View Magazine - January / February 2018

E AT & D R I N K | P I C T U R E T H I S ! | O N E - TA N K T R I P

VIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

COVER STORY

FEEDING THE

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contents RE VIEW

6 7

TO EAT: Dudley's TO DRINK: Silver Grizzly

FIT VIEW

8

Training for a Sprint Triathlon

HEALTH VIEW

10

A Heart for Others

COVER VIEW

12

Feeding the Family

TRAVEL VIEW

16

12

One-Tank Trip: SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX

DOWNTOWN VIEW

18

Henderson Main Street

NON-PROFIT VIEW

20

Longview World of Wonders

EVENT VIEW

21

Kilgore to Longview Run

IN EVERY ISSUE 22 24 28

Calendar of Events Picture This!

To Eat, Drink & Do in East Texas

8

18 ON THE COVER Kevin Hawkins calls South Longview his home. It’s where he grew up. It’s where he and his family established the first iteration of the wildly popular Divine Catering restaurant. And today, it’s where he continues to work with youth in the community, encouraging them to realize their true potential and the opportunities that await them.

4 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

Meanwhile, Kevin is owner of Divine

Dear Readers, It’s time for champagne toasts, confetti, parties and New Year’s resolutions! It’s 2018!

Catering and Restaurant and he’s also actively involved in both Hope for Youth

This is the time of year when I always become reflective and think

and My Brother’s Keeper. Through these

about the past 365 days. January 1 is just another day, but it carries with

two organizations, Kevin is working to

it so much symbolism. It’s a day to start anew and resolve to be better.

transform lives of children in the city,

Let’s talk for a minute about New Year’s resolutions. Oh, the dreaded

especially those in South Longview. He

resolutions. Why do even do it? As humans, I think we naturally want to improve; we have a desire to be better than we were yesterday. I’m not one for making hard and fast resolutions, but I want to be able to look back at the prior year and know that I somehow made a difference in someone else’s life and in my community. It’s pretty simple, really, I just want to be better.

As I started thinking about the concept of making a difference in the community, I began thinking about people in our city who inspire. In Longview, that is a very long list. For our cover stories of Charm and View, from the many, many names that came to mind, we narrowed it down to two individuals who we feel embody the spirit of so many East Texans.

In Charm, you will read about Melanie Northcutt Crocker and in

wants children to realize that they are not a product of their environment and to see the multitude of opportunities that await them.

We hope you enjoy reading Melanie and Kevin’s stories and we hope they inspire you.

As always, you will find all of our other regular features in both sides of the magazine. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and in Charm, you will read about making DIY Valentine’s gifts. February 14 is also National Donor Day and in View, you can read about organ donation.

If you’re fitness focused right now, in View, we also have stories about training for a sprint triathlon and about the Kilgore to Longview Run; in Charm, you can check out some fitness fashion and accessories. Other

View you will read about Kevin Hawkins.

President of Junior League of Longview, founder of Young Professionals of Longview, and a businesswoman who recently opened

features include stories about Longview World of Wonders and trips to downtown Henderson and Sulphur Springs.

her own real estate firm, Melanie works continually to improve

As we move into 2018, my hope for this magazine is also for it to

Longview. Whether she’s handing out backpacks to children in need,

be better. We have some exciting stories planned this year that I’m

working to beautify downtown Longview or cleaning up streets, through

confident you will love and I can’t wait for you see our coming issues.

her civic involvement she gives so much back to the community.

Happy New Year!

clane@news-journal.com

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REVIEW

to

eat

If you’re in the mood to laissez les bon temps rouler (“let the good

Dudley's As you look over the menu, your waiter will ask if you’d like some

times roll”) this Mardi Gras, there’s no better cuisine to accompany complimentary coleslaw. SAY YES! Seasoned to perfection, it’s the your celebration than Longview’s finest Cajun restaurant, Dudley’s perfect little appetizer to set the mood for the meal you’re about Cajun Café.

Owner Dudley Lang opened his restaurant in 1992, a few years

to have.

When we went in November, our waiter promptly came to our

after he moved to East Texas from Louisiana. When he first moved table to ask if we wanted coleslaw and to take our drink order. When here, he sold boiled crawfish and other Cajun dishes from a trailer he he returned with our drinks and coleslaw, he promptly took our food brought with him from Louisiana. His recipes were so popular and order. We chose to eat the blackened chicken, served over dirty rice the food so tasty that East Texans practically demanded a restaurant. with a roll, and the blackened combo. The combo features blackened Today, his tried and true recipes and consistently well prepared food catfish and blackened shrimp, served atop white rice; it comes with still draw thousands of East Texans and visitors alike to his restaurant corn, potatoes, hush puppies and a roll on the side. each year.

At Dudley’s the food is prepared when you order it; nothing is

It was a recent day this past November when we were craving his premade. That means the food is hot and the flavors taste fresh Cajun food ourselves. Dudley’s serves up a selection of traditional when you receive your meal. When we went everything from the Cajun dishes, such as gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, meat meats to the veggies had been cooked to perfection! pies, crawfish etouffee and more. You can also find catfish, chicken,

While we were too full to have dessert in November, we can

shrimp, tilapia and other meats blackened to perfection and seasoned attest to Dudley’s bread pudding and banana pudding. If you want with Cajun spices.

When you walk through the doors at Dudley’s, you’ll notice it’s

dessert, we highly recommend both as they are absolutely delicious.

From the friendly service and relaxed atmosphere to the quality

a very relaxed atmosphere, where people feel at home. It’s a place food that you will receive, we highly recommend Dudley’s for lunch where the staff members, many of whom have worked for Dudley or dinner. You won’t be disappointed! for a long time, get to know the regulars and it is not uncommon for Dudley himself to visit your table.

DUDLEY'S CAJUN CAFÉ 1601 E. Marshall Ave., Longview | (903) 757-9466 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

Takes Reservations Yes, for large groups | Delivery No | Take-out Yes | Accepts Credit Cards Yes | Good for Groups Yes | Attire Casual | Ambience Relaxed Noise Level Moderate | Alcohol Yes | Outdoor Seating No | Waiter Service Yes | Catering Yes

6 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

REVIEW

to

drink

Silver Grizzly

For decades, coffee houses have served as hubs for the community. caramel flavors. Meanwhile, the Big Inch – which we had on a recent They provide laid back environments for people to socialize while night – has a toffee nose with caramel and a strong chocolate flavor enjoying a cup of joe.

with a slightly sweet finish. It has great flavor and is nice to drink on

In the year since Silver Grizzly Espresso opened in downtown a cold day or in the heat of summer.

Longview, it has become just that – a gathering place in the

But Silver Grizzly is about much more than its beverages. It’s

community where people come to hang out with friends and meet about community. In the last year, it has built up the community and up with business associates. Its environment is warm and inviting, brought people together through its events, like the block parties and makes you feel at home while you’re there.

that have brought live music and entertainment to downtown, and

And did we mention that Silver Grizzly knows how to serve up a through its support of other community events, like serving up delicious cup of coffee?

a specially made batch of peppermint hot chocolate (and it was

On the espresso menu, you can order a latte, cappuccino, delicious!) before the recent Longview Christmas parade to help Americano, espresso and cortado. You can get your coffee hot or keep parade goers warm. It has become a part of downtown, taking iced and made with a variety of syrups, including vanilla bean, mocha part in other downtown activities, such as hosting artists during and caramel. Silver Grizzly also features seasonal syrups. For coffees the quarterly ArtWalk to allow them to showcase their work, and made with milk, Silver Grizzly offers alternatives to whole milk, serving as an overflow space for Oil Horse Brewing Co.’s weekly geek including soy, almond and skim. It also offers a selection of specialty night trivia.

It has, in short, become a gathering place, a home away home brewed coffees.

I’m especially fond of Silver Grizzly’s cappuccinos. Bold, crisp and smooth, they’re certain to help wake you up in the morning, give you a caffeine boost mid-day, or warm you up on a cold night.

If you’re not in the mood for coffee, Silver Grizzly also features tea, craft beer and pastries. The craft beer menu features two selections – the Big Inch and the 1877 – from Longview’s own Oil Horse Brewing Co. The 1877 is a malt-flavored beer with a strong

in downtown Longview. With its relaxed atmosphere and inviting environment, it’s an excellent location to meet business associates, friends or families and build relationships. For your everyday morning coffee or for special occasions, Silver Grizzly is an excellent choice!

SILVER GRIZZLY ESPRESSO 100 W. Tyler St., Longview | (903) 309-2766 silvergrizzlyespresso.com 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Accepts Credit Cards Yes | Good for Groups Yes | Attire Casual | Ambience Relaxed | Noise Level Quiet | Alcohol Yes Outdoor Seating No | Has TV No | Best Nights Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays news-journal.com 7

FITVIEW

training for a sprint triathlon Words by CLARE MCCARTHY

TRIATHLONS

are strenuous feats.

perfect for beginners—mainly because the swimming portion takes

They often require

place at the institute’s pool.

many months of intense physical training and mental preparation.

But one particular sprint triathlon in Longview is designed to be beginner friendly, and almost anyone can do it.

Anna Fretz agrees with him.

“This is a fantastic triathlon for people just starting out,” says Fretz, the aquatics supervisor at the Christus Good Shepherd Institute for

“This is a very safe, very beginner-friendly triathlon,” says Craig

Healthy Living. “The swim portion is unfortunately what often scares

Little, a member of the Longview Running Club and a two-time full

a lot of people away, because it’s scary to swim in lakes and it’s scary

Ironman triathlon finisher. “I would encourage anyone that wants to get into triathlons to do this race.”

The Christus Good Shepherd Institute for Healthy Living holds a sprint triathlon each spring, featuring a 200-meter swim, a 13-mile bike ride and a 5K run. In comparison, a full triathlon is typically a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.

“Anybody can go sign up for a sprint triathlon and with four to six weeks’ training, be ready for it,” Little says. “Generally, for a half or

when you can’t see the bottom. But here, the swimming takes place in a pool, where you can see the bottom, where we have lifeguards, where everything is familiar. So it’s a really great first-person triathlon.”

The 2018 race will take place May 20 at the Christus Good Shepherd Institute for Healthy Living, 3133 Good Shepherd Way in Longview. The event begins at 7:30 a.m.

Fretz says one of the most important things to remember when training for the triathlon is to actually get in the pool.

“Even though it’s a sprint triathlon, you have to build up an aerobic

full Ironman (triathlon), you’re looking at anywhere from six months

base,” she says. “There are a lot of triathletes who bike several times a

to a year of training.”

week or run several times a week but don’t get in the pool until the day

Little has competed in about a dozen triathlons, including two full-length Ironmans, two half-length Ironmans and a number of

of the race. And swimming is a little different because you can lose your feel for water a lot quicker than you can lose your feel for land.”

shorter races. He says sprint triathlons are a good way for people

Fretz says beginners looking to compete in this triathlon will

to get started in the sport. He says this particular sprint triathlon is

need to consistently be able to swim more than 200 meters, so that

8 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

they know they can swim at least that far. She also recommends

Little says as long as you know you can swim at least 150 meters,

people work specifically on their form, so that they don’t panic when

bike at least 10 miles and run at least 2 miles, you’ll be able to finish

surrounded by others in the pool.

this race.

“It’s going to get crowded and there’s going to be waves in the pool,”

For more experienced triathlon veterans, such as Little, the fun

she says. “And you might start panicking — particularly if you’re not

lies not in finishing but in the race itself. Little tries to go as fast as he

a strong swimmer or haven’t been swimming for very long — so it’s

can, with hopes of beating his previous year’s time.

important to remember your form and remember your training.”

“I like to go fast,” Little says. “The longer races are more spread out,

For the running and biking portions of the race, nutrition is key.

so you kind of have to pace yourself and keep your speed down. With

“The old adage that you can’t outrun a bad diet is definitely true,”

these sprints, you can go all out and just push your body to the limit.”

says Leslie Goudarzi, a registered dietician with the Christus Good

According to race director Will Hagle, funds raised from the

Shepherd Institute for Healthy Living. “Just as you train your body

triathlon have reached more than $20,000 and have been donated to

to run or swim or bike, it’s equally as important to train it to utilize

local charities and organizations. This year, funds will benefit the Boys

fuel efficiently.”

& Girls Club of East Texas. For more information and to register, visit

Goudarzi says it is important to eliminate processed, greasy

www.runsignup.com.

foods several months in advance and to make sure you’re getting the adequate amount of protein in your diet.

“When you’re training really hard for a triathlon, you’re making small microscopic tears to those muscles with every workout,” she says. “So in order for those to be repaired and become stronger, there has to be adequate protein imbibed to do so.”

if

you go CHRISTUS GOOD SHEPHERD INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHY LIVING SPRINT TRIATHLON

When: 7:30 a.m. May 20

On race day, both Goudarzi and Little recommend taking an

Where: Christus Good Shepherd Institute for Healthy Living, 3133 Good Shepherd Way, Longview

energy gel on the bike and run portions of the race, so you can re-fuel

Cost: $65 through May 6; $80 after May 6; limited spots available

and remain energized.

Registration: www.runsignup.com

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news-journal.com 9 11/21/17 11:47 AM

HEALTHVIEW

a

heart for others Words by JO LEE FERGUSON

JOHN

Godwin didn’t know how bad he had been

are waiting for one or who didn’t receive one in time. The day is

feeling until he lived life with a new heart.

designed to encourage people to participate in donor registration

Godwin, a Marshall native and city manager in Paris, Texas,

drives of all kinds.

received a life-saving heart transplant a little more than four years

That’s been a passion of Anita Quinn’s for 27 years, ever since

ago. He describes himself since that time as a “man on a mission,”

friends helped organize efforts to find a bone marrow donor

a man who encourages everyone who will listen to register as an

for her son, Bryan, and Al Edwards, both of whom had a life-

organ donor, at www.donatelifetexas.org.

threatening form of leukemia. Stem cell donations, from bone

Each day 22 people die waiting for an organ donor, he says.

marrow or from the blood stream, go primarily to people with

“It’s a zero-sum game. It’s a shame, some of the people are

leukemia and to people with other blood cancers.

going to die that didn’t have to,” says Godwin, who served as an

The nonprofit organization Because I Care grew out of those

intern and management analyst for the city of Longview in the

initial efforts, and the group, with Quinn as coordinator, continues

late 1980s. “It’s a shame. I never question anybody for not signing

to organize donor drives. These days, potential donors are registered

up, but gosh, it’s a great thing to do.... I hope (registering at www.

with a simple swab that is mailed into the national donor marrow

donatelifetexas.org) is a complete waste of your time, but please,

registry, “Be the Match.” Because I Care raises funds locally to pay

do it, because you just never know.”

for the costs associated with registering donors.

National Donor Day, on Feb. 14, recognizes people who have

The local organization has added more than 27,000 people to

given the donation of organs, eyes, tissue, blood, platelets and

the registry, with “dozens and dozens” of people becoming donors

marrow, as well as the people who have received a donation, who

from that group, Quinn says.

10 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

“The bottom line is, it’s a wonderful way for donors, people who have a heart for others, to be able to offer to help a patient and you’re not giving up anything permanently,” she says.

Quinn’s son did go on to receive a transplant, but he died later of other complications. In the years since, Quinn says she has not felt anger or jealousy for the people who do survive and who do well after transplants.

“That’s not my place to question, but at the same time, I know what it meant to us when our son’s donor stepped up to do something that either one of us (Quinn or her husband) would have done gladly, but we couldn’t,” Quinn says.

else. He’s heard from people who worry they won’t receive good care at the hospital if they’re an organ donor.

“If you’re an organ donor, they do everything in the world to help you,” he says.

Godwin’s health problems started in 2012, when he became unable to play with his grandchildren or lean over to tie his shoes without getting winded. No one could figure out what was wrong with him, and then, he had a massive heart attack in June 2013.

He says doctors later determined sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease, had killed his heart. He lived a healthy and active life to that point, which doctors said saved his life.

Doctors told his wife to start planning his funeral, and then, he

Because I Care started because of her family’s need, she says, but people are diagnosed with blood cancers every few minutes.

received his life-saving transplant. His new heart started beating on the morning of July 2, 2013, he recalls. He started walking the

“It can hit anybody,” Quinn says.

next day and returned to work six weeks later. Thirteen weeks

Quinn and Godwin both face misconceptions during their

later, he ran a 5K.

work to recruit donors. Quinn says she’s talked to people who think marrow donation hurts. These days, though, only about 20 percent of these types of transplant procedures involved actual marrow donations, she said. In those cases, the donor is put to sleep while the doctor extracts marrow from the pelvic bone with a needle. There’s no cutting through tissue, she says, adding that people she’s talked to say they feel a little sore afterward. Most of these donations now, though, are taken through blood, with no bone marrow extraction necessary.

“It was amazing how bad I felt, and then how good I felt,” Godwin says.

All he knows about the heart he received is that it came from someone who died in Smith County. He’s always wanted to meet his donor’s family and express his gratitude, although he has fears about meeting them one day, too.

“I don’t want to disappoint them or bring up old wounds,” he says.

He speaks all over the state, telling people his transplant story and motivating people to be kind, he explains, recalling waking up

“It is not painful,” Quinn says.

after his transplant and realizing what a big deal his new chance

Godwin says he and his wife get upset at the picture television

at life was.

paints of organ donation – of medical personnel letting someone die so they can whisk that person’s heart down the hall to someone

“I’ve got to be thankful to the world if I can for doing this,” he says.

100 E. Tyler St. | Longview, Texas | 903.753.5896 • 800.253.2961 | www.mastertvl.com

We’ve been there. news-journal.com 11

COVER VIEW

FEEDING THE FAMILY Words by CHRISTINA LANE | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS & LES HASSELL

12 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

K

evin Hawkins calls South Longview his home.

It’s where he grew up. It’s where he and his family established

At the corner of 12th and Horaney streets, Divine Catering began small with a focus on delivery.

the first iteration of the wildly popular Divine Catering

Hawkins kept working at AAON and had friends who worked

restaurant. And today, it’s where he continues to work with youth in

nearby at the former LeTourneau Technologies. He approached the

the community, encouraging them to realize their true potential and

HR departments at both companies, which offered employees lunch

the opportunities that await them.

breaks of just 20-25 minutes, with an idea. Hawkins wanted to take

“For me, it’s about not being a product of your environment. Kids today – you can’t think you can’t make it just because you grew up on the southside. There are so many opportunities today for kids and I try to help them realize that,” Hawkins said.

For Hawkins, South Longview has been filled with opportunities that shaped him into the person he is today.

Hawkins grew up on 13th Street. Some people might call it a rough neighborhood; for him, it’s just home. The son of Carolyn and Howard Hawkins, he grew up in a large family. Hawkins has an older sister, ShaRundha Hawkins, and three brothers – Ronald Hawkins, Howard Hawkins Jr. and Carl Hawkins.

He attended Longview High School. An athlete, he grew up playing football (he was a quarterback) and basketball (he was a shooting guard). He’d watched one of his older brothers play on the 1992 Lobos basketball team that won a state championship, and for him, basketball overshadowed football a bit. But regardless of the sport, athletics opened up opportunities for him.

“Sports cross boundary lines. You make friends with your teammates, and they live all over. So you get exposed to visiting homes on the north side and the east side – all over. It forces you to get outside your comfort zone,” he said.

After graduating from Longview High School in 1996, he attended Southwest Texas Junior College where he earned an associate’s degree.

Hawkins worked at various companies and in 2009, he was employed at AAON when a recession resulted in oil field workers – including his brother, Howard – having hours cut and, for some, being laid off. Hawkins said he had been thinking about opening a restaurant for a while and in 2009, the timing seemed right for

down food orders at work and have home-cooked meals delivered.

“I wanted to be the Domino’s Pizza of soul food,” Hawkins laughed.

He put together a makeshift menu. With a barbecue pit, his brother cooked up meals in the morning and delivered them to the companies. When Hawkins got off work at AAON in the afternoon, he’d take his turn working the restaurant.

“We made pretty good money before we even really opened the doors to the restaurant,” he said. “But, at some point, we realized we were serving the kind of food that people don’t want to eat in a takeout box.”

Soul food. The words alone evoke a thought of families gathered around a table, talking about their day while enjoying a homecooked meal.

So, the focus shifted a bit away from delivery and more toward a brick and mortar restaurant. The small building at 12th and Horaney had few tables (its total occupancy was 16) – and the small space was fine until LeTourneau University students discovered it.

Located in South Longview on Mobberly Avenue, LeTourneau University is home to hundreds of students and faculty members from both near and far. Many seek to dine at nearby restaurants that are conveniently located close to the campus. One day, a student walked through the doors at Divine Catering. Then that student came back, bringing another. Before long, the restaurant was seeing college teams come in. As employees caught wind of the restaurant from students, faculty eventually asked if Divine Catering would support LeTourneau’s YAC card – a card that features businesses that offer discounts to students and faculty.

“When we got on the YAC card, business exploded,” Hawkins said.

That business spread into the city as police officers and

a change. He said he approached his brother about opening a

firefighters discovered the restaurant, and soon Divine Catering was

restaurant; his brother had been to school for culinary arts and had

providing catering services to both agencies for holiday parties and

worked in the industry.

special events.

The idea for a restaurant was simple: Hawkins wanted to share his family’s passion with others.

“My family is a cooking family,” he said. “I wanted people to taste the same food we grew up eating.”

“We have built really good relationships with them,” Hawkins said.

In January 2012, Divine Catering moved to Mobberly Avenue where it is still located today. The larger building allowed plenty of space for the restaurant’s growing clientele and it provided room for

So Hawkins put together a business plan and by Dec. 6, 2009,

people to sit down and have meals together. Hawkins brother and

he had obtained a business license and a small building in the

mother cooked the food while his father, who retired in 2012 from

neighborhood in which he grew up.

Lone Star Steel (now U.S. Steel), served as the greeter. Hawkins

continued on pg. 14  news-journal.com 13

"When you come through the doors at Divine Catering, you should feel like you’re coming to eat

WITH FAMILY." Kevin Hawkins films a commercial to promote the Longview World of Wonders' upcoming Fresh Chef cook-off on Dec. 7.

father passed away in May 2013 and he said he still feels the loss every day, both in his personal life and at the restaurant.

“My dad, he could talk to anybody. He could hold a conversation

“I feel like the restaurant has become a pillar of the community now,” he said. “And, it’s all based on my mother’s recipes and what my brother has added to them.”

with anyone. He didn’t meet a stranger,” Hawkins recalled. “He’d

With Divine Catering on Mobberly Avenue and with his mother

talk about sports, he’d talk about life; he talked a lot. He taught me

still residing in the family home, it’s frequent to see Hawkins in South

how important relationships are. One of the perks when you work

Longview. Giving back to his community has become an important

the floor (at the restaurant) is you get to know your customers. When

focus for him, especially when it concerns children. Hawkins is a

you come through the doors at Divine Catering, you should feel like

member of the Longview NAACP; he’s served on the boards for East

you’re coming to eat with family. I learned that from my father.”

Texas Literacy Council and Thrive 360; he’s very involved mentoring

The good food combined with the hospitality kept the restaurant growing.

youth through My Brother’s Keeper; and he actively serves as an urban specialist with Partners in Prevention’s Hope for Youth.

Today, Hawkins has independently established a new location –

Through the organizations, especially Hope for Youth and

Divine Catering and Restaurant – in Diana. With a new business

My Brother’s Keeper, Hawkins hope is that young people on the

partner, he’s also working to bring a food truck to Longview. He

southside will look at him as someone who grew up walking the

hopes to launch the food truck by Jan. 1.

same streets as them and who overcame his environment to be a

14 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

successful businessman and who gives back to his community. In short, he wants to help kids just like himself lead productive lives despite any obstacle they might feel they face.

To that end, he hired three young men who were members of the TYB gang to work for him, bringing them under his wing.

“I didn’t know how ‘bad’ of a person they might be,” he said, noting that the term ‘gang member’ carries with it a certain connotation, “but I wanted to give them an opportunity.”

When the boys came to work for him, Hawkins said, he watched them joke around and play and he took opportunities to get to know

Joe Fuentes of Media Quest films Kevin Hawkins for a commercial to promote the Longview World of Wonders' upcoming Fresh Chef cook-off on Dec. 7.

them on a personal level. But he also taught them structure.

“When you’re on the job, you have to treat it like a job,” he said.

“There were things they didn’t understand. They had never worked a job, so they had no idea.”

The more structure he gave them, the more they seemed to crave, he said. He found the right balance between pushing but not too much so that he didn’t push them away.

Today, of those three young men, one is attending Kilgore College, one works for the city and one works at another restaurant.

He said they still keep in touch with him, turning to him for advice and support.

Hawkins also regularly visits schools to work with students in the classroom. Through Thrive 360, he works with boys on life

Kevin Hawkins, center, helps out Carlos Gomez, right, and Anderona Gonzales in the kitchen at Divine Catering's Diana location on Dec. 8.

skills, such as how to tie a tie or how to present themselves for a job interview, but he also talks to them about “real life.”

Through My Brother’s Keeper, Hawkins said, he’s taken youths to Memphis, where they visited – among many locations – the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. He wants them to understand history and he wants them to understand culture and he wants them to see a world that extends far beyond the edges of South Longview.

“The ultimate goal is to get them to be productive citizens,” he said.

What the future holds for Hawkins isn’t certain but he plans to keep working with youth and he plans to keep growing Divine Catering and Restaurant. He’s been working to grow the Diana location, which he says is kind of like starting from scratch again as he works to build new relationships up in that community. And the future is certain to hold a food truck in store for East Texans to enjoy.

“We’re trying to grow with the trends, and food trucks are huge in Longview right now,” Hawkins said. “It’s a good craze, and I think it’s going to keep growing.”

Kevin Hawkins, left, helps out Carlos Gomez in the kitchen at Divine Catering's Diana location on Dec. 8. news-journal.com 15

TRAVEL VIEW

ONE-TANK TRIP:

SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX

The Magic Scoop

Words by AMY MCHANEY

ABOUT

75 miles northeast of Longview, Sulphur

pies from traditional pepperoni to Korean BBQ chicken, all in a historic

Springs

halfway

setting. The pizzas come out with a perfectly cooked crust that one man

between Dallas and Texarkana on the north side of Interstate 30. The

said compares to those crafted in Naples, the originator of pizza. That’s

drive to Sulphur Springs is one of the prettiest in East Texas – the terrain

quite a compliment! Locals say that the best bet is to start your meal off

is just breathtaking with rolling hills and endless trees, quaint farms and

with an order of the cheesy bread with a side of marinara.

sits

approximately

small towns.

Just to the east of the historic downtown area – and really just the second

As you approach Sulphur Springs from the south, many of the

block east of the square – sits Lyndsay’s Plates + Provisions. This sweet

businesses along the interstate are like those you see in any other town.

restaurant has an inviting front deck and a menu full of mouthwatering

The downtown, however, is a different story altogether. Meticulously

combinations. The menu is adjusted seasonally, but during my visit

maintained with a large number of restaurants, bars and shops to choose

sandwich selections included chicken with bacon apple jam and cheddar

from, a trip to Sulphur Springs is definitely worth the drive.

as well as a sweet potato apple soup topped with bleu cheese and walnuts.

TO EAT & DRINK I hit Sulphur Springs just before lunchtime and loved having a wide array of restaurant options to choose from downtown. The streets around the square are chock full of interesting eateries with inviting storefronts – and the best part, in my opinion, is that all are unique, local businesses.

I decided to have lunch at The Magic Scoop General Store. The gal who

Finally, Phinesse Farms Winery, a local vineyard, has a storefront in downtown Sulphur Springs. The winery offers tastings and sales of its 16 wines ranging from sweet table and dessert port wines to dry reds and whites. Also of note, Phinesse Farms produces muscadine powder ground from the skins and seeds of muscadine grapes. Research has shown that this natural supplement provides a significant dose of antioxidants – may

took my order told me that everything on the menu is made from scratch

be worth a try!

on site including a whopping 24 flavors of homemade ice cream. There

TO SEE

are daily sandwich and soup specials, and breakfast is served all day long.

Believe it or not, one of Sulphur Springs’ most notable attractions is

True to its name, the seating area has the feel of a mercantile, complete

its public restrooms. Yes, you read that right. It turns out that Sulphur

with a wide variety of games to pass the time while waiting for the meal

Springs is home to the only see-through public restrooms in the country.

crafted especially for you. My lunch was delicious; I’m a little embarrassed

Conveniently located right on the square, the two free-standing stalls are

to admit that I had scrambled eggs and bacon for lunch, follow up by …

handicap accessible and completely see through – from the inside out,

ICE CREAM! Y’all, the ice cream at The Magic Scoop is pure heaven on

anyway. These unique restrooms are clad in one way mirrors from floor to

the tongue. It makes the entire trip worthwhile. In fact, I plan to make

ceiling; the user has a fabulous 360 degree view out, but nobody can see in.

future trips to Sulphur Springs JUST for ice cream at The Magic Scoop.

Aside from the restrooms, Sulphur Springs’ square is lovely place to

The flavor offerings range from standard vanilla and chocolate to super

spend some time. The veterans memorial on the west side is at the same

interesting – Kentucky Bourbon Vanilla, Apple Pie. I settled on Salty

time impressive and soothing with its infinity waterfall and eternal flame.

Caramel, which was by far the best salted caramel ice cream I’ve tried (I’m

The Hopkins County Courthouse towers just to the north of the memorial.

a connoisseur of that particular flavor).

The rest of the square is lined with mosaic-topped tables and wicker chairs

If you are a pizza lover, look no further than Arturo’s Wood Fired Pizza

that practically beg you to take a seat and watch a game of giant-size chess

Gallery. Also off the square downtown, Arturo’s offers a wide variety of

or checkers (which can also be observed from inside the restrooms – ha!).

16 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

Also downtown is the restored Main Street Theatre, home to Sulphur

WHAT'S WITH THE NAME?

Springs’ own Community Players, Inc., which has been providing

Why would anyone name a town after stinky sulfur? Sulphur Springs

outstanding entertainment for 35 years. The upcoming production of

drives its names from the abundant springs of sulfur in the area long

“The Women of Lockerbie” is a show that tells the story of a mother whose

before European settlers hit the scene. Native American tribes inhabited

son perished in Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland and her interactions

areas around the springs and used them for their therapeutic benefits.

with the local women of the Scottish community and their mission to turn an act of hate into an act of love. Show dates are Feb. 23-25 and March 2-4.

Venture just outside downtown to the Southwest Dairy Museum & Education Center to see the state-of-the-art exhibits housed in a 10,000-square-foot facility built of white stone in typical dairy farm style.

The attached silo is a conference room, and the entrance is flanked by two giant cows – one Jersey, one Holstein. Interesting displays showing how a cow turns the grass it eats into milk and how milk was kept cold prior to refrigeration makes you realize how little you (or maybe just I) know about milk. The highlight of the visit is The Creamery, an authentic 1940s soda fountain that serves old-fashioned malts, milkshakes and other ice cream treats as well as lunch.

TO SHOP One of the coolest stores in Sulphur Springs is a shop called The Bookworm Box, which is a most unique kind of bookstore. The Bookworm Box started as an autographed book subscription cooked up by New York Times best-selling author Colleen Hoover and her family in 2015. Signed

TO EAT

The Magic Scoop General Store 210 Connally St. 903.919.5053 Mon–Thu 7a–9p, Fri–Sat 11a–10p | Sun 11a–5p Arturo’s Wood Fired Pizza Gallery 221 Main St. 903.951.1444 Tue–Wed 11a–8p, Thu 11a–9p | Fri–Sat 11a–10p

Southwest Dairy Museum & Education Center 1210 Houston St. Mon-Fri 9a-4p 903.439-MILK

TO SHOP

The Bookworm Box 204 Main St. 903.919.5027 Tue-Thu 12ish-5ish Fri-Sat 12ish-7ish (the “ish” is theirs)

Lyndsay’s Plates + Provisions 313 Main St. 903.919.5070 Mon–Fri 10a–6p

Everything Unique 124 Main St. 903.885.7016 Mon-Sat 10a-5p

Phinesse Farms Winery 223 Main St. 903.582.2222 Tue-Thu 4p-9p | Fri-Sat 12p-9p

TO STAY

TO SEE

The Oaks Bed & Breakfast 516 Oak Ave. 903.919.5170 www.theoaksbandb.net

Main Street Theatre 227 Main St. 903.885.0107 www.mstsulphursprings.com

copies of books are donated by authors to The Bookworm Box; the store uses the donated books to fulfill its monthly subscription box service as well as provide inventory for the retail store. All profits – after overhead

Looking from the Inside Out - Glass Restroom

expenses – are donated to charity. Since its inception, The Bookworm Box has donated more than $850,000 to those in need. Pretty awesome.

I also paid a visit to a shop called Everything Unique, located directly across from the giant chess set on the square. The store hand an excellent selection of home décor, kitchen goods, hilarious cocktail napkins – a place you could get lost in for a while! I found several children’s books that I’m sure will be a hit with my twin second grade boys (the books are all about bodily functions).

TO SLEEP The Oaks Bed & Breakfast is a short walk from the downtown scene and offers the only unique accommodations in Sulphur Springs. The home was originally built in the 1930s by the Ashcroft family of Sulphur Springs.

It changed hands several times before falling into disrepair. Acquired by

Giant Chess

a couple who are natives of Sulphur Springs wishing to raise their five children in a smaller town, the home underwent a year-long renovation beginning in early 2016. The result is lovely and tasteful. Three bedrooms include en suite bathrooms and a freshly prepared breakfast is served daily to overnight guests. news-journal.com 17

DOWNTOWNVIEW

henderson

main street

Words by JO LEE FERGUSON | Photos by LES HASSELL

WHEN

James and Jon Nicholson were looking for a place to live out their retirement plans, they

found Henderson.

James Nicholson is a fashion designer who once worked in Dallas and New York, and they’re both master florists who had opened a store in New Orleans. They found it was too busy. They wanted to settle down and found their answer in Henderson and the 96-year-old Rayford Florist & Gifts.

“We drove downtown and fell in love with the old building,” Nicholson says of the store’s more than 100-year-old home at 123 E. Main St. in downtown Henderson.

In the four years since they purchased the store, Nicholson has become an unofficial leader of efforts to organize downtown shop owners and promote the city’s Main Street. He maintains the Facebook page “Shopping Downtown Henderson Texas.”

“The downtown has a very different feel to it than a lot of downtowns.

It is the heart of Henderson,” he says, describing the range of stores in downtown Henderson — high-end men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, small restaurants, gifts, antiques and more.

“We all pull together,” he says. “There’s a since of community, a sense of heritage, and it goes back to, we understand that if one store is really doing great, we can all pull together and do better. We’re actively pursuing that.”

Good shopping, with beautiful restored buildings and a friendly atmosphere. That’s what makes Henderson’s downtown a place to visit, says Judy Lewis, the city’s Main Street coordinator.

“It’s good to be here,” she says, reciting the driving motto behind the city’s downtown area. Henderson has been a Texas Main Street City since the 1980s.

“We’ve worked many years with lots of improvements downtown,” Lewis says. “Currently, it is a beautiful – and I like the world charming – charming small town. It has that small-town, friendly atmosphere.”

It also has renovated historic buildings, made possible by building owners “who have a lot of compassion and pride in making that downtown area beautiful,” Lewis says.

The city holds its annual Syrup Festival downtown each year, and Christmas activities and events organized by the business owners

18 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

themselves provide more reasons for people to visit downtown. On Feb. 10, the city will host a gumbo cookoff, with a beer and wine garden, and a zydeco band from 5 to 9 p.m.

In the past year, Henderson added a “pocket park” downtown, with seating, umbrellas during the summer, landscaping and public restrooms.

It’s located near the city’s public library, and offers a place for people to sit down and read a book, Lewis says. Heritage Park also is located downtown and features several historical markers.

The Depot Museum, including the Children’s Discovery Center, is located just a few blocks outside of the nine-block Main Street area.

Restaurants invite people to enjoy a meal downtown.

“We don’t have any chain restaurants downtown,” Lewis says. “All of these are independently owned by people that live in Henderson. They’ve been around for a while.”

Then, there are the shops, a couple dozen retail stores, gift shops, and antique and vintage stores.

“We have several buildings that have been beautifully, historically correctly renovated,” Lewis says, noting the renovation of the Citizens National Bank building back to its 1930s appearance is particularly worth seeing.

“To me, it’s one of the highlights downtown,” Lewis says. “However, there are other outstanding buildings that have been beautifully renovated.”

Insurance, attorneys and financial services offices, along with barber shops and hair salons round out downtown Henderson’s offerings.

Henderson, Lewis says, advertises itself as the “Heart of East Texas.” It’s right in the middle, an easy drive from just about all of East Texas.

James Nicholson says people from Longview, Tyler and Nacogdoches shop in Henderson, and he’s heard them remark about how they long for their towns to offer the kind of shopping opportunities found in downtown Henderson.

The stores in downtown Henderson work hard not to carry the same lines of merchandise, with a number of them stocking their stores with products made by local residents.

“We’re taking the whole community with us,” Nicholson says.

Businesses In and Near Downtown Henderson: RETAIL

Strong-Hurt Pharmacy 111 E. Main St. (903) 657-3587 Mygnp.com Rayford Florist & Gifts 123 E. Main St. (903) 657-2285 www.rayfordflorist.com, Facebook Possibilities (clothing, antiques, home décor) 110 E. Main St. (903) 722-0841 Facebook North Marshall Antiques 108 N. Marshall St. Covenant Antiques 103 N. Jackson St. (903) 722-9091 Facebook The Curious Wren (antiques, vintage dolls and toys, kitchen spices) 123 S. Main St. (903) 655-1234 Facebook Merle Norman Cosmetics & 101 Boutique 304 S. Main St. (903) 657-3569 Facebook Donovan’s (Christmas wonderland, home décor, silk flowers) 112 E. Main St. (903) 655-2240 Facebook Special T’s & QC Jewelry Boutique (custom tees, clothing, spirit items, jewelry) 107 E. Elk St. (903) 657-3521 specialtsscreenprinting.com, Facebook

Rachelle’s and Foxx III Salon (ladies clothing, shoes, jewelry, salon) 121 E. Main St. (903) 657-2297 www.foxx111salon.com, Facebook Nelda’s Nook (antiques, vintage Christmas, one-of-a-kind items) 112 N. Marshall St. (903) 657-2332 Facebook Earl’s Men’s Shop 116 E. Main St. (903) 657-6535 Facebook Quick Copy (office supplies, custom printing and signs) 211 S. Main St. (903) 657-1649 hendersonquickcopyprinting.com, Facebook Kelly B’s on the Square (antiques, clothing, lunch, sweets) 128 E. Main St. (903) 392-8288 Facebook Faith’s Fashion World (women’s clothing, accessories) 120 N. Marshall St. (903) 714-9149 Facebook Wild Iris-Kaleidoscope 119 S. Marshall St. (903) 657-9600 Facebook Hillbillies Vintage Heaven Antiques & Collectables 112 S. Main St. (903) 649-3149 Facebook

Sweet Pickin’s Antique Market 113 S. Main St. (903) 780-2476 Peterson’s Home Furnishings 124 N. Marshall (903) 657-5315 Facebook Margaret & Ophelia’s Antiques & Uniques 100 N. Marshall St. (903) 392-8260 Revive Salon and Children’s Boutique 114 S. Main St. (903) 646-6290 Facebook Western Auto 101 N. Jackson St. (903) 657-3706 P.H.A.T.’S (extension bar and makeup studio) 122 N. Marshall St. (903) 722-0734 Facebook

RESTAURANTS MoJoe’s Coffee Café 106 W. Main St. (903) 392-8200

www.gomojoes.com, Facebook Brick Street Grill 201 S. Main St. (903) 445-6161

Facebook

Debbie’s Bistro

119 S. Marshall St. (903) 392-8036

www.debbiesbistro.com, Facebook Corner Pocket

101 S. Calhoun St. (903) 722-1512

Facebook

ARTS/MUSEUMS

Depot Museum and Children’s Discovery Center 514 N. High St. (903) 657-4303

www.depotmuseum.com Henderson Civic Theatre

Mane Street Salon (salon and yoga) 114 E. Main St. (903) 738-2086 www.manestreetsalon.com, Facebook

122 E. Main St. (903) 657-2968

Bahama Mamaz Tanning Hut (tanning, clothing) 119 S. Main St. (903) 392-8846 Facebook

104 N. Marshall St. (903) 646-9155 (by appointment)

Tracy Arnold Massage Therapy 116 N. Marshall St. (903) 452-2308 tracyarnold.amtamembers.com, Facebook

hendersoncivictheatre.org Paint with Pizzaz Facebook

Mudslingers

102 N. Marshall St. (903) 658-1616

Facebook

news-journal.com 19

NON-PROFITVIEW

longview world of wonders Words by APRIL BARBE | Photos by COURTNEY CASE & MICHAEL CAVAZOS

CELEBRATING

its

first

birthday at

its current location in August, Longview World of Wonders is starting to become a household name in the area, according to coordinators.

“Blessed with an abundance of support by the community of Longview,” the organization says, it offers fun programs and exhibits for local children.

“It is solely because of the graciousness and selflessness of our donors and sponsors that we have been able to watch Longview World of Wonders grow in ways we never thought possible,” said Activities Coordinator Kristin Koonce.

The idea for LongviewWOW was born in 2009 when community

“The House” just opened a few months ago and was an “immediate hit,” according to Koonce.

She said it encourages role play and gives children the opportunity to see the kitchen and home from a different perspective. This gives them a chance to use their understanding of the proper way to set a table, prepare a meal and organize the kitchen items. Children can also slide out the kitchen window.

“Build It” is a Legos exhibit that gives children a place to challenge each other to develop ideas and build structures with their hands.

In addition to its permanent exhibits, LongviewWOW offers a variety of traveling exhibits and special events throughout the year.

members began to explore creating a hands-on children’s museum. In

A nonprofit organization, LongviewWOW draws support, in part,

October 2009, Longview World of Wonders became the official name

from donations and fundraisers. Its annual Bourbon and Bowties

and the “museum without walls” was launched. In early 2013, the

fundraiser is slated for Feb. 3. Funds from that will support the

former Texas Furniture building in downtown Longview was purchased

museum’s operating budget as it continues to work toward offering

to house LongviewWOW. It opened in August 2016 at the location.

more exhibits for children.

“Longview World of Wonders is the epitome of every childhood

Up next, LongviewWOW is working to build an exhibit called

dream. The interests and passions we had as kids reflect our calling

Energy City, an idea drawn from the fact that East Texas is known for

as adults. Having the opportunity to imagine, create and explore in

its natural energy resources, Koonce said.

a hands-on educational environment opens the door to the endless possibilities that lay ahead of each child. Our facilities challenge children to think outside of the box and find new and exciting ways to solve problems and develop ideas,” Koonce said.

The museum has a variety of hands-on exhibits for children. The most popular exhibits are “The Market,” “The House” and “Build It,” she said.

“Energy City will highlight our coal, natural gas, oil and other energy industries. This exhibit is included in our Phase II development plan,” she said.

Koonce said she believes the hands-on museum can be a lifechanging place for children with countless opportunities to expand their knowledge and use their imaginations.

“The Market” allows children to explore how food is grown and the

“Longview World of Wonders is proof that there is never a better

process it goes through to get from the farm, to the store, and then to

time than now to allow your child the chance to discover all the world

your kitchen table. Children are able to experience life on the farm as

has to offer. It is proof education doesn’t end in the classroom and

they tend to animals in the stable, gather eggs from a lifelike chicken

stretches far beyond their childhood years,” she added.

coop and plant vegetables in upraised gardens.

20 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

For more information, visit www.longviewwow.org.

EVENTVIEW

kilgore to longview run Words by CLARE MCCARTHY | Photos by COURTNEY CASE

WHEN

the Kilgore to Longview Run first began in 1976, the Longview Running Club didn’t expect it to become so popular. But by the late 1980s, the race brought in more than 600 runners and was a big hit with the surrounding communities. Every year, people came in droves to run the 11 miles along Texas 31 from downtown Kilgore to the Longview fairgrounds, and every year seemed a greater success.

But in the early 1990s, there was major construction along Texas 31, forcing the Longview Running Club to find a different route. The race was changed to the “Diana to Longview Run,” with the route following U.S. 259 into the north side of Longview. Because of some safety and technical issues, the race slowly fizzled out and eventually ended in 2001.

“We’d always talked about it in the club, just because it was so popular,” said Christina Little, secretary of the Longview Running Club.

“And last year, we just decided to bring it back and see what happens.”

In February 2017, the Longview Running Club put on the first Kilgore to Longview Run in 16 years. The response was even better than expected, and now club organizers are preparing for the 2018 race.

“I think we were expecting about 150 participants,” Little said of the 2017 run. “But as registration progressed, we saw more and more people were signing up, and so we thought ‘OK, it’s going to be over 200.’”

More than 300 people, including some former members of the Longview Running Club, ended up running the race.

“When the running club was really big, they had so many faithful members,” Little said. “They’re older now, like in their 60s and 70s, and it was really great to see them all get together.”

The members took a picture together in 2017 and reminisced about the early days of the club, sharing fond memories of other club members who had passed away over the years.

And that wasn’t the only way the race brought the communities of Longview and Kilgore together. Proceeds from the race benefited Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that works to build affordable

housing for those living in poverty. The club raised about $13,000 to give to the charity.

This year, the race will benefit HeartsWay Hospice, a nonprofit organization that provides hospice services to the terminally ill throughout Northeast Texas. Local businesses act as sponsors for the race and help raise funds for the charity.

Little said the Longview Running Club hopes to spotlight different charities each year.

“Anything that can help get local businesses and people together and help contribute to an event that benefits a local charity, that is really big,” she said. “And it touches a lot of people’s lives.”

The 2018 Kilgore to Longview Run will be held at 8 a.m. Feb. 10.

Advance registration is $55 through Dec. 31. Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 8, advance registration is $65. Registration and information is available online at www.longviewrunningclub.com.

Runners are encouraged to register in advance and dress appropriately for the weather. Water, sports drinks and portable toilets will be provided along the route, and buses will shuttle people from the Longview fairgrounds to the start line in Kilgore. An after party featuring food, beverages and a live band will take place at the Longview fairgrounds following the race.

if

you go

KILGORE TO LONGVIEW RUN When: 8 a.m. Feb. 10 Where: Runners gather at Longview Fairgrounds and will be shuttled to Kilgore; race ends at fairgrounds Cost: $55 through Dec. 31; $65 Jan. 1-Feb. 8 Information: www.longviewrunningclub.com

news-journal.com 21

EVENTSVIEW

calendar of events LONGVIEW Go-Giver Gala 7 p.m. Jan. 6

East Texas Boat & RV Show Jan. 26-28

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

The Summit: Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 www.belchercenter.com

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

Stars Over Longview 11:30 a.m. Jan. 11

East Texas Open Jiu Jitsu Grappling Tournament 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27

East Texas Builders Association Home & Design Show Feb. 9-11

Unity Honors Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Feb. 21

www.easttexasbuilders.org

(903) 237-1019

Longview Jaycees Trade Days Feb. 10-11

Prom Boutique 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 21

Gregg County Historical Museum, 214 N. Fredonia St.

(903) 753-4478

(903) 399-6606

East Texas Golden Gloves Regional Boxing Tournament Feb. 1-3

Kilgore to Longview Run 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 10 Longview Fairgrounds, 100 Grand Blvd.

Feminar Feb. 23-24

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

(903) 987-9944

(903) 237-4000

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

(903) 553-7400

(903) 740-5491

Longview Jaycees Trade Days Jan. 13-14

“The Road to the Promised Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement” exhibit Jan. 30-March 10

Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

(903) 753-4478

Longview Chamber of Commerce Banquet 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

(903) 918-1546

Invest in the Next Generation Comedy Gala, featuring Michael Jr. 7 p.m. Jan. 20

Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

www.belchercenter.com

Classic Arms Productions Gun & Knife Show Jan. 20-21

Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

(985) 624-8577

www.gregghistorical.com

Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

www.easttexasgoldengloves.com Go Red for Women Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Feb. 2

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

(903) 330-9812

Bourbon and Bowties Feb. 3

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

www.longviewwow.org

22 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

Longview/Marshall Texas Cinderella Pageant 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 17

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

www.longviewrunningclub.com Longview Symphony’s Bach to the Future 7 p.m. Feb. 10

Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

www.belchercenter.com

East Texas Symphonic Band 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12

Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

www.belchercenter.com

www.texascinderellapageant.com

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd.

Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive

Belcher Center, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

www.belchercenter.com

KILGORE

Relay for Life Kick Off Cook Off 6 p.m. Jan. 15

Forest Home Baptist Church Family Life Center, 15746 County Road 173 N.

www.facebook.com/ ACSRelayForLifeOfKilgore/

Bach’s Lunch, presented by Longview Symphony 11:45 a.m. Jan. 19

First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore, 815 E. Main St.

longviewsymphony.org

Texas Two Step Casino Night Fundraiser 6 p.m. Jan. 20

Kilgore to Longview Run

National Guard Armory, 1807 Stone Road

(830) 285-8248

Tony Pace in Concert 7 p.m. Jan. 22

Dodson Auditorium, 817 Nolen St.

kilgoreconcerts.com

Kilgore Chamber Orchestra 7 p.m. Feb. 24

Dodson Auditorium, 817 Nolen St.

kilgoreconcerts.com

HENDERSON

Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook Off 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 10 Downtown Henderson

(903) 657-6551

Henderson Civic Theatre’s “Blood Brothers Musical” Feb. 16-18 and Feb. 23-25 Henderson Civic Theatre, 122 E. Main St.

hendersoncivictheatre.com

MARSHALL

Stars Over Longview

Marshall Symphony League Bunco Girls Night Out 6 p.m. Jan. 6

Marshall Convention Center, 2501 East End Blvd. S.

marshalltexas.com

JEFFERSON

Quilts on the Bayou Jan. 26-28

Jefferson Institute, 120 E. Austin St.

jeffersonquiltshow.com Queen Mab Ball 8 p.m. Jan. 27

Jefferson Tourism and Visitor Center, 305 E. Austin St.

www.mardigrasupriver.com Mardi Gras Upriver Feb. 9-11 Downtown Jefferson

www.mardigrasupriver.com Chocolate Sunday 3 p.m. Feb. 18

Kitt’s Kornbread Sandwich and Pie Bar, 125 N. Polk St.

Go Red for Women Luncheon

(903) 665-2310

Want your event listed in the Calendar of Events?

Please send information to clane@news-journal.com with the subject line “View Calendar.”

The deadline to submit March/April events is Jan. 31.

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PICTURE THIS

ROCKERS,

RIDERS & RIBS

CINDY JACOBSON, SUSAN CLARK

LONGVIEW | DOWNTOWN LONGVIEW | 10/21/2017 Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

The biggest biker rally in East Texas revved up downtown Longview in October. Rockers Riders & Ribs rocked out with thousands of bikers, shoppers and those just looking for a good time. In its second year, the festival expanded to a two-day format featuring musical acts both nights. Foghat, best known LEE JAY, KEITH BROWN

for its hit “Slow Ride,” served as headliner Oct. 21.

LYNETTE & RAPHE SANCHEZ

CLINT & CARRIE PETERSON

24 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

CYNTHIA & KEN WARREN

PHILLIP COLLIER, CAROLE PARKS

CHLOE DUNN & SABRA ROUNDS

PICTURE THIS

GOLD RUSH LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 10/21/2017 Photos by COURTNEY CASE

About 700 people attended the 2017 Gold Rush, which raises funds for a project designated by the Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center Guild. The guild is comprised of dozens of volunteers who give time to serve the hospital. The 2017 Gold Rush will allow the hospital to buy new heart-lung bypass machines and add an Intravascular Ultrasound in the cardiovascular service line.

NIKI & DARREN GROCE

NORMA & ALLEN BARRIELLEAX

BLAKE CAMMACK, MEGAN LAVEMS

SHANE & KRISTA STEWART

BLAKE PICKETT, WHITNEY FORD

ELIZABETH & JAY MITCHELL

PAT & STEPHANIE STACEY

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HARVEST FESTIVAL

BUYERS DINNER

LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 10/28/2017

JIMMIE, CIERA, JAKE & CHERYL JOHNSON

Photos by LES HASSELL

The 2017 Harvest Festival and Livestock Show concluded Oct. 28 with a buyers’ dinner and exhibition of champions. The Harvest Festival and Livestock Show, along with a spring crawfish boil, raises funds to award scholarships to students in a five-county area in East Texas.

JANICE & MIA GAGE

SONYA, EMILY, JONATHAN, BENJAMIN, KAITLYN & MARK MATHEW TOBI & GRACI MELSON, GAYLE FERRELL

CLARA & SCOTT BROWN

26 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

JANA & ROD CORY

JAMIE & CINDY SMITHERMAN

PICTURE THIS

BACH’S LUNCH CHELSEY & JENNIFER DICKEY

LONGVIEW | FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | 12/1/2017 Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS

East Texans kicked off the Christmas season Dec. 1 with music provided during Bach’s Lunch, a free lunchtime concert series offered

by Longview Symphony to showcase the work of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Featured organists Dec. 1 were Bill Bane, Gala Strunk, Jay Callender and Lorenz Maycher.

JIMMIE & KIRK GREEN

AIDA & JIM LACAZE

MIKE & LINDA FITZHUGH

JACKIE ROACH, GAY MUSTON

DELANEY & MEIGAN DICKEY

news-journal.com 27

LOCALVIEW

to

eat, drink & do in east texas

to eat

CAFÉ BARRON'S

Elegant yet casual, Café Barron’s serves lunch, brunch and dinner, with daily specials throughout the week. Indulge in your favorite wine, beer or cocktail from the bar.

405 W Loop 281 Suite F, Longview (903) 663-4737, www.shopbarrons.com

to shop BARRON'S

Barron’s is your one-stop shop for gifts, clothes, jewelry, accessories, home décor, books and more. Shop Barron’s for all of your holiday and special occasion needs.

405 W Loop 281 Suite F, Longview (903) 663-4737, www.shopbarrons.com

DARLA'S GIFT SHOP Stop in at the only gift shop in Gladewater open five days a week! Shop women's fashion, accessories, specialty food items, locally made candles and much more.

100 S. Main St., Gladewater (903) 845-9999 www.facebook.com/DarlasGiftShopGladewater

HERITAGE WINE & SPIRITS Heritage is a modern Wine and Spirits retailer, designed to elevate your “beverage” shopping experience.

Wines, Spirits, Craft Beers and a friendly, knowledgeable staff!

2000 N. Eastman Rd., Longview, (430) 625-7121

MERLE NORMAN Invest in the best cosmetics and skincare at Merle Norman. Take advantage of their free skin analysis, free five minute hydrating facial, free make-up lessons plus much more.

3500 McCann, #L7A, Longview Mall, Longview (903) 753-0041, www.merlenorman.com 28 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y

RACQUET & JOG LONGVIEW

We are a retail store specializing in running. Additionally, we offer tennis equipment, tees, everyday accessories, shoes for different lifestyles, & various clothing for men, women and children.

1419 W. Loop 281, Longview (903) 759-6856

to do BELCHER CENTER Enjoy a bit of culture in your life. Take in special performances, concerts, community events and more. Go online for a schedule of events.

LeTourneau University, Stegall Dr., Longview (903) 233-3080 www.belchercenter.com

services

CASA FLORA FLOWER SHOP Stop and smell the roses … and order some too! Beautiful flowers for all occasions are available for delivery to the East Texas area.

314 Magnolia Ln., Longview, (800) 2454614, www.casafloraflowers.com

CHERRY HILL MEDSPA FemTouch, Coolsculpting, skin laser procedures and skin treatments. Also, Botox fillers from performing Medical Directors Philip Hawner, M.D., plastic surgeon, Dr. Alyn Hatter, dermatologist, and a licensed staff.

1515 Judson Road, Longview (903) 757-2955

CHRISTUS GOOD SHEPHERD HEALTH SYSTEM

CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System sets the standard for health, wellness and state-of-the-art healthcare in East Texas.

700 E. Marshall Ave., Longview, (903) 315-2000, christusgoodshepherd.org

services

EAST TEXAS PROFESSIONAL CREDIT UNION Take care of all your banking and financial needs with ETPCU. Become a member today and enjoy competitive rates on loans, mortgages, vehicles and more.

Multiple locations, www.etpcu.org

EASTMAN CREDIT UNION Be a part of something extraordinary with ECU. Banking, financing, loans and competitive rates add superior value to your life and help reach your financial goals.

3066 N. Eastman Rd., Longview; 300 Kodak Blvd., Longview (800) 999-2328, www.ecu.org

FLOOR MEDIC Your premium floor cleaning company is here to the rescue. They offer emergency water extraction, Oriental rug cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery cleaning and more.

322 W. Tyler Ave., Longview (903) 663-5509, www.floor-medic.com

LONGVIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Healing begins here as Longview’s community healthcare provider with 180 physicians and healthcare professionals, a 230-bed facility and national recognition in chest pain and stroke care.

2901 N. Fourth St., Longview (903) 758-1818, www.longviewregional.com

MASTER TRAVEL Plan your getaway with Master Travel.

Buy airline tickets, reserve your hotel, and find the best deals on vacations, rental cars and cruises plus much more.

100 E. Tyler Ave., Longview, (903) 753-5896

to

eat, drink & do in east texas

services

R & K DISTRIBUTORS

REA DENTAL

TEXAS BANK AND TRUST

This family owned and operated company offers up to 68 different brands of alcohol from five different breweries, including exclusive rights to the Anheuser-Busch products.

1302 E. Whaley St., Longview, (903) 758-4494, www.rkdistributors.com

From cosmetic dentistry to general dentistry, you’ll receive top-ofthe-line dental services, including sedation dentistry, in a calm, relaxing, family friendly environment for all ages and stages.

907 Walnut Hill Dr., Longview (903)753-3531, www.readental.com

Texas Bank and Trust has been serving East Texas for nearly 60 years. We serve 16 communities from Marshall, TX to the DFW metroplex. The directors, officers and employees of Texas Bank and Trust are committed to providing exceptional service and quality products to partner with our customers in achieving their financial goals.

ATMs worldwide.

Main Bank – 300 E. Whaley St.; Mortgage Lending – 304 N. Green St.; Pine Tree – 1800 W. Loop 281; Pine Tree Convenience – 1801 Gilmer Rd.; North Lgvw – 3622 McCann Rd. www.texasbankandtrust.com

To advertise your local business here, call 903-237-7736.

Cover Reveal Party

? ?

VIEW

Thursday, February 22nd, 2018 5-7PM Get a Sneak Peek at the Cover of the Next Charm/View Magazine FABULOUS FOOD, PLENTIFUL REFRESHMENTS SHOPPING, SAMPLING AND FUN

MERELE NORMAN COSMETIC STUDIO Longview Mall 3500 McCann Rd.

Sponsors

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