It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

by Brooke Ezzo | photos courtesy of Jennifer Green

Local business owners Jennifer Green of Texas Patina and Ashton West of Beck’s Beauty Co. are helping to light up small town Justin in a big way. Bringing back the spirit of community, togetherness, and holiday nostalgia, these ladies have teamed up with the City of Justin to put on the 1st Annual Old Town Christmas event.

City Manager Cori Reaume challenged Jennifer and Ashton to dream big when it came to planning and organizing the event, which will be held Saturday, December 12.

“We had her support from the get-go,” Jennifer said. “We started brainstorming and reached out to other Justin business owners. We want it to be constant fun all day.”

The moment that word got out about the event, sponsorships started pouring in from businesses and residents throughout the city and beyond. These sponsorships include everything from city holiday decorations, live reindeer, and carolers to arts and crafts for the kids and the chili cook-off prizes.

Spanning three blocks in downtown, Jennifer and Ashton plan to use every square inch for food, live music, and entertainment. From 3rd street by the Classy Cactus all the way to 5th street by Southern Roots DnA, people are encouraged to walk around and enjoy everything the event will offer.

“Outlaw Burger will extend their outside patio so there will be a place to hang out and have a beer,” Jennifer said. “We’ve talked to Margaritas about joining in, and the alleyways will be filled up with food trucks. We are trying to incorporate everyone and it’s important to spread it out.” Some things to look forward to include a food competition for best cake, pie, or chili. There will also be Christmas light competitions for business and residential, a holiday fun run by Anytime Fitness and benefitting the volunteer fire department, a Christmas market showcasing local artisan vendors, and the City’s headliner, the Christmas parade and float competition.

“To be honest I was surprised the City was on board with something of this size,” Ashton said. “So many people reminisce about Justin Fun Days, and it’s exciting to be able to bring something like that back to the community.”

With so many people moving to the area, Jennifer, Ashton, and the City are looking for ways to celebrate growth but not lose that small town feeling.

“Our motto is ‘everything a hometown should be,’ and to help bring that back with this event is very rewarding to me,” Jennifer said.

Intended to look like a scene from a Hallmark movie, where the idea for the event came from, downtown will be lit up, wrapped up, and ready to go for residents to enjoy a full day of fun.

Santa is making an appearance and bringing his elves with him, so dress in your best buffalo check and get ready for a photo op!

To be a sponsor, sign up to volunteer. For the 1st Annual Old Town Christmas entertainment schedule, visit www.JustinOldTownChristmas.com.

Your Everyday NOT TOWING COMPANY

by Steve Gamel | photography by Your Candid Memories (YourCandidMemories.com)

When Mike and Lainie Phillips started their family-owned company, All American Towing and Recovery, they didn’t want to be looked at as just another towing company showing up at the scene. “We wanted to be all-inclusive,” Mike said. “No matter the situation — call one number, and our team would get it done.”

Mission accomplished. All American Towing is not the everyday tow truck that shows up to get rid of an improperly parked or impounded vehicle. They are a full-service towing and recovery service that partners with police and fire personnel and everyday folks just like you for whatever life throws your way. They have over 15 state-of-the-art, latemodel towing and recovery units ranging from car and bus carriers to the largest rotating heavy-duty wreckers in the area. Their services include everything from your standard towing and load transfers to tractor trailer accident and recovery, hazmat and accident scene remediation, heavy-duty winching, tire changing, jumpstarts and pull-starts, fuel delivery, and more.

They also offer 24-7 live dispatch, so they are there for you even if it’s 3 or 4 in the morning.

“We strive to offer a higher level of service than your typical towing company,” Lainie said. “We cross-train with fire departments and the police so that our heavy equipment can even be used in rescue situations. We’ve done quite a few of those, actually, and it feels really good to know that we’ve helped save lives.”

“WE STRIVE TO OFFER A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE THAN YOUR TYPICAL TOWING COMPANY.”

Mike added, “Roughly 50% of our business is law enforcement tows. The other half is the general public when they are broken down and need help.”

When you sit down with Mike and Lainie, it’s clear that they really know their stuff. On top of that, you leave feeling like you have known them for years — just a downto-earth family you can’t wait to learn more about. And boy, there is plenty to learn. For example, Mike is a third-generation towing professional. He learned the trade throughout his entire childhood under the guidance of his father and grandfather in Denton County. Mike’s father, Gary, went on to own a repossession and towing company in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mike worked for his father in Tennessee while his grandparents continued to provide towing services in Texas. When Mike was 21, he moved back to Denton County. “I used to drive a wrecker to school because I had to go to work afterward,” Mike said with a laugh. He’s been in a wrecker full-time since he was 18. “I’ve never imagined doing anything different.”

Lainie didn’t grow up in the towing industry, but she might as well have. She and Mike started this venture together over 12 years ago, and she knows their business inside and out as the behind-thescenes guru.

“I married into it. I wouldn’t have it any other way. We make a great team,” she said. “Our second date was in a wrecker. He picked me up and had to go on a call. So I went along with him.”

Mike joked about that night, saying that Lainie’s father wasn’t too fond of his daughter being picked up in a tow truck.

But here they are, a happy couple with a growing family and successful business. Mike and Lainie live in Justin with their three kids, Brooklynn (9), Briggs (4), and Parker Kate (6 months), and they are always on call to help a neighbor in need. Both he and Lainie are hands-on in everything that All American Towing and Recovery does, and they pride themselves on honesty, integrity, and professionalism. “We really pride ourselves on being a tightly-knit family business. Our team is like family, and we are incredibly appreciative to be a part of the communities we serve,” Mike and Lainie said. “We do a lot of sponsorships for sports teams and schools in the area, and it’s something we thoroughly enjoy. We like to be in a situation to help the community that has helped us all these years.”

All American Towing and Recovery has locations in Decatur, Texas, Denton, and Justin. To learn more about how they can help you, please visit

allamericantowingtx.com.