combat. For many years, there have been discipline-specific, respected competitions in place across the globe and even in the Olympic Games. However, when all the different styles came together in the original “Ultimate Fighting” competitions, in an effort to include all styles of fighters, most of the rigid rules of the other competitions were left aside. In its early incarnations, the sport was referred to by U.S. Sen. John McCain as “human cockfighting,” and banned in most states. Truth be told, the original competitions were compelling, but a mix of lower production values and the lax rules lead to a bracing and often violent spectator experience. However, the underlying concept for these competitions was brilliant: find the best fighters from all disciplines, put them in the ring and see who wins. After refining the rules system, incorporating highlytrained and skilled participants and investing in quality production; MMA made its way out of the back rooms and into arenas across B SC ENEMAG. COM
the world. Now, the sport's legality is unquestioned almost across the board. Its safety record is surprisingly clean. And you can find MAA on basic cable and network television on a regular basis. From the Pride Fighting league in Japan, to K1 to the wildly popular UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship); MMA is a sport just like any other – with world-class athletes competing for huge purses in front of millions of people. If everything goes according to his plan, Jason “The Predator” Preston's story will mirror MMA's rise. Preston's background is similar to a lot of MMA fighters. He had a rather rough upbringing and a father who wasn't around. He ran into a bit of trouble when he was younger and got into a few fights here and there. Preston was a standout on the football field and tried his best to let his aggression on the gridiron. However, injuries sustained during a serious car wreck derailed his football dreams midway through high school. Eventually, word got around that Preston was tough, so people wanted to test him – and usually it didn't go very well for them. “I had a reputation as a guy who really didn't take anything from anyone,” said Preston. “I tried to help out my friends, and solve their problems more than my own.” A lot of that knowledge was learned by watching early UFC and Pride fights, picking up bits and pieces. After high school, things continued in much the same way for Preston. He worked, spent time with friends and occasionally got into scraps – after all, he's 6'4”, 265 pounds and looks every bit of it. But one evening, hanging out with some
friends at a gas station on South Broadway, someone almost hit Preston with their vehicle. Preston and the driver exchanged words and an altercation ensued. Preston was subsequently sent to jail. “I spent 10-and-a-half months in county,” said Preston, reticently. “I turned 21 in jail … and I told myself I would never get in an altercation again outside of the cage.” And Preston has kept his nose clean ever since. Then came Preston's first real brush with mixed martial arts: an XFC (X-treme Fighting Championship) event at the Oil Palace in Tyler. “Man, I stood up and watched every bit of each fight,” he remembered. “I couldn't even stay in my seat. Right then, I told myself I'd get in touch with these guys.” Preston made his way backstage and met Jeremiah “The Iron Man” O'Neal, who invited him to a sort of trial training session in Palestine. “I thought I was pretty tough, but these guys train and fight all day, every day,” Preston said with a laugh. “I wasn't ready, and that day I basically paid to get a beating. But, I also developed a new addiction.” From that point on Preston was always training in some form or fashion to feed his addiction. Sometimes it would be a few days a week, sometimes more. He trained in Palestine, in Jacksonville and at home in Whitehouse. First, he had a few amateur fights around East Texas, and then eventually began training in Tyler at L.A. Boxing (which has since closed). There, he met UFC fighters who traveled through the area for clinics, and learned from them.
During this time, Preston also worked as a bodyguard and as a bouncer, adopting a mental aspect similar to that in MMA: how to assess a situation, think when your adrenaline is flowing and how to keep a level head. One such bodyguard gig was for the owner of the XFC. This lead to a chance to fight in that organization – which is a smaller, regional league compared to the UFC. Think of it like AAA to the Major Leagues: there are a lot of really talented athletes looking to make their way to the pros. At one of these shows, Preston met UFC legend Chuck Liddell, and really, they just hit it off. Anyone with even a passing familiarity of the sport knows “The Iceman” Liddell, as he was one of the stars to help put UFC on the international map. On assignment with XFC in Austin, Preston had the chance to cross paths with Liddell, and he took it. A random encounter became an unlikely friendship, where Liddell
"I saw how difficult it was truly going to be to pursue that dream as a career – and still be a good father to my daughter.” S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 No. 81
would offer advice and encouragement via phone call or text for months after meeting. As Preston's training progressed, Liddell eventually offered him the chance to come out to San Luis Obispo, California, to visit and train for just a few days. Preston's progress there earned him the chance to come back and train for an entire summer alongside the best teacher the sport has to offer. “Being in that environment, around those guys, was eyeopening,” Preston said. “It was incredibly humbling, it was great motivation and it made me work that much harder.” However, Preston chose to leave his dream behind – at least for a time. At the end of the summer in 2010, Preston's daughter was born, and he was faced with a choice.“I had a reality check,” he said. “I saw how difficult it was truly going to be to pursue that dream as a career – and still be a good father to my daughter. I didn't want my daughter to resent me for choosing this over her. I know how hard it is growing up without a father. My biological father chose to pursue a career in professional baseball over me when I was just a baby, and I was not going to do the same.” Preston left MMA completely for several years, splitting his time evenly between working in the oil fields and spending every other available moment with his daughter. The desire to train, to become a great fighter, never left him – his daughter was simply more important. However, now that his daughter is older, Preston is rededicating himself to pursuing his passion. Beginning in the spring of 2013, Preston was back at it – hard. He trained for two months, preparing for a fight at UT Tyler's Patriot Center. “It was a lot of strength and conditioning, getting myself back to where I needed to be to compete,” Preston said. There was a last-minute substitution before that fight, and Preston had to compete against Gaylynn Padron, an unfamiliar opponent. Padron was inexperienced, and Preston beat him in 1:35 minutes in the first round. Back in the saddle, so to speak, Preston was reinvigorated. He had another win under his belt, but didn't feel the timing was right to turn pro. He wanted more training, more experience – and for that, he needed to go to Las Vegas. For MMA, Vegas has always been known as a mecca that houses some of the most revered training facilities in the country. There, Preston had the chance to work out and train at Xtreme Couture: the facility of MMA godfather Randy Couture. Throughout this summer, Preston spent time training and learning from the coaches and fighters of Xtreme Couture, while taking classes and sparring. “There are several places in East Texas where you can train, but there really aren't many guys my size,” Preston explained. “And that can make it difficult to prepare for other fighters. That's a big reason I wanted to be there ... I've been able to learn a lot at the Xtreme Couture academy.” He learned, indeed. Preston's next fight was with Brian Lopez on Aug. 2, in Las Vegas through the Tuff-N-Uff organization, one of the premier amateur MMA promotion firms in the country. Lopez was the super-heavyweight champ – before he fought Preston. “That one lasted 26 seconds. I wanted that belt,” said Preston with a smile. “So, I took it.” Preston figures he's got one more amateur fight before he springs for his professional license: Sept. 20, against Daniel James in Las Vegas. “I can't continue to do this for free,” said Preston, only halfjoking. “I want this to be a career, to achieve my goals and to make my way to the top. I want to fight great fights. I want to get a shot at someone good, to put on a show. There are some guys from Dallas, maybe some from Shreveport, but there isn't anyone [wellknown] from here. I want to put East Texas on the map for mixed martial arts.”
Over $50 Million in Closed Sales from 2008-2012 No. 1 Real Estate Agent
Trina Griffith
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www.wagnercadillac.com 4100 S. Broadway Tyler • 903.561.1212
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 No. 83
BOOK REVIEW
THE GHOSTS OF RED HOOK
"VISITATION STREET" BY IVY POCHODA DENNIS LEHANE BOOKS (AN IMPRINT OF HARPERCOLLINS)
Dennis Lehane ("Mystic River;" "Shutter Island;" "Gone, Baby, Gone") has expanded his brand into the publishing business, and Ivy Pochoda’s unsettling, mesmerizing "Visitation Street" is the second novel to appear under his eponymous imprint. One can see why: like Lehane, Pochoda has a knack for delving into the lives of characters who are bound, for better or for worse, to their neighborhoods. It is summer in Red Hook, and two teenage girls – friends since childhood – decide to take an inflatable raft down to the water near a rotting factory. Why June and Val decide to launch themselves into the oil-soaked bay, other than out of sheer boredom, remains a mystery. But Pochoda is so good at building suspense that the reader knows the decision will have consequences. The girls are a study in contrasts. June’s “curves are everywhere, especially where they don’t belong.” Val, who becomes our protagonist, “is made of reeds and twigs – like the sad saplings planted in the park that shoot up but never seem to leaf out.” June is larger than life, larger than her own body, and so her disappearance feels almost preordained. Val is found the next morning by Jonathan Sprouse, an alcoholic music teacher. When two detectives arrive in Red Hook, the missing girl becomes a catalyst for racial tensions in the neighborhood. Cree Jones, a young black man, is harassed by the police. He was the last to see the pair alive and has troubles of his own. His father was shot and killed when Cree was young, leaving his son a rusting boat and the promise of a trip down the coast to the Keys. Jones has ambitions, but cannot bring himself to leave Red Hook: his mother Gloria claims to speak to the dead. She has yet to heal from her husband’s murder. She tells people, “Ghosts don’t know to pack up, move out.”
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Ghosts permeate Pochoda’s Red Hook. Val hears June’s voice and is filled with guilt at her disappearance. The book is as much about our inability to outrun the past as it is a who-did-what. Pochoda’s ability to offer a page-turning mystery as well as a literarily satisfying read is a mark of undeniable talent. Which isn’t to say the book is without fault. Cree Jones has some sort of brooding tension with Val’s father (stemming from Cree
The book is as much about our inability to outrun the past as it is a who-did-what. Pochoda’s ability to offer a page-turning mystery as well as a literarily satisfying read is a mark of undeniable talent. and Val’s older sister’s former love affair); Jones is warned numerous times to stay away from Val. Yet Val’s father is hardly present in the novel, and this line of tension is redirected toward a man named Ren. Further, the memorial scene for June hits something of a shrill note when Val has a breakdown: “This is your fault, June says again. Val clenches her jaw…She will not cry...or June won’t come home. This is your fault. ‘No,’ Val blurts. The word is thrown back at her from the arched ceiling. The girls up front stop singing.” Fortunately, this is an aberration in the novel. Fans of a good mystery will enjoy "Visitation Street." Ivy Pochoda has a strong voice, a style that is straightforward and haunting. But the missing girl is only the catalyst for larger and more difficult matters. By Andrew Brininstool
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 No. 85
HOW TO FINANCE A SMALL BUSINESS James Sheridan Senior Vice President Commercial Lending Officer
As businesses are created and grown, they typically need to obtain credit to operate if they sell their product or service on terms, or until they begin to retain sufficient earnings. For 22 years, I have assisted numerous small businesses in many different industries with their credit needs. Here are some observations that might be helpful to you if you own, or are considering starting, a small business. Small businesses get credit from one or more of three basic sources: Lenders, Vendors, and Owners. Let’s examine each one in a little more detail: Lenders: Businesses can borrow money from traditional lenders such as banks, credit unions, savings and loans/savings banks, and yes, even credit cards. As much as lenders try to differentiate themselves, borrowing money from any of these sources comes down to the same basic qualifications (old timers like me refer to these as the “C’s” of credit): Capacity/Cash Flow – Can the business afford to pay back its loans and still provide a reasonable salary to the owner/return to the shareholder with some margin/cushion? Character – Does the company/owner/principal have good character? Collateral – Is there sufficient collateral to secure the loan, or does the borrower qualify for the loan on an unsecured basis? Credit – Does the company/owner/principal have good credit, e.g. have they performed as agreed upon with previous loans? Vendors: Also referred to as “trade payable financing,” you essentially “borrow” money from your vendors/suppliers with delayed payment terms, which in turn creates cash flow for your business. Utilizing this type of credit is typically on a short-term or gap basis. In the past, the old rule was “2/10 net 30” which meant that if you pay an invoice within 10 days the vendor offers a two percent price discount, but the entire balance is due within 30 days. Owners: A business can receive capital (cash) injections from an owner to provide the credit it needs. If the business is a partnership or corporation, this entails giving a portion of the business ownership to the person/ persons making the injection, and providing them with a rate of return that is greater than what a traditional lender will require. That is because there is greater perceived risk for the investor. To read James Sheridan’s entire article on financing options for small businesses, log on to www.texasbankandtrust.com to read our “How We See It Blog.”
Note: This information is provided with the understanding that neither Texas Bank and Trust Company nor James Sheridan is engaged in rendering specific legal or accounting services. If specific expert assistance in these areas is required, please contact a competent professional offering those services.
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OUTTAKES 1
2 1. The canyons of the Badlands, South Dakota. 2. Morning fog fills the valleys and covers Lake Tahoe, California in this aerial view. 3. A storm moves over the prairie in Wyoming. 4. A big horn Sheep watches the road in the Badlands, South Dakota.
3 4
OUT TAKES
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THE FACTS ABOUT
If you're a Dallas Cowboys fan, then you're probably a diehard fan – because East Texans love our football teams! You probably know all the Cowboys' stats by heart, maintain a love/hate relationship with Quarterback Tony Romo and secretly (or not so secretly) wish your dog's name was Landry. But do you know everything about the Cowboys? Just in time for football season, here are some interesting and often forgotten facts about “America's Team.” The Cowboys are the highest-valued sports franchise in history of the United States. The team ranks second in the world only to Manchester United. (Forbes.com)
In Tom Landry’s first year as coach in 1960, the team did not win a single game. The first successful season was in 1966, when Dallas took the Eastern Conference title. (Texas State Historical Association)
As Cowboys coach, Tom Landry, who once lead the New York Giants, won 270 games and two Super Bowls in 29 seasons. (ESPN.com)
Emmitt Smith leads in all-time rushing yards (18,355 yards) and scored more rushing touchdowns (164) than any other NFL player in history. (DallasCowboys.com)
The Dallas Cowboys won back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1992 and 1993 seasons, making them one of three NFL teams to win four world championships. (Texas State Historical Association)
Bob Lilly, also “Mr. Cowboy,” was the first player drafted by the team and the first inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (DallasCowboys.com)
Tony Romo signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003, then started as quarterback in 2003. He is also a golfer and attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open. (Tvguide.com)
The Cowboys did not tag themselves as “America’s Team.” In 1978, NFL Films Editor-In-Chief Bob Ryan, named the Cowboys “America’s Team” because of their nationwide popularity. (Texas State Historical Association)
In 1989, Jerry Jones signed Troy Aikman for a rookie deal of $11.2 million. After Aikman won Most Valuable Player in the 1993 Super Bowl, he renegotiated his contract to make $50 million in eight years, a NFL record at the time. (Texas State Historical Association)
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 No. 95
BACK PAGE
SUMMER LEFTOVERS
AND THE RETURN OF THE FALL TELEVISION FEAST Article By: William Knous
The other day I was listening to the Scott Van Pelt show on ESPN Radio. Scott has one of my favorite shows on the station every day, but I usually only catch it heading to or from a late lunch. And, since this was the end of the week, I got to be a listener for Bad Music Friday. It's a dumb gimmick, but it's fun, so I don't care. Regardless, they were playing “Return Of The Mack” by English R&B artist Mark Morrison. It's a horrible, terrible song that's sung in a ridiculous falsetto with an accent. Plus, it's ironic because the whole thing is about someone who is supposed to be kind of awesome getting taken advantage of, but then coming back and regaining his swagger. So, back at the office we got into what I like to call “a friendly discussion” but what others might call “a rowdy argument” about other “Macks” in life who have made their triumphant return. And, I'm proud to say that the winner is fall television. Now, stick with me here ... it's a bit of a leap from a horrific slow jam from 1996 to the new season of “Breaking Bad” – but we can get there if you just hang on tight. Every year, during the summer, the television viewing population of this country, which is roughly all of us, (excepting a few very kind Amish folks in Pennsylvania who will most likely have their own reality show soon) are subjected to visual torture in the form of summer television programming. It's a wasteland out there people, and it drives me insane every year. There's nothing, I repeat, nothing worth your time on basic cable or network television. All the sports are gone. I've got 387 sports channels and all of them are showing re-runs of the LSU vs. UCLA Women's Field Hockey championship from 1984. It's infuriating. There's no more football, and why more people in East Texas don't riot about that four months a year astounds me. But, there's no more basketball, either. I don't even get the privilege of hate-watching Lebron James' gigantic head on a big screen three nights a week. That
No. 96
BS CENE
headband is hiding your receding hairline, Bron-Bron! I know most of you don't care about it, but the soccer season is over with, as well. Sure, Major League Soccer is on the rise, but so are the kids in the Little League World series, and I'm not setting my DVR to watch those games, either. There's always baseball … Ha! Just kidding. Wake me up when we're in the playoffs. The rest of the shows are the same. It's re-runs of “Big Bang Theory” or “NCIS” on the major networks if you're lucky, and those shows are awful. If not, you're stuck watching a dreaded “summer replacement.” Those shows are all exactly the same. It's always centered around something vaguely sci-fi, that people seem to be far too casual about for my comfort level. It's always something like: “Oh, we're under a giant plexiglass dome? Seems odd, I guess... anyway, who wants Italian food?!” Or maybe, “Sure, that kid is an alien/werewolf/robot, but he's so good at basketball we've got to hide him in the basement!” And, I know I'll probably be pelted with bottles of fake tan and mimosas for saying this, but the “Real Housewives” shows are shockingly repellant. They all start coming back in the summertime and ruining my TV with their terrible skin and hair and words and vapidity. It's enough to suck the life out of the few great shows that make their appearance in the summer, like “The Killing” or “The Bridge” – or as I like to call them, “character actors frowning in inclement weather.”
“OH, WE'RE UNDER A GIANT PLEXIGLASS DOME? SEEMS ODD, I GUESS... ANYWAY, WHO WANTS ITALIAN FOOD?!” But now, it's September. And it's time for the return of the Mack! We've got “Breaking Bad,” we've got the promise of the new seasons of “Mad Men,” “Justified” and “Parks And Rec.” I know! Just writing that is getting me amped up to see Federal Marshall Raylan Givens say something stone cold and hilarious before having a gunfight. Amy Poehler is a genius, and she's coming back too! Two words: Ron Swanson. Whatever your chosen brand of small screen poison, the fall is an exciting time – and there's not a Real Housewife of Morally Bankrupt County in sight!
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SOUTHERN CHARMER 21537 Merlot Ln $569,777 • 4/3/2/3 • Gated Kiepersol Bullard ISD
17909 CR 132 Flint• $1.699 Million • 4/4/1/2 9,995 Sq. Ft. • stone exterior
SOLD IN 25 DAYS
19105 Cr 1310, Flint $875,777 • 5/4/1/3 • 9.2 acres Pool/Hot tub • summer kitchen • pond
1587 Cook’s Crossing $518,777 • 4/5/3 • Pool/Gated Cook’s Ranch
8204 Crooked Trail Tyler • $399,777 • 5/3/1/3 Outdoor paradise • pool/hot tub
16782 Perry St. Lake Tyler • $399,777 • 3/2/1 Waterfront • Large Deck •Boathouse
7113 Turnberry circle Gated, winsford •$838,777 • 6/5/1/3 Backyard Paradise!
1360 CR 3414 Jacksonville $339,777 • 3/2 • 31 Acres + Shop Secluded
Announcing:
Windswept Meadow 6 Lots immediately available $65,000 each at 1600 FM 344 (next to pecan valley ranch) 2209 Woodlands, Hollytree West $477,007 • 4/3/1/3 • 5087 sq ft. Fabulous kitchen! Open floor plan!
3819 CR 1405 •Jacksonville $314,777 • 4/2 • 7 acres • Heated pool 40x40 shop rv+ Tack Room
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