C A L E NDA R OF EVEN TS | PI C TUR E TH I S! | N O N PR O FI T V I E W
VIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
COVER STORY
Erika & Preston Rader
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
contents RE VIEW
6
TO EAT: Fuji Japanese Restaurant
HEALTH VIEW
7
Diet Changes for a Healthier You
COVER VIEW
8
Committed to Community
FESTIVAL VIEW
12
Jefferson Mardi Gras
8
HOME VIEW
14
The Bramlette Estate
EVENT VIEW
20
Texas Bourbon Shootout
NON-PROFIT VIEW
22
Longview Symphony
IN EVERY ISSUE 24 26 28
Calendar of Events To Eat, Drink & Do in East Texas Picture This!
12
14 ON THE COVER Love of community. Love of family. It’s at the heart of what drives Preston and Erika Rader. The husband and wife team are this year’s co-chairs of Longview’s premier spirited event: Bourbon & Bowties, which benefits Longview World of Wonders, at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex in Longview.
4 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
Dear readers,
The couple has renovated this Longview landmark and
Is it too late to say Merry Christmas? I hope Santa Claus was good
furnished it with carefully selected antiques. Now, they’ve opened it up for use by local nonprofit organizations. Did I
to you, and I hope you have big plans for ringing in the new year. We here at Charm and View magazines are kicking off 2019
mention it’s beautiful? Actually, that’s an understatement. It’s stunning. Breathtaking. Spectacular. This home is actually not too
with a great first edition for the year. In Charm, you’ll read about a woman who is responsible for
far from my house, and it’s always been a great mystery to me
inspiring and guiding generations of young dancers in Longview.
and my children. It’s tucked away at the end of a long drive, on
Pat George Mitchell is celebrating her 50th year as founder and director of the Longview Ballet Theatre, which in addition to providing classical ballet training also brings professional ballet to Longview to perform with local dancers. She’s been assisted for 14 years by Executive Director Toni Erskine, who is handing off the reigns to Courtney Woodall Armstrong. The dedication these women have to this art form, specifically, and the arts in Longview, in general, is beautiful. In View magazine, you’ll read about Preston and Erika
a beautifully wooded property that conceals the house from the road. I hope you enjoy peeking inside this elegant home as much as I did. Of course, there’s lots more: a feature on successful local businesswoman Wanda Minx; the 50th anniversary of the Longview Symphony; the 30th anniversary of Jefferson’s Mardi Gras celebration; a local dietitian’s recommendations for eating better in the New Year; and a new event that’s certain to be popular while also raising money for Longview World of Wonders — the Texas Bourbon Shootout.
Rader. The next generation of the Rader Funeral Home family,
In our fashion and Shop This features, we’ll show you some
they’re making their mark in Longview. They are co-chairs of
great finds for getting dressed up and staying warm now that
the upcoming Bourbon & Bowties, a popular annual event that
winter is settled in.
benefits Longview World of Wonders, a children’s hands-on
Thanks for another great year
discovery center in downtown Longview, and they give their time
with Charm and View magazines. We
to other community organizations as well.
look forward to telling more of your
I’m particularly excited about a new feature on the View side of
stories in 2019.
the magazine — Home View. With each edition of the magazine we’ll feature a home we’re all dying to see the inside of, starting this month with the beautiful Bramlette Estate in Longview, jferguson@news-journal.com
owned by Nelson and Misty Roach.
100 E. Tyler St. | Longview, Texas | 903.753.5896 • 800.253.2961 | www.mastertrvl.com
Corporate
Cruise
Group
Wedding & Honeymoon
Adventure
We’ve been there. news-journal.com 5
REVIEW
to
eat
Fuji Japanese Restaurant Words by FINN O’CONNOR
I love reviewing sushi restaurants because there is so much
We had two appetizers. The Yellowtail Jalapeno was served
that they can do right to make the evening wonderful. They are
with a yuzu truffle oil. It was very good, but perhaps a bit too
great places to go for a date night.
much yellowtail for an appetizer. We also had the Squid Salad and
Fuji Japanese Restaurant has the best sushi in Longview — hands down the best. It is always good. I do hold sushi restaurants to a higher standard, especially in the presentation and in their eel sauce. I base a lot of my judgment of a sushi restaurant on how good their eel sauce is, and I am not alone. I once had an owner/chef of a sushi restaurant tell me
it was delicious. I was able to taste several different flavors in the sauce that was blended with the squid and greens. One other fun part of going to a sushi restaurant is drinking sake. Fuji has a great selection of sake and they are all reasonably priced. Here is a little-known fact about drinking sake: It is not
the same thing, that he judges all sushi restaurants by their eel
proper for the person pouring the sake to pour some into their
sauce. So, I am sure you are asking, “How is Fuji’s eel sauce?” It is
own bowl. So, when I needed more, my wife would pour it and
wonderful. Perfect. Not too sweet and not too thick.
vice versa. We chose the Nigori which is the cold, creamy white
And while we are on eel, I did ask the waitress one question
sake. The clear sake is normally served warm. Fuji also has a full
that she answered incorrectly. (Every sushi restaurant in
bar, which I think is a nice addition for those who would like to
Longview has gotten this question wrong, including once by the
have a drink but do not like sake.
owner himself at another sushi restaurant.) I asked her if the eel was fresh water eel or salt water eel. She looked at me bewildered for a moment and said, “It is just eel.” Okay it might have been an unfair question but not really, especially since the menu says, “fresh water eel.” Waiters and waitresses should know their menu. The pieces of fish in the sushi at Fuji are never too small or
Fuji had a small selection of desserts, including fried, tempurastyle ice cream and tempura bananas. The presentation was better than the dessert itself. There was not much of a taste to them. Finally, about the atmosphere: Fuji’s interior looks like a sushi restaurant. From the minute you open the door, the décor says
too big. Yes, for me, pieces of raw fish can be too big. Also, the
Japanese restaurant. There are, or better put, were several sushi
presentation of each dish is picture perfect.
restaurants in Longview that had no décor to suit the style of
I love the boat they use when serving multiple rolls and sushi. In our boat, we had four pieces of yellowtail, four pieces of of tuna
restaurant. In fact, they had no décor at all. Atmosphere helps when enjoying a restaurant. Fuji has that and at a very reasonable price.
and two rolls: the Fuji roll, which is shrimp tempura, crabmeat
If you are now hungry for sushi or if you are looking for a great
and avocado wrapped in soybean sheet topped with salmon,
place for a date night, I highly recommend Fuji. I give Fuji an A
avocado and tobiko; and the Volcano roll which is baked crabmeat
for food and service and a A+ for its décor and atmosphere.
and avocado, topped with crawfish, kani, massago and crunch. Both were delicious. I enjoy dipping them in a bit of eel sauce, so I always ask for a side of eel sauce.
FUJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT 3098 N. Eastman Road, Suite 106, Longview | (903) 663-9888 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Takes Reservations No | Delivery Through Waitr | Take-out Yes | Accepts Credit Cards Yes | Good for Groups Yes, Call Ahead Attire Casual | Alcohol Yes | Outdoor Seating No | Has TV Yes
6 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
HEALTH VIEW
diet changes for a healthier you Words by CLARE MCCARTHY
WE’VE
all heard the phrase “you are what you eat.”
you are giving the power to someone else to determine the quality
While we can’t blame all our problems
and ingredients of your food.”
on what we put into our bodies, the foods we consume play a crucial role in how we feel, physically and mentally. Danielle Heard is a certified clinical and functional nutritionist and owner of Artemis in the City, a local business that offers nutrition services. She said the foundation of our health is within the foods we eat and what we put into our bodies.
3. Eat four to six servings (1/2 cup = 1 serving) of non-starchy vegetables per day (i.e. broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, green beans, collard greens, bok choy, cabbage, radishes, onions, leeks, scallions, celery, snow peas, zucchini, etc.) 4. Drink plenty of water (preferably reverse osmosis, filtered or spring water that is free of chemicals). Heard said many
“It’s important for people to eat a healthy diet to supply their
underlying health issues are caused by dehydration, and when
body with the necessary nutrients it needs,” Heard said. “When
people begin to increase their intake of water, they often see those
we’re eating healthy diets, we’re helping our bodies detoxify
issues reverse.
naturally, so we’re able to reduce inflammation and excess fluids and essentially improve our moods.”
5. Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids in foods such as quality fish and fish oil, hemp seeds and oil, flax seeds and oil, chia seeds,
Heard has spent the past 12 years training in biochemistry
walnuts, etc. “What science actually shows is that omega-3 fatty
and functional medicine and helps people with a wide range of
acids actually are really important for protection and reducing
health conditions. She uses diagnostic labs to treat patients with
inflammation in the body,” Heard said. “And they’re also healthy
more personalized nutrition therapy, but she also provides clinical
for our brain functioning.”
nutrition services to people across the country via telephone. She said the key to being healthy is eating the right foods for your body, since we all react differently to certain diets and nutrition. “We’re all bio-individually different,” Heard said. “So what’s good for one person may not necessarily be good for another person.” According to Heard, our bodies send us messages that we often try to ignore. Headaches, fatigue, gas, diarrhea, itchiness and dandruff are a few of the ways your body might be trying to tell you it isn’t happy with what’s being put in it, Heard said.
6. Choose steaming, stewing, boiling and poaching as methods of cooking to help reduce the formation of harmful advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs). These are pathogenic glycotoxins and lipotoxins that can cause oxidative damage and inflammation leading to the progression of chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease and kidney disease, Heard says. 7. Incorporate herbal teas that are rich in antioxidants and can help your body detoxify (i.e. rooibos, chamomile, milk thistle,
Along with getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night, reducing
mint, nettles, etc.) “These provide antioxidants for the body,”
stress and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake, Heard has dietary
Heard said. “Some of them help with relaxation and they also can
suggestions for people looking to live a healthier lifestyle in 2019:
help with liver detoxification.”
1. Select unprocessed foods in their natural forms. Eliminate processed foods (i.e. refined sugar, processed flour, junk foods, transfats, artificial chemicals and colorings, partially hydrogenated oils, etc.) 2. Cook and prepare your own foods so that you can control the quality and the ingredients. Heard said this is critical to leading a healthier lifestyle because “if you don’t prepare your own foods,
DANIELLE HEARD
certified clinical and functional nutritionist and owner of Artemis in the City news-journal.com 7
COVER VIEW
COMMITTED TO
COMMUNITY Words by ANNTOINETTE MOORE | Photos by LES HASSELL
8 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
Erika, left, and Preston Rader at Longview World of Wonders.
L
ove of community. Love of family. It’s at the heart of what drives Preston and Erika Rader. The husband and wife team are this year’s co-chairs of Longview’s premier spirited event: Bourbon & Bowties, which benefits Longview World of Wonders, at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at the
Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex in Longview. LongviewWOW, a children’s hands-on discovery center, opened in August 2016 in downtown Longview, about seven years after a group of volunteers resurrected an idea for a children’s museum that first surfaced in the late 1990s. “We’ve seen how LongviewWOW has benefited children in our community. … Our kids love it,” Erika Rader said. She and Preston have an 8-year-old son, Benjamin, and a 4-year-old daughter, Abigail. “If we want to do something on a Saturday, we can go 5 minutes down the road and do physics experiments or creative play. We look forward to our kids growing up and talking about the memories they have of WOW,” Erika said. “Before, families had to travel to Tyler or Dallas to get this sort of experience. Not every family can do that. Some of the children who visit the museum have never been to one,” she said. It was 2014 when Cole Tomberlain approached the LongviewWOW board and offered to produce a bourbon-themed fundraiser. At that time, the museum had yet to open. “I committed to a three-year deal, and that I would raise at least $20,000 each year,” he said. Tomberlain, his wife, Kendall, and their friends organized the first event, which grossed $290,000. Bourbon & Bowties remains wildly successful, and the children’s museum is now a reality at 112 E. Tyler St. in Longview.
continued on pg. 10 news-journal.com 9
The Raders attended the first Bourbon & Bowties and have continued to support it. “We felt honored and humbled by the opportunity (to be cochairs), and up to the challenge. And Preston loves bourbon, so it was an absolute yes,” Erika said, laughing. About 550 people attended Bourbon & Bowties in 2017, which raised $242,000, Erika said. After expenses, LongviewWOW received $142,000. The goal is to raise $300,000 this year just for the museum. As co-chairs, “We are having so much fun! It reminds me of what a great listener Preston is,” Erika said. “It’s me and my best friend planning a really big party for a community and organization that we really love. I don’t think it can get better than that,” she said. Erika is a Hallsville graduate, while Preston graduated from Pine Tree. She attended Arizona State University, and he attended Texas Tech. They met through mutual friends after they returned to Longview after college. They both work for Preston’s family business, Rader Funeral Abigail and Benjamin Rader help place flags on veterans’ graves at Rosewood Park Cemetery, which also was developed by the Rader family. The children have been helping with the flags their entire lives, their mother, Erika, said. Photo Special to View
Homes in Longview and Henderson. Preston is funeral director and Erika is community relations coordinator. Preston’s great-grandfather, LeRoy Rader, came to East Texas from Illinois and started the family business in the late 1930s. LeRoy’s son, Charley, opened the Rader funeral home in Longview in 1953. Charley’s son, Charles (Preston’s father) is now co-owner, president and general manager of the company, which opened a funeral home in Henderson in 2006. Just 3 percent of family-owned businesses survive for four or more generations, according to the Family Business Alliance, which provides training and resources. “I really enjoy working with my family. I’m grateful for that,” Preston said. The funeral home business “has always been a part of my life. I picked weeds at the cemetery when I was 13 or 14 years old,” he said of Rosewood Park Cemetery, which the Rader family also established. “My grandmother, my aunts, my mom and dad – everyone is involved in the business,” Preston said. It has succeeded because of “the perseverance of my great grandfather, grandfather and my dad. I’m taking it over at the peak of its success,” he said. Preston also credits the firm’s employees. “They are great at their jobs. They are great at taking care of families and the deceased and honoring them,” he said.
Erika Rader is chairwoman of Asbury House’s Art Days and helped walk children from the preschool to the Longview Museum of Fine Arts. Photo Special to View 10 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
Erika said, “There’s also a lot of trust in the family. … (Charles Rader) trusts Preston with the legacy of his family; he trusts me as well.”
Family members talk to each other and are willing to learn from each other, she added. Being involved in the communities in which they work and live also has contributed to the success of his family’s business, Preston Rader said. He’s a member of the Rotary Club of Henderson, and supports Buckner, the Christian charitable organization, and its local, annual sporting clays tournament. Preston also participates in the Heartsway Hospice Golf Tournament each year. He is a member of the East Texas Funeral Directors Association, including serving as board member and president, and he’s on the board of the
Rader Funeral Home donated supplies to assist with Longview’s homeless outreach efforts. Photo Special to View
Texas Funeral Directors Association. His wife points out with a smile that he’s also the current Young Professional of the Year for the East Texas region of the Texas Funeral Directors Association. He and Erika also are active in the International Order of the Golden Rule, an association of family owned funeral homes. He led a new young professionals branch of that group that was started in the past five years, and Preston is a member of the Trinity School of Texas Board of Trustees. Erika also assists with the Heartsway golf tournament and Asbury House — a preschool for low-income families, and the Longview Wine Festival benefiting the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance. She’s also a member of the Junior League of Longview,
Erika Rader assists with Asbury House’s Arts Days, at Longview Museum of Fine Arts, as chairwoman of the program this year. Photo Special to View
chairing the group’s Kids in the Kitchen program, past president of Leadership Henderson Alumni Association and involved in her children’s schools — Trinity School of Texas and Hudson Pep. Erika organizes community and veteran support events through Rader Funeral Home. She also created a hospice outreach program and trains and supports funeral homes across the country on hospice support and relations. “Whether it’s Kilgore, Longview or Henderson, you have to care about the communities that you serve,” Preston said. Because of a related Longview fundraiser, the Texas Bourbon Shootout on Feb. 1, as many as 10 Texas bourbon distillers will be at Bourbon & Bowties this year, Tomberlain said. They’ll have samples of their bourbons and will be available to field questions from bourbon aficionados and would-be connoisseurs. In addition to dinner and dancing, party-goers can “tour” the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, as well as taste bourbons from Buffalo Trace, a key Kentucky distiller, he added. A full-service bourbon bar with more than a hundred bourbons will be on hand, plus mint, bacon and everything else needed to make cocktails.
Preston Rader helps place flags around Henderson as part of Henderson’s Rotary Club. Photo Special to View
if
you go
BOURBON & BOWTIES, BENEFITING LONGVIEW WORLD OF WONDERS When: 7 p.m. Feb. 2 Where: Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex, 100 Grand Blvd, Longview Tickets: $100 for general admission; VIP Tickets $175 Information: www.longviewwow.org/bourbon-bowties; Bourbon & Bowties on Facebook; (903) 746-5115
news-journal.com 11
FESTIVALVIEW
jefferson
mardi gras
Words by BECKY BELL | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS
FOR
the 30th year in March, Jefferson will celebrate
start time of 2 p.m., said Kelli Smith, president of this year’s
its early beginnings as a famous inland port by
Krewe of Hebe Mardi Gras Upriver.
holding its Krewe of Hebe Mardi Gras Upriver festival. In the early years, from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Jefferson was a port town much like Galveston and New Orleans and was the the most northern port from New Orleans, said former Jefferson Tourism Director Kevin Godfrey. “That’s how we got a lot of these French and Cajun influences in town, and that is where Mardi Gras comes from in Jefferson,” Godfrey said. “The roots of why we have Mardi Gras run deep back to the 1840s to the 1870s. This was the biggest turning basin, and the paddle wheels would come in and stop in Jefferson and unload and load up goods and turn around and go back to New Orleans.” Godfrey said Jefferson is home to the world’s first ammonia refrigerant ice plant and joked about the importance of ice in Mardi Gras celebrations. “We supplied all the ice from Jefferson to New Orleans, and you can’t have your hurricane (drink) without ice, right?” Godrey said. “This Mardi Gras is a several day and night event. As long as someone is still standing, we will have Mardi Gras.” If weather cooperates, Jefferson’s Mardi Gras is the largest in Texas other than Galveston’s, he said. This year’s Mardi Gras, scheduled March 1 to 3, has a theme
Smith, a Shreveport native, said she knows of the success of that city’s Mardi Gras, but said she believes the variety of offerings at the Jefferson Mardi Gars are more inviting to families. The March 3 children’s parade begins at 2 p.m. and is followed by a pet parade. Live music also is planned, beginning with the band Identity Crisis performing 7 to 10 p.m. Friday in the festival area in the alley on Austin Street. From 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, headliner the Kentucky Headhunters, which is a mix of country and Southern rock, will take the stage. And from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Snakebone will perform. Smith said the band has an 1980s rock vibe. “I’ve talked to several people who used to go over to Shreveport and decided to come to ours,” Smith said. “It’s so crazy and spread out over there, and ours is there together, and we have different entertainment for everyone.” The parades will pass the statue of Hebe at the intersection of Lafayette and Market streets. Smith said the event takes yearlong planning. “It’s Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then Mardi Gras, bam, bam, bam,” she said.
of “The Games that People Play.” The kickoff parade is the March
Smith said the population of Jefferson is 2,500 people while
1 Doo-Dah parade, where participants dress in kooky outfits and
Marion County’s is 10,000, but during Mardi Gras, the city
decorate their golf carts to begin the event.
sometimes welcomes almost 40,000 attendees.
The largest event — the grand parade — begins with
Victor Perot, a member of the Jefferson City Council who also
motorcycles in the lead at 1:30 p.m. March 2, but it has an official
was mayor the year Mardi Gras began, said the event started as
12 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
something officials expected to have a positive economic impact
great injection for their businesses, and that helps them survive
on the city.
the winter a little better,” he said. “I’m in the insurance business,
“We were elated because we probably did have about 15,000
and if it wasn’t for these others, I wouldn’t be in business. Just like
to 18,000 people the first year,” Perot said. “People were parking
any other city, we are trying to get the tourist’s dollars. Each and
as far as two and three miles from town and walking into town.”
every thing they do helps to create tax income for the city.”
Perot said Jefferson’s Mardi Gras was the brainchild of Greg
Weather is the one thing organizers of Krewe of Hebe Mardi
Garvey, who at that time owned the Auntie Skinner’s Riverboat
Gras Upriver have no control over. And although weather has
Club. After visiting local churches and civic clubs to gauge how
cooperated in past years, sleet ended this past year’s event. “We pray the good Lord shines upon us and lets us have a good
supportive members would be of such a festival, he brought it to the City Council, which gave its approval. Perot said at the time,
year,” Perot said. Other than downtown, parking also is available at the Jefferson
Garvey’s mother lived in New Orleans. “He knew people who lived here were not making any money at that period of time because people were not coming during
Convention Center and near the Historic Jefferson Railway at 400 E. Austin St. For information go to mardigrasupriver.com.
the winter months, and he thought it would be a good idea to put heads in bed,” Perot said. “He thought everyone could thrive, and
if
it worked out just the way he drew the thing up.” Perot said it is impossible to talk about Mardi Gras without
you go KREWE OF HEBE MARDI GRAS UPRIVER
When: March 1 to 3
talking about how important it is to sustaining businesses. “It’s just a great time of year to have it because people have gotten their taxes after the first of the year, and that helps give a
Where: Downtown Jefferson Cost: Free admission Information: www.mardigrasupriver.com
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news-journal.com 13
HOMEVIEW
the
bramlette estate Words by ANA P. WALKER | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS
14 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
The Bramlette Estate holds a significant place in Longview’s history, but it is love that propels it toward the city’s future: the love of childhood dreams, of nature, of hard work, of beautiful things, and the love between a husband and wife.
continued on pg. 16 news-journal.com 15
THE
Bramlette House, as some call it, sits on 22 acres at the corner of H.G. Mosley
and McCann Road, screened from view by lush greenery and enclosed by a white fence. A brick-paved drive winds through sculptured grounds and leads to the colonial revival home built in 1932 by Erskine Bramlette and now owned by Misty and Nelson Roach. Bramlette built the home on what was the family farm, according to Preservation Longview. His oldest son, Joseph, a graduate of the Harvard School of Architecture, designed the estate and the formal English gardens that boast several fountains.
Misty Roach speaks about her McCann Road home
Information provided by Misty Roach said Joseph lived in the home after his father’s death and was known for hosting lavish parties. Guests included Liberace and other celebrities such as Rock Hudson and Truman Capote. The home’s formal living room graced the cover of Architectural Digest in 1968. Since Bramlette’s death, the home has had two owners, Dr. David Sadler, who bought the home in 1991 and made extensive renovations, and the Roaches. Nelson, an attorney, bought the estate for Misty in 2016, and the couple has transformed the 7,000-squarefoot home’s interior that holds art, china and furniture, much of it from the 17th and 18th centuries. For Misty, it was a childhood dream come true. She has chosen each item herself, including a set of chairs that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte and countless other rare items. Not one to sit back and watch, Misty has taken an active role in the home’s transformation and now has taken aim at restoring even more of the grounds, at times working side by side with the grounds crew. She wants to see what emerges there as undergrowth is cleared and graceful oak trees are exposed along with some surprising finds, including a creek and structures that may have served as hideouts for people fleeing raids at local speakeasies in the last century, she said. The grounds were what drew the couple to the estate, having enjoyed the landscape for some time as they drove by. They have planted 7,000 daffodils and increased the azalea and rose bush populations by several thousand. In addition to living there, the Roaches want to to share the estate with as many people as possible, she said. Area nonprofit groups have benefited from events hosted by the Roaches. These include the Gregg County Historical Museum and the Longview continued on pg. 19 16 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
Nelson Roach in his home office
Nelson and Misty Roach in the main entry to their home
Jazz & Gin 1920’s-themed fundraiser benefiting Longview Ballet Theatre. Photo Special to View Jazz & Gin 1920’s-themed fundraiser benefiting Longview Ballet Theatre. Photo Special to View
news-journal.com 17
18 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
Ballet Theatre. During events, docents are assigned specific areas of the house to guide guests on tours. A self-taught designer, Misty owned a hair salon in Pittsburg for 25 years and sold home décor from there. Design continued to take a larger role in her life, and eventually she began designing entire homes. Now she searches the internet and Dallas antique shops for the items that inhabit the home she once dreamed of with the antiques that graced those dreams. The kitchen is Misty’s favorite room in the house, and she says the heart of any home is in its kitchen. The stove, manufactured in France, is flanked by a pair of 19th century Italian lion sculptures. A pair of white Ridgway pitchers and a silver centerpiece from the same era also sit in the room. In the evening, Misty and Nelson, whose law firm is in Daingerfield, exchange stories about their days, and she cooks dinner. After they began to date, the couple, married in 2015, found they shared a love of architecture and a passion for giving. When they bought the home, they wanted a place where they could entertain and share their good fortune. She had long admired the estate “with all the azaleas” but doubted it was for sale. To their surprise, it was, and Misty laughs as she recalls asking Nelson, “Did you bring your checkbook?” A few days later, it was theirs. “ ‘I want you to make this into our dream,’ ” he told her. “I was a dreamer, and Nelson has made it real.” She called longtime friend Pam Storey from Austin, who revived the home’s walls with Venetian plaster, providing the palette for Misty’s design acquisitions. General contractor David Calhoun shares Misty’s enthusiasm for reviving the estate. “I don’t think you realize what this place will be one day,” he told her. Surrounded by furnishings from past centuries when art lived not only in paintings but furnishings, tools, clothing, dishes and décor, Misty extends her dream outdoors. “The grounds I’ll work till the day I die,” she said, planning for the day when underprivileged children will hunt Easter eggs on the grounds, or just play. “This is what I’ve always wanted to share with someone who really loved me,” she said. “It’s our own private arboretum that we can share with others.” news-journal.com 19
EVENT VIEW
texas
bourbon shootout Words by ANNTOINETTE MOORE | Photos by LES HASSELL
BOURBON
connoisseurs will have a
champion. The live tasting will allow 250 lucky ticket-holders to
ringside seat when Lone
sip the bourbons along with the master.
Star distilleries duke it out to be named “The Best Bourbon in
Murray is being flown from his home in Great Britain just for the
Texas” at the first Texas Bourbon Shootout on Feb. 1 in Longview.
event. He is world-renowned for his expertise in all types of whiskeys.
“Bourbon is every man’s drink. It’s ingrained in our history.
Bourbon is truly an American product. It can only be made in
George Washington had a distillery,” Cole Tomberlain said.
the United States, a restriction which is written into U.S. trade
“Bourbon was a way of life. There’s so much history. That’s what’s
agreements, Tomberlain said.
intriguing to me.”
A liquor is not bourbon unless made of 51 percent corn, aged
The shootout, organized by local bourbon enthusiasts
in a new charred oak container and distilled to at least 80 proof
Tomberlain and Andrew Griffith, is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the
and no more than 160 proof when bottled, he said. And those are
Hilton Garden Inn, 905 E. Hawkins Pkwy. in Longview.
just some of the requirements.
The event is sponsored by the East Texas Bourbon Society
The shootout is unique — there has never been a contest
and proceeds benefit Longview World of Wonders, a hands-on
between bourbons produced in a single state before, Tomberlain
children’s museum. The museum’s annual fundraiser, Bourbon
said. To qualify for the contest, a bourbon must have been
and Bowties, will be held the following night, Feb. 2.
distilled, aged and bottled in Texas.
Jim Murray, author of “The Whiskey Bible,” will judge the best bourbons that 10 Texas distillers can produce and decide the 20 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
Bourbon is experiencing a boom right now, which is why he and Griffith decided it was time for such a contest.
“Our Texas bourbon distilleries are putting out incredible
“We wanted to dig into the history of it, the history of
products. … The distilleries are excited that they have an event
distilleries, the aging process, so we could understand what we
solely dedicated to their product,” continued Tomberlain, who
liked and didn’t like,” said Griffith, a food and beverage industry
grew up in Longview and works in his family’s business, the
consultant who works with restaurants.
Charles Tomberlain Insurance Agency.
The society has two chapters; the Longview one meets on the
Griffith agrees that Texas bourbon is unique.
third Tuesday of the month, and the Tyler group meets on the
“A lot of folks think you can only make bourbon in Kentucky,
fourth Tuesday of the month, Tomberlain said.
which is not accurate at all,” said the president of the East Texas
“We do a tasting, and it always has a theme, whether it’s Texas
Bourbon Society. “Texas is going to be to bourbon what California
bourbons or bourbons by a particular distillery,” he said. They also
is to wines. Love it or hate it, there’s something special about it.
taste and discuss other whiskies such as scotch and rye.
“High humidity is really good for aging bourbon. In Texas, we can age bourbon about three times as fast as they can in Kentucky, just because of the humidity,” he said. Garrison Brothers, the first Texas bourbon distillery, had some initial setbacks until the company realized that what worked for bourbon in Kentucky didn’t necessarily work here, Griffith said. “You may have the best recipe, but it’s going to take three or four years to find out” because the bourbon has to age, he added. Griffith and Tomberlain started the nonprofit bourbon society after the 2018 Bourbon & Bowties. They didn’t want to wait another year before getting together to taste, evaluate and discuss
“To me, what I enjoy is a rich, creamy bourbon. It’s smooth, but it’s a little bit thicker on the palate. I like a little bit of spice in there, a little bit of the char,” Tomberlain continued. Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace and Yellow Rose bourbons are good liquors to start with if you’re unfamiliar with bourbon, he said. There’s a saying: “Bourbon is 51 percent corn and 49 percent BS. The history, the stories, that’s part of the enjoyment,” Tomberlain said. “When you sit around with your friends drinking bourbon, that’s when the stories get told — and maybe embellished a little bit.”
if
you go THE TEXAS BOURBON SHOOTOUT
the finer points of bourbon.
When: 7 p.m. Feb. 1 Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 905 E Hawkins Pkwy., Longview Sponsored by: East Texas Bourbon Society
COLE TOMBERLAIN & ANDREW GRIFFITH Local Bourbon Enthusiasts
Supporting: Longview World of Wonders Tickets: $250 each Information: Call (903) 806-3338 or go to www.texasbourbonshootout.com East Texas Bourbon Society: www.easttexasbourbonsociety.com
news-journal.com 21
NONPROFIT VIEW
longview
symphony
Words by CLARE MCCARTHY | Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS & LES HASSELL
IN
the fall of 1968, a group of local high school students and
took a unique approach in the way the Longview Symphony
adult community musicians came together under the
was formed.
leadership of Dr. James Snowden to form a community orchestra.
“Our original approach was to create a true community
Fifty years later, that orchestra is still an integral part of the
orchestra, where we weren’t bringing in a bunch of paid
Longview community and is known as the Longview Symphony.
professionals from outside (the Longview area),” he said. “Of
To celebrate its anniversary, the symphony is set to perform
course, we had to do that to a certain extent when we had openings
Feb. 8 at the Mickey Melton Performing Arts Center at Longview
and we didn’t have anyone to fill them, but that was kind of our
High School, the same date the group first performed for the public in 1969. “I think it’s amazing that a town the size of Longview has had a symphony for 50 years,” says Erin Tooley, executive director of the Longview Symphony. “The fact that Longview has made that commitment as a community to keep the symphony, I think that’s incredible.” The symphony now is made up entirely of professional musicians from Longview, the Dallas and Forth Worth area, Shreveport and around East Texas. Many members are on staff at area universities and colleges, while others are music educators
guiding principle back in those days.” Snowden will conduct the upcoming anniversary concert, just as he did 50 years ago on the same date. He said he’s looking forward to it, especially since the orchestra plans to perform one of the original pieces played at the first concert in 1969, “Dvorak Slavonic Dance 8.” “There’s a cultural connection there to the first concert,” Snowden said. “I’m excited that they asked me.” Snowden also will speak at the Longview Symphony’s anniversary gala on Jan. 18. He said it’s important to continue educating the community about symphonic music and believes music is a building block of American culture.
in primary and secondary schools or teach music lessons privately.
“When you consider public education, would you consider
Numerous music directors have led the symphony over the
leaving out science or history? English literature? Mathematics?”
years, including conductors Dr. Frank Carrol, Tonu Kalam and
Snowden said. “To block off classical music — the music of our
Dr. Gene Moon.
English/Northern European culture — just doesn’t make any more
Snowden, who was the conductor of the symphony for about 10 years after its founding, said he and the other symphony founders 22 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
sense than leaving out mathematics or science. If the education of our kids is going to be complete, it’s got to have music.”
Symphony President Justin McFaul said the anniversary concert is a way to give a nod to the symphony’s founding and past but also look forward to what’s to come in the next 50 years. “I think this is a really neat way of recognizing how far the orchestra has come, how far our community has come in the past 50 years,” he said. “This is a way to look back and reflect on that past, but recognize also that we’ve got a long road ahead of us.” McFaul said the symphony has had to adapt and change over the years to please listeners, which often means changing the way concerts are programmed to appeal to a broader audience. He said there’s plenty of room still to grow and adapt in order to keep the symphony a part of the Longview community. “What has worked for the last 50 years has been terrific,” he said. “But we have to also look forward to what will sustain us for the next 50 years and be progressive with ourselves as an organization to keep bringing in new patrons and keep interest alive for the entertainment we provide.” Tooley said she’s also looking forward to the future of the Longview Symphony. “I think the most important thing is that we’re going to celebrate that we’ve made it 50 years — all of the past and the contributions and all of the sacrifices that people have made,” she said. “But we’re also going to
Top: Russell Lewis, Shane Almendarez, Sherry Paetznick, and Pam Martin of the Longview Symphony Orchestra Quartet perform at the Longview Mall in 2016. Bottom: Former Conductor Dr. Gene Moon rehearses with members of the Longview Symphony Orchestra in 2016 for an upcoming performance.
if
you go “CELEBRATING 50 YEARS” LONGVIEW SYMPHONY CONCERT
look towards the future. We’re going to look towards the future and hope
When: Friday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
for another 50 years and what great things there are to come.”
Where: Mickey Melton Performing Arts Center, Longview High School Cost: $20 for general admission, $10 for students, $5 for children ages 12 and under Information: (903) 236-9739 or www.longviewsymphony.org
LONGVIEW SYMPHONY 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
DR. JAMES SNOWDEN Founder and Former Conductor of Longview Symphony
When: 6:30 p.m. cocktails, 7:30 p.m. dinner, Jan. 18 Where: Longview Museum of Fine Arts, 215 E. Tyler St. Cost: $75 or $600 for table of eight Information: www.longviewsymphony.org
568 East Wilkins Road Gladewater, TX www.neptunesgrille.com
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Lunch served 11a-4p. Happy hour 4p-7p. Everyday.
Located inside Tempest Golf Club news-journal.com 23
EVENTSVIEW
calendar of events LONGVIEW
Nutrition Classes Jan. 7, Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 Longview Public Library
https://tinyurl.com/y8rkkdy2 Stars Over Longview Jan. 10
Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center
www.LongviewRegional.com Go-Giver Gala Jan. 12
Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center
www.longviewtexas.gov/GGG 2019 Focus on Photography, A Juried Exhibition Jan. 12 to Feb. 16 Longview Museum of Fine Arts
www.lmfa.org
Longview Jaycees Trade Days Jan. 12 and 13
Classic Arms Production Gun & Knife Show Jan. 19 and 20
Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex
Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 19 to Jan. 21 Activities TBA
Color My World Gallery Opening Feb. 8
www.capgunshows.com
The Rise Jan. 24 to Jan. 26
Letourneau University Belcher Center
www.belchercenter.com
Longview Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet Jan. 29 Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center
www.longviewchamber.com Black History Month February
Gregg County Historical Museum
Longview Exhibit Building
www.gregghistorical.org
East Texas Boat & RV Show Jan. 18 to Jan. 20
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Theatre Longview February www.theatrelongview.com
www.boatrvshow.com
Texas Bourbon Shootout Feb. 1
www.greggcountyfair.com/Trade_Days
Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex
The Longview Symphony 50th Anniversary Gala Jan. 18 Longview Museum of Fine Arts
longviewsymphony.org John Crist Jan. 19
Letourneau University Belcher Center
East Texas Builders Association Home & Design Show Feb. 8 to Feb. 10
Hilton Garden Inn
www.texasbourbonshootout.com Bourbon & Bowties Feb. 2
Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center
www.facebook.com/ bourbonandbowties
www.belchercenter.com
www.easttexasbuilders.org
Longview Museum of Fine Arts
https://tinyurl.com/yd3jbm8f Celebrating 50 Years of the Longview Symphony Feb. 8 Longview High School
www.longviewsymphony.com Kilgore to Longview Run Feb. 9 Kilgore/Longview
https://tinyurl.com/yc95yhgv Hallsville High School Bobcat Belles Show Feb. 9
Letourneau University Belcher Center
www.belchercenter.com
Starry Starry Night Gala Feb. 9
Longview Museum of Fine Arts
www.asburyhouse.net
Longview Jaycees Trade Days Feb. 9 to Feb. 10
LeTourneau University Belcher Center
www.etsymphonicband.org
DORS Youth Transition Fundraiser “Music, Mystery, & Murder” Feb. 15 Infinity Center at Holiday Inn
dorscommunityservices.org 50 Years of Rock and Roll Feb. 15
Letourneau University Belcher Center
www.belchercenter.com Shen Yun Show Feb. 19
Letourneau University Belcher Center
www.belchercenter.com Feminar Feb. 22 and 23
Letourneau University Belcher Center
www.belchercenter.com
KILGORE
A Touch of Fame and Fashion Style Show Feb. 2
Dodson Auditorium, Kilgore College
(903) 988-3901, ext. 2137
Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex
MARSHALL
Riverside Trade days Feb. 9 and Feb. 10
Jan. 16
www.greggcountyfair.com/Trade_Days
(903) 295-9800
The House That Love Built Luncheon Feb. 10 First United Methodist Church Longview
https://tinyurl.com/ydcwn7y3
24 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
East Texas Symphonic Band Winter Concert Feb. 11
Marshall Music Club Shaped Note Hymn Singing Schools & Founders Day Central Baptist Church https://tinyurl.com/ya3p8rwz
Whitetails Unlimited Sportsman Banquet Jan. 24 Convention Center
https://tinyurl.com/ybp5a37u Marshall Symphony Orchestra: Heroes, Monsters & Madmen Feb. 9 Marshall Convention Center
(903) 926-4413
Chamber Cheers to 100 Years Centennial Celebration Feb. 19 Marshall Convention Center
marshalltexas.com
Marshall Music Club: Hymns with a Twist Feb. 20 Central Baptist Church
https://tinyurl.com/y7gteqhe ”Men on Boats” by Jaclyn Backhaus Feb. 20 to Feb. 24 Mabee Recital Hall, Jenna Guest Music Building
East Texas Baptist University https://tinyurl.com/yalo3qrc
JEFFERSON
2019 Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend Jan. 17 to Jan. 19 305 E. Austin St., Jefferson
www.thepulpwoodqueens.com
Queen Mab Ball Jan. 27
Jefferson Visitors Center
www.mardigrasupriver.com
TYLER
”Something Rotten!” Jan. 24 Cowan Center
www.cowancenter.org ”The King and I” Feb. 4 Cowan Center
www.cowancenter.org Michael McDonald Feb. 20 Cowan Center
www.cowancenter.org Los Vivancos — Born to Dance Feb. 26 Cowan Center
www.cowancenter.org Want your event listed in the Calendar of Events? Please send information to jferguson@news-journal.com with the subject line “View Calendar.” The deadline to submit March/April events is January 31.
Inflatable animals being sold by a vendor are reflected in a rain puddle on Jan. 14, 2017, during Jaycees Trade Days at the Longview Fairgrounds.
Cover Reveal Party
? ?
VIEW
Thursday, February 21st • 5-7pm
Make the short drive to Gladewater and join us at East Texas’ newest country club, Tempest Golf Club for our Cover Reveal Party for the March/April issue of Charm/View. Enjoy the delightful food and beverages provided by the Tempest’s full service restaurant, Neptune Grille & Bar. Experience the ambiance in the restaurant and take in the beautiful views of the golf course from the patio. Food, fun, door prizes and the big unveiling. What a treat!
TEMPEST GOLF CLUB 568 E. Wilkins Rd., Gladewater
Sponsors
news-journal.com 25
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) 663-2060, www.shopbarrons.com
ELLIE BEE’S Ellie Bee’s is a fun and funky paper & gift shop. Our selections are everevolving and often include a sprinkle of seasonal surprises. 1418 McCann Rd, Longview, TX 75601 (903) 758-0300, www.elliebees.com
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
LOUIS MORGAN DRUG #4 We’ve been serving the city of Longview and the surrounding areas since 1969. Our 3 pharmacists have over 75 years of experience and our friendly staff will treat you like family. Here at Louis Morgan Drugs #4, we are dedicated to 26 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
to shop
services
providing our customers with services that are customized to meet their needs. 110 Johnston St., Longview, Texas 75601
event. We Specialize in full service event planning with our friendly and professional staff.
903-758-6164,www.louismorgandrugs4.com
568 E Wilkins Rd, Gladewater, TX 75647 903-984-5335, www.tempestgolfclub.com.
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
PETERS CHEVROLET Peters Chevrolet Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat offers the Longview, TX area a full lineup of new and used cars that will match your lifestyle and budget. 4181 US-259, Longview, TX 75605 (877) 615-3187, peterscars.com
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
LONGVIEW BALLET THEATRE
Longview Ballet Theatre is a non-profit company dedicated to enhancing our community by combining beauty, skill and vision to create innovative and inspiring performances for local audiences. P.O. Box 2602, Longview, TX 75606 www.Longviewballet.org
TEMPEST GOLF CLUB Our renovated golf course and new clubhouse at Tempest Golf Club offer the perfect venue for your golf
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) 245-4614, 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
COALITION FOR DRUG-FREE YOUTH The Coalition for Drug Free Youth (CDFY) is a collaboration of community resources with parents, school districts, law enforcement, judicial system, faith community, businesses, youth, community agencies, and anyone with an interest in preventing underage drinking and youth substance use. 140 E. Tyler St., Suite 400, Glover-Crim Building, Longview, TX 75601 903-237-1019, www.longviewtexas.gov/CDFY
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
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH SALON & SPA Holiday Gift Cards Available Elegant & Trendy Salon 10 Experienced HairstylistS Tranquil Day Spa Hot Tub Jacuzzi/Shower 8 Treatment Rooms -3 Couples Suite 5 Spa Pedicure Chairs & Nails Massage/Facials/Body Scrubs Micro-Derm/Peels 1915 Judson Rd, Longview, TX, 75605 (903) 234-1020, foydayspa.com
HEARTIS At Heartis Longview, we are committed to providing a stimulating and nurturing environment-filled with warmth, comfort and care, that improves quality of life and allows our residents to flourish. As a national leader in assisted living and memory care, you can count on Heartis Longview to deliver the highest quality care for residents. 1408 Lago Trail, Longview, TX 75604 903-291-0020, www.heartis.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
R & K DISTRIBUTORS 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
REA DENTAL From cosmetic dentistry to general dentistry, you’ll receive top-of-the-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 Texas Bank and Trust has been serving East Texas since 1958. We serve 15 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.
news-journal.com 27
PICTURE THIS
35TH ANNUAL
GOLD RUSH
PAM DIPASQUALE, KIMBERLY MENDENHALL
LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 10/20/2018 Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS
The 35th annual Gold Rush, benefiting Christus Good Shepherd, was held Oct. 20 at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center in Longview. The annual event is organized by the Christus Good Shepherd Guild, a subsidiary of the Christus Good Shepherd Foundation. This year’s theme, “Gatsby,” invited attendees to dress in 1920s clothes or wear casual attire. Gold Rush has raised about $10 million over the years, supporting a
CRYSTAL GOUNAH, LAURA & ED WILLIAMS
variety of projects at the hospital, such as the heart catheterization laboratory, a mobile mammography unit, heart and lung machines and the Institute of Healthy Living. Proceeds from this year’s event were earmarked to buy infant warmers for the hospital.
YANITZA TAPIA, ALEX POPE, SAM SMEAD JR.
VANESSA NEIMAN, JONI ROBERTS
28 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
MARCUS & VERNA TURNEY
PICTURE THIS
EAST TEXAS LITERACY COUNCIL
SCRABBLE
WITH FRIENDS CATHY MCKEY, PAM PIPKIN
LONGVIEW | FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF LONGVIEW | 10/23/2018 Photos by MICHAEL CAVAZOS
The East Texas Literacy Council held its annual Scrabble With Friends on Oct. 23 in the Faith Center at the First United Methodist Church of Longview. Participants competed in teams to create the highest scoring board in three rounds. The fundraiser included a meal and silent auction. Money raised supports the work of the East Texas Literacy Council, a nonprofit organization “dedicated to changing lives through literacy.” The organization and its volunteers provide free one-on-one and small group MALLORY & MATTHEW HICKMAN
instruction to help adults and youth no longer in school to achieve basic literacy skills in reading, math, writing, and pre-GED and English as a second language.
SHERRY GIBBON, BOB & JOYCE SNEAD
CARRIE PEVEY, KIANNE HARDEE, VALERIE OGLE
RENESE HENDERSON, MALLORY BURGESS, ASHTYN JONES
RACHEL SHERMAN, DANA PARR, LEAH HICKMAN
news-journal.com 29
PICTURE THIS
FASHION
& FIRS LONGVIEW | GREGG COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM | 11/29/2018
KATHY JACKSON, WANDA BURNS
Photos by LES HASSELL
The Gregg County Historical Museum welcomed the holiday season with its annual fundraiser “Fashion & Firs,” held on Nov. 29. The event featured a silent auction of decorative Christmas trees, centerpieces and ornaments donated by museum volunteers and others. People who attended also were treated to a fashion show featuring the Christmas collection of local boutique Morgan Abbigail and festive cocktails. The event preceded another museum tradition, Living History Christmas, featuring volunteers who greeted guests in period costumes,
GINA GRANTHAM, IRIS NEWKIRK
and the Loblolly Holiday Model Train and Village Exhibit.
RHONDA BULLARD, BABETTE TOMBERLAIN, LYNN BRYSON
KAREN WRIGHT, JOANNA BURROWS, JOYCELYNE FADOJUTIMI
30 VIEW | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
LEA SHAPPELL, MORGAN STRONG
MARY RAMOS, GAI BENNETT