ETX VIEW YOUR VIEW
OF
UNIQUE PATHS to education
youth
CREATIVE OUTLETS for East Texas
9/18/24 - 7PM 10/17/24 - 7PM 10/27/24 - 7PM
11/9/24 - 7PM 1/18/25 - 7PM 2/8/25 - 7PM 3/1/25 - 7PM 5/3/25 - 7PM 4/4/25 - 7PM
Santana Wood
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
“It takes a village,” doesn’t it?
At ETX View, we sure are thankful for our village. From our advertising and marketing teams, to our writers and photographers, to our amazing designer and supporting staff, we have a great bunch. Our village doesn’t stop there, though, as we consider all of our readers, partners and supportive advertisers part of our family. You are the reason we do what we do and why we are able to keep doing it. We are so glad you’re here.
Speaking of villages, our cover star Jasmine Ritchie, owner of Gymdaze Studio in Longview and marketing director at Longview WOW!, says it is her village that keeps her going. Between her marketing gig, being a business owner, and being a wife and mom of two littles, Jasmine is a busy bee. She told us her village – and her trusty planners … yes, plural! – help her stay on top of her game. Read more about Jasmine and her studio on Page 37.
Speaking of families, two Tyler natives told us all about their journeys to the U.S. Naval Academy, where they gain an extra family in their fellow servicemembers. Hayden McCullough and Eli Mahfood both knew they wanted to serve from a young age. Our writer Jennifer Scott spoke to each of them so we could share their inspiring stories with you. More on Page 8.
Keeping with our family theme, we highlighted the Caces in Longview starting on Page 47. Mrs. Cathy and Chelsea Cace are keeping the family’s legacy going with their scratch-made recipes that have not only stood the test of time, but also kept folks coming back for more for 75
years now.
Our issue theme of family and education melded together in our Making a Difference feature on Page 50. Andrea Valdez, of Tyler, had a hard time accessing higher education. But with her tenacity and the right mentors around her connecting her to resources, she is making her dreams come true and now helping others do the same –including her brother.
For educator Natasha Raibon, she loves to create art and show students how to express themselves through their own art. More on Page 64.
Back for the summer are our amazing local farmers markets. It is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning. Read more on Page 56.
If you’re looking for a summer getaway, Port Aransas has everything you need from beautiful beaches to fishing, shopping, restaurants and more. Read all about it on Page 18. Another place well worth checking out is the beautiful Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, which reopened after a destructive tornado in 2019. Turn to Page 39 to read more about what you can expect on a visit. Don’t forget to check out our full calendar of events starting on Page 76.
We hope you value reading this issue from cover to cover. Until next issue, enjoy your summer, ETX View family!
PRESIDENT
Stephen McHaney
PUBLISHER
Justin Wilcox
SALES MANAGER
Tracy Stopani
ETX VIEW EDITOR
Santana Wood
PUBLICATION DESIGNER
Haley Holcomb-Capps
WRITERS
Jo Lee Ferguson
Madison O’Hara
Jennifer Scott
Samuel Shaw
Raquel Villatoro
Santana Wood
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Les Hassell
Jennifer Scott
ADVERTISING SALES
Alyson Durst
Donna Valentine
Kelly Benton
Kerri Esposito
Paula White
Sonorah Duty
Stuart James
Zoie Perry
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Les Hassell
COVER DESIGN BY Haley Holcomb-Capps © 2024, M. ROBERTS MEDIA
100 E. Ferguson, Suite 501, Tyler, TX 75702
Green (Pantone® 355 C)
Yellow (Pantone® Yellow 012 C)
MADE TO SERVE
Tyler natives share their hearts for joining the U.S. Naval Academy
STORY BY JENNIFER SCOTT
PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIAL TO ETX VIEW
Hayden McCullough graduated from Tyler Legacy High School in 2022 knowing he was going to the United States Naval Academy.
“Ever since I was younger, I’ve wanted to serve my country,” he said. “I’ve always admired the veterans. My family is very patriotic and they kind of raised me that way.”
When he was looking into colleges, from universities to community colleges to Ivy Leagues, he knew his calling would be better served in a service academy.
“I wanted something that was going to be really hard,” McCullough said. “I wanted to be with classmates that were driven and aggressive … not concerned with going out, partying and all that. I wanted people that were ready to sacrifice for the long-term benefit.”
McCullough’s high school swim coach Robert Fletcher encouraged him to apply to the Naval Academy.
“I knew that it was a really small acceptance rate, but I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” McCullough said. “My back-up plan was to enlist.”
According to an article in Forbes, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is the second oldest service academy in the country. All students attend the academy on a full scholarship and are obligated to five years of active duty service after graduating.
“I love the water … I love the ocean,” McCullough said. “I was on the swim team in high school, I’m a scuba diver and I’m the operations officer for the USNA scuba team. I love the Navy aspect of it.”
As part of the requirement, students must receive a
| CONT. ON PG. 10
HAYDEN MCCULLOUGH, a 2022 Tyler Legacy graduate, has known he wanted to serve his country since he was a young boy.
HAYDEN MCCULLOUGH advises anyone considering joining the U.S. Naval Academy to prepare as much as possible "physically, mentally and spiritually."
| CONT. FROM PG. 8
nomination from a member of Congress; thanks to the congressional nominations from former U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, McCullough was accepted into the academy.
“The Naval Academy has a reputation for having a very difficult STEM-oriented curriculum,” McCullough said. “It was pretty much what I was looking for.”
He credits his parents for the worth ethic that prepared him for the Naval Academy.
“My mom is very hard-working and … my dad was focused on making sure my brother and I studied hard and worked hard,” McCullough said. “If we weren’t the smartest ones in the room, we had to be the hardest working.”
He’s also close with his older brother, Alex.
“He’s my best friend and I’m really proud of him,” McCullough said. “He’s been my life mentor and has really driven me in everything I do.”
While in high school, McCullough was president of the National Honor
Society, founder of the Chinese National Honor Society as well as a member of the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society.
“Tyler is such a great community and coming up here north, I realized that not all towns are like that,” McCullough said. “I've just been treated with so much support, so many prayers and so much benevolence from Tyler. It’s really made me appreciate my home more.”
When it comes to students considering the Naval Academy, McCullough advises those coming in to prepare for anything but also make sure you have intrinsic motivation.
“Prepare yourself as much as you can physically, mentally, spiritually … but have the understanding that nothing is going to prepare you 100 percent except going through the actual tasks,” he said. “As long as you are caring about other people, your shipmates, your peers, your friends … you can accomplish absolutely everything that you
wouldn't be able to accomplish if you're just thinking about yourself.”
Similar to McCullough, for the last few years Eli Mahfood had his sights set on the Naval Academy –ever since he visited the institution with a friend.
“However, I have had a lot of Navy influence in my life,” Mahfood said. “In observance of all the retired sailors in my life – Uncles Jerry Shick, Mike Kitto, Joshua Russell, Clarence Blalock and my great-grandfather William Robert Doyle – I decided that the USNA is the best place for me to live my vocation.”
Mahfood recently graduated from Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic School.
“Being pro-active and involved at BG is very easy to do because there is always a team or program that needs you,” Mahfood said. “It was important to me to be involved because I want my Catholic education to be represented in my daily life and a great way to do that is to be a part of school sports and programs.”
As a student-athlete, he was involved in basketball, track, wrestling and football but also found time for the performing arts.
“Being a part of One Act Play, the school musical, and TAPPS Duet Acting…definitely broke me out of my shell a bit and I had a lot of learning moments and fun in the process,” Mahfood said. “(I had) lots of opportunities to participate in sports, fine arts and faith-based groups … I tried to participate in as much as I could.”
His parents, Ben Mahfood and April Carney are grateful for their son’s perseverance, optimism and humility.
“We are overjoyed, overwhelmed … and a bit nervous,” Carney said. “In the beginning, we had no idea that even getting the application submitted would be such a tall order. (But) we are very proud of his commitment and steadfastness to this task. We have felt the life of a midshipman is something Eli has always been made for.”
Mahfood is the second of five children, and the oldest boy, and
| CONT. ON PG. 14
A YOUNG ELI MAHFOOD admired sailors at a young age and now will go on to the U.S. Naval Academy.
U.S. REP. NATHANIEL MORAN, right, recommended Eli Mahfood to the U.S. Naval Academy.
enjoys watching movies, playing drums and hanging out with his band, Silverwood.
“Eli is the child we never had to make sure finished his homework or studying,” his father said. “He simply got it done. He is disciplined and intentional about his physical, mental and spiritual growth and development.”
Mahfood was accepted to several institutions, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Texas Tech University, UT Tyler and even the Northeast Clown Institute.
“(It’s) true, my friends, I made it into clown school as a fallback,” Mahfood said. “I worked hard in multiple areas of my life: GPA, standardized test scores, athletics, service, etc. I also enjoyed Boy Scouts and dedicated a lot of my life to that and ultimately achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.”
Mahfood plans on majoring in economics.
“Our hope is that he lives his vocation as the way God has intended for him,” his father said. “Eli has a heart of service, faithfulness and discipline. We hope he will serve his country, church and family with honor. However, this is not all about Eli. I hope he will be able to give back to his fellow classmates and to the Navy as much as he has received.”
Inspired by God, Jesus Christ and his Catholic faith, Mahfood is often motivated by Job 2:10, and Apollo Creed’s quote, “There is no tomorrow.” Mahfood hopes to gain leadership skills, a high level of discipline and a personal satisfaction to serve his country.
“I would like to thank everyone who supported my journey and efforts to reach this point,” Mahfood said. “My family, friends and those who wrote letters of recommendation on my behalf because I definitely would not be in the USNA without them: Capt. Ron Dowdell USN, Retired, Adam Todd, Dr. Gregory Stewart, Bradley Thompson, Jill Coan, and John Kimec.”
“The graduates we know from the Naval Academy are incredible human beings, both in intellect and character,” Carney said. “Our hope is for Eli to form lifelong relationships and experience all the incredible things the Navy will teach him, on land and sea. It is an honor to have been selected and to serve.”
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SUNSET AT LEONABELLE Turnbull Birding Center in Port Aransas, Texas. (Courtesy Port Aransas Tourism Bureau/TNS)
CITY BY THE SEA SPEND A DAY IN PORT ARANSAS
STORY BY MADISON O’HARA SPECIAL TO ETX VIEW
People migrate from all over the state to the Gulf Coast to enjoy a day at the beach. Otherwise known as the Fishing Capital of Texas, Port Aransas has plenty to offer besides a day at the beach. While the beach is a highlight of the town, there are a multitude of shops, restaurants and fun activities for travelers and families alike to enjoy.
Coffee
Start your day off in Port Aransas at Barefoot Beans located at 345 N. Alister Suite E1 in The Shops at Old Town. Barefoot Coffee is a local coffee shop that specializes in fair trade coffee and tea from Ethiopia, Guatemala and Costa Rica with beans locally roasted every week.
Shopping
There are plenty of shops to choose from in Port Aransas, but if you’re looking for something different, check out ROAM on 108 E White Ave.
The boutique prides itself on offering unique gifts that aren’t just T-shirts that say “Port Aransas” on them. Inside the boutique also are pieces of art created by local artists.
But if you are looking for those classic tourist T-shirts that say “Port Aransas,” then head down to the Palace where customers can pick a shirt and have a design of their choosing printed on it. At Palace, you can also take home a hermit crab or get a henna tattoo to remember your trip with.
Third Coast Beach, located at 101 E. Avenue G, is the store for all your beach needs. The store is locally owned and was established in 2008. They sell name brands like Salt Life and OluKai. They have plenty of bathing suits in stock, as well, and any other beach necessities you might need.
Fishing
At Horace Caldwell Pier, you can pay $3 per person or $4 per pole and catch a great view of Dune Beach while fishing. The 1,240-foot-long pier
is open 24 hours a day and is lighted for night fishing. Please note that pier accepts cash only.
For an adventure further out on the water, be sure to visit Deep Sea Headquarters at 440 W. Cotter Road. They have various different excursions from five hour trips to 12 hour trips. The price of the trips include all of your bait, fishing rod and tackle. They offer a cash-only service to clean your fish after you catch it.
Lunch
Take your freshly caught and freshly cleaned catch down to Virginia's on the Bay where you can get your fish blackened, grilled or fried with two sides for $15 a person. If you don’t have your own fish to cook, try their catch of the day. This summer black drum, oysters, and flounder are in season. Other | CONT. FROM PG. 19 | CONT. ON PG. 22
HORACE CALDWELL PIER
DEEP SEA HEADQUARTERS
GUESTS, including the 4-footed variety, dine at Grumbles Seafood Co. in Port Aransas, Texas. (Courtesy Port Aransas Tourism Bureau/TNS)
popular items on the menu are blue crab and coconut shrimp. Virginia’s on the Bay is located at 815 Trout St.
Rental
Don’t want to get your car dirty? Travel in style with a six-person golf cart you can rent at Island Outfitters located at 525 Cut Off Road. The company offers an unlimited fuel package and carts with built-in bluetooth speakers. Along with golf carts, you can rent Tommy Bahama beach chairs and Yeti coolers for the day. At Island Surf Rentals you can rent paddle boards,
boogie boards, skimboards, surf boards, kayaks and beach bikes for your day trip down to the beach. Island Surf Rentals is located at 130 E. Ave. G.
Beach
The only free parking available at the beach is located at I.B. Magee Beach Park between Horace Caldwell Pier and the South Jetties located between mile markers 5258. Parking elsewhere along the beach requires a 2024 beach permit. Golf cart rentals come with beach permits on them, but if you don’t have one on your vehicle, you can purchase them at the Port Aransas Welcome Center,
CONT. ON PG. 25
THE DUNES BEACH
A FUGU FISH at u.t. austin's marine science institute
THE UNIVERSITY AT AUSTIN MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE
Family Center IGA, Port Aransas City Hall, Port A Local Co, Ace Hardware, Islander, and participating convenience stores.
Family Activities
Escape the heat with a trip to The University of Texas Marine Science Institute located at 750 Channel View Drive. The Institute is free to visit from Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m., they offer free tours of the Wetlands Education Center. The Marine Science Institute has aquariums, interactive learning activities and a boardwalk located in the wetlands for bird watching opportunities.
Another nature-filled activity is the Dolphin Adventure Tour offered by The Scarlet Lady. For an hour and a half you can catch sightings of wild dolphins, sea birds and iconic landmarks in Port Aransas. The boat departs from 440 W. Cotter Ave.
Dinner
Enjoy a relaxing evening and have dinner at Lisabellas located at 5009 Hwy 361 inside Cinnamon Shores. With craft cocktails and wines, outdoor games like cornhole, a stage for live music and fresh seafood, Lisabellas is a great place for casual fine dining. One of their featured items is Mermaid Soup which is a lobster coconut broth with curry spices and shrimp.
Dessert
Finish your day with an old fashioned dessert at Desserted Island Ice cream. The bright hot pink store is located at 100 E White Ave. and sells 16 flavors of Blue Bell ice cream, apple pie, milkshakes, floats, banana splits and their world famous warm brownie sundae.
Feel like a kid in a candy store at Winton’s Island Candy located at 601 S. Alister St. They have a little bit of everything from saltwater taffy to gummies to chocolate covered nuts. Try their walnut carmel. The recipe is over 28 years old and is their No. 1 selling desert. Please note both of these stores are cash only.
Make plans
For more things to do, places to stay, local events and more, visit www. portaransas.org to plan your trip. | CONT. FROM PG. 22
SAND SCULPTURE by Jon and Heather Woodworth at Texas SandFest 2023 in Port Aransas, Texas (Courtesy Port Aransas Tourism Bureau/TNS)
ARANSAS PASS
If you GO
WHO: Barefoot Beans
WHAT: Coffee and tea
WHEN: Mon. - Sun. 6 A.M. - 4 P.M.
WHERE: 345 N. Alister Street, 200 W Avenue G INFORMATION: https://barefootbeans.com/
WHO: ROAM
WHAT: Boutique style clothing
WHEN: Tues.-Thurs. 10 A.M. - 5 P.M., Fri.-Sat.10
A.M.- 6 P.M., Sun. 10 A.M. - 6 P.M.
WHERE: 108 E White Ave
INFORMATION: Call (361) 416-0732
WHO: Palace
WHAT: Gift shop
WHEN: Mon. - Sun. 8 A.M. - 10 P.M.
WHERE: 415 S Alister St.
INFORMATION: Call (361) 749-2444
WHO: Third Coast Beach
WHAT: Name brand beachwear
WHEN: Mon. - Fri. 9 A.M. - 7 P.M., Sat. 9 A.M. - 8
P.M., Sun. 9 A.M. - 7 P.M.
WHERE: 101 E Avenue G
INFORMATION: Call (361) 749-5500
WHO: Horace Caldwell Pier
WHAT: Fishing pier
WHEN: Pier open 24/7, pier attendants available from 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
WHERE: Port Aransas Beach Rd
ADMISSION: $3 per person & $4 per pole,65 & older & military $1 per person & $1 per pole, 12 & under free
INFORMATION: Call (361) 749-5333
WHO: Deep Sea Headquarters
WHAT: Boat fishing excursions
WHEN: Sun.- Tues. & Thurs. - Fri. 6 A.M. - 9 P.M., Wed. & Sat. 5 A.M. - 9 P.M.
WHERE: 440 W Cotter Ave
ADMISSION: Pieces vary by tour
INFORMATION: https://deepseaheadquarters.com/
WHO: Virginia’s on the Bay
WHAT: Land & Sea Restaurant
WHEN: Mon.- Sun. 11 A.M. - 10 P.M.
WHERE: 815 Trout St.
INFORMATION: https://virginiasonthebay.com/
WHO: Island Outfitters
WHAT: Golf cart and beach gear rentals
WHEN: Mon. - Sun. 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
WHERE: 525 Cut Off Road
INFORMATION: https://www.islandoutfitterstx.com/
WHO: Island Surf Rentals
WHAT: Water gear rentals
WHEN: Mon. - Sun. 9 A.M. - 6 P.M.
WHERE: 130 E Avenue G INFORMATION: https://islandsurfrentals.com/
WHO: University of Texas Marine Science Institute
WHAT: Wetland and Estuary Center
WHEN: Tue.- Sat. 10 A.M. - 4 P.M.
WHERE: 750 Channel View Dr
ADMISSION: Free
INFORMATION: https://utmsi.utexas.edu/
WHO: The Scarlet Lady
WHAT: Dolphin boat tours
WHEN: Mon. - Sun. 6 A.M. - 8:30 P.M.
WHERE: 440 W. Cotter Ave
ADMISSION: Prices vary by tour INFORMATION: scarletladydolphincruise.com/
WHO: Lisabellas
WHAT: Seafood Restaurant
WHEN: Tues. - Sat. 5:30 P.M. - 9 P.M.
WHERE: 5009 TX-361 INFORMATION: https://lisabellas.com/
WHO: Desserted Island Ice Cream
WHAT: Old fashioned desert
WHEN: Sun. - Fri. 11 A.M. - 9 P.M., Sat. 10:30 A.M. - 10 P.M.
WHERE: 100 E White Ave
INFORMATION: Call (361) 332-9300
WHO: Winton’s Island Candy
WHAT: Candy store
WHEN: Mon.- Sun. 9 A.M. - 6 P.M.
WHERE: 601 S. Alister St.
INFORMATION: https://wintonscandies.com/
‘SACRED MOUNDS’
AFTER 2019 TORNADO, CADDO MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE REOPENS HONORING RICH HISTORY
SPECIAL TO ETX VIEW
This summer, make plans to enjoy the grounds of a newly reopened Texas historical site with outdoor activities and educational exhibits galore.
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) commemorated the reopening of the visitor center at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site in May with a variety of outdoor activities including atlatl throwing, flintknapping and a friction fire demonstration. Archeologist Victor Galan led visitors on a tour of the site, examining the history and culture of the Caddo people.
County Judge for Cherokee County Chris Davis and State
| CONT. ON PG. 31
Representative Cody Harris were in attendance and spoke about the importance of restoring the cultural site.
"We have a rich, rich history along our stretch of the king's highway here, and these sacred mounds have been landmarks that guided the way for many of our early explorers," Davis said, explaining how his own ancestors also farmed the land the Caddo once did. "Having a museum like this one to display the objects of the past and protect the culture of the Caddo people was a dream of many of our area historians."
The site was nearly destroyed after a tornado hit
the area during Caddo Culture Day in April 2019. The reopening highlighted the completion of the new $2.5 million visitor center and the restoration of the site’s traditional grass house.
The 5,150 square-foot visitor center houses an exhibit dedicated to the history and culture of ancestral Caddo people who built a ceremonial center there more than 1,200 years ago. Designed by Richter Architects with input from members of the Caddo Nation, the rebuilt center features architectural elements intended to blend with the surrounding landscape, including a selfweathering steel roof to mimic the original Caddo mounds. Additionally, enhancements for tornado
preparedness have been integrated to protect the site.
The traditional grass house was meticulously rebuilt in 2022, led by the Caddo Nation and the THC. The THC, along with the Friends of Caddo Mounds, provided funds to hire five female Caddo apprentices to rebuild the house, and over 20 members of the Caddo Nation assisted with the reconstruction.
At the event, Cathy McKnight, vice chair of the Texas Historical Commission, spoke about how the Caddo settlement was part of a vast trade network.
"The mounds they constructed are among the
oldest preserved structures within all of the sites we manage, standing silent witness to the passage of time," McKnight said.
In addition to the visitor center, grass house, and ceremonial mounds, Caddo Mounds State Historic Site is fully accessible and offers three miles of scenic walking trails, including connection to El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail. There is also an educational garden on site, and a variety of ongoing programming is offered on topics such as stargazing, birdwatching, and foraging.
For more information, go to thc.texas.gov/ historic-sites/caddo-mounds.
FASHION
ABIGAIL, LEFT, and Jasmine Ritchie at GymDaze Studio.
Tumbling TO SUCCESS
Coaching youth makes Longview woman’s heart do cartwheels
STORY BY SANTANA WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL
Bright, multi-colored tumbling mats and colorful gymnastics bars. A fun neon sign and natural light pouring into the window-lined room. Friendly faces with beaming smiles welcoming all who enter and laughs coming from little ones eager to learn. That’s the kind of environment you’ll find at Gymdaze Studio in Longview.
Owner Jasmine Ritchie has worked hard to cultivate that sort of space. From starting small with private lessons at her first studio to expansion in a brand new space with coaches alongside her, Ritchie couldn’t have imagined the growth her studio would see in its first couple years of business. Officially opened in August 2022, Gymdaze has since expanded and found a new home at Suite B-1 at 501 N. Spur 64.
“The community response was far more than I could have ever imagined,” said Ritchie, 24. “I truly had no idea it would turn into something like this, and I am so grateful that it has.”
Even before Ritchie owned and operated her own studio, she found ways to exercise her coaching muscles.
“I was doing private lessons in people's homes, my garage, open yard spaces, etc.,” she said. But soon, she knew it was time to “take a leap of faith and find a space to serve these families better.”
Now, the award-winning studio “is a space where
athletes and I can really come together to determine their goals, establish a plan of action, and get to work in whatever means necessary,” Ritchie said.
Gymdaze Studio is small and quaint, which Ritchie believes is the exact kind of space where the magic happens.
“The intimacy of a small space is beautiful because athletes have the freedom to push themselves in whatever capacity that they're most comfortable with,” she said.
Ritchie graduated from LeTourneau University with a degree in marketing, with a goal to work in healthcare marketing. She did that briefly before she realized it wasn’t where she wanted to be long-term.
“I found myself eager to get back into coaching,” Ritchie said. “I missed the fulfilling feeling of connection and purpose.”
The Longview native is no stranger to this line of work. She has been doing flips and stunts of her own since she was her current students’ age. A competitive cheerleader for 10 years growing up, Ritchie went on to coach gymnastics throughout high school and college. Even after graduating, she still did private lessons from time to time “because it was truly so much fun and a | CONT. ON
THE RITCHIE FAMILY, including Jathan, Abigail, Jasmine and Ava pose for a photo at Gymdaze Studio in Longview while modeling Gymdaze merch.
AVA AND ABIGAIL RITCHIE
do some tumbling stunts at Gymdaze Studio, which is owned by their mother, Jasmine Ritchie.
need in our community that I didn't realize was so prevalent in our community,” Ritchie said.
Recognizing that need and eager to live out her passion on a more regular basis, Ritchie launched her own studio. She still gets to put on her marketing hat, though. Ritchie is the marketing director at Longview World of Wonders (WOW!), a children’s museum that allows children to imagine, create and explore in a hands-on learning environment.
Ritchie loves her role at the museum, where she handles social media and website management, community engagement, event planning, and much more. She is grateful for both jobs, and sometimes she even gets to combine her two passions under one roof, such as when she recently hosted a “Move Your Body” class at Longview WOW!
And as for what makes her heart do cartwheels? Ritchie said ‘there is nothing better than getting to witness (my athletes) nailing a skill that they have been working towards. The facial expressions, high-fives and shouts and hollers truly fill my heart more than they will ever know.”
She enjoys seeing her athletes push themselves a little harder than they think they can to reach those desired goals. And she pushes herself, too – but it is so worth it, she says.
“I leave work every day tired and exhausted, but so fulfilled and humbled that I have created a career out of something I truly love,” Ritchie said.
| CONT. FROM PG. 37
Every athlete is “so wildly different,” Ritchie says, and tailoring lessons to each individual is something Gymdaze prides itself on.
“It takes time to connect with them, to learn them, and know how to push them in the ways that they need it,” Ritchie said.
Gymnastics can be beneficial no matter what a child decides to do long term, Ritchie notes.
“It strengthens your physical and mental muscles more than you know,” she said. “It's a great way to learn how to challenge and push yourself in different capacities. Physically, you're working on strength, flexibility, and endurance which are all useful in whatever route you choose to go.”
Ritchie and her fellow coaches at Gymdaze work to inspire and empower the little learners so they grow up to be empowered adults.
“It is truly the greatest privilege to have the opportunity to coach the kids in our community,” Ritchie said. “I always say that they teach me more than I could ever teach them.”
Being a small business owner has been an adventure for Ritchie.
“Owning a business is so much more than coaching gymnastics,” she said with a laugh. “It is fully a learning process that a business degree could never teach you. Let's just say I've learned a lot and will continue to do so.”
Operating a small business certainly has its perks, including connecting with her clients – and their families.
“The families that I coach for have become like my own family, and building relationships with them is something so special to me,” Ritchie said. “It is so fulfilling. I truly believe that it is my purpose to serve the youth in this way.”
Ritchie has been professionally recognized multiple times, including as the ETX View 40 Under Forty Childhood Learning & Activities winner in 2023, plus as the Longview News-Journal’s Best of East Texas studio winner two years in a row.
Between running a business, actively coaching at her studio, working at her marketing gig and being a wife and mother of two, Ritchie is a busy bee. How does she juggle it all?
“I have no idea!" she says. But her trusty planners are always nearby.
JASMINE RITCHIE, owner of Gymdaze and mom of two, helps her daughter Ava with a tumbling stunt.
“If you know me, you know that I have my paper planner, phone calendar and wall calendar in my home, and I will walk around with my paper planner until the day I die!” she said. “No matter how many times I have to transfer it to my computer, I will always always stay true to my paper planner.”
Plus, Ritchie finds balance in her network of supporters, who help her manage her responsibilities while maintaining her sanity.
“I am so grateful for my incredible family and the amount of help I have. Whether it is my husband fixing just about anything in the studio, my mom popping in to drop a coffee off on a long day, or my grandparents stopping by to water the plants because Lord knows they
needed it, it is truly a ‘family’ business, and I could not do it without the constant love and support from them,” Ritchie said.
Nothing makes her happier than spending time with her family. Jasmine is married to her husband Jathan, and together they have two children Ava, 8, and Abigail, 5.
For more information about Gymdaze, visit the studio on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gymdazestudio, or contact Ritchie by phone at (903) 576-7696 or by email at jasasmith2@gmail.com. Also check out Longview WOW! which is located at 112 E. Tyler St. The museum is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/longviewwow and has a website at longviewwow.org. It can be contacted at (903) 212-4969 or by email at info@longviewwow.org.
JASMINE RITCHIE models jewelry from Jim Bartlett Fine Jewelry, including diamonds from the Hearts on Fire line.
THANK YOU!
In each issue of ETX View, we are thankful for a number of supporters who help bring these pages to life. For our July/August 2024 fashion shoot, we spent the morning at Gymdaze Studio in Longview, owned by Jasmine Ritchie – ETX View’s 40 Under Forty winner for 2023 in the Childhood Learning & Activities category.
For each of our 2024 issues, we have connected with 40 Under Forty winners in relevant categories to help bring our fashion visions to life. It has been so much fun recognizing these special folks while getting to photograph them in their element. For our Family & Education issue, we met Jasmine and her family at Gymdaze for a family shoot.
Jasmine, 24, and her husband Jathan, 33, posed for photos alongside their kiddos, Ava, 8, and Abigail, 5. Ava and Abigail had a ball playing in the studio and spending time tumbling with their mom.
Jasmine modeled jewelry from our wonderful friends at Jim Bartlett Fine Jewelry in Longview. The “Hearts On Fire” collection is especially gorgeous! The process for these diamonds is so rigorous that it takes longer to cut a “Hearts On Fire” diamond than it would take to cut a generic diamond. It is polished at 100X magnification for a precise and consistent cut that allows the diamonds to sparkle to their fullest potential with maximum light return –as evidenced in the photographs that turned out so beautiful.
We are so grateful for Jim and his team. They are longtime supporters of ETX View and all of our initiatives, and we really appreciate their partnership.
The Ritchie family also did an outfit change to show off some Gymdaze merch. They have awesome inventory that you can check out as long as it is in stock.
Thank you again to Jasmine and her family for opening up the studio for us and playing “model” for the day. This family rocked their way all the way to being our cover stars for the 2024 Family & Education issue.
Of course, we have to thank our amazing team members who help coordinate the fashion shoot for each issue. From our savvy advertising team to our amazing photographer and designer, their diligent efforts and creative minds make these sections look incredible every single time.
If you would like to support ETX View’s fashion or other sections, please contact sales manager Tracy Stopani at tstopani@mrobertsmedia.com or call 903237-7726
Let’s GEAR UP for GAME DAY! School is almost back in session & we are getting ready. Dawn your team colors & gift your favorite educator something special!
Show up with that school spirit!
OLD PHOTOGRAPHS and memorabilia hang on the walls Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Cace's Kitchen.
75 YEARS IN THE KITCHEN
CacefamilyofLongview celebrates business milestone
STORY BY JO LEE FERGUSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL
The women who have carried the legacy of restaurateur Johnny Cace forward this year celebrated a new milestone for their Longview family business.
March 10, 2024 marked 75 years since members of the Cace family began cooking their signature Creole food in Longview in 1949.
“As Johnny always said: ‘Never rest on your laurels!’ “ Cathy and Chelsea Cace said in an email. Cathy is Johnny Cace’s daughter-in-law. She and her daughter, Chelsea, own Cace’s Kitchen in downtown.
The mother-daughter duo’s work is evidence they have taken his mantra to heart.
The Cace legacy started downtown, on Green Street, where Cathy and Chelsea returned with their Cace’s Kitchen in 2022. Their sit-down restaurant at 104
N. Green St. is in the same location of Johnny Cace’s original restaurant.
That first restaurant had 37 seats but expanded over the years. Later, in 1964, the restaurant relocated to East Marshall Avenue where the family eventually was able to accommodate 400 diners. Gerard Cace, Johnny Cace’s son, and wife Cathy eventually took over the restaurant’s operation.
When Gerard Cace died in 2012, Cathy and Chelsea, and the Caces’ other daughter, Jenni, ran the restaurant until they closed it in 2015.
But that wasn’t the end.
First, Cathy and Chelsea began making and selling the restaurant’s signature croutons and cheese before expanding into a to-go restaurant featuring other favorite recipes from the restaurant. They expanded
again in 2022 when they moved to the renovated original location on Green Street, which is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.
They provide sit-down service as well as online ordering and curbside service. A partnership with online marketplace Goldbelly has allowed them to ship all over the country.
The Caces have introduced some new menu items, but they still continue to serve some of the original menu made with the original recipes: Shrimp Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffee, Remoulade Sauce, the breading on fried shrimp and stuffed fried shrimp, Cocktail Sauce, Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Avocado Salad, Chicken St. Charles, Chicken and Dumplins’, traditional New Orleans Bread Pudding with rum sauce, White Chocolate Bread Pudding and Fudgey Brownies.
Those items remain popular because they’re so good, Cathy said.
“We make our recipes from scratch in our kitchen using the same Creole recipes that Johnny and Valerie Cace brought to Longview from Louisiana 75 years ago,” she said. “They have stood the test of time, and our customers are continually asking for these food items from us. There is a lot of TLC that goes into our cooking.”
The good food continues to bring them new customers, Chelsea said. “But, there are also such fond memories associated with our food for many of our customers. Many of them really remember the love they’ve shared over a meal at Cace’s with family and friends in the past.”
They said their next focus will be expanding wholesale operations at the store, and they are working on a second, expanded edition of their cookbook. They said they’d love for anyone with photos to share to possibly be included in the book to contact the restaurant by email at johnnycacesmemories@gmail.com or by phone at (903) 212-7720.
“We sincerely appreciate all of those who have supported us over the years through business connections — our years and years of loyal customers and fabulous staffs,” the women said. “We would not be able to be here today if it was not for all of these wonderful people.
CATHY, left, and Chelsea Cace at Cace's Kitchen.
CHELSEA CACE visits with customers while clearing tables.
CATHY CACE visits with customers at Cace's Kitchen.
BREAKING BARRIERS BREAKING BARRIERS
Tyler resident Andrea Valdez’s
journey to higher education leads to founding local nonprofit to help others like her
STORY BY RAQUEL VILLATORO PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL
When she was a senior at Tyler Legacy High School, Andrea Valdez watched her classmates excitedly talk about their college plans. But for Valdez, college seemed out of reach.
Valdez, 20, who is undocumented and a firstgeneration college student, encountered many rejections as she navigated applying to college. Through mentors, she found a way. Now, she has completed her first year at University of Texas at Tyler. She dreams of becoming an immigration lawyer.
APPLYING TO COLLEGE
Valdez was not sure she could attend college as an undocumented person. The statistics are staggering for students like Valdez, as the College Board estimates only 5 to 10 percent of undocumented students actually attend college. According to the Migration Policy Institute, only 25 percent of undocumented citizens 25 years or older have received a high school diploma or equivalent degree.Those youth frequently encounter challenges when applying for college or employment. Although federal law does not prohibit undocumented students from attending colleges or universities, most states require them to pay out-ofstate tuition and these students aren’t eligible for most federal loans, financial aid, and scholarships.
At the time she was thinking about higher
education, Valdez said her dad had been hospitalized. Without her parents' help, she would not be able to afford Tyler Junior College. The odds were stacked against her.
After sharing her worries with her dual-credit science teacher, he asked a dean at TJC about Valdez. “She can't come to the school, we don't let undocumented students [in],” the dean told her dualcredit teacher. After that, Valdez reached out to her fifth-grade teacher Margarita Duran, who attended TJC as an undocumented student. Duran confirmed this was not true.
Next, Duran connected Valdez with someone at TJC who led her to the TJC Promise Director, Matthew Ramirez. It was Ramirez who helped Valdez come up with a plan, fill out the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) and apply to TJC.
“She takes advantage of every opportunity given to her and current opportunities that aren't given to her to really maximize the college experience, and she's done a great job of that,” Ramirez said.
When she was able to start attending classes, she immediately got involved on campus, including with the Student Senate, Apache Chiefs, as an orientation leader and in multiple committees. Getting involved in multiple areas was important to Valdez to help her feel
| CONT. ON PG. 52
ANDREA VALDEZ holds a photo of herself and her brother Jose. Andrea's path to education has inspired Jose to pursue an ambitious education path of his own.
secure at the school.
“I was like, I need to do everything I can cause you never know, someone might take this away from me,” Valdez said. Her heavy involvement led to an invitation to a banquet for scholarship recipients, where she met her mentor – former City of Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. Later on, Bass asked to meet with her.
Valdez shared her story, which inspired Bass, a first-generation college student herself. Bass admired the young girls’ tenacity and desire to further her education. She connected Valdez with Tyler trial attorney Shannon Dacus, which helped Valdez learn more about the law field and get connected with immigration lawyer Ginger Young and with Valdez to talk about her case. After learning her options were limited, Valdez cried.
DREAMING BIGGER
Valdez initially applied to UT Tyler in high school, but she would’ve had to pay out-of-state tuition.
“It was hard,” Valdez said, reflecting on hearing that news. “I can't tell you how much I cried whenever I was told no, like at TJC and then here [at UT Tyler], and then I'm gonna pay so much money, $10,000 a semester – I can't afford that.”
After her time at TJC, she wanted to transfer to UT Tyler, so in spring 2023, she met with Ramirez to help her facilitate the process. She was worried about the cost and being able to attend. She also approached TJC President Juan Mejia, who is from Monterrey, Mexico like Valdez, and asked for help. He and Bass spoke to then UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun.
Fortunately, Valdez received an opportunity that would allow her to continue pursuing her dreams and attend a university. She received a scholarship from UT Tyler and started classes in the fall of 2023. She studies political science and has fantastic professors.
The dedicated student immediately got involved and decided to run to represent the junior class as a senator in the
UT Tyler Student Government Association.
“I was so nervous because what if they don't vote for me?” Valdez said. “This is a bigger school, what if they don’t like me?”
But she utilized the things she’d learned about networking and communication to make it happen. A friend knew someone who could put her flyer on TV and other people shared it on social media. Experiences at Tyler Legacy helped Valdez know how to talk to people and navigate a big school. And being an orientation leader at TJC helped her learn how to treat people and interact with adults. To her surprise, she won and became junior senator.
Now in her third year, Valdez’s involvement extends to several leadership roles, including serving as freshman vice president in the TJC Student Senate, founding the TJC International Relations Club, and participating in Model United Nations, which allowed her to travel to New York. Although she was nervous about flying due to her status, Model UN advisor Melissa Salgado and her mentors, Bass and Dacus, encouraged her. While touring Columbia University with an undocumented friend who attends the school, she realized her dreams are even bigger and she wants to go there.
“I belong here,” Valdez said. “There is something for me. Hopefully, if everything works out I'll end up in Columbia or somewhere in New York.”
MAKING AN IMPACT
To help other students like her, Valdez founded the East Texas Monarchs, a nonprofit dedicated to providing accessible resources and education to undocumented youth across East Texas. Although she has not met many undocumented students at UT Tyler, she knows there is talent in East Texas.
“I think a lot of us don't like to talk about our status and it's because we're all scared that we're going to be judged,” Valdez said.
Mentors and community members have been supportive of Valdez’s efforts to start the | CONT. ON PG. 54
ANDREA VALDEZ speaks during an interview at the UT Tyler University Center.
organization. She still worries people will talk negatively about her organization, but she is hopeful.
“I've been praying so much about this because I know this: being undocumented and going to higher education is an issue,” Valdez said. “We have so much to deal with. Not only is it just going through college like that, that's one thing itself but also being undocumented having to do other things and work harder than everyone else can be a lot. So having a community is also beneficial.”
Valdez’s journey has positively influenced her 16-year-old brother, José Valdez. He previously considered trade schools but now plans to attend a university to pursue engineering.
“Witnessing the transformative power of education within my own family, especially with my younger brother, reinforces my commitment to (supporting students who find themselves in similar circumstances in high school),” Valdez said. “(José’s) outlook on higher education changed drastically upon seeing my achievements ... His journey is a poignant reminder of the impact we can have on others by sharing our
experiences and resources.”
José is smart and ambitious like his sister. He’s in the top 10% of his class and is also on the track team. He even helped his sis with her college statistics class.
Valdez’s mother Claudia Torres is happy to see her daughter helping students like her. Growing up, Torres always emphasized the importance of education.
“When they say you try to give your kids what you didn’t have, we tried to give them the best tools they could have,” Torres said. “Not the most expensive but so they would be filled with information from all sides. I always said, ‘wherever you go, learn.’”
REFLECTING
As a fifth grader, Valdez just knew she was going to college. If she could speak to her fifth grade self, she would reassure her.
“Yeah, you're gonna go to college,” Valdez says. “You're right.”
Duran was a first-year teacher when she had Valdez in her class at Bonner Elementary School. She shared her story of being undocumented. Valdez has always admired Duran because she has always been there for
her.
“I hope that maybe one day, I'll be someone's Ms. Duran,” Valdez said.
Duran is proud of Valdez’s efforts to help undocumented students.
“To see my student go farther than I did is very rewarding,” Duran said. “It makes me think that the little things that we do can turn into big things. The little things that I did for Andrea are turning into bigger things that she’s doing for other people.”
Valdez advises students in her shoes to not let rejection stop them.
“I’ve been told no so many times and look at where I am,” Valdez said. “There's always another way, even if you don't think there is, there is always another way.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Valdez and her organization are dedicated to helping students in situations like hers. To find out about upcoming events and get connected with Valdez, search East Texas Monarchs on Facebook, or visit the page directly at https://tinyurl.com/ easttexasmonarchs.
SEASON’S GREETINGS
Back again in full force for the season, local residents flock to area farmers markets
STORY BY SAMUEL SHAW AND JENNIFER SCOTT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL AND JENNIFER SCOTT
There’s a social scene every Saturday morning in Longview at a parking lot off Cotton Street, and it’s been going strong and growing steadily for almost 14 years.
So, what’s drawing people out of bed to a patch of asphalt behind Silver Grizzly Espresso? The Historic Longview Farmers Market, a semi-circle of carefully vetted farm stands hocking fresh produce, small-batch coffee roasters with an inside track to the best Guatemalan beans, ethically raised meats, artisanal baked goods, local crafts and live music.
It’s a scene seen in communities throughout East Texas during the market season, which is similar for most but varies by market.
‘THEY’VE MISSED US’
Beginning with the spring produce harvest around April and ending in late November with the first signs of winter, anywhere from 20 to 30 stalls are set up in downtown Longview each Saturday morning.
“The community has just completely embraced the market,” said Lynette Goodson, the market’s founder.
“When we open, people are so happy,” Goodson said. “They say they’ve missed us during the winter, and there’s a lot of gratitude — not only to us for running it, but to the vendors, because people appreciate the produce grown ethically. They appreciate
FRESH PRODUCE on display at the Historic Longview Farmers Market.
| CONT. FROM PG. 56
the people who make the cookies and the pound cakes and the cinnamon rolls. They appreciate all the effort that goes in.”
Goodson, along with the market’s board members, personally inspects all vendors’ operations to ensure visitors get the best produce and products available in East Texas, she said.
“It’s a whole morning event,” Goodson said, and shoppers don’t have to limit themselves to fruits and veggies if they arrive hungry. The market comes stocked with other vendors selling prepared food, ranging from Mediterranean to Indian and vegetarian options depending on the day.
“I was looking forward to the market all winter,” said Emily McCarty, a Longview resident. “I love getting flowers from Tracy’s Field and Flowers booth and then end my morning with a pastry from Sola Bread and coffee from Silver Grizzly.”
GROWTH
Goodson started the Longview market in 2010 after moving from Southern California to Longview in 2004.
“We probably had like seven vendors then,” she
said. “Now, we’re maxed out on space.”
Over at the Rose City Farmers Market held outside ETX Brewing Co. in downtown Tyler, vendors oftentimes sell out during the market’s early morning hours. The Rose City market has over a dozen vendors each week, providing locally grown fruits and vegetables, handmade jewelry and baked goods.
BETTER FOR YOU, BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
At all of the local markets, you can purchase local produce which provides an array of benefits. The food is fresher since it comes right from a nearby farm then to your kitchen, plus it’s healthier, as local farmers are more likely to use organic farming techniques and avoid pesticides and preservatives. It’s also better for the environment and supports the community.
“Our mission is to give the community better access to fresh, locally grown food,” Becca Wilderness, marketing director for Rose City Farmers Market, said in a previous interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph.
TERRY WRIGHT with Bee Wright Honey talks to a customer at the Historic Longview Farmers Market.
FRESH PRODUCE on display at the Historic Longview Farmers Market.
FRESH PEACHES from Winona Orchards for sale at the Historic Longview Farmers Market.
CUSTOMERS SHOP for fresh produce at the Historic Longview Farmers Market.
KELLI RAND and Lowell Tanksley with Tanksley Farms wait on customers at the Historic Longview Farmers Market.
A project of the Farm and Food Coalition, all vendors for the Rose City market must come from within 75 miles of Tyler and produce the products they sell.
“The vendors really appreciate the value of the community and the integrity that goes into inspecting every farmer before selling,”
Wilderness said.
Open from April to November, the market aims to promote eating and buying local food as a means to maintain the health of the environment, the community and the economy.
“The market provides a place for smaller farmers and businesses to connect to local consumers to grow their businesses,” she said. “There is no reselling at our market.”
Through an advisory committee, Rose City Farmers Market sifts through applications and then inspects to make sure the potential vendors are selling what they’re selling.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
When times got tough for Goodson in 2022 following an injury that disabled her for three months, she said the market provided more than food; it became a source of support.
“The people in Longview are some of the nicest I’ve met anywhere,” said Goodson, who used to travel internationally for her job in marketing. “When I was able to go back to the farmers market after the injury, people hugged me, and they told me they’d been praying for me. What a lovely, lovely community.”
Hillary Coppock, owner of Delightful Food Company, has spent time as a vendor at the Rose City Farmers Market.
“This is such a great place for people to come and shop locally,” Coppock said in a 2023 interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph. “We see a lot of our regulars, and I love how supportive the East Texas community is.”
Rose City Farmers Market moved to downtown in 2018 after spending several years in South
FRESH PRODUCE on display at the Historic Longview Farmers Market.
| CONT. FROM PG. 61
Tyler, and the support has only escalated since then.
“The community here is supportive, especially with each other,” Wilderness said. “They’re really happy to have like minded people.”
It’s nice to be surrounded by people who share similar passions and learn from one another, Crystal Branch, owner of Growing Branches Farm, said in an earlier interview with ETX View’s sister newspaper Tyler Morning Telegraph.
“A lot of people don’t know where their food comes from or the work that goes into growing it, and everyone here gets it,” Branch said.
Branch recently began specializing in microgreens that she grows in her home. Microgreens have become popular, especially with chefs, because they can add a lot to a dish, she said.
“Microgreens generally have about 40% more nutrients, vitamins and minerals than the full-grown plant,” Branch said. “They’re small, but they have a lot more flavor.”
RUTH JONES with Sunshine Specialty Jellies talks to customers about her products at the Historic Longview Farmers Market.
Educator Natasha Raibon’s mantra for students:
‘I’m an aRtist ’
Natasha Raibon won a coloring contest at the age of 3 and hasn’t looked back since.
Almost 40 years later, the Longview native and artist is never far from a paint brush, a block of clay or the countless East Texas pupils who discovered their creative side in one of her art classes.
“Making things look pretty was always a passion of mine,” Raibon said, “and it still is.”
That’s not the whole story, though. For Raibon, there’s no separating the art from the art teacher.
She’s taught art at public schools in Bland, Pittsburg, Tyler, and most recently in Longview at Pine Tree ISD and Foster Middle School, where she just finished a three-year stint before her next stop at North Forney High School.
“That’s really where art is for me. I love to see those little light bulbs go off in people,” Raibon said.
When she was an undergraduate student at Texas A&M University-Commerce searching for a life path, her mom connected the dots.
“My mom asked me, ‘well, what could you do every day when you wake up and it would not feel like a job to you?’ That’s pretty much where this all started,” Raibon said. “I knew I wanted to always be in the arts and to share that passion with kids.”
FULL CIRCLE
Raibon’s family moved from the rural East Texas town of Daingerfield to Longview when she was 7 years old.
Raibon was enrolled at Pine Tree ISD where
NATASHA RAIBON-SHEPPARD teaches children about different ceramics techniques during a summer art class at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts’ ArtWorks Creative Learning Center.
STORY BY SAMUEL SHAW PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL
NATASHA RAIBON poses for a photo with some of her work at her home in Longview.
the facilities and curriculum were more up to date compared to Daingerfield, but some of what she experienced as a young student informed the approach she would bring to her classes when Raibon returned to the district as a teacher decades later.
“When I was at Pine Tree, I only had an art class when I started middle school,” Raibon said. “You also weren’t allowed to talk… like at all.”
“Once I became an art teacher, I definitely wanted to have my class be more of an open forum where the kids are comfortable sharing themselves, especially in this post-COVID time where social skills are needed more than ever,” Rainbon said.
There was a second ingredient missing from her classroom experience that left an impression.
“I don’t know if I had any in-person museum experience back then,” Raibon said. “In fact, growing up here, I didn’t know we even had an art museum in Longview.”
her photo recently from the Tate Museum in London where she’s studying abroad.
“I passed that love on to my kids by exposing them to differing cultures through art,” Raibon said.
A TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY
Self-esteem generates creativity, but a lack of self esteem can stunt even the most promising creative minds.
“So I usually start off class with a mantra of sorts. It will be an ‘I can’, or an ‘I am’ this or that,” Raibon explained. “One of those mantras is ‘I am an artist.’”
“They don’t necessarily believe it, but it’s one of the things I keep expounding, that anytime you’re creating anything, even just how you put on your clothes, that’s artistry,” Raibon said.
She remembered a seventh grade pupil from a class this year who started out approaching a drawing with light colors and faint lines. “I kept pushing on her to color darker and a little more vibrant each time,” Raibon said. “By our end of the year art show, her favorite piece was a beautiful calico cat, but not in the original colors. It was blues and purples and pinks.”
“You could see the pride in her face and that made | CONT. ON PG. 68 | CONT. FROM PG. 64
That’s why Raibon strives to tell all of her students about the burgeoning art scene in Longview and opportunities at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts. Her children have benefitted from the same emphasis on arts immersion, too. One of her two daughters sent
me proud to be her teacher,” Raibon said.
Raibon also teaches adult summer clay classes at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts where the students, to her relief, already come prepared with an “I can” attitude, Raibon laughed.
STILL GROWING
Raibon’s family is tight knit and the decision to leave Longview, her crop of middle schoolers and move to Forney for the next academic year wasn’t an easy one.
“It’s hard for my dad to think about us moving even an hour and a half down the road,” Raibon said.
Longview more than any other place has come to feel like home for Raibon. She was on the board of the Longview Museum of Fine Arts until recently and still works with Arts!Longview, the nonprofit dedicated to the same mission she is: seeing arts and culture flourish in the community.
But it was the right step for an artist — and a teacher — always hungry to grow. “Next year I’ll be teaching painting to high schoolers which is something I’m super excited about,” Raibon said. “I’ve always wanted to teach that age group and God finally called me to that level.”
| CONT. FROM PG. 67
Introducing ETX View Elite, sponsored content within ETX View Magazine that highlights the best local businesses in our community. Discover the extraordinary entrepreneurs and unique offerings that make our region special. From cozy boutiques to innovative startups to established local favorites, ETX View Elite is your guide to supporting and exploring the local economy. Join us in celebrating the businesses that make our community thrive with exclusive offers and insider tips. Connect with ETX View Elite for a delightful exploration of our remarkable local businesses and services. If you are interested in being part of ETX View Elite, contact Sales Manager Tracy Stopani at 903-237-7726.
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Serving beautiful East Texas
THE GREATER TYLER ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
The Greater Tyler Association of REALTORS® is a local organization that provides services to professional real estate agents and affiliates of all types. We are dedicated to serving our community and take great satisfaction in consistently remaining engaged. Coleman Fitzgerald, our Chair Elect, said, “Community and real estate go hand in hand. The more we can do to help our community, the more we all benefit.”
CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER:
GTAR’s Community Service Committee has teamed up with Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County to collect stuffed animals and blankets. This is something we do year round. Every child who goes into the center for a forensic interview leaves with a stuffed animal. Such items often serve as familiar, comforting symbols that help children feel safe and secure during challenging times. We have the privilege of accepting donations at our office and delivering them to their facility.
FEEDING FAMILIES IN EAST TEXAS:
GTAR also helps fight hunger in east Texas. We have partnered with The Whitehouse Food Bank, Philadelphia Blessing. Just recently, with the help of our members, we organized a food drive that resulted in the collection of more than 3,000 food items. Within this last year to date, Philadelphia Blessing fed 505 Families. 513 of those were children (ages 0-17), 846 adults (1859), and 311 seniors (60+). That is 1,670 individuals served. GTAR is grateful for the opportunity to assist local families in need.
BACKPACKS:
Another annual event we participate in is collecting school supplies and backpacks. We have partnered with CASA for kids of East Texas and our members to collect supplies and backpacks for children in their system. By working together, we make a difference in our community.
EMPOWERING THE FUTURE
PINE TREE ISD CAREER AND
TECHNIC AL EDUCATION
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JULY/AUGUST CALENDAR events
ATHENS
LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL JR
JULY 11 - JULY 14 AND JULY 18- JULY 20
Henderson County Performing Arts Center 400 Gibson Rd https://www.hcpac.org/
BULLARD
JENNIFER MARTIN
6 PM - 8:30 PM JULY 20
Moody Family Winery 201 West Main Street https://jmsings.com/home
CANTON
LEWIS AUTO SWAP MEET
AUG. 7 - AUG. 11
First Monday Grounds
800 First Monday Lane https://www.visitcantontx.com/
VAN ZANDT COUNTY 4H KICKOFF
5:30 PM AUG. 19
Van Zandt County Farm Bureau 220 Burnett Trail https://shorturl.at/nXYBd
CARTHAGE
STELLAR LAND OF THE FREE FIESTA
JULY 13
Stellar Canine
1341 State Hwy 315 Carthage https://northamericadivingdogs. com/
TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME FESTIVAL
AUG 9 - AUG 11
Texas Country Music Hall of Fame 310 W Panola St https://www.tcmhof.com/
to Remember Car Show
DAINGERFIELD
DUTCH OVEN COOKING
9 AM JULY 6 AND 9 AM AUG 3
Daingerfield State Park 455 Park Road 17 https://shorturl.at/Y5g9M
GILMER
ROUGHSTOCK JEEPERS 2ND QUARTER MEET AND GREET
9 AM - 4:40 PM JULY 13
Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area 6284 State Highway 155 https://www.roughstockjeepers. com/
DARRIN MORRIS BAND
6:30 PM JULY 19
Rowdy Creek Ranch 4048 TX-300
https://darrinmorris.band/tour
LUKE LAPRADE
8 PM JULY 19
Davidson’s 1121 US Hwy 271 S https://shorturl.at/L3arI
SHEILA AND THE CADDO KATS
6:30 PM JULY 20
Rowdy Creek Ranch 4048 TX-300
https://shorturl.at/BCjfu
THE CASH AND CLINE SHOW
7 PM JULY 20
Gilmer Civic Center 1218 US-271 N
https://cashclineshow.com/
GLADEWATER
SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL
2 PM AUG. 3
Gladewater Former Students' Building 2509 Hendricks St https://gladewaterformerstudents. com/
Drive
TEXAS NORTH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
AUG 9 - AUG 11
Tempest Golf Club 568 Wilkins Rd
https://www.amateurgolf.com/
HAWKINS
DEF LEGGEND
9 PM JULY 13
Red Rooster Icehouse 1470 N Beaulah St https://shorturl.at/NUkHp
CHACE RAINS
5 PM JULY 27
The Hangout at Lake Hawkins Restaurant and Pub 855 Co Rd 3440 https://shorturl.at/Fm5ws
HENDERSON
4TH OF JULY FREEDOM FESTIVAL
11 AM - 9 PM JULY 6
Lake Forest Park 1005 State Hwy 64 http://www.visithendersontx.com/
SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL
JULY 12-14 AND JULY 19-21
Henderson Civic Theatre 122 E Main https://hendersoncivictheatre.org/
HALLSVILLE
EAST TEXAS FORAGE CONFERENCE
8:15 AM AUG. 16
Gold Hall Community Center 101 East Elm Street https://harrison.agrilife.org/
JACKSONVILLE
BOOK LOVERS UNITE JULY 8 AND AUG 5
Jacksonville Public Library 502 S Jackson St https://tinyurl.com/mefrvk3y
COFFEE WITH A COP
8 AM JULY 9 AND AUG 30
East Side Baptist Church? 1100 E Loop 456 https://tinyurl.com/3dnxvzsv
GYPSUM AND THE TRAVELERS
6 PM - 9 PM JULY 12
Commerce Street Drafthouse 401 E Commerce St https://tinyurl.com/2kdr6huz
JEFFERSON
12TH ANNUAL CIVIL WAR SYMPOSIUM
8 AM - 5 PM AUG 3
Jefferson Convention & Visitor Center
305 E Austin St
https://visitjeffersontexas.com/
3RD ANNUAL TEXAS UFOCON AUG 17
Jefferson Convention & Visitor Center
305 E Austin St https://visitjeffersontexas.com/
KILGORE
SOUTHERN WINGED NATIONALS
7 PM JULY 5
LoneStar Speedway 3131 FM 1252 E https://tinyurl.com/bfwn7nzf
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
JULY 5, 7, 12, 14, 18, 20, 25 AND JULY 27
Anne Dean Turk Performing Arts Center
1200 S Henderson Blvd https://www.texasshakespeare. com/
JULIUS CAESAR
JULY 5, 7, 11, 13, 18, 20, 26, 28
Anne Dean Turk Performing Arts Center
1200 S Henderson Blvd https://www.texasshakespeare. com/
SWEENEY TODD
JULY 6, 11, 13, 19, 21, 26, 28
Anne Dean Turk Performing Arts Center
1200 S Henderson Blvd https://www.texasshakespeare. com/
CHINESE THEATRE NIGHT
7:30 PM JULY 9
Anne Dean Turk Performing Arts Center
1200 S Henderson Blvd
https://www.texasshakespeare. com/
JANE EYRE STAGE READING
2 PM - 4 PM JULY 17 AND 7:309:30 PM JULY 17
Texan Theater
201 S Kilgore St https://www.texasshakespeare.com/
TINKER BELL
JULY 17 - JULY 20 AND JULY 2527
Texas Shakespeare Festival 1200 S Henderson Blvd https://www.texasshakespeare.com/
TALENT SHOWCASE
2 PM AND 7:30 PM JULY 24
Texan Theater
201 S Kilgore St https://www.texasshakespeare.com/
KATE WATSON
8 PM - 11 PM JULY 27
The Back Porch Kilgore 904 Broadway Blvd https://tinyurl.com/2t5hvbh3
LINDALE
WILDLIFE ON THE MOVE: BOAS VS PYTHONS
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM JULY 17
Lillie Russell Memorial Library 200 E Hubbard St https://tinyurl.com/nvff6xkr
THE SHOW
7 AM AUG. 10
Texas Music City Grill & Smokehouse-Lindale 114 E North St https://tinyurl.com/yc6b46er
BYRON HAYNIE
8 PM - 10:30 PM JULY 13 AND AUG 30
Texas Music City Grill & Smokehouse- Lindale 114 E North St
https://tinyurl.com/ytnz3sy3
LONGVIEW
LAUGH OUT LONGVIEW IMPROV FESTIVAL
JULY 5 - JULY 6
Longview Community Center 500 E Whaley St https://theatrelongview.com/ | CONT. ON
Longview Kennel Club AKC Show
| CONT. FROM PG. 77
SELF-DEFENSE WITH A STICK
6:30 PM JULY 2 AND AUG. 6
Self Defense & Wellness Center
931 N Fredonia St https://tinyurl.com/yc55shha
FAMILY NIGHT MARKET
4 PM JULY 13
The Platform 813 E Methvin https://tinyurl.com/bded4w3f
EAST TEXAS PSYCHIC FAIR
11 AM - 6 PM
Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd https://tinyurl.com/5ejex7cp
LONGVIEW TRAIL RUNS
7 AM JULY 20
Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd https://tinyurl.com/3bee5n5r
ALL THAT JAZZ
7 PM - 10 PM JULY 20 812 E Methvin Street https://tinyurl.com/bdhaawfa
DRIVE TO REMEMBER CAR SHOW
10 AM - 3 PM JULY 20
Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd www.facebook.com/ drivetoremember/
SUMMER ART CLASSES
JULY 22 - JULY 25
Longview Museum of Fine Arts 215 E Tyler St https://tinyurl.com/2p8e545x
LONGVIEW KENNEL CLUB AKC SHOW
JULY 26 - JULY 28
Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd https://www.longviewtexas.gov/
SOAR ABOVE THE REST: LUNCH WITH A PILOT 11 AM - 2 PM AUG. 3
Gregg County Historical Museum 214 N Fredonia St http://gregghistorical.org/
PIRATE 1M, 5K, 10K, 15K AND HALF MARATHON
8 AM AUG. 3
Paul Boorman Trail Park 919 W Marshall Ave https://tinyurl.com/22jzkrun
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS AUG. 2-4 AND AUG. 9-11
Longview Community Center 500 E Whaley St https://theatrelongview.com/
KIDZ BIZNIZ “BACK TO SCHOOL” EXPO
10 AM AUG. 10
Maude Cobb Convention Center 100 Grand Blvd https://tinyurl.com/2a5pfbr7
DELTA WATERFOWL 2024 BANQUET
5:30 PM - 10 PM AUG 17
Maude Cobb Convention Center
100 Grand Blvd
https://www.longviewtexas.gov/
SHARON SHRINE CIRCUS
4:30 PM - 9:30 PM AUG. 30
Rodeo Arena 100 Grand Blvd https://www.longviewtexas.gov/
MARSHALL
GENEALOGY WORKSHOP
1 PM - 2:30 PM JULY 11
Marshall Public Library 300 S. Alamo https://marshalltexas.com/
RUSTY LUGNUTS CRUISE NIGHT
5 P.M. - 9 PM JULY 13
Downtown Marshall North Washington Ave https://marshalltexas.com/
GENE WATSON
7 PM JULY 20
Memorial City Hall Performance Center
110 E Houston St
https://www.memorialcityhall.com/
MINEOLA
LEE MATHIS AND THE BRUTALLY HANDSOME
6 PM - 9 PM JULY 5
Mineola Nature Preserve 1860 County Road 2724 https://tinyurl.com/yr4ywj96
LOW D
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM JULY 27
Logan’s Place 536 E Broad St https://tinyurl.com/3p3tdjx4
PITTSBURG
APRIL N SMITH
6:30 PM JULY 6
Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards 658 Co Rd 1334 https://tinyurl.com/3zyrsnmm
WINE CLUB HAPPY HOUR
4 PM - 5:30 PM JULY 13
Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards 658 Co Rod 1334 https://tinyurl.com/6uvuk676
LOW D
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM JULY 13
Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards 658 Co Rd 1334 https://tinyurl.com/4yphrrjz
BEAU ATKINS
6 PM AUG. 31
Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards 658 Co Rd 1334 https://tinyurl.com/fhm53jx8
TROUP
MIGRATION
JULY 17
Troup Municipal Library
102 S Georgia St https://www.facebook.com/ cjjtrouplibrary
ADULT GAME DAY
1 PM AUG 6
Troup Municipal Library 102 S Georgia St https://tinyurl.com/bah43m2m
CRAFT AND CHAT
5 PM - 7 PM AUG. 15
Troup Municipal Library 102 S Georgia St https://tinyurl.com/drd9jjry
TYLER
“THE RECIPE” TEEN WRITING WORKSHOP
4:30 - 6:30 PM JULY 6 AND AUG. 3
The Foundry Coffee House 202 S Broadway Ave https://tinyurl.com/2xjrc43a
HISTORY OF CARIBBEAN COCKTAILS
6 PM JULY 11
The Grand Room at Kiepersol 21558 Merlot Ln https://shop.kiepersol.com/
SUMMER FESTIVAL AND CAR SHOW
9 AM - 3 PM JULY 13
Tyler Berry Farm 9628 Co Rd 429 https://tinyurl.com/2s4xpffr
THAT MEXICAN OT
8 PM JULY 14
Country River Club 13087 US-271 https://thatmexicanot.net/
MONTEZ-COOPER 1836 TEXAS KITCHEN CLASSIC CAR SHOW
10 AM - 2 PM JULY 20
1836 Texas Kitchen 2467 Crow Rd https://www.1836texaskitchen. com/
KUNG FU PANDA
2 PM JULY 20
Liberty Hall 103 E Erwin St https://libertytyler.com/
CAR ENTHUSIASTS
APPRECIATION DAY
10 AM JULY 27
Flyin H Ranch 238 Co Rd 319 West https://tinyurl.com/464hzn27
VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDER WORKOUTS
12:30 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. JULY 27
Adaptive Foundation 1543 E Grande https://tinyurl.com/jyhtbbdf
EAST TEXAS WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA
JULY 27
W.T. Brookshire Conference Center 2000 W. Front St https://idobridalexpo.com/
COMADRES POP UP MARKET
12 PM - 7 PM JULY 27
Downtown Tyler https://tinyurl.com/4td9z323
TYLER HBA LATINA EXPO
10 AM - 2:30 PM JULY 27
UT Tyler 3900 University Blvd https://tinyurl.com/yyr7karb
| CONT. ON PG. 80
DADDY-DAUGHTER TEA PARTY
12 PM JULY 27
Hilton Garden Inn
220 E Grande Blvd
https://www.collegeelite.org/
ROYAL AFFAIR MOTHER-SON
DANCE
5 PM JULY 27
Hilton Garden Inn
220 E Grande Blvd https://www.collegeelite.org/
TYLER COIN CLUB
7 PM JULY 9 AND AUG. 13
UT Tyler Campus
W.T. Brookshire Hall Room #133 https://Tylercoinclub.org/
PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURES
7 PM JULY 26
Liberty Hall 103 E Erwin St
https://libertytyler.com/
GREASE
JUL 19-21, JULY 25-28 AND AUG. 1-4
Tyler Civic Theatre Center 400 Rose Park Dr https://tylercivictheatre.com/
SCHOOL IS COOL
4:30 PM - 7 PM AUG. 1
W.T. Brookshire Conference Center 2000 W Front St https://tinyurl.com/4xrjmw83
TARZAN
2 PM AUG. 3
Liberty Hall 103 E Erwin St https://libertytyler.com/
MENDING FENCES BAKE OFF
10 AM - 2 PM AUG. 3
Cross Brand Cowboy Church 11915 Fm 2015 https://tinyurl.com/3m6z3y5j
BUMP TO BABY EXPO
AUG. 3
W.T. Brookshire Conference Center 2000 W Front St https://tinyurl.com/dueukhbs
KIDPRENEUR
11 AM - 2 PM AUG. 3
Pollard Park 710 E Amherst Dr https://tinyurl.com/yc4pxvph
EAST TEXAS PSYCHIC FAIR
11 AM - 5 PM AUG 10
Courtyard by Marriott Tyler 7424 S Broadway Ave https://tinyurl.com/3x29uwes
3D BEADED AND BEDAZZLED WORKSHOP
9 AM AUG. 15
Cassie Edmonds Mosaics 124 S College Ave https://tinyurl.com/2s3eadck
16TH ANNUAL TYLER COIN SHOW
9 AM - 5 PM AUG. 16-17
Brookshire Conference Center 2000 W. Front Street https://TylerCoinClub.org
DEATHROW BODEEN
6 PM AUG. 23
Bricks Bar and Grill 408 E Erwin St https://deathrowbodeen.com/
FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF
2 PM AUG. 17
Liberty Hall 103 E Erwin St https://libertytyler.com/
JUCY’S CAR AND TRUCK SHOW
7 AM AUG. 24
Jucy’s Hamburgers 1300 SW Loop 323 https://tinyurl.com/4xudr4cy
TEXAS ROSE BREED SHOW AUG. 23 - AUG. 25
Tyler Rose Horse Park 14078 State Hwy 110N https://www.texasrosehorsepark. com/
POKER RUN 5K/10K
6 AM AUG. 24
Rose Rudman Park 450 Shiloh Rd https://tinyurl.com/27u97czz
CASINO ROYALE
6 PM - 10 PM AUG. 24
Cascades Country Club 4511 Briarwood Rd https://www. discoveryscienceplace.org
12TH ANNUAL I AM BEAUTIFUL MOVEMENT- GIRL CODE WORKSHOP
10 AM - 1 PM AUG. 31 Even More
1325 N Moore Ave
https://tinyurl.com/9xxk5cea WHITEHOUSE
EAST TEXAS TRAINING DAY
8 AM - 11 AM JULY 27
16822 McElroy Rd
The Boulder at Lake Tyler https://tinyurl.com/2r7tz3na
YELL LEADER EVENT
6 PM - 8 PM AUG. 2
Whitehouse Splash Park 311 E Main St https://tinyurl.com/4kmz83jx
CHAD PRATHER AUG. 16
Blackhawk Creek Grill 20255 TX-110 https://rosecitycomedy.club/
LISTING
COMPILED BY STAFFER RAQUEL VILLATORO. EVENTS FOR CONSIDERATION
