ETX View Magazine Jan Feb 2023

ETX VIEW YOUR VIEW OF THE

PROFESSIONAL ISSUE

I CHOSE

I CHOSE

Longview Regional

Longview Regional

Longview Regional

because I wanted to make more memories with the love of my life.

because I wanted to make more memories with the love of my life.

because I wanted to make more memories with the love of my life.

– Lynn G. l Cardiac Ablation If

– Lynn G. l Cardiac Ablation

– Lynn G. l Cardiac Ablation

With a nationally recognized Heart and Vascular Institute, a certified Stroke and Chest Pain Center, and an innovative Vein Center, it’s easy to see why people choose Longview Regional.

With a nationally recognized Heart and Vascular Institute, a certified Stroke and Chest Pain Center, and an innovative Vein Center, it’s easy to see why people choose Longview Regional.

With a nationally recognized Heart and Vascular Institute, a certified Stroke and Chest Pain Center, and an innovative Vein Center, it’s easy to see why people choose Longview Regional.

MyLongviewCardiology.com • 903-308-3566

MyLongviewCardiology.com • 903-308-3566

MyLongviewCardiology.com • 903-308-3566

symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 and get to the nearest emergency room.

AREA PROFESSIONALS SET STAGE FOR SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Happy 2023, East Texas!

Not only are we ringing in the new year, but we’re also embarking on our third year of ETX View.

What a year 2022 was. It was my first year at the helm of the magazine and second year of living in East Texas, so I experienced a lot of firsts. I had the opportunity to connect with so many people, including meeting many of you face-to-face for the first time. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to lead this publication and am so proud of the things we have accomplished so far, thanks to our incredible team and community full of supporters.

The peak of the year was our 40 Under Forty awards, which you can read more about starting on Page 14. For the second year, we celebrated East Texas young professionals who were nominated by their peers and voted to be the best in their industries.

Speaking of professionals, that’s what this issue is all about. Our Professional Edition features stories about individuals working in various fields across East Texas.

In our feature story on Page 8, we introduce a business that is making a difference for an integral part of our community – our veterans. Operation Unbroken Owner Lucero Harris and her family are making it their mission to help veterans in any way possible, and part of that includes selling only veteran-made products in their store. From the store’s concept to its thoughtful execution and the owners’ constant desire to serve, this story is truly admirable.

On Page 18, you’ll meet Ashton Rossow, owner of Get Sorted. She’s a professional organizer and will inspire you to get your home/office/business in order for 2023.

While tidying up is certainly a huge goal for many every new year, so is taking control of your physical wellness. During our fashion photo shoot promoting the transition from workwear to workout gear, we spoke to local gym owner Heather Newland who had some great tips about making resolutions. Read more on Page 62.

In our food section on Page 78, meet business owners who not only make weeknights a little bit easier, they also provide healthy options to help keep you on track with your health goals.

When we talk about wellness, our mental health goes hand in hand with that. On Page 86, you’ll meet Casey Williams who demonstrates the healing effects music can have on our minds and bodies.

To see success, we have to set attainable goals. But oftentimes, we face unavoidable obstacles and need a little help. That’s one thing we love about the new East Texas Beauty Industry Foundation. Turn to Page 54 to read how a group of women is working to catapult the careers of aspiring cosmetologists by removing the financial barriers many face when trying to build their futures.

While we are looking forward to seeing new faces enter the workforce, it’s also refreshing to see longtime family businesses continuing to thrive. On Page 34, you’ll meet the owners of Lucio’s Boot Repair and Western Wear in Tyler. You’ll be inspired as you read how they’re carrying on their legacy while keeping a traditional trade alive.

Your hearts will also come alive on Page 28 when you learn about the East Texas Men in Harmony and their annual Singing Valentines fundraiser that melts hearts every February.

Now, before you get immersed into reading these wonderful stories, I want to make sure I thank each of you for supporting our magazine. If it weren’t for our loyal readers, advertisers, and other community partners, we couldn’t be where we are today. Sincerely, thank you.

Here’s to another year of meeting remarkable people, telling unique stories, and celebrating the best of East Texas life, arts and culture.

PRESIDENT Stephen McHaney

PUBLISHER Justin Wilcox

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Alyssa Purselley-Hankins 903-596-6295

EDITOR

Tim Thorsen

ETX VIEW EDITOR Santana Wood

PUBLICATION DESIGNER

Haley Holcomb

WRITERS

Tamara Diaz Maleri McHam Jessica T. Payne Yoleyne Romero Zak Wellerman Santana Wood

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Cavazos

Ana Conejo Les Hassell

Kit MacAvoy Sarah Miller Jessica T. Payne Yoleyne Romero Santana Wood

ADVERTISING SALES

Candace Kozak

Haylea Hudson Kelly Benton Kerri Esposito Morgan Perry Paula White Shawna Yockey Stuart James Tracy Stopani

THE COVER Lucero and Matthew Harris sell only veteran-owned brands at their Longview store, Operation Unbroken.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Michael Cavazos

COVER DESIGN BY Haley Holcomb

SANTANA WOOD swood@tylerpaper.com

© 2022, M. ROBERTS MEDIA 100 E. Ferguson, Suite 501, Tyler, TX 75702

- Jim Miller

Have you had a change of heart?

Lifestyle choices and habits including an unhealthy diet, alcohol use, and not enough exercise can lead to heart disease. CHRISTUS Health takes these risks to heart and remains a leader in the fight against heart disease, including early diagnosis and treatment. Take the free CHRISTUS Heart Risk Assessment and see if you are at risk.

‘Support our brothers and sisters’

Veteran-owned business keeps focus on those who served

STORY BY JESSICA T. PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL CAVAZOS

Lucero Harris, along with her husband, son, and daughter, are making it their mission to assist veterans in the community any way possible, including selling only veteranmade products in their store Operation Unbroken.

The Longview store opened in May 2020 with the idea that the couple, who have always wanted to open their own business, didn’t want to sell or offer something they didn’t both love.

Lucero said through dinner conversations with the family, they thought about the idea of having a place that offered everything that they already bought – veteran-owned brands.

“As a family, we always support anything that's veteran owned because we want to support our brothers and sisters,” Lucero said. “For my husband, it was about maintaining a connection to the military and a lifestyle that he missed. We realize and understand what it takes for a veteran to find their purpose in the civilian world, and want to support that.”

Matthew Harris knows first-hand how difficult that can be. He joined the military in 2008 as an active duty infantryman. However, in 2009, he sustained injuries in Afghanistan that led to his medical discharge in 2011.

Lucero, who joined the U.S. Army Reserves and is now a Sergeant, said it is her own personal experiences of being part of a military family that fuels her passion to help veterans.

“Even though I am a soldier myself, I understand that my service will never amount to what others have done for our country but because I have had a glimpse of what sacrifice looks like, I am able to truly appreciate my freedom,” Lucero said. “I see the struggles that my husband has gone through because of his service. When my husband was at Fort Sam Houston recovering from injuries, there were many single soldiers who didn't have a family.

“I truly believe that we are where we are now because he had a wife and son, at the time, to fight for. Even at the worst of it all, we

Kylie Cincar and her sister Morgan Stutts of Ship A-Latte at their store in Tyler.

MATTHEW AND LUCERO HARRIS of Operation Unbroken.

LARISSA AND JOHN RILEY spend their afternoon shopping at Operation Unbroken.

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were still there. As an Army wife, it took me years to truly understand how to be there for him.”

Lucero said her passion comes from her admiration for each veteran, especially war veterans, who “have done more selfless acts of service in one military contract than most civilians will do in their lifetime.”

Even the name behind the retail store, which offers veteran-made products such as apparel, coffee, spices, nutrition supplements, and more, has a deep-seated meaning for the family.

“Operation Unbroken is a tribute to our own personal military journey. We were a young couple trying to raise a baby but then you mix in the military life, the separations and the injuries of war,” Lucero said. “Operation Unbroken is our daily reminder to ‘Survive, Heal and Thrive’ through any challenge that we face. We may face them together as a couple, as individuals since we are constantly trying to work on ourselves or as parents to our two children.”

However, Lucero explained the business goes beyond just selling a product. She wants people to know that when they walk in the door, they are part of the family. For that reason, Lucero said she feels a duty to connect people with resources they may not know exist.

“Operation Unbroken is a family and a daily reminder to anyone and everyone to keep on going and keep working hard in life. My husband and I wanted to create a simple small business for our family. What we ended up creating was much bigger than ourselves,” she said. “While we have a huge veteran community, there is a big gap in getting everyone connected. Not everyone wants to step into a resource center or VA to see what is available.”

“We get to connect veterans with other veterans whether they need help or they want to serve their community,” Lucero added. “I feel that the community's response to a simple retail store like ours speaks volumes that our community needs more awareness for our veterans that have already given up so much for our country.”

Lucero said she hopes the business sustains itself to a point where they are able to financially assist veteran

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programs. In the meantime, she said the most meaningful work she does is taking the time to get to know the veterans that come into the store and connect them with the right people.

“It's important for me to know every service that is in our area because as I am making casual conversations, I can figure out who can help them or how they can serve our community,” she said. “We do our best to support every veteran focus group in any way that we can, but I know that sometimes, giving them your time is the best way to serve.

“I've modeled our store with my husband in mind

because I know that there are many just like him. Through his own personal struggles with injuries from war, I've wanted every veteran to be able to walk in and relax, feel at home and enjoy themselves. For civilians, many feel connected to the loved ones that they are proud of. Longview is far away from a military installation, and sometimes it's easy to forget about all the sacrifices made on a daily basis by many families, soldiers, mothers, fathers, and significant others. We hope that when you leave our store, you are reminded of all of that and feel the same pride that we do for our brothers and sisters.”

Lucero said through her own experience and that of her husband, she knows how much veteran organizations can make a difference in a veteran's life and encourages communities to support them.

“We strongly encourage our community to support our local veterans. One of our favorite organizations around here is the Texas Wounded Warriors who were founded in Tyler and have built a family of wounded warriors that has helped my husband's recovery,” she said. “Support your local VFWs and organizations which are slowly going away, but it is our duty to continue the traditions.”

Lucero said her children Stephen, 14, and Elizabeth, 10, are the couple’s biggest reason for continuing on the journey through Operation Unbroken.

“We are a family-owned business and we truly love to credit our two kids who have worked just as hard as we have,” she said. “We are all very goal-oriented and we have been blessed to be able to share our journey alongside them. They are our biggest reason to keep ‘Surviving, Healing and Thriving.’”

Lucero said although you don’t have to be a veteran to shop at Operation Unbroken, every customer will know there is a veteran who served their country behind the product they purchase.

“There is something here for everyone, but the special part is that there is a veteran behind each product,” Lucero said. “You don't have to be military to shop with us or even know anyone in the military but just know that your purchase supports someone who fought for your freedom.”

Operation Unbroken is located at 1747 West Loop 281 in Longview and can be reached at 907-433-9111.

For more information, visit the Operation Unbroken Facebook page.

Celebrating young professionals

East Texans recognized in 40 Under Forty awards

AMBER LOCKMAN AND JOHN WAMPLER were winners in the 2022 40 Under Forty awards for the medical/healthcare and real estate categories, respectively.

STORY BY SANTANA WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANA CONEJO, YOLEYNE ROMERO, & SANTANA WOOD

Hundreds gathered at a community banquet to celebrate the second year of ETX View’s 40 Under Forty Awards.

Nearly 400 East Texans packed the Infinity Event Center in Longview in December as the 2022 40 Under Forty award winners were announced. The top three finalists of each category were also recognized.

The awards program launched in 2021 and aims to showcase young, influential leaders in the region who have achieved success and excelled in their field of expertise before the age of 40. Since its inception, the awards program has developed a stellar reputation and had a record-breaking amount of community participation in its second year.

Winners in each of the 40 categories of industry were chosen after a nomination and voting process held in the fall. East Texans nominated thousands of young professionals who demonstrate leadership and show dedication in their careers and community service. The top three finalists then moved on to a voting phase during which residents cast ballots for those they believed to be most deserving of the award.

The winners are: Kristina Ross, African American

Community Figure; Eric Yates, Agriculture; Carmen Gadt, Arts & Culture; Tiara Spilman, Automotive; Ariana Thompson, Banking & Lending; Sara McKinley, Childhood Learning & Activities; Michelle Gamboa, City Officials; Josh Smallwood, Community Development; Allye Hernandez, Construction; Emily Sanford, Cosmetic & Beauty; Dr. Blake T. Williams, Dental, Hearing & Vision; Kendall Tomberlain, Education; Bailey Haley, End of Life Care; Trista Roel, Energy, Oil & Gas; Phaedra Bartley, Fashion & Home Decor; William Rice IV, Finance & Investments; Trent Montgomery, Fire & Rescue; Kaitlyn Williams, Fitness; Lucero Harris, Hispanic Community Figure; Tara Harris, Insurance & Protection; Tyler McFarland, IT & Technology; Jessica Allen, Law & Policy; Michael Bynum, Law Enforcement & Military; Kyle McDougal, Manufacturing, Grocery & Distribution; Kelli Burton, Marketing & Advertising; Reagan Roy-Young, Media & News; Amber Lockman, Medical & Healthcare; Cody Yoder, Men in Business; Ryan Dougherty, Music & Performing Arts; Evan Dolive, Nonprofit/Philanthropy; Daniel Ross, Outdoor Beautification; Holly Patterson, Photography; John Wampler, Real Estate; Chelsea Cace,

SKYLER HEFLEY, LEFT, and Ke'Von Ware, right, were among the top finalists in the 2022 ETX View 40 Under Forty awards.

Restaurant & Hospitality; Kelly Belt, Social Entrepreneur; Ashlyn White, Sports; Joshua Prekker, Tattoo & Artistry; Jessica Hughes, Volunteer; Alexis Marjason, Women in Business; and LaDarian Brown, Worship.

Alyssa Purselley-Hankins, advertising director for ETX View and M. Roberts Media, said in its second year, the response of the awards program was outstanding.

“At the beginning of this process, we had almost 38,000 nominations,” she said. “That’s more than double the amount of nominations from our inaugural event last year. To receive that amount of support and participation from the community in just our second year of the awards program is amazing. It is a testament to all of the nominees and their impact on East Texas.”

After receiving a record number of nominations, the community continued to show support to these young professionals by casting more than 36,000 total votes, selecting the winners for the 2022 awards, PurselleyHankins said.

Justin Wilcox, publisher of ETX View and senior vice president of M. Roberts Media, expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped make the awards program and community gala possible.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate such influential leaders in our community,” Wilcox said. “Congratulations to all the winners on earning this incredible honor.”

The event featured live musical entertainment from the All Funk Radio Show, a dance floor, photo op stations and more. Guests were treated to passed hors d’oeuvres along with refreshments, including adult beverages and cocktails.

Each of the 40 winners were also profiled in a commemorative edition of ETX View, which published in December. A digital version of the magazine is also available at etxview.com.

The event was made possible thanks to premium sponsors, including: Presenting Sponsor: Peters Chevrolet; Shining Star Sponsor: Grimes Irrigation and Construction; Nominee Highlight & VIP Cocktail Reception Sponsor: Ariana Thompson with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation; Trendsetter Sponsor: Taylor Kirkpatrick Aesthetics; Valet Sponsor: Genecov Group; Bar Sponsor: Smelley Enterprises; Sweet Indulgence — Dessert Sponsor: Goosehead Insurance — Phaup Agency; Photo Booth Sponsor: The Mortgage House; Limelight Sponsor: Samaritan Servants International; Outdoor Lounge Sponsor: Alliance Auto Auction — Longview; Swag Bag Sponsor: Brookshire’s Grocery Company; Specialty Cocktail Sponsor: Face Studio WOW!; Dance Floor Sponsor: The University of Texas at Tyler; Red Carpet Glam Sponsor: Urban Local Clothing LLC; and Dine Well Mac and Cheese Sponsor: Janti Patel with Ramsey Realty Group. Partners of the event included Expressions Florists, PC Productions, Small Cakes of Longview, R&K Distributors, and Inkredible Sounds. Purselley-Hankins also said the event couldn’t have been possible without her team at M. Roberts Media and ETX View who helped the event come to life.

The awards program will continue for its third year in the fall of 2023.

MEMBERS OF THE ALL FUNK RADIO SHOW perform as entertainment during 40 Under Forty awards ceremony and banquet.

CLENT HOLMES, left, was a top finalist in the 2022 40 Under Forty awards.

FACE STUDIO, WOW! sponsored complimentary cocktails for the 40 Under Forty banquet.

FINALISTS AND ATTENDEES at the 2022 40 Under Forty event.

AMONG THE HORS D'OEUVRES at the event, a dessert bar, sponsored by Goosehead Insurance - Phaup Agency, featured cupcakes from Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery.

ETX VIEW Advertising Director Alyssa Purselley-Hankins announces winners during the 2022 40 Under Forty banquet.

‘Organizational Therapy’

WOMAN’S LOVE FOR TIDINESS LEADS TO BUSINESS VENTURE

STORY BY YOLEYNE ROMERO PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL CAVAZOS

When Ashton Rossow, 28, was in fourth grade, her teacher left a note on her report card letting her parents know she was the most organized student in the class. Rossow would regularly help classmates arrange their pencils and crayons into corresponding boxes and get rid of papers to tidy their desks.

At home, the same habits were evident with Rossow often organizing and reorganizing her closet and even getting into her parents’ things to arrange them in the order she thought looked best.

What started as a childhood hobby has now transformed into a full-fledged career for Rossow, who started her business Get Sorted in July. The decision to start the business came from her love of all things neat and tidy, she said.

“I’ve always walked into a room and visually |

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looked at how I could make it better. A lot of times that’s organizing things in a better way, getting a system in place,” Rossow said.

Get Sorted provides organizing services for individuals, families and businesses in East Texas.

Information on the website states, “We specialize in organizing, unpacking, and downsizing homes in Longview, Texas and surrounding areas. We make the space you have functional for your life.”

This can include everything from kitchens and bathrooms to playrooms, closets and garages. While most of her clients have focused on pantry organization, Rossow said she’s also worked on some playrooms, studios, storage sheds and more. She thinks the demand for pantry organization is simple – it’s a high-traffic area in everyone’s home that’s used daily.

“I think everybody has one and they need to know the best way to organize their stuff so that they’re not wasting food, and it’s something people use every day,”

she said.

The process starts by going over what types of things the client has, taking measurements of the area, composing a budget for them and purchasing the appropriate items to help get a system in place. This often includes containers, storage bins, dividers, boards or whatever is necessary for the specific job.

After that, everything is cleaned out and a system is set up with the bins and risers, if needed, to make the space more efficient, she said.

“I put everything back so it’s exactly how it should be and then I usually label it at the end so that there’s no question of where it goes,” Rossow said.

Another service she offers is routine maintenance after the job is complete, she said. If desired, Rossow returns to the home/business about once a month to reset the area and put things back where they belong which helps keep the space up-to-date.

According to Rossow, her customer base ranges in age from 25 to 60 and is mainly composed of women. Most of the inquiries she receives come from

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ASHTON ROSSOW of Get Sorted.

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the business’ social media pages, she said. In addition to an active Facebook and Instagram account, she has also has a website with additional information and rates at getsortedwithashton.com.

Most of the customers she’s had have been jobs at private homes but she said she’s currently working with a local business for the first time. So far, two of her clients have been repeat customers, which she said has been fun.

A project that stuck out in her mind as being particularly rewarding was the work she did on a client’s craft room that was used for sewing, cookie making and more, she said.

“It was really difficult to walk into, there was just a bunch of stuff but once we were done she was able to use that space again,” she said.

The biggest thing Rossow notices about her clients post-job completion is the sense of relief that they can now find what they’re looking for. They’re usually excited to start using that space again, she added.

She referred to her work as often seeming like “organizational therapy” for clients with the way they’re often overwhelmed with the space after it's done.

“Just seeing their faces and their body language to be able to use their spaces again makes me excited to be able to do it again,” she said.

She explained she enjoys making people’s spaces function again and that it fulfills her to see her clients be able to use their space again the way they used to.

Rossow recently worked with a client who presented a new approach for her wherein she’s tasked with navigating the space of a maximalist, she said.

“I am finding ways to make her space more functional so that it’s not just a pile of stuff…but obviously getting rid of stuff that they’re not gonna use is really helpful,” she said.

As her client base continues to grow and word-of-mouth spreads news of her services, Rossow hopes to help as many people in the area as possible get organized so they can use their things in the best way

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Even with turning what was once just a fun hobby into a career, she said she’s yet to get tired of organizing and regularly rearranges things in her own home.

“My husband thinks I’m kind of crazy ’cause for fun on the weekend I like to pull things out of the cabinets and reorganize them, and then for Christmas I like to ask for bins or things for reorganizing around the house,” she said.

While organizing has always been a hobby of hers, Rossow never thought it would develop to be what she does for a living.

“I just wanted to build something for myself to do something that I really enjoy… in life,” she said. “I felt like I was meant to do this, like it’s the only thing I was meant to do.”

For more information or for client inquiries, visit getsortedwithashton.com.

“I am finding ways to make her space more functional so that it’s not just a pile of stuff…but obviously getting rid of stuff that they’re not gonna use is really helpful."

-ASHTON

STORY BY ZAK WELLERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL

Every year around Valentine’s Day, quartets of sharply dressed gentlemen sing their hearts out across East Texas, giving joy to people’s loved ones and often bringing tears to their eyes.

Harkening back to nostalgic sounds, East Texas Men in Harmony has become a staple part of celebrating the holiday of love across the region with its Singing Valentines program.

“It's very emotional. It brings a lot of joy to people. Their faces light up immediately, especially for a personalized Singing Valentine,” said Brad Gadt, president of ETMIH. “They look at you like, 'oh my goodness, I can't believe you're here.'”

Barbershop music is acapella and known by its familiar sound of four-part harmony. It includes the lead singer (the primary melody), tenor (high harmony), baritone (mid-range harmony) and bass (low harmony).

East Texas Men in Harmony belongs to the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Gadt, of Longview, believes the “old timey” and unique sound of the barbershop genre provides comfort to the listeners.

“It kind of brings you back, especially most of our audiences, who are probably in their older years. They

like the four-part, all-male harmony,” Gadt said. “When the chords really ring, meaning that all their harmonics of each of their respective parts match up and they're in sync, it just sounds spectacular.”

The group has performed for workers in offices and hospitals, marriage proposals, anniversary celebrations and more as a part of the program.

“It really makes people happy and it makes us happy to sing for them,” Gadt said. “We get a big kick out of it. Sometimes it evokes tears, a lot of tears, tears of joy and tears of sadness, tears of love.”

ETMIH, which was founded in 2006, represents East Texas well with members from Tyler, Longview, Palestine, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Mt. Pleasant and Lindale, to name a few cities.

Members learn their songs through listening to recorded tracks. Every Monday night, they travel to Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler to hone their craft during a two and half hour practice, Gadt said.

“All of our performances are with memorized music. We don't ever hold any music in front of us. We all memorize the notes and the words,” he said. “It's not the easiest thing in the world, but it's a lot of fun.

EAST TEXAS MEN IN HARMONY quartet members Michael Hurley, tenor, left, Brad Gadt, bass, Bryan Black, lead, and John McIntire, baritone.

A TEACHER IS SURPRISED on Feb. 14, 2020 with a Singing Valentine performance by the East Texas Men In Harmony quartet. President Brad Gadt said teachers are fun to surprise because the whole classroom enjoys the performance.

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Everybody has a good time doing it.”

The Singing Valentines program serves as the group’s largest fundraiser, going toward the nonprofit’s activities for the entire year.

Songs from the barbershop quartets can be recorded and shipped off across the world, such as for those serving in the military. The music can also be sung live by surprise or at a scheduled time.

For example, maybe the lucky recipient is a teacher, Gadt said, and the quartet will show up at school to sing her a lovely melody. It’s always a shock for the teacher and becomes a fun moment for the entire class.

Gadt said the typical package is at least two love songs, a long-stem artificial rose and a personalized card. However, he added, it’s rare for them to sing just two songs.

“We like to hang around and show off. Once we're

there singing, some guy goes, ‘hey man, I forgot all about Valentine's. Oh my gosh, go sing for my wife. Run over there and make sure she knows I love her,’” he said.

The 2022 season was the group’s largest with over 60 orders, which assisted in their rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and having to sing while wearing masks.

In addition to the Valentines, East Texas Men in Harmony will “sing anywhere, anytime, anyplace all throughout the year” like birthday parties, various community organizations’ events, church celebrations and ticketed shows, Gadt said.

The music selection includes standard barbershop songs, modern songs arranged into barbershop fourpart harmony style and artists like Beach Boys and the Beatles, Gadt explained.

Most of the men are older and often retired from the workforce, Gadt said. He estimated the group’s average

age is 70 to 75 with its youngest member being in his 30s.

Gadt, 65, knew he enjoyed the barbershop style after listening to Vocal Majority, one of the barbershop harmony groups in the Dallas area. Upon his retirement, he found East Texas Men in Harmony six years ago.

“There's a lot of young people that like listening to it, but they're busy with their other lives and are still going through high school, college, work and family. And they don't have time for it just yet,” he said. “I eventually retired in 2016, moved to Lake Cherokee near Longview and said, ‘I wonder if there's a barbershop chorus around here anywhere close.’ Sure enough, there was one in Tyler.”

Gadt hopes the ETMIH can exceed the number of orders for the 2023 season, grow the chorus membership to over 40 men and possibly record a new CD. There are currently 30 full-time members with around 25 active participants.

“We're always trying to recruit new members. You don't have to be able to read music to sing barbershop (music),” Gadt said. “You don't necessarily have to know much about singing, except maybe have a good ear, come listen and then see if you can harmonize with us.”

He added it’s a fun hobby and any guy who wants to learn can just stop by Green Acres Baptist Church, located at 1607 Troup Highway in Tyler, at a Monday evening practice from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

If he’s interested, the director then holds an audition to determine the person’s vocal range of either lead, tenor, baritone or bass, Gadt said.

“If you can sing, have a good voice, have a good ear, and want to have some fun and fellowship, we'd be glad to have you,” he added.

For more information about East Texas Men in Harmony, visit etmeninharmony.com.

“It really makes people happy and it makes us happy to sing for them.”

-Brad Gadt

EAST TEXAS MEN IN HARMONY quartet members Michael Hurley, tenor, left, Brad Gadt, bass, Bryan Black, lead, and John McIntire, baritone.

Good FOR THE Sole

BOOTS LINE THE SHELVES inside Lucio’s Boot Repair and Western Wear, a local family-owned business in Tyler.

FAMILY-OWNED SHOE REPAIR BUSINESS LUCIO'S LAST OF ITS KIND IN TYLER

STORY BY MALERI M C HAM PHOTOS BY ANA CONEJO

Alocal, family-owned and operated business is the last of its kind in Tyler – and a rarity nationwide.

Lucio’s Boot Repair and Western Wear is the only place in the city that repairs shoes. Owner Jose Lucio said there used to be a handful of shoe repair stores in the area, but his is the only one left standing, keeping the traditional trade alive.

The Shoe Service Institute of America reports that shoe repair shops dwindled from 100,000 in the 1930s to 15,000 in 1997 to about 5,000 today nationwide, according to the Associated Press.

The industry as a whole may be on the brink of extinction, but it is alive and well in Tyler, thanks to Lucio’s. The shop continues to fill a need that is much-needed in the area, ensuring customers receive quality repairs. They also create custom boots, relast round toes to square toes, and re-sole boots and shoes daily.

Making old shoes new again is a passion of Lucio’s and they are proud that customers trust the shop with their “wellloved pieces.”

“A lot of craftsmanship and detail goes into repairing shoes,” Lucio said. “It’s rewarding to see a pair of boots coming in that are destroyed and you can turn around and hopefully make them like new

again.”

Since he was about 18 years old, Lucio has been working in the shoe repair business. He said for a brief time he worked in another field but missed being able to work with the leather and revive customers’ shoes.

When he found his way back to shoe repair, Lucio purchased a “halfway established” business in the 1990s, creating Lucio’s.

Lucio’s opened its doors 25 years ago in a location that was around 150 square feet. About five years ago, the business moved into its current 2,400 square foot building at

300 W Front St.

While the business’ core is still shoe repair, with the move came some changes to the shop, Lucio said. He was able to expand his business and sell more items such as western boots, belts, bags, jeans, hats and more. He added that he hopes to continue expanding his retail in the future.

As a retail store, Lucio said he is specifically able to help customers choose a pair of boots in a way other shops can’t.

“While a retail store might just know (boots) from the outside, we know them in and out – how boots are made,” he said. “If people have

questions about what to buy, we can direct them about which brands. ... Our specialty is knowing how the boots are made and that we can have answers for our customers.”

Lucio said customer satisfaction is a high priority of the business.

“Our goal is to satisfy customers 100%” and offer them a place where they can find good customer service,” Lucio said.

Lucio said in the beginning his wife would help him out as she could with the business. Today his son Gabriel works at the shop full time doing repairs and taking orders; his

FROM LEFT, CRYSTAL MCDONALD, daughter of owner, Gabriel Lucio, son of owner, and José Lucio, owner of Lucio’s Boot Repair and Western Wear, stand inside the store in August 2022. The Tyler boot business is family-owned and specializes in the leather workings of shoes and boots of all sorts.

ALONG WITH TRADITIONAL SHOE REPAIR and restoration services, the store sells new merchandise such as boots, belts, clothing and more.

JOSÉ LUCIO, Lucio’s Boot Repair and Western Wear owner, repairs stitching on a boot. The longtime family business is the only one of its kind in Tyler, keeping the trade alive in East Texas.

daughter Crystal McDonald does a lot of the store’s marketing; and his wife still helps whenever she can.

Gabriel Lucio said he went to college and got a degree in construction. He had several options when it came to his career, but he felt called to the family business. Jose Lucio hopes his son will one day want to carry on the legacy.

Keeping Lucio’s open is important for the community of Tyler because there are no other businesses in the nearby area that offer shoe repair services, Gabriel Lucio said. Especially with boots, people could pay anywhere from $600 to thousands of dollars for a nice pair, and without a place to repair them the one of the only options would be to throw away those expensive boots when they are damaged, he said.

Gabriel Lucio added that it is rewarding to see your hard work pay off, taking something that was damaged and making it like new again.

“It’s just cool being able to restore things,” he said. “Whenever something’s old and it’s worn out and you get to be the one to carry it through that process all the way to where it looks brand new, that’s very gratifying.”

While Jose Lucio and his family share a passion for revitalizing worn shoes, one of their favorite aspects about the business is getting to spend time together. Even through challenges, the family works together to overcome.

“We can all trust each other, we rely on each other a lot,” Gabriel Lucio said. “Sometimes we have to stay late, or come in at other times where a normal employee wouldn’t want to do that. ... We know that we have to rely on each other, so we go that extra mile.”

The family plans to continue carrying on its legacy for as long as it’s able.

For more information or to inquire about services, visit luciosboots.com or call 903-5956164.

ANTIQUE TRAIL

16 MILES OF SHOPPING AWAIT AT THE ANTIQUE FAIR

RUGS PILED HIGH from the floor and hanging from the ceiling invite passersby to peruse a collection of Persian and Turkish rugs in Carmine.

FEATURE PRESENTED BY

STORY BY TAMARA DIAZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT MACAVOY SPECIAL TO ETX VIEW

ON A LONG STRETCH OF STATE HIGHWAY 237, IN RURAL EAST TEXAS, MOSTLY FROM WARRENTON NORTH TO ROUND TOP, A DIFFERENT SORT OF BOTTLENECK – ROLLING AND CURIOUS –HAPPENS TWICE A YEAR.

Once in the fall and once in the spring, burgeoning traffic slows to a crawl, large tents and colorful flags are raised alongside barns and other buildings and all that is dated, foreign, unusual, artsy or homespun is offered for sale.

LaGrange is the official starting point of the Antiques Weekend show, but like some sort of message in Morse Code, the show starts as a few dots along the roadway between LaGrange and Warrenton and becomes a solid dense line north from Warrenton to Round Top.

In Round Top, once a stagecoach stop between Austin and Houston, the antique merriment reaches its climax and consumes the little historic town.

Permanent shops and pop-up shops, craft markets and eateries easily host thousands of shoppers gathered from all over, once in October and again in March-April.

Along the route, crafters and dealers from Houston; Austin; Atlanta, Georgia; Florida; France; Denmark and numerous other spots on the map gather to hawk their wares.

In the mix, plenty of local folks set up tents and make sales as well.

PURVEYORS OF OBJECTS new and old fill several fields in Round Top.

FEATURE PRESENTED BY

REAFFIRMING THAT the Round Top antiques shows have something for everyone, a collection of gas station signs wait for the right buyer in Round Top.

“We have been collecting for years and years,” Anne Lemke, 73, who lived in Victoria for about 40 years before moving to Weimar, said of herself and her husband, Doug. “We have two boat sheds full of antiques, as well as a closed auto repair shop and a 2600 foot shed, also used to store antiques.”

The Lemkes have set up shop at the Antique Weekend event, both fall and spring, for 32 years. Doug Lemke is a Vietnam Veteran, and both he and his wife are retired.

They said they make enough money selling antiques to live well in their retirement. Among

the antiques spied in their tent were school desks, old Simplicity sewing patterns, corded phones, drinkware of every imaginable age and style, furniture and so much more – boatloads..

“It started out as a hobby and now we make a living doing it,” Anne Lemke said. “You’ve got to have a variety of items. You can’t sell one thing. We definitely have a variety.”

Variety is a true description and is woven throughout the show, in every tent and on every stop.

In The Compound, styled “an exquisite design resource in 6 big barns,” at 2550 South SH 237, shoppers can purchase elegant

ALANA COOKLIN shows a rug to prospective buyers in Carmine.

COLORFUL TABLEWARE SETS cover a table at Blue Hills antiques venue in Carmine.

| CONT. FROM PG. 45

Victorian jewelry that drips with sparkle. Some pieces cost hundreds of dollars, and some cost thousands.

In the same compound, buyers can purchase a rifle dated to 1410, a pistol from 1717 or a sword carried by an Irish Brigade soldier during the American Civil War.

Walk a little farther and it’s candles, soaps, rich bedding, stylish kitchenware, hand painted drinkware and original artwork.

Across the street from The Compound, at 5414 West SH 237, browsers find Old World Antieks, a huge showroom and a side barn packed with European and Asian antiques.

Many of the pieces are older than America’s Colonial Period and quite costly. At any rate, it’s a bit like being in a museum, only everything is up for grabs – as long as the grabber has the green, and lots of it. A faint smell of leather and wood – and age – permeates the space.

Another curiosity waits on the route for visitors. North of Warrenton just a ways sits St. Martin’s Catholic Church, the world’s smallest active Catholic Church.

Wood benches offer seating inside for about 16 people and a small cemetery rests in the churchyard. It’s a peaceful oasis in the frenzied shopping.

The 16 miles of shopping include established shops with names like House of Dane, Pascal Home, Big Blue Treasures, Southern Classic Jewelry, Axe Antiques, Melissa Ellis Fine Art, Loving Hands Soaps and Beyond, Big Daddy’s Antiques and Cowboy Corner, to name a few.

A photo of Round Top Square,

| CONT. ON PG. 51

DECORATIVE DRINK AND BARWARE SETS from dealer Gus Moncivais rest on a shelf at the Blue Hills antiques venue in Carmine.

FEATURE PRESENTED BY

LIGHT SHINES THROUGH a set of glass panes onto a collection of doorknobs in Round Top.

taken before 1895, shows a dusty street and a smattering of dwellings, nothing much – a few horses and a handful of people are on the street.

Certainly nothing in the photo presages the thousands who would later flock to this town, trying to find and buy some antiquey thing one of those folks in the picture might have bought brand new.

People from the present will get another crack at the Antique Show Jan. 19-Jan. 22 and March 16-April 2. Those planning to go should mark off at least a couple days – 16 miles and many hours of curiosities await.

OWNER LaCRECIA STEWARD works on Maya Walker's lashes at Lash Studio 214 Beauty & Training Academy in Tyler.

Foundation for the Future

Newly-established beauty foundation to help catapult careers of aspiring cosmetologists

STORY BY JESSICA T. PAYNE PHOTOS BY LES HASSELL

Anew beauty foundation geared toward aspiring cosmetologists in East Texas aims to bridge the gap between desires and dreams.

The East Texas Beauty Industry Foundation, founded by cosmetologist LaCrecia Steward, will remove part of the financial burden associated with attending school for individuals who qualify for the programs but are having a financial hardship.

Steward, who owns Lash Studio 214 Beauty & Training Academy, LLC in Tyler, said there was a significant need in the community to assist those looking to get into an evergrowing profession.

“The beauty industry continuously grows and changes on a daily basis. The opportunities are endless and people can make a good living in the beauty field of their choice,” she said. “The foundation will not only offer financial assistance, but mentorship as well.”

The foundation was created to help those who want a career in the beauty industry but the total cost | CONT. ON PG. 56

KIMBERLY SHEAD

| CONT. FROM PG. 55

may not be in their budget, Steward said.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth rate in the beauty field is expected to increase by 19% from 2020 to 2030.

Steward said with the foundation, beauty professionals may not fall victim to business closures or could recover quickly from pitfalls such at those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since the pandemic, there are so many businesses that shut down and never reopened, leaving thousands out of jobs,” she said. “With a license in the beauty industry, if we're ever shut down again, a lash tech, nail tech, weave and wig specialist, hairstylist, barber –anyone in the beauty industry – will still have a job once mandate is lifted.”

Steward teamed up with fellow cosmetologists Kimberly Shead, owner of Phat’s Institute of Beauty, LLC

and Rasheeda Arterberry, owner of American Manicure School of Art, to offer specialty cosmetology certificates in the East Texas area.

“In the past, East Texans were traveling to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to take certificate classes, only to find out they needed an actual license to perform the beauty services they desired. Now there are several specialty license cosmetology schools right here in Tyler,” Steward said.

“I own the only lash academy in East Texas, Kimberly is the only hair loss practitioner in East Texas and Rasheeda opened the first nail school in the state of Texas,” she said. “We are all very knowledgeable in our field of expertise and our past students have obtained their license and became successful business owners. I've had students travel as far as Atlanta, Texas, every day to become a licensed lash tech.”

| CONT. ON PG. 58

RASHEEDA ARTERBERRY

LaCRECIA STEWARD

We are all very knowledgeable in our field of expertise and our past students have obtained their license and became successful business owners."

-LaCrecia Steward

STUDENTS LAYLA WALKER, left, and Stephanie Hernandez practice manicures at American Manicure School of Art in Tyler.

Steward explained the specialty licenses carry more weight than what most think.

In a traditional cosmetology program, a hairstylist’s main specialties are cutting and coloring hair. Esthetician’s specialties are facials and waxing.

“Under their scope of practice, they can perform lash services after being properly trained and certified. They can perform nail services. They can also install wigs,” she said. “But they only get a few days of training in those services. Our specialty courses range from 300 to 600 hours. They get the proper education in the field of their choice without spending a fortune, accumulating debt and spending a lot of unnecessary time.”

Rasheeda Arterberry, who opened American Manicure School of Art eight years ago, said she opened the school because she also saw a need in the community for specialized training.

“As a self taught nail tech I was frustrated knowing there were other students that needed the

same license but to have an actual instructor teach them the art of nails. So, a year after I graduated, I opened the first nail school in the state of Texas,” she said. “Students get a great education and become licensed to do nails and have a career they enjoy.”

Arterberry said she believes the partnership will be impactful on aspiring beauty industry professionals in East Texas.

“I believe that with us having an affordable trade school in East Texas and with assistance from the East Texas Beauty Industry Foundation, our students are able to go out into the community and work without worrying about student loans or debts,” Arterberry said.

Phat’s Institute of Beauty,LLC owner Kimberly Shead said she is excited for her business to be included in the schools that can be attended as part of the East Texas Beauty Industry Foundation scholarships.

“Phat's Institute of Beauty School will prepare students to be a licensed professional in the beauty

industry and provide a promising career that can expand as far as you can imagine,” she said. “Every day, licensed cosmetologists work relentlessly to help people become a better version of themselves. Whether it's hair, skin or nail care, cosmetologists are committed to helping clients bring their inner beauty in front of the public eye.”

“This foundation will help these aspiring professionals find their purpose in being of service,” Shead added.

The foundation scholarships will cover programs not normally covered by certain financial aid assistance such as FAFSA.

The foundation will benefit those in the East Texas area 17 years old and up regardless of educational background, including those who didn’t graduate high school. Individuals may be eligible to take an “ability to benefit” test and upon passing, they can enroll in a secondary college.

For more information, call Lash Studio 214 Beauty & Training Academy at (903) 830-5205.

STUDENTS ANIHIA MCGEE, left, and Chiana Stafford practice manicures at American Manicure School of Art in Tyler.

KALIEGH PAYNE wears Mono B workout clothes including a white and gold foil sports bra, $22, and leggings, $27, available for purchase at Axis Fit & Nutrition.

CRUSH Your Goals

Owner of modern, full-service gym offers advice to build fitness routine

STORY BY SANTANA WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL CAVAZOS

Although it’s the perfect time to set goals, local gym owner Heather Newland suggests starting slow to build a realistic routine.

Newland, owner of Axis Fit & Nutrition in Longview, said it can be difficult to crush your goals if you feel overwhelmed by your routine. That’s why she’s passionate about helping her clients set realistic goals that will enable them to exceed their own expectations and see results.

“The problem with New Year’s resolutions sometimes is that we don’t always follow through with them,” Newland said. “We make these big resolutions and go full blown for a month, but soon give up because making those drastic changes all at once isn’t sustainable. With health and fitness, it’s important to start out slow. Maybe it’s coming to the gym twice a week and starting to cook at home instead of eating out. Make those two habits – it takes 22 days to make a habit. Then once you’ve got that down and you’re

FASHION PRESENTED BY

HEATHER NEWLAND wears a 1. STATE Peak Lapel Button Front Long Sleeve Cropped Blazer, available for $139 at Dillard's, as she walks into Axis Fit & Nutrition.

| CONT. FROM PG. 63

more comfortable in the gym setting and eating right, you can move up to come three days a week. My main advice is to not overdo your goal.”

She said it’s important to keep in mind that it takes time to stay healthy, so starting slow and building toward more is key when it comes to achieving your goals.

Axis Fit & Nutrition is a fullservice gym that offers personal training, nutrition coaching, body type workouts, specialty classes such as yoga and savage, bootcamp training, infrared light therapy, events and challenges, massage therapy through Salt & Light, and more. The gym even has a childcare service you use while taking advantage of its other services.

Newland said the gym’s main goal is to help people improve their lives “through community, exercise and nutrition.” Another important

| CONT. ON PG. 67

HEATHER NEWLAND wears hot pink workout leggings from Mono B, $27, available for purchase at Axis Fit & Nutrition.

Special Thanks

In each issue of ETX View, we are fortunate to have a number of supporters who help us bring our fashion shoot ideas to life. For our Professional Edition, we were inspired to create a scene of professionals leaving work and going to the gym.

We had two looks. First, our models wore classy, business attire provided by Dillard’s in Longview paired with beautiful, everyday pieces from Jim Bartlett Fine Jewelry. Next, they changed into clothing sold at Axis Fit & Nutrition, where they were able to take advantage of the facility’s equipment.

We want to thank our models, Heather Newland, Kaliegh Payne, Jabe Martin and Paxton McGarvey. All four are personal trainers along with working full-time jobs. Another special shoutout to Newland, who owns Axis Fit & Nutrition. Not only did she let us use her facility and workout clothes, she also allowed her personal trainers time to serve as our fabulous models, and they were all such fantastic sports.

Thank you to our ETX View team members who work so hard to put this together. Your brilliant ideas always turn out so amazing on these pages. Most of all, thank you to our good friends at Peters Chevrolet of Longview, who sponsor our bi-monthly fashion shoots. Their team is such a blast to have on location. Visit Peters on social media at facebook.com/ PetersLongview and Instagram @peterslongview for some behind-the-scenes shots.

PAXTON McGARVEY wears Roundtree & Yorke Long Sleeve Solid Portuguese Flannel Shirt, $39, and Polo Ralph Lauren Slim-Fit Stretch Dobby Pants, $138, as Kaliegh Payne wears 1. STATE Front Pocket Tweed Fitted Shorts, $99 and 1.STATE Long Balloon Sleeve V-Neck Metallic Blouse, $89, all available at Dillard's. Payne also models pieces from Jim Bartlett Fine Jewelry in Longview, including an 18-karat gold diamond ring and bracelet.

factor is making sure new and existing clients feel comfortable in the gym environment and confident while shaping their routines.

“We believe that no member should ever feel lost in the gym or in knowing how to live healthier,” Newland said. “With the right tools and support, you can feel better, get stronger, get leaner and finally see results.”

The gym has about seven personal trainers to choose from. These trusted and qualified partners help clients get a jumpstart on their journey to ensure their success. The right trainer will help motivate and encourage a client while providing training tips and advice specifically catered to their unique body type and lifestyle.

Newland said each of her trainers are independent trainers, including herself.

“Everybody that trains also has their own job outside of the gym, so taking time to be a trainer means we actually have a passion for it,” Newland said. “Sometimes it can be hard for a client to find training with someone who actually cares about that person, and that’s what we all do here.”

CONT. ON PG. 70

FASHION PRESENTED BY | CONT. FROM PG. 65

Aside from running the gym, Newland is also a taxidermist and has worked in that field for the last four years. Prior to that, she worked in the oil and gas industry for about 10 years. In August, she opened the gym because of her passion for fitness.

“I read books on end about how to open a gym and how to be successful and just went all out,” she said. “My goal for this place was for it to be a one-stop shop.”

The 8,000-square-foot all-strength training facility is open 24/7. The gym has a laid-back yet inspiring feel.

“It has a very open, modern feel with open space and white walls – a feeling of zen. I have artwork on the walls, which isn’t something you see much in a fitness center,” Newland said.

When walking or running on the treadmill or using a stair-climbing machine, clients can enjoy a beautiful view of the woods through large floorto-ceiling windows.

When finalizing the gym’s plans, Newland said it was important to keep as many trees on the property as possible to keep that view of nature and allow clients to enjoy it while they work out rather than staring at a parking lot or blank wall.

Part of the reason Newland named the gym Axis is because of her love for nature. Axis deer are exotic and unique, as they keep their spots all year long. She and her husband also love bow hunting. This love can be seen throughout the gym with mounted deer heads and other decor.

Also, on a graph, the x-axis is a horizontal number line and the y-axis is a vertical number

JABE MARTIN wears Polo Ralph Lauren Slim-Fit Stretch Dobby Pants available for $138 at Dillard's at Axis Fit & Nutrition.

JABE MARTIN at Axis Fit & Nutrition.

FASHION PRESENTED BY

HEATHER NEWLAND wears Mono B hot pink leggings for $27 from Axis Fit & Nutrition.

line. These two axes intersect perpendicularly to form the coordinate plane. Newland relates this to fitness and said it had a part in the gym’s name.

“The axis point to your body is your core, where the upper and lower connect,” she explained. “Your core is the strongest part of your body, and it has to be strong. Relating it back to hunting, hunters also have to be strong. Everything about this gym relates back to being strong and being motivational because that’s how we want our clients to feel when they walk in here.”

Along with all of the gym’s equipment and classes, clients can also enjoy smoothies and energy drinks and shop a supplement line and meal prep options. Newland is also a certified nutrition coach. Through Newland Nutrition & Fitness, she helps clients develop personalized plans for their specific body type and goals.

“Nutrition and fitness

PAXTON McGARVEY at Axis Fit & Nutrition.

go hand in hand. It’s important to follow that 80/20 rule – 80% is all nutrition and 20% is fitness,” Newland said. “Even if someone works out all the time, they may not be fueling their body with the right nutrition, so they don’t complete that full circle of becoming healthy and overall fit. Both coincide and are very important together, not just one or the other. If you want to work out, you have to give your body the proper nutrition by fueling it with the right amount of protein, carbs and fats.”

The gym, located at 3862 FM 2879, Longview, offers various membership options. For more information about the gym’s health and fitness offerings, visit www.axisfitlongview.com. The gym is also on social media, www.facebook.com/ AxisFitandNutrition and Instagram @axisfitandnutrition.

FASHION PRESENTED BY

JABE MARTIN, Kaliegh Payne, Heather Newland, and Paxton McGarvey at Axis Fit & Nutrition.

MEALS

PREPARED PASTA SALADS in the cooler at The Dinner Table in Tyler.

MADE EASY

East Texas meal prep businesses lend helping hand to busy families, professionals

STORY BY JESSICA T. PAYNE PHOTOS BY LES HASSELL AND JESSICA T. PAYNE

In a fast-paced world, an East Texas small family-owned business is making mealtime a little easier by bringing homemade family recipes to dinner tables.

The Dinner Table in Tyler prepares fresh and frozen family-style meals that are ready to cook. All prepared meals are family recipes and traditional meals that most people can enjoy.

Owner Sherri Lamb said after more than two decades in the corporate world, she knew firsthand how convenient already-made meals could be for a busy family.

Following a buyout of the insurance agency she worked for, Lamb took the opportunity to put her business plan in action.

“I worked for more than 20 years in commercial

OWNER SHERRI LAMB, left, and manager Shaena White at The Dinner Table in Tyler.

CONT. FROM PG. 79

insurance, but as a busy mom, always thought that ready to go meals would be a great business,” she said. “The insurance agency that I worked with was bought out in 2019, and that gave me the opportunity to see if my idea would work.”

Lamb said although her initial thought was to assist working moms and families, she soon realized the impact her business had on people with much different circumstances.

“We first opened because I thought this would be a great way for busy moms to make their nights a little bit easier. This is definitely true, especially during the school year with class and extracurricular activities sometimes means having to choose between fast food or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” Lamb said. “However, I have learned that there are many other ways people use our meals. Some of our customers give our meals as gifts, such as for a new mom, someone who is sick or just had surgery, someone who suffered a loss, or even for someone who is moving into a new house.”

“We have also found that many elderly folks enjoy our meals, because they may not be able to cook anymore or it may just be a lot of work for them,” she added. “Our mini-sized casseroles are perfect for them, and this was a very pleasant surprise to me.”

Lamb said while it warmed her heart to know her business was helping those in need, the list of reasons customers buy her meals doesn’t stop there.

“We have many customers that are taking care of a sick parent or spouse, and our meals take a little load off of them,” she said. “We have had customers buy our meals for many other reasons as well, such as to send to their kids in college, or load up a bunch of meals before they head to their beach house, a cabin, or a deer lease.”

Lamb, who leans on husband John and oldest daughter Shaena to help the business run smoothly, said there were definitely setbacks starting out as a new business. However, she says the community | CONT. ON PG. 83

A PECAN PIE cools in the kitchen at The Dinner Table.

LOCALLY PRODUCED PRODUCTS on the shelves at The Dinner Table.

OWNER SHERRI LAMB prepares a lasagna at The Dinner Table.

MEAL PREP GUY 903 is another local business that offers pre-made meals. Pictured, individual portions of chicken with roasted peppers and jasmine rice are prepared at the business in Tyler.

MEAL

PREP GUY 903 also sells healthy baked goods, such as cookies.

has made it all worth it and the business continues to grow.

“We opened two months before the COVID-19 hit, and since we had not had enough time to build a customer base, it was pretty tough on us. Last year, the supply chain issues were difficult, especially in regards to our packaging,” she said. “This year, our shopping center underwent a remodel. It looks wonderful now, but it was certainly a challenge while it was happening. Inflation has also been difficult this year, as it has been for everyone.”

“So, I like to think that considering how crazy the past few years have been, we have done very well,” Lamb said. “Our sales have continued to grow, people continue to hear about us and enjoy our products, and we have grown an amazing customer base.”

Lamb said the mission behind the business has always been spending time with family, making life a little easier, and slowing down to enjoy each moment.

“I want people to know that we put a lot of love and care into what we do.

We believe that when families sit down together to share a meal on a regular basis, something magical happens. Sharing meals has a way of strengthening families,” she said. “It is a time to destress, learn more about each other, and create memories and traditions.”

“Although our families may look different, everyone needs this carved out time with the ones they love. We see our business as a way to serve others, as a way to help other families find a little time together,” Lamb said. “This is why we are called The Dinner Table – because we believe that is where real life happens. I guess you would call this the ‘mission’ behind our business.”

Lamb said none of it would be possible without the amazing community she serves.

“Almost every day, someone will ask how our business is doing, or tell us how much they love our meals. The majority of our new customers come in because a friend told them about us,” she said.

“The Tyler community is really the reason why we have been successful. People

| CONT. FROM PG. 81 | CONT. ON PG. 84

FRESH, PRE-MADE MEALS

of salmon, roasted potatoes and vegetables sit in a package ready to be picked up by a customer.

here really care about supporting their local business and we are truly blessed by them.”

The Dinner Table is located at 4730 S Broadway Avenue and can be reached at 903-525-9008. For more information, visit www. thedinnertabletyler.com.

Whether it’s for convenience, health reasons, or something else entirely, meal prep businesses have been on the rise over the last couple years, including those who offer single-serve homemade meals.

Meal Prep Guy 903 recently expanded to a second location in Whitehouse.

Owner J.P. Carroll said while the meals are extremely convenient, his passion for health made him want to create healthy alternatives to fast food chains.

“Although we do see bodybuilders or powerlifters or other athletes come in, the majority of the people who walk through the door are the police officers, teachers, mother with three kids who all play sports or do other after school activities,” he said. “It’s just people who are extremely busy, don’t have time to cook, and are looking for something healthier than a burger and fries.”

Some of those options include a burrito bowl with your choice of meat, salmon and veggies, Korean BBQ beef and sides, and boomboom shrimp with Jasmine rice.

More information about Meal Prep Guy 903 can be found on the Facebook page, www. mealprepguy903.com, or via mealprepguy903@gmail.com. Their current locations include 1721 S. Broadway Ave., Suite D in Tyler and

201 Highway 110 North, Suite 1 in Whitehouse. The business previously said it hopes to expand further, including into Lindale.

There are several options for this type of service across East Texas, including Ruby’s Royal Meal Preps in Longview. This local business offers healthy meals, smoothies, shakes, and more with a menu changing weekly.

Some items include enchilada casserole, ground turkey spaghetti, egg muffins, protein waffles, spicy ground turkey stir-fry, seasoned chicken with sides, and more. The motto on their website states “no prep, no mess – just heat up your meal on the go.”

For more information about Ruby’s, email rubysroyalmealpreps@ gmail.com, visit their Facebook page, or rubysrmp.com.

MEAL PREP GUY 903 owner J.P. Carroll said the majority of his customers are busy professionals who don't have time to cook and are looking for healthy meal options.

CASEY WILLIAMS, owner of AvenueSpeak, created DrumTalk to share the healing effects of music with an emphasis on drums and vibrations.

music that heals Making

Local musician shows drumming can have therapeutic impact

STORY BY JESSICA T. PAYNE PHOTOS BY LES HASSELL & ANA CONEJO

Casey Williams has been moved by drum music since the age of 2, when he dragged his mother’s pots and pans out from the cabinets and began to play. In 2016, Williams began devoting his energy to learning hand drums such as djembe, conga, doumbek, pan drums and hang drums.

But drumming wasn’t Williams’ only passion. Along with his love of music came a desire to be of service to others through the music he played and teach the therapeutic impact drumming can have on several levels.

Following numerous projects and a mission trip to Haiti, Williams founded AvenueSpeak in 2019 with a goal to share the healing effects of drumming.

“My main goal is to spread the secret that hand drums cure all debilitating neurological and physical symptoms,” he said. “I feel like Texas needs someone to speak about alternatives to medication. I'm all about holistic application. Drumming and writing are passions that are closely connected to my story.”

One of the key services AvenueSpeak offers is DrumTalk, a presentation designed by Williams to provide education on neurological advantages, healing components and communication skills improvement through hand drumming.

“Communication of emotion has focused primarily on the neural mechanisms of communicating via speech, even though emotion is also communicated through nonverbal modalities ranging from music to body language,” Williams said. “As these modalities are often used instead of or in addition to speech, we hypothesize that they offer something unique or supplemental that merits investigation and may have unique clinical application.”

Williams teaches DrumTalk through The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP) Learning, a method that educates individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as young children, by embracing a unique methodology that encompasses rhythm as a modality to address basic life and learning skills as well as reading, writing and arithmetic.

“This educational program is the perfect mix of educational objectives and artistic

experiences,” Williams said. “It is designed to be fun and engaging but also helps develop an increased mastery of coordination, concentration, and educational accomplishment.”

The program serves all ages from all backgrounds, including people with diagnoses ranging from mild to profound cognitive disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s, autism, mobility, hearing, or vision impairments and traumatic brain injury.

Williams also offers writing workshops through AvenueSpeak meant to provide healing through the written word while exploring thoughts and emotions through writing prompts designed to increase the mind’s ability to think through barriers, and King Avenue Mentorship, a monthly one-on-one mentorship meeting

with Williams.

Williams, who was born in Longview and now lives in Tyler, said one of his high school teachers made a big impact on his career path to healing through music as well as his mother and Boy Scout instructors.

“Mrs. Terry Barret was always innovative in her work and such a personable being. She was my 11th and 12th grade English teacher at Pine Tree High School in Longview,” he said. “But I also really value my mom and all she has taught me, and others like Roy Dudley and LG Mangum, my Boy Scout Instructors.”

Williams said he spent many years on the entertainment side of music, from being a DJ and drumming for multiple bands to music production and sound engineering. But that aspect of the industry left him feeling unfulfilled.

CASEY WILLIAMS, of AvenueSpeak, performs with children at the Mentoring Alliance KidsFest in 2022 at Bergfeld Park in Tyler. Part of his work includes educating and healing children through music.

-Casey Williams

“I simply love people. I love to give wisdom and listen. I am honored that I get the privilege to give education through simply creating the space to be kind and give my energy.”

Kinzie Maes, right, of White Oak helps Casey Muze from Starr Avenue Co. keep a beat during ArtWalk in downtown Longview.

CONT. FROM PG. 88

“After life handed me multiple seasons of misfortune, I connected some dots. As the son of an educator and musician, I transitioned from all the entertainment work and decided to be used by God through my music,” he said. “I started the idea of AvenueSpeak to provide education on the possibilities related to holistic privation through the art of drumming.”

Williams said the work he is currently doing feels more like a privilege and he has big plans for the future.

“I simply love people. I love to give wisdom and listen. I am honored that I get the privilege to give education through simply creating the space to be kind and give my energy,” he said. “I have gained different varieties of clients and partners – from daycares to nursing and retirement homes for TRAP learning. My list of community partners has doubled in size in the year 2022 as well for TRAP Learning.”

“I have gained residency partnership for my writing workshops and I am looking forward to expanding even more in 2023,” Williams added. “Louisiana is the next state on my itinerary.”

In January, AvenueSpeak will team up with Neurodivergent Advocates of East Texas to offer classes for children with autism.

“AvenueSpeak and Neurodivergent make the most dynamic partnership as both provide services that yield to intellectual disabilities – the stories that connect,” said Williams. “When I was a child I had the honor of watching my mom provide services to those that fit this specific demographic. As I grew, I was listed to volunteer at several Special Olympics events.”

“Patricia from Neurodivergent has a story of raising a child with autism. We are two very bold individuals with huge hearts and our intentions are to move for the autistic population and allow them to be supported,” he said.

Williams also has partnerships with Young Audience of East Texas as a provider of DrumTalk and TRAP Learning, The Foundry Coffee House as the location for his writing workshops, a promotional partnership with Antler Sports Network, and a partnering relationship with Young Professionals.

For more information, visit www. avenuespeak.com.

CASEY WILLIAMS founded AvenueSpeak in 2019 with a goal to share the healing effects of drumming.

IN 2016, CASEY WILLIAMS began devoting his energy to learning hand drums such as djembe, conga, doumbek, pan drums and hang drums.

PHIL 2306:

HIST

MATH 1342:

HIST

JANUARY/FEB. CALENDAR events

CANTON

FIRST MONDAY TRADE DAYS

FEB. 2-5

First Monday Grounds 800 First Monday Lane www.firstmondaycanton.com/

EAST TEXAS FIBER FESTIVAL

10 A.M. TO 6 P.M. NOV. 18-19

Canton Civic Center Flea Market Rd. www.easttexasfiberfestival. weebly.com

EAST TEXAS BOOK BASH WITH ASHLEY NEMER

1 TO 4 P.M. DEC. 10

Mill Creek Ranch Resort 1880 N Trade Days Blvd www.easttexasbookbash.weebly. com

HENDERSON

RUSK COUNTY YOUTH PROJECT SHOW FEB. 23-25

Rusk County Youth Expo Center 3303 FM 13 W. http://www.visithendersontx.com/ henderson-events/

JEFFERSON

ANNUAL MLK PARADE

3 P.M. JAN. 15 Downtown Jefferson https://visitjeffersontexas.com/

JEFFERSON-TEXAS-EVENTS

MLK BANQUET

6 P.M. JAN. 16

Jefferson Convention & Visitor Center 305 E. Austin St. https://visitjeffersontexas.com/ jefferson-texas-events

Unity Honors Luncheon

MARDI GRAS QUEEN MAB BALL

8 P.M. FEB. 4

Jefferson Convention & Visitor Center 305 E. Austin St. https://www.mardigrasupriver. com/

MARDI GRAS UPRIVER FEB. 17-19 https://www.mardigrasupriver. com/

KILGORE

RC COMICS MODEL MANIA

2 P.M. TO 4 P.M. JAN. 14 AND FEB. 11 Geektopia 207 E. Main St. https://www.facebook.com/ rccomicshop

BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/GOSPEL JAM

4 P.M. TO 9 P.M. JAN. 14 AND FEB. 11

Kilgore Mercantile & Music 105 N. Kilgore St. https://kilgoremercantile.com/ events-calendar

KILGORE CRUISE NIGHT W/ PARADE

3 P.M. TO 6 P.M. JAN. 28 AND FEB. 25

Downtown Kilgore https://www.facebook.com/ KilgoreCruiseNight/

LINDALE

LINDALE ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION LINDALE’S GOT TALENT VARIETY SHOW 6 P.M. JAN. 28 Lindale ISD Performing Arts Center

920 E. Hubbard Stridal https://www.lindaleeagles. org/

LONGVIEW

CLASSIC ARMS

PRODUCTIONS GUN & KNIFE SHOW

9 A.M. JAN. 7-8 Longview Exhibit Center 1123 Jaycee Drive http://www.capgunshows. com/

EAST TEXAS FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION

8 A.M. TO 10 A.M. JAN. 13 AND FEB. 10 Longview Exhibit Center 1123 Jaycee Drive https://www. easttexasfoodbank.org/

GO-GIVER GALA

7 P.M. JAN. 7 Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd. https://www. longviewtexas.gov/

LONGVIEW JAYCEES TRADE DAYS

9 A.M. JAN. 14-15

Longview Exhibit Center 1123 Jaycee Drive http://www. greggcountyfair.com/ Trade_Days

WOMEN IN AVIATION

11:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M. JAN. 19 Holiday Inn Longview North 300 Tuttle Circle https://zontalongview. clubexpress.com/

EXOTIC REPTILE AND PET SHOW

10 A.M. JAN. 21-22

Longview Exhibit Center 1123 Jaycee Drive https://herpshow.net/

LONGVIEW SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CANDLELIGHT

CHAMBER CONCERT

7 P.M. JAN. 20 Longview Community Center

| CONT. ON PG. 96

East Texas Symphonic Band

| CONT. FROM PG. 95

500 E. Whaley St. https://longviewsymphony. org/

RAHAB’S RETREAT AND RANCH ANNUAL DINNER FUNDRAISER

6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. JAN. 27 Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd. https://www. rahabsretreatandranch.com/

ARTS!LONGVIEW HONORS GALA

5 P.M. JAN. 28 Longview Community Center 500 E. Whaley St. https://www.facebook.com/ artslongview/

LONGVIEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BANQUET

5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. JAN. 31 Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd. https://longviewchamber.com/

DIVINELY MADE: THE ONGOING LEGACY OF THE DIVINE NINE 10 A.M. FEB. 4 THROUGH MARCH 25 Gregg County Historical Museum

214 N. Fredonia St. http://gregghistorical.org/

EAST TEXAS SYMPHONIC BAND

7:30 P.M. FEB. 6 Belcher Center 2100 S. Mobberly Ave. https://etsymphonicband.org/

JIM BREUER FREEDOM OF LAUGHTER TOUR

7 P.M. FEB. 11 Belcher Center 2100 S. Mobberly Ave. https://www.belchercenter.com/

THE ARCADIAN WILD CONCERT

7 P.M. FEB. 11 Longview Museum of Fine Arts 215 E. Tyler St. https://www.lmfa.org/

UNITY HONORS LUNCHEON

11:30 A.M. FEB. 15 Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd. https://www.longviewtexas.gov/

COPA WITH THE VIEW

6:30 P.M. FEB. 17 AND 18 ArtsView Children’s Theatre 313 W. Tyler St. https://artsviewchildrenstheatre. com/

MARSHALL

TWITTY & LYNN: A SALUTE TO CONWAY & LORETTA

7:30 p.m. JAN. 28

Memorial City Hall 110 E. Houston St. https://www.memorialcityhall. com/

THE JERSEY TENORS

7:30 P.M. FEB. 24 Memorial City Hall 110 E. Houston St. https://www.memorialcityhall. com/

TYLER

RESURRECTION OF EDWIN HOLT

7 P.M. JAN. 7 Liberty Hall 103 E. Erwin St. https://libertytyler.com/

HIT THE BRICKS

10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. JAN. 14, FEB. 11 Downtown Tyler Square 100 N. Broadway Ave. www.cityoftyler.org

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade

EAST TEXAS GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY SHOW

JAN. 20-22

Rose Garden Center 420 Rose Park Dr. https://www.etgms.org/

AKA GAMMA OMICRON OMEGA CHAPTER FOUNDERS’ DAY LUNCHEON

11 A.M. JAN. 21

Rose Garden Center 420 Rose Park Dr. www.eventbrite. com/e/463615635847

https://tylercivictheatre.com/

JOEL MCHALE

7:30 P.M. FEB. 16

UT Tyler Cowan Center 3900 University Blvd., Tyler https://cowancenter.org/

MARK WILLS

7 P.M. FEB. 18 Liberty Hall 103 E. Erwin St. https://libertytyler.com/

TEXAS AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM BLACK HISTORY MONTH GALA

UT Tyler Cowan Center 3900 University Blvd. https://etso.org

WINTER POP-UP MARKET

10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. JAN. 21, FEB. 25 110 N. College Ave.

DEEP IN THE HEART WOMEN’S CONFERENCE FEB. 24-25 South Spring Baptist Church 17002 US-69 www.facebook.com/ deepintheheartconference

THE DOO WOP PROJECT

7:30 P.M. JAN. 24

UT Tyler Cowan Center 3900 University Blvd., Tyler https://cowancenter.org/

CENIKOR TYLER WELL BEYOND RECOVERY LUNCHEON

11:30 A.M. TO 1 P.M. JAN. 24 Hollytree Country Club 6700 Hollytree Dr. bidpal.net/tylerluncheon

EAST TEXAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS THE GENERAL 7:30 P.M. JAN. 28

UT Tyler Cowan Center 3900 University Blvd. https://etso.org/

RUNNING THE ROSE 7K, 11MILE, 22-MILE, 54K, 108K 6 A.M. JAN. 28 Tyler State Park 789 Park Road 16

EAST TEXAS WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA BRIDAL EXPO

11 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M. FEB. 4

Rose Garden Center 420 Horse Park Dr. www. easttexasweddingextravaganza. com

DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN

7:30 p.m. FEB. 7

UT Tyler Cowan Center 3900 University Blvd., Tyler https://cowancenter.org/

CROWNS

FEB. 10-12 AND 16-19

Tyler Civic Theatre 400 Rose Park Drive

6 P.M. FEB 18

Willow Brook Country Club 2305 Erwin St. https://bit.ly/ taamblackhistorymonthgala

TYLER HEART BALL

7 P.M. FEB. 18

The Villa Tyler 7891 State Highway 110 N tylerheartball.heart.org

EAST TEXAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS DANCE WITH THE VIOLA 7:30 P.M. FEB. 25

EAST TEXAS YOUTH ORCHESTRA’S SPRING CONCERT

4 P.M. FEB. 26 https://www.etyo.org/

Events for publication in the March/April issue of ETX View must be submitted via email to info@etxview by Jan. 13 for consideration.

East Texas Gem & Mineral Society

Individualized Treatment. Comprehensive Care.

Allan struggled with cysts on his neck for several years. After a consultation with the Head & Neck Surgical Oncologist at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances, he learned that he had advanced thyroid cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes on both sides of his neck. “I knew God was on my side, and He was working through Dr. Kohlert to provide my treatment.” With CHRISTUS Health you’re never alone.

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CHRISTUShealth.org

Allan Fulcher Cancer Survivor