county line UPPER EAST SIDE OF TEXAS
MARCH/APRIL 2014
M A G A Z I N E
www.countylinemagazine.com
garden art D&P Interiors milton kyser sweet gourmet Kitt’s Kornbread cedar creek brewery gary edwards’ LENS brooks gremmels
Complimentary Copy to subscribe see page 5
Aubrey Lynn England
Athens* Home of the Hamburger www.athenstx.org
Ben Wheeler
festivals. MUSIC. LAKES. SCENIC BACKROADS. STARS. ANTIQUES. TRADE DAYS. HISTORY.
Coolest Small Town in Texas www.benwheelertx.com
Canton*
Discover the Upper East Side of Texas
World Famous Flea Market www.visitcantontx.com
Carthage* Country at its Best www.carthagetexas.com
Cedar Creek Lake* Laid Back Lake Living www.cedarcreeklakechamber.com
Commerce*
Inspirational shopping, dining, entertainment, and lodging in an ideal natural setting.
Bois d’Arc Capital of Texas www.commerce-chamber.com
Perfect getaway for a weekend or a lifetime.
Corsicana Create History Here www.visitcorsicana.com
Edom Arts. Eats. Retreats. www.visitedom.com
Gun Barrel City* A Straight Shot to Cedar Creek Lake www.gunbarrelcity.net
Henderson* Heart of East Texas www.visithendersontx.com
SHOPPING. FARMERS’ MARKETS. LIVE THEATRE. FISHING. BOATING. SWIMMING. CAMPING.
*Go Texan Certified Retirement Community 2 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
Lake Fork World Class Bass Fishing www.lakeforkchamber.org SMALL TOWN CHARM. parks. ARTS. roses. azaleas. dogwoods. oaks. pines. WILDLIFE.
Longview* Real East Texas www.visitlongviewtexas.com
Mineola* National Register Historic District www.mineola.com
Palestine* Home of the Dogwood Trails www.visitpalestine.com
Rockwall The New Find www.rockwalldowntown.com
Shelby County* Gateway to Texas Forest Country www.shelbycountychamber.com
Sulphur Springs Great Parks. Great People. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org
Tyler Have a Bloomin’ Good Time www.visittyler.com
Winnsboro* Trails Country www.winnsboro.com
ZOO. WINERIES. MUSEUMS. GOLF. BIRDWATCHING. NATURE TRAILS. WILDFLOWERS. TRAINS.
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 3
CONTENTS FEATURES
9 Gremmels Returned Ghost Town to its Heyday Brooks Gremmels resurrected the withering town of Ben Wheeler and made it one of the best treasures in the Upper East Side of Texas. By P.A. Geddie
12 England is a Powerful Force On Stage or Off Aubrey Lynn England of Greenville is winning awards left and right for her performances all the while caring for her family and advocating for other women in music. By Tom Geddie
14 Brewing Up Success in Seven Points
Cedar Creek Brewery is raking up national awards and bringing a cup of cheer to patrons all over the state as well as in their local tasting room.
12
35
By Connie Holubar
16 Life Behind Gary Edwards’ Lens
Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for a famous shot of golfer Jack Nicklaus, photographer Gary Edwards now enjoys a more tranquil life in Mineola among nature. By Elizabeth Branca
DEPARTMENTS
5 Editor’s Note. Letters. 6 ACROSS THE COUNTY LINE Humane Society, Main Street Communities, Business Honors, Wood County CASA, Downtown Rockwall, Milton Kyser.
24
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
18 News. Events. Women in Longview, Dogwood Trails Festival, Chuckwagon Races, Renaissance Faire, East Texas Oilfield Expo, Car Shows, April in Edom, East Texas Gusher Days, Derrick Days, Cinco de Mayo, Sulphur Springs Folk Festival.
16
The Arts
20 Gallery Main Street, Piney Woods Fine Arts, GoodmanLeGrand Museum’s Art in the Park, Women for the Arts, Texas Art Quilts, Latino Folk Tales, Painting Paris, Give Us the Willies, Fiber Arts, Mineola Juried Art Show, Red River Art Fest, The Architectural Aesthetic Exhibit.
14 Music
On Stage
22 ArtsView, Edom Theatre, Opera House Players, Sweeney Todd, The Miracle Worker, Godspell, The Little Mermaid, The Addams Family, Jim Belushi.
film
23 True Detective, Spring Movie Roundup.
24 Rodney Crowell, 50s Rock Show, Dogwood Jamboree, Greenville, Boogie Woogie Wednesday, Mineola Music on the Streets, Brandon Ryder, Old Time Music & Dulcimer Festival, Roger Creager, Cory Morrow, Larry Gatlin, Wade Bowen, Whiskey Myers, Amy Speace.
LITERARY SCENE
26 Review by Patti Light: i Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb 27 Poetry & Prose.
SEE WEBSITE EXTRAS! www.CountyLineMagazine.com 4 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
fl&
county line Since 2000
MAGAZINE
Publisher & managing Editor P.A. Geddie
administration Lori Easley Online Production Leah Lynch
Contributors Patti Light Jeremy Light Tom Geddie Edward H. Garcia Elizabeth Branca Connie Holubar Tamara Stokes
sales P.A. Geddie DISTRIBUTION Pam Boyd Bombyk David Michelina County Line Magazine is published once a month, 12 months a year. It is available free of charge in the Northeast Texas area in select businesses, limited to one copy per reader. Subscription costs: $18 per year in Texas, and $22 per year outside Texas. Bulk rate postage paid at Ben Wheeler, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to County Line Magazine, P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754. Contents COPYRIGHT 2014 County Line all rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in articles appearing in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Mailing address: P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754 Phone: 903.963.8306. E-mail: info@countylinemagazine.com Website: www.countylinemagazine.com. Free listings are entered on a space available basis. Advertising space may be purchased by calling 903.963.8306.
Let us hear from you. Please feel free to send us your comments.
County Line Magazine P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754 email: info@countylinemagazine.com Find us on Facebook and Twitter. Go to LETTERS on www.countylinemagazine.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Readers, As we enter into spring like our nature counterparts we begin to shake off the winter hibernation and move a bit more quickly and deliberately. We rekindle our interests and in the Upper East Side of Texas we have the privilege of getting out and enjoying some of the most beautiful outdoors anywhere in the world. Be sure to get out and to see some of our talented people like singer-songwriter Aubrey Lynn England featured in this issue and other performers visiting like Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan, Larry Gatlin, Amy Speace, and Rodney Crowell just to name a few. Try a tour of the Cedar Creek Lake Brewery, check out one of our wineries or Kitt’s
Take a cue from photographer Gary Edwards and try your hand at recording our region’s natural beauty, enjoy camping in our award-winning parks and fishing or boating in our fabulous lakes. As usual you’ll find lots of arts, music, history, and more in the events taking place during this early spring season too. We said goodbye recently to two men in our region who helped make the world a better place for a whole lot of people — Milton Kyser and Brooks Gremmels. Thanks for the music, the memories, and the legacies you leave behind. P.A. Geddie Publisher & Managing Editor
LETTERS Dear Editor, I am a very dedicated reader of your County Line Magazine and have been since you began. I really enjoy reading your music columns, especially about all the local artists. The colorful pictures and advertisements are so vivid and really add to your magazine. Margaret Davis Quinlan
it, quality! Then I started perusing it and every page was chock full of eye candy and great information. These are the kinds of ads I love to see, the events I’m excited to attend. I moved from DFW Metroplex almost six years ago and will never go back. I LOVE North East Texas and your magazine is for ME! Thank you so much for putting it together. I’ll definitely be ordering my subscription! When I got to the end, I just started all over.
I was so blessed to pick up a copy of County Line Magazine recently. The first thing I noticed and loved was the feel of
Caryl McAdoo Clarksville
CONTENTS continued PLAY & stay
29 Fun in Athens. Splash Kingdom. Caddo Lake. Bird and Nature Walk. Fly Fish.
38
Food & drink
30 Review: Kitt’s Kornbread Sandwich & Pie Bar By Patti Light
31 Find Sweets and More at Sweet Gourmet By Jeremy Light
Serving the Upper East Side of Texas
Kornbread Sandwich & Pie Bar in Jefferson and don’t miss the Taste of Tyler.
SHOP
32 Design with an Edge Found at D&P Interiors By Tamara Stokes
LIVING ROOM Home. Garden. Real Estate
34 News. Events. Flower Market. Blue Moon Gardens. Daffodils. Azaleas. 35 Accessorize Backyard Oasis with Garden Art By Elizabeth Branca
FEEL GOOD
36 Diabetes Prevention, Bicycle Safety. 37 Living As If By Edward H. Garcia Cover photo of Aubrey Lynn England by Melissa Arnold/Texas Red Photography MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 5
ACROSS THE COUNTY LINE Local Humane Society Begins Rebranding Effort
While attending a humane legislative seminar in Austin, Carol Whatley proudly introduced herself to the attendees as a member of Van Zandt County Humane Society. “I heard a gasp,” Whatley said. “Then someone loudly whispered, ‘She’s from that place in East Texas with the puppy mill flea market.’” Van Zandt County Humane Society’s (VZCHS) focus is on animal welfare and adoption, but the members of this allvolunteer, nonprofit organization have discovered a new, unintended focus: overcoming Van Zandt County’s less than humane reputation. “It’s time to rebrand,” Whatley stated. “VZCHS needs a fresh approach to overcome the area’s bad publicity. It’s embarrassing when the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) specifically calls out your county.”
She is referring to an HSUS article published in January of this year (“To Market, To Market, To Buy a Sick Dog”), detailing an investigation into Texas puppy sales. The article opens with a troubling description of Canton’s “Dog Town.” Whatley added, “Of course, it’s not just Van Zandt. The surrounding counties deal with similar issues of inhumane treatment toward animals.” This year in Gregg County a pet owner faced cruelty charges for leaving a dog chained outside in freezing temperatures, resulting in the animal’s death. The HSUS has conducted multiple raids on puppy mills in Kaufman County. The SPCA of East Texas responds to hundreds of animal abuse calls every year in Smith County. “But many cities and counties in East Texas don’t even have shelters or animal control officers,” Whatley explained. “It’s up to the already overloaded police and sheriff’s departments to respond.” Van Zandt County Humane Society ini-
Enjoy Shopping, Dining & Entertainment in Historic Mineola, Texas
HIGHWAY 80
PROGRESSIVE CAR CRUISE
March 29
Acoustic Music on the Streets
Every Saturday, 11 a.m., Johnson St. Gazebo
tiatives are spay and neuter, rescue and adoption, humane education and responsible pet ownership. A new logo, new brochures, an updated website and Facebook page and, most importantly, a membership drive are all part of the rebranding. “We want folks to know who were are, what we represent and how they can help,” Whatley said. For more VZCHS information, visit the website at vzchumanesociety.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vzchs.
Main Street Programs Reach Reaccreditation
Tyler has been commended for successful annual progress as a designated Main Street community by the Texas Historical Commission. Tyler’s Main Street program was reaccredited with a near perfect score. Sixty-three designated Main Street programs in Texas were recognized. Besides Tyler, in Northeast Texas they include 63RD Annual
Ennis
Bluebonnet Trails Festival
Sponsored by Ennis Garden Club
April 12-13, 2014
(Mapped trails open in April)
Mineola Nature Preserve
Arts/Crafts/Food/Live Music Free Trail Maps Children’s Fun Area
Mineola Historical Museum
National Polka Festival
7a.m. until sunset
114 Pacific St (Hwy. 69). Free. Open Thur, Fri, Sat 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
A m t ra k Te x as E ag l e
Designated Daily Stop 1-800-669-8509
1.800.MINEOLA • www.mineola.com 6 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
f
48th Annual
May 23-25, 2014 Czech Family Fun for Everyone! 14 live polka bands and much more. Just 25 minutes south of Downtown Dallas on IH-45
972-878-4748 www.visitennis.org
Canton, Carthage, Clarksville, Corsicana, Gladewater, Grand Saline, Greenville, Henderson, Kilgore, Longview, Mineola, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, Nacogdoches, Palestine, Paris, Rockwall, San Augustine, Texarkana, and Winnsboro. Accredited programs show above average performance in 10 categories on an annual report. Selection criteria focus on planning, partnerships, staffing, volunteer effort, preservation ethic, training and program assessment through reporting. For additional information about the national Main Street effort, visit the National Trust Main Street web site at www.preservationnation.org/main-street/. For more information on the Texas Historical Commission’s Main Street program visit www.thc.state.tx.us.
Local BBB Presents Awards For Excellence
The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas recently honored three companies at its awards ceremony The Ornelas Activity Center in Tyler. The BBB Awards for Excellence go to
those who exemplify ethical behavior and display integrity in all aspects of their operations; toward their employees, vendors, customers, and within their community. Winners are chosen by an independent panel of judges. Twenty companies received nominations. The award for companies with fewer than 10 employees went to Proforma Horizon Total Source. The award for companies with fewer than 50 employees went to Dunn Transmissions, while the award for companies with more than 50 employees went to Tyler Beverages, Inc. The Kay Robinson Student of Integrity Video Scholarship is awarded to high school students who have created a 60-second video based on the BBB Standards of Trust. The students must have also demonstrated exceptional character, leadership, and ethical values, providing him or her with the opportunity to continue their education beyond high school and become a future leader. Christopher Andrew Davis from Carthage High School was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and Braxton McKnight from
Jacksonville High School was awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Merrie Spaeth, owner of Spaeth Communications, Inc., and former White House Media Relations Director, was the keynote speaker. Spaeth spoke about the “Three Secrets to Better Business,” focusing on communications as a strategic business tool. “The mission of the Awards Program is to promote both the importance of ethical business practices and the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure our marketplace remains fair and honorable to everyone”, said Mechele Agbayani Mills, president and CEO of BBB Serving Central East Texas. “Today more than ever it’s necessary to spotlight and celebrate companies in our region who operate with integrity in all aspects of their operations,” she added.
Open House Set For New Wood County CASA Office CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Kids of East Texas is opening a new Wood County office to facilitate work continued on page 8
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 7
THE LINE continued from page 7
at a facility in Canton with a current workforce of about 40 employees.
with abused and neglected children in that county.
In June 2012, Milton handed the reins of Kyser Musical Products, Inc to his great niece, Meredith Hamlin. As President / CEO, Meredith has rounded out the Kyser executive team with Larry Hunt -COO, James Paul Thompson -- CFO, and Max Lintner -- Executive Business Development Manager. Randall Williams, who has been with Kyser for nine years, continues to grow the company globally as Director of International Sales.
The organization hosts a public open house event from 1-3 p.m. March 3 at the First United Methodist Church Ministry Center, 612 N. Newsom St., in Mineola. CASA is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide trained volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children involved in the courts of Smith, Wood and Van Zandt counties, with a goal of achieving a permanent living arrangement for each child, which will serve that child’s best interest. For more information, call the CASA office at 903.597.7725.
Capo Inventor Milton Kyser Passes Away at 80
Kyser capo inventor Milton Kyser passed away January 23 at the age of 80. Kyser was awarded a patent for his QuickChange capo that made changing the pitch of a song easier for guitar players around the world. The capos are made
In July 2013, the entire Music Industry community helped wish Milton a Happy 80th Birthday in person at a Summer NAMM All-Star Gala in Nashville. A company representative said they will continue their mission is to make the best quality musical products we can -- right here in the USA -- products Kyser would be proud of.
Rockwall Adds Amenities To Accommodate Walkers
A total of $8.625 million in improvements is making downtown Rockwall a more beautiful, vibrant, walkable district.
On the heels of new storefronts, economic reinvestment and renewed activity, renovations came in a timely fashion. Recently completed, Phase 1 resulted in three new lots creating over 50 additional customer parking spaces. Phase 2 includes accessible sidewalks, reconstructed streets, more parking, outdoor gathering areas and traditional light fixtures, creating a quaint, village-like atmosphere with an anticipated completion date of spring 2015. The annual Founders Day Festival will find a temporary home at Harry Myers Park in 2014. Farmers Market and the Rib Rub Run & Roll will remain in the downtown area this year. Downtown businesses are keeping normal hours throughout construction and shop owners plan to offer special promotions designed to increase downtown foot-traffic. The Old Town Shoppes will extend their hours once monthly for second Thursday “Night Owls Shop Late Till 8” events. Project updates and additional event information may be accessed at www.rockwall.com or on the “Downtown Rockwall, Texas” Facebook page.
44th Annual
Linden Wildflower Trails of Texas Downtown Linden Festival
Apparel, Gifts, Home Decor, Quilting, Jewelry, Furniture, More
SECOND THURSDAY
Night Owls Late Till 8 Shopping! Fine Dining, Coffee House, Tea Room, Winery, Mediterranean, More
April 25-26 Flowers, Fun, Food, Arts & Crafts, Rodeo, Parade, Quilt Show, Cake Walk, Children’s Activities, Homemade Ice Cream, Classic Car Exhibit, Entertainment and more. Festival admission: Free. Rodeo: $8 and $4.
www.lindenwildflowertrails.net 972.772.6400 www.RockwallDowntown.com 8 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
903.796.3003
Gremmels Returned Ghost Town to it’s Heyday
Brooks Gremmels (top left), who breathed life into a dusty ghost town resurrecting it into a thriving community once again, passed away January 26. Top right: Ben Wheeler just before the redevelopment began in 2008, and inset, in its prior heyday in the 1930s. Bottom: Ben Wheeler today is active with live music, great food, arts, shopping, festivals, parades, and good times for the community and visitors on a regular basis.
By P.A. Geddie My dad grew up on a farm just a stone’s throw north of Ben Wheeler, Texas, during the 1920s and 30s. It was a thriving town then with a bank, cotton gins, corn mill, drugstore, hotel, hardware store, two mercantile stores, and his uncle Willie even had a blacksmith shop there at one time. Dad and his family went to town as often as a poor farm family could — it was a magical place to a boy who got to buy his own first store-bought shirt, get a handful of candy for a penny, run through the dirt streets playing with neighboring kids and watch his dad trade horses and other animals with the hundreds of townsfolk that gathered on weekends. He often told us stories of his birth town and the fond memories he had of it and the school he attended there and most importantly the people of the community. But after World War II, like so many small towns, the majority of people left the area to find work in larger cities like Dallas. That’s what my dad did too. He and my mom moved to the suburbs of Dallas and raised our family there and worked for almost 40 years.
Along with the closing of most of the businesses in Ben Wheeler, the school shut down as well eventually and merged with the neighboring town of Van. In just a short time Ben Wheeler became a virtual ghost town with a handful of people hanging on to a struggling economy. It was certainly not a place anyone wanted to go any more and was poked fun of more often than not as a falling-down old town. It was no different when my parents retired back to my dad’s old home place in the early 1980s. Sadly, Ben Wheeler was dead. Some time after my parents moved back to the farm, I moved to San Antonio. I made the drive up to see them several times a year and Ben Wheeler was the last little town I’d drive through before arriving at their door. Each time as I pulled up to the stop sign where FM 773 joined 279, I would hope for a sign of life in that old ghost town that had once been so full of energy. Each time I was disappointed and usually asked my dad to talk about his youth there again on my visit to try to imagine it in its glory days.
On one visit I was surprised. As I turned the corner onto 279 I saw a half-burned out flickering lighted marquee with an arrow attached to one of the old buildings in downtown Ben Wheeler. I was so excited — no matter how dim that light was, maybe it was the start of a come back. It turned out to be a video store and sadly it was gone and the town was completely gray again by my next visit. In 1997 I moved to the family farm and Ben Wheeler became my address. It was at this time I became curious as to who Ben Wheeler the man was and found out he was the postman that first carried cherished letters to the surrounding farmers — that’s one of the things people would do when they came to town back in the day was to pick up mail that reconnected them to loved ones far away. Besides the post office, there wasn’t much reason to go to Ben Wheeler. It had grown even sadder over the years as people lost pride in the community. Most of the downtown and surrounding area was grown up with weeds and briars and unsightly junk litcontinued page 10
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 9
GREMMELS continued from page 9 tered way too many yards and businesses. To most it was just an ugly spot in the road with a blinking light to go through on their way to Tyler. I attended a few meetings with people in the surrounding area that wanted to do something about sad Ben Wheeler but our efforts then didn’t produce anything of note.
The Market Downtown Saturdays Starting March 1 UPRA Rodeo Civic Center March 6 Spring Fever Bike Rally Downtown • March 15 John Chester Dutch Oven Class Heritage Park • April 12 Rotary Club Crawfish Festival Main Street – Downtown April 26 NE Texas Choral Society Civic Center • May 2 & 3 Folk Festival Heritage Park• May 10
. . . d o o g s see! i e f i L e and Com 903.885.5614 • 888.300.6623 tourism@SulphurSpringsTX.org
A few years later, a curly-headed man with a major pep-in-his step began to appear around town. It was Brooks Gremmels. He and his wife Rese built a home on a lovely spot three miles southeast of town but to get there often they had to drive through the unsightly junk yards of Ben Wheeler. That happened one too many times for Gremmels and he began to dream of better possibilities for Ben Wheeler. A master historian, Gremmels did his research and discovered the town as it was in the 1930s in its heyday and knew that’s the way he wanted to see again, alive with people, energy, and prosperity. He began buying and redeveloping property — which he placed in a charitable trust called the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation — and cleaning up trashridden and tall-grass areas creating parks for special events and restoring old downtown buildings. Signs began to appear around town that stated, “Ben Wheeler Matters.” People took notice. Some began to clean up their yards too. On July 4, 2008, Gremmels and his growing team of supporters held a festival in a new park he’d created complete with a small stage which quickly became the Pickin’ Porch Park. Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Ben Wheeler for the first time in more than 50 years and met many of their neighbors. That same year he started the Fall Feral Hog Festival, which drew about 4,000 visitors to this little community. The idea was to poke fun at the annoying feral hogs that cause havoc and serious damages sometimes in the area. Soon, Ben Wheeler was named the official Wild Hog Capital of Texas. Gremmels saved a number of old buildings from being torn down in the community and others from neighboring towns that he moved to Ben Wheeler. Moore’s Store, once the town’s mercantile store, became a fun restaurant and live music venue. The old blacksmith shop became The Forge Bar &
Grill. An old potato shed is now the Flying Fish art gallery. Another group of old shops now house Scoots ‘n Scoops motorcycle and ice cream shop, Made in America novelties, and The Hat Doctor, and several other refurbished buildings are home to The Blue Moose, Secret Garden Embroidery, Walking Horse art gallery, and Harrison & Son Knifesmith. The Old Elwood Schoolhouse became a children’s library where each child gets to take home a few books each visit to keep. Harmony Chapel adds charm and provides a wedding and meeting venue for the town. After the first event on July 4 in 2008 the Pickin’ Porch Park became a regular hang out for the community to gather on the backs of pick up trucks to listen to music. People began to come to jam on Thursday nights and soon the park was filled with families to visit, listen to music, and dance. Now there is live music every weekend packing the dance floor at Moore’s Store and the porches and beer garden at The Forge. In just a very few short years, Gremmels successfully returned Ben Wheeler to a thriving community like it was in the 1930s and then some. And no one enjoyed the fruits of his labor more. To the delight of residents and visitors alike he cheerfully visited intently with everyone he met and often jumped on stage to dance, sing, or play his harmonica, or give one of his eloquent, heart-filled speeches to crowds who always grew silent to hear what he had to say, usually about his gratitude for everyone else, and often with his quick-witted humor that brought many smiles to all that where fortunate to catch a spark of his infectious energy. Sadly, Gremmels passed away January 26 after a year-long battle with cancer. Those who knew him a lot longer than his Ben Wheeler family say he lived a very full life long before he arrived in this one-horse town. He had prosperous careers in technology, oil, and music and has a family that loved him beyond measure. In this last phase of his full life’s journey he chose to share his dreams in a big way and his grand finale breathed life into a tired old town and rebuilt a community of grateful friends, young and old, from near and far. The memories he created and his vibrant spirit will forever be part of the town of Ben Wheeler, Texas. To learn more about Ben Wheeler and the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation which continues the work began by Brooks and Rese Gremmels, visit www.benwheelertx.com.
www.VisitSulphurSpringsTX.org 10 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014 10 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
It’s All Cool in Ben Wheeler! FUN, FRIENDLY PEOPLE Find exceptional folks from those in impromptu street performances to neighbors and new friends gathering on inviting front porches.
Wild Hog Capital of Texas It’s hog heaven throughout the year but especially during the Fall Feral Hog Festival held each October.
LIVE MUSIC THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY Featuring talented local and touring performers — acoustic Americana to blues to country dance bands.
REVITALIZED HISTORIC BUILDINGS Feel the spirit of those who played a meaningful role in the past and helped pave the way for the future.
WALK-FRIENDLY THRIVING DOWNTOWN It’s stroll appeal is known far and wide. Park the car and enjoy dining, shopping, parks, and entertainment all in a one-block area.
GREAT FOOD & DRINKS Two restaurants offer fresh burgers, gourmet pizza, and more and both have full bars. A motorcycle museum serves up ice cream for another cool treat.
WAY COOL SHOPPING Quaint shops in historic buildings offer art, embroidered linens, American-made novelties, handcrafted knives, hats, and more.
Join the fun and create your own history here!
f
FRIENDS OF BEN WHEELER
Ben Wheeler is a thriving community due largely to the efforts of the non-profit 501 (c) (3) Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation formed by Brooks and Rese Gremmels with a mission to create a sense of community through music, art, history, and education. To make a tax-deductable donation, please make checks payable to the foundation and mail to P.O. Box 7, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754.
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 11 Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation • www.benwheelertx.com • 903.833.1070
England is a Powerful Force On Stage or Off By Tom Geddie When people meet Aubrey Lynn England they soon learn she juggles many roles including a one-time Marine, mother, wife, songwriter, country singer, rockblues-soul singer, and folk singer. Within her singing roles she may be solo, with her band, or as an in-demand guest with somebody else.
Melissa Arnold/Texas Red Photography
Chances are, in any one month she could be fulfilling any one of those roles, or any combination thereof. Except for the Marine thing; the just-turned-31-years-old Aubrey finished her active duty in 2007, although the common lore is that there is no such thing as an ex-Marine. She’s a wife every day, of course, and a mother to her two children with Wade England, another former Marine she met at Camp Pendleton, California. The musical side of Aubrey Lynn England is harder to pin down. Which is the way she likes it. The base of the Greenville resident’s music is country with, okay, an onstage dose of the intensity of rocker Janis Joplin to go along with the Tammy Wynette influences. She’s nominated for awards in three categories at the Texas Music Awards show on March 22: entertainer of the year and, vocal duo of the year with Sean Franks of Chapter 11, and record of the year for “Whiskey and You” with Chapter 11. Call her music, if it must be labeled, “Americana,” a popular, nebulous term that encompasses a whole range of roots music sounds. In 2013, both the BigStar97 and Texas Regional Radio competitions named Aubrey female vocalist of the year. Both honors came after the 2011 release of her first full album, Raisin’ Hell, which was mostly country – mixed with rock, country, blues and a piano piece – tunes that explored the circle of life, regret, and love. Then there is the new country CD, Dressed in White, due out this spring. New CDs are common enough – every couple of years, give or take a year – for most musicians that the newness quickly wears off. This time, though, this one is the first disc in a planned five-CD “chameleon” set – if the fates so decree, one to be released
every six months or so – to showcase Aubrey’s versatility. The second release will be rock, the third one blues, the fourth one acoustic folk, and the fifth one new versions of her band’s songs. “It’s a huge undertaking,” she admits, “but once my producer (Dustin Hendricks) and I found a groove, it seems like it’s going to be a lot of fun.” Because her producer added harmonica to one of the songs, “Sad Little Girl,” she’s learning that instrument to go along with acoustic guitar and tambourine; she wants her live performances to sound like the recordings. Aubrey averages a couple of shows a week – about half of those solo and half with her Yellow Rose band (named to honor her father, with Jeremy McFarland on drums, Charley Portwood on bass and acoustic guitar, and Daren Watkins on guitar) – mostly but not exclusively in Northeast and North Texas “anywhere from good
12 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
listening room to honky tonks,” and recently returned from the five-day “Big Ol’ Texas Weekend” ski party in Angel Fire, New Mexico, where she was billed with a group of other musicians mostly from the Houston area. Aubrey’s high-energy shows feature a mix of mostly her own originals with some crowd-pleasing cover songs with “a few waltzes” tossed in for the dancers in the audience. She plays 25-30 of her own songs regularly, and wants to do more of her originals. “I’ve got so many more just sitting there. I don’t know why I don’t play them because I love every one of them,” she said. “What makes a good song to me is, number one, if I can relate to it in some way even if it’s a story of someone else’s life. If I’ve experienced something similar, I can put the emotion into it. Simplicity is the key to a good song. I hear so many songs that are so wordy and beat around
the bush and miss the point. Saying it in as few words as possible is what they used to do in traditional country.”
a hard time about being from Texas.” She would sing the “Star Spangled Banner” at official command ceremonies.
The Garland High School graduate – she’s lived in Greenville for seven years – began singing when she was two years old, but didn’t sing in school; instead, she played alto saxophone in the concert and marching bands.
Aubrey worked in Marine supply and logistics from 2003-2007, for two years in Japan and then in Korea and Camp Pendleton, California, where she met her husband. He now works as a maintenance mechanic keeping a paper mill’s big machinery functioning. Their daughters are LaraLynn, age four and a half, and Laretta, age seven months.
“Playing an instrument helped immensely in learning to sing,” she said. “I was in the elementary school choir but I never had a vocal lesson. I learned the most about singing from my high school band director – breath control, really, because that helps with everything.” As a teenager, she did spend many Saturday nights performing at the Garland Opry. She has performed with a number of diverse bands including Night Shift (blues and classic rock), Silver Streak (blues and classic rock), Larry & the Lizards (country, blues and classic rock), and The Texas Connection (country, pop, blues, and classic rock). In 2008, she recorded a fivesong EP in Nashville to set the stage for her full-length debut in 2011. Aubrey makes time in her busy “mommy musician” schedule for charitable interests, too. Her fourth annual Halloween “Witch Like Me” charity event will be this fall. This past year and next year, it will benefit the Liz Arnold Center for the Advancement of Regenerative Medicine for the young woman who grew up singing but suffered severe brain injuries when she was assaulted and left for dead. The 2013 event raised enough money to pay for Liz to travel to Mexico for a second stem cell transplant. Aubrey also supports the Hope Center for Autism in Fort Worth, and the Dream to Walk Foundation in Dallas. She was nicknamed “The Texas Songbird” when she was at her first duty station in the Marines, in Okinawa, Japan, where she performed with the Okinawa band “Ni Ichi Nana that mixed country, rhythm and blues, blues, and classic rock), and country band The Pearl Snap Ramblers. “As often as I could, I was singing, whether it was cadence or karaoke or whatever,” she said. “A lot of other Marines thought it was the coolest thing, and they gave me
In trying to categorize Aubrey, Brigitte
London wrote in Kickass Music Women Digital Magazine: “Can you say Firecracker? This woman is bold, beautiful and sings her ass off. She’s one part Tammy Wynette, one part Janis and all Texan. She’s got pipes, charisma and great songs. She’s also a huge force for women in music.” That said, the simplest way to describe Aubrey Lynn England – mother, wife, songwriter, multi-genre singer, charitable contributor, oh, and, like any independent musician, entrepreneur – might be “busy.” CLM
GOLF. FISH. SWIM. DINE. ENTERTAIN.
Resort Style Just $99 per month with a non-resident membership at The Links at Land’s End!
• Beautiful Golf Course and Practice Facility on Lake Fork • Jacky’s Pub for delicious meals • Scenic relaxing pool • Special Events Pavilion for indoor and outdoor entertaining • Land’s End Lodges for hosting out-of-town guests
285 Private Road 5980 • Yantis, TX 75497
Visit golflakefork.com or call 903.383.3290 MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 13
Photo by Linda Burgess-Budzinski
Brewing Up Success in Seven Points By Connie Holubar A few years ago, Jim Elliott was a mildmannered high school marketing teacher in Lewisville who liked to brew beer on the side. Today he’s retired from teaching and putting his marketing and brewing knowledge to good use as owner of the fast growing Cedar Creek Brewery in Seven Points. Cedar Creek Brewery makes a variety of beer — exceptionally good beer, in fact, proclaimed so by the hundreds of samplers who visit the brewery each weekend, as well as the experts who really know their beer. What has rocketed Cedar Creek Brewery on its current trajectory of success is the gold medal they won last October at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. That festival, considered the premier competition for micro beers nationwide, showcases hundreds of beers in dozens of categories. Some very successful breweries compete for years without winning, but Cedar Creek took home the gold on its first try, just 15 short months after opening its doors. “I didn’t even go to Denver for the fes-
tival,” Elliott says with more than a hint of remorse in his voice. “I travel all the time for the brewery, and I had no reason to believe we’d win anything. I sent our head brewer and his assistant and told them to try to learn something.” On the night of the festival’s awards ceremony, Elliott and his wife Cindy gathered with about 30 of their close friends and family members in the brewery’s taproom to sample a little of the Belgian Dubbel they’d sent to the Denver competition. “We had a small laptop and we were watching online,” Elliott said. “When they got to our category, we listened as they gave out the bronze and silver medals to larger, more established breweries. When it was time for the gold, they said ‘… and the gold medal goes to Cedar Creek Brewery in Seven Points, Texas, for their Belgian Dubbel.’ The room went silent, everyone gathered around the computer because we thought we’d heard wrong, and then we saw our own Damon Lewis and Blake Morrison headed on to the stage, and we just went nuts.” Retelling the story still brings tears to his eyes, but what happened next has provided his team of five employees and dozens
14 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
of loyal volunteers no time to pause and reflect on their victory. The phones at the brewery started to ring. “We got hundreds of calls. Everyone we had ever talked to wanted our beer. From Austin and Houston to Dallas to Denver. Everywhere,” he says. The national win, continued rave reviews, and growing sales have accelerated plans for expansion at the brewery. To meet 2014 demand, the brewery invested in larger, state-of-the-art equipment, replacing the used dairy equipment they started with. A canning line that was added in 2013 to keep up with demand for the breweries three year-round beers was working at capacity for a February special release of Belgian Double. It was he first of four special releases by the brewery planned for this year. “We did three beers in 2013, and this year we’re going to do six,” Elliot said. The Biergarten at the brewery, which opened last fall, has quickly become a popular weekend spot for sampling beer, eating a brat, and listening to live mu-
sic. For colder months Elliott opened a taproom where chili (made with beer of course) is served. The brewery is always busy on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, and beginning in February they added Sunday afternoon hours. The brewery is child and pet-friendly, with free root beer on tap for kids and tours conducted by volunteers or Elliott “on demand.”
TEXAS
“We’ve become a popular destination for beer lovers, bikers, lake residents, and people from Dallas and all around who have tried our beer in bars or seen it in the store and who want to see where it’s made,” Elliott says.
SIZED
National success hasn’t changed everything at the brewery. On a recent weekend a first-time visitor arrived on horseback. To accommodate that in the future, Elliott is adding a hitching post outside.
MAY 9–11, 2014
Cedar Creek Brewery is open on Fridays from 4–9 p.m., Saturdays from Noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays from Noon to 4 p.m. For more information on their beers, where they can be purchased, or directions to the brewery, visit www.cedarcreekbrewery.com. CLM
Gun Barrel City
ENTERTAINMENT LAKE FORK
CONCERT & TICKET INFORMATION COMING SOON
Visit
...a straight shot to Cedar Creek Lake
Come Stay & Play. We Aim to Please!
Keith Combs 2011 & 2013 Champion
Follow us on
Chillin’ & Grillin’
Saturday March 22
Cedar Creek Lake Car Show & Kiwanis Krawfish Boil Saturday, May 3
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. FREE Admission
Cars • Food • Family Fun Registration fee for entries
903.887.1087 www.gunbarrelcity.net www.gunbarrelcityfestivals.net
or visit us online at ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com
Mabank Pavilion Bus. Hwy. 175 Mabank, TX 903.887.3152
shelby county
Grill Fest 2014
146 Express Blvd., Center, Texas Turn off of Hurst Street (US Hwy 96)
n’ li il r G hillin’ o&nMarch CSaturday, s test 22
Entry Fee: $250 includes all Meat Categories, with $50 discount if registered prior to March 17. Registration form online at www.shelbycountychamber.com. Check-in starts at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2014. Cooking will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday March 21, 2014.
Chillin’ & Grillin’
Categories:
42 Tournament Horseshoe Contest $6,750 Payout! 146 Express Blvd., Center, Texas Washer Pitching Contest 1st Place - $1,000 Live Bands • Contests
C L Contests ive Bands
Brisket Chicken Pork Spare Ribs Saturday
March 22
Saturday March 22 Turn off of Hurst Street (US Hwy 96)
2nd Place - $750 42 3rd Tournament, Horseshoe Place - $500
Entry Fee: $250 includes all Meat Categories, with $50 discount if registered prior to March 17. Registration form online at www.shelbycountychamber.com. Check-in starts at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2014. Cooking will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday March 21, 2014. Categories:
Brisket
per meat category Chicken
and Washer Pitching
42 Tournament
Pork Spare Ribs Trophy for Grand Champion Sanctioned by Lonestar Society HorseshoeBarbecue Contest 146 Express Blvd., Center, Texas $6,750 Payout! Champion and Reserve Turn off of Hurst Street Satur(US Hwy 96)
See websiste for Cook Teamdayentry. afternoon
Washer Pitching Contest 1st Place - $1,000 Sponsored by - $750 2nd Entry Fee: $250 includes allPlace Meat Categories, with $50 discount if registered prior to March 17. The Shelby County Chamber of Place - $500 Commerce is organized toCheck-in Registration form online3rd at www.shelbycountychamber.com. promote starts at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, per meat category advance economic March 21, 2014. Cooking will begin at 6:00and p.m. on Friday Marchenrich21, 2014. Trophy for Grand Champion Hotels Within Walking Distance ment and development, tourism and the social and civic interest of and Reserve Champion Categories: Saturd
Live Bands
Hotels within walking distance
Brisket Chicken Pork Spare Ribs Sponsored by
Contests Live Bands
rnoon John D. ayWafteindham Civic Center 42 Tournament Sanctioned by
Shelby County and adjoining areas.
100 Courthouse Square, A-101 The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce is organized to promote Center, Texas 75935 and advance economic enrich(936) tourism 598-3682 ment and development, and the social andinfo@shelbycountychamber.com civic interest of Shelby County and adjoining areas. 100 Courthousewww.shelbycountychamber.com Square, A-101 Sanctioned Center, Texas 75935 (936) 598-3682 info@shelbycountychamber.com www.shelbycountychamber.com
Hotels Within Walking Distance 146 Express Blvd. • Center, Texas by
Horseshoe Contest
$6,750 936.598.3682 Payout! www.ShelbyCountyChamber.com www.CedarCreekLakeCarShow.net 1st Washer Pitching Contest Place - $1,000 2nd Place - $750 3rd Place - $500 per meat category MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 15 Trophy for Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Sat
urday after
Some of Gary Edwards favorite photography these days are his nature shots. Top left-clockwise: 1) He captures an air borne butterfly at the Mineola Nature Preserve. 2) Edwards and his weapon of choice, his favorite lens, the 600mm f4 that is approaching 30 years old. 3) He was nominated for a Pulitzer for this photograph he took of Jack Nicklaus as he
16 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
birdied the 17th hole on his way to a Master victory. 4) Two fawns reacting to each other. 5)Edwards said he’s fascinated by the configuration of wings as birds land and in this case he was using back lighting with the late morning sun high and behind the bird which shows off the feathers in a very delicate and beautiful way.
Life Behind Gary Edwards’ Lens By Elizabeth Branca In 1985, photographer Gary Edwards’ career was catapulted into photographic history when his image of golfer Jack Nicklaus was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. A seminal moment for both the subject and the artist, this now famous image captures the unfettered joy of a champion exuded in the fierce grip and victorious grin. Edwards career spans over five decades and has taken him around the world, but today life has slowed down a little. A resident of East Texas since 1994, Edwards’ now channels his knowledge and enthusiasm for photography into his love for all things East Texas. It may not have the cache of his former assignments, for example the three Olympics, eight Masters Golf tourneys and 14 Super Bowls, however Edwards celebrates the pastoral beauty of the area’s wildlife, landscape and sunsets with the same compelling commitment. His enjoyment of capturing the beauty of East Texas evolved over time. “We moved to Holly Lake Ranch in East Texas in 1994 with the idea I’d play golf until I dropped,” Edwards said. “My wife had other ideas and I went back to work for a weekly newspaper in Mineola, using the same equipment I’d used to cover the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks, but this time I was covering the Mineola Yellow Jackets high school teams and I wasn’t at all sure my ego could stand the change — boy, how wrong could I have been. “I fell in love with high school sports, the people of the area and the wild life. Working for the weekly newspaper got me closer to everyday life in East Texas. Everybody over 40 has a story to tell and I had some success at providing that opportunity for many people over the next 16 years.” Edwards is quite proud of East Texas and the people and places that make it special. “East Texas offers a great quality of life, much as the Hill Country west of Austin, as well as other places,” he said. “Here one can drive 25 miles in 30 minutes,
over country roads lined with trees and farms. And I learned to love that — just me, my camera and the car radio, jumping into my car with my wife Debbie and going off to cover festivals or visiting places like Lake Fork or Caddo Lake. With changes in the craft of photography over the years from film to digital cameras, Edwards has embraced and mastered the technology. “As I told a group of aspiring journalists recently at Texas A&M Commerce, ‘digital photography has made better photographers of us all,’” he said. “Look at it this way, years ago a well-known Life Magazine photographer toured Russia and took more than 6,000 photographs and the magazine used six. They had unlimited resources that most photographers did not have. I submit to you that if you take a good photographer and allow he or she to take that many pictures, they will have six really great pictures among them. Digital photography has done that for the average person.” Edwards said love of what you do and the willingness to put in the time required to take better pictures than others is what makes a good photographer. He enjoys teaching photography, especially to high school and college students and in particular, nature subjects. “In nature you have to take what nature gives you and be adaptable,” he said. “You might go out looking for eagles and find turtles, or you might find foxes. And I’m always attempting to take pictures that others either don’t take the time to take or don’t think to take.” In regards to his image of Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters he said several photographers got the photo but the expressions and gestures he captured are what made his award winning. “The compelling part comes from a combination of who it is, his facial expression, his body language, the venue involved and the ball being on the lip of the cup and about to fall in,” Edwards said. “They are all parts of the puzzle and without any of them, it wouldn’t be as good a picture as it was.”
His best advice to aspiring photographers is to follow your dream and be prepared to face the consequences. “If you love photojournalism, and it is a passion, then chase your dream,” he said. “But there is a price to pay. It can consume you. You will find yourself carrying your camera whereever you go because you never know when you will come across something you need to take a picture of. Spouses don’t always go along with stopping the car so you can take a picture. If recording history and events for future generations to view is something you like, then have at it. You probably won’t get rich economically, but you will emotionally — and in the end that’s what much of life is all about. “I’m thinking that it was my willingness to take chances that was inspired by DeSantis, my mentor. It made me a little better than what I might have been otherwise. It’s my belief that none among us become successful on our own and that it takes a mentor to accomplish and fulfill our dreams. “In these years now upon us I’ve made myself available to speak at photo clubs or student groups and that has become as rewarding as the photography.” In the midst of photographing many sporting events, three Olympics and 14 Super Bowls, Edwards says his most memorable moment was one Super Bowl in particular. “I actually proposed to my wife at a Super Bowl,” he said. “It was 26 years ago in California, pre-game, and as the two teams came on the field and the crowd provided thunderous noise, I turned to my caption writer (who I was dating at the time) and said, ‘will you marry me’ and she didn’t answer. We were both recently divorced and relatively new to each other and I was just overwhelmed by her. Days later she said yes and we’ve been married since then. How can that not be the highlight of any photographic event?” See more of Gary Edwards’ photography at www.easttexasreflections.com. CLM
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 17
culture & entertainment
Check out the eMAGAZINE www.countylinemagazine.com for extended event listings.
Hollandsworth Headlines Special Day In Longview
“Western Spirit, Southern Charm” is the theme for the 27th Women in Longview Day from 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on March 27 at the Maude Cobb Convention Center. Skip Hollandsworth, noted Texas Monthly staff writer and co-author of the acclaimed movie “Bernie,” serves as the keynote speaker. According to event chair Sandra Skoog, “The primary purpose of Women in Longview Day is to celebrate the achievements and diversity of the city’s outstanding women. This event provides opportunities to learn, network, shop, fellowship, and be inspired. Men are also welcome and often come for the luncheon, style show and speaker.” Seminar sessions include “Women of Fortitude from the Frontier to the Future” by Mary Murdoch; “Keeping Your Southern Charm, E and Otherwise” by Lisa Simmons and Morgan Strong; and “Women and Money: Taking Care of Your Financial Future” by Donna Bobo and Craig Morton of Austin Bank. Other activities include continental breakfast, exhibits, and vendors. Women in Longview, Inc. gives $9,000 in college scholarships to two adult women and to five graduating high school senior women at the event. Tickets are $25 and are available at Barron’s or at Texas Bank and Trust (downtown) or by contacting Lynan Day at 903.235.5191. To exhibit, contact Bobbie King at 903.445.4583, or to sponsor, contact Jerry Anne Jurenka at 903.663.0025. For more information, visit the website at www.womeninlongview.org or the event’s Facebook page.
Palestine Hosts Annual Dogwood Trails Festival
Arts & crafts, a parade, kids’ zone, car show and live entertainment are all part of the annual Dogwood Trails Festival during three consecutive weekends in downtown Palestine. This year’s event takes place March 21-23, March 28-30 and April 4-6.
Texas Monthly staff writer Skip Hollandsworth is the keynote speaker for Women In Longview Day on March 27 at the Maude Cobb Convention Center. Tickets are $25 each and the event starts at 8 a.m. Courtesy photo.
Coinciding with the festival on the second weekend is the 13th annual Dulcimer and Old Time Music Festival. This festival is held in a four-story high school that was built around 1915. There is plenty of room for jams and concerts. It is right in the middle of Palestine, so there are plenty of places to eat and overnight lodging. The Dogwood Special Brunch Train will depart Palestine on the Texas State Railroad at 10:15 a.m. on March 30. The ride will consist of a leisurely 1 1/2-hour ride through the East Texas Forest Country to enjoy a tasty brunch while viewing Mother Nature’s splendid annual display of dogwood blooms. There is a one-hour break at the Rusk Depot so passengers can get off the train and stretch their legs, see the history in the depot and walk around the grounds to view the blooming dogwood in the park and lake area before the ride back to Palestine Depot. The cost is $50 per person (no separate children or senior rates). The Palestine Depot is located at U.S. Highway 84 and Park Road 70. For tickets, call 877.726.7245 or visit the Texas State Railroad website at www.texasstaterr. com.
18 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
For more information on the Dogwood Trails Festival, call 903.729.6066 or visit www.texasdogwoodtrails.com.
Chuckwagon Races Scheduled In Neches The 1836 Chuckwagon Race takes place at the Diamond B Ranch in Neches on March 7-9. Five classes of wagon races, Bronc Fann’n, a cowboy style match race, pasture team roping and cowboy-mounted shooting make this a truly unique western event. The gates are open to camping on March 2, one week prior to the race. People are encouraged to come early, bring their horses, mules, wagons and participate in the many activities on the schedule. Those activities include trail rides, Dutch oven cooking classes, cowboy poetry, herd dog and bullwhip demonstrations, a horse auction, wagon calcutta, barn dances with live music and much more. The Diamond B Ranch is located on 11589 Farm-to-Market 321. For more information, call 903.721.9111 or visit the website at 1836chuckwagonrace.com.
EVENT PICKS County Line makes every effort to ensure accurate information. However, information could change. Please call ahead before making plans. For more listings or organizations and activities and for a list of annual events in and around East Texas, visit countylinemagazine.com.
Every Thursday
Cruise Night. Athens. Classic cars,street rods, rat rods, project cars and trucks,new cars, motorcycles and more. Free. Downtown Athens, 219 S. Palestine Street. (903)-675-8616.
Through March 2
Mardi Gras Upriver. Jefferson. Recalling the days when steamboats came up the river to Port Jefferson from New Orleans. Includes parades and live entertainment. 903.665.2672. www.mardigrasupriver.com.
March 1 – April 27
Four Winds Renaissance Faire. Troup. 21852 County Road 2178. fourwindsfaire.com.
March 5 – 6
East Texas Oilfield Expo. Longview. Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex, 100 Grand Blvd. 866.918.5550. www.easttexasoilfieldexpo.com.
March 6
UPRA Rodeo. Sulphur Springs. Civic Center. 903.885.5614, 888.300.6623. visitsulphurspringstx.org.
March 7 – 9
The 1836 Chuckwagon Race. Neches. $20 per day. Diamond B Ranch, 11589 FM 321, 2 miles from Neches Post Office. 903-721-9111. www.1836chuckwagonrace.com.
March 15 - 16
Mineola Amtrak Wine Fest. Mineola. 800. MINEOLA. www.mineolamainstreet.com.
March 15
Spring Fever Bike Rally. Sulphur Springs. Downtown. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.
March 21 - 22
Shelby County Grill Fest 2014. Center. Sanctioned by the Lone Star Barbecue Society. Categories of brisket, chicken or pork spare ribs. Contests, live bands. $250 for teams. John D. Windham Civic Center, 146 Express Blvd. 936-598-3682. www.shelbycountychamber. com.
March 22
38th Annual LeTu Auto Society Car Show. Longview. Maude Cobb Convention & Activity Complex. 100 Grand Blvd. 903.753.3281. www. visitlongviewtx.com Gala of The Royal Horses. Tyler. 7 p.m. The Oil Palace. 10408 Texas 64. 903.566.2122. www.oilpalace.com.
March 29
East Texas CASA Blue Jeans and Ball Gowns. Longview. Dinner, dancing, band and drinks. 7 p.m. – Midnight. Maude Cobb Convention & Activity Complex. 100 Grand Blvd. 903.753.3281. www.visitlongviewtx.com
April 5
Mud Bugs and Music. Longview. Maude Cobb Convention & Activity Complex. 100 Grand Blvd. 903.753.3281. www.visitlongviewtx.com
April 12 - 13
April In Edom. Edom. An old-fashioned small town street fair. Unique hand made items, tasty fair food, live music, pet parade, live auction, children’s activities, classic car show, and more, all amongst a backdrop of the quaint artists colony of Edom, Texas. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Downtown Edom, Hwy 279. 214.478.8999. www.visitedom.com,
April 12
2nd Annual Family Fun Day for Autism Awareness. Longview. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. FREE. Teague Park, 415 American Legion Blvd. 903-220-2886. www.autismp3a.eventbrite.com.
April 18 - 20
East Texas Gusher Days. Gladewater. 903845-5501. www.gusher-days.com.
April 21 - 26
Derrick Days. Corsicana. A celebration of Corsicana’s rich oil heritage, held annually since 1976. Four days of cultural arts entertainment and family events culminate on the last Saturday in April with a street festival. Lots of food, vendors, entertainment, music, carnival for the kids, and more. Corsicana Main Street, 301 S. Beaton St. www.derrickdays.com.
April 25 - 26
29th Annual PRCA Stampede Rodeo. Athens. Contestants compete in events including team roping, barrel racing, calf roping and bull riding. Gates open 5 p.m. Rodeo 7:30 p.m. Pre-sale $10, At gate $12, Ages 4-12 $5. Henderson County Regional Fair Park Complex, 3356 Hwy. 31 East. 903-675-5181. athenstx.org/things-to-do/29th-annual-prcastampede-rodeo.
May 3
Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Athens. Dance, food and fishing. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. TFFC Admission: $5.50 adults, $4.50 seniors 65+, $3.50 children ages 4-12. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 FM 2495. 903.676.2277. athenstx.org/things-to-do/cinco-de-mayo-celebration-2014.
May 10
Folk Festival. Sulphur Springs. Heritage Park. 903.885.5614, 888.300.6623. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org. MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 19
the arts
Check out COUNTY LINE ONLINE for our extended coverage of art news and events. www.countylinemagazine.com
Fiber Arts Exhibition Opening March 15
“Mother Pearl,” is one in a series of eight paintings created by Amanda Hancock for a cookbook she wrote and illustrated based on the legacies of here great-grandmother, Pearl Melton, and her seven daughters, the youngest of which is her Grammie, Tommie Akin. The book, Seven Strands of Pearl, is available on Amazon.com.
“Color and Texture,” a fiber arts exhibition at Gallery Main Street in Tyler, kicks off with an opening reception March 15 from 5:30-8 p.m.
Hancock says of the painting: “Tucked away in plastic bins in my storage room are a collection of Blue Willow plates. Most of these beautiful pieces are brown where there was previously ceramic glaze and all of the glazing is crazed with cracks of tender usage. This precious china (ironically marked “Japan”) belonged to my Big Mama. I remember being a toddler and sitting at the bar at her little house on Pine Street in Henderson, eating new potatoes in a white cream sauce (a recipe that was indicative of Big Mama’s culinary expertise and uniqueness). She served me this delectable meal on a Blue Willow saucer. I am convinced that the saucer itself added to the experience of the meal, forever stamping itself in my memory as an emblem of home-making and hearth-keeping.”
This show marks the second juried exhibit of 2014 for the gallery, which is managed by the city of Tyler Main Street Department in cooperation with the volunteers of the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition and Heart of Tyler, Inc. The opening reception includes music, refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artists. As always, the reception is free and open to the public. The fiber arts exhibit is a collaborative project with the East Texas Fiber Artists group. In addition to the monetary award for Best in Show that is given by Gallery Main Street, the fiber artists provide merit award certificates.
Hancock lives in Henderson and teaches art at Tatum High School and is an adjunct professor for Kilgore College.
Artists whose works were accepted for the exhibit must deliver the selected works at the gallery on March 12. Takedown will be on May 6. Those who want more information should go to www.DowntownTylerArts.com or call Gallery Main Street at 903.593.6905.
Spring Gala Scheduled April 26 In Crockett Piney Woods Fine Arts announces its Spring Gala 2014 on April 26. This event takes place at The Barn at Hickory Creek and will benefit Arts in Education. For tickets or more information, visit www.pwfaa.org or call the PWFAA office Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 936.544.4276.
Goodman-LeGrand Museum Hosts Art In The Park The fifth annual Art in the Park at the Goodman takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 12 at the Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum, 624 N. Broadway in Tyler. Artwork exhibits include oil on canvas, watercolors, charcoal drawings, sculpture, pottery and more.
New and returning artists are represented at this event where they display, demonstrate and sell their artwork. Volunteers are needed to solicit new vendors for this event, to assist with artists’ booth space setup, and post-event cleanup, and to assist as docents inside the museum. For more information, call the Tyler Parks and Recreation Department at 903.531.1286.
TRAHC Hosts Women for the Arts Event Celebrate the 15th annual Women for the Arts “Party with Picassos,” the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s (TRAHC) celebrity art auction, on March 22. It is an auction like no other, featuring works by the unlikeliest of artists. “Celeb-
20 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
rity” bankers, lawyers, doctors, dentists, educators, musicians, entrepreneurs, businessmen and businesswomen have been paired with professional artists as coaches to create original works of art. These works vary from watercolor and oil painting to metal sculpture, furniture and more. “Party with Picassos” takes place at the Texarkana Country Club. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Attendees can bid on additional items in the silent auction and can take part in a raffle for more prizes. The event begins at 7 p.m., with a champagne pre-party at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call D. Murphy at TRAHC at 903.792.8681.
ARTS EVENTS Through March 9
10th Annual High School Art Exhibition. Tyler. Tyler Museum of Art, 1300 S. Mahon. 903595-1001. www.tylermuseum.org.
Through March 15
Mauro Manetti Drawings & Sculpture. Nacogdoches. Griffith Gallery, SFA Campus, 2222 Alumni Drive. 936.468.1131
Through March 29
Texas Art Quilts. Nacogdoches. Texas Art
Quilts 1993-2011 presents 26 works by Texas artists and comes to the Cole Art Center from the Texas Quilt Museum. Embracing both abstract and representational modes, these makers celebrate a variety of themes, including science, fantasy, political causes and natural beauty. The project is funded in part by a grant from the Quilter’s Guild of Dallas Helena Hibbs Endowment Fund. Cole Art Center. 329 E. Main Street. 936.468.1131. www.finearts.sfasu.edu.
April 11 - 12
Latino Folk Tales. Marshall. Features original illustrations from bilingual Latino folk tales published in children’s picture books. Eleven talented, award winning artists focus their lively imaginations, distinctive styles, and colorful pallets to bring the stories alive. The illustrations enhance stories collected from many Spanish-speaking regions including Mexico, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, and South America. Michelson Museum of Art. 216 N. Bolivar Street. 903.935.9480. www.michelsonmuseum.org.
April 26
March 6
Southwestern Water Color Society Paints Paris. Paris. An art show of recently painted watercolors of the Paris area. 5:30 – 8 p.m. Plaza Art Gallery. 8 West Plaza. 903.737.9699. www.theplazagallery.com.
March 7 – March 29
Give Us The Willies - Iconic Art. Bonham. Give Us the Willies is the Iconic Art of Anne Genung - well-known Austin artist, who signature works feature the face of music icon Willie Nelson. This exhibit will amuse and delight you and is a must-see in north Texas. Two receptions are scheduled and admission is free. Friday, March 7 from 5-7 PM and Saturday, March 8 from 3-5 PM. Refreshments served. Creative Arts Center, 200 W. 5th St. 903-640-2196. www.creativeartscenter.us.
Mineola League of Arts Juried Art Show. Mineola. 903.569.8877. http://www.mlota. org/art-show-2014.html.
April 13 – June 15 Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection. Tyler. Tyler Museum of Art, 1300 S. Mahon. 903-595-1001. www.tylermuseum.org.
5 4 th A n n u a l
STUDENT INVITATIONAL
Red River Art Fest & Run for the Arts. Bonham. This festival features a 5K and Fun Run, children’s activities, artist vendor tent, silent auction in the gallery all day, Painted Chair and Sidewalk Chalk Art Contests with $1000 in prize money, a BBQ Dinner and Live Auction in the evening. All proceeds benefit the Creative Arts Center, a project of the Fannin Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit charity. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Free. Creative Arts Center, 200 W. 5th St. 903640-2196. www.creativeartscenter.us.
Featuring WORKS BY
RICARDO PANIAGUA J U R O R F O R T H E I N V I TAT IO N A L Sunday
MArch 23, 2014 1:30 PM TO 3:30 PM
Light Refreshments Served
2:00 PM
Gallery Talk and Award Presentation by Ricardo Paniagua
May 10 Opening for The Architectural Aesthetic Exhibit. Tyler. Features music, refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artists. 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. FREE. Exhibit runs May 10-29. Gallery Main Street, 110 W Erwin. 9035936905. www.cityoftyler.org.
215 E. Tyler St. • Longview, Texas
Three Awesome Shows! April 5, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
Gilmer Civic Center, 1925 N. Wood, Gilmer, Texas Kenny James as
Buddy Holly
March 15
Opening reception for “Color and Texture: A Fiber Arts Exhibit. Tyler. Join us to celebrate the grand opening of Gallery Main Street’s Color and Texture: A Fiber Arts Exhibit..The event will feature music, refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artists. 5:30 – 8 p.m. Free. Gallery Main Street, 110 W Erwin. 903-593-6905. www.cityoftyler.org
Shake Rat
tle & Roll
March 23 – July 14
Scott M. Lieberman, M.D. At the Vantage Point. Tyler. Tyler Museum of Art, 1300 S. Mahon. 903-595-1001. www.tylermuseum.org.
April 4 - 26
Wind in the Willows Exhibit. Bonham. This open exhibit features flora and fauna as a subject and will include a variety of animals, landscapes, flowers and plants. All media are included. Opening reception is Friday, April 4 from 5-7 PM. The exhibit runs through April 26. 5 p.m. Free. Creative Arts Center, 200 W. 5th. 903-640-2196. www.creativeartscenter.us.
Sting Ray Anthony as Tickets $25 reserved, $15 general. Ages 8 and under free.
Ritchie Valens Special Guest Kenny James as
Mayberry’s Barney Fife
www.shakerattleroll4.com • 903-445.6907 MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 21
on stage Children’s Theatre Selects Spring Show Choir Members
ArtsView Children’s Theatre proudly announces its 2014 Encore Players Spring Show Choir members. Auditions were held in December and a group of amazing teens chosen from that process are set to entertain in and around Longview during the spring semester. This year’s Encore Players include Victoria Bishop, Elijah Bump, Brooklyn Davis, Christian Funderburk, Alysa Haden, Auburn Hilliard, Samantha Minchew, Mercedes Nunley, Taylor Reagh, Shayde Seward, Sophia Simpson, Aaren Smith, Nick Smith, Savannah Smith, and Bucky VanDoren. Sigco, LLC sponsors the 2014 Encore Players. This outreach group sings, dances, and entertains people of all ages throughout the area. The 2014 Encore Players are directed by ArtsView General Manager Pamela Donica with choreographer Caroline Donica. ArtsView Children’s Theatre also announced details for its 2014 College Scholarship Program. Completed applications are due by April 4.
Check out www.countylinemagazine.com for our extended STAGE news and event listings.
coming comedy, “Mama Won’t Fly,” the second production of the Players 25th season. It was written by the writing team of Hope, Jones and Wooten who wrote many scripts for the Golden Girls television series. According to play director Marcia Thomas most of the actors are newcomers to Jefferson or the area and to acting as well. “I was really impressed with the talent I saw when they did the cold readings necessary to audition in January,” she said. “Our Players will give the audience new faces and new characters that will hit everyone’s laugh button in this show.” Those cast are Crystal Taylor,Trina Vaughn, Christy Barnes, Doug Elder, Hollis Shadden, Jaime Hamilton, Jennifer Robinson,Clint Spinks, Adam Miller, Angela Martinez, Paula Marshall, Lewie Howard, and Patrick Fortune. The play will be performed at the Jefferson Playhouse for three performances and tickets go on sale in early March. For more information call 903.665.3895 and visit www.jeffersonoperahousetheatreplayers.com.
Go to www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com for more information.
STAGE event PICKS February 26 – March 1
Family Reunion Hijinks Open Edom Theatre Season
The Edom Civic Theatre begins its 18th season with “The Red Velvet Cake War,” a play about the Verdeen cousins of Sweetgum, Texas (just down the road from Fayro). “The Red Velvet Cake War” runs February 28 and March 1 at the Edom Community Center off Highway 279 in downtown Edom. Tickets are $10 for non-subscribers, and $8 for seniors and students. All seats are reserved. For reservations, contact Lee Shults at leeshults@aol.com or 903.352.3158.
Mama Won’t Fly Cast Set for Upcoming Jefferson Show
The Opera House Theatre Player announced cast members for their up-
TJC presents Sweeney Todd. Tyler. Sweeney Todd, a musical thriller. May not be appropriate for our younger patrons. 7:30 p.m. $5 for students and seniors, $10 for adults. Wise Auditorium, 1400 E. 5th St. 903.510.2678. www.tjc.edu/info/2004129/humanities_communications_and_fine_arts/488/theatre_musical_theatre.
March 1
The Miracle Worker. Texarkana. $40, $34, $26 with half-priced student tickets in balcony. Perot Theater. www.trahc.org.
March 3
Godspell. Tyler. UT Tyler Cowan Center. www. cowancenter.org.
March 6
The Miracle Worker. Longview. Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave. www.belchercenter. com.
March 20 – 29
Enchanted April. Athens. Feeling lost in their marriages and in the rapidly shifting so-
22 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
cial currents of post-WWI London, two middle-class housewives rent a villa in Italy for an impulsive holiday away from their lives, reluctantly recruiting a pair of independent upper-class women to share the cost and experience. There, among the wisteria blossoms and Mediterranean sunshine, all four clash and then begin to bloom, rediscovering themselves in ways that they never could have imagined. 7:30 p.m. Adults $17, Student/Child $12. Henderson County Performing Arts Center, 400 Gibson Rd. 903.675.3908. athenstx.org/things-to-do/enchanted-april.
March 22 - 29
The Little Mermaid. Longview. In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice. $8 online. ArtsView Children’s Theatre, 313 West Tyler. 903236-7535. artsviewchildrenstheatre.com.
April 3
The Addams Family. Texarkana. $52, $52, $42 with half-priced student tickets in balcony. Perot Theater. www.trahc.org.
April 11
Jim Belushi & The Chicago Board of Comedy. Tyler. With more than 30 years of experience and an alumnus of Saturday Night Live and Chicago’s famed Second City, Jim Belushi is now bringing to the stage an improvised comedy sketch show featuring members of the Chicago Board of Comedy. Belushi starred on the ABC hit comedy “According to Jim” on which he also served as executive producer, music composer and director. After wrapping 182 episodes for its eighth and final season, the family favorite series also hit a milestone when it launched into off-network syndication in 2007. A favorite of film, television and stage audiences, Belushi is one of the great leading character actors equally at home in drama and comedy, and a gifted performer who can also hold a room as front man of a rhythmand-blues band. Accompanying Belushi are Robert Belushi, Larry Joe Campbell, Jon Barinholtz and Brad Morris. 7:30 p.m. $27 - $62. UT Tyler - Cowan Center, 3900 University Blvd. 903.566.7424. www.cowancenter.org.
April 24 – May 3
Picnic. Athens. The show written by William Inge is a Pulitzer Prize winner that was performed on Broadway and was later made into a motion picture starring William Holden and Natalie Wood. 7:30 p.m. Adults $17, Student/Child $12. Henderson County Performing Arts Center, 400 Gibson Rd.,. 903675-3908. athenstx.org/things-to-do/picnic.
film
“True Detective” TV Series Features McConaughey
The detective genre has been hamstrung in recent years by an onslaught of beenthere-done-that formulae with little regard for originality, either in terms of character or story. However, January 2014 saw the release of a show with the daring to flout convention and simultaneously embrace the genre it clearly respects. True Detective, brainchild of Nic Pizzolatto, certainly sounds fairly run-of-the-mill with a brief plot synopsis. Two detectives, played with pitch-perfect notes by Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, Martin Hart and Rustin Cohle respectively, are interviewed about a present day murder when they supposedly caught the murderer nearly two decades earlier. The story jumps back and forth from present to past, a technique not unlike recent dramatic juggernaut Breaking Bad. Although the plot may seem painfully familiar, it is the characterization and the bleak underlying philosophy that provides True Detective with its borderline unbearable gravitas. Harrelson’s detective Hart appears to be the straitlaced front man. However, his cold distance with his marriage to truly wonderful Michelle Monaghan, who portrays Hart’s long suffering but steadily removed wife, looks truly pained. Hart’s predilection for stepping out on his wife with prostitutes puts him closer to Cohle than he would like to think. It is Cohle, and his philosophical despair, that makes the show different from thousands of entries in the same field. This is due largely to McConaughey, whose recent performance in Dallas Buyers Club gained him long-overdue acclaim. Cohle has lost his family, his wife and daughter, and has concluded that the human race would be better off dead. A straight cop and a nihilistic partner may sound like Lethal Weapon, or more like the film Seven, but it is the interaction of the two that sells what might have been barely passable television. Despite its graphic violent and sexual content, it is HBO after all, True Detective is truly addictive. The dark nature of the show is not dissimilar from many offerings available on TV today. The only possible killing stroke is that the show lacks
Terrell native Jamie Foxx stars with Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider Man in The Amazing Spider Man 2 releasing early May.
the humorous touch, the levity to punctuate the dreariness. Even Shakespeare knew Hamlet needed a grave digger. With five more episodes remaining of its current 8 episode run, viewers can hope that it receives a much-deserved second season — hopefully with a grave digger.
Spring Offers Slim Pickins for East Texas Movie Enthusiasts
Spring is known for being a veritable desert when it comes to quality films. We are in the doldrums before blockbuster summer and riding on the leftover wake from the best fall had to offer. It seems we are left with second-rate comedy knockoffs and sadly retread horror flicks, like Ride Along and I, Frankenstein, respectively. I, Frankenstein is so bad it verges on defying any description. The charitable view is that it is simply a reworking of the mediocre Underworld series, tellingly by the same creators. The acting is about as vapid as it gets, and the effects as ho-hum as a Roger Corman film. Ride Along is fairly entertaining, though the formula has been done to death. It is not as good as 2013’s The Heat, but Ice Cube and Kevin Hart provide enough laughs to make it passable entertainment. Fortunately in March, things begin to look up. March finds two new religious-themed films, Son of God and Noah. Diogo Morja-
do portrays Jesus, and Russell Crowe plays Noah. These two films are likely to find an audience, but may simultaneously prove controversial. Young adults and children will likely find Divergent, the new film destined to be the next Hunger Games, and Muppets Most Wanted. Action fans will likely appreciate Aaron Paul’s, Breaking Bad alum, new film Need for Speed, Godzilla, a remake with another BB star Brian Cranston, and 300: The Rise of an Empire, the prequel/continuation/ sequel of 300. Also of note is the docudrama Anita, TV-show-based on Veronica Mars and Repentance, featuring East Texas native Forrest Whittaker. Captain America; Winter Soldier debuts in April. Previews fortunately hold out more hope for the sequel than the original. Kevin Costner will appear as a sports agent in Draft Day. Heaven is Real, based on the popular book, also calls April home. Texas seems to be underrepresented in the spring, though a couple of films still out feature, though it seems almost apropos to say at this point, Matthew McConaughey. Dallas Buyers Club and Wolf of Wall Street feature spectacular performances. Further, Terrell native Jamie Foxx is featured in the upcoming The Amazing Spider Man 2. Yay. Honestly he looks like Mr. Freeze from the painfully laughable Batman and Robin.
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 23
music notes Rodney Crowell Concert Set For Linden March 8
Grammy Award winner Rodney Crowell plays the Music City Texas Theater on March 8. Reserved seating tickets are $35 and are available by calling 903.756.9934. Crowell is a man on fire of late. Within the past two years, he’s seen the publication of his critically-acclaimed memoir Chinaberry Sidewalks, collaborated with the poet Mary Karr on the stellar album “KIN,” and released “Old Yellow Moon,” his critically-acclaimed collaboration with Emmylou Harris, which won the 2014 Grammy Award for “Best Americana Record.” All the while, Crowell finished a solo album, “Tarpaper Sky.” Available April 15, the songs found on “Tarpaper Sky” are full of warmth and familiarity with themes he has long been drawn to – vivid characters, heartbreak and life’s lessons. MCTT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization supported by loyal patrons, sponsors and volunteers. For more information, visit www.musiccitytexas.org.
Rock From 1950s Featured At Live Show In Gilmer
The Gilmer Civic Center will rock and rolling at 7:30 p.m. April 5 with Buddy Holly (portrayed by Kenny James), Shake, Rattle & Roll, and Richie Valens (portrayed by Sting Ray Anthony). Then the magical music of the ’50s and ’60s kick off with the all-female show group and Las Vegas DooWop winners, Shake, Rattle & Roll with their synchronized moves, beautiful harmony and hulahooping skills. James follows with his tribute to Buddy Holly. Chubby Checker called him “a natural.” Buddy Knox said he was “the closest thing to his friend Buddy Holly that he had ever met.” Marty Stuart says he has “the heart and soul of a true professional.” Finally, Anthony rocks the house with an unparalleled tribute to Richie Valens (La Bamba). Anthony has been
Check out www.countylinemagazine.com for extended MUSIC news and event listings.
endorsed by “The Valens Estate” and takes Richie’s music to a whole new level. He has appeared in Branson at Dick Clark’s Theater, as well as “Legends in Concert,” “Legendary Stars,” “50’s at the Hop,” “Rock and Roll Heaven,” and “Super Stars in Concert.” The tribute band “Fever” from Dallas is backing the performers. The Gilmer Civic Center is located at 1925 N. Wood (Next to Walmart) in Gilmer. Reserve tickets are $25 and general seating tickets are $15. Tickets are available by calling 903.445.6907.
Country Music Show Set For March 15 In Palestine
Dogwood Jamboree presents a county music showcase with “All-Stars Youth Banjo Band” on March 15 at the Palestine Civic Center.
is filled with decades’ worth of knowledge and talent, as well as an assortment of poise, entertainment and timeless melodies. On April 29, Grammy-nominated country music star John Berry is in concert. Using his tenor voice as a spiritual tool, Berry is a moving, inspiring performer that has the power to touch the hearts of both his loyal fans and newest concert-goers. Berry’s vocals and guitar is accompanied by fiddle and back-up vocals to entertain with a celebration of life, love, faith and good music. In addition, there is an April 17 show by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, go to www.ticketfly.com.
music events
The Branson-style show features classic county music and comedy aimed at entertaining the entire family. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Advanced tickets are $12 and available at Bishop’s Bar-B-Q, Dogwood Diner and Hometown Pharmacy. Tickets at the door are $15.
Every Tuesday
New Shows Announced At Greenville Auditorium
Every Thursday – Friday
Greenville Municipal Auditorium recently announced three shows in March and April. Classic rock ‘n’ roll group The Diamonds takes the stage on March 20. The Diamonds had big hits in the 1950s with “The Stroll” and “Little Darlin’.” The group amassed three gold records, 33 appearances on American Bandstand, inductions into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. On April 4, television, film and Broadway star Hal Linden comes to Greenville. Linden spices up the stage with a dose of nostalgia and a dash of legendary star quality. Backed by a seven-piece band, Linden performs some of America’s greatest songs and Broadway hits. Each concert
24 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
Pickin’ and Grinnin’. Edom. 6 - 8 p.m. Free. The Shed Cafe, 8337 FM 279. 903-852-7791. www.theshedcafe.com.
Every Wednesday
Boogie Woogie Wednesday. Marshall. Live music. 7 - 9 p.m. Free admission. OS2 Pub. 105 E. Houston. 903-938-8966. www.facebook. com/birthplaceofboogiewoogie. Live Music. Tyler. Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-BQue. 525 S. Beckham Ave. 903.593.0311. www. stanleysfamous.com.
Every Thursday – Saturday
Live Singer/Songwriters. Ben Wheeler. The Forge. Hwy 279. 903.833.5970. www.benwheelertx.com.
Every Friday – Saturday
Live Bands. Ben Wheeler. Moore’s Store. Hwy. 279. 903.833.5100. www.benwheelertx.com.
Every Saturday
Acoustic Music on the Streets. Mineola. Pickers and audience welcome. Bring instruments and chairs. Indoors in bad weather. 11 a.m. Free. Johnson St. Gazebo. 1.800.MINEOLA. www.mineola.com. Bluesman Craig Wallace. Ben Wheeler. 3 - 6 p.m. Free. The Forge, FM 279. 903-833-5970. www.benwheelertx.com.
March 8
Hank Williams Remembered Concert. Nacogdoches. Nacogdoches County Expo & Civic
Catch Grits&Glamour with Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan at 7:30 p.m. March 22 at the Crockett Civic Center. For more information call 936.544.4276 and visit www.pwfaa.org. Courtesy photo. Center. 3805 NW Stallings Drive. 936.564.0849. www.nacexpo.net.
March 9
Rodney Crowell. Linden. 8 p.m. $35. Music City Texas Theater. 108 Legion Street. 903.756.9934. musiccitytexas.org.
March 14
Third Day, Skillet, Mandisa, Brandon Heath, Peter Furler, We As Human. Tyler. 7 p.m. The Oil Palace. 10408 Texas 64. 903.566.2122. www.oilpalace.com.
March 15
Louise Mosrie - Live, Acoustic Music Concert. Edom. Doors open at 7 p.m. for this show for ages 14 and older, or under 14 with an adult. $12 advance / $15 door. The Old Firehouse in Edom, 8241 FM 279. 903-8522781. www.theoldfirehouse.net.
March 21
Casey Donahew Band. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. www.banitacreekhall.com
March 22
March 27 – 29
Palestine Old Time Music & Dulcimer Festival. Palestine. Museum for East Texas Culture. 400 Micheaux Street. 903.723.1914. www.oldpalmusic.com.
March 28
Roger Creager. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. banitacreekhall.com
March 29
Cory Morrow. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. www.banitacreekhall. com
Mt. Pleasant. 6 – 10 p.m. Mt. Pleasant Civic Center, 1800 N. Jefferson, 817-975-1666. www. gospelsingingconventions.com
April 19
Leavin Sundown. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. banitacreekhall.com
April 24
Cody Johnson Band. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. www.banitacreekhall.com
April 26
TSO Zuill Bailey plays Elgar. Texarkana. Featuring popular cellist Zuill Bailey, who performs Elgar as the closeout of TSO’s
Amy Speace - Live Acoustic Music Concert. Edom. 7:30 p.m. $12 advance / $15 door. The Old Firehouse in Edom, 8241 FM 279, Downtown. 903-852-2781. www.theoldfirehouse.net.
Masterworks season. 7:30 p.m. Perot Theater. www.trahc.org.
April 26
April 5
Larry Gatlin. Mt. Pleasant. Northeast Texas Community College, Whatley Center. 903.434.8181. www.ntcc.edu/whatley. Wade Bowen. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. banitacreekhall.com
Sweet Charity. Mt. Pleasant. Northeast Texas Community College, Whatley Center. 903.434.8181. www.ntcc.edu/whatley.
April 12
Brandon Ryder. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. banitacreekhall.com
April 18 – 19
Whiskey Myers. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. banitacreekhall.com Texas State Gospel Singing Convention.
ETSO Concert: Power Play. Tyler. 7:30 p.m. $10 to $55. UT Tyler Cowan Center. 3900 University. 903-566-7424. www.ETSO.org.
May 1
Josh Abbott Band. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. www.banitacreekhall.com
May 2 – 3
NE Texas Choral Society. Sulphur Springs. Civic Center. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.
May 3
Ronnie Milsap. Nacogdoches. 8 p.m. Banita Creek Hall. 401 W. Main. banitacreekhall.com.
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 25
bookmarks Malala brings her honesty and zeal to the pages as she tells of how a Muslim girl became the daughter of the world in her quest to bring equal rights of education to all children in her country. That demand made her “enemy number one” for the Taliban in Pakistan. In words that describe how her thirst of knowledge was genetically gifted to her by her father, and her passion to speak came from her grandfather, Malala introduces the reader to the mud-caked streets of her home and childhood. You can almost taste the pasty treats lovingly made by her mother as she tells of growing up in a world that changed daily as war raged through her lands.
I Am Malala By Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb Little Brown Book ISBN: 9780316322409
Reviewed by Patti Light “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.” These are strong words that seem scripted for a world leader, philosopher and aged activist. Yet a 16-yearold girl from the Swat Valley of Pakistan brought them to life on the floor of the United Nations. They rang out into the chamber full of world diplomats on her birthday. She is Malala Yousafzai. The book I Am Malala, is her autobiography. So far.
But it is bravery that is tangible as she recreates one fateful day in October 2012 when, after struggling through school exams in secret (girls were not allowed to be educated at her age), a Taliban gunman stepped onto her bus and unloaded three bullets into her head and body. A beautiful sun-soaked Middle Eastern teenage girl became the voice of children around the world in the weeks and months that followed. “I speak not for myself, but for those without a voice,” she says, knowing that the Taliban still clambers for her death. I Am Malala very well may be the most interesting biography I have read in many years. It made me look at the gifts my American birth have granted me and made me proud to be part of a world painted in henna tones by her words. I
With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world. Dalai Lama
26 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
am excited to see what this small, determined and magnificent young woman does for our world. I see postings on Facebook and the Internet of young girls with bright pink head wraps and tshirts proclaiming their support of Malala, and it gives me hope for the next generation of powerful, driven, loving and creative women.
Vow Unbroken Releases from East Texas Writer
Vow Unbroken is a new historical Christian romance set in East Texas in 1832 by Caryl McAdoo of Clarksville. It’s releasing March 4 from Simon & Schuster’s Howard Books division. This is McAdoo’s 10th published title, but the first from a big, major house. For book signings and more information visit www.carylmcadoo.com.
county line MAGAZINE
UPPER EAST SIDE OF Texas
Poetry Contest All Ages. Deadline March 19, 2014
See entry form on www.countylinemagazine.com For more information call 903.963.8306.
poetry & prose Poem for Judy
“Each piece is a special expression of this artist...Many hours go into each stage of creation. Hope it brings you JOY.” Judy Pritchett She was a weaver of her life, the warp and the weft woven into cloth, beautiful and useful, delicately boldly tinted, deeply felt, joyous.
music of the apocalypse
Question presents Oliver Messiaen’s astonishing Quartet for the End of Time
You wanna know, Ya don’t The thing’s stuck in your throat. Burning, waiting, flaming, staining.
Sunday, March 30, 3 p.m.
Been there a while, possibility brings smiles. Worry and pace, heart race Consequence realized; reality takes place. Sinking, waiting, drowning, waning
The woven cloth, intricately worked, splashed with red like her hair, and the brilliant colors of a life lived large, and the gentle colors of grief and pain, love’s full spectrum given to all and especially to one.
Idea turns sour every other hour.
The cloth is finished now, still brings joy.
Knowing no clarity, until answered sincerely. Edward H. Garcia Callender Lake
Rich Shuster, piano
Daryl Coad, clarinet
Sara Birnbaum Hood, cello
Mark Miller, violin
At home in the unknown; limbo as a zip code Exist impossible, too blurry a road. Wishing, hoping, wondering, waiting.
Leigha M. Sherman Maydelle
903.563.3780 www.mountvernonmusic.org
Ode to My Hair My hair has a mind of its own. I cut; I curl; and I comb. But what is the use of adding more mousse, when my hair has a mind of its own. My hair has a mind of its own. I plead; I suffer; I groan. Despite all my trying, it is not complying. Why it fizzes and sticks out is unknown. My hair has a mind of its own. I guess I must fight it alone. My stylist is oblivious; my hair can turn hideous on the way from her shop to my home. My hair has a mind of its own. Its ego is quite overblown. It likes the attention it gets from contention. It enjoys being part of this poem. Beverly Petker Athens MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 27
28 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
PLAY & STAY Athens Offers Variety of Events for Spring Fun
Athens is known for its natural beauty which includes hills, lakes and wildlife. This emphasis on the great outdoors provides an array of activities such as boating, fishing, bird watching, biking, golfing and water skiing. Athens offers several activities of interest to families. Take a trip to the Henderson County Historical Museum in downtown. Visitors to the museum take a step back in time and experience life in turn-of-thecentury Texas, while learning more about the history of the area. Exhibits feature historic re-creations of a dry goods store, an early law office, a parlor, a schoolroom and more. Nearby art galleries, restaurants, and boutiques in downtown Athens also provide hours of entertainment. The kids especially enjoy encounters with nature at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. The 1.2 acre lake is stocked with fish year round and the staff provides help with untangling fishing lines and replacing lost hooks. The center boasts 300,000 gallons of aquariums with fish native to Texas, along with tram tours and a daily dive show.
For more information about Athens including hotel accommodations, coupons and upcoming events, visit www.AthensTX.org or call 1-888-294-2847 to request a free visitor’s guide.
OUTDOOR EVENTS March 8 and April 12
Bird and Nature Walk. Athens. 9 - 11 a.m. TFFC Admission: $5.50 adults, $4.50 seniors 65+, $3.50 children 4-12. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 FM 249. 903-676-2277. athenstx.org/things-to-do/bird-and-nature-walknovember-2013.
March 8
Fly Fish Texas. Athens. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. TFFC Admission: $5.50 adults, $4.50 seniors 65+, $3.50 children ages 4-12. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 FM 2495. 903-676-2277. athenstx.org/things-to-do/fly-fish-texas-2014.
March 29
Outdoor Fools Day. Athens. Learn a variety of outdoor skills and engage in activities such as archery, fishing and kayaking. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. TFFC Admission: $5.50 adults, $4.50 seniors 65+, $3.50 children ages 4-12. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 FM 2495. 903676-2277. athenstx.org/things-to-do/outdoorfools-day-2014.
May 2 – 4
2014 Prairies & Pineywoods BirdFest. Talco. Tours to Daphne Prairie — one of the last tallgrass prairies left in Texas — Lake Cypress Springs, Bob Sandlin State Park and areas north of Mt. Vernon offer birders opportunities to add to their life lists. Keynote speaker, nature photographer and book author Noppadol Paothong shares his decadelong study and dazzling photos of the prairie chicken and grassland grouse species. $30$70.Selah Ranch, 450 County Road NW 1051. 713-882-4195. www.birdingmtvernon.com.
Splash Kingdom To Open New Location In Greenville
Just 15 minutes east of Athens, thrillseekers find New York, Texas Zipline Adventures, which is atop the highest point in Henderson County. It has the longest zipline in Texas, which is over 900 feet and offers a panoramic view of the trees and hills of East Texas. In addition to these activities, no trip to Athens is complete without a visit to the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society which features 100 acres of wooded beauty, trees, flowers, and wildlife. Visitors may walk past the spring-fed streams connected by a 115-foot suspension bridge and explore the historic Wofford House museum. The monumental Henderson County Veterans Memorial Wall and Plaza honors more than 9,000 military veterans from Henderson County beginning with the Civil War to present.
Enhanced photo by Jo Ann Hanstrom of a
cabin at Spatterdock in Uncertain on Caddo Lake. Find out more about these scenic lodgings at www.spatterdock.com.
Splash Kingdom Waterpark announces it is opening a new location in Greenville. A ground breaking ceremony for the new waterpark on Interstate 30 was held in February, and the park is expected to open in early June. Company president and owner Johnny Blevins said the new waterpark will have an aviation theme in keeping with Greenville’s history as a leader in the military aircraft industry. City of Greenville tourism director Milton Babb said he not only looks forward to the success of Splash Kingdom itself,
but to the additional visitor support of current attractions. “Splash Kingdom will bring 60,000 to 80,000 visitors per month to Greenville during the months they are open. Those visitors will also help support our restaurants, hotels, museums and historic downtown,” Babb said. Splash Kingdom opened its first facility in Canton and has two others in Hudson Park near Weatherford and in Shreveport. To learn more visit www. splashkingdomwaterpark.com.
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 29
FOOD & DRINK Kitt’s Kornbread Sandwich & Pie Bar 125 N. Polk Street JEFFERSON 903665.0505 www.kittskornbread.com
Review by Patti Light Sitting down to eat in historic downtown Jefferson is always a great way to step back and enjoy good fellowship with family or friends and watch the antiquing couples, nostalgia seekers and bikers as they stroll through shops and sidewalks. One of the best places to do this grand people watching and get some simple but good grub is Kitt’s Kornbread Sandwich & Pie Bar right on the main drag of Polk Street. If you are wanting fancy dishes, cultured ingredients and ambience, you’ll want to go somewhere else. Kitt’s is like stepping into an old boarding house dining room. You seat yourself at whatever chair or booth is available. The plates, cups, and bowls are mismatched and made for func-
tion, not photos. The famous sandwich is just as it states — the bread is a magical (possibly secret) recipe of cornbread used like loaf of sandwich bread. Choose your kornbread first — plain, jalapeno or broccoli — and then your sandwich fixings. There are only seven styles to select: The Original, The Club, The Texan, The Redneck, The Vegetarian, The Sicilian, and The Irish. To go all the way on your Kornbread delight is to add tomato, mayo and red onion. The buttered kornbread with sliced meat, melting cheese and sweet tomatoes, creamy mayo and bitter onion is partial to my taste. Each sandwich is served with chips.
Best of the Upper East Side of Texas
Kitt’s also serves a soup called “The Stewp” which is a welcome sight with rich tomato broth, veggies, grilled chicken and kielbasa topped with tortilla strips and cheese. You can also get chicken and dumplings. The shepherd’s pie is a little dense, but this food was made to stick to your ribs. I prefer to have the combo with a cup of soup and sandwich so I can save room for pie, a must at this meal. Kitt’s serves 10 varieties of pie daily and homemade bread puddings. They have a creamy key lime pie and a double chocolate cream pie, but my slice is always the coconut buttermilk with a large cup of coffee. Seated at a small table by the big store front window, watching ladies window shop and bikers mount up to travel on up the highway is a treat. Kitt’s is busy, be warned. The restaurant is small and only has a few staff members. If it’s Saturday or a holiday you may wait and your staff may be frazzled so you’ll need to have patience. This is a simple sandwich diner and the menu is stated with simple ingredients. I am reminded that this is a sandwich my grandfather would have eaten at a drilling sight in the 1940’s — no frills, just plain food. Fans know that is why people keep coming in.
Tuesday & Wednesday DINNER SPECIAL Mixed Green Salad Choice of Fresh Fish of the day, Ribeye Steak, or Filet Mignon Served with Whipped Potatoes and Green Beans $26.00
Located in a beautiful lakeside lodge at 21191 FM 47 in Wills Point, one block north of Interstate 20, Exit 516 Open Tuesday - Saturday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Available for Special Events
Reservations Recommended 903.873.2225 www.fourwindssteakhouse.com 30 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
Open 24/7 Full Menu Breakfast Anytime! Hwy 19 near I-20
903-567-6551
www.dairypalace.com
NEWS
Find Sweets and More at Sweet Gourmet
Tickets Now On Sale For Taste of Tyler
Taste of Tyler, the city’s premier culinary event, returns April 15 at Harvey Convention Center. The event showcases a variety of foods by Tyler’s leading restaurants, live music and “Cupcake Wars.” Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Smith County Dairy Queen locations and other participating restaurants. Sponsor admission begins at 6 p.m. and general admission at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Bob Westbrook at 903.520.4946 or email bobwestbrook@ suddenlink.net.
Food & Drink EVENTS Every Saturday
Winnsboro Farmers’ Market. (Apr. 5-Oct. 25) Fresh, local fruits and vegetables, farm fresh eggs, grass fed beef, organic and pastured pork, pastured chicken, quail and quail eggs, local honey, baked goods. Special events. Guest chefs. Tastings. Recipes. 8 a.m.-Noon. Rain or Shine. Downtown. Market Street. Like us on Facebook. 903.629.3332. www. WinnsboroFarmersMarket.com.
Every Saturday
Sulphur Springs Farmers Market. Sulphur Springs. Downtown. 903.885.5614. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.
March 21 - 22
Shelby County Grill Fest 2014. Center. John D. Windham Civic Center, 146 Express Blvd. 936-5983682. www.shelbycountychamber.com.
April 12
4th Annual Athens EggFest. Athens. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 FM 2495. 903-676-2277. athenstx.org/things-todo/4th-annual-athens-eggfest. John Chester Dutch Oven Class. Sulphur Springs. Heritage Park. 903.885.5614. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.
April 26
Rotary Club Crawfish Festival. Sulphur Springs. Main Street – Downtown. 903.885.5614. www.visitsulphurspringstx.org.
May 1-3
Chisum Western Days. Paris. Chuck Wagon cook-offs. Paris/Lamar County Fairgrounds. 903.732.3869. www.paristexas.com.
By Jeremy Light Foodies have numerous opportunities to indulge their tastes in East Texas from restaurants to retail shops catering to almost every palate imaginable. And in the heart of East Texas, in the beautiful rose capital of Tyler, Sweet Gourmet offers residents and visitors alike not only a taste of luxury candy, but also a selection of unique items, most of which are not commonly found at the local market or grocery store. Owner Pam Gabriel and manager John Abler created an atmosphere more amenable to the casual shopper, those of whom wish to avoid the everyday bustle of searching for what they need in larger stores. Also, products available quite often are those a visitor might find in larger cities like Dallas or Austin only here, they don’t have to fight the traffic so much. A staple in Tyler for almost eight years, Sweet Gourmet offers several reasonablypriced cooking courses, at least one or two a month. Attendees learn how to make compound butter, a variety of sauces, and even a complete gourmet meal. Several of these classes are often based on famous chefs such as Rick Bayless and Julia Child. Further, every so often there are classes on creating famous cocktails and a variety of potent potables. There are also opportunities for younger audiences as well with such themes as how to throw the perfect slumber party. Many of those with a sweet tooth may already be familiar with Godiva chocolate.
Although Godiva is available at many locations, one thing Sweet Gourmet offers, that few if any places between Tyler and Shreveport can, is individual pieces of Godiva. It is possible to obtain the boxes as well, but sometimes a box may just be too much. In addition to Godiva, patrons may also try a variety of specialty treats, like chocolates hand-dipped in apricot. Further, Sweet Gourmet offers samples, almost every day, of food prepared with in-store items available for purchase. Recently they offered a tasty Tamale Ball meal, complete with stylistically-printed recipe cards, with all necessary in-store items clearly marked. In addition, a number of cooking utensils are available for purchase, including Brevile, Wusthof, and Ikon. Most of these are higher end items, but the quality more than makes up for the often steep price. Sweet Gourmet also provides goods and services for the whole family such as pet treats, custom ground coffee, and candle and bath products. Store manager John Abler will also sharpen knives for about $3 each. Another interesting availability at Sweet Gourmet’s is personal monogramming such items as towels, gloves, or even aprons. Many enjoy discovering the many facets to Sweet Gourmet and learning that it is so much more than simply a luxury candy store.
Shop Design with an Edge Found at D&P Interiors By Tamara Stokes Décor & Price Interiors (D&P Interiors) — a branch of Paul Michael Company — brings a warehouse concept to a furnishings showroom in Canton accompanied by 28,000 square feet of inventory. Visitors find decorative indoor and outdoor furniture, colorful accent items, and affordable prices on everything, whether looking for the perfect item for their home, office or something as an important gift. All merchandise is new from the factory. Promising “big on decor and low on price,” D&P Interiors is a viable alternative for both wholesale and retail customers. “Our main focus is on our customers who have come to expect quality and good price points from Paul Michael Company,” said the store’s award-winning visual merchandiser and head buyer, Lucia Lybrand Deen. “Our customers will find trendy, cutting-edge, style-conscious items that are both contemporary and fun. “Designers that need to furnish an entire apartment complex, quickly and within a budget, or the trend-conscious younger homemaker or career person furnishing a first home, loft, or apartment, will be thrilled with the wide selection and affordable items.” The aisles of merchandise contain essential pieces — such as frames, mirrors, seasonal items, dishes, rugs, furniture, lamps, and so much more — that complete modern and more contemporary looks portrayed in current architectural and home décor magazines. These types of shoppers already have an idea of what they want and how they want to display it, so there’s no wasted display space in the new warehouse. With the exception of the showroom used to greet visitors upon first entry, every square inch is used to store product. For smaller local businesses that carry retail décor, purchasing in bulk with an added discount is especially appealing. They can get the same price break a large
competitor has from buying overseas and in large containers and enjoy savings from shipping and handling from a centrally located warehouse versus having items shipped from warehouse facilities located on the coast. Deen said the challenge that Paul Michael Company faces with the new market and product diversification is to continually “raise the quality of our products, and keep prices affordable without sacrificing the value of our brand.” Since opening in May 2013, D&P Interiors has continued to impress casual visitors and design professionals that no longer have to make the trip to a major city such as Dallas for special client requests. This warehouse experience is like an archeological dig with one fabulous surprise after another. For the experienced designer, the facility is truly a one-stop shop for either individual or corporate clients that want a contemporary edge. Although Paul Michael Company has four retail locations in Lake Village, Arkansas; Monroe and Lafayette, Louisiana and Canton, their most recent expansions are taking place in East Texas. Canton is their center for brand distribution and diversification and in addition to the existing retail and warehouse shops, another combination warehouse and showroom opens later in 2014 next door to the existing Highway 19 location. The two-story, 60,000 square foot building will feature new furniture designs exclusive to
32 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
the Paul Michael Company. D&P Interiors is located at 21504 Interstate 20, where I-20 and State Highway 64 meet. The enthusiastic staff is young and knowledgeable, so whether the shopper desires a guided tour or to simply wander about on their own, the experience will fit their needs. Shopping hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and 1-6 p.m. on Sunday. D&P Interiors is on the “must visit” list for visitors during Canton’s monthly First Monday Trade Days. For more information about D&P Interiors, call 903.865.1235, email help@dandpinteriors.com or visit www.dandpinteriors.com.
Shop events February 28 – March 2, April 3 – 8 and May 1 - 4
First Monday Trades Days. Canton. The oldest and largest flea market in the world providing the ultimate shopping experience. Wander 300 acres of antiques, arts and crafts, and hand-made articles. Free. First Monday Trades Days Grounds. 877-462-7467. visitcantontx.com.
February 28 – March 2
Zonta Antique Show. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Maude Cobb Convention & Activity Complex. 100 Grand Blvd. 903.753.3281. visitlongviewtx.com.
March 23
It’s All About You: A Bride’s Day and Wedding Vendor Showcase. Kemp. 3–6 p.m. Cedar Creek Country Club. 903.498.6761.
Feb. 27 - Mar. 2 April 3-6 May 1-4
County Line Marketplace Life With Pets
A Unique Shopping Experience for you and your pet.
Bring your dog to shop for basics and discover unique items from Molly Mutt, PetKiss, AromaPaws and more.
5304 Old Bullard Rd. - Tyler
www.alifewithpets.com
Pawpa’s House in the country
Satellite • Wireless Internet Jacuzzi tub • Hot tub Fully equipped kitchen Handicap accessible Near Canton, Ben Wheeler, Lindale, Tyler, Mineola. One hour to Dallas. 1601 VZ County Road 1512 Van Texas 903.571.3620 • www.pawpashouse.com
To advertise, call 903.963.8306 or email sales@countylinemagazine.com
Greater Northeast Texas
2014 Spring Gun Show
March 22 & 23 • Sat. 9-5 Sun. 9-4 GUNS, AMMO, KNIVES, POWDER, PRIVATE SALES, RELOADING SUPPLIES
GON WHEEL WAANTIQUE MALL
Adults: $8 12 and under(must be accompanied by a parent): Free Free parking. Food vendors on site. Sponsored by Winnsboro Area Chamber of Commerce
Winnsboro Civic Center in City Park 900 Wheeler Drive • 903.342.3666
www.winnsboro.com
We Sell Cars for Less Ray Ridings Buick GMC Canton, Texas 903-567-4131 www.RayRidings.com
We BUY cars too!
Ray Ridings Wills Point Chevrolet Wills Point, Texas 903-873-2561 www.willspointchevrolet.com
Voted Best Antique Store by County Line Magazine readers
12,000 square feet
Home Decor & Furniture
Vintage Vinyl Records, Art Pottery, Art Glass, Silver, China, Candles, Fine American and European Furniture, Texas Primitives, Western Collectibles, Rugs, Gifts, Chandeliers, and so much more! Open 7 Days, Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 1-5
903-469-4321 7150 SH 31E • Murchison “Our World Class Service is Second to None” MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 33 www.wagonwheelantiquemall.com
Living Room
: Home. Garden. real estate.
Annual Flower Market Set For Downtown Tyler
A walk through the gardens finds the peace of the country and the joy of creating beautiful spaces with plants. The display gardens are in full bloom, the nursery is full of herbs, vegetable plants, perennials, shrubs and flowers.
Rose City Artisans & Flower Market at the Goodman takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 21-22. The Flower Market expansion this year means artisans and vendors may offer everything from garden décor, handmade items such as jewelry, homebaked and specialty food items, bedding plants, herbs, bulbs, produce, wine and more.
Blue Moon Gardens also has a large collection of fairy gardens and can help visitors make their own to enjoy at home. The gift shop carries unique gift items, handmade jewelry, fashion accessories, candles, soaps and more.
Live entertainment and concessions are available, as well as tours of the historic 1859 Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum.
Learn about cooking with fresh, local or home-grown ingredients with Justin Boswell, owner and chef of Railway Cafe in Athens. Be inspired by Steven Chamblee, avid gardener and chief horticulturist for Chandor Gardens in Weatherford. At noon, a “Container Smack-down” commences, with several plant professionals vying for the title of “Master Potter” as they create mixed pots on the spot.
Admission to the market is free. For more information, contact Patricia Heaton, museum curator, at 903.531.1286.
Blue Moon Gardens Sets Spring Open House Event
The beauty of spring and the love of gardening take center stage at the Spring Open House at Blue Moon Gardens on April 26.
Visitors can also buy one-of-a-kind daylilies or fresh produce from local growers, and enjoy herbal treats and drinks while
Wilhite
30
Landscape
YEARS
1983-2013
strolling through the gardens and greenhouses. All programs and events during the Spring Open House are free and everyone is invited to attend. Blue Moon Gardens is a retail garden center located 4.5 miles east of Edom on FM 279. Check their website for more details at bluemoongardens.com, or call 903.852.3897.
HOME & GARDEN EVENTS Through March
Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil Garden. Gladewater. Millions of golden daffodils scattered over approximately 28 acres. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hwy 271 N. just south of Gladewater. 903.845.5780. www.daffodilgarden.com. Azalea Trail. Nacogdoches. Visitor Center, And Various Locations, 200 E. Main. 936.564.7351. www.nacogdochesazaleas.com.
March 21 – April 6
Azalea & Spring Flower Trail. Tyler. Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau, 315 N. Broadway Ave. (800) 235-5712. www.tylerazaleatrail. com.
Discover the East Texas Oil Fields of the 1930s
♦
Experience. Quality. Customer Satisfaction.
The East Texas Oil Museum is located on the campus of Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas. This fascinating museum houses the authentic re-creation of oil discovery and production in the early 1930s from the largest oil field inside U.S. boundaries.
Museum Hours Tues-Sat 9am - 4pm April-Sept 9am - 5pm Sun 2-5p.m.
Landscape & Garden Works for East Texas Hwy 64 West, Tyler (903) 593-5975 www.wilhitelandscape.com 34 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
Hwy. 259 at Ross St, Kilgore, Texas On the Kilgore College Campus, 903.983.8295
www.EastTexasOilMuseum.com
A few garden art pieces by artist Lillian Celine Tobey help create a beautiful outdoor space. Find more at the Creative Arts Center in Bonham. Courtesy photo.
Accessorize Backyard Oasis with Garden Art By Elizabeth Branca With springs climate temps and pictureperfect sunsets, East Texans find refuge in their outdoor spaces. Whether lounging in a hammock under the conifer boughs or winding down the night with blooming jasmine entwined in the pergola, it’s important to have a peaceful pretty place to relax outdoors before the heat of summer drives some into the air-conditioned interior. When it comes to gardens not everyone has a green thumb, however it is still easy to make a backyard beautiful with the help of some well-appointed and colorful décor. Not everyone has time for planting flower beds or landscaping, however like the perfect little black dress or utilizing a muted shade in your boudoir, garden art takes a subtle canvas and best showcases a unique burst of color. Consider it a way to accessorize, not overwhelm, outdoor living space. Whether working with a small concrete patio or a sprawling expanse fit for a
golf green, adding a piece of outdoor art turns space from drab to divine. “Garden art can improve the look of your outdoor space by adding an element of surprise or totally functional,” said artist Lillian Celine Tobey, better known as L.C. “I create garden art that celebrates elements of design. It can be functional, elegant or just outright fun. It makes you smile, like a birdbath that gives you tranquility but with a modern burst of color.” Tobey, whose artful collections are found in the Creative Arts Center in Bonham, creates and restores traditional glass. Her yard art has a unique whimsical quality and the signs, mobiles, bells and birdbaths she produces from her studio capture a playful spirit.
ment of artistic style to any patio. “I make my tiles from raw clay. I roll out the clay, glaze it and fire it, so its all handmade,” said Bode, who’s work can be purchased at East Texas Brick in Tyler and on Etsy.com, “so I get colors that you can’t find in a tile store. The colors are vibrant and unique.” Because she uses stonework clay, the tiles are much more durable than ceramic tile making a better, sturdier product to produce yard art. Some of her most popular works are animals like ducks, turtle and rabbits. The cheerfully tiled creatures have a concrete base then laid with Bode’s handcrafted tile work, so they can endure all types of weather.
No matter the condition of a landscape, yard art accents and celebrates space bringing people into sync with the natural world outside the window.
After years in the pottery-making business, Bode was familiar with glazing and firing techniques and wanted a change. She started Boreejon, her mosaic design business, with some friends making mosaic crosses for sale. Since then Boreejon has become a solo endeavor, with Bode designing an eclectic collection of mosaics.
Cece Bode, mosaic artist and owner of Boreejon, creates unique outdoor pieces using stone, tile and glass. From a life-size carousel horse, fountains, pots and birdbaths, Bode’s work adds an ele-
“Garden art is really about fun color in your yard incorporated with your favorite plants,” she said. “It’s always fun to see a turquoise bunny peeking out from your flowers. It makes a statement.”
“I love providing water to the birds, so I created a wonderful birdbath that is functional while creating a feeling of Zen,” she said.
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 35
FEEL GOOD Diabetes Prevention, Control Are Subjects of Program The Area Agency on Aging of East Texas and Texas Medical Foundation (TMF) Health Quality Institute in Austin have partnered with Wellness Pointe of Longview to promote a new program educating the public about the importance of preventing and controlling diabetes. The goal of the partnership is to increase access to diabetes self-management education (DSME) among underserved populations with diabetes. This collaboration gives the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas access to Wellness Pointe’s patients that meet the target criteria, along with a venue to hold classes. The Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP) is a free, six-week course. The curriculum teaches the importance of controlling diabetes by empowering the participant to check blood glucose levels daily, eat right, exercise and keep regular doctor visits. The DEEP program is endorsed by NFL Hall of Famer and Tyler native Earl Campbell and his older brother, Willie, who lost their mother and sister to diabetes. Although it took a life-altering event like amputation of his right leg to get his attention, Willie Campbell is now winning his battle against diabetes. The Aging Department held its first Health for Life diabetes class in July in Tyler at the Glass Recreation Center. Classes currently meet at Best Friends Adult Activity Center in Longview and Lake View Senior Living in Tyler. For information on classes or how to be-
come a certified instructor, contact Jennita Carter at 800. 442.8845, ext. 105.
· Look for a helmet that has been certified to meet Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.
Bicycle Helmet Safety Is Vital For Children
· Make sure the helmet fits properly. To do this, measure around the rider’s head about an inch above his or her eyebrows, and select an appropriately sized helmet.
If your child received a bicycle for Christmas, it creates an excellent opportunity to teach the importance of wearing a protective helmet. According to National Safe Kids, helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injury by up to 88 percent, but only 45 percent of children wear bike helmets. The organization also notes that bicycles are associated with more injuries in children than any other product except automobiles. Other studies from the organization found that nearly half of the hospitalizations related to bicycles are traumatic injury to the brain. “Learning to ride a bicycle is not just child’s play,” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent Melisa Rhodes said. “In addition to promoting healthy living habits, riding bicycles can teach children about becoming independent. With this new independence, children need to learn to follow important safety rules. One of the most important rules is to always wear a helmet.” Parents become great role models by promoting bicycle safety and wearing helmets on every trip. A child who rides with companions wearing helmets or adults in general is more likely to wear a helmet himself. Even very young toddlers on tricycles should wear helmets to establish good habits. When selecting a helmet for your child, follow these tips:
Yama Yoga Wellness Spa & Boutique
Where Your Journey Begins
Daily Classes • Beginner • Stretch • Vinyasa • Pilates • Massage • Reflexology 200 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training • Kids Yoga • Chair Yoga Weekend Workshops • Sunlighten Far Infrared Sauna • Life Coaching Reiki • Hypnotherapy • Nutritional Counseling • Teeth Whitening Cuts, Color, Facials & Waxing • Gifts 1023 S. Trades Day Blvd. (Hwy 19), Canton, TX 75103
www.yamayoga.info 903.316.9471 36 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
· When wearing a helmet, make sure the rim sits level from front to back and is worn low and just above the eyebrows. · Make sure the helmet fits snugly. Adjust the helmet’s size with extra foam pads, which are provided with most helmets. · Buckle the chin strap on every ride. · Replace a helmet if it has been in a crash, even if no damage is visible. · In addition to helmets, parents need to find safe places to ride, such as parks, sidewalks, or playgrounds. It is important to supervise preschoolers when they are riding, and keep children younger than 10 from riding bikes in the street. · When teaching children to ride bicycles, also educate them on these tips for safe bicycle riding: · Always wear a bike helmet. · Make sure the bicycle is the right size for the rider and in good working order. · Wear the proper clothing: neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding day or night. · Teach children to make eye contact with drivers. · Ride in the same direction as other traffic. · Use hand and arm signals. · Only one rider per saddle. · Keep at least one hand on the handlebars. · The bicycle requires a white light on the front and a red reflector or red light on the rear (for riding at night). · Use effective brakes that are capable of making the braked wheel skid. For more information, visit the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute’s website at www.bhsi. org, Bike Texas at www.biketexas.org, and Safe Kids Worldwide at www.safekids.org/ bike.
for
WH ITENI NG
beautiful lasting change
I M PL ANT S
C OSM ETI C D ENT ISTRY
Living As If By Edward H. Garcia When my grandmother reached her sixties, she stopped buying nice shoes. By nice, I mean (and she would have meant) something at a department store. Instead, she bought her shoes at Pay-less and discount stores. She explained that she wasn’t going to live long enough to wear out nice shoes. When she died in her eighties, she had worn out racks of cheap shoes. I used to laugh about her thrifty habit, but now that I have reached my seventies, I think I understand her attitude. I still buy my nice Rockport shoes, but I do find myself wondering if this is the last car I will buy, if I’ll ever have to replace the new 25-year roof, if there’s another refrigerator in the cards for me. Other than her cheap-shoe peculiarities, my grandmother lived her life fully. She wasn’t just waiting around to die. Even with her shoes falling apart on her feet, she otherwise lived as if she had a lot of years coming, even when she didn’t. She would pack up her stuff in brown paper bags and hitch a ride to her children’s houses with a friend who delivered meat to groceries stores around the Valley. She’d stay for a week or two until she got to worrying about her house in Mercedes and then hitch a ride back home At our house, one of her main jobs was to catch me up on what was happening on As the World Turns. We’d sit together
at noon watching the soap and discussing what we thought Penny and Ellen and Bob were going to do. (She also made great flour tortillas and a cabrito en sangre which is still the culinary high point of my life.) Then she’d be off to my aunt’s across town or my uncle’s up the Valley. She continued this routine even after a stroke left her half blind.
J. Brandon Allen, D.D.S Randy Bell, D.D.S. 903.675.3811 208 Crestway Street, Athens crestwayparkdental.com
That’s one lesson I want to take away from her long life — live as if. As if this is not your last birthday. As if you will get the good out of that new car. As if it’s worthwhile to learn a new language or a new art. On the other hand, it makes sense to me to live with the knowledge that this won’t last forever and there are certain things that shouldn’t wait. I don’t mean the bungee jumping and parasailing kind of bucket list items, but making amends where needed and repairing old rifts where possible. When I was about 20, I had a falling out with a close childhood friend over something that seems silly now. He had been my fishing buddy, the guy who taught me how to ride a bike, my ride when he had a car and I didn’t. After a number of years, I thought I should call him and rekindle the friendship, but way led on to way and I didn’t. Then one day my mother told me he had died — way too soon. I had always thought there would be time, but there wasn’t. Somehow, I want to live as if I am never going to die and, at the same time, as if I am going to die tomorrow. That’s like walking a tightrope, not easy to do, but, for me, better if I’m wearing nice shoes.
CASA SIMMONS Life coaching services
relationships problem solving time management personal growth professional growth family dynamics transitions
Do not let your past dictate your future. Call today to set up an appointment in person in Canton or online via Skype.
903.603.0746 www.casasimmons.com
f
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 37
2100 N. Trade Days Blvd Canton, TX | 903.567.0363 www.PaulMichaelCompany.com |
Find Your Pace in Corsicana
Premier Events March 22 & 23 Arthrosurface Tour of Corsicana
(TXBR Stage Race)
April 23-26 Derrick Days
May 10
16th Annual Corsicana Air Show
find more fun
38 • CountyLineMagazine.com • MARCH/APRIL 2014
www.visitcorsicana.com | 877-648-2688
CorsicanA T E X A S
Live Music, Theater, Comedy and Movies! Downtown Tyler • 103 E. Erwin • Tyler, Texas 75702 a departMent of the city of tyler
March 1st at 8 p.M.
Four Funny Guys March 8th at 8 p.M.
“Take Two”
March 20th-22nd at 7:30 p.M.
APEX Theater Presents
“The Mystery of Irma Vep” March 29th at 8 p.M.
“Bob Schneider” april 26th - 8 p.M.
Last Comic Standing with Matt Golightly May 2nd - 8 p.M.
Bellamy Brothers For ticket information go to
LibertyTyler.com
27,000 sq ft home decor warehouse at wholesale prices. Open to the public.
| 903.865.1235
www.DandPInteriors.com 21504 Interstate 20 |Canton, TX
MARCH/APRIL 2014 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 39
EDOMWhatfl& a trip! Arts. Eats. Retreats.
www.VisitEdom.com
An Old-Fashioned Small Town Street Fair
Unique Handmade Items Tasty Fair Food Live Music Pet Parade Live Auction Children’s Activities And More!
Saturday & Sunday
April 12-13, 2014 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Downtown Edom
214.478.8999
www.AprilinEdom.net
DRAGONHEAD RETREAT
B&B on 25 Wooded Acres at 675' The Lodge (sleeps 9+) Cedar Cabin (sleeps 4+) Outside Living Area WiFi • Kid Friendly
The shed cafe
Voted #1 Cafe’ in East Texas 903.852.7791 www.theshedcafe.com
903-520-2069 www.dragonheadretreat.com
ZEKE & MARTY
TRINITY PINES RETREAT & WEDDING VENUE Weddings, Reunions, Retreats Vacation House Rental 214.478.8999 www.trinitypinesedom.com
Potters Brown Studio & Gallery
Jewelry Studio Custom Orders Welcome
The FARM HOUSE retreat
903.852.3311 www.zekeandmarty.com
A Unique East Texas Experience Lodging, Weddings, Retreats 903.749.1682 www.farmhouseretreat.com
Original Handmade Stoneware 903.852.6473 www.pottersbrown.com
Lamb’s
PINKS ANTIQUES & uniques Antiques Plants Yard Art Much More Little Pink Shop next to The Shed Cafe
903.852.7820
Blue Moon Gardens WOOD HAVEN CABINS Relax & Unwind
Perennials. Herbs. Garden Art. Gift Shop Open Daily 9-5
903.279.2308 www.woodhavencabins.com
903.852.3897 www.bluemoongardens.com